PRAYER FOR 50TH CLASS REUNION

O Giver of life – we are here to celebrate 5 decades of life in the real world. Two score and 10 years ago the class of ’64 left the friendly confines of Wapak High on a journey full of victories and defeats, joys and sorrows, a journey that has taught us how precious each day is. We didn’t learn everything we needed to know in kindergarten, or even from Miss Hunt or Mr. Krebs or Mrs. Miller, or even from Mr. Bigelow or Coach Rose or Cappizello. We are all still students in the school of life, and we thank you for what we have learned and are learning from each other, from children and grandchildren.

Just as our long ago graduation was a commencement and not an end, this rite of passage tonight is another new beginning. It is an opportunity to share memories and laughter, to be inspired by the contributions we are making collectively and as individuals to the betterment of life on this planet. We know it is not up to us to solve the world’s problems, and that’s a very good thing; but it is up to us to be the best citizens, friends, parents, grandparents, spouses and partners we can be. Help us always use what we have learned and are learning to leave a positive legacy behind for those who follow in our footsteps.

So we celebrate the lessons learned so long ago in the classrooms and in the extracurricular activities at WHS, but also the human life skills we learned in friendships, in teamwork, in musical and dramatic presentations. We express our gratitude for the teachers and school staff who put up with us, we give thanks for the classmates and spouses who worked hard to make this weekend possible, and now we ask your blessing on the food we are about to eat and the fellowship we share around these tables.

For all that has been we say thanks, and for all that is yet to be, we say a resounding, Yes!
Amen.

[Written for the Wapakoneta, Ohio High School class of 1964 50th class reunion, September 21, 2014.]

43 thoughts on “PRAYER FOR 50TH CLASS REUNION

  1. Dear Steve, I was so moved by this prayer. . . thank you for the beautiful way it is so full of understanding and so inclusive of the many aspects of life! Your class was blessed to have this prayer!

  2. I am asking your permission to use parts of your prayer for our 50 th class reunion in October. It is a lovely expression for a reunion. Thank you. Diane Coolbaughd

  3. Hello from Canada! I have been asked to say the farewell benediction at my 56th nurses reunion in April. May I please us portions of your wonderful prayer in the ceremony? Many Thanks. Virginia Lynn

  4. Loved your class reunion prayer. I am composing a prayer for my 50th reunion & would like to use some of the inspiring thoughts you wrote. Thank you

  5. Hello! Mr. Steve H,

    Just would like to ask your permission to let me use your invocation prayer to our 50TH Class Reunion. i find it very inspiring and hoping that my classmates would be very touch and move by your inspiring thoughts..thanking you in advance.

  6. Steve,
    I am also asking permission to share some of your lines.
    Awesome thoughts for life and our reunion

  7. Lovely Prayer. I have been asked to do either the Invocation or Benediction at 0ur 50th Class Reunion. Asking permission to use some of your lines as they are oh so fitting to anyone that reaches this milestone.

  8. Dear Steve, I have been asked to say the blessing at our 50th high school class reunion on Oct. 20th and have been struggling with what I can say that will bring meaning and express what many of our classmates may be feeling or thinking. I happened to come across your lovely prayer, and I would like to ask your permission to use some of your words and lines, which I am sure will touch, bless, and inspire all who are attending our special evening. Thank you so very much, and may God continue to richly bless your life. Sincerely, Debbie Seward Wilson, Loveland, Ohio class of 1968.

  9. Great prayer. May I use some thoughts from it on our 50th class reunion celebration? Thanks in advance. Bob R.

  10. Beautiful prayer. I read it several times and each time it opened forgotten memories of my cherished high school years. I was just ask today to give the prayer at my 50th class reunion this coming Sat May I please have permission to share with others lines of your inspiring and reflective words? As your poem has taken me back in time it has also brought a new light upon the future.

  11. Hi Ste
    ve…I too would like to use some of your prayer at our 50th reunion…Tempe High School…thanks Ed Grant

  12. HI Steve, May I please use parts of this for my 50th class reunion? I love it and it is good!

  13. Hello there! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a blog article or vice-versa? My website discusses a lot of the same topics as yours and I think we could greatly benefit from each other. If you are interested feel free to send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!

    1. Hi, just found your comment. Thanks for the interest. Send me the link to your blog, and I’ll give your idea some thought. I’ve not done that, but it might be fun. Thanks for the encouraging word.

  14. I am attempting to prepare a blessing to be delivered at my 50th class reunion for Madison College, now JMU. I would like to use some of your phrases. Your wordsmithing creates just the feeling I hope to produce in my blessing.

  15. The message you have crafted within this prayer are very meaningful, and I would like to use many of the lines and phrases for the invocation & benediction of my upcoming reunion, many of us celebrating 50 years as alumni. May I have your permission?

    1. Sorry I didn’t see this sooner. You may use whatever you want. I hope it isn’t too late and if so I hope you used it anyway. Hope you have/had a great reunion.

  16. May I have permission to use some of your lines in my upcoming 50th class reunion prayer?

  17. Steve this is very well written. I along with others who has asked am asking your permission to use parts of the Pray for our 50th class reunion at the end of August 2022. Thank you!

  18. Our class reunion is on the horizon, and your beautiful prayer is so inspiring! May I use some of it to bless our gathering? Ginney

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s