N.B. Dear Lord, Today we honor our veterans, worthy men and women who gave their best when they were called upon to serve and protect their country. They were willing to risk death to protect this land we hold so dear and the American people along with it. If you have any questions, please contact me. Father we ask You to bless the families of our military who stay behind while their loved one goes into battle. Around Mothers Day, it's a good idea to have a special benediction to thank mothers in your congregation and around the world. Its also the time when the past helps grieving loved ones of the deceased say their formal goodbye. Please help us keep our eyes on you as we witness the plans for this building unfold. Originally it was the signal to turn off the lights. Your email address will not be published. Just as there is an opening prayer, the Invocation, there is also a closing prayer, often referred to as a Benediction. As You have graciously preserved our nation through the years and have led us in wondrous ways, grant that we may be worthy of our high calling a Nation. God of all Creation, We come before you today to give you honor and praise. Be exalted in the earth. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I had the honor to be a part of the Purcellvlle Memorial Day ceremony to honor those who paid the full price for freedom. Your mercy, light and peace. I live so close to Great Lakes Naval Base that I hear Taps played each night, especially after Memorial Day when our windows are often open. Amen, May they rest in peace. Please grant the deceased everlasting peace. Finding an appropriate position in this setting isn't easy, but I believe that we must at times take the risk if we're to be partners in creating a just and peaceful world. Father, we ask You to forgive the sins of this nation as well as the sins of the leaders who have forgotten how to pray. We give thanks for those who whether by choice or No, they grasped the flag; They ran forth with no fear. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. You know their needs, both material and spiritual. The Lord bless you and keep you;the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Be with all who serve in our Armed Forces. The ceremony includes the presentation of the colors by Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans, the national anthem, an invocation and benediction from VA Chaplain Robert Allen, and two keynote speakers. The Aaronic Blessing. Memorial Day Invocation. Cover them with your protection as they stand in the gap for ours. Encourage them, O Lord, as they stand guard over our coasts and the bulwarks of our freedoms. Free Church Christmas Welcomes to Use for Speeches & Bulletins, Christmas is a time for worship, family and friends and its a great opportunity to deliver an amazing churchChristmas welcome to possible new , Sample Closing Prayers for Worship Services That Inspire, Writing a closing prayer for worship can be difficult. But it soon took its place in Civil War funeral services in place of firing three shots as commanders wanted to avoid mistakenly signaling to the enemy that they were going to start fighting again. Its also a time to pray for the continued health and well-being of active-duty, non-active duty, and retired armed forces members. 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He spoke about it in a letter to the Hebrew congregation in Newport, Rhode Island: May the Father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us in all our several vocations useful here, and in His own time and way everlastingly happy.". That doesn't mean your church can't offer a benediction promoting tolerance. Help me to be the finest medic, both technically and tactically. Invocation and Benediction Memorial Day ~ May 25, 2015 . How Majestic Is Your Name! Memorial Day 2018 May 28 at 9:30 a.m. Keynote speaker: U.S. Army First Lieutenant Kristina Willis (BA '14), whose specialty is military intelligence. Amen. Something similar to this prayer works as a benediction to honor these essential women: Thank you, God, for the gift of motherhood. Bless them and their families. Good luck with your ceremony! By Your grace, O God, fortify them against the contagion of bad example, that being preserved from vice, and serving You faithfully, they may be ready to meet You face to face when they are so called: through Christ our Lord. Prayers do not have to consist of eloquent verse or prose. These blessings are offered at so thousands of services throughout the country each month. Since Psalm 91 is said to be the soldiers prayer, you could read the scripture as the final benediction. The invocation, in its simplest form, is a prayer or request for the spiritual presence of God in a ceremony or event. We thank you for this milestone. We seek your help in facing all challenges, your protection during times of danger, and peace in our sorrows. 7. [We gather in the name of that power, the name the Living God. beautifully written. There are encroachments being made on our freedoms right now by those who think they know better. We are delighted to introduce you to a new resource on the Chaplain General's page of the members' section of the DAR website. Go with us as we seek to defend the defenseless and to free the enslaved. There are those who are first public demonstration of remembrance following the Civil War. have gathered as members of the Troy community to remember those who died in And may we, your people, learn the ways of peace; teach us to . Prayers For Our Soldiers -- Almighty God, we commend to Your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Kingdom of God Many Americans include Memorial Day prayers in services they hold to express gratitude and show respect for those who served in the armed forces. As applicable today as it was in the Old Testament, this blessing is not only a prayer to speak at the end of service, but also a reminder of Gods promise. Next, youll see an example of a benediction to use at the funeral of a military member. Though exhausted and rattled, Did they know their fate was sealed? Amen. This is one of five veterans cemeteries here. Make their soundings and markings sure that safe passages may be found by those who go down to the sea in ships. The phrases in brackets are part of my original manuscript, but could easily be left out in honor of our sisters and brothers of other faiths who have served in the military and who observe Memorial Day. CopingWith the First Thanksgiving Without Your Loved One, It can be difficult to adapt to life after the loss of a loved one, and it might seem like things will never go back to being the same. We pray blessings over all mothers in our nation and throughout the world. I was asked to participate in a Memorial Day observance in the city of Troy, Michigan. We remember those suffer as a result of warinjury, This can be especially true around the holiday season when fr, Losing a parent may be one of the most intense and painful experiences your friend or family member goes through. 1. As this day comes to a close, we thank you, God, for being our Father. We thank You for having brought us together to pay tribute to those who lost their lives defending our nation. Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and deed and helping me to live so that I can face my fellow Marines, my loved ones, and Thee without shame or fear. Make us reverent in the use of freedom, just in the exercise of power, and generous in the protection of weakness. for those who have given their lives. Memorial Prayer 2 CAPT T. Randy Cash, CHC, USN, Retired Past National Chaplain of the American Legion Eternal Father, who alone rules the destinies of nations and who has deemed that men should live in freedom and not fear, awaken in us a new appreciation of our land that we may apply ourselves to the great work of keeping alive a sense of freedom. We remember them both in war and peace and thank them for serving our nation with dignity and honor. And we pray that all the members of our military feel our support and love. Veterans of Foreign Wars Taku Post 5559 will be holding a ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery downtown, and American Legion Post 25 will be holding their ceremony at the Alaska Memorial Park. The Psalms offer rich content for pastors looking for meaningful ideas for benedictions. 377th TSC Command Chaplain, Col. Robert Carter, gives Memorial Day invocation and benediction at Southeast Veterans cemetery. We are grateful for their service. 2 Corinthians 13:14 - The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Memorial/Veterans Day Responsive. These blessings are offered at so thousands of services throughout the country each month. Dozens of Holiday greetings and messages. You said "Be strong and of good courage", this is my prayer. The Sin of Certainty (Peter Enns) -- Review, 1 Corinthians 13 However, we know that they do not need us to remember them. We ask for Your unique blessings to fill their homes, and we pray Your peace, provision, and strength will fill their lives. The blessing in this section is an ancient Celtic prayer. Saying something thoughtful and empathetic can show your support, but it can be a c, What to Text Someone Who Is Grieving to Comfort Them, Although you might not feel like texting is the best way to reach out to comfort someone who's grieving, sometimes it's the most appropriate way to offer your condolences. We give you thanks for all who serve as military chaplains, who do the work of speaking your Word to the courageous, the fearful, the suffering, the wounded and the dying. 2 Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brothers, rejoice. We also remember the families of our troops. We remember the good they accomplished. We the men of Special Forces, acknowledge our dependence upon Thee in the preservation of human freedom. Revelation Hello. Amen. It marks the official end of the service before sending the attendees on their way, as shown in this example. Multi Faith Prays. We know that you level the hills before us and make the crooked way straight so that we each can walk the path before us bring into their lives Sources of care that reflect the love that you have for each of us during this challenging time. Be with those supporting the fight against COVID-19. Lord, we pray that those we love. For U.S. Marines of any faith who may desire guidance when contacting their Maker, the Marine Corps has a ready aid, The Marine's Prayer: Almighty Father, whose command is over all and whose love never fails, make me aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will. Were they scared or were they strong? Father we ask You to bless and strengthen those brave souls who selflessly give of themselves without asking anything in return. Help us use our power justly and generously as we protect the weak. We come in the spirit of peace, remembering that war has many We give you our fears and anxieties so that we remain encouraged about our future. Marriage In Interesting Times -- Another Endorsement, Defining Religion -- Sightings (Martin Marty). Dear God, We thank you for the freedom you have given to us, and for the price that was paid by Christ so that we could live free. Add to Bin. I was honored to give the benediction at Kenilworths Memorial Day parade last weekend, and as the holiday approaches I wanted to take this opportunity to share my words with you. We especially honor those who lost their lives while defending this nation. 14. If I am called to a mission of peace, give me the strength to lead by caring for those who need my assistance. Lord of all nations, help us remember the blessings we share with deep gratitude. to country. Progressive Christianity, National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Post-Evangelicalism Religion and Politics, Response of Religious Leaders to Smear Campaign, Review of Faith and International Affairs, Roman Catholic Church Medieval Christianity, Southern Baptist Convention Religion and Politics, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Subscribing to Ponderings on a Faith Journey, Ten Propositions on Certainty and Theology, Worship. emancipation by creating a cemetery outside a Confederate prison near In Jesus mighty name, Amen. I tried to express the difference in the following invocation and benediction. Reflections And the blessings of everlasting life. And all the angels and saints in ancient heaven. Lord, we ask You to anoint our Chaplains and others who bring the Word to our military. We seek your help in facing all challenges, your protection during times of danger, and peace in our sorrows.