There were 52 candles in two pans of sand, one for each of the young people officially graduating from Cook County High School in 2018. Our prayer at the Baccalaureate service last week included lighting a candle for each graduate as we spoke their name and asked for God to bless them.
We read scripture from Paul’s letter to the Romans about how “all creation has been groaning in labor pains…” and gave thanks for these young folks and all they have taught us and learned with us in this partnership we call school and community. We promised to be with them in prayer as they transition into the next steps of their lives. It felt like such an honor and a privilege to sing and pray with the students and their families.
After the service we shared stories and listened to the graduates talk about their plans for the future. In this fractured, fearful world that sometimes feels ruled by negativity and violence, it was awesome to worship together, unified by our common passion to protect and equip our children and youth as they continue to grow and stretch their wings.
Four pastors from four different churches presided and representatives from the school shared in the liturgy as everyone present agreed on the blessing to be shared with the students. Not one word of harm was spoken. Respect was seen and heard and known by all who were present. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” It was a unique group of people who may never be gathered together again, but for that one time and place, we came together in the common purpose of blessing.
No matter how fragmented or dis-membered we become on this earth, God is still working to re-member, re-make and re-new us. And so we worship to give God thanks for the amazing grace and love that God continues to pour out upon all creation.
We sang of this love in a hymn written by Richard Gillard: “We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travelers on the road; We are here to help each other go the mile and bear the load. I will hold the Christ light for you in the shadow of your fear; I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear. I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.”
It is the prayer and promise we offered to the young ones among us, but also to each other. As a human community we sometimes struggle mightily to “be with each other.” Sometimes we are overcome by judgment, crankiness and turmoil and we find ourselves in over our heads, threatened with drowning of one sort or another. But planted more deeply in us than all the wrong the world can produce, is the never-ending promise and reality of God’s love for us and for all creation.
“Gather us in and hold us forever; gather us in and make us your own; gather is in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.” We sang these words by Marty Haugen as if our lives depended on it. A group of everyday people, we sang and we prayed, claiming God’s love and care for these young ones about to take flight and go forth into the wild blue yonder of the earth.
We trust that wherever they wander, wherever they are, God will be with them, reminding them of our love and this place we call home. We send them forth, trusting that even if our love fails, God’s love will not. God will be with them always and forever. Thanks be to God.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Reverend Beth Benson of the First Congregational Church – UCC in Grand Marais.
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