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St. David's To Hold Military Prayer Service
By ERIN MAGUIRE, The Bulletin
Parents of soldiers, former military members and supportive faithful congregate at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne once a month to honor servicemen and women. The next service open to the public will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. The Rev. Allen Guelzo, Ph.D., a Gettysburg College history professor specializing in the Civil War, leads the services that attract churchgoers from more than 10 churches in the area.
Military prayer services appropriately take place at St. David’s lower church, which was founded in 1715 and is adjacent to a Revolutionary War graveyard. Rev. Guelzo starts each service with a summary of the current status of American soldiers serving throughout the world; then, Scripture is read, hymns are sung and names of servicemen submitted by participants are read. The services usually last one half-hour.
Louise Masterson, coordinator of troop support ministry at St. David’s, discussed the services on behalf of Rev. Guelzo, who was in Texas yesterday. She said the services began three years ago and have attracted 10 to 20 people each time since.
“These services are especially important during a time of war when our men and women are sacrificing their lives, their limbs and everything else they give up. It’s not only the blessed ones who die but the ones left with severe wounds mentally and physically and their families who are so often forgotten,” Ms. Masterson said. “It’s vital to let them know we don’t take them for granted.”
There are currently 10 active troops from St. David’s congregation serving in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and elsewhere. In addition to praying for them, the church sends packages and letters overseas. It also features one serviceman a month in its church newsletter.
“Basically, our church decided it would be awful to have them return from war never having heard from their church,” Ms. Masterson said. “They are giving up so much for us so that we can worship freely that the church should be giving something to them.”
St. David’s Episcopal Church is located at 763 South Valley Forge Road in Wayne. For more information on its military prayer services, call 610-688-7947.
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
Military prayer services appropriately take place at St. David’s lower church, which was founded in 1715 and is adjacent to a Revolutionary War graveyard. Rev. Guelzo starts each service with a summary of the current status of American soldiers serving throughout the world; then, Scripture is read, hymns are sung and names of servicemen submitted by participants are read. The services usually last one half-hour.
Louise Masterson, coordinator of troop support ministry at St. David’s, discussed the services on behalf of Rev. Guelzo, who was in Texas yesterday. She said the services began three years ago and have attracted 10 to 20 people each time since.
“These services are especially important during a time of war when our men and women are sacrificing their lives, their limbs and everything else they give up. It’s not only the blessed ones who die but the ones left with severe wounds mentally and physically and their families who are so often forgotten,” Ms. Masterson said. “It’s vital to let them know we don’t take them for granted.”
There are currently 10 active troops from St. David’s congregation serving in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and elsewhere. In addition to praying for them, the church sends packages and letters overseas. It also features one serviceman a month in its church newsletter.
“Basically, our church decided it would be awful to have them return from war never having heard from their church,” Ms. Masterson said. “They are giving up so much for us so that we can worship freely that the church should be giving something to them.”
St. David’s Episcopal Church is located at 763 South Valley Forge Road in Wayne. For more information on its military prayer services, call 610-688-7947.
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
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