Toasts, speeches, dedications, benedictions … words for reunions

These are three books that are great resources for anyone who is responsible for doing any kind of speech or presentation at your reunion.

Family Celebrations: Prayers, Poems, and Toasts for Every Occasion June Cotner, (1999, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Hardcover, 224 pages; $16.95). The prayers, poems, and toasts in Family Celebrations can be used by any family members to celebrate any aspect of your reunion. Selections are spiritually inspiring, uplifting, and fitting for any tradition. Entries are from both contemporary and classic authors and divided into thematic sections including one for family reunions.  Click here to order. Special price of $13.95

Graces June Cotner, (1994, Harper San Francisco; Hardcover, 208 pages; $18). Saying grace will bring inspiration to your meals and special gatherings. Seeing the need for such inspiration at her family's table, June Cotner compiled a notebook of poems, prayers, and songs she solicited from family, friends, ministers and even strangers. She turned her family's well-worn notebook into this elegantly packaged edition. Whether you need something as exotic as a Sanskrit Salutation to the Dawn, Gaelic Blessings or ancient Chinese Prayer or some down to earth words from closer to home, Graces offers fitting words for every occasion. Multicultural blessings make it easy to share wisdom and insight. Bring spiritual focus to your meals by bringing Graces to your table. Click here to order

House Blessings Editor: June Cotner (2005, Hardcover (Cloth), 164 pages, Becker & Mayer, $15.95). The home is where we gather to create memories with family and friends and to find comfort and solace for ourselves. It has long been the center of our family lives. House Blessings is a moving collection of interfaith prayers, poems, and toasts that speak to the experiences we share in turning our houses into our homes. This book offers a reading for every occasion, room housewarming to holiday celebration, to raising a family, gems of wisdom and inspirational selections celebrate all our most treasured moments at home. Click here to order

These are but a few of the potential words and tributes that can be used at reunions. Do you have others? Something special you did or said at your reunion? Please help others by sharing your words. E-mail us.

Toasts, tributes and reunion music
by Jeff Perso

At one time or another we all need one, we’re all called upon to make one and we all rise to the podium with the same sense of dread and excitement, perspiring, nervousness and heart palpitating glee.
The occasion needs one, requires one. And you are the one to deliver it.
  Yes, I’m talking about the toast. The tribute. The telling anecdote. The ceremonial prayer.

Oh, for a Shakespeare! Or the guy with the long nose: Cyrano de Bergerac penning perfect poems!

Alas, it is not to be. You are alone. The room quiets, all eyes cast your way. You stand, mop your forehead. You fumble in your pocket, searching for hastily scribbled, illegible notes. Or worse, you try to extemperize, relying on an already fading memory. You cough, clear your throat, unclamp your suddenly uncooperative mouth ...

But wait.

That’s not the way it must be.

As more and more speakers are discovering, official reunion toasts, tributes, poems, and invocations can go a long way toward relieving stage fright, pre-toast jitters and mumbled monologues.

Warren Wirebach, Middletown, Pennsylvania, composed the following invocation for the Weyerbacher Family Reunion.

"Father, we thank thee for the privilege of being together as a family. As the generations grow farther apart, let them be brought together with the memory of the loved ones who were once with us, but now live only in our memories. Strengthen the bond of relationships as we face the future, but always keep with us our ties of the past."

---

 

SuzAnne C. Cole, Houston, Texas, wrote a toast for her 40th class reunion of Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Toast for an Academic Reunion.
"Today we toast our memories –
the students, athletes, and friends
we once were – reunited for a time,
reliving our shared past.
Everything that happened here
played its part in shaping us,
so we return to remember
the youth we were.
We also honor those who
taught and encouraged us.
We remember old friends –
those with us now,
those who couldn’t make it,
and those who are no longer with us.
Dear friends, lift your glasses with me
to our younger selves – their activities,
their plans, their promise.
May we always remember with gratitude
their part in making us who we are today."

---

 

The official poem of the Family Reunion Institute at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also serves to describe reunion. It is written by Jo-Ann Kelly who regularly attends reunions on her mother’s Jackson/Anderson side and her father’s Brown/Kelly side.

Family Reunion
First, they’ll recognize the ancestors and pour libations one by one
Because, they’ll recognize the importance of their Family Reunion...
A call in the middle of the night, a wedding, a funeral, sometimes a fight
A baby born, a loan’s come due, a graduation, anniversary and a card that says, "I love you."
A Sunday morning breakfast, a cookout in July, the time that Uncle Robert tried to do the Electric Slide
The family comes from out of town to join the family here, they share some jokes, some memories, they share some smiles and tears
Prayer and faith intermingle, with a sermon and gospel songs:
Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Savior, Precious Lord and Pressing On...
No, not everything is perfect, not everything is right, not everybody’s coming because they have been downsized ...
But of all those who make it, and all of those who come, will be a part of all of those who recognize they’re one
And who recognize the importance of a Family Reunion.

---

 

The Family Tree
I think that I shall never see
The finish of a family tree.
As it forever seems to grow
From roots that started long ago
Way back in ancient history times,
In foreign land and distant climes.
From them grew trunk and branching limb,
That dated back to times so dim.
One seldom knows exactly when
The parents met and married then,
Nor when the twigs began to grow
With odd named children row on row …
Though verse like this is made by me,
The end’s in sight as you can see.
"Tis not the same with family trees
that grow and grow through centuries!

(Author unknown)
From Fulgham-Fulghum Family Facts newsletter.

If your muse suffers writers block, June Cotner happily has compiled Family Celebrations: Prayers, Poems, and Toasts for Every Occasion (Andrews McMeel Publishing, Kansas City, hardcover, $16.95). Taken from the works of both contemporary authors and traditional favorites such as Robert Browning and Carl Sandburg, Cotner has gathered the right words for weddings and anniversaries, family reunions and graduations. "As If," whose author is unknown, exemplifies the collection’s offerings.

"Dance as if no one were watching
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live every day as if it were your last."

Sound advice, no matter what the occasion.

Click here for more info to purchase Family Celebrations: Prayers, Poems, and Toasts for Every Occasion

More sources for inspiration
We are often asked to provide reunion words and over time have developed these suggestions for you to explore.

• Something favorite from the Bible, Shakespeare, a favorite poet, author.
  
• There are books of quotes listed by subject and family is a favorite one.
  
• Talk about the strength of your ancestors ... the real founders of your reunion or how the family grew. Remind the family who they are, why your family is special and encourage them to enjoy a memorable reunion.
  
• Be thankful for your reunions and perhaps do a retrospective of your family.
  
• Ask others for favorite appropriate readings. Ask them to read.
  
• Share the wealth: assign others a thought they can share at the reunion.

Then there’s the O’Jay’s soulful Family Reunion. The O’Jays recognize that "at least once a year we should have/a family reunion." Why? Because "it’s so nice to see all the folks you love together." Of course.

For a more spiritual moment, there’s Thank You For Peace, a cassette produced, written, arranged and performed by Samuel B. Lackey. For information call 215-552-8554.

About the author.
Jeff Perso was an assistant editor of Reunions magazine.

Or, add a melody

Welcome to our family reunion The Malone Family Reunion Choir has produced a CD that starts with an enthusiastic song called "Welcome to our Family Reunion." You'll want to consider welcoming your family with this upbeat anthem to family reunions. Available for sale.

WHAT IS A FAMILY REUNION?

The Canty family of Pike County, Alabama is huge. Our FAMILY ROOTS book holds more than one thousand names that span 9 generations. We now know of several branches of the family that are not yet included in the book. My maternal Aunt, Ruby Canty-Rudolph, now 93 years old and fourth generation descendant of our first known ancestor, organized the first biannual reunion 22 years ago. It has grown from 35 participants at the first reunion to 350 at our largest reunion. The size of the reunion and the passing of responsibilities for organizing the reunion from one generation to another motivated us to re-look at our purpose. The question for me became “Does everyone understand why we are here?” Because family members often get caught up in the excitement of the reunion activities and the host group is focusing on the work to be done, we sometimes forget the real reason why we get together.

For our 11th reunion in Detroit, Michigan July 20-22, 2007, I wrote a one-page description of “What is a Family Reunion,” and it was distributed to everyone in attendance. Our plan is to reprint it in our program each reunion year so that we are constantly reminded of why we hold family reunions. The overall message that we want family members to embrace is “to honor our ancestors, celebrate and appreciate who and what we are, and pass on to future generations the strength and gratitude of our family legacy.” In doing this, we stress that the reunion is everyone’s reunion, not just the reunion of the organizers. It is intergenerational, both serious and fun, and we expect everyone to enjoy and everyone to contribute to its success.

WHAT IS A FAMILY REUNION?
By Jessie Muse
July 2007

A Family Reunion is a gathering of generations of family members who come together in unity to honor the past, celebrate the present, and prepare for the future. It is reconnecting with relatives and friends for the purpose of fun, food, fellowship, and the strengthening of ties that bind us one to another. Our unconditional love for one another is reason enough to celebrate; for this love and our blood unite us forever one with the other. A loving and joyous reunion allows us to renew friendships with family and friends whom we seldom see and some we may never see again. We come to honor the legacy of those ancestors who sacrificed so much for our benefit and who have finished their journey here on earth. We come to show gratitude and humility for our blessings and all that we have achieved and continue to enjoy; and we come to present our hopes and dreams for future generations so that our family legacy continues.

With unity of spirit; we come to bond, seeking a future that has the potential for an abundant and enriched life. This is a time to promote peace and harmony; restore broken relationships; engage in thoughtful and caring activities; express love, patience, compassion and understanding; seek wisdom and guidance; and give praise to the almighty God for the opportunity to share an experience with a common purpose.

It is also a time for rest and relaxation, learning and growing, worship and prayer, guiding the young and appreciating the aging. It is a time for using our talents, expressing our creativity, and encouraging others. It is about working together and finding solutions, meeting challenges and providing leadership, seeking forgiveness and healing our souls. It is about making a difference in the lives of others, strengthening families, providing role models and protecting our youth; taking time to visit and share family news, sharing our knowledge and being receptive to new ideas, caring for our sick and elders and keeping us together. But most of all, it is about thanking our God and our ancestors for the privilege of being here.

©JMuse 2007

The following devotion is by Thomas A. Phelan, Bergenfield, New Jersey, a World War II and Korean War veteran. He wrote this for the men and women who were wounded and died for America. The words have been set to Country/Western music and recorded under the same title.

The Ultimate Sacrifice
American men and women
fought in all the battles
from the revolution
to the Second World War
for the freedom of all people
and to keep the enemy from our shore.
They fought in Korea, Viet Nam
and Desert Storm. Were wounded and died again.
Their mission — stop Communism
the usurper of all nations
that uses force fear, death and invasions.
These brave people are martyrs for their God
heroes to their families, friends and Country
for that final ultimate endeavor.
We bestow upon them and their loved ones
the highest of honors, our gratitude
our prayers, our love forever.

Q? Renita Wigfall e-mailed: I'm in search of a poem or story to be read at my family reunion. I am seeking something rather profound. Any suggestions?

A! We suggest you dig deep in family legend or tradition to find your inspiration. Since we know nothing about the family you're speaking to, we suggest that you look at what their interests and concerns are. The future? Their strengths? Their creativity and determination? What inspires you? It will probably inspire your audience as well.

How about saluting special family members? The oldest and youngest ... not the usual prizes but something about each: the history of the oldest and the future of the youngest. Or salute the achievements of family members old and young; who's learned to walk or graduated or gotten an award or honor?

Something from your favorite book or author? the Bible? Shakespeare? Robert Frost?
If you question your family's enthusiasm, perhaps you should concentrate on humor and leave 'em laughing. There must be lots of funny family stories.

What are your favorite family memories? Share them. Get others thinking. Pose questions for members to contemplate. Challenge them. Charge them up.

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