|
A Service of Recognition
God and Country recipients should be recognized a Service
of Recognition arranged by the pastor. This service may be
incorporated into a regular Sunday morning worship service
or it may be held in conjunction with Scout Sunday, A
Sunday School Assembly, Christian Education Week, a Church
Night Program, etc. If the pastor so chooses, the
recipient may invite parents, unit leaders, counselor, or
peers to stand with the recipient at the time of
recognition. The following service is designed primarily
for use as a part of a Sunday morning service: Adaptations
may be made freely. At the selected time the minister will
say:
It is appropriate for the people of God gathered as a
community of faith in worship to share with one another in
recognition of outstanding accomplishment by one of their
own. Thus the joy of one becomes the joy of all.
The minister will invite the recipient(s) to come forward,
along with others as designated, with the following
invitation:
Will (name) come before the congregation that we may share
in (his/her/their) accomplishment and moment of joy.
The Church seeks to provide opportunities for worship, for
study, for service, and for fellowship. As one means of
nurture and growth for the development of Christian faith
and discipleship, our church uses the God and Country
program series.
A young person voluntarily chooses to enroll in the God
and Country program under the supervision of the minister.
In committing oneself to this program, the young person
chooses to go beyond the regular expectations of church
school experiences to become involved in and intentional
and personal study program. It is a program that requires
a commitment of time and energy to study and to act out
the faith, along with an expectation to seek to continue
in growth.
The young person seeks to follow the example set by Jesus,
for it was recorded that he “grew and became strong, he
was full of wisdom, and God’s Blessings were upon him”
(Luke 2:40)
(Name) has completed the requirements of study and service
for the god and (Me/Family/Church/Life) study program, and
has earned the right and privilege of wearing this emblem
in recognition of the accomplishment.
The pastor (or Parent, counselor, unit leader, or a
previous recipient) may pin the emblem on the recipient.
The congregation may then join in the following prayer.
Let us pray. Lord, your Son has called all of us into the
adventures of learning and serving. Here today we
celebrate a milestone as one among us has answered that
call in a special and intentional way. We thank you for
(name) and for this moment of joyous celebration. We
rejoice in this accomplishment knowing that it is only one
step in the total journey of learning and serving.
Continue to challenge all of us to give ourselves to the
task of learning and serving, that your kingdom may become
a reality in and through our lives. Amen.
|
