Go Forth in Hope for the Future

Note

Our students are growing up in a time of great uncertainty. Life is often lived in the fast lane. We can feel as though no one has any time for us – people around us are often glued to their devices and they don’t seem to be ‘present’ to others or even to themselves. This is happening in family life as well as in society at large! Violence in relationships, mental illness, family break-up, addiction and isolation all play a part in the levels of stress and anxiety we feel in life today. In fact, our graduating students may face an uncertain future.

As baptized members of Jesus, we are called to make a difference. This liturgy focuses on the one constant in our lives – the loving presence of God. In all the insecurity and confusion God’s love never changes.

As Year 6 students leave behind their years at Primary School, they are moving into a less secure world in so many ways. They will need all the resilience and strength they can muster to adapt to this new and challenging world. This liturgy needs to highlight trust and hope in order to set a tone of optimism and confidence in the future.

As teachers, we help our graduating students to be assured of God’s peace, reassurance, courage and hope.

Our students are capable of writing their own liturgies as long as they have guidance. Once a focus has been decided, the students can be divided into groups with each group focusing on a different section of the liturgy. In this way, students feel engaged and responsible for the success of it. They can add their own ideas and creativity to the planning and execution of it. This needs plenty of time and students will need plenty of support.

The following are suggestions and ideas that you may wish to integrate into a Eucharistic Liturgy or a Liturgy of the Word or Prayer Ritual for this event.

Symbols that may inspire ideas

• candles, lanterns, light, sunrise
• stars, hearts, hands or footprints
• anchor, butterfly, dove, rainbow
• roadway, rocks, mountains or rivers
• treasure chest, signpost, lighthouse
• symbol significant to school
• cross, shepherd, eagle, cloud (images of God)

Scripture suggestions that may inspire

• Jeremiah 1: 4-9 I will give you words and a wisdom…
• Jeremiah 29: 11-13 I alone know the plans I have for you…
• Ephesians 3: 14-20 I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts…
• Matthew 5: 13-16 You are a light for the world…
• Galatians 5: 22 – 23 Fruits of the Spirit…
• Romans 8: 26-28 The Spirit comes to help us…
• Luke 6: 27-36 Love for enemies…
• 1 Corinthians 13: 1-7 Love is patient and kind…
• Colossians 3: 12-17 Clothe you selves in compassion…
• Matthew 5: 3-12 The Beatitudes…
• Mark 4: 35-41 Jesus calms a storm…
• Luke 12: 22-31 Trust in God…

Suggested Psalms

Many of these can be found in song form

• Psalm 16
• Psalm 23
• Psalm 27
• Psalm 62: 1-2, 5-8
• Psalm 121
• Psalm 131

Rituals

• During the Entrance Procession students could bring in items that have been important in their years at the school or symbols that reflect the theme e.g. hearts, lanterns.
• If using Galatians 5: 22-23, during the Entrance Procession children could carry in large cards with the Gifts of the Spirit written on them, or images that convey the ideas.
• During the Entrance Procession students walk in two by two, stand at the front facing the congregation, pause, and then go to their seats.
• During the Entrance Procession students walk in with their parents and sit with them.
• During the Gospel Acclamation, a student walks in carrying the Word of God up high for all to see, while 2 or 4 students walk beside carrying large lit candles.
• Gathering ritual. Students could carry in their own symbol e.g. a star with their name on it, a candle with their name or a symbol on it, their name on a card, a cardboard heart with their name on it, and it could be placed in a pre-ordained place.
• Offertory Procession. Bring forward symbols of their year or school after the bread and wine.
• Post-Communion reflection. Children could give their parents a thank you letter, expressing their gratitude for their parents love and support during these difficult times. (This will need to be well-prepared beforehand.)
• Post-Communion reflection. Parents could give their children a letter which is positive and uplifting in tone, and expresses optimism and confidence in the future and in their children’s ability to be strong and courageous. It could offer them encouragement, love and support.
• Post-Communion reflection. Parents say together a prayer (see below) asking God to bless their children and to help them be trusting and hopeful.
• Reflection time. A special song which fits in with the theme could be played/sung after Communion perhaps by the students.
• Sacred Space. Use cloths in the colours that students have chosen during planning together with chosen symbols. Make them large so that everyone can see them.
• Hang large banners in the theme colours with relevant quote from scripture, words or symbols on them. In general, symbols are more effective than words as the meaning is more expansive.

Homily Notes

Make connections between the message in the readings and the purpose of the celebration. For example:

• In the First Reading St Paul tells us what the fruits of the Holy Spirit are – joy, love, peace, patience, faithfulness, goodness, kindness, humility and self-control. St Paul is saying that if you are a person of the Spirit, these are the qualities that you will produce and show to others. In our world today, there is an even greater need for us to show these fruits.
• Jesus outlines ways for us to be happy. If we follow his words and live them out in our lives, we will be happy.
• So, as you go forth from here to begin a new chapter in your lives, I encourage you to listen to the Spirit who will help you make right decisions and give you power to be strong in faith and love.
• As we go forward into an uncertain future, it can be daunting and overwhelming. But with God to lean on we need never feel afraid.
• We have people who love us to help us with the questions and worries that we have, and God works within and through those people to bring us comfort, support and assurance.
• God promises to be with us always, never leaving us, bringing us comfort, peace and courage. God’s light always shines on us and in us.

Prayers

• • Teach the students the “You, Who, Do, Through” structure for prayer. For example: You (address God)
    e.g., Loving God, Creator God, God of the Journey, God of New Beginnings, etc, Who (describe God)
    e.g., you are always present in our lives. OR
    you love us more than we can imagine.Do (ask God to do something for us)
    e.g., Give us strength and courage as we move forward to another part of our lives. OR
    Calm our troubled hearts and minds and bring us peace.Through (Trinitarian ending)
    e.g., We pray to God through Jesus and so we say Amen. OR
    We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

• Using the above pattern, students can write the opening and final prayers for the liturgy. The Opening and Closing Prayers are usually similar in ideas.
• Before the liturgy, have students write their own intentions for the Prayer of the Faithful focusing on the theme of the liturgy. Give them a structure and decide on the response together.

Final Blessing

• Children kneel, and presider/leader prays a blessing over them.
• During this song, students leaving could stand with their parents
  who put their hands on their child’s shoulders.
  A Parents’ Prayer (Andrew Chinn – In Joyful Hope)
  OR
  A Father’s Love, a Mother’s Love (Andrew Chinn – Rise Up)
• The congregation could sing either of these blessing songs on the children who are leaving.
  The children could stand.
  God Be with You as You Go (Andrew Chinn – In Joyful Hope)
  OR
  An Irish Blessing (Andrew Chinn – Wherever I Go)
  OR
  A Blessing Song (Monica Brown – Praise & Blessings)
• Parents and children kneel, and presider/leader prays a blessing over them.
• Children process out with their candle/star/heart/other symbol.

Alternative Blessing Ideas: (Choose 3)

• May our loving God keep you from all harm and bless you with every good gift. All: Amen
• May God set the Word in your heart and fill you with everlasting joy. All: Amen
• May you continue to dream, letting the light of Christ shine through you. All: Amen
• May God hold your hand and your heart and lead you safely forward. All: Amen
• May your footsteps be strong and sure, trusting in God always. All: Amen.
• May your hearts be filled with constant hope, peace and joy. All: Amen.
• May God walk with you each day and carry you when you are weary. All: Amen.
• May God’s love, Jesus’ presence and the Spirit’s strength guide you today and always. All: Amen

Music Suggestions

• One Holy Spirit (Andrew Chinn – In Joyful Hope)
• Come, O Come Holy Spirit (Michael Mangan – This We Believe)
• Guiding Light (Andrew Chinn – These Hands)
• Forever I Will Sing (Michael Mangan – Forever I Will Sing)
• Come Holy Spirit (Monica Brown – A Special Collection)
• Thank God (Jen Charadia – At the Well)
• Wherever You Go (Andrew Chinn – Wherever You Go)
• You are My Shepherd (Michael Mangan – Forever I Will Sing)
• Emmaus Song (Monica Brown – A Special Collection)
• Christ be Our Light (Bernadette Farrell – Gather Australia)
• Spirit Be with Us (John Burland – Sacred Moments)
• You Are the Light (Michael Mangan – Forever I Will Sing)
• We Eat This Bread (Jen Charadia – Renew Our Hearts)
• Our Supper Invitation (Kevin Bates – Gather Australia)
• Let Your Light Shine (Andrew Chinn – Let Your Light Shine)
• Walk into the Light (Jen Charadia – Renew Our Hearts)
• Psalm 91 (Michael Mangan – Forever I Will Sing)
• Christ Is My Light (Andrew Chinn – Let Your Light Shine)
• God be with you as you go – (Andrew Chinn – In Joyful Hope)
• Life’s a Celebration (John Burland – Let’s Celebrate Two)
• It’s Not Goodbye (John Burland – One Family)
• Live in the Light (Michael Mangan – This We Believe)
• My Plans for You (Monica Brown – A Special Collection)
• A Blessing Song (Monica Brown – Praise & Blessings)