Comments on: Senior Sunday

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 25 May 2006 19:42:30 +0000

Tami:
We are in Montgomery, Alabama. Good to hear from you. If you will click on my name in the blog responses, it will take you to my agency website in which you can e-mail me. You can also go to grace-pointe.com and find Polly’s e-mail and send her a note. she is the children’s minister there. We look forward to conversing.
The Lord bless.

By: Tami White

Tami White — Thu, 25 May 2006 01:39:54 +0000

Greg Sallas: Yes!!! It’s me!! I live in Gainesville, TX now and I got remarried last Sept. Where are you and Polly now?

By: Lynn Cook

Lynn Cook — Wed, 24 May 2006 01:59:48 +0000

Mike,

We also try to honor our seniors for who they are in Christ, not their GPA. Some years back we introduced a follow up Wednesday night event called Senior Celebration where we ask our senior parents to bless their seniors in the context of our church family. Over the years it has been a most moving experience to hear the written blessings our parents give their sons and daughters. (We ask them to write it so that the seniors can keep it for years to come.) It is a great “faith ceremony” that our church has come to value and look forward to.

By: Heather Alkire

Heather Alkire — Tue, 23 May 2006 22:32:49 +0000

I experienced Senior Sunday from a different perspective this year. I vividly remember my own Senior Sunday just three years ago. It feels like yesterday! And yet on Sunday, my little brother was the first to walk onstage and receive his Bible. It doesn’t seem possible! Maybe I’m too young to have that “Kids grow up too fast” mentality, but it’s true! I feel old having a baby brother who’s graduating!

The neatest thing to me about Senior Sunday this year was the way that two seniors who have experienced significant losses in their lives were able to honor their loved one, Taylor by mentioning Brody as an influence on his life (Is there a life in this church Brody has not influenced??) and Kimberly by using a baby picture of her and her dad. It was very touching. I love this tradition!

By: Patrick Mead

Patrick Mead — Tue, 23 May 2006 20:40:11 +0000

After one more year where we honored seniors that never darkened our doors after they got their own cars, we now only announce honors when they are connected to church, mission, and kingdom work. No GPA’s or sports letters are given. We wanted to give precedence to those who continued faithful throughout their high school years.

By: karen

karen — Tue, 23 May 2006 14:35:22 +0000

thanks, mike for your encouraging “charge” to the seniors about being letters from GOD, not written with ink, but with His spirit. you made the message come alive as pictures of these young adults flashed on the screen, first as young babies, and then to see how they have grown into young adults. it is such a blessing to know that our church family stands with these seniors as they are “launched” into the world.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Tue, 23 May 2006 13:41:40 +0000

NOT THE OPEN HOUSES! Joyce, we just moved to Texas from Michigan about 18 months ago and I remember being SO overwhelmed at all of the open houses! I never understood the true meaning behind it since so many parents felt like it was a ‘must do’ for this child and not a ‘want to’.

I’m so glad I’m not about to graduate high school and enter that next stage. What a scary time! And it seemed like we all knew everything about everything, too. God bless all those know-it-alls!

By: Greg Sallas

Greg Sallas — Tue, 23 May 2006 02:22:30 +0000

Tami:
Are you the Tami that roomed with Gayle and Polly at ACU back in about 1980?

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 23 May 2006 01:53:54 +0000

When I first read your title, I thought the ‘Senior Sunday’ meant a tribute to all the wonderful retired folk you have at Highland. God sure has raised a group of mentors in that bunch throughout the years! Shows how ancient I’m getting in my perception!

It’s great you have so many kids, and have had such a spiritual impact on your youth. I was blessed years ago to have that encouragement from Highland. It is so wonderful to know that the church there is continually developing and growing its ministry to the youth and their families. And the mission trips have always been a hallmark of that process.

May he bless your encouragement in the lives of these kids who are stepping out on their faith journey with him in new adventures.

By: Tami White

Tami White — Tue, 23 May 2006 00:38:45 +0000

Mike,
My daugther was one of the seniors honored yesterday morning at Highland. Her and my other daughter live in Abilene with their dad and I attend Highland with them when I’m in town to visit. I really appreciate all of the wonderful christians who have influenced both of my daughters’ lives and I’ve grown to love Highland myself!! I finally had a chance to meet you yesterday and I just want to say how much I appreciate you and Diane’s influence on my daughter, Brittani. Brittani mentioned Diane by name as the person who has influenced her the most at Highland and that really means a lot to me!! I don’t live in Abilene and can’t be there daily to be with my children and it really does my heart good to have strong Christ-filled people who influence their lives!! Thanks!!! I read your blog often and I really enjoy it.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 22 May 2006 21:02:01 +0000

Thanks Mike your right and it’s good to hear who influences are kids.

By: KentF

KentF — Mon, 22 May 2006 16:42:23 +0000

I’m the proud parent of one of our six seniors from Senior Sunday yesterday. I do agree with Mike that reading off the exhaustive list of each senior’s accomplishment can get a bit overwhelming for some - particularly of you had 48 of ‘em. I’ve seen all methods to promote SS - but we had a great one last night - a wonderful-themed dinner; an absolutely hilarious skit where the underclassmen give us their best senior impersonations, a tear-jerking music/video/photo-recollecition of each senior with their voice-overs, and, a Bible presentation to each senior. Congrats and onward and upward to ACU!

By: SG

SG — Mon, 22 May 2006 16:41:41 +0000

I’m with Grant…during our whole senior Sunday slideshow yeasterday I kept thinking “That will be Kolby in 10 years.” Oh my! Makes me realize how short and precious this time with our children is! Does it make me sound old to say it is all going by so fast? Love Sr. Sunday!

By: Grant

Grant — Mon, 22 May 2006 16:34:21 +0000

I am worthless on Senior Sundays. I spend the entire service choking back tears, only to lose it when someone like Taylor Hill says the person who influenced him the most was his late and little brother, Brody.

I think I’d be happy if our kids stayed 9, 7, and 4 forever.

By: Kelley

Kelley — Mon, 22 May 2006 15:17:56 +0000

Wow 48 seniors?!!!! Make me realize how small our congregation is. We had Senior Sunday yesterday too and there were 3.