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Hello
everyone!
Hello all!
Here comes my much belated spring message. I apologize for leaving the
previous one on here for so long. Life get�s crazy sometimes�
Well, spring is around the corner and we prepare for another busy
season. Much annual VASA business has to be dealt with now, per capita
payments and reports handed in. In my own district we are preparing for
our convention, electing delegates etc. I haven�t asked for reports from
any of the district cultural leaders yet. I always felt that info should
be travelling in the other direction instead, but I always welcome input
from all of you out there, District or Local cultural leaders. Everyone
is welcome to contact me for ideas or questions. I love to hear from
you! One thing we all need to pay
attention to in the spring is the Memorial service.
It says in our white handbook:
� The Grand Lodge recommends that every lodge set aside Sunday or some
other day close to Decoration (Memorial) Day for the purpose of holding
a Memorial Service for departed members.
It is recommended that the Memorial service be held jointly by as many
nearby Lodges as possible. That will increase the attendance and help to
make the Service more solemn and impressive�.�
This continues with a basic outline for a service.
(excerpt from the White book rev 2002)
(The �white books� can be ordered from the GL Secretary if you don�t
have one.) Often a Memorial service is
included in the convention ritual, but this only brings it to a few
select people. There really should be one that all members of the
district can attend. Although it
usually becomes the task of the District Cultural leader and the
District Chaplin to organize, anyone can be responsible for arranging
something like this.
If you are lucky enough to have a Vasa Park in your district, it makes
an ideal place to do it. If not, you might have to procure a hall or
park for a gathering like this.
In my own district we usually pair it with a luncheon afterwards, and it
makes for a nice afternoon. If you have any musical talent in your
district, this is a wonderful time to showcase it, either by singing or
playing. This is also a wonderful time
to honor our departed member veterans in some special way.
Part of our VASA promise, is to �honor our departed members�, and we can
never forget that we all stand on the shoulders of the ones who
proceeded us. I have seen many times the grateful faces of family
members at viewings or funerals where a VASA service was held by the
lodge members of the departed. They are often overwhelmed by the fact
that people they perhaps never knew, will show up to honor their
relative in such a special way. It often brings them a measure of
comfort, that their dear ones are not forgotten.
This is an important tradition to uphold and is certainly one instance
where our ritual can be put to good use.
In the �links� that follow, I have
included some Swedish hymns that are appropriate for an occasion like
this, but feel free to design your own program and include any hymns or
songs that might be comforting to your own audience, and something that
everyone can sing along with. Happy Spring to you all!
Hymns:
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My
name is Inger Hanright, and it is in my capacity as V.O.A. Grand Lodge Cultural
Director for USA/Canada, that I�m working on this page. It is my hope that it
will prove to be a valuable resource to anyone that is interested in
Scandinavian Culture. I will update much of the information monthly, and some of
it continually.