Sharon Latour
A Pastor’s Persepctive
This week the local schools will celebrate their students’ graduation for 2008. What a wonderful cause for celebration! It’s interesting that one of the definitions for the word “graduate,” in addition to receiving an academic degree, is “to change gradually.” That’s the part I’d like to talk about today.
It seems to me that we tend to consider school graduates as finished with something, rather than being prepared to begin something new. That our graduates are still very tender in the stage they have just completed and in need of continued support and care.
That is what is behind a local party being offered to our 58 seniors and their younger friends at South Fork High School on June 13, right after their graduation ceremony reception. Called by different names in different places across the United States, Safe and Sober Grad Night is a fun and safe place for the grads and their friends to be loved on by the community one more time.
I’m told we held Safe and Sober Grad Nights here until five years ago, when for some reason, the junior classes’ boosters didn’t pull off that
With so much already going on this coming weekend (the rodeo, biker’s weekend, Father’s Day) most parents are already scheduled for their annual fundraising commitments to these events. But never fear.
Going outside the norm, school faculty, parents, and other community members have stepped up to provide a 2008 Safe and Sober Grad Night on a smaller scale. South Fork Spanish teacher Dena Rovai is leading the mighty band that will provide food and fun at this Friday’s site: the renovated Presbyterian Church in Garberville. (437 Maple Lane, 923-3295)
From 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. there will be food, 50-inch wide-screen movies all night, space for live or DJ music in the fellowship hall with dancing, and room for live bands in the sanctuary space. There are board and card games, and air hockey and ping pong tables. And gifts.
We celebrate all our 2008 graduates. We take a breath with them and say, “Well done.” And let’s consider that theirs is a gradual growing into the fullness of all they are meant to be. And it doesn’t have to be something lonely, but rather, done with the loving support and continued care and guidance of the community that has seen them to this point in their lives: It’s graduated growth.
If you’d like to help on Friday in any way, offer gifts or food for the grads, or would care to help supervise this event, please call Donna at 943-3144 or Dena Rovai at 943-3144 extension 3119, both at South Fork High School.
Thank you and Shalom!
(Note for Friday Night Youth high schoolers and volunteers: Most will attend graduation from 7-9 p.m., but those who prefer, we’ll plan to watch a film on Friday at 6 p.m., and then help prepare for Safe and Sober Night, at the Community Presbyterian Church in Garberville.)
Sharon is pastor of the Garberville Community Presbyterian Church. Services are open to all on Sundays at 11 a.m. Comments or questions should be addressed to: Dr. Sharon Latour, c/o A Pastor’s Perspective P.O. Box 65, Garberville, CA 95542. (707) 923-3295.
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