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YOUTH HONOR GRANDPARENTS …
The Youth Department was in charge of the morning worship service
on Sunday, September 13th, and it just happened to be National
Grandparents Day. The youth took this opportunity to honor all of the
grandparents in the church as well as the visiting grandparents. The
grandchildren either wrote and read tributes to their deceased grandparent, or
presented cards, flowers or other gifts to their grandparents. The Youth choir,
under the direction of Sis. Dawn Deas also sang during this service, and the
Youth Director, Dec. Larry Coleman, was Worship Leader. A poem “Grandma’s Off
Her Rocker” was also read and added a little humor to the occasion. It depicted
the “new grandma” who no longer sits on the porch in her rocker, but is off to
the gym to keep slim, touring with a group, having lunch with her friends, or
out fishing, hiking, and biking. Out of town visiting grandparent was the
maternal grandmother of Taylor & Tamya McIntyre, Mother R. (Lillie) Kelly from
Hinesville, Georgia.
Pastor Deas’ sermon began by sharing some historical information
regarding the origin of Grandparent(s) Day. His sermon topic was “Get the Word
and Pass It On;” scripture texts were II Timothy 1:1-7 and Titus 1:2-3. In the
discourse of the sermon Pastor Deas spoke of one of the ways God makes his word
known, through preaching. In referring to II Timothy 1:1-7, he expounded on how
Paul was evidently taught the word from a child up; and how Timothy was
evidently influenced through the faith which “dwelt first in thy grandmother
Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also.” Pastor Deas
also told how Moses’ mother also instructed him (Exodus 2:1-10). The sermon
concluded with an invitation to have Jesus Christ be our Lord and Savior by
first obeying Romans 10:9-10 and Acts 2:38-40, and admonishment to get the
Blessor, not just blessings, and the Benefactor, not just the benefits.
National Grandparents Day is an
annual observance in the United States that honors grandparents and other
seniors, and seeks to strengthen relationships between the generations. It is
celebrated each year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. The specific date
changes year-to-year. Because it is tied to Labor Day, however, Grandparents Day
is never earlier than September 7 or later than September 13. National
Grandparents Day was created in 1978 by a federal proclamation, passed by
Congress and signed by President Jimmy Carter. National Grandparents Day was
first celebrated on Sunday, September 9, 1979.
But Grandparents Day really began
much earlier as the brainchild of Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, a West
Virginia homemaker and mother of 15 children. In 1970, she began a campaign to
establish a special day to honor grandparents. Her enthusiasm soon attracted the
support of businesses, churches, civic groups, and political leaders. In 1973,
the first Grandparents Day was proclaimed in West Virginia by Governor Arch
Moore. In 1978, five years after Grandparents Day was first recognized in West
Virginia and eight years after she began her campaign, McQuade succeeded.
Congress passed legislation proclaiming the Sunday after Labor Day as National
Grandparents Day, and President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation.
Why was Grandparents Day Created? According
to an excerpt from the National Grandparents Day Proclamation: “As we seek to
strengthen the enduring values of the family, it is appropriate that we honor
our grandparents. “Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the
events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the
world around us. Whether they are our own or surrogate grandparents who fill
some of the gaps in our mobile society, our senior generation also provides our
society a link to our national heritage and traditions.” According to the
National Grandparents Day Council, Grandparents Day has a threefold purpose: (1)
To honor grandparents; (2) To give grandparents an opportunity to show love for
their children’s children; and (3)To help children become aware of the strength,
information and guidance older people can offer.
Some
excerpts were taken from www.seniorliving.about.com.od/grandparents/a/grandparent_day |
