Students bid farewell in service

So long... and best of luck. Photo by Kristina Coulter

"Entering Sisters, Population 1,080," the sign reads. But not for long. Some are leaving.

The Baccalaureate Service at Sisters' Community Church on Thursday, June 5, prepared Sisters seniors for what was to come the following day -- high school graduation.

There were songs of sincerity, words of wisdom and scenes of remembrance of the place these kids have called home.

Senior Josh Rodriguez, strapped into his acoustic guitar, kicked off the service. He led the audience in a set of worship songs, just as he has all year at youth group. This will be his last performance upfront, at least for this audience.

Jim Gurney, Pastor of Student Ministries at Sisters Community Church, gave the audience an opportunity to express their thoughts to the current graduates. At first, volunteers were timid.

"Some of you I know well and I will call on you," Gurney said as he waited. Soon they gained confidence.

Softball coach Scott Lair remembered when his softball girls were in Little League and were "so cute and so little and now they are flying the coop," he said.

Brook Brand has volunteered for the past four years at the Hangar, where the Sisters Community Church youth group meets on Wednesdays. Brand started helping when these girls were freshman.

"The best gift will be to see you later and see what God has done in your life," she said.

Even some underclassmen expressed regret to see these seniors move on.

"What are we going to do without the 'pit-wiggers'?" asked junior Misty Macauley. The 'pit-wiggers' are a rowdy, high-spirited group of high school guys that dress up -- wigs and all -- and act as male cheerleaders.

Gurney concluded the time of sharing with a message of his own. He spoke to the graduating class not as an adult, but as a friend.

"The weird thing is I'm 35-years-old and I feel like you guys are my friends," Gurney said.

He thanked these kids for the influence they have had on his life.

What better way to touch Generation X than with a music video? A short film dedicated to the Class of 2003 showed the drive through Sisters accompanied by the lyrics of a popular Green Day song: "I hope you had the time of your life."

The video included interviews with teachers, school administrators and merchants in town who knew these students, each giving advice to the departing class.

Bus driver "Miss Judy" reminisced about when these seniors were in elementary school and tripped on their way up the bus stairs.

Interim Principal Bob Macauley summed it all up: "I'd like to remind you guys (that you) have been given much and much is going to be expected from you in return," he said. "But much is being asked of the right people."

The last scene of the film showed that familiar green Sister's population sign.

But it did look a little different.

Instead it read, "Leaving Sisters, Class of 2003."