New Song: 'Back 2 School'

If you've got school-age kids in your family/extended family/church/life, then please do check out this brilliant fun new song from the delightfully named Awesome Cutlery.

'Back 2 School' aims to serve "families and people of all ages as we head into back to school season with all the changes, challenges, joys and unknowns it brings."

It could be a perfect fit for a 'Back to School' slot at church this Sunday (if you're in England, that is) - or pump it out over breakfast this week, or on the car stereo on your school run.

Have a listen...

Story Behind the Prayer

By the way, Awesome Cutlery are a popular UK musical families' ministry, featuring two larger than life 'wannabe superheroes', Captain Awesomeness and Cutlery Boy (in real life, pastors Gareth Loh and Dan Adams).

Part of the fun for us is that Dan spotted a Back to School prayer we shared with our families at St Paul's Barrow a couple of years ago and has added a funky tune, second verse, bridge, and even a bonus rap!

The prayer had been inspired by Justin Whitmel Earley's second book, 'Habits of the Household' (my review of Justin's first book, The Common Rule, is here).

In HotH Justin writes persuasively about the value of little 'household' liturgies for families to use together at the different points of family life - often short and simple phrases, prayers, or reminders of God's word. As part of this, he has what he calls a 'gathering and sending prayer':

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thank you for this day,
Bless us as we work, study and play
Be present with us in all we do
May we bring glory and honour to you. Amen.

Bringing God Our Struggles

I loved this idea, but the wordsmith in me wanted to create something I could use with my kids to weave in some of the emotions and challenges that are often part of getting ready for school in our house, as well as some of the struggles and feelings around where we find our identity.

So we came up with this prayer to share with our families:

Father, Son & Holy Spirit, thank You for this day,
Help us as we worship You, in our love, work & play.
You know all our feelings; our hopes, [and] joys & fears,
And You stick beside us, right through the years!
From drop-off to pick-up, [and] all the day long,
Your love is big & best, and it's to You we belong.

His Love is Big & Best

I've been super helped by the guys from Faith in Kids on this – their church resource series, 'Who Am I?', is brilliant on some of these issues (including Kids' group study notes, all age talks, activities, visuals, questions and parents handouts!). As they say,

"Our confused culture is asking children to create their own answers to the question, 'Who am I?'. This pressure to decide everything for themselves robs them of the secure identity that God has given them. They’re left anxiously wondering… “Am I good enough? ... “Do I fit in?”'.

I think that's where I've been inspired with the 'your love is big & best' line, although I can't track exactly where!

Anyway, ace job, Awesome Cutlery! And you can download lead sheets and lyric videos for 'Back 2 School' here.