Behind the Headlines

My daughter is graduating this year from Monroe High School. Our church has a breakfast and recognition program every year to honor the graduates from our parish, but as it turns out, our family has a schedule conflict with that date. So after some discussion, my daughter and I decided to attend the community baccalaureate service held Tuesday night at MHS and sponsored by the Monroe Evangelical Association.

Inter-denominational events such as this are tricky to script out and program. There is such diversity of tradition, ritual and music among the Christian churches that what one congregation considers completely normal and expected for a special event could easily seem odd or strange to another.

But from our perspective as a Catholic family, the event was very well done.

Yes, the program followed a different format from what I have seen at Catholic high school graduations and parish baccalaureates. And the hymn I jokingly call “the graduation hymn” because having heard it so often at such events in my faith tradition, “Gather Us In,” wasn’t on the program.

But I did recognize and sang along with “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.” And my daughter knew some of the praise and worship songs, which are popular among her friends.

The best thing about the music is that most of the performers were themselves talented high school seniors - some of them wearing cap and tassel as they sang into a microphone.

The sermon message focused on how important it is to be a good influence on someone else. You never know who will be that influence in your life, or how you will influence others. The preacher’s story, based on his own family’s experiences, was encouraging for both parents and students.

Something new that was added to the program this year was a scholarship drawing for two students who attended the event.

Thanks to the congregations that sponsored this event - and those who will hold similar programs in area churches or schools during graduation season. A baccalaureate is a nice send-off from the faith community to the graduates!