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| Credit: Creative Commons (John Walker) |
This year, we tried something a bit different. On our Graduate Recognition Sunday, we had a lunch after service for graduating seniors and their families. We made sure families RSVP'd beforehand, and then contacted every parent who was coming to let them know what we'd be doing during the lunch. We asked every parent to write a letter to their graduating senior and bring it with them. The only guidelines we gave for the letter was that it should include things they appreciate about their graduate and should finish with a prayer of blessing for their all-grown-up high school graduate.
Because of a construction project going on at our church, we had a relatively simple menu for the lunch (as we planned there was uncertainly as to what facilities we'd have access to). The program for the lunch was simple as well. After most everyone had finished their lunch, I spoke for about ten minutes, addressing the graduating students. I then told the seniors that I would dismiss them to spend a few minutes talking with their parents, and that their parents had a gift for them (the letter).
For about fifteen minutes around our church campus, parents and families spent time reading their letters and praying over the graduates. It was a really cool scene and definitely was the highlight of the event. When we reconvened, I prayed again for the graduates, we took a group picture, and everyone was on their way. All said, it was only an hour and half event, but it had a huge impact. It's definitely something we'll be repeating next year. If you don't currently have an end-of-school-year event for graduating seniors and their families, I'd definitely recommend you putting something like this on your calender for next year.
QUESTION: What are you doing this year to celebrate graduating seniors send them off on a good note?
