• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Building Faith

Building Faith

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • Who We Are
    • Our Writers
    • Author Guidelines
    • FAQs
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
  • ARTICLES
    • Articles by Topic
    • Most Recent Articles
  • EN ESPAÑOL
  • RESOURCES
    • Curriculum Center
    • Intergenerational Resources
    • Vacation Bible School
    • Webinars
    • Episcopal Teacher
  • SUPPORT US
  • Show Search
Hide Search
Home/Youth Ministry/8 Gift Ideas for Graduating Seniors

8 Gift Ideas for Graduating Seniors

“You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”
Psalm 139:2-3

 

Sending Off Seniors

One of the great joys of congregational life is watching children grow up in and through the church. When these young people graduate high school, the church has a special role to play in honoring and sending them off. Whether students are headed to college, the military, service work, or the working world, many churches mark the occasion by giving gifts. Here are some ideas to consider:

Books

CEB study BibleA Study Bible
Hopefully, teens already have a Bible, but it is important to have an updated study Bible with notes and cross references. There are many good options in a variety of translations. Check out Cokesbury to browse.

 

 

 

 

mere christianity bookMere Christianity
A classic since 1952. As a whole, there may be no book that so clearly and winsomely outlines belief in Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. (Recent edition by Harper Collins, 2001)

 

 

 

Daily Prayer for all seasons bookDaily Prayer for all Seasons
This book was written for an Episcopal context, but many Christians will find the prayers and liturgies helpful and inspiring. Daily volume offers short daily prayer services that change for each season: Advent, Epiphany, etc. Excellent for individual use, or for small groups and Bible studies. (Church Publishing, 2014)

 

 

Non-Book Gift Ideas

Realizing that graduating seniors have plenty of books coming their way, here are some other options.

Gift Card for Faith-based Apps
One of the best ideas is a gift certificate to iTunes or Amazon (for Android users), along with a list of four or five suggested apps. Let the students decide if they want a Bible app, a study app, a spirituality app. See suggested apps on Building Faith.

“Survival” Kit
A waterbottle filled with “rescue” items: flashlight, thermometer, band-aids, and other minor items newly independent young people might need. Include a prayer book, set of prayers, Scripture verses, or card!

Thinking Outside the Box

In addition one of the above gifts ideas, the following actions can bear much fruit for graduating seniors as their faith lives develop.

Chaplain Intro
Do some searching and make a direct connection with a campus chaplain, military chaplain, or congregation in whatever place the student is going next.

Promised Contact Card
One Christian educator offered the following idea: “I give each graduating a card with my phone number on it and a written promise that they can call me any time for any reason.”

Selected Scripture Passages
In difficult moments, young people can lean on Bible verses or prayers. Youcan write these on cards. Or, if you gift a bible, use post-its or bookmarks to mark passages that will provide guidance, comfort, and strength.

 

 

About the Author

  • BuildFaith Editors

    View all posts
Print PDF

May 13, 2015 By BuildFaith Editors

Filed Under: Youth Ministry Tagged With: church, college, congregation, gift, graduation, high school, parish, seniors, teens

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Subscribe to Building Faith

You’ll get new articles, plus free weekly updates in your inbox.

We respect your privacy. View our privacy policy here.

Search Our Site

New Articles

"Visually Safe Disability Pride Flag" with red, yellow, white, light blue, and green diagonal stripes from upper left to lower right on a dark gray background

New and Recent Resources for Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month in the U.S. As Lizzie Cox explains in her article "Disability Pride …

Continue Reading about New and Recent Resources for Disability Pride Month

Two hands of a person with dark skin tone shaping bronze-colored clay on a pottery wheel in front of a blurred blue background with brown spots

“Nobody’s Perfect”: A Resource for Talking to Youth about Sin

Content warning: This article mentions sexual assault and racial violence. In November of 2018, …

Continue Reading about “Nobody’s Perfect”: A Resource for Talking to Youth about Sin

Circular dots of various colors aligned in rows and columns on a gold surface

Intergenerational Insights: What Is Intergenerational Ministry?

This article is part of a series on Intergenerational Formation Insights written after a literature …

Continue Reading about Intergenerational Insights: What Is Intergenerational Ministry?

Footer

Keep in Touch

  • Email
  • Facebook

Building Faith

Lifelong Learning, Virginia Theological Seminary
3737 Seminary Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22304

Copyright © 2025 · Building Faith · A Ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary

Design by Blue+Pine Creative, Inc.

Subscribe to Building Faith

Get articles and resources by email

Privacy Policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.
If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.

OkPrivacy policy