Past Sunday pack · September 20, 2026

A free weekly pack for Sunday, September 20, 2026: bulletin words, social posts, colouring pages, youth activities and prayers. Change the [brackets] and use any of it again.

Open Bulletin Helper

For Sunday, September 20, 2026: See You at the Pole: Praying for Our Schools

This Wednesday, students across the country will gather around their school flagpoles before class to pray. This Sunday we stand with them. Whether you're a student, a parent, a teacher or a grandparent, join us in praying for every school in our community.

This pack is for Sunday, September 20, 2026. Everything here is free to copy, paste and adapt for your church.

The week at a glance

Coming up: World Communion Sunday, Oct 4 · Trunk or treat, Oct 31 · First Sunday of Advent, Nov 29

Announcement ideas

1. See You at the Pole: Wednesday, Sep 23, at [time]. Students, meet at your school flagpole to pray. Parents and church members, pray along at home or at work that morning.
2. Adopt a school: Pick a school from the list in the lobby and pray for it by name every day this week. Prayer cards are at the welcome desk.
3. Youth night after the Pole: Students, join us Wednesday night at [time] for pizza and a recap of how See You at the Pole went.
4. Pastor Appreciation Month: October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Watch for ways to say thank you, starting next Sunday.

Verse of the week

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:14, KJV)

1. Bulletin (ready to paste)

Copy everything in this box into your bulletin. Replace anything in [brackets].

Welcome to [Church Name] This Wednesday, students across the country will gather around their school flagpoles before class to pray. This Sunday we stand with them. Whether you're a student, a parent, a teacher or a grandparent, join us in praying for every school in our community.

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Order of service - Welcome and call to worship: [Leader] - Songs of praise: [Song 1] · [Song 2] · [Song 3] - Scripture reading: [Reference] read by [Reader] - Prayer: [Leader] - Message: "[Sermon title]" with [Speaker] - Response song: [Song] - Offering and announcements - Benediction

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Announcements - See You at the Pole: Wednesday, Sep 23, at [time]. Students, meet at your school flagpole to pray. Parents and church members, pray along at home or at work that morning. - Adopt a school: Pick a school from the list in the lobby and pray for it by name every day this week. Prayer cards are at the welcome desk. - Youth night after the Pole: Students, join us Wednesday night at [time] for pizza and a recap of how See You at the Pole went. - Pastor Appreciation Month: October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Watch for ways to say thank you, starting next Sunday.

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Verse of the week "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:14, KJV)

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A prayer for this week Lord, we lift up every student, teacher and school in our town. Give our students courage to pray and to shine your light. Make our schools places of safety, kindness and learning. Amen.

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Upcoming dates - Wed, Sep 23: See You at the Pole, [time] - Wed, Sep 23: Youth night, [time] - Thu, Oct 1: Pastor Appreciation Month begins - Sun, Oct 4: World Communion Sunday

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[Church Name] · [Address] · [Phone] · [Website] · Pastor [Name]

2. Social posts (Instagram and Facebook)

Three ready posts. Each has an Instagram caption with hashtags, a Facebook version and a one-line brief for whoever makes the graphic.

Post 1: See You at the Pole reminder

• Instagram caption: This Wednesday! 🙏 See You at the Pole, Sep 23, [time] at your school flagpole. Bring a friend and pray for your school.
• Hashtags: #SYATP #SeeYouAtThePole #PrayForOurSchools #StudentMinistry #1Thessalonians517
• Facebook: Students: See You at the Pole is this Wednesday, Sep 23, at [time]. Meet at your school flagpole and pray with other students. Can't be there? Pray along at home, at work or in the car that morning.
• Image brief: Circle of teenagers with heads bowed around a flagpole at sunrise, faces not visible, warm gold sky.

Post 2: Adopt a school

• Instagram caption: Which school will you pray for this week? 🏫 Pick one from our list and pray for its students and teachers by name every day.
• Hashtags: #PrayForSchools #AdoptASchool #ChurchFamily #Prayer
• Facebook: This week we're 'adopting' every school in our area in prayer. Grab a prayer card at the welcome desk or comment below with the school you'll pray for this week.
• Image brief: School building outline with a crayon-style heart above it on a sage background, words 'Pray for our schools'.

Post 3: Verse of the week

• Instagram caption: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:14) ✨ Shine bright this week, students!
• Hashtags: #Matthew514 #LightOfTheWorld #VerseOfTheWeek #KJV #StudentMinistry
• Facebook: Students, as you head back to class this week, remember: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:14) We're praying for you!
• Image brief: Small town on a hill at dusk with warm glowing windows, stars overhead, verse in gold.

3. Sunday school colouring pages

Three pages for different ages. Print the one that fits your class, or all three for a mixed group.

Page 1: A light on a stand · Simple (ages 3 to 5)

• Bible story: Jesus says, Let your light shine (Matthew 5:14-16).
• Verse to print on the page: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:14, KJV)
• Line-art brief: A big oil lamp with a large flame on a stand, with rays drawn around it. Very thick outlines (about 4 pt), one large central figure and no more than 3 or 4 big shapes in the background. No small details. Black line art only, no shading or grey fill. US Letter portrait (8.5 x 11 in) with 0.5 in margins. A 'Name: ________' line at the top, a band about 1.5 in tall at the bottom with the verse in a clear, friendly font, and a small 'christiankits.com' credit in the bottom corner.

Page 2: Daniel prays · Medium (ages 6 to 8)

• Bible story: Daniel keeps praying at his window three times a day (Daniel 6:10).
• Verse to print on the page: "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV)
• Line-art brief: Daniel kneeling at an open window facing Jerusalem, a rug, a jug and a potted plant inside, rooftops outside. Medium outlines (about 2.5 pt), a main scene with 2 or 3 figures and some background detail such as plants, clouds or buildings, all with open areas big enough for crayons. Black line art only, no shading or grey fill. US Letter portrait (8.5 x 11 in) with 0.5 in margins. A 'Name: ________' line at the top, a band about 1.5 in tall at the bottom with the verse in a clear, friendly font, and a small 'christiankits.com' credit in the bottom corner.

Page 3: Samuel hears God's voice · Detailed (ages 9 to 12)

• Bible story: Young Samuel hears God call him in the night (1 Samuel 3:1-10).
• Verse to print on the page: "And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth." (1 Samuel 3:10, KJV)
• Line-art brief: Young Samuel sitting up on a sleeping mat in the tabernacle, a lamp still burning, curtains with woven patterns, old Eli asleep in the next room, stars through an opening. Fine outlines (about 1.5 pt), a full scene with patterns, textures and smaller details to fill (borders, fabric patterns, leaves, stones) for older children who enjoy a longer colouring task. Black line art only, no shading or grey fill. US Letter portrait (8.5 x 11 in) with 0.5 in margins. A 'Name: ________' line at the top, a band about 1.5 in tall at the bottom with the verse in a clear, friendly font, and a small 'christiankits.com' credit in the bottom corner.

Teacher tip: Hand out a small paper flagpole cut-out and help each child write the name of their school on it to take home and pray for.

4. Youth group activities

Game: Flashlight Tag Turn off the lights. One player is 'it' with a flashlight and tags others by shining the light on them. Link it to being the light of the world.

Game: Prayer Walk Map Give teams a printed map of local schools and five minutes to plan a route to pray past each one this week.

Discussion questions Read Matthew 5:13-16 together first.

1. What does it mean to be 'salt' and 'light' at school? (Matthew 5:13-14)
2. Why would someone hide their light? (Matthew 5:15)
3. How can praying in public be brave without showing off? (Matthew 6:5-6)
4. What would change if you prayed for your school every day? (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Optional challenge: Pray at the pole Go to See You at the Pole on Wednesday and invite one friend to come with you.

Prayers for This Week

Free to use in your bulletin, slides or newsletter. Copy, paste and adapt to fit your church.

1. Opening prayer for Sunday worship Lord God, you are the light of the world and you call us to shine. We gather to worship you and to lift up the young people of our church and town. Give us faith like a child's and boldness like your first disciples. Fill this room with your presence and our mouths with your praise. Amen.

2. Prayer for See You at the Pole Father, on Wednesday morning, students will stand around flagpoles and pray. Give them courage. Let their prayers rise like incense before you. Bless their schools, their teachers and their friends. Use their simple faithfulness to draw others to you, and let them know they are never alone. Amen.

3. Prayer for school safety God our protector, watch over every school building, bus and playground. Keep our children and their teachers safe. Give wisdom to school leaders and peace to anxious parents. Where there is bullying, bring kindness. Where there is loneliness, bring friendship. Amen.

4. Prayer for students who are struggling Lord Jesus, you know every student who is struggling with grades, friendships, home life or their mental health. Hold them close. Send them a trusted adult, a true friend and a sense of hope. Help our church notice and care. Amen.

5. Closing blessing Go now in the peace of Christ. May the Lord bless you and keep you; may his face shine upon you and give you peace. Wherever this week takes you, at home, at work, at school or on the road, may you know you are loved and never alone. Go and serve the Lord with gladness. Amen.

More ways to share this week's posts

See You at the Pole reminder

• Text message: See You at the Pole is Wed, Sep 23, at [time]! Students, bring a friend. 🙏
• Slide line: See You at the Pole: this Wednesday at [time]!
• Email line: Students meet at their school flagpoles this Wednesday at [time]. Please pray with them that morning.

Adopt a school

• Text message: Pray for a local school every day this week! Prayer cards at the welcome desk.
• Slide line: Adopt a school in prayer this week. Prayer cards at the welcome desk.
• Email line: Pick a local school and pray for it every day this week. Prayer cards are at the welcome desk.

Verse of the week

• Text message: Verse for the week: Ye are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14)
• Slide line: Ye are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14
• Email line: This week's verse is Matthew 5:14. Let's shine for Jesus at school and at work.

Kids and Sunday school extra

• Memory verse: "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV)
• Activity: Prayer hand: trace a hand and label each finger with something to pray for: family, friends, teachers, our church, me.

Tip of the week

Coordinate with youth leaders early. Ask them for the time and place at each school so your post can list them clearly. If you can't confirm a time, say 'before school starts' rather than guessing.

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