"You & Me? We're Neighbors!" Backpack Tags

If you'd like a free Back-to-School Worship Liturgy, click here. At Illustrated Ministry, we believe the call to love our neighbors has the power to connect, include, and transform. Our newest backpack tags invite children and adults alike to practice that expansive, beyond-the-familiar compassion every day—at school, at recess, and wherever the journey takes them. Our "You & Me? We're Neighbors!" Backpack Tags remind us that a neighbor isn't just the person next door. Jesus taught us that everyone we meet—different from us, unfamiliar to us, even surprising to us—is a neighbor worthy of kindness and care. From new classmates to strangers on the path, this tag is a colorful, carry-everywhere prompt to see every person as a beloved child of God. Attach it to a backpack, briefcase, or tote bag as a daily reminder to treat the people you meet with curiosity, compassion, and love. The bold, colorful design adds instant positivity and visibility. Hand them out during a Blessing of the Backpacks, give them to volunteers kicking off a new ministry year, or tuck them into welcome packets for students and staff. However you use them, these tags (and the accompanying liturgy) will encourage your community to go out into the world as good neighbors. Whether you're doing a Blessing of the Backpacks this fall or your community is doing a Blessing of the Devices, this fun and colorful tag will encourage your community. Note: We have also included a UK-English spelling of neighbours for all of our friends in Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Backpack Tag Liturgy We also offer a short liturgy and blessing to accompany the “You & Me? We're Neighbors!” Backpack Tags. When making your purchase, select which type you'd like: just the backpack tags or the backpack tags and the accompanying liturgy. The short liturgy includes: Gathering: An introduction that lifts up Jesus' expansive vision of neighbor love and invites participants to imagine all the new people they'll meet while carrying their backpack this year. Handing Out Tags: Spoken words for distributing tags—individually or all at once—blessing each person to be a good neighbor to the people they meet. Blessing: A unique blessing that sends children, youth, and adults into the world as neighbors, calling them to treat the people they meet "with kindness, curiosity, and compassion, because Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves." Prayer for the School Year: An original prayer that asks God to help participants see the people around them as beloved children of God—and to show patience and grace even when kindness is difficult or differences feel confusing. Additional Prayer and Social Media Graphic: A ready-to-share digital graphic and prayer to help your church promote the event. If you are interested in our previous backpack tag designs, you can view those here. Whether these are for kids' backpacks or for others in your community to use on their briefcases, bags, or purses, these backpack tags can be used in so many ways. Other uses for this tag design: Diaper bag ID tags in your infant/toddler rooms Small greeting cards Lunchbox cards Luggage tags Print on "shrinky dink" paper and make zipper tags Laminating the Tags Here are some items that will help you prepare the tags so they're easy to attach to bags or other items. Thermal Laminator Laminating Pouches for Luggage Tags (with the loop) Laminating Pouches - Business Card Size Avery Business Cards #8871 Avery #8871 Template What You Will Receive Upon completing your purchase, you will receive a link to a ZIP file that includes B&W and color PDF versions of the tags. We will also include a PNG image file of the illustration if you want to use it for your promotional materials. You can print these on standard business card stock (3.5" x 2") using Avery business cards #8871 (depending on what quantity you purchase, they might be listed as #8877). Our files are formatted to print on these #8871 Avery business cards, though you may need to play around with the file a bit, depending on your printer.