Our church hosted the annual baccalaureate service for the 2013 graduates of Rock Hill High School last night, something we’ve done for a number of years. David Mitchell and Will Beaty took the lead in coordinating this service with a group of the graduates and they did an especially good job this year.

Shelton Sanford and I led the effort more than 20 years ago to revive this tradition for our local high schools, which had been discontinued for several years. We worked with district and school officials to design an approach that met legal requirements, while also being a Christian worship service that was hopefully meaningful for the graduates and their families. It’s been a joy for me to be part of the leadership team that ensures these services occur each year in our community.

There was a time when baccalaureates were common and all students participated. Times have changed and how we organize and conduct a baccalaureate has had to also change. But that is true of many things in our lives.

Changing times don’t necessarily mean we can’t be effective or do good things any more. However, changing times do mean we can’t do things the way we’ve always done them. It is equally true that complaining about the changing times doesn’t accomplish anything positive. What makes a difference is finding a way forward…finding a way to do good and effective ministry in today’s context. In ministry, as well as in life, this principle is true.

Pastor Steve Hogg

PS Congratulations to this year’s graduates and their families