From sea to shining sea, United Methodists are finding special ways to observe Memorial Day in the United States. Here is a sampling of ideas.
Pray for all who have given their lives for our freedom. “The major emphasis of the Memorial Day worship time,” said the Rev. Alan Brown, Hayes Memorial United Methodist Church, Fremont, Ohio, “is not on a secular observance; rather, it is the message of the gospels and the sacraments of the church.”
Read the names of fallen veterans, and toll a bell after each name is read. The Rev. Walter L. Graves encourages people to read the names when they see a war memorial. “Remember,” said the pastor of Reelsboro United Methodist Church, New Bern, N.C., “that was a person who had… dreams and desires.”
Provide special worship music with a PowerPoint presentation. “My church has a slide show of friends and family, living and dead, who have served in the military,” reported Leslie Haggs, lay leader at Angelica United Methodist Church in New York.
Offer a candlelight service. Bishop James Swanson of the Holston Annual (regional) Conference will preach at joint services of three congregations — Mount Wesley and New Victory, Telford, Tenn., and Mayberry, Jonesborough, Tenn. A candlelight service for those interred in the church cemetery will be part of worship.
Wave a flag. Youth of First United Methodist Church, Koppel, Pa., raised money to buy an American flag for all 225 residences in the little town. “I’m a flag-waver,” admitted the Rev. Donald A. Anderson. Quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he expressed hope that the flags would “bring Koppel a sense of pride in participating in this great holiday honoring those who fought to protect our freedoms.”
At Arlington (Va.) National Cemetary, flags decorate the tombs of those who died in the service of their country. Photo courtesy of Arlington National Cemetery.
Lay a wreath. In Illinois, Malta United Methodist Church will have a special worship service. The congregation invites veterans of the community to pay tribute to fellow soldiers by marching as a unit from the church to the township library, where a wreath will be dedicated.
Decorate veterans’ graves. “After Sunday service,” said the Rev. Charlie Johnson Jr., a local pastor serving three congregations in the Lynchburg, Va., area, “we go into the church cemetery, remove the old flags placed on the graves of veterans last Memorial Day and replace them with new ones…We remember our active-duty military every Sunday during prayer.”
Do a project for active troops. In Maine, the North Searsport United Methodist Church is recruiting the community to join parishioners in a mission project to benefit soldiers going overseas. Participants will sew small pillows for military personnel. The project is in response to recent articles about soldiers having to pay for pillows on their flights.
Make military care packages. The congregation of First United Methodist Church, Alice, Texas, brought items for military care packages to mail to troops serving overseas. “Many of us have loved ones who are serving in the military,” member Stefany Simmons explained. “Each of us signed cards to include for the troops.”
Be part of a community-service day. Manatee United Methodist Church is one of two Bradenton, Fla., locations for the Journey of Remembrance, an annual community-service day honoring U.S. military veterans and their families for their care and sacrifice.
Parades are one way to honor those who sacrifice daily for our freedom. A web-only photo by Dee Dee Cobb.
Learn about issues affecting veterans. At Christ United Methodist Church, Troy, N.Y., a guest speaker will focus on the history and social justice issues related to military mental illness. “At Christ Church,” said the Rev. Nina Nichols in the Bennington Banner, “we honor those who serve their country, who served with the hope of bringing justice on behalf of our nation. But as a people of faith, we must not fail to call for a better way to peace than war. This Memorial Day we pray for peace for the war-weary.”
Glorify Jesus as the Prince of Peace and reach out to those whom others may forget. On Memorial Day – as he does throughout the year – John Alexander, a member of East Lake United Methodist Church, Birmingham, Ala., will be involved with Kairos Prison Ministries. A Christian, lay-led, ecumenical, volunteer, international prison ministry, Kairos brings Christ’s love and forgiveness to incarcerated individuals and their families.
*Dunlap-Berg is internal content editor for United Methodist Communications.
News media contact: Barbara Dunlap-Berg, Nashville, Tenn., 615-742-5470 ornewsdesk@umcom.org.
Join us this Sunday at our 8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 Services.
Rev. Suzanne Spencer, our Pre-Missions Conference Guest Speaker, will be preaching on “Are You Bearing Fruit?” (John 15:1-8)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
This Sunday, April 12th, Suzanne Schmid Spencer will be our special pre-conference speaker. At a time in life when she was looking forward to retiring from her career as a research gerontologist and assisted living administrator, Suzanne was surprised to hear a call to pastoral ministry. She served as Director of Congregational Care at Woodlake UMC near her home in Midlothian VA, as Director of Christian Education at Fairview UMC in Danville VA, and as pastor of New Hope Charge on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. She found a love of mission as a girl under the discipleship of Miss Jean Craig, who served as a Virginia Conference missionary to China and Korea before returning to Richmond to serve local churches. Suzanne has served on a short-term mission team to Mexico and on six Pender teams to Peru. Now retired, she joins her husband, Dr. John Spencer in opening their home in the Valley as a place of rest and renewal for pastors and missionaries.
For more information about our upcoming sermons, click here.
April 12: Items of the week needed for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries to distribute to the needy in our area:
Canned Fruit & Juices
46 oz. bottles of oil, fruit juices, plastic bags and egg cartons are always needed and welcome too!
Donations can be left in the blue grocery cart in the coat rack section.
April 12: The Pender Podcast is available in the iTunes Podcast series. There is no charge to subscribe or listen to past sermons. There are currently 209 sermons available. More information
April 12-April 15: Sign up for Mulch, delivered by the Pender Men. More information
April 12-May 31: Online VBS Registration. VBS will run from July 6-10, 2015.
April 12: New Directions Sunday School Class. Mark Batterson’s book entitled “The Circle Maker – Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears”. We meet in Rooms 218-220 at 9:30 AM. If any questions, feel free to contact Carol Wilson If any questions, feel free to contact Carol Wilson by email or at (703) 815-1744.
April 12: Sunday School Class: The Truth Project (began September 21) This Focus on the Family’s DVD series, with 26 one-half hour lessons taught by Dr. Del Tackett, is the starting point for looking at life from a Biblical perspective. lesson discusses the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.
April 12: Sunday School Class: The Good and Beautiful God (began September 21) (Room 205 – Library) A new Sunday School course immediately after the 9:30 am worship service led by Brian and Angie Green will be reading and discussing this book. To sign up or find out more information, please sign up on the Connection Card in the bulletin on Sunday.
April 12: Sunday School II for adults. 10:45 am-noon
Join us this Sunday at our 8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 Services.
Rev. Suzanne Spencer, our Pre-Missions Conference Guest Speaker, will be preaching on “Are You Bearing Fruit?” (John 15:1-8)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
This Sunday, April 12th, Suzanne Schmid Spencer will be our special pre-conference speaker. At a time in life when she was looking forward to retiring from her career as a research gerontologist and assisted living administrator, Suzanne was surprised to hear a call to pastoral ministry. She served as Director of Congregational Care at Woodlake UMC near her home in Midlothian VA, as Director of Christian Education at Fairview UMC in Danville VA, and as pastor of New Hope Charge on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. She found a love of mission as a girl under the discipleship of Miss Jean Craig, who served as a Virginia Conference missionary to China and Korea before returning to Richmond to serve local churches. Suzanne has served on a short-term mission team to Mexico and on six Pender teams to Peru. Now retired, she joins her husband, Dr. John Spencer in opening their home in the Valley as a place of rest and renewal for pastors and missionaries.
For more information about our upcoming sermons, click here.
April 12: Items of the week needed for Western Fairfax Christian Ministries to distribute to the needy in our area:
Canned Fruit & Juices
46 oz. bottles of oil, fruit juices, plastic bags and egg cartons are always needed and welcome too!
Donations can be left in the blue grocery cart in the coat rack section.
April 12: The Pender Podcast is available in the iTunes Podcast series. There is no charge to subscribe or listen to past sermons. There are currently 209 sermons available. More information
April 12-April 15: Sign up for Mulch, delivered by the Pender Men. More information
April 12-May 31: Online VBS Registration. VBS will run from July 6-10, 2015.
April 12: New Directions Sunday School Class. Mark Batterson’s book entitled “The Circle Maker – Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears”. We meet in Rooms 218-220 at 9:30 AM. If any questions, feel free to contact Carol Wilson If any questions, feel free to contact Carol Wilson by email or at (703) 815-1744.
April 12: Sunday School Class: The Truth Project (began September 21) This Focus on the Family’s DVD series, with 26 one-half hour lessons taught by Dr. Del Tackett, is the starting point for looking at life from a Biblical perspective. lesson discusses the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.
April 12: Sunday School Class: The Good and Beautiful God (began September 21) (Room 205 – Library) A new Sunday School course immediately after the 9:30 am worship service led by Brian and Angie Green will be reading and discussing this book. To sign up or find out more information, please sign up on the Connection Card in the bulletin on Sunday.
April 12: Sunday School II for adults. 10:45 am-noon
Charles Wesley lived from December 18, 1707 until March 29, 1788. He was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Methodist founder John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley the Younger. Charles Wesley is mostly remembered for the over 6,000 hymns he wrote.
In the course of his career, Charles Wesley published the words of over six thousand hymns, many of which are still popular. These include:
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