Chaplain's Page

                  Jim Rothermel                   Bill Conway                 Joe Simmons

GOD'S MIGHTY HAND
May 2008

      I recently sang that wonderful song: "All things bright and beautiful". You remember how it goes: "All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all."
   At this springtime of the year it is difficult not to be aware and awed by God's creations. Through his power all things were made - things in heaven and things on earth, things seen and unseen.
     History began. Existence became measurable. Out of nothing came light. Out of light came day. Then came sky and earth. And on this earth, a mighty hand went to work.
     Canyons were carved. Oceans were dug. Mountains erupted out of flatlands. Stars were flung. A universe sparkled.
     Look at our mountains to see God's splendor. Smell the good earth and feel the source of growth. Touch the flowers and see his delicacy. Listen to the thunder and see his power.

Eternal God:
     As we encounter your creation, we humbly pray to You who gives, that we who use, do preserve your creations of land and sea; and that we, who constantly receive good things from Your hand, may always appreciate what we have and give You thanks.
                                                                                                     Amen.

GOD ALONE SUFFICES
April 2008

Let nothing disturb you.
Nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God.
God alone suffices.

                                           St. Theresa of Avila

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
February 2008

     The Seven Deadly Sins, also known as capital vices or cardinal sins, are a classification of vices that were originally used in early Christianity teachings to educate and instruct followers concerning fallen man's tendency to sin. Their popularity in the 14th Century as a theme in Europe helped ingrain them into consciousness in general throughout the world. Dante, in his epic Poem The Divine Comedy, lists them -
Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride.

Lust - usually thought to involve excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature, thereby rendering love and devotion to God as secondary.
Gluttony - overindulgence of anything to the point of waste, especially food, thereby withholding it from the needy.
Greed - like lust, a sin of excess, particularly the acquisition of wealth.
Sloth - depression, joylessness, spiritual apathy - a refusal to enjoy the goodness of God and the world He created.
Wrath - or anger - uncontrolled feeling of hatred and anger, ranging from denial of the truth to murder.
Envy - an insatiable desire, especially for material goods and the perverted desire to deprive other men of theirs.
Pride - love of self preverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor. In perhaps the most famous example, the story of Lucifer, Pride was what caused his Fall from Heaven, and his resultant transformation into Satan.

Dear Lord:
Help us to acknowledge our separation from you and confess our transgressions.
Enlighten us with knowledge and understanding.
Bring us into the way of truth, and
Give us your grace to bring forth the fruit of you Spirit.
                                                                                Amen.
 

CONTEMPLATION
February 5, 2008

     In the Christian church year, tomorrow marks the beginning of Lent, the period of 40 weekdays, which extends from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. It is a time of self-examination (which we all need to do from time to time), and for many, marked by prayer, fasting, and self-denial.

     To some, the adjective "contemplative" brings to mind an image of one turned inward, focusing on thoughts rather than actions, maybe a bit out of touch with our day-to-day realities; implying a degree of insensitivity to others. After all, we in our world are encouraged to be outgoing - in our personalities and our achievements. Yet, like the Yin-Yang principle, we all need to have balance in our lives.

Dear God:
     Help us to seek balance and wholeness within ourselves;
To integrate our active, giving, doing, and working side with our listening, learning contemplative and prayerful side.
     Help us to inwardly examine ourselves, and in so doing, find new opportunities to be, and to serve others. 

              Amen. 

BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY
December 11, 2007

     Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was filled with sorrow at the tragic death of his wife in a fire in 1861. The Civil War broke out that year, and it seemed that was an additional punishment. Two years later, Longfellow was again saddened to learn that his own son had been seriously wounded in the Army of the Potomac.
     Sitting down at his desk, one Christmas Day, he heard the church bells ringing. It was in this setting that Longfellow wrote these lines.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day,
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth,
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep.
"God is not dead, not doth he sleep!
The wrong shall fail,
The right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men!

Dear Lord:
Whose wisdom guides us
And whose grace sustains us,
Help us to hear the bells on Christmas Day and every day.

                                                                               Amen.