Fairway Christian Church holds annual patriotic service to celebrate Fourth of July

By CAROLINE KLAPPER, DAILY SUN

Saturday, July 4, 2009 10:58 AM EDT

THE VILLAGES — Sunday services at Fairway Christian Church began a little differently than usual last week.

Instead of opening with a hymn, the congregation joined together to sing the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The patriotic theme was part of the church’s annual celebration of the Fourth of July and America’s Independence Day.

At about this time each year, the church gears itself up for the patriotic service, which includes red, white and blue decorations; patriotic music; and a skit about the American flag and the country’s fight for freedom.

“We believe that God has blessed our country,” said the Rev. Bill Twaddell, minister at Fairway Christian, of the reason for the special service.

He said they strived to create a service that was a mix of patriotism and religion with a sermon about keeping Christian values in America.

“We tie it all in with our faith in God. We’re concerned about where our country is going,” he said. “Right now, we want to uphold the values that our nation was founded on.”

Along with the customary prayers, communion and scripture readings, the congregation was invited to show their patriotism by singing “Ragged Old Flag,” “America, the Beautiful,” and several other patriotic songs.

“We always do something special,” said Associate Minister John Penn.

As Penn addressed the congregation during the service, he delivered his own message of patriotic faith.

“God has blessed America, hasn’t he?” Penn asked just before launching into “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“And I believe that’s because America has blessed God,” he added.

Patriotic participation

To show their patriotic spirit, the members of the congregation were asked to wear red, white and blue.

It was obvious by the prevalance of those three colors in the crowd that many people were happy to show their love for their country.

One such individual was Village of Mallory Square resident Liza Adkison, who showed up at the special service wearing a star-spangled shirt.

But Adkison said she doesn’t just dress that way for special occasions.

In fact, almost everything Adkison wears contains the colors of the American flag.

“I always dress in red, white and blue. It’s nothing new for me,” she said proudly. “I love my country.”

Even Adkison’s mode of transportation to the patriotic service — a bright red, white and blue golf cart nicknamed Betsy Ross — is decked out in her favorite three colors.

After seeing Adkison’s dedication to the American flag, it should come as no surprise that she loves attending the patriotic service every year.

“I wish we’d have them more often,” she said. “I believe it’s important for us to remind each other and to remind young people. This (country) is a blessing we have, so we just need to enjoy it.”

The patriotic service is something Lon Bohnstedt, of the Village of Sunset Pointe, always has appreciated in his four years as a member of Fairway Christian Church.

“I was in the Army, so I think it’s great,” he said. “I think it’s pretty easy to forget the people that serve.”

The special service is a good way to remind everyone of the sacrifices so many people have made for America’s freedom, he said, adding if history is forgotten, Americans could find themselves losing their freedom little by little.

“It’s a celebration of what we have, what we worked for and, for my generation, what we intend to protect and preserve,” Bohnstedt said.

Fairway Christian Church is at 251 Avenida Los Angelos in The Villages. Traditional Sunday services are at 8 and 11 a.m. and the contemporary Sunday service is at 9:30 a.m. For information, call the church office at 259-9305.

Caroline Klapper is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9018, or caroline.klapper@thevillagesmedia.com.