ADVERTISING
The Protestant Church in Darmstadt is marking the start of the new school year with a special event. Students, teachers, and parents will receive a personal blessing today in the market square and at the bus stop near Böllenfalltor.
Blessing after the first day of school:
The blessing ceremony is deliberately scheduled for the period after the first day of classes. "Once the school year has started, various thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears are either entirely new or resurfacing," explains city youth pastor Dagmar Unkelbach to the Evangelical Press Service (epd). The blessing is intended to give strength and make it tangible "to feel loved and accepted."
Presence at two key locations:
Since the Protestant Deanery of Darmstadt extends far beyond the city limits, it has chosen two locations for the campaign: the market square in the city center and the bus stop at Böllenfalltor, from where many students and teachers travel to the surrounding area. "The idea is to reach people where they don't expect to find us as a church, but where they could really use a blessing or a conversation," said Unkelbach.
The blessing team will be present at Böllenfalltor from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., and at the market square from 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. The team includes two lay preachers, seven pastors, two youth leaders, a community educator, and at least four young volunteers from the Protestant Youth organization. "It's about small, precious moments that arise locally and can be shaped together," the pastor emphasizes.
Continuing a successful idea:
The initiative was developed by the "FEST im Leben" innovation and coordination office of the deanery and diaconal service, as well as the city youth ministry. It builds on a blessing campaign at the start of the summer holidays, in which more than 100 travelers were approached at a motorway rest stop near Darmstadt in early July. The vast majority gladly accepted the offer and reacted positively to the "blessed on the road" initiative.
