Officer Installation presented by Bridget Dickerson

Second Vice-president, Central District

Cut two large hearts the same size from red poster board. You may wish to cover one with a shiny fabric, such as satin. Sew or glue wide white lace around the edge of the fabric heart. Print the word JESUS on the heart with silver glitter.

Divide the second heart onto sections as indicated. Print the words on the sections, and then cut apart on the lines. Use poster tac to attach the sections to the fabric heart. (Caution: Practice to be sure the tac will hold your sections. You may need to improvise to make yours stick.) As you proceed with the program, you will remove each section as you talk about it.

You may wish to purchase small wooden hearts from a craft shop. You will need one for each officer who will be elected. Paint the hearts red. With a thin point pen, print the name of the office, the characteristic word for that office, and the corresponding verse on each heart as shown in the list. Attach a pin clasp to the back. Present each officer with her heart as follows:

President

Leadership ability (Ezekiel 22:30)

I Vice Pres.

Supportive (Acts 20:35)

II Vice Pres.

Service (Philippians 2:17)

Secretary and assistant

Attentive (II Chronicles 7:15)

Corresponding Secretary and assistant

Organized (I Corinthians 14:33)

Historian

Active (Galatians 6:9)

Song Leader and assistant

Friendly (Proverbs 18:24)

Pianist and assistant

Gifted (Psalm 33:3)

Advisory Council

Dedicated (II Timothy 2:2)

District Promoter

Love (Psalm 31:23)

Have you ever been told, "It doesn't matter what is on the outside, but it is what is on the inside that counts?" Did you think too yourself, as I have, that this is the real world? I have listened to my parents say that to me while in the back of my mind I knew that life just isn't always that way.

We live in a real world where most people couldn't care less if we have a giving spirit of if we love our neighbors as ourselves-just as long as we do what they expect of us.

However, there is a place hidden from the real world where people do care what is within your heart instead of what is on the surface. People who go there may have differences on the outside, but they all have one precious thing in common within their hearts.

Each newly elected officer shall come forward as her office is called. We want to see what each officer should have in her heart to best perform her duties. I ask each of you in the audience to try to identify with these characteristics. You may want to try to discover the one thing that binds all our hearts together. We shall discover that one thing when the last section is removed from our large heart.

First, will the President come forward? I introduce to you ______, who shall serve as our president this year. The characteristic I have chosen for you is leadership ability. This characteristic will make or break you as our president. You verse is Ezekiel 22:30, "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." It is very important that you stand in the gap. Sometimes you will be the only one standing, but if you give in to peer pressure you won't be the only one to fall. As you lead us this year, always try to be the one whom God has chosen and not the one whom God has passed over.

I introduce to you now ________, who shall serve as First Vice President this year. The characteristic that is to describe you is supportive. You will not only be the leader in the president's absence, but you will also be her right hand in times of difficulty. In Acts 20:35 we as Christians are told "I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." There will be times when your president will be discouraged and even weak; it will be your job to get her going again. I hope you will put all your love and strength into this task. Don't let it become burdensome.

Next, I introduce ________, who shall serve as our II Vice President. Your duties include the tedious task of preparing the theme and the programs. For that reason I have chosen the attribute of service for you. Your verse is Philippians 2:17, "Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all." You are not to allow your service to be done out of conviction alone, but also out of a genuine joy in serving your fellow GMA members. You will indeed perform a great spiritual service by planning themes that will speak to our hearts as we meet.

I now introduce ____, as our Secretary and _______ as her assistant. As officers you should show your ability to be attentive during the meetings. If you miss something for the minutes, history will not be recorded. The verse I have chosen for you is II Chronicles 7:15, "Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place." You should not let one prayer or word be said without first meditating on it. Your ability to do this will be shown in the notes that you take concerning the meetings.

The next officers I introduce are _______, who shall serve as our Corresponding Secretary, and ________, as her assistant. The characteristic of organization should be your best asset. Because you will need to meet deadlines for the articles you write, you will need all the organization you can muster. The verse to look to is I Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." When those deadlines become too close and all sanity has flown out the window, just look to the God of peace for help.

Next is our Historian, who is _________. As historian, you will keep a record of all of our meetings for future generations to enjoy and even to imitate. The characteristic to describe you is active. Your verse is Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." I charge you not to miss a blessing to share so those who look at your scrapbook will not miss a blessing.

The next office is Song Leader. I introduce to you ________, and her assistant, _________. Your office is important because it will be your job to choose songs that will give us joy in the Lord and allow us to get to know our sisters in Christ through singing. For that reason I have chosen the characteristic of friendliness. The verse I have chosen for you is Proverbs 18:24, "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." I hope as the year progresses, you will allow more and more people to participate in the music. Become friends with everyone. Share your music and ask others to share theirs.

The last office held by a girl is that of Pianist. I introduce to you _________, and her assistant _____________. Knowing how difficult it must be for anyone to learn to play the piano, I really believe she must be gifted. Your verse is Psalm 33:3, "Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise."

The next two offices are equally important, but not always equally recognized. The first is the Advisory Council. This council is composed of five ladies who are the backbone behind this district. They advise, support, chaperone, and care for us. For those reasons I have chosen the characteristic of dedication. Their verse is II Timothy 2:2, "And the things that thou hast hear of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Thank you for your willingness to give of yourself and your knowledge as you teach and advise us.

Last, but not least in recognition, is our District GMA Promoter,___________. The characteristic I chose for you is love. Anyone who is willing to sacrifice so much for so little physical rewards must love girls as well as God. The verse I have chosen for you is Psalm 31:23, "O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer." Thank you for the encouragement and sacrifices you will make on our behalf this year. You are loved in return.

Now you know that the one thing that binds us together is a person-JESUS. We cannot live without Him. While the world may not count it important to whom you belong, it makes all the difference in that world which is not made with hands.

I now ask the new president to come forward and voice our dedication prayer.