Welcome and Farewell (but not goodbye)

Today we will welcome twenty people into membership at St. Paul's. Some are young people who have grown up in the congregation and will be confirmed. Others have gone through the Exploring Our Faith classes at a later stage of life. Some join us from other congregations and denominations. It's great to bring them into our community of Christian faith and life!

We will also send forth some of our young people this morning. Three fine young men, all of whom have provided excellent leadership at St. Paul's through Sunday School, music, tech support, and church courts will head off to university in the Fall. The service will include a leave-taking prayer and what I'm calling a "Holy Scrum" of other youth to say fare well, but not goodbye.

Here is our prayer for them:

Christ our Light and Hope, we ask that your Spirit be present in
the lives of Christopher, Jonathan, and Josh as they take their leave from us
to further their education.

Let them know in their heads and feel in their hearts
 that they are not alone,
that wherever they go the family of St. Paul’s cares for them
and prays for them.

Allow them to reflect your light in their new settings,
and sustain their faith in you.
Your blessing, blessing, blessing be upon them.

Amen.
Adios Amigos! (go with God, friends)

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