<p> GIFTED AND GRACED BY GOD! Grade 8 Farewell Liturgy June 2007</p><p>OPENING SONG: Gather Your People (# 111 Spirit and Song)</p><p>LEADER: Let us begin our celebration in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.</p><p>ALL: Amen.</p><p>LEADER: Loving God, we thank you for the many gifts you have bestowed on these Grade 8 students. Grant them the graces they need to always walk in the light of your love and truth. Strengthen their faith in you and fill them with the courage to follow you in all that they do. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. </p><p>ALL: Amen.</p><p>LEADER: Please be seated as we listen to the Word of God. </p><p>READER: A reading from the letter of Paul to the Phillipians</p><p>(from a lectionary or Bible, clearly proclaim Phillipians 3:12-16)</p><p>The Word of the Lord.</p><p>ALL: Thanks be to God.</p><p>PSALM: Psalm 145 (#184 CBWIII)</p><p>LEADER: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.</p><p>ALL: Glory to you, O Lord.</p><p>LEADER: (from a lectionary or Bible, clearly proclaim Matthew 15:12-17)</p><p>The Gospel of the Lord.</p><p>ALL: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.</p><p>REFLECTION: The leader or a guest homilist offers a reflection based on the readings and how they apply to the lives of the members of the gathered assembly, especially the Grade 8 students. PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL: These prayers should be composed and read by the Grade 8 students and should include the following:  For the Church  For our country  For a social need in the world  For the Grade 8 students</p><p>The first person should announce “The response to each intention is: Lord, hear our prayer.”</p><p>LEADER: Let us pray together as Jesus taught us. </p><p>ALL: Our Father….</p><p>LEADER: Please stand. Let us pray. Generous and merciful God, we thank you for the gifts and talents of these students. Bless them abundantly with your grace and lead them where you would have them go. Bless also their parents, guardians, and teachers as they continue to guide their learning. And may the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm as we go forward from this place. </p><p>ALL: Amen.</p><p>LEADER: May God bless us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.</p><p>ALL: Amen.</p><p>LEADER: Go in peace.</p><p>ALL: Thanks be to God. </p><p>LEADER: Please join in singing our closing song, Go Light Your World (#112 Spirit and Song)</p>