{"id":9629,"date":"2011-11-17T10:15:24","date_gmt":"2011-11-17T15:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/news\/?p=9629"},"modified":"2011-11-17T10:17:24","modified_gmt":"2011-11-17T15:17:24","slug":"pastor-sergeant-close-church-service-with-more-than-your-average-benediction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2011\/11\/pastor-sergeant-close-church-service-with-more-than-your-average-benediction","title":{"rendered":"Pastor, sergeant close church service with more than your average benediction"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0How proud these parents are when their pastor calls them up onto the platform to honor their son.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Surprise homecoming<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Through the wonders of technology — or so their pastor tells them —\u00a0Mom and Dad’s young\u00a0U.S. Marine Corps\u00a0sergeant, deployed in Iraq, is going to offer the closing prayer at the end of the Sunday morning worship service.<\/p>\n

As they bow their heads with the congregation and\u00a0hear their boy’s voice — as he\u00a0prays for them on Father’s Day, both\u00a0Mom and Dad\u00a0wipe their eyes — trying to keep their emotions in check.<\/p>\n

But then, after the sergeant says “Amen,” they have a surprise.<\/p>\n

He’s standing behind them …\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0