Students, Parents Attend Blessing Event

First-year students and their parents took time to worship before they parted ways on move-in day. Blessing the Journey is a short service of blessing for students as they say goodbye to their families and begin new journeys at Concordia. 

This ritual, which began in 2007, recognizes that parting ways is an important moment for everyone in the family.

"There is as much going on for mom and dad as son or daughter in that moment," says Tim Megorden, campus pastor.

Lori Shir, North Branch, Minn., sent her first child, Sophia, to Concordia on Aug. 28. The service offered her a chance to reflect and rest after a physically- and emotionally-challenging day.

"It was a time to come together, worship with our kids and send them off on their new paths," she says.

Tessa Moon Leiseth, campus pastor, hopes that the service gave all the families a fitting farewell as they were blessed.

"Being blessed and sent frees people," she says. "It allows them to say goodbye in a healthy way."


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current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
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