South Kent School welcomed the fall season with a special Sunset Service at North Campus on Monday, September 21. Students, employees, and their four-legged companions gathered in the natural beauty of the North Campus farm for Holy Eucharist, the Blessing of the Land and Animals, and an all-campus dinner beneath the evening sky.
Led by The Rev. Stephen B. Klots, the service centered on gratitude, stewardship.Those themes continued through prayers of thanksgiving for the mountains, hills, ponds, air, water, and fertile land surrounding South Kent. The congregation also prayed for the wisdom to use the earth’s resources with care so that future generations may continue to experience and celebrate their abundance.
Employees brought pets to receive a special blessing, with dogs of many sizes and personalities joining the congregation. Their presence brought an unmistakable sense of joy to the service, reinforcing the connection between people, animals, and the natural world.
The celebration of the Eucharist deepened the evening’s message of shared responsibility and belonging. Around one table, the community gave thanks for the gifts of creation and reflected on the call to leave that table renewed and ready to serve the world with compassion.
As the sun settled over North Campus, the service gave way to a relaxed all-campus dinner. Students and employees gathered with friends, colleagues, and their 4-legged companions to share a meal and enjoy the beauty of a fall evening in South Kent.
The gathering offered a meaningful beginning to the new school year and the season ahead. In the words of the service’s closing prayer, the community departed with “strength and courage” to love, serve, and care for the world around them.
