Celebrating Those in Faithful Service

Celebrating Those in Faithful Service

A Service of Commemoration

Ask all military veterans, current service personnel, and community first-responders to stand or come forward to be recognized and to receive God’s blessing. Thank them for doing so. Then say:

These words from Psalm 33 seem especially appropriate as we gather here today to thank you for your service and to remember the sacrifices made by all those who serve and protect us in our community and nation:

1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him. . . .
3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.

4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does. . . .
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him. . . .

11 The plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
the purposes of his heart through all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance. . . .

16 No king is saved by the size of his army;
no warrior escapes by his great strength.
17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance;
despite all its great strength it cannot save.
18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love . . .

20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.

(Selected verses from Psalm 33)

Follow the psalm with the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and the Christian cross.[1]

Then lead the group in prayer:

Lord, you are our help and our shield! You guard and defend us. We praise you for the service of those here and around the world who protect us in your name. Keep them always safe in your care. Teach us to respect all those in authority and to express our thankfulness to those who put themselves in harm’s way to preserve the freedoms we enjoy. Unite all of us in love for you, reminding us that our one true and eternal citizenship is in heaven. While we live here on earth, teach us to look forward to the full benefits of that citizenship! We pray in the name of Jesus who died to win that citizenship for us. Amen.

Shake hands with each participant and distribute an item from CTA’s Celebrating Those in Faithful Service product line.

As participants move back to their seats, have the group join in singing an appropriate praise song or patriotic hymn.

Some potential sermon texts and/or Scripture readings for the day . . .

· 1 Chronicles 16:8–9

· Psalm 33

· Proverbs 31:8–9

· Isaiah 58:1–12

· Romans 13:1–7

· Philippians 1:27–29; 3:20–21

Also consider . . .

Invite your community to join with your church members for a patriotic service of songs and prayers for our country. Plan to sing favorite patriotic hymns and songs of praise to God for the blessing of freedom we enjoy. Afterward, display fireworks, attend a community fireworks display together, or set up a projector screen so that it displays on a prominent outside wall and show a classic American film. (If you decide to incorporate fireworks into your event, please be sure that your activities respect the laws of your town or city. Check with the city government that fireworks displays are permitted in your church’s neighborhood, and be sure to ask for the legal guidelines.)

· Whatever your plans, advertise early and in several locations. Consider the groups of people you want to invite and plan your advertising accordingly:

Inform your congregation members verbally and post written announcements in your newsletters and worship folders. Invite their help in providing refreshments for the reception.

Think about your community. Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a crowd of well- wishers to thank the public servants present at your event? Invite members of other local congregations, and consider placing an announcement in the newspaper or on the radio in order to let the general public know about the service.

Be sure to let veteran’s organizations, firefighters, and police officers in your community know about your plans. As you invite them, be as personal as is feasible, given the size of your community. In a small community, you could send handwritten invitations to each person.

· As you prepare your service folder, keep your guests in mind. Because you might be inviting people who aren’t familiar with the way your church does things, type out as much of the service as you can. Many patriotic hymns are in the public domain; this makes it easy for you to use them. Be sure to include an invitation, asking guests to come again. Include information about your regular worship times.

· If your church uses electronic media during services, you may want to prepare a PowerPoint presentation to play before the service or during the singing of the hymns.

Host an informal gathering after the service . . .

· Offer a snack time reception after worship. Encourage everyone to stay for the reception and thank your honorees for their service.

· Invite firefighters, police officers, and other first responders in your community who are not members of your congregation.

· Give everyone who attends one of the Celebrating Those in Faithful Service items or other patriotic items from CTA. Encourage them to display these in a place where they will be reminded often to pray for military personnel and community first responders.

More ideas . . .

· Veteran’s Day is November 11; May is National Military Appreciation Month. In the weeks leading up to Veteran’s Day, or at the beginning of May, present individual flags (purchased at your local dollar store) to congregational members. Encourage members to post the flag near their mailboxes throughout the month.

· Let your church’s children help you make an all-American flag cake. Here’s how: Bake any flavor of cake in a 9" x 13" pan. Frost the cake with white icing. Then let children use fresh blueberries and strawberry halves to form the blue corner and red stripes of our flag. Serve it at your church’s patriotic activities. Enjoy!

· Involve everyone in writing letters of thanks to soldiers who are currently serving our country or veterans who have served in the past. Young students can draw pictures of American symbols: flag, Statue of Liberty, eagle, and more. Send the letters and pictures to area veterans’ homes and hospitals or to those serving in the military from your own church.

· Join the adult and children’s choir together for a bit of caroling, no matter what the season! Sing patriotic songs and hymns at your local veteran’s hospital and/or nursing homes.

You are welcome to copy this article for one-time use in your organization as long as you will receive no monetary benefit from it. Please include the copyright line printed below and submit an actual copy of use to CTA, attention Editorial Coordinator.

[1] I pledge allegiance to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the faith for which it stands, one Savior, eternal, with mercy and grace for all.