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16 | June 14, 2018 | The orland park prairie faith
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Pastor Column
Honoring our country on Flag Day
The Rev. Michael Foley
Our Lady of the Woods
There is the expression
that “actions speak
louder than words.”
So do symbols.
This is why the American
flag is so evocative to so
many of us. It is technically
a simple piece of colored
cloth. Yet, it symbolizes so
much more than that.
It represents our country.
It represents the call to service.
Imbedded in its colors
and design is the story of a
nation and the values we are
called to cherish.
When children are pledging
allegiance to the flag,
they are not pledging to
sacrifice to a piece of cloth;
they are pledging themselves
to this country.
It is for this reason that
those who want to show
disdain for the United States
will desecrate the flag. It
offends most of us, and
rightly so.
In other words, the symbol
matters.
It is why the removal of
the flag from the deceased
veteran’s coffin is so moving.
Every priest, minister,
rabbi or imam has been
present many times when
this has been done with
great reverence. On that
occasion, the flag represents
the nation’s gratitude and
unites the deceased with all
who have served. It calls
us to a spirit of profound
respect.
Of course, the flag is not
the only symbol of service
but it is the most important.
My uncle was particularly
proud of the Purple Heart
he earned in World War II.
When he retired, his family
framed together the four
police badges he wore in
his 35 years as an officer.
Each badge represented a
different rank earned. He
cherished those badges as
a reminder of his service.
They hang in my office now.
Religious traditions also
have symbols. In some
traditions, there is a concern
about images used to represent
the divine and so the
symbols are minimal. Many
Protestant churches are
adorned with a simple cross,
without ornamentation.
In Islam, the mosque does
not have symbols of God.
Yet, there is a symbolic
niche in a wall that directs
worshippers toward Mecca.
Many Mosque have domes
to symbolize the sky or the
universe.
In Catholicism and Orthodoxy,
we have a great use of
symbols. We treat statues,
crucifixes and Icons with
reverence. We use candles,
incense and other items to
symbolize God’s actions in
our lives. Like the flag, they
represent more than their
external reality.
Sometimes, those who
are not familiar with our
traditions believe that we
worship these items. This is
incorrect. We worship God
alone. We honor the saints.
We do not worship them.
Our use of symbols calls
us to deeper realities, as in
the secular world the flag
calls us to a deeper level of
respect and reverence.
One of the most offensive
things we can do is
desecrate another group’s
symbols. This is why we are
offended when this happens
to the American flag. This
is why those who desecrate
a place of worship are so
condemned.
In my life, when I have
been in a mosque, I take
off my shoes as a sign of
respect. When I have prayed
at the Western Wall, I cover
my head. In other churches,
I strive to respect their
customs. I expect others to
respect the traditions of my
faith, as well.
As we celebrate Flag Day
this week, we might want
to remember the power of
symbols, both civic and
religious. We should seek to
learn about their meaning
and treat them appropriate
reverence.
The opinions of this column are
those of the writer. They do not
necessarily reflect those of The
Orland Park Prairie.
FAITH BRIEFS
Ashburn Baptist Church (153rd Street and
Wolf Road, Orland Park)
Vacation Bible School
9 a.m.-12:15 p.m. June
18-22. Ages 4 through
eighth-grade. There will be
Bible stories, crafts, games
and music. Register online
by Thursday, June 14.
Children who have registered
online will have their
names entered into a drawing
for a $30 Chick-Fil-A
gift card. After June 14,
register at the door the day
of VBS. There is no enrollment
fee.
Bible Study
9:45 a.m.
Services
11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Teen Programs
7 p.m. Wednesdays; 9:45
a.m., 5 p.m. Sundays
Christ Lutheran Church (14700 S. 94th
Ave., Orland Park)
Vacation Bible School
Don’t let your
advertising cool
down this summer.
BE SMART. ADVERTISE IN
CONTACT
The Orland Park Prairie
DANA ANDERSON
708.326.9170 ext. 17 d.anderson@22ndcenturymedia.com
9 a.m.-noon June 18-22.
Classes are open to children
3 years old by January
2018 through sixth grade.
Children will be placed in
the grade that they have just
completed in the spring of
2018. The children will sing,
pray and play. Families are
invited to a special Closing
Celebration at 11:30 a.m.
Friday, June 22. Pre-registration
for VBS is strongly
encouraged. Registration
for VBS 2018 is free, Every
child attending will receive a
T-shirt, a daily snack and a
craft. Registration forms can
be picked up at the church
office or printed from www.
christlutheranorland.com.
For more information, call
(708) 349-0431.
Services
5 p.m. Saturdays; 8 a.m.,
9:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays.
Sunday School and Bible
study during the 9:30 a.m.
service.
Zumba Classes
6 p.m. Every Wednesday.
The cost to participate
is $5. Attendees can bring
their own towels and water
bottles.
AA Meetings
7 p.m. Every Thursday
Al-Anon
7 p.m. Every Friday
Faith United Methodist Church (15101 S.
80th Ave., Orland Park)
Vacation Bible School
6-8:30 p.m. June 24-29.
Children can participate in
songs, crafts, Bible storytelling,
science, games and
snacks. Free and open to children
ages 3 years old through
sixth-grade (completed). Volunteers
are welcome, seventhgrade
through adult. For more
information, contact Kim
Clifton at (708) 444-8560 or
kids@faithumcop.org.
Witness to Fitness
9-10 a.m. Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays.
Walking club for prayer and
exercise. Free. All are welcome.
Tai Chi
10:30 a.m. Mondays and
Wednesdays. Free classes
offered in church gym.
Power Fitness
7-8 p.m. Tuesdays and
Thursdays. This free event
is a 60-minute class that will
strengthen and tone your
muscles from head to toe
for adult men and women.
Class will include a warmup
segment, muscle-specific
exercises, abdominal work,
balancing and stretching.
Veterans Voices
7 p.m. every third Tuesday
of the month. This is a
group for veterans. For more
information, contact Darryl
Wertheim at (708) 923-0021
or Darryl.wertheim@gmail.
com.