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What is a good way to honor graduating seniors in a Sunday morning service?
I am a new youth pastor ( 9 months) and I'm looking for ways that we can recognize our seniors in our sunday morning service. Last year they did a parade of the students in their graduation gowns and I'd really like to get away from that but im at a loss of what else to do. Any suggestions?
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I knock out a dinner for the seniors the Saturday before our Sunday service. In that dinner, I have the fathers/mothers share a "blessing" to their senior and by the time that is done and the kleenex is gone...we are toast. My parents rave about it being so special. The Sunday morning, involves marching them in, calling their name, telling where they are going/major and the Senior Pastor gives them the gift we have for them. Before the service, we have a photo presentation for them that includes three photos bookended by one baby and one senior photo. Simple. Hope this helps. |
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We have "Senior Sunday." During the morning service we show a slideshow of the seniors chronicling their lives from baby to now. People LOVE this. After the slideshow, I talked about each senior's accomplishments and their future plans. They come forward and I shake/hug. After I have presented them, I call the elders forward to pray over them. Then that night we get together. It's mostly the youth group and parents but everyone is invited. We get it catered and eat together. Then I call the seniors to the front/center of the room and everyone gets an opportunity to share stories or best wishes. Then the seniors have an opportunity to speak. I also record the seniors individually prior to that night and let them say goodbye. I really like this. It seems simple and yet really special at the same time. I think I might be stealing parts of this :) Sometimes it's easier for them to talk to a camera with no pressure and it's just neat to have it recorded and saved. I give them all a copy afterwards of the slideshow and their farewell videos. I also present them a Bible with their name on it and a hand written note inside. |
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When I graduated from High School my youth pastor/leaders gave each of us a Bible with our names on it, nothing fancy. But on the inside covers/blank pages of the Bible, each youth leader wrote a personal note. It meant a ton to me at the time and over 10 years later I still read those notes occasionally. So I've continued that tradition with the students I serve. |
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We have a special speaker, we do an interview type after the message (name, family members related to (not everyone knows ALL of our students and families) where you graduated from, post high school plans etc...) and we present them with God's Word (a nice leather bound Bible with their name engraved on it) and we pray for them at the altar. We also do a banquet at Olive Garden. Meal for the graduate is FREE and they can invite anyone they desire. Just a good private meal with the church body. We have had as many as 90 or so in attendance. Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions |
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I did a thing one year where i made some ribbons similar to the share of the Relay for Life that was Crimson, White and Purple. I I pinned them on the sudents explaining that the Crimson was how the Lord purchased their slavation with His blood, The white was to represent the purity of their walk and the purple was to represent their royalty as adopted into the family of God anding with that they had been "MARKED" cause my name is mark. |
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We actually do this http://ypguybrit.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/ ministry-milestones-graduating-seniors/ for our seniors... hope that is helpful |
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Share with congregation a slideshow of pictures of the students (ask parents to send you pictures!)... share something to encourage the students and to challenge them to continue to seek the Lord, and then ask the church leadership to come up and pray over the teens. |
