The SCV Annual National Reunion

MOST gracious God, we humbly beseech thee, as for the Sons of the Confederate Veterans in general, so especially for our representatives assembled; that thou wouldest be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations, to the advancement of thy glory, the good of organization, honour and welfare of the camps and their members; that all things may be so ordered and settled by their endeavours, upon the best and surest foundations, that peace, happiness, truth, justice and virtue may be established among us. These and all other necessaries, for them, for us, and the whole brotherhood, we humbly beg in the Name and mediation of Jesus Christ, our most blessed Lord and Saviour. Deo Vindice. Amen.

To be used before and during the SCV Annual Reunion

Deuteronomy xxviii 1-8, 1 Peter v:1-5  Psalm 112,   &   St. John xv. 1-7

HOMILY: Blessings on the Assembly of Representatives at the SCV Reunion


I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
 

Deuternomny xxviii 1-7

AND it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.

Psalm 112

1 Peter 5:1-5

THE ELDERS which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

St. John xv. 1-7

I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Scripture from KJV

 

Blessings for the Reunion

Today, I am mindful that our camp representatives will soon begin their travel to the Sons of Confederate Veterans Annual Reunion. I am also mindful that the Scripture calls for us to pray for our brothers when they assemble. This day, and throughout the Reunion until they have returned home, I bid the prayer of every compatriot that our representatives may have safe travel and a blessed and efficacious meeting.

In Deuteronomy 28, God told the nation of Israel that they would be blessed who kept his commandments and walked in his way. The promise was not for old Israel only, but also for the new Israel, that is those who have been adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ. They were to be blessed in prosperity, in safety in travel going in and coming out, and from the designs of their enemies. By keeping our eyes fixed on God and his righteousness, we may expect and anticipate his blessings on our assemblies and on our labors. We should hold up all we think, do, and say to the light of Scripture and the virtues proclaimed in God's word. We should first seek the Glory of God and anticipate his blessing in accordance with his will.

Those who meet this weekend to direct the course of the SCV for the next year and beyond would do well to remember their right role. They are our "elders" in the organization who have been called out by their brothers. They have two roles: First, servanthood; they are to serve their brothers and the SCV. Secondly leadership, they are to help to steer their camps and the SCV toward accomplishing its virtuous goals. Peter, in his epistle to the Church, exhorted the elders to servant-leadership, and admonished against private aggrandizement and lording over their brothers. Good advice for our representatives to keep in mind and to apply in this reunion and in all their SCV functions.

Finally, from the Gospel of John, we have the words that Jesus left with his disciples for their comfort and edification. Using the analogy of the True Vine, Jesus told them how they might obtain the blessings of God, or his discipline and judgement, based on their fruits. May our representatives produce from their labors fruits pleasing to God and worthy of the sacrifice of our ancestors.

Let us pray:

DIRECT us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favour, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Reverend Mark Carroll, Col Ben Caudill Camp, 2005, Kentucky

Prayers adopted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer