MISSIONETTES ANNUAL CELEBRATION (Suggested Script for Coordinator, Sponsors and other leaders) The Word of God is eternal and "will never pass away". Therefore the Word should be the primary focus of the celebration. The girls should quote scriptures from memory and their club distinctives. They will be the "preacher's" for the Celebration. Special music should include the club songs and memory verse/unit songs. The charges for the Honor Stars, Friends graduates and Girls Only graduates should be the pinnacle of the celebration emphasizing their PLEDGE to bring glory to God and commitment to stand firm in Jesus Christ. PURPOSE OF CELEBRATION: 1. To recognize all girls and their achievements; 2. To provide an evangelistic service for unchurched parents, family, and friends; 3. To bring glory and honor to Jesus Christ our Lord. Italics indicate parts to read to audience Though many parts are noted for the Coordinator and the Sponsors, your church may use your Pastor, Youth Pastor, Children s Pastor, Pastor s wife, Women s Ministries president, etc in any of the reading parts or charges. The Celebration builds recognizing the leaders before the girls, then the younger clubs first and finally with the highest awards Medals of Honor. The Friends Graduate and Girls Only Graduate are due All elements of the ceremony must be approved by the pastor and/or coordinator. SUGGESTED PLANNING SCHEDULE q 6 months prior Meet with pastor or staff and put on church calendar Refer to Missionettes Coordinator s Guide, p 36-38 suggested Guidelines for Missionettes Celebration. Other helpful forms: p 183 Sponsor s Monthly Report; p 157 Awards Night/Celebration Planning Guide; p 196-197 for club overviews each sponsor will read her respective club description. q 3 months Meet with sponsors to plan event q Each sponsor completes badge order form (in Sponsor s Guide reproducible pages and give to the Coordinator in advance for ordering badges from GPH q Appoint Review Board (see Missionettes Coordinator s Guide, p 124, 125, 199, 200) and set date for girls reviews and Honor Sponsor candidates q 8 weeks prior Order all awards from GPH q 6 weeks prior Send invitations; organize volunteers for reception (not sponsors) q 3 weeks prior Finalize all arrangements with Pastor, Staff, Sponsors and prepare order of service q Have seamstress sew all badges on sashes (hold until awards night) q 1 week prior Prepare decorations & reception; Organize certificates/awards q q q Send final reminder home with girls (make note of proper attire) Have a rehearsal with all participants 30 minutes before Girls meet in clubroom for sashes and lineup to march to choir loft. Girls should sit in choir loft/or reserved front pews in the order they will be called to receive their awards. Sashes will be worn over Sunday-clothes or dress uniforms (no denim). The Honor Stars, Friends Grads, and GO Grads, and their parents will be at the back of the church until the time of their recognition. Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 1
PRELIMINARIES: CELEBRATION SCRIPT Pastor welcomes congregation Music minister leads in congregational singing Announcements, Offering (can be taken by older Missionettes girls then given to an usher) Offertory: possibly an Honor Star talent (playing an instrument or singing) FLAG CEREMONY: (congregation stands, Flags and Bible enter, ALL say pledges-include in bulletin) COORDINATOR: ALL CLUBS (Brief overview of Missionettes): Missionettes is a tool used by the local church to introduce girls to Jesus Christ and to train them to follow Him. It is a place for girls in the church to invite their friends to meet Jesus, gather with other girls who love God, and be mentored by a sponsor who cares about them. Missionettes club is a nationwide program involving over 174,000 girls and 22,000 clubs. Clubs have been meeting for more than 40 years. Missionettes have two distinctives that set them apart from other clubs: a code, which is the mind-set of all Missionettes sponsors and girls; and a song. The girls will now recite the Missionettes Code and sing We Are Missionettes. MUSIC (tape) All clubs in choir loft stand and say Code: Philippians 4:8 and Missionettes Choir all girls sing We Are Missionettes COORDINATOR: The purpose of Missionettes has eternal value and is explained in a fivefold purpose statement, which includes: (display following on an attractive overhead) 1. Winning girls to Jesus Christ through love and acceptance 2. Teaching girls to obey everything Jesus commanded us helping girls to develop spiritually and mentally 3. Providing encouragement, support, and accountability through lasting Christian relationships 4. Providing an environment for girls to develop their gifts and abilities 5. Acquainting girls with the Great Commission of Jesus Christ our Lord Recognize sponsors, cosponsors, helpers and other leaders. Use Commitment Certificate in the Missionettes Coordinators Guide, p 149 / or Sponsor Commitment Card (GPH item # 06MW5229). May also use Sponsor Installation Service, p 26-27. RECOGNIZE HONOR SPONSORS COORDINATOR: The motivation to be an Honor Sponsor is to be the most effective sponsor you can be for the glory of the Lord. A good sponsor is a trained and prepared sponsor. The following have completed requirements, including memorization of all verses, for becoming an Honor Sponsor and wear the respective pins on their uniform. PASTOR S Charge: We commend you and honor you for your godly example. You have displayed a spirit of determination, dedication and willingness to identify with the girls you lead. You have purposed not only to point the way for your girls, but also to lead the way. Your girls know you are not asking them to achieve more than you yourselve(s) have accomplished. Long ago, Queen Esther courageously identified with the people she sought to help. As Mordecai challenged Esther, so I Challenge You to recognize your strategic place in God s kingdom. There is no more important work than that of pointing people to Christ. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 2
RECOGNIZE RAINBOWS (PLAY TAPE # ): Rainbows line up on front of stage as their song is played and they sing their club song! RAINBOWS SPONSOR: (Sponsor gives brief overview.) Rainbows Club is for 3- and 4-year-old girls and boys not yet attending Kindergarten. Noah s Ark provides an exciting theme for the Bible stories, crafts, full-color activity pages, and games for this preschool club. Rainbows add colorful animal badges to their vests as they complete requirements for the achievement program. The badges they earned have already been sewn on their uniform vests. Units can be completed in 4 weeks. The Rainbows will say their club motto, scripture verse and club colors. RAINBOWS: All together the club recites motto, scripture verse, colors Motto Rainbows are helpers. Scripture Verse "We are... helpers" (2 Corinthians 1:24, KJV) Colors Green and white, which stand for growth and purity RAINBOW SPONSOR: Tonight the Rainbows promoting to Daisies or Straight Arrows will receive a certificate indicating the number of units they have completed this year. Some of the Rainbows have completed 18 units and have earned the Honor Rainbow pin. A recent badge they earned was. The Rainbows will now recite the Central Truth, the Unit Verse and sing the Unit song. RAINBOWS: Recite Central Truth, Unit Verse and Unit Song Central Truth: Unit Verse: (PLAY TAPE # ) Unit Song: RAINBOW SPONSOR or Coordinator: Thank you Rainbows. We are so proud of you. I CHARGE you to be a good helper pleasing Jesus everyday as you grow in purity. As your commitment to keeping this charge please recite your Rainbows pledge. RAINBOWS: (all recite pledge together) As a Rainbow, I will be a good helper, pleasing Jesus every day. SPONSOR: Parents of Rainbows will you please stand so we can see you! Rainbows, please march off the stage and walk to your parents and sit with them throughout the rest of the program. (As they exit off the stage, begin music for next club.) Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 3
RECOGNIZE DAISIES (PLAY TAPE # ): Daisies line up as they sing their club song DAISIES SPONSOR: (Sponsor gives brief overview.) Daisies is the Sonshine club for Kindergarten girls. Girls will make life applications from the Bible stories and principles they learn with the help of the club central characters Darcy, Diana, Dorie, and Miss Jennifer. Daisies earn colorful badges depicting these club characters as they complete requirements for the achievement program. Four-week units allow visitors to fit in right away. The Daisies will now recite their club motto, scripture verse and club colors. DAISIES: All together the club recites motto, scripture verse, and colors. Motto Daisies tell about Jesus. Scripture Verse "Let your light... shine" (Matthew 5:16, NIV) Colors Yellow and white, which stand for light and purity DAISIES SPONSOR: Daisies earn badges which are already sewn on their sashes. Tonight the Daisies promoting to Prims will receive a certificate indicating the number of units they have completed this year. Some of the Daisies have completed 9 units and have earned the Honor Daisy pin. A recent badge they earned was. The Daisies will now recite the Central Truth, Unit Verse and sing the Unit song. DAISIES: Recite Central Truth, Unit Verse and Unit Song Central Truth: Unit Verse: (PLAY TAPE # ) Unit Song: DAISY SPONSOR or Coordinator: Daisies, I charge you to be happy, good and helpful, letting your light shine for Jesus as you grow in purity. Please recite your Daisies pledge as your commitment to keeping this charge DAISIES: (all recite pledge together) As a Daisy I will be happy, good, and helpful, letting my light shine for Jesus. SPONSOR: Thank you Daisies, we are so proud of you. You may go to your seats. (Exit stage and sit in reserved pews. As they exit start music for next club). Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 4
RECOGNIZE PRIMS (PLAY TAPE # ): Prims line up front center stage as they sing their club song PRIMS Sponsor: (Sponsor gives brief overview.) Prims is the Discovery Club for first- and second-grade girls. The characters Megan, Carmen, Kim, Tonya, Miss Debbie and Discover, Megan s dog help girls discover biblical truth and make life applications. The Discovery Box stores lesson-related objects to be displayed during lesson time to make learning even more fun. Prims earn colorful badges depicting these club characters as they complete requirements for the achievement program. Units can be completed in 4 weeks. The Prims will recite their club motto, scripture verse and colors. PRIMS: All together the club recites motto, scripture verse, and colors Motto I will be kind and thoughtful. Scripture Verse "Be kind... to one another" (Ephesians 4:32, NIV) Colors Pink and white, which stand for kindness and purity PRIMS SPONSOR: Prims earn badges which are already sewn on their sashes. Tonight the Prims promoting to Stars will receive a certificate indicating the number of units they have completed this year. Some of the Prims have completed 18 or more units and have earned the Honor Prim pin. A recent badge they earned was. The Prims will now recite the Central Truth, Unit Verse and sing the Unit song. PRIMS: Central Truth: Unit Verse: (PLAY TAPE # ) Unit Song: PRIMS SPONSOR: Prims, I CHARGE you to be careful of what you say, where you go, and what you do; trying always to be your very best for the Lord Jesus, because you love Him. I CHARGE you to be kind and thoughtful and walk with Jesus in purity. Please recite your Prims pledge as your commitment to keeping this charge. PRIMS: (all recite pledge together) As a Prim, I will be careful of what I say, where I go, and what I do; trying always to be my very best for the Lord Jesus, because I love Him. SPONSOR: Thank you Prims, we are so proud of you. You may go to your seats. (Exit stage and sit in reserved pews.) Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 5
(10-15 minutes) CHALLENGE FROM THE WORD A challenging message from the Word delivered by the Medal of Honor recipient, sponsor, coordinator, District Missionettes Coordinator, pastor/pastor's wife or special guest. Due to many visiting family and friends this should be an evangelistic outreach message. If your guest speaker is a member in your church honor them with a gift. If the guest speaker has traveled remember to honor them with travel expense and an honorium. Consult your pastor regarding the speaker s offering. Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 6
RECOGNIZE STARS (PLAY TAPE # ): Stars line up front center stage & sing their club song STARS SPONSOR: (Stars club lines up.) Sponsor gives brief overview. The Stars Club is for third- through fifth-grade-girls. Girls make their way up the Stairway of the Stars achievement program as they complete units in the four worlds: The World of Truth (basic Christian doctrine), The World Around You (missions), The World About You (activities), and The World Within You (character development). Memorization, projects, and Bible reading are all a part of completing the achievement program as an Honor Star. Four-week units are supplemented with projects and Adventures. They are recognized at levels on the Stairway of the Stars. S-T-A-R: Susanna Star, Tabitha Star, Anna Star, Ruth Star and Honor Star. The Stars will say their club motto, scripture verse, and colors. STARS: All together the club recites motto, scripture verse, and colors Motto I will follow Jesus. Scripture Verse "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you... with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever" (Psalm 86:11,12, NIV). Colors Blue and white, which stand for loyalty and purity SPONSOR: A recent unit they worked on was. The Stars will now recite the Central Truth, Unit Verse and sing the Unit song. STARS: Central Truth: Unit Verse: (PLAY TAPE # ) Unit Song: STARS SPONSOR: Stars, I CHARGE you to follow Jesus as your Savior in Service, in Testimony, in Attitude and in Relationships. I CHARGE you to be loyal to Christ, your family, friends and church. I CHARGE you to walk with Jesus in purity. I CHARGE you to strive always to glorify your Lord as a Star. Please recite your Stars pledge as your commitment to keeping this charge. STARS: (all recite pledge together) Having accepted Jesus as my Savior, I will follow Him in service, in testimony, in attitude, and in relationships; striving always to glorify my Lord as a Star. Stars Sponsor: Thank you Stars, we are so proud of you. You may be seated. The girls promoting to Friends will remain on the stage. (Stars that are not promoting should exit stage now and sit in pews). Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 7
RECOGNIZE STAR MEDALLION recipients (Stars promoting to Friends, but are not Honor Stars) Note: This is a time to recognize the girls for what they HAVE done. Do not emphasize what they did NOT do, or the reason they are not Honor Stars. Each girl is significant for her level of achievement. COORDINATOR: Tonight the Stars promoting to Friends will receive a certificate indicating the number of units they have completed this year and a Star medallion for the completed requirements. The following girls have completed all the requirements for the S step badge and received the Susanna Star medallion. (Read names and award medallions). The following girls have completed the S and T step badges and will receive the Tabitha Star medallion. (Read names and award medallions). The following girls have completed the S, T and A badges and will receive the Anna Star medallion (Read names, award medallions). The following girls have completed all the step badges and will receive a Ruth Star medallion. (Read names and award medallions). COORDINATOR: pew) Thank you girls. You may be seated. (Girls exit off stage and sit in Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 8
(PLAY TAPE # ): RECOGNIZE HONOR STARS A trumpet fanfare COORDINATOR: Tonight we want to recognize girls who have completed requirements for being an Honor Star. These girls have completed all badge requirements, scripture memorization, Bible reading requirements and have completed additional Honor steps. They will receive a certificate from the National office, This is the highest honor for a Star. SPECIAL MUSIC: An Honor Star (have someone sing this song/need accompaniment) CANDLELIGHTERS: light candles. The Honor Stars are escorted down the aisle with the father on their right and their mother following behind carrying the crown (or a crownbearer can enter before each girl and stand on the side of the stage or the mother can sit at a front pew leaving room for the father to join her.) The Honor Stars should line up on the stage, with their parents slightly behind them. After the song is finished, each girl will be individually recognized and crowned. The charge will be given to all girls at once. *** (repeat following for each Honor Star individually) RECOGNITION: Each individual Honor Star should step to center of stage while someone introduces her and reads a portion of her testimony or essay What Being a Missionette Means to Me. After each reading, crown each girl individually. WM PRESIDENT: In recognition of your achievement in climbing the Stairway of the Stars, (girl s name), you are now crowned a Missionettes Honor Star. (Mother places crown on girl. She should step back to Honor Star line-up Parents will exit stage and sit in reserved pew. Continue program in same manner with each Honor Star).*** (repeat to above symbol ***) PASTOR'S CHARGE: (AFTER all girls have been crowned, this charge is addressed to all): In Stars Club you have been taught and trained in Christian principles and doctrine. May the Scriptures you have memorized give you a strong foundation and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ -- unmoveable and unchangeable regardless of what comes your way in life. You have great choices ahead of you. Always consider what Jesus would have you do and follow His leading. I CHARGE you to stand firm as an Honor Star, to keep your eyes on Jesus, and to remember you pledge. Please recite your Stars pledge. HONOR STARS RESPOND: Having accepted Jesus as my Savior, I will follow Him in Service, in Testimony, in Attitude, and in Relationships; striving always to glorify my Lord as an Honor Star. PASTOR CONTINUES: Jesus has a special purpose and plan for your life. He will never fail you. Keep your eyes on Him and your hand in His. Will you walk close to the Lord? (they respond with motto) HONOR STARS RESPOND: I will follow Jesus. PASTOR CONTINUES: May your commitment to follow Jesus direct your every step. (Honor Stars exit and are seated) Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 9
RECOGNIZE FRIENDS GRADUATES SPECIAL MUSIC (PLAY TAPE # ): Promise to Jesus (someone sing the Friends song) Friends should lineup on stage. Friends Graduates can be escorted from the back of the church by their father or a significant father figure or mentor at this time (like the Honor Stars). COORDINATOR CHALLENGE: (Read this challenge even if you have no one to recognize. This is a call to ministry). The song you just heard was the Friends Club song. We would like to challenge all the girls to continue in Missionettes through their middle-school years. Friends Club was developed to specifically meet the spiritual and social needs of middle-school girls. Girls in these grades are experiencing many changes. They are making choices and encountering challenges that they didn t experience in their earlier years. In Friends Club, girls will find the support and guidance they need to make good choices. The Friends curriculum is discussion-oriented and upon completion of each 6-week unit they earn a charm for a pewter Friends necklace. Their Bible study guides deal with issues they are facing and need to settle in their own mind. Topics of study include the sanctity of life, accountability, commitment to Christ, life-controlling problems, purity, and choices. This is done with the help of a godly Christian woman who is faithfully obeying the mandate that the older women train the younger women Titus 2:4. The completion of unit requirements and Bible reading make a girl eligible to be a Friends Graduate. Friends Graduates receive a pinkie ring which symbolizes the girls commitment to Christ and His values during their high school years and the rest of their lives. The Friends will recite their Motto Verse and Colors. FRIENDS: Motto & Verse We are committed to God. Scripture "Your hearts must be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands" (1 Kings 8:61, NIV) Colors Purple and white, which stand for commitment and purity SPONSOR: The following girls have completed requirements for the Friends Club. They have completed Bible study journal units, projects and Bible reading. (Introduce each girl using suggested form or can elaborate on specific projects). FRIENDS CHARGE: In Friends Club you have committed yourself to Jesus Christ, Christian values, family, friends, and the Church. You ve promised to encourage and provide accountability to one another. Through Scripture memorization, study time, and Bible reading, you have been taught what it means to be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by His decrees, and to obey His commands. I now charge you to be fully committed to God throughout your high school years and beyond. This ring symbolizes your desire to fulfill this commitment to Jesus Christ, Christian values, family, friends, and the Church. May it serve to remind you that no temptation is worth compromising your relationship with Jesus Christ. Most importantly, may the eternal value of this commitment direct you in every decision from this point on. Will you be committed to God? FRIENDS GRADUATES RESPOND: As Friends we will be committed to Jesus Christ our Lord, Christian values, family, friends, and church; promising to encourage and provide accountability to one another. We are committed to God. (Girls exit and are seated) Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 10
SPECIAL MUSIC prelude RECOGNIZE GIRLS ONLY GRADUATES Girls Only should lineup on stage. Girls Only Graduates can be escorted from the back of the church by their father or a significant father figure or mentor at this time (like the Honor Stars). COORDINATOR: (Read this challenge regardless if you have girls to recognize this is meant to challenge workers for this ministry). Girls Only Club gives girls a place to grow in God. The Girls Only club also covers issues relevant to highschool-age girls. Discussion-oriented units include women in ministry, college and career, truth, dating, pro-life vs. pro-choice, and attitude. Upon completion of 6-week units they earn a pin. With the support and prayers of Christian friends, young women involved in Girls Only are able to venture out into the world, standing firm in their commitment to Christ. The Girls Only theme is commitment and graduates receive a Girls Only necklace. This necklace symbolizes the girls commitment to Christ and His values during the rest of their lives. At graduation they are commissioned to His service. Friends and Girls Only work in journals. The journals include club information, a calendar, address record, prayer journal, Bible reading journal and Bible study guides. The following girls have completed requirements for the Girls Only club (Read names and award necklaces). GIRLS ONLY CHARGE: In Girls Only Club you have been challenged to reflect God in every part of your life: spiritual, social, emotional, and physical. You have promised to stand firm in your commitment to Him, both now and in the future. May every Scripture verse you ve memorized, every project you ve completed, and every godly relationship you built during your time in Missionettes help to guide you throughout your life. Please recite your pledge as your commitment to Christ. GIRLS ONLY GRADUATES RESPOND: I pledge to reflect God in every part of my life: spiritual, social, emotional, and physical; and to stand firm in my commitment to Him, both now and in the future. CHARGE CONTINUES: I now charge you to uphold the truths you have learned in Missionettes and be a witness for Christ to everyone around you. May this necklace serve to remind you of your club verse. GIRLS ONLY respond: Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make you paths straight. Proverbs 3:5,6 CHARGE continues: Will you live for God? GO GRADS RESPOND: Every day in every way I will boldly live for God. (Girls exit) In a pagan, humanistic society we will always need women to continue the mentoring process that girls will learn Every Day in Every Way to live boldly for God. (PLAY TAPE # ): Girl s Only song (Girls exit and are seated) Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 11
RECOGNIZE MEDALS OF HONOR COORDINATOR: Girls are given special awards at each club level for completing all requirements. Special honor is given as girls continue to proceed through the Missionettes club levels with Medals of Honor. BRONZE: The following girls have completed the requirements for three* Missionettes clubs and will receive the BRONZE Medal of Honor. (read names, award medals or pins) SILVER: The following girls have completed the requirements for four* Missionettes clubs and will receive the SILVER Medal of Honor. (read names, award medals or pins). GOLD: The following girls have completed the requirements for five* Missionettes clubs and will receive the GOLD Medal of Honor. This is the highest achievement that a Missionette can earn. (read names, award medals or pins). (*Note: medals of Honor do NOT include Rainbows) CLOSING PASTOR: Invitation to reception AND Closing prayer of dedication and commitment. RECEPTION (assign mothers to this, do NOT use sponsor s they are busy with sashes, line-up & the service) Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 12
Put names of persons in appropriate place on right side. Sample BULLETIN Outline CHURCH NAME DATE, TIME Welcome...Pastor Worship... Music leader Flag Ceremony...Color Guard Missionettes Overview...Coordinator Missionettes Code and song... All clubs We Are Missionettes Recognize Honor Sponsors...Coordinator Honor Sponsor Charge...Pastor Recognize Rainbows...Sponsor Rainbows Recognize Daisies...Sponsor I Am A Daisy Recognize Prims...Sponsor I Am A Prim Challenge... Special Speaker Recognize Stars...Sponsor Stars Recognize Honor Susanna, Honor Tabitha, Honor Anna and Honor Ruth...Sponsor Song... name An Honor Star Recognize Honor Stars...Sponsor Crowning...WM President Honor Star Charge...Pastor Song... name Promise to Jesus Recognize Friends graduates (or challenge to start F club).coordinator Recognize Girls Only graduates (or challenge to start GO)..Coordinator Song... name I Will Stand Recognize Medals of Honor...Coordinator Prayer of Commitment...Pastor Everyone is invited to a Reception in the Celebration Guidelines2.doc, 08/14/03 Page 13