Pastor tells graduates to live with God today
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

The aftermath of the celebration of receiving diplomas left lots of silly string to contend with.

Cherish yesterday, dream tomorrow, live today.

That is the message Reverend Darlene Kline chose to impart to Greencastle-Antrim seniors at Baccalaureate Services Thursday at the high school. She based her message on Jeremiah 1:4-8, Psalm 119:9-11, and I Timothy 4:11-12.

New to Greencastle Presbyterian Church, she wondered what the Class of 2007 would think of a gray-haired lady they didn't know.

She confirmed that the threshold to their future was the same as it had been for her.

Commencement was an ending and a beginning. For every one there was another, she said.

The secret of success continued to be "you".

She credited the seniors with recognizing the importance of God by attending the service.

"Choosing to live in a manner that is pleasing and obedient to God makes dreams possible."

Kline noted that the students now want to be free, after years of submission to parents and other authority figures. That yielding formed a foundation, a past to be cherished.

From left, are, valedictorians Matt George and Mark Mohler, and salutatorians Emily Izer and Katie Barnhart.

She encouraged the youth to be cautious in society.

"There is a lot of drivel in the mass media. The country is obsessed with appearance. It's not unusual to want to fit in."

She said God wants them to like themselves for who they are.

"We leave a trace of ourselves in everything we do. The imprint of God is on us all the time, for all time."

Kline wished for them wholeness in mind, body and spirit, the latter of which was often neglected.

"You have the responsibility and obligation to train yourself in Godliness," she said. "You will then be able to handle the sorrows and the joys."

She then led the full auditorium in the recitation of The Lord's Prayer.

The Concert Band participated in the program under the direction of Samuel Forney. It played "Amazing Grace" and "A Longford Legend" for the Prelude, "Grand March" for the Processional and "Fanfare and Recessional"' for the Recessional.

REV. DARLENE KLINE

The Concert Choir, under the direction of Winifred Harvie, sang "I am But a Small Voice."

The audience joined in on 'O God, Our Help in Ages Past' and 'God of Our Fathers.'

Reverend Floyd Myers presented the Invocation, Prayer for Understanding and Benediction.