This year, as we continue to be safer at home, we felt home blessings were more vital than backpack blessings.”
Our church normally does a back to school blessing each year and gives out backpack tags. This year, our students are online until October at least. Right now they don’t need their backpacks blessed; they need their homes blessed. We wanted to give them things that would help them to know that they are loved and part of a faith community that cares.
I worked with my priests to think of different places around the students’ house where they might need those reminders, kind of like you would do with sticky notes about taking medicine.
- A fridge magnet could be a reminder every time they went for a snack break.
- A bookmark could remind them of God’s love even when they’re stuck in a book.
Pray Without Ceasing
This got me thinking about what I wanted people to do. I didn’t just want them to get another set of things and say “oh that’s nice.” I did want them to actually start praying, or deepen their prayer life. This would be a good way for us to stimulate the habit without pressure or another thing to add to a packed pandemic schedule. I wanted children to actually pray with their families.
- So, we put a prayer from Compline on a pillowcase. It was simple enough to do right before you put your head down. Families could add more to the prayer. I love the idea of sleeping on a prayer or a blessing. Literally. Let it infuse itself into your head. We used “Keep watch, dear Lord” from the Book of Common Prayer page 134.
- And what if you prayed all the time, like when you turn on the lights to brush your teeth or when you enter or leave a room? We got small stickers made to say “light my path”. They fit perfectly on a light switch with two switches. We referenced this with Psalm 119:105.
Endless Opportunities
Since the blessing bags were given out, we had to order more pillowcases. These were the easiest ways for our parishioners to share love in their homes. Grandparents got them to send to their grandchildren. Parishioners got them to put in their guest rooms. We’ve even stashed some away for a time when someone goes to the hospital, moves to a new space, or gets home bound. The possibilities are actually endless.
Editors Note: Many of you have asked if these pillowcases are being sold or what company you might use to make your own. These pillowcase and all the other materials were created by Speedy Bee Tees. You can work with Speedy Bee Tees to create a custom design or provide them with a design. For this project, Meg provided the graphic of her church’s steeple and the text of the the prayer.
This is a GREAT idea. We often do back to school blessings, Part of our schools opened using regular hours but with much enhanced cleaning/disinfecting, part opened on a 3-2 schedule, some are remote only and our largest school district recently opened on a 3-2 schedule as well. COVID numbers though are sky-rocketing.
Do you have these for sale? Did you go to a local printer? And where did you get the stickers printed?
I think this is such a great idea; I would love to get them for the kids at our tiny church and I’d like to have one myself!
Dear Meg,
What a sweet idea! How did you get the prayer printed on the pillowcases? I mean, what supplier did you use?
Thank you!
Melissa Durbin
Christ Church
Winnetka, IL
Where did you order your pillowcases from?
That is an idea worth copying.
Thanks for your question Nancy! Here is Meg’s answer:
“We worked with Speedy Bee Tees to get a custom design. They printed all the materials as well. You can work with an artist through them or give your own design. For this I provided the graphic of our steeple (that we’ve used for other things) and shared what I was thinking for the text. I shared the prayer I wanted for the pillowcases. They made everything look good and together. Speedy Bee is wonderful and easy to work with!”
Thanks for your question Melissa! Here is Meg’s answer:
“We worked with Speedy Bee Tees to get a custom design. They printed all the materials as well. You can work with an artist through them or give your own design. For this I provided the graphic of our steeple (that we’ve used for other things) and shared what I was thinking for the text. I shared the prayer I wanted for the pillowcases. They made everything look good and together. Speedy Bee is wonderful and easy to work with!”
Thanks for your question Cathy! Here is Meg’s answer:
“We worked with Speedy Bee Tees to get a custom design. They printed all the materials as well. You can work with an artist through them or give your own design. For this I provided the graphic of our steeple (that we’ve used for other things) and shared what I was thinking for the text. I shared the prayer I wanted for the pillowcases. They made everything look good and together. Speedy Bee is wonderful and easy to work with!”
Meg, I love this idea! How creative! I am so proud that I grew up in Christ Church and was married there and thrilled that you are there to lead such a wonderful ministry in such a special place!
I have also continued my life-long Episcopalian heritage as Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministry in Davidson, NC at St. Alban’s. This idea is wonderful to incorporate. Thank you so much and much love to my favorite New Bern home and Christ Church!
Thank you! Courtney Pursell Fossett
Is it possible for me to purchase a pillowcase? I recently moved away from my sister who is having a bout with cancer. She is always praying for others and I thought this might be a good gift.
Hey Nancy,
These are not available for purchase, but you can order a custom pillowcase from Etsy (here’s one shop as an example: https://www.etsy.com/listing/790584596/custom-pillow-case-pillowcase-gift-for?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pillow+cases+personalized&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&organic_search_click=1).
I’ll paste two prayer options below!
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or
weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who
sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless
the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the
joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
Lord,
it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.
In your name we pray.
Amen.