Prayer/Chaplain
LORD God, giver of all gifts and talents, bestower of knowledge of you and the world you
created, be with us this evening as we give you glory for the dedication and gifts you have
given not only to these students, but also their families. We acknowledge that these gifts come from your benevolent hand and are not of our own work. We ask that these students inducted tonight may always use their gifts in service to you. We ask in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

History/Mission
In 2019, a group of Lutheran educators undertook to  create a truly Christian, and fully Lutheran Honor society to recognize our students who are daily pursuing the character traits which were deemed to be beneficial for their futures, as well as useful in the service of God. This task force labored through the spring of 2020, to inaugurate the new Lutheran Junior Honor Association in May of 2020. A student’s membership in the Green Park Servant Chapter of the Lutheran Junior Honor Association has been earned by the effective demonstration of four qualities, considered to be the cornerstones of the LJHA, which are: scholarship, leadership, service, discipleship. The lighting of these candles represents the desire of the members to keep these qualities alive in their lives. Each quality supports the others, no one trait stands alone.

Scholarship: 
Ps. 111: 10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of all wisdom; all who follow His
precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs the praise.”

Scholarship means a commitment to learning. A student is willing to spend the time
necessary in reading and study, knowing the lasting benefits of a cultivated mind. We should
continue to learn even when formal education has ended, for education ends only with the end
of life. Knowledge is one element in life which leads to the highest success, and it can be
acquired only through diligence, effort and as scripture says “the fear of the LORD”. Learning
furnishes the means by which we interpret and understand the past, and Biblical knowledge the
light that illuminates and brings hope to the future. Candidates have the God-given
responsibility to develop their minds and expand their knowledge.

Leadership: 
Mk. 10: 42-44 “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are
regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them …Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants
to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the
slave of all.”

Servant Leadership exerts a wholesome influence on the school. In taking the initiative in
class and school activities, the real leader strives to set an example that others may emulate.
The price of leadership is sacrifice- the willingness to yield one’s personal interests for the
interest of others. A leader has self-confidence and will go forward when others hesitate. No
matter what power and resources may exist in a group of people, they are ineffectual without
the guidance of a wise leader. Leadership is always needed; thus, to lead is a substantive
charge to each of our members.

Service: 
Mt. 25: 35-36, 40 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty
and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes
and you clothed me, I was in prison and you came to visit me……The King will reply, “I tell you
the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Service can be described in various ways. In the routine of the day’s work, many
opportunities arise to help others. Willingness to work for the benefit of those in need without
monetary compensation or recognition is the quality we seek in our members. We are
committed to the idea of volunteering our time and abilities to the common good and the
creation of a better tomorrow.

Discipleship: 
Ephesians 5:8-10
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 

Galatians 5: 22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Discipleship is an external observation of a person’s faithfulness in following Jesus CHrist. Not as a judgement of that person’s faith, but based on observable behaviors as a member conducts their day to day school life, what might be termed “their walk”.  Faith in Jesus is a gift of the Holy Spirit; not a good work. All people are born sinful and in desperate need of God’s grace. In Jesus, God did for us what we could not do for ourselves, paid for our sin, and we receive the benefit of Jesus’ sacrifice in our baptism. In truth our baptism changes everything. Romans 6 tells us we were buried with Jesus, by baptism into death, in order that just as He was raised from the dead, by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. “New Life” behaviors are described in our Galatians passage: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. These are the behaviors we look for as we recognize our student’s discipleship growth