LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 2011 Sober Grad Committee is pleased to announce that the baccalaureate service for the Clear Lake High School Class of 2011 will be held at United Christian Parish (UCP) at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 5.

All community members are invited to attend in support of this year’s graduating class. Although baccalaureate services are held for graduating classes from high schools and colleges around the world people frequently misunderstand or simply do not know the purpose of baccalaureate services and of their significant history in our nation.

We would like to share a little about them now, as a part of our invitation for you to attend.

The Baccalaureate Service has been one piece of the graduation “rite of passage” since the 15th century. The service is for the graduates but, it is very different from a graduation ceremony.

Graduation is essentially an ending, it marks the end of a particular course of study, in this case high school.

Baccalaureate is a beginning, it is the sending forth of the graduate with the blessing of their community.

Graduation is an academic achievement.

Baccalaureate is a moral challenge.

It brings to mind the words of George Washington, “Happiness and moral duty are inseparable.” This service is meant to charge the graduates to forge the way into the future – not resting on their laurels but advancing a life dedicated to learning, wisdom and morality to find the happiness President Washington spoke of.

For the first several hundred years the service was presented in Latin to testify to the erudition of the graduates; those who attend this year will be pleased to note that the service will be in English.

UCP is located at 745 N. Brush St. in Lakeport. The service will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude by 7 p.m. All are welcome.