High School Graduation (Stone 8)
The Objective of this Stone:
To bless the graduates; to invite graduates to thank and bless their parents publicly; and to help both youth and parents look ahead to God’s new calling and direction for their lives.
What Is It?
A three-session course for seniors and parents to help them look back, look to the moment, and look to the future with thanks to God.
What’s the Purpose?
To prepare seniors and parents to launch the next phase of their lives in blessing, thanksgiving, and peace.
Who Owns It?
A Theme Team of empty-nesters equipped to set up and lead a three-session course, plus juniors and their parents who will serve three special meals.
How Long Does It Last?
Three 1 1/2 hour sessions, including the meals.
When Does It End?
The sessions conclude in worship with the Graduation Blessing Service. (If you’ve done the other steps right, the faith practices continue every night in dorm rooms, apartments, and future homes.)
PRINTABLE FACT SHEET
Download a detailed printable PDF description of “High School Graduation (Stone 8)”.
Detailed Description:
A final course for seniors and their parents is spread over the senior year to explore the concepts of blessing, gifting, and calling. Families look back at God’s blessings during a fall kick-off breakfast. A winter theme event leads seniors and parents to consider the gifts God has given them in their lives together. This session also motivates families to take specific steps to restore any brokenness in their relationships before graduation. A spring Graduation Brunch leads seniors and parents to look ahead to God’s new calling for their lives. Why spread out the three sessions over the entire year? If there ever is a time when schedules are overbooked, it is the senior year of high school. This schedule allows for only a minor commitment at any given time. Also, the sessions offer opportunities to maximize the time families have left as well as offer time to heal any brokenness uncovered.
During each session, seniors will be invited to think about three gifts their parents have given them: one physical gift, one emotional gift, and one spiritual gift. They will take these gifts into the Blessing Service and publicly thank their parents for each of these gifts. (Pass the tissue, please!)
During these three sessions, help these busy families out by serving a meal at each one. A great idea is to have juniors and their parents serve these meals. Think about it: as seniors and their parents are going through these sessions, juniors are clearing the tables and hearing everything so they have an extra year to plan for their graduation process!
Session 1: Looking Back
Parents and seniors will be given a formula that will allow them to calculate the actual quality time together. Doing this at the beginning of the year may encourage families to make a maximum effort to carve out time to spend together before graduation day arrives. Families will also utilize the tool of “beginning with the end in mind” again. Parents and seniors will be asked to create the movie of their last day together. This movie will provide the action plan for the year to help make that movie a reality.
Session 2: Looking to the Moment
Session 2 invites seniors and their parents to uncover any hidden slivers that may be constricting their relationship. This church will encourage these families to work through the process of confession/absolution in order to remove these slivers and heal any brokenness. We want graduation day to be a glorious celebration of the achievements of the graduates and their families; therefore, the families have to “take out the trash.” Family bonds are guaranteed for life, but they can be severed if forgiveness is not a regular occurrence.
Session 3: Looking Ahead
A look at vocation and change will provide the framework for seniors and their parents to encourage each other as they begin a new phase in their lives. The job of the parents is not done, and neither is the job of the senior. We will ask each family to commit to praying for each other every day, as long as they live. This will also be a final chance for families to remove the remaining slivers to insure a spectacular graduation day. Whether seniors are heading off to college, starting a job, or serving in the military, this Session will help complete a specific phase in the family life cycle and prepare them to start another.
On graduation weekend, seniors, parents, and their sponsors gather in worship for one final Stepping Stone blessing. The baptismal/dedication promises are repeated. Parents are invited to bless their young adults as they step out into the world. At the close of this service, parents kneel and receive a blessing from their seniors. (Pass the tissue, please!)
Graduation Quilt
Prior to this final Stepping Stone event, seniors stage a “Graduation Quilt Dinner” where they invite other members of the faith community to add handprints to the back of their quilts. The Graduation Quilt is presented to each senior as a gift from parents and congregation. Don’t to forget to invite the family’s adopted quilter!