Gruene UMC blesses 30 backpacks
for kids starting school

Pastor Karen Horan (standing) prepares to bless more than 30 school backpacks Aug. 26 at Gruene UMC. Nearly 70 youngsters took part in the blessing ceremony. Ten representatives of the Comal Independent School District also attended. Each backpack carried a luggage tag saying, “This backpack has been blessed” on one side and “Gruene UMC, a daughter congregation of First UMC” on the other. The congregation, started by First UMC, New Braunfels, filled two boxes with school supplies for the Crisis Center and Communities in Schools.