05-25-13.  Attended Upper Javier Vacation Church School graduation for a group of 25 children, ages 5 years old to teen-age. They were so excited & proud to be graduating.  Missions Pastor Orlan Leal, Taytay United Methodist Church, lead the graduation with the teachers, 7 Deaconess students from Harris Memorial College.  After praise singing & worship, the students received their Graduation Certificates for Best Attendance, Most Energetic, and Completing Vacation Church School.  Pastor Leal is moving to a new church June 1 & will miss Upper Javier.  Pastor Leal's email is orlanleal@yahoo.com.

   Pastor Kevin Otto of my home church, St Stephens United Methodist Church, reminds us on Sunday mornings to “..use words when necessary..”.  I had a feeling I would be called to speak at graduation, thus I wrote down my thoughts (to be prepared this time).  

   Thank you for inviting me to join you today. A very long time ago I also attended Vacation Bible School when I was your age. I learned about Jesus, that Jesus was born on Christmas Eve, that he loved all the little children all over the world, that he died on the cross for all of our sins so that we may be renewed in life.  Let us remember:  to practice what the teachers and Pastor teach us form the Bible; that we should follow God’s laws, and when we do this God will smile upon us with His grace and love. Let us bow our head to pray, repeat after me:

     Dear Lord.  Thank you for our wonderful teachers and Pastor. Help us to continue growing and learning more about Jesus. Help us when we pray and to remember others in our prayers. God bless our mothers and fathers every day.  In Jesus name. Amen.