MEEKER | The program for last week’s Baccalaureate Service set forth that high school graduation is clearly a time of new beginnings. The service itself offers, “all gathered a time to pray a blessing over the graduates and to send them on their way,” reminding them “to seek guidance from the Lord as they start down a new path.”
Baccalaureate for the Meeker High School Class of 2018 May 24 was presented by the Meeker Council of Churches. Meeker Assembly of God Pastor Aaron Zielinske, in one of his last acts for the community, led the service with his greeting and invocation. Zielinske and his family have moved, this week, to Georgia. Todd Bellamy, Zielinske’s successor at the Meeker Assembly, observed the service.
Chris Reidinger, associate pastor at New Creation Church, read from Proverbs 3:1-18 and 1 Timothy 4:12, including, “happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding,” and “letting no man despise thy youth, being an example of charity in spirit and purity in faith.”
An all-female praise band from The Church at Meeker celebrated several songs. Several instrumental and voice renditions were performed by Trina Cox, Brooke Ford, Harmony Cox, Julianne Belland and Lacey Ford.
Pastor Issac Cowger, who described himself as the newcomer among the participating clergy, gave the Baccalaureate address. Cowger ministers at the Emmanuel Baptist Church. He spoke to the importance of believing— in one’s self, that “you can do it” when it comes to challenges in your life, and that one is never alone. And, the next important step, investing in one’s self and one’s future. Both of these, if pursued, will lead to growth, he said, which is more Godlike than maintaining a status quo or non-learning lifestyle. Cowger connected this back to having a belief in God.
The Church at Meeker’s Pastor Rich Ford gave the benediction. Nine of the Class of 2018’s 52 graduated attended the service along with various family and friends, specifically Taylor Dodds, Abbey Morgan, Jacob Pelloni, Doak Mantle, Zack Dinwiddie, Macy Collins, Shelby Steele, Abbie Powell and Jordan Goodwin.
According to Cowger, who has taken on the leadership of the Meeker Council of Churches with Zielinske’s leaving, the churches in the Council at this point are the four mentioned above plus the Meeker Christ Reformed Church, Pastor Eric Conn. Reidinger expressed some dismay to the Herald Times, along with several others, that only nine students were in attendance and said he didn’t know why that had happened.
