Announcements

Old Testament Lesson 2 Samuel 9 1-11

Epistle Lesson 1 Peter 4 12-14,5 6-11

Testimony Mrs. Rebecca Pagadala

Prayers of the People & Lord's Prayer Rev. Dr. David Ravinder

Worship Songs in English & Telugu UECF Choir

Offertory

*Doxology

Offertory Prayer Rev. Dr. David Ravinder

Gospel Lesson John 17 1-11

Sermon ‘Kindness Beyond Compare’ Rev. Dr. David Ravinder

Holy Communion

*Closing Hymn ‘My Faith Looks Up To Thee’ UMH#410

*Closing Prayer & Benediction Rev. Dr. David Ravinder

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Thanks to Rev. Dr. David Ravinder for ministering to us today.
• Next week, Rev. Joseph Theophilus will bring the Word of God.
• Last Sunday's Offering was $1505:00. We thank you for your support.
• Today’s Fellowship Hour is hosted by UECF.
• Please sign-up the Fellowship Roster if you would like to volunteer to host the Fellowship Coffee Hour.

Birthdays:

• • Sandeep Biswas 25^th May
  • Mrs. Suneela Ponnapalli 29^th May
  • Nathan Rapaka 01^st June
  • Samrita Eva Ravinder 01^st June

Anniversary:

• Mrs. Grace & Mr. Sundara Rao Tsappidi 29^th May
• Mrs. Olives & Mr. Kanthi Paul Rapaka 30^th May

Visit us online at http://www.uecf.net   

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (in 2014 on May 26). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who perished while in military service to their country. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, it was expanded after World War I to include casualties of any war or military action.

Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. US Eastern time. Another tradition is to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers usually place an American flag upon each grave site located in a National Cemetery. In addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also used as a time for picnics, barbecues, family gatherings, and sporting events. One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. Some Americans also view Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning of summer and Labor Day as the unofficial end of the season. The national "Click It or Ticket" campaign ramps up beginning Memorial Day weekend, noting the beginning of the most dangerous season for auto accidents and other safety related incidents. The U.S. Air Force's "101 Critical Days of Summer" begin on this day as well.

According to Professor David Blight of the Yale University History Department, the first memorial day was observed in 1865 by liberated slaves at the historic race track in Charleston. The site was a former Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who had died while captive. A parade with thousands of freed blacks and Union soldiers was followed by patriotic singing and a picnic. The official birthplace of Memorial Day is Waterloo, New York. The village was credited with being the birthplace because it observed the day on May 5, 1866, and each year thereafter, and because it is likely that the friendship of General John Murray, a distinguished citizen of Waterloo, and General John A. Logan, who led the call for the day to be observed each year and helped spread the event nationwide, was a key factor in its growth.

The alternative name of "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, but did not become more common until after World War II, and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967. On June 28, 1968, the United States Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved three holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend and for the first time recognized Columbus Day as a federal holiday. The holidays included Washington's Birthday (which evolved into Presidents' Day), Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971 . After some initial confusion and unwillingness to comply at the state level, all fifty states adopted the measure within a few years, although Veterans Day was eventually changed back to its traditional date. Ironically, most corporate businesses no longer close on Columbus Day or Veterans Day, and an increasing number are staying open on President's Day as well. Memorial Day, however, has endured as one holiday during which most businesses stay closed because it marks the beginning of the "summer vacation season," as does neighboring Canada's Victoria Day, which occurs on the prior Monday.