Sermonstudio

Comments on the Service

* Today is a day for remembering those who have died in the service of our country - and a day to remember our forebearers.

* It began as "Decoration Day" in 1868 to honor the fallen in the Civil War. The graves of the dead soldiers were "decorated" with small American flags.

* Gather a list of those who have died within the last year and read it at the appropriate time in the service.

* If you really want to be bold, ask all the veterans to wear their uniforms (or part of their uniforms) to the worship service.

* Mention the people traveling and what a great freedom we have to be able to do so.

* This might be a good day to honor the older citizens among us. I like what the author of Roots had to say about grandparents:

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.
- Alex Haley

* Some quotes:

There is no fence or hedge round time that has gone. You can go back and have what you like if you remember it well enough.
- Richard Llewellen

Memories should endure. Unless we know where we came from, something about the road we travelled as a people, how can we know how we are and where we are going?
- Hal Borland

Shared awareness and appreciation of the past will restore our capacity for wonder and amazement in the face of God's loving activity in our lives.
- Gerhard F. Frost

* Some possible hymns:
"Rock of Ages"
"O Beautiful for Spacious Skies"
"God Bless America"
"My Country 'Tis of Thee"
"My Faith Looks Up to Thee"
"Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer"

* Send a press release to your local newspaper, such as the following sample. The worse the media can do is not run it. They might surprise you, however, and print it. One thing is certain. They can't print it if you don't send it!

NEWS RELEASE

Saint Mark Covenant Church
1234 Church Street
Anytown, USA 12345
Rev. Roger Grace, Minister
300-9000

- For Immediate Release -

SAINT MARK CHURCH MEMBERS HONOR THEIR DEAD

Saint Mark Covenant Church of Anytown will hold their annual Memorial Day Service next Sunday at the 11:00 a.m. Worship hour. The Service is designed to honor the dead and to pay homage to those who have gone before. The names of those who have died in the service of our country (and in the congregation within the last year) will be read. Special music will highlight the theme of the day.

"Memory is the bridge of thought and life," says Pastor Grace, "spanning the yesterdays in the spirit of oneness and continuity." His sermon will speak of "Memory, Gratitude, and Grace."

All are urged and invited to attend. A potluck lunch will follow the service.


Order of Worship

PRELUDE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP
This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

HYMN

PSALM 90:1-12 (Responsively)

THE GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

SPECIAL MUSIC

THE LESSONS
(Use one, all, or a combination of these:)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Romans 8:35-39
Matthew 28:18-20

REMEMBERING THE DEAD
At this time in the service read the names of all members who have died within the past year, pausing to remember them in prayer.

A TIME FOR REMINISCING
The Minister says:
We celebrate Memorial Day today and we remember with thanksgiving all who have gone before.
Turn to the person next to you and talk about any Memorial Day memories you may have.

(Allow about one or two minutes for this. Here are a couple questions to get the conversation started:)

* Where are your parents or grandparents buried?
* Do you visit a cemetery regularly?

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE

SERMON

HYMN

APOSTLES' CREED

OFFERING
Prayer - We give thee but thine own, whatever the gift may be. All that we have is thine alone, a trust O Lord from thee.

PRAYER
Eternal God, we remember today all those who have given their lives in the battle for justice, and for those who have fought the good fight and have gone to be with you.

We give thanks for our country and the freedom we have. Keep our hearts open to treat this freedom with care, thus honoring our valiant dead.

We look forward to the days and years to come. May they be filled with nourishment, insight, and joy.

And now, God of all, as we gather here to remember our dead, we feel their presence. Put a new light in our eyes and a new song in our hearts, that we may from this day forward rejoice in your gift of life.

This we pray, and also as you taught us ...

THE LORD'S PRAYER

THE BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

HYMN

POSTLUDE


Children's Message

Theme:
Memory

Material to have on hand:
* A paper sack with ten household objects in it. (Use more if needed.)
* An American flag.

Good morning, boys and girls. Today we celebrate and remember those who have given their lives in the service of our country. Without a memory we would be very poor and make many mistakes over and over.

Will you each reach in this sack and take out one thing? Now look them over carefully for a few moments.

Now put them back in the sack. What do you remember about your article?

(Allow a few minutes for conversation.)

Remembering is not always easy, is it? We have to practice it. That's why we have Memorial Day - to remember our dead; to continue to make them part of us.

This flag reminds us of our country. And this day reminds us that we are to be thankful for people in our past. Some day maybe someone will be thankful for us.

Thanks, Kids, for coming up. Now you may return.

An aside:
There's an old story about two young people who overheard a couple of adults talking about someone who had died "in the service." Said one to the other, "Was it the 8:30 or 11:00 service, I wonder?"


Preaching Resource

"Three Little Words"

Texts: 1 Thessalonians 4:13; Psalm 106:1; Romans 5:5

On Memorial Day there are "three little words" that set the tone for the day:

1. Memory (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies grow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks still singing bravely fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead, Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.
Loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you, from failing hands we throw
The torch - be yours to hold it high:
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields.
- John McCrae (1872-1918)

2. Gratitude (Psalm 106:1)
During a hunting expedition, several tired and hungry men were unable to find the rest of their group. Caught in a blizzard, they were hopelessly lost. They found shelter in a small cabin. One man decided to hunt for the rest of the group while the others remained in the cabin. He found them, but when they all returned to the cabin they found that those left there had frozen to death. The man's exercise had kept him alive.

Gratitude is like that. It always brings life when it is used. People can die (at least spiritually) when it is lying dormant.

3. Hope (Romans 5:5)
Hope comes from people, not from machines.
A woman from a small town in North Dakota bought a few stamps each week from the postal clerk at her post office. In the interest of progress, the government installed a new stamp machine in the lobby one day. The woman never used it but always stood in line to purchase her stamps from the postal clerk. One day he asked her, "Mrs. Johnson, why don't you ever use the machine for stamps? Then you wouldn't have to wait in line."

She replied quietly, "Because it never asks about my rheumatism."
Roger Prescott,
Hello, My Friend
(C.S.S., 1981), p. 2



EDWARD S. LONG

Father's Day

Comments on the Service

Hymn Suggestions
"For the Beauty of the Earth"
"O Thou Whose Gracious Presence"
"O Happy Home"
"O Perfect Love"
*"God of Our Fathers"
*"Faith of Our Fathers"
"Blest Be the Tie"
"In Christ There Is No East or West"

*These hymns can express, in particular, our faith heritage through human fathers; however, this brings us into the issue of language - in these hymns male-language is used to express truths beyond gender and inclusive of women and men. Yet, because of the ferment of the issue of inclusiveness, one must make careful judgments here.

Scripture is from the Revised Standard Version.

Form of service follows the normal progression, based on the form of Isaiah 6:1-8.

Suggested Scriptures and Sermon text: Luke 15:11-32.
The texts set the stage for clear appreciation of the supportive, training, and modeling role of fathers. In the rich ferment of inclusivity most attributes about fathers can be also attributed to mothers and motherhood, so it is incumbent upon the worship planner/preacher to lift up these worthy notes in a non-comparative, yet uncompromised manner with acknowledgment that father and fatherhood is celebrated clearly, yet not in a vacuum.

Sharing in Celebration. Some congregations are much more accepting of such free sharing right during worship. In smaller congregations people might jot down their sharings and the liturgist/pastor could lift them up as part of the prayer of dedication or morning prayer.

Pastor/Liturgist. In responsive elements, depending on the desire of the congregation, a liturgist(s) could easily read the part herein assigned to "Pastor."

Charge to the Congregation. This practice goes back to early Christian worship, when often a Deacon would set the orders for life and service of the congregation. The Benediction, usually the responsibility and office of pastor or priest, would then follow. In some traditions, when Holy Communion or Holy Eucharist was celebrated the Blessing/Benediction had been given and received at the conclusion of the Sacrament and no further blessing was found at the end of the worship service.


Order of Worship

Hymn of Praise

Call to Worship (from Psalm 103)
Pastor:
As a father pities his children,
PEOPLE:
SO THE LORD PITIES THOSE WHO FEAR HIM.
Pastor:
For he knows our frame;
PEOPLE:
HE REMEMBERS THAT WE ARE DUST.

Invocation (unison)
O LOVING GOD, AS WE WORSHIP YOU TODAY, WE WANT TO BE ESPECIALLY AWARE OF THE WAYS OUR CARING FATHERS ARE LIKE YOU. THOSE OF US WHO ARE FATHERS WANT TO REDEDICATE OUR LIVES TO A FULLER EXPRESSION OF YOUR ATTRIBUTES. IN ACTION AND IN APPRECIATION WE KNOW WE FALL SHORT, AND THUS WE NEED YOUR FORGIVENESS AND RENEWAL BY THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT. IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN

Scripture Readings
Exodus 20:12
Ephesians 6:1-4
Luke 15:11-32

Children's Sermon

Sermon Hymn

Sermon:
"What Can We Say in Celebration of Father?"

Sharing in Celebration
Members of the congregation share with those around them things they value about their fathers - jotting brief notes on 3 X 5 cards.

Offering our Tithes and Gifts
Pastor:
Let us thank God in the offering.
PEOPLE:
WE BRING THE GIFTS OF OUR HANDS AND DEDICATION OF OUR HEARTS.
Pastor:
How shall we celebrate and dedicate the good and joyful thoughts about our fathers and fatherhood?
PEOPLE:
WITH OUR OFFERING WE PLACE CARDS IN THE PLATE ON WHICH WE HAVE WRITTEN OUR CELEBRATIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT OUR FATHERS AND FATHERHOOD.

Prayer of Dedication (unison)
ETERNAL GOD, YOU HAVE PROVIDED FAMILIES IN WHICH WE GROW IN LOVE AND STATURE. ESPECIALLY REGARD OUR NOTES OF PRAISE TODAY FOR OUR FATHERS AND FATHERHOOD, WHICH WE ALSO DEDICATE IN PRAISE TO YOUR NAME. AMEN

Hymn of Dedication

Charge to the Congregation
Lest we think that all the gifts of fatherhood are beyond reach, hear this story: A group of pastors and priests were at a retreat. During the time a "role play" was ordered by the retreat leader: "Pair off and act out something; one being the child and the other the father." Quickly the pairs were selected and roles determined. One nervous "father," at a loss knowing what to suggest, said, "Let's go out and throw the ball a while." The "child," an ordained priest, suddenly broke down in tears and sobbing, much to the surprise of the role-playing "father." As the group gathered around, the retreat leader inquired as to what was wrong. Came the reply, "That was something I always wanted to do with Dad, but he was always too busy or not in the mood ... that was what I wanted more than anything ..."

Benediction
Go forth in the spirit of loving fatherhood giving and receiving the blessings, great and small, of this human relationship blessed of God. And may God bless, forgive, and direct you all. Amen


Children's Message

Object:
Basket/box full of items such as hammer, frying pan, book, sales receipt pad, Bible, sewing materials, dental/medical item of equipment, small flower trowel, telephone. Be sure to have more than enough for the highest number of children anticipated and avoid sharp or overly heavy objects.

Good morning, young people! Today is Father's Day. Today we are going to give God thanks for the things our fathers do for us, and the things they do to make a living.

Would you all take turns and find some tool or item in the basket that you think a father/your father might use in helping your family - or you - or at work? (Supervise this experience, being sure that all have a chance to retrieve an item.)

Could you explain what item you have and how fathers might use these in their work or around our homes? (Be prepared for anything! Especially help each contribution to be heard, unless a microphone is available, by repeating for those too soft-spoken to be heard.)

(You have chosen some items that might not be picked to be included. Knowing your young people is essential here, for they are often very "liberated" and very "traditional.")

What about this ___________? (etc.) Can anyone think of how Dad might use this? (Be prepared again for almost anything! Seek to mold the comments into a constructive understanding of the differing roles/jobs of fathers.)

How do you feel about what our fathers do for us? (Pause long enough to get some good comments that might be shared.)

Let's let our fathers know how we feel. All together now, let's say, "Thanks, Father! We love you!"


Preaching Resources

Sermon Outline: "What Can We Say in Celebration of Father?"

Primary Text: Luke 15:11-32

I. The father gives inheritance to second son
A. The father's generosity of spirit.
B. The father's willingness to allow second, restless son have freedom to succeed or fail (cannot have one without the other).
C. In careless abandon the prodigal son fails to make a go of it and exhausts all his money and means.

II. Repentance is possible - and acceptance too
A. Something about the father made it possible for the prodigal to return and seek servant status.
B. He trusted in his father's big-heartedness and prepared to confess in hope of acceptance.
C. The father saw him afar off (he had been looking for him), holding back (the Greek indicates the son stopped at a distance, hesitating).
D. The father ran to him and (based on variances in texts -see footnote in RSV), cut short his well and painfully rehearsed speech.
E. The father orders first-rate clothing and shoes and commands that a feast be prepared and begun!

III. The father's love is appropriate and loving
A. The good and obedient older son protests the feast.
B. He questions the generosity and fairness of father.
C. Simply and powerfully the father corrects and embraces older, jealous son - "I've always had you, but this, your brother was lost and is found!"
D. The love of a father is not always "fair," but always just and appropriate to the needful child.

Illustrations

1. Fathering is a role, as well as a family relationship; and sometimes what a father is happens by "substitute" fathers who love and help in the absence/failure of biological father. Matthew 12:48-50: "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? ... whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother."

Legend tells us the little town in Illinois was full of curious visitors, making their way on muddy streets to a political debate. In the hubbub a little girl became separated from her family and finally sat on a bench crying and frightened. Up loomed a tall figure who gently asked her what was wrong and where her family might be going. She sobbed, "To the debate." He told her he knew where that was and swooped her up in strong arms and off she rode on the shoulder of the "Rail-Splitter" as he prepared to debate Stephen Douglas.

2. John Dewey was the educator who stressed the practical (pragmatic) approach which is so formative of our current approach to education and everything in this country. "Hands-on, experimental" education was promoted in his writings. In personal life he promoted this practical father characteristic as well.

A friend was visiting in the Dewey study one day, and all during the conversation a considerable amount of pounding and obvious sounds of construction and children's voices emanated from the living room next door. Dewey seemed unconcerned, certainly not alarmed. Finally curiosity got the better of the guest, who inquired as to what was going on. Dewey escorted him to the room and the source of the pounding and sawing in the living room. A number of children were making rails and railway cars - nailing the tracks to the hardwood floor! "They are building the transcontinental railway," Dewey simply remarked.

3. True fathers/fathering will go to any length.
Along the corridors of O'Hare International Airport there is a Memorial Plaque, indicating that the gigantic complex is named to honor a naval flier with that name, who distinguished himself at the battle of Midway and elsewhere; finally losing his life in the Second World War.

What is less known is the early origin of this flier. His father was a lawyer, known as "Fast Eddy," who helped the Mob in Chicago keep from the grasp of the law. One day this father was overwhelmed by the example he was setting and the legacy he was leaving for his young son. He determined to change and do good. Going to the authorities, he prepared to turn over all the evidence he could to see justice done. The authorities asked if he really wanted to do this as he would then be in great peril from his former clients. He told of his son and resolutely proceeded. He did in fact pay with his life.

His brave act on behalf of his son became known and it was brought to be by people in power that his son in due time was given an appointment for the finest education he could receive at the Naval Academy in Annapolis.