Dear God, bless these graduates who stand before us.
They represent years of our love, an eternity of Yours...
our hard work and sacrifice, Your work of supreme sacrifice...
our patience, Your steadfast love which endures forever.
Now, Lord, we pray...
May their diplomas indicate not only facts learned, but wisdom gained.
May their commencement be not only an ending, but a new beginning.
May their celebrations be not only a time of satisfaction, but of thanksgiving.
May their food be not only cake which feeds the stomach,
but the Bread of Life which feeds the soul.
May their reading be not only from books, but from The Book.
May their friendships be not only with those beside them,
but with the One within them.
In their future, so full of possibilities and peril,
may You be there to walk beside them,
to lift them above their struggles,
to wait for them in their wanderings,
to embrace them in Your love.
We pray it in Your Son’s name. Amen.

—Rev. Dr. John G. Hamilton