Fall Materials
Blessing of the Backpacks
Many congregations take time each fall to recognize the start of the school year. This year, UTO is offering free downloadable tags you can resize to fit a luggage or name tag holder, print, and giveaway for the blessing of the backpacks to let your students know they are out if this world. We’ve also written a prayer that shows our gratitude for students, teachers, and all those preparing for the new school year.
2026: Fall into Gratitude with UTO
This fall, UTO is getting back to basics to help all of us refresh our gratitude practices. For adults, we’ve got a new five minute gratitude journal and for our young people, we’ve got a set of five slide decks (with notes for the leader to use) that helps connect the things they are grateful for with UTO grants. (Also includes craft suggestions!)
Gratitude Resources for Individuals and Families
Looking to add gratitude to your life this fall? UTO is here to help.
This year we are getting back to basics with our resources for adults: a five minute gratitude journal. This journal page will help you ground in gratitude and reflect on your day to help you build a journaling habit and a gratitude practice.
For families or Sunday School groups, we’ve made five slide decks to help connect the things we are grateful for with UTO grants that respond to the theme. Each week includes a Bible Story and optional craft. Click on the “overview of the program” below for links to the presentations, supply lists and information on the grant sites for further connections.
Gratitude Resources for Congregations
This fall, UTO is getting back to basics, with a 5 minute gratitude journal and a five-week Sunday School program that connects students with grant sites.
One of the great ways to use the 5 minute journal is to invite your congregation to pull off each sheet and put it in their Blue Box, then at the end of the notepad, pull out the pages, read and reflect on the blessings of the past month, then make a thank offering. You can order your journals in the shop.
Digital Kits – Need materials to help promote our fall materials and to support your UTO Ingathering? We’ve got you covered. The digital kits below will take you to resources you may want like a card to help people donate online, sample newsletter articles, bulletin announcements and more. Read more about here in the fall materials overview letter that is sent with printed materials.
You can also download our sample newsletter articles and bulletin announcements that shares information about the fall formation materials and ways to update it for your context.
Evergreen Fall Resources
Don’t love our offering for this fall? Not a problem! In this section you’ll find options from past years that can be downloaded and used in your congregation or home.