Bridging Ceremony Held for Our Recent High School Graduates

At 7 pm on Saturday, June 13, approximately 25 UUers gathered to mark the public transition to young adulthood for Thomas, Oliver, and Kaela. In our tradition this is also called bridging. The ceremony was held outdoors on the office lawn, with the audience sitting in or near their cars, with handmade signs. 

The parking lot closest to the office was brightly decorated with chalk drawings via the talents of Nora Smith (Coordinator of Family Ministries), and Lelia, Maggie and Sawyer (UUFH youth).  Nora welcomed everyone, and read from the piece by Julie Brock The Best Age Yet from the book Becoming:  A Spiritual Guide for Navigating Adulthood. One part of the piece reads:

This is a Holy time for me, because in it I learn to rely on community. I always say my mother give me life twice. First when she gave birth to me, and then again when she raised me in the Unitarian Universalist faith. I was raised with a built-in family. I was raised in the loving arms of Unitarian Universalist youth and young adult culture. I sustain my joy by reaching out to that community during the hard times. –Julie Brock

Jim McKinley addressed the graduates, noting that this was an auspicious time, and that their life task was to become who they are, and to trust in their ability to do this. In doing so, Jim explained, they would thrive, or flourish .  Jim connected  the concept of flourishing, which comes from the root word “flower,” to the roses with thorns which the graduates received.  They were reminded that they had received roses without thorns upon entry to the congregation when they were little. 

Interim Minister, Don Rollins, also addressed the grads giving them three values to remember: religious freedom, supportive community and social justice. He charged them to live out and share those three values as ambassadors for UUism and explained that for some that cross their paths, the only thing they’ll know about us is what they will show them.

Then each grad addressed the audience, thanking them for their support.  Nora concluded the ceremony with appreciation for all who gathered and thanked the bridgers for coming to church and for allowing UUFH to be a part of their lives.