I think this is an excellent piece for use in churches. While it is most likely geared toward graduating high school students, the language is general enough where with minor revisions it could be used for college students as well. One thing it does particularly well is draw in the entire community of faith—the pastor, the graduates, and the congregation all have parts, and each is supportive of the others. A criticism I’ve seen of other pieces like this is that it leaves out the congregation’s call to continue to care for and pray for those who are being sent out…this does not do that. By including the entire assembly, we have a model similar to Parker Palmer’s learning web, where all the learners are interconnected. I also found it important that the graduates hear both words of encouragement, words acknowledging upcoming challenges, and reminders that both God and the church will continue to be with them. Ending with a call to lives of mercy and justice, and of being sent help empower the graduates, and serve as reminder to the congregation of their own baptismal calling.