Albion’s Class of 2025 receives a blessing from local clergy at baccalaureate service

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Rev. Susan Thaine, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Albion, speaks with students on Sunday evening before they entered the church for the baccalaureate service.

Thaine gave the students a blessing before the service started.

“You and God are a hybrid,” she told them. “You are special together.”

She said the local churches are resources as they start the next chapters of their lives, whether they go to college, the military or right into the work force, whatever they decide to do. Thaine told the students they are always welcome to call her if they want someone to talk to.

“This service is a reminder that you don’t walk along,” she said. “You walk with God.”

Dillon DiGiulio lights a candle with other classmates during Sunday’s baccalaureate service. They also had the option of receiving a cross necklace and having a local clergy member prayer with them.

Father Mark Noonan, priest of One Catholic, prays with student Peyton Robinson. Many of the students asked the local pastors to pray with them.

Some of the class members posed for a group photo outside of the historic church. The service is optional for students. There were nearly 50 seniors at the service, which doubled the participation from a year ago.

The Rev. Dr. Brenda Bierdeman, a pastor at the Albion Free Methodist Church – Community of Hope, gave the keynote address. Bierdeman told the graduates that their everyday decisions, thoughts and words will determine the type of person they are and how they are known to others.

“What you do is not nearly as important as who you are,” she said.

Bierdeman urged them to be deliberate with their words, and not say whatever pops in their head. That goes for what they text and what they post on social media.

“Is it true, is it helpful, is it kind?” she asked the students.

She encouraged them to use language that lifts up others, and inspires confidence and courage.

She also urged them to seek out a relationship with God through Jesus.

“God will never turn his back on you,” she said.

Rori Higgins also shared a blessing with the class. Other classmates read scripture, including Leo Bolton, Oliver Beach and Madalyn Ashbery. Mallory Kozody also shared a prayer with the group.

About 250 people attended the service at the First Presbyterian Church.

The High School Select Choir sang, “Ave Verum Corpus.” Cassandra Brown also played a flute solo, “For The Beauty of the Earth,” and Mallory Kozody played a solo on her clarinet, “Come, Thou Fount.”