RESOURCES

Back to School

Reading & Resources for Back to School

PRAYER | PRACTICE | PLACE

Vol 4. Issue 17

Prayer

Featured

Growing Affection

Dear God,
There are so many ordinary ways
To give and receive your love.

From the cuddles of our kids.
From the laughter of a dear friend.
From holding the hand of a spouse.

Teach me today
To give and receive
Your love as a neighbor.

Research consistently shows that a neighborhood’s overall well-being and local school performance go hand in hand, and teacher retention plays a key role in school performance. High teacher turnover is linked to lower student achievement, weaker school culture, more disruption, and higher costs for hiring and training replacements. That is one reason we make it a priority to bless our teachers each year with care packages.

Place

Featured

Driveway

The driveway is a sacred place. Although driveways are often referenced as utilitarian space and considered an unwanted hallmark of suburban neighborhood design, they transcend their uniform purpose to be a place where countless moments of our lives are shared. Far more than simply serving a task of automobile entry, they provide a place where we are welcomed and welcome others. Our driveways serve as an extension of our home and hospitality.

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RESOURCES

Seasons

Two calendars shape the rhythm of our lives: the church year and the natural year. Together, they invite us into a faith rooted in place one that helps us notice God, love our neighbors, and live more deeply rooted in our neighborhoods.

Explore the seasons

PRAYERS, PRACTICES, PLACES

Natural Year

The rhythms of the natural year help us pay attention to the trees on our street, the changing light in our homes, the gardens, sidewalks, parks, and neighborhoods that hold our everyday lives.

Natural Year

PRAYERS, PRACTICES, PLACES

Liturgical Year

Explore how the rhythms of the Christian calendar can shape the way you see, love, and participate in your neighborhood. As we learn to inhabit the story of Jesus through the year, we also learn to become more present to the people and places right in front of us.

Liturgical Year