Fire Chief’s Retirement Prayer

Heavenly Father You created all things with your powerful Word and you rule over everything in heaven and on earth. We thank and praise you, on this special occasion, for watching over Chief Matson in his years of service to the Fairfax County fire department.We also ask that you watch over those, who continue to serve in the fire department, help them in their efforts to keep the people Fairfax county safe.”Lord, you have promised your people “never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Be with Chief Matson in retirement. As he embarks on this new chapter in his life, bless and comfort him. Assure him that you will follow him wherever he may go We pray this in your name Amen.

Recruit Class Invocation and Benediction
Recruit Class 131 Invocation

O God, our Father, we thank you for this gathering as we come together to honor the members of Recruit Class 131, their families and their instructors, on the day of their graduation. We ask that You be their guide and guardian as they move through their careers with their families. Give them grace, that they may be industrious, diligent, devout and charitable in their work. These things we ask in Your name. Amen

Recruit Class 131 Benediction

Heaven Father, Creator and Author of mankind, giver of spiritual grace and divine providence, send down your blessing upon this recruit class, as well as their brothers and sisters in the fire and rescue service. Fortify them with your heavenly protection, that they may step forward with mercy and compassion and offer their hand to those in danger and distress. Protect their families and give us all the patience, judgment and mercy to do Your work. Amen.

VFOA Invocation and Benediction

Heavenly Father,
We give thanks today for the opportunity to have gathered together this week with a common spirit, a higher spirit, a spirit dedicated to professional growth, development of fire service leadership and utilizing those tools in the protection of your gifts to us. Many are called to serve in this world, fewer are called to protect and still fewer are called to lead those who protect. Scripture tells us that there is no greater sacrifice than for someone to lay down his or her life for another. We also know that there is no greater responsibility than to lead those who are willing to lay down their lives to protect their fellow man and provide for their safe return to their loved ones. We ask that you guide these graduates as they carry out their mission of leadership. Help them develop and grow in their strength, wisdom and compassion as stewards of the fire service. Help them nurture the members in their charge and provide for them a safe return home.
Amen

Heavenly Father,
As we conclude today’s ceremony, let us keep your words close to our hearts; “I came not to be served but to serve;” and “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”Be with these graduates as they walk the road of leadership. For sometimes that road can be treacherous and full of temptation and doubt. Provide them with your light and with your guiding hand, allowing this group to stay true to their responsibilities and to their people. We humbly ask that you grant us safe journeys home and that the skills learned this week help these, your servants, to do your work. For as is told in scripture, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Amen

Blessing a Medic Unit

O Creator and Author of the human race, Physician of our souls and bodies; Giver of spiritual graces, and the One Who grants eternal salvation: bless, Heavenly Father, this medic unit, that fortified by the power of heavenly protection it may be an aid for physical and spiritual salvation and protection for all who shall make use of it. Bless and guide the hands of those to whom You have given the talent and skill to effect the comfort and cure of the ailing. For it is Yours to show mercy on us and to save us, and to You we send up glory. Amen

Retirement Dinner Invocation

Come, Holy Father and look with favor upon all of us gathered at this celebration. We are grateful for this opportunity to honor and thank those who are leaving our ranks; first, for their dedication to the ideals of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, and secondly, for the personal sacrifices they have made to bring these ideals to many others. Lord we also pray that you give wisdom, vision and courage to those of us who continue in public service. We ask that you reward our work and keep us always in Your care. Now I ask each of us to take a quiet moment to include those who are no longer with us, in our thoughts and prayers. ….. Bless, O Lord, this food to our use and us to Thy service; and make us ever mindful of the needs of others. In your name we pray. Amen.

Opening Prayer FCCCC Training

Let us Pray: Gracious Father, we thank you for bringing us together today to complete the Fairfax County Community Chaplain Corps Deployment Training. Bless and protect the graduated Chaplains, their families, and friends. May their efforts and those of all the Community Chaplains be directed toward comforting and protecting those in need, particularly through a ministry of presence, pastoral skills and compassion. Heavenly father, as we carry out our duties as chaplains let us be ever mindful that it is you Father who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort we receive from you. And finally, Lord, bless us all here present we ask this in Your Name. Amen.

Invocation Volunteer Fire Department Dinner

Dear God, Guardian and Protector of your people,

We once again thank you for this opportunity to gather for this 80th Annual Banquet and Installation of Officers here in the ____________ Volunteer Fire Department. We gather this evening in the spirit of our profession and its mission, to provide high quality emergency medical and fire suppression and rescue services through the skill, commitment, and cooperative team effort of our volunteers working hand-in-hand with career staff.

We thank you for the opportunity tonight to acknowledge and recognize the outstanding contributions that the Volunteers of this Department have made to their community this past year.

We also give thanks for the blessing this association has received, for its leaders, for its membership, but most of all for its spirit. Lord, may everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue with your help, so that all our work may begin in you and by you be happily ended. Please bless the food we receive tonight as nourishment for our bodies, the stories told as nourishment for our minds and the fellowship we share as nourishment for our souls. AMEN.

Benediction Volunteer Fire Department Dinner

God Our Father,

We give thanks for the success this year of the ____________ Volunteer Fire Department. Please continue your blessings on this Association throughout its duration. We ask for your protection upon all who have participated as they prepare themselves for a New Year of Service to this Community.

May the God of our Fathers, bless you and keep you.

May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May He look upon you with kindness and give you His peace.

AMEN.