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The Voice for Chaplaincy - Chartered by Congress - Serving Since 1925
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Weekly Newsgram - October 24th 2018
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Warrior Chapel decommissioned during solemn ceremony
CAMP RED CLOUD, Republic of Korea - Following the Korean War in 1953, chaplains transformed the tent version of the chapel to a stone brick edifice the Warrior community bid farewell to today.
The Camp Red Cloud community, together with members from U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys, and 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division, decommissioned the Warrior Chapel with honor during a ceremony, signifying the final closing of the chapel doors Oct. 21. Since its origin in 1952, when Camp Red Cloud was known as Camp Jackson, the chapel provided a sanctuary where thousands of Soldiers, civilians and family members received spiritual guidance through worship services.
In opening remarks, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Kim, Moon, Seoul native, and U.S. Army Garrison Camp Humphreys command chaplain, recalled serving the Warrior Division in 2016 as 2ID/RUCD command chaplain and remains optimistic. "Warrior Chapel is not really closing, but moving to Camp Humphreys," said Kim, Moon. "I'm kind of excited in a way, because most of the Soldiers will go to Humphreys and I will continue to serve them there."
Chaplain (Capt.) Steve Love, Edwardsville, Illinois native, and Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 2ID/RUCD spiritual leader, spoke of his feelings about the Warrior Chapel closing its doors. "The Warrior Chapel served military members and their families for more than 66 years, and will continue serving the 2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division community from its new home on Camp Humphreys," said Love. "Camp Humphreys has four chapels, including the Warrior Chapel, with a large variety of services in support of the spiritual wellness of its diverse community."
Love's comments were followed by U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan Command Sgt. Maj. Donald R. Robertson, a native of Monroe, Georgia, who highlighted the volunteers who devoted countless hours of service to the community. Amongst those recognized was Mr. Kim, Ki Ye, a native of North Korea, who at age 19, escaped during the Korean War by ship with the help of a U.S. Soldier who persuaded ROK Soldiers not to leave Kim behind because he would surely die. Mr. Kim, Ki dedicated 32 years of volunteer service to the Warrior Chapel as an organist.
"If the American Soldier had not helped me, I wouldn't have freedom today," said Mr. Kim, Ki. "I sincerely appreciate the U.S. Soldiers, sacrificing themselves for our country, and volunteering at the Warrior Chapel was a way to show gratitude."
The newly relocated Warrior Chapel is building 6800 on Camp Humphreys. In keeping with 2ID/RUCD tradition, it offers the finest spiritual services. Meanwhile, 2ID/RUCD is in the process of returning Camp Red Cloud to the Korean government as a part of the transformation plan.
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In Memoriam
Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army, retired
born January 8 1936
deceased October 15 2018
Roman Catholic
Arlington, Virginia
Colonel, United States Army, Retired
Author of the First Volume of the 'History of the Army Chaplaincy'
and General Editor of the first Five Volumes.
born August 5 1928
deceased October 21 2018
MCA Life Member 1971
Emerson 161
Southern Baptist
Winchester, Virginia
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Executive Director Notes
After a few tech hiccups with the on-line registration- which have now been corrected - things seem to be cranking up for our National Institute in two weeks, which is amazingly soon to greet us.
As you have seen, we have excellent workshops, panels and speakers. I am going to be checking with our young Distinguished Chaplains who will be with us for the entire National Institute to see how we can integrate them in our worship and activities. These are the young chaplains who are the leadership bench for tomorrow for both their respective services and for the MCA. Personally, after meeting many of you via email and by phone, it will be great to meet many of you in person.
Also, as we have said many times, immediately after we finish our National Institute at the Sheraton Arlington with the Emerson Lunch on Wednesday, 7 November, I will be staying over in the same hotel for the US Army Chaplains Regimental Association biennial meeting which begins with an opening banquet on Wednesday evening and ends with a memorial service on Saturday morning, 10 November. Having served with a number of great Army chaplains and NCOs over my almost 40 years in the Army, it will be great to be able to see how many of them will be present for this great event.
It becomes more clear to me that while we spend an inordinate amount of time "at the office," what we take away from our time in uniform is the memory of the remarkable people we have been honored to serve with in our various assignments. It will be a pleasure to catch up with some of these great troops over the course of the week from 5 thru 10 November.
Fr. Razz Waff, DMin, BCC
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Chaplaincy in a Post Truth World
November 5, 6 and 7, 2018
Sheraton Pentagon City, 900 S Omre Street, Arlington VA
November 5th -
National Executive Committee Meeting all day
Member Reception 1830
November 6th -
Optional Seminars - 0830 - 1200
Plenary Presentations 1330 - 1615
MCA Annual Business Meeting 1630 - 1730
Awards Banquet 1830 Speaker - Chaplain of the Senate Barry Black
November 7th -
Memorial Service - 0830 - 0930
Keynote Address
Annual Meeting - 1100 - 1200
Emerson/Sustaining Members Luncheon - 1200
Meeting registration form on the MCA website https://www.mca-usa.org/national-institute/
Note: the United States Army Chaplain Corps Regimental Association will be meeting at the Sheraton Pentagon City immediately following our meeting - for more see their website here
MCA Hotel Registration
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Day of Prayer and Reflection for Veterans
November 1, 2018
The Department of Veteran Affairs and the National Chaplain Center are announcing an inaugural Day of Prayer and Reflection for Veterans on the first Thursday of November. This Day of Prayer and Reflection for Veterans is for all Americans to consider the sacrifices and sufferings of our Nation's Heroes, and for those of faith to ask for Divine sustenance in the lives of our Veterans, their family members, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Nation as we seek to care for those who have borne the battle, and their widows and orphans.
This year's theme is Prayers of Healing for our Veterans. Healing is a process of restoration and renewal of body, mind, or spirit. We respect the religious beliefs of all Americans and do not encourage or favor any religious beliefs or actions contrary to individuals' personal viewpoints. However, on this day we ask those who pray, regardless of personal religious beliefs, to ask for healing of our Veterans, their families, the Department of Veteran Affairs, and our nation.
Prayer has been a source of guidance, strength, and wisdom for many Americans since the founding of our Republic. During the American Revolution, General George Washington instituted a Chaplain Corps to bolster troop morale and ensure the spiritual needs of the soldiers were met. In 1865 when President Abraham Lincoln established the first National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, chaplains were assigned to provide prayerful care.
On this Day of Prayer and Reflection for Veterans, we call upon the Chaplains from the Department of Veterans Affairs to organize community-wide prayers of healing for our Veterans, their families, the Department of Veteran Affairs, and our nation. On this Day of Prayer and Reflection for Veterans, let us come together, all according to their own faiths, to seek Divine healing.
for more information please contact Chaplain Mike McCoy at michael.mccoy@va,gov
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Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center chaplain, Capt. Grace Kim, blesses the hands of Pamela Horton during Pastoral Care Week, a week-long celebration offering spiritual support to employees and caregivers at the Fort Hood hospital. Horton, who is a medical support assistant for the physical therapy department, said she was grateful to the pastoral care staff for adding a bit of spiritual light to the work day. The purpose of the "Blessing of the Hands" anointment ceremony is to remind hospital employees of the critical role they play in caring for others. The spiritual-care week, which kicked off Monday with a cake-cutting ceremony, runs through Friday and is hosted by CRDAMC's Pastoral Care team.
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Spiritual Care Week
Hospitality - Cultivating Time
October 21 - 28
Spiritual Care Week/Pastoral Care Week is hosted by The COMISS Network: The Network on Ministry in Specialized Settings. The first Pastoral Care Week was held in October 1985. Since then it has grown beyond national to international proportions. The celebration of Pastoral Care Week provides an opportunity for chaplains and pastoral care counselors, educators and providers to share their story and to celebrate various ministries. More specifically, the established objectives of the Pastoral Care Week Committee outline the scope of Pastoral Care Week observance:
· To celebrate the education for and practice of spiritual care through professional chaplaincy and pastoral counseling.
· To interpret and promote pastoral care.
· To honor and celebrate all practitioners of pastoral care.
· To express appreciation to institutions and their staff who support pastoral care ministries.
· To publicize the work of pastoral care organizations affiliated with COMISS.
· To promote continuing education for clergy, laity, and institutional employees regarding the value of pastoral care.
Each year a new theme brings to the light a certain aspect of pastoral care as a
focus. A new theme invites us to new and creative ways to tell the story of pastoral care.
"The theme for Spiritual Care Week in 2018 is "Hospitality - cultivating time".
Spiritual care has a wonderful history
of
cultures and religions that build communities' sense of support and meaning.
This year's theme continues the emphasis on hospitality with a focus on cultivating time.
The welcoming and belonging associated with hospitality
require
time that is treated as precious in developing relationships.
This nurturing of connections requires an attitude of listening and appreciation. For those involved in the
task-oriented
dimensions of health and
support
, there is
a temptation
to achieve the quantitative dimensions of the profession and miss the depth of relationships that requires time.
Time allows the cared-for to express the real problem, the deeper implications and the meaning or despair that is felt at a soulful level.
Cultivating and nurturing time is a challenge in an age of instantaneous communication and multiple sources of connection. Human presence flows back and forth - it takes time for mutuality and trust to develop. Cultivating time conveys to the recipient a treasuring of them as a person no matter what they are going through. We hope that this year you might appreciate even more the time taken in spiritual care which conveys preciousness and healing at every stage of life.
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If you missed the October 17th
edition of the Newsgram
click here
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SUPPORTING CHAPLAINCY IN AND OUT OF UNIFORM: Active, Retired and Former Chaplains of the
United States Army,
United States Navy,
United States Air Force, Department of
Veterans Affairs, and
Civil Air Patrol
AND THOSE THEY SERVE: military members, veterans, and their families
at home and around the world
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The Military Chaplains Association of the USA
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