Dearly beloved,

This weekend begins the unofficial start to summer with Memorial day. It is filled with family outings as well as retail sales. Its a day off that affords many a long weekend. Somehow over the years, we have lost sight of the original purpose of Memorial day. Finding its roots following the civil war, it soon became an official National holiday, originally called Decoration today. It is the opportunity to remember those who have lived and died in service to our country.

It is especially important to me and my family as it often falls on the anniversary of my own dad’s death on May 24, 1969. My dad, Captain Charles J. Manske was an Air Force Pilot and died in Vietnam on that day. I join many others in marking Memorial day in remembrance of him and so many others, both in this country and around the world. I invite you to use the prayer below, take a a moment of silence or using your own prayers to remember all those who served

peace in Christ, Pastor Jen

Prayer for Memorial Day:

God of glory, in whose hands are the living and the dead, we give you thanks for all those who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Give us a sense of your will and purpose that we may understand that the work you have begun in them will be perfected through the One who has laid down his life for our sake, in whom all strife is resolves, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen.ll as