After service Sunday evening at Hope Family Chapel, Hannah and Jonah Musser posed for Tasbah Lavery for pictures with the star quilts with which the church honored the 2025 high school graduates.
The next morning, we learned that our pastor's wife in White River had volunteered that Crystal could play piano for the baccalaureate service at White River High School on Wednesday. Crystal had less than two days notice to practice! The last two years, after covid, there had been no music whatever, and if the local pastors don't step up, there might not even be a baccalaureate service. The school does not do a baccalaureate service (probably because it is religious), but this particular school allows local pastors to do a service if they wish.
Well, our local pastors do wish to do so.
Could Crystal play a prelude, a special song, and music during the time of prayer for each of the graduates? She hunted through her stash of sacred music and tried to find arrangements suitable for this occasion.
"Shine on Us" is an upbeat song perfect for a prelude; "Be Thou My Vision" would serve for the special, a hymn that prays for wisdom.
"Dona Nobis Pacem," with a simple and beautiful arrangement, would work for the prayer time which took place after a Pastor John shared a message. Local pastors laid their hands on each of the students in turn, taking turns praying for each one. One of them was the son of Crystal's boss at Sweet Spot Hotel.
Most of the graduates had family present who went up with that graduate at their prayer time, but two of them had no one. One young lady graduate went up with each of those two, so they would not have to go up alone. It was very precious.
I told her so afterward. When a young person steps up to be kind, it is worth an onlooker's notice and encouragement.
The local Nazarene pastor shared a gospel message at the end, laying before the graduates the importance of choosing God, believing in Christ, and counting the cost of how one can gain the whole world, but if he loses his soul, is it worth it?
Afterward, the pastors and graduates insisted that Crystal join them for the photo shoot that will go into next week's local newspaper.
I was so thankful that Crystal's hard work at music practice through the years enables her to minister in music in unexpected and meaningful ways and venues!
Who would have thought that this week Jonathan and I would be attending a baccalaureate service for graduates we don't know
because our daughter is playing music?
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