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This plan was produced to help teachers guide their students in creating a liturgy for a 6 th Class Graduation Service. Recognising that every school and liturgy is unique, teachers may wish to amend this plan. An important goal is that each of your students feels involved in the planning and celebration of the service. The service could be lead by a priest, teacher, parent or parish representative.
PREPARATION: Sacred Space
Set up a sacred space in the room where the service is to be celebrated. During the
Opening Procession the children can place symbolic gifts on this sacred space. With your students, discuss and choose what symbols best represent them as a class. For example students could bring a football to represent their love of sport.
INTRODUCTION/WELCOME:
Read by: _______________________
On behalf of 6 th class, I would like to welcome you to the 2010 __________ School
Graduation Service. We extend a special welcome to our priest, principal, staff, parents, family, and friends. Thank you for being here with us today to help us celebrate our past and our future. We share many treasured memories of our experiences at
____________ School, and we are happy to share them with you today. We pray that
Christ will be the light that guides us on our journey into post-primary education.
Please stand now and join us in singing our Gathering Song, “Christ Be Our Light”.
GATHERING SONG: Christ Be Our Light (Alive-O 8, p.273)
ENTRANCE PROCESSION: Symbols to be brought forward at this time.
Symbol: ________________ Carried by: ________________
Symbol: ________________
Symbol: ________________
Carried by: ________________
Carried by: ________________
OPENING PRAYER
Leader:
All:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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Leader: God of life, we greet you with loving and thankful hearts. In your goodness, you have come into our lives and invited us to walk in your ways. We ask you to lead our 6 th class students to know and love you even more as they begin their post-primary education. We ask this through
Christ our Lord.
Amen All:
LITURGY OF THE WORD
First Reading: Isaiah 60:19-22. Read by: __________________
Our First Reading comes from the book of a prophet called Isaiah. He tells us that the
Lord, our God, is the only light we will ever need to brighten our world.
You will no longer need the sun to light your days nor the moon to brighten your nights because God himself will be your everlasting light. The Lord will be your glory always, never to set like the sun nor wane like the moon. God will make you holy and give you what your heart desires. For you are God ’ s garden, planted by his hand, blooming to his glory. The least among you will become great; the smallest of you, mighty. The Lord will do this for you with power and purpose. And may God bless you and keep you all the days of your lives.
The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: “To Everything There is a Season”
Sung Response: Turn, Turn, Turn by Pete Seeger
Read by: _______________
The Book of Ecclesiastes stands as a reminder to believers that all things change, even our understanding of God. Our Responsorial is an adaptation of Ecclesiastes, Chapter
3, verses 1 through 8. Please join us in singing the response.
“To everything turn, turn, turn. There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
And a time for every purpose under heaven”
Student to read verse 1: _______________
A time to be born; a time to die.
A time to plant; a time to harvest
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Student to read verse 2: _______________
A time to heal; a time to rebuild
A time to laugh; a time to cry
Student to read verse 3: _______________
A time for gathering stones; a time for scattering stones.
A time to hug; a time not to hug.
Student to read verse 4: _______________
A time to find; a time not to find.
A time for keeping; a time for throwing away.
Student to read verse 5: _______________
A time to be quiet; a time to speak up.
A time for loving; a time for peace.
GOSPEL
Matthew 5:14-16. Read by: __________________
Jesus said to his disciples: “You are like a light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put in under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lamp stand where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”
LIGHTING OF CANDLES RITUAL
In this reading, Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. Through the gifts given to us at Baptism and confirmed in us at Confirmation, He invites us to share our light with others.
I would now like to invite the 6 th class children to come forward with their Baptismal candles, and to light their candles from the class candle. They can then place their candles in the sacred space. This symbolically represents their willingness to carry the light of Jesus on into post-primary school, and into the world.
Suggested Song: Christ is my Light (Alive-O 5, p. 123)
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
Leader: Loving God, we pray to you as we prepare to end our primary school days and begin post-primary school. We trust that in your love you will hear our prayers.
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Prayer 1. Read by: _______________
God of Wisdom, we pray for the Board of Management, principal and staff of
__________ School who have helped us to grow during these past eight years. We pray especially for _______ (any retiring teachers or those who are leaving). We ask that you bless them with happiness in their new endeavors. Lord, hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Prayer 2. Read by: _______________
God of Love, we pray for our parents, that they continue to guide and nurture us as we grow. May they know how much we love and appreciate them. Lord, hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Prayer 3. Read by: _______________
God of Hope, we pray that we may have the courage to share our gifts with those who need them. May we use our gifts to create a future of peace and justice for all.
Lord, hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Prayer 4. Read by: _______________
Healing God, we pray for the sick of our parish and for all our friends and relatives who are ill. Help them to feel your healing presence. Lord, hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Prayer 5. Read by: _______________
God of Compassion, we pray for those in our families, in our school and in our parish community who have died. Lord, hear us.
All: Lord graciously hear us.
Leader:
All:
God our Father, we know that you are always listening to our prayers. We pray now in the words that Jesus gave us.
Our Father…
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STUDENTS’ PRAYER
(Optional. Students may also like to write their own prayer)
Gracious God, we thank you for your ever-loving presence in our lives and for the guidance that you give us on every step on our journey. Please help us share our love, talents, and faith with those we meet. May we make a real difference in this world you have blessed us with. We pray, through Jesus Christ your Son, that as we let our lights shine, we will answer your call to love and serve. Amen.
FINAL PRAYER
Invite the graduates to stand.
Leader: 6 th Class of 2010, nurtured by the love of your parents, inspired by the guidance of your teachers, and bound by the precious gifts of friendship, you have already been blessed. As we stand proudly in the light of your achievements, we pray that you may continue to grow in mind and heart, in wisdom and compassion, in faith and gentleness. We ask this through
Christ our Lord.
All: Amen
RECESSIONAL HYMN: Go Tell Everyone (Alive-O 7, p. 301)
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