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Chapel
Chapel Talks

Benedictions

By Preston ’25

Good Morning! My name is Preston, and I am on the Form II Vestry.

Welcome to the last chapel of the school year. In fact, this is the last day of the quarter, and this week we experienced a long list of lasts. Last recesses, last advisories, last classes, and the list goes on and on. Today, I will be talking about those endings, but first I have to address the beginning of the school year. It started pretty dull. We were learning virtually and could not see our classmates or teachers in person. But since we have gotten back to fully in-person learning, everything has changed. Not only have we been able to return to in-person classes, but we have also resumed other vital activities and traditions such as sports, lunch, and chapel. I want to take a moment to thank the faculty, staff, administration, and coaches who got us back in person so we could end the year together. Before we depart for the summer, I’m going to talk about the words people often say at times like these.

A benediction is a short message that is said at the end of something. According to the dictionary, a benediction invokes a blessing and promotes positive thoughts or feelings. It is used to send you forward into what’s next. We often hear benedictions at the end of a ceremony like Prize Day or Commencement, at a chapel service, or when the hero in a movie is being sent to do something great. It could be as simple as saying to your friend, “Good luck in your game against Bullis tonight. You got this!” or as long as a closing homily. In a church or synagogue, it might be a final blessing, like the one we heard in today's reading.

In the scripture, Moses’ brother, Aaron, blesses his people with the words: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” We sometimes say this blessing in the Lower School chapel but the more familiar benediction is the dismissal: “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.” In the musical offering we just heard the old Irish blessing, “May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face and the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.” In the Upper School, there is a commencement ceremony for the senior class in which Headmaster Robinson gives a benediction to the seniors to signify the end of their time at St. Albans. In some ways, this chapel service is a benediction, signifying the end of another school year for us.

So what benedictions will you hear at school in the coming days before summer? At the end of this chapel, you will hear a benediction in the form of a closing prayer. Today, when your sports season ends, your coach will probably share some words to celebrate the season and encourage you to work hard in the off season. And on Prize Day and the Form II chapel next week, Mr. Chandler will offer us more wise words to live by. We are blessed to go to a school where the wisdom and grace of our teachers and coaches is so plentiful. As students, what benedictions can we offer each other?

As we end this unique year and look towards next year, I have a few benedictions to share:

First, for my fellow Bulldogs in C, B, and A Form:
  • May you have a restful and relaxing summer so that you come back next fall, re-charged and renewed;
  • May the incoming students feel welcome and God’s loving presence; and
  • May you get to Mrs. Murphy’s Jolly Rancher basket before it’s too late.

For my friends in Form I:
  • May the Lord be with you as you lead the Lower School next year;
  • May you bring back traditions that were put on hold during the pandemic; and
  • May you flip the teacher’s boat at Woodlands.

And for my brothers in Form II:
  • May we always remember our journey in the Lower School and the kindness and love we received from our teachers;
  • May we never forget how isolated we felt in COVID, and that it’s better to be together than apart; and
  • May we take on the Upper School with fresh eyes and embrace new opportunities to help us grow into men of the future.

Finally, I’d like to share two of my favorite benedictions. The first is the one the pastor of my church, who recently retired, used at the end of each of his sermons. It is especially appropriate for Form II as we leave the Lower School:

“Now, go from this place, to love the Lord, and love the people. To serve the Lord, and serve the people. And may the blessings of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, go and abide with you now and forever.”

The second is from my favorite movie:

“May the force be with you.”

Amen.
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Located in Washington D.C.,  St. Albans School is a private, all boys day and boarding school. For more than a century, St. Albans has offered a distinctive educational experience for young men in grades 4 through 12. While our students reach exceptional academic goals and exhibit first-rate athletic and artistic achievements, as an Episcopal school we place equal emphasis upon moral and spiritual education.