CHAPLAINS PRAYER BOOK - American Legion Auxiliary
CHAPLAINS’ PRAYER BOOKAMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY2006
INTRODUCTIONAt the 86th National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah,a vote was taken to create an American Legion AuxiliaryChaplains’ Prayer Book. This book is the result of thatvote.The prayers contained in the following pages are acompilation of those submitted by past Chaplains of theAmerican Legion Auxiliary. Wherever possible, credithas been given to the individual who has contributed theprayer.Although the material contained in this book may bechanged or altered to suit the user, it should be noted thatcare has been taken to revise and edit the material toreflect the true non-denominational and non-sectarianviews of the “Service to God and Country” programs ofthe American Legion Auxiliary.Please use this book when and wherever possible. It hasbeen written with love and prayer for all that these wordstouch.Dr. Ann Fournier, PhD, Past National Chaplain1
TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroductionResponsibilities of a ChaplainInvocationsBenedictionsTable GracesPrayers for HolidaysNew YearsEasterMemorial DayFlag DayFourth of JulyVeterans DayThanksgivingChristmasJewish Sabbath and FestivalPrayers forAmerican Legion AuxiliaryAuxiliary Special EventsAmericaCivil AuthoritiesPrayers for MilitaryMiscellaneous Prayers and PoetryCeremoniesFuneral ServiceGraveside ServicePOW/MIA CeremonyFour Chaplains Day 57
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHAPLAINThe chaplain should attend all meetings and have anopening and closing prayer at each meeting. Theseprayers may come from any source: National News, theManual of Ceremonies of American Legion Auxiliarylocated in the Unit Handbook of the American LegionAuxiliary, self composed prayers or those foundelsewhere.Past National Chaplain Rosey Newman gives awonderful charge to our chaplains in the Introduction ofthe Chaplains Web Manual located on National’swebsite. It says, “Chaplain, you are the spiritual leaderof this Unit, and have been chosen to conduct allreligious services. It is expected that you will so dignifyyour office that your example will be followed by allfellow members.”As a chaplain, the most important thing for you toremember is that the American Legion Auxiliary doesnot promote any one religion. We must not offendanyone by promoting our own religion.3
Suggested activities: Reporting the names of members who are ill andsending them cards. Sending sympathy cards to family members. Ifpossible visiting the funeral and doing a memorialservice for the deceased member. Being in charge of religious services for the unit. Visiting members and veterans in nursing homes orthose who are shut-ins. Keeping contact with Gold Star Families andremembering them on holidays. Volunteering for community projects. Making a prayer or devotional book. In doing this,encourage member participation.Ceremonies may be found in the Manual of Ceremoniesof American Legion Auxiliary located in the UnitHandbook of the American Legion Auxiliary.4
INVOCATIONSAlmighty God, Father of all mankind and Judge overnations, we pray Thee to guide our work in this meetingand in all our days. Send Thy peace to our nation and toall nations. Hasten the fulfillment of Thy promise ofpeace that shall have no end.We pray for all those who serve the people and guard thepublic welfare; that by Thy blessing they may be enabledto discharge their duties honestly and well. We pray forour members; that by Thy help they may observe thestrictest justice; keep alight the fires of freedom, striveearnestly for the spirit of democracy, and preserveuntarnished our loyalty to our Country and to Thee.We especially ask Thy blessing and comfort for all thosewho are suffering from the ravages of war. May our dutyto them be ever alive in our minds. Finally, O God ofMercy, we remember lovingly before Thee our departedheroes who received from Thee the reward of lifeeverlasting. May their splendid example guide us, nowand forever. Amen.******Dear Lord, as we gather for this meeting, give us the useof Your gift of peace and understanding that we mayapproach the matters we must handle with sincere andjust hearts. May You watch over and guide our tonguesthat we may not hurt our friends with whom we work for5
the betterment of our communities and our Country.Keep us always true to the principles on which TheAmerican Legion was founded. We ask this in Yourname. Amen.******Dear Lord, we thank You for our meeting and for themany chairmen who report the many works our membersare doing in our local communities.We thank You for Your guidance in our decision-makingand we ask that we receive it again today. We thank Youfor the leadership we have received.Thank You, Lord, for America and the service men andwomen who defend and protect our freedoms. Please bewith them and keep them and their families in Your care.Please help there to be peace so they may soon returnhome. All this we ask in Your precious name. Amen.******Almighty God, creator of all that has been, that is, and isstill to come, be with us we pray, as we meet as membersand friends of the American Legion Auxiliary. Be withus as we meet our commitments as members of this greatorganization. Guide our hearts and our minds as we worktogether for You, our God and our Country. Amen.******6
Heavenly Father, we thank You for our veterans, ourservice men and women, and The American LegionFamily. Thank You for those present at this meeting thisevening. Be with us and guide us as we make manyimportant decisions that will affect all the members ofour organization.Help us to remember that everyone’s opinions areessential in making the correct decisions. Help us toalways remember our true purpose as the AmericanLegion Auxiliary.Bless and guide our President, as she conducts themeeting. Be with our service men and women and keepthem in Your care. May all our decisions praise Yourname. Amen.******Dear Lord, we thank You for those present here todayand the freedom we have to gather together to serve Godand Country. Thank You for the members serving ourveterans. We thank You and ask that You be with ourmany men and women serving in the military on foreignsoil to protect our freedoms and the freedoms of others.Please be with their families and give them strength asthey wait at home for their loved ones to return. Helpthere to be peace soon. May all that we do glorify Yourname. Amen.******7
Dear Lord, we thank You for America, our governmentleaders, and our veterans who gave so much. Thank Youfor the members of The American Legion and AmericanLegion Auxiliary. Help us to always remember we arehere to serve God and Country. Thank You for our menand women serving in the military and please keep themin Your care.Lord, we ask Your blessings for this meeting. Guide usin all we do and let all we do praise Your name. In Yourname we pray. Amen.******Lord, God Almighty, You have brought us safely to thebeginning of this day. Defend us today by Your mightypower, that we may not fall into any sin, but that all ourwords may so proceed and all our thoughts and actionsbe so directed, as to be always just in Your sight.Direct, we beg You, O Lord, our actions by Your Holyinspirations, and carry them on by Your graciousassistance, that every prayer and work of ours may beginalways with You, and through You be happily ended.Amen.8
BENEDICTIONSO God from whom all Holy desires, all right counselsand all just works do proceed, give to Thy servants thatpeace which the world cannot give; that our hearts maybe disposed to obey Thy commandments, and the fear ofenemies being moved, our times, by Thy protection, maybe peaceful.O God, who will not let the nations who believe in Theeto be overwhelmed by any peril; permit them to receivethe prayers and offerings of Thy servants, that in Thymercy Thou moulds’. Grant peace to all people and makethem secure against all their enemies.O God, the author and lover of peace, to know whom isto live, to serve whom is to reign; shield Thy peoplefrom all assaults, so that we who trust in Thy protectionmay fear no foe. We ask this through God's name. Amen.******Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your guidance in theAmerican Legion Auxiliary. We thank You for theofficers and members who have made importantdecisions for our organization. Thank You for MadamPresident, our officers and chairmen and our pastpresidents.9
Thank You for our service men and women and ask thatYou protect them as they protect us. Please be with thosepresent as they go out and enjoy fellowship together anddeliver them home safely. In Your name we pray. Amen.******Dear Lord, send us away tonight in harmony, peace andgood will to spread the spirit of our love for our Country.Be with us and guide us in our labor for our fellowman.Amen.******God, we ask Your presence with each of us as we beginour journeys to our homes, that we may have a safereturn. Be with us until we meet again. Amen.******Accept our praise, O Lord, for the blessings of this dayand hour. Give us, we pray, a willing attitude andgrateful hearts. Amen.******Grant, O Lord, that as Americans and Auxiliarymembers we may continue to help our veterans and thosein need.We thank You for these people assembled here, and prayYou will bless their many works. Be with us, we pray.Amen.******10
Lord, thank You for the fine leadership we have in ourunit and thank You for the fellowship and the newfriends we have made.Our business meeting is now ending and You haveguided us well. May we use what we have learned hereto help with our work for our veterans, our children andour nation.Please be with our service men and women and keepthem safe and return them home to their loved ones soon.Please watch over us and keep us safe as we return to ourhomes and loved ones. All this we ask in Your name.Amen.******As we depart one from the other, may God bless us andkeep us. Into His gracious protection we commitourselves. May He be near us to defend us, with us torefresh us, around us to preserve us, before us to guideus, behind us to justify us and above us to bless us andkeep us from all evil. Amen.******Dear Heavenly Father, be with us as we leave this place.Grant us a peaceful night of rest as we prepare for ourdeparture. Be with us and keep us in thy grace as we goour separate ways that we return to our homes safely. Asalways, we pray for the service men and women who11
serve our nation and the families who wait for theirreturn. Keep them safe. These things we ask in Thy Holyname. Amen.******Dear Father, we give thanks that we have again had theopportunity to come together. We are grateful for thistime of work and fellowship. We pray that what we havedone has been only for the betterment of those we serve.As we prepare to leave, each to go our separate ways, wepray once again for those who serve our Country; thatthey may return to their loved ones safely. Now, dearFather, keep us in Your grace and be with us until wemeet once again. Amen.******Dear Lord, thank You for the fellowship we havereceived here today. We ask that You be with ourguest(s) and keep His/Her/Them safe. Be with ourmembers and keep them in Your care. In Your name wepray. Amen.12
TABLE GRACES FOR MEAL(PLEASE REMAIN SEATED)We thank Thee, O Lord, for those who have prepared thefood we are about to partake of and for those who serveit. May the food and fellowship strengthen us to serveYou better. In Your name we pray. Amen.******We are thankful, Father, for all the blessings You havegiven to us and for the fellowship we have shared withthose here. We ask that You heal those who could not bewith us due to sickness. As always, we pray for ourservice persons and for their safe return to their families.We thank You, Lord, for this meal, for those whoprepared it and for those with whom we share it. We askthat we be strengthened with Thy grace as we strive tokeep American “One Nation Under God”. Amen.******For the joy of life we are grateful to Thee, Oh God, forthe fun we have as we share with one another we thankYou. We pray that the food we are about to receive – willbe used to strengthen us to better serve You. Amen.******Dear Lord, may this meal that we share be seasoned fromabove with Thy blessings and Thy grace – but most of allThy love. Amen.******13
We thank Thee, O Lord, for the food given us this day,and we pray that it may strengthen and sustain us in bodyand mind to serve Thee by doing our daily tasksfaithfully and well. Grant that we be ever grateful for allThy blessing to us. Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion Auxiliary******Bless, O Lord, for this food to our use, and us to Yourservice; and keep us ever mindful of the needs of others.Amen.******Our Father, how great Thou art – You have blessed us inso many ways and we thank You – for the opportunity tounite in this moment of prayer, this special privilege wehave in America. We ask Your blessing as we strive tokeep America - “One Nation Under God.” Amen.******Gracious God, we have sinned against thee and areunworthy of Thy mercies. Pardon our sins and blessthese mercies for our use. Help us to eat and drink tothy glory for Christ’s sake. Amen.Source: Mary Wellman******Accept our thanks, O Heavenly Father, for all theexpressions of Thy goodness and mercy toward us. Wethank Thee for this food received from Thy bounty. May14
Thy protecting care and watchfulness be over each of usas we carry on for God and Country. Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion Auxiliary******Dear God, we are gathered here, to give thanks for thefood You have set before us. We also give thanks for thisbeautiful day, the circle of friends, and the opportunity tobe together.May God’s blessings, peace and love rest upon ourtables, forever in God’s light. Amen.Source: By Rita Navarette******Give us grace to be grateful for the blessings, whichThou hast so bountifully spread before use this day.Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion Auxiliary******We thank Thee, O Lord, for this food and all theblessings so generously provided. Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion Auxiliary15
PRAYERS FOR HOLIDAYSNEW YEARSLord, as we begin a new year, let us resolve to keep apromise, seek out a forgotten friend, listen, laugh,brighten the heart of a child, encourage the young,appreciate our elders, express our gratitude, takepleasure in the beauty and wonder of life, and speakYour love to others.Dear Lord, guide us in the New Year to grow closertogether in our families, in our Units, in our world. Letus always strive to bring peace to the world. Let us liveeach day to the fullest. For all the blessings of the year,we give You thanks, O Lord. Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion AuxiliaryEASTERWe thank Thee, O God, for the day in which life andimmortality were brought to light through theresurrection of our blessed Lord from the dead.Evermore in heart and mind we shall sing praises of joyto Him and we shall show our love for Him by ourthoughts, words and deeds, our helpful service to others,and faithful performance of all our obligations.We earnestly ask Thee to bless and preserve all whomwe love; comfort and aid all in trouble and distress. We16
offer our thanksgiving for all graces and favors we havereceived from You. Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion AuxiliaryMEMORIAL DAYDear God, as we approach Memorial Day, may wehonor and remember those who died that we might livein freedom. We remember our departed loved ones goneon before. Those that we honor will be a part of ourlives forever.O God, we are mindful of Your great love for us. Weare thankful for that love. We praise You for theblessings of love and friendship, for our families andour homes. Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion Auxiliary******Lord, be with us and be our guide in time of need. Weask Your support in all we do. Help us to reach out toone another, to communicate and show real care forothers. Help us to be open to new experiences ofpersonal growth and challenge. May we be alert to theopportunities before us each day.Accept our thanks, Lord, for the leaders of ourAuxiliary, for their work this year, and for theirleadership. As they have worked for God and Country,we give them our grateful thanks. Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion Auxiliary17
FLAG DAYO God, we thank thee for the flag of our Country andfor all that our flag represents. We thank Thee forgiving the victory to the brave and valiant men andwomen who gave their last measure of strength in orderthat it may wave over the land of the free and the homeof the brave. We thank Thee for giving us the ideals offaith and liberty, for preserving the sanctity of ourhomes and freedom of worship. Conscious of ourlimitations and our deep unworthiness we pray that ourflag may bind together the many elements in our owndear Country. Grant that this Country may remainforever a free union flying the same flag. Amen.FOURTH OF JULYGod, we remember the courage and determination of ourfounding fathers. We remember the brave patriotic menand women who gave so much for us. We thank themthat we are a free nation and a free people. It is throughthem that we carry forward the ideals of Justice,Freedom and Democracy.Lord, we pray for our elected officials; for soundgovernment and just laws. Lord, make us ever proud tobe Americans.We ask that You would rekindle the flame ofcompassion within us so that we might show real care18
for our fellowman. Teach us to be sensitive to the heedsof others. Grant that as Americans and as LegionFamily, we may continue to help our veterans and thosein need. Be with us and guide us, we pray. Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion Auxiliary******A Freedom Blessing:May you always have your life in God's Hands.May Liberty surround you.May your Pursuit of Happiness always come true.May you have Health and Coins in your pocket.May the sun shine in your life.May the Rainbow always follow the rain.May you always know a Friend is near.May God fill your Heart, Our Country and the Worldwith Peace.May God Bless America and place His Love in yourHeart.Source: By Beverly J. WolffVETERANS DAYDear Lord, as we come into this Fall season let us beever mindful of others. Help our members as we get ourprograms underway for our veterans and ourcommunities. Help us always to keep them uppermostin our minds and never stray from that "want" to help19
others. Guide our hearts and minds as we work togetherfor You and our Country. We thank You for all things.In Thy Holy name we pray. Amen.Source: Given by Caroline Koveleski, 2006-2007 National ChaplainTHANKSGIVINGLord, thank You for Your everyday gifts to us. We haveso much to be thankful for, not just on ThanksgivingDay, but each new day that You give us. We give Youour thanks, Lord.Our prayers of Thanksgiving join those of ourforefathers. God, You know the words we so oftenspeak; but more than that, You know the secrets of ourbeam. We thank You for this day.Lord, we pray for peace in the world. We thank You forpeople who stand for truth and that which is right. GiveYour blessing, Lord to our veterans who have given somuch for our freedom. Remember those who have giventhe supreme sacrifice for we pray they will never beforgotten. Be with us, we pray. Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion Auxiliary******Our Heavenly Father we thank Thee for this day with itsopportunities for service. We thank Thee for sustenanceand Thy guiding hand — for friends, companions andloved ones. Send Thy blessing upon our dear ones20
wherever they may be. To those in sorrow, reveal untothem the comfort and humaneness of Thy tender mercy.Help us all to be more constant in our praise andobedience to Thee. Amen.Source: Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion AuxiliaryCHRISTMASOur Heavenly Father, on this Holy Christmas day, ourhearts are filled with s
Manual of Ceremonies of American Legion Auxiliary located in the Unit Handbook of the American Legion Auxiliary, self composed prayers or those found elsewhere. Past National Chaplain Rosey Newman gives a wonderful charge to our chaplains in the Introduction o
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