A Reading Based from Psalm 27 and Ephesians 6:10-18

A Reading Based from Psalm 27 and Ephesians 6:10-18 for Graduate Recognition

Leader - Today you move from one stage of life into another. That which lies ahead for you may seem unclear and difficult to understand. What do you say about this? Graduates - The Lord is my light and my salvation. I have no reason to fear? Leader - Then be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. Graduates - The Lord is the strength of my life. I have no reason to be afraid. Leader - Put on the full armor of God so that you will be able to stand firm in the days ahead. Graduates - When I am surrounded by evil and am under attack, my heart will not fear. Leader - You understand that our common struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, powers and dark forces of this world, and against wicked spiritual forces. Graduates - Even when all these war against me, I will still be confident in the Lord. Leader - Stand firm therefore dressed from head to toe in the truth, wearing the vest of righteousness as a shield, walking in the path of the gospel of peace. Graduates - The one thing I ask of the Lord – the one thing I seek is this: that I may find myself in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon his beauty and seek him in his holy place. Leader - Take up the shield of faith with which you may fend off all the flaming arrows sent your direction from the Evil One. Graduates - In the day of trouble, he will keep me safe; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle. Leader – Take with you the Word of God which will act as a helmet to remind you of your salvation and a weapon of the Spirit against everything that may come up against you. Graduates - He will set me high upon a sturdy rock, and I will have victory over the evil that surrounds me. Leader - May what you have spoken here today be true in every stage of your life, from this time forth and forevermore. Graduates - Let it be so. Amen. A Reading Based from Brian Wren’s Hymn “This Is a Day of New Beginnings” Copyright 1987 Hope Publishing Company

Leader - Today is a day of new beginnings -- a day to remember the past and then move on into the future. Graduates - We stand here with great joy and anticipation because this is a day of new beginnings. Leader - This is a time to believe that the love of God brings relief from pain and difficulties. Graduates - We will rely on that love to sustain us because this is a day of new beginnings. Leader - Your confidence in Christ can make a world of difference, renewing your faith and giving you hope. Graduates - We intend to make a difference in our world because this is a day of new beginnings. Leader - With the power of the Spirit, dare to step from the past and leave behind your disappointment, guilt and grief. Graduates - We leave those things behind because this is a day of new beginnings. Leader - The living Christ goes before you to show you the better way and to demonstrate what love can accomplish. Graduates - We look to Christ and his people to give direction to our future because this is a day of new beginnings. Leader - We are all in this together – in this life and the next. Graduates - We continue in the support of our friends, our families, our teachers and our parents because this is a day of new beginnings. Leader - This is a day to remember the past and then move on into the future. Graduates - This is our day of new beginnings.