March 12 is order deadline for ‘Armed Forces Sunday’

LCMS congregations with email addresses should have received an email in late January from the Synod’s Ministry to the Armed Forces regarding “Armed Forces Sunday” on May 19.

The email is intended to let congregations know that if they want free resources to celebrate the special Sunday in May, they must place their orders early. The deadline has been extended to March 12.

Beginning Feb. 20, phone calls will be placed to congregations without email addresses so that they, too, may order “Armed Forces Sunday” materials.

A limited number of bulletin inserts will be printed this year, so orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

“Armed Forces Sunday” may be celebrated on an alternate Sunday, such as those falling around Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Veterans Day, or any other Sunday during the year that a congregation chooses to honor those who are serving in the military.

This year’s theme, “Christ, the Power of God and the Wisdom of God,” is based on 1 Cor. 1:23-24.

“Chaplains are called by the church to project the power and wisdom of God in the military arena, where power projection is a way of life,” said Chaplain Mark Schreiber, director of the LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces. “However, the contrast could not be greater between God’s power through Christ crucified and man’s power.

“Pray for success and wisdom for all our chaplains as they serve in this arena.”

The website for ordering bulletin inserts in quantities of 50, a suggested sermon and responsive prayers is www.lcms.org/armedforcessunday. Items ordered will be mailed in April.

Also available on the Ministry to the Armed Forces website — at www.lcms.org/armedforces — is a form congregations can use to register their armed forces members for the Synod’s “Ministry-by-Mail” program, which provides quarterly issues of Portals of Prayer to servicemen and women.

Congregations that celebrate “Armed Forces Sunday” are encouraged to ask their members who are veterans to come in uniform to worship on May 19 and that a special recognition ceremony be held for them and their family members. Also, a military chaplain may be invited to speak for the occasion.

To locate a chaplain in your area or for more information about Armed Forces Sunday resources, call 800-248-1930, Ext. 1337, or send an email to lcmschaps@lcms.org.

Posted Feb. 13, 2013 / Updated Feb. 14, 2013