Amid supply shopping and schedule checking, churches are offering families a break from the start-of-school frenzy.
“We just want to take a moment and pause as a community,” said Rebecca Burg, children’s leader at Harvest Church.
The Mt. Comfort congregation will play host to its annual community Back 2 School Bash from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 3 at the church, 6107 W. Airport Blvd., Greenfield.
A number of congregations are marking the start of the school year with community events.
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Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Greenfield will have its annual Backpack Bash from 1 to 4 p.m. today (July 27) at the church, 1202 E. Fifth St.
Bishop Joseph Riggs said it’s one of his favorite days of the year as a pastor. This is the 13th year for the event, which has grown from supplying 75 children at the beginning to 275 in its biggest year.
“We saw a need in the community and God laid it upon our hearts to be a help,” Riggs wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter. “We want people to know that (the church) cares about them.”
About three years in, the church prepared for 80 but ran out of backpacks in 15 minutes, prompting organizers to go out for more supplies to serve more than 80 additional students.
“We love to see all the kids come in and pick out their school supplies,” Riggs wrote. “Afterward we have hotdogs, nachos, popcorn, snow cones and lemonade.
Greenfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) hopes to enjoy that kind of fellowship with the community from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday during the church’s annual community luau, which includes collecting school supplies for United Way’s Backpack Attack.
Sharon Feister said the church wanted to highlight a local nonprofit group at the event, which has grown over time from an ice cream social to a barbecue dinner with a classic car show and other activities. Last year was the first year to spotlight Backpack Attack, and even though the weather hampered attendance at last year’s event, the supply drive was successful. The timing of the event and the need for school supplies also makes the supply drive a good fit for Sunday’s event, she said.
Earlier Sunday, worshipers at New Palestine United Methodist Church will mark the approaching start of school with a pitch-in back-to-school picnic with a bounce house, face painting and a prayer of blessing for all teachers.
There will be a prayer of blessing at Harvest as well next weekend, after Harvest Church serves dinner, inflates the bounce house and pulls out the face paints for a festival-like event including live music from the band Karma.
Near the close of the event, some Mt. Vernon schools representatives, including Mt. Vernon High School head football coach Mike Kirschner, will address the group to be encouraging “and just focusing on having a great year, a successful year,” Berg said.
The church’s lead pastor, Brad LeRoy, will offer a prayer for teachers, students and families.
The church has also been gathering supplies such as dry erase markers, tissues and other items to deliver to local schools. Last school year it also offered doughnuts and supplies in January to teachers in Mt. Vernon’s elementary schools so they could restock for the second semester.
“We want to encourage and pray over our teachers, students and community,” Berg said. “We just want to love on teachers and students as best we can.”
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-The Backpack Bash takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday (July 27) at Apostolic Pentecostal Church, 1202 E. Fifth St., Greenfield. It offers school supplies, hotdogs, nachos, popcorn, snow cones and lemonade. Information: 317-468-3306, (email) [email protected].
– A Back to School Picnic starts at noon Sunday at New Palestine United Methodist Church, 3565 S. County Road 500W, New Palestine. Includes a blessing for area teachers, a bounce house, face painting, balloon artist and a welcome to the church’s new pastor, the Rev. Anthony Stone, and his family. Those who go are asked to bring a side dish or dessert to the pitch-in as well as a lawn chair. Main dish, drinks and disposables will be provided. Information: www.npumc.com, 317-861 4390.
-A community luau and classic car cruise-in run from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Greenfield Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 23 N. East St. A free-will offering will be accepted. Organizers will also accept school supplies to give to Backpack Attack. A pulled pork dinner includes baked beans, chips, drinks and ice cream. A disc jockey, inflatable, water balloon launcher, face painting and other children’s activities are planned. Greenfield Police Department and Greenfield Fire Territory will show their vehicles and equipment. Information: greenfieldchristian.org, 317-462-6348
-The Back 2 School Bash is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 3 at Harvest Church, 6107 W. Airport Blvd., Greenfield. It’s free and includes dinner, bounce house, game truck, face painting, carnival games and prizes, and music by the band Karma. The Kona Ice truck will stop there as well. Information: harvestchurchlive.com, 317-336-8850
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