CLF Military Ministries News

Stepping Back Up to the Plate

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:20:27 GMT

by Chaplain David.

Hello all! Since Seanan Holland has finished his time with the CLF as their Ministerial Intern and as the Coordinator for the CLF Military Ministries, it is time that I step back up to the plate. My name is Chaplain (1LT) David Pyle, and I am moving back into the role of coordinating the CLF Military Ministries. It is wonderful to be back!

I loved visiting with some of you at General Assembly, and know that many others were there in spirit. It was also good to see many of our Chaplains and Chaplain Candidates gathered together into one place. We had some wonderful conversations, and some new ideas for moving forward increasing the UU outreach to the U.S. Military.

One of the most amazing things about General Assembly this year was the roll-out of the new Meditation Book for Servicemembers, “Bless All Who Serve”. It is an incredible resource for our military servicemembers, those who are already Unitarian Universalists and those who are seeking their spiritual paths. If you are a UU serving in the military and would like a copy sent to you, please let us know and we will provide one to you. You can also buy a copy here.

From the UUA Website article on the release of the book:

“Free copies of Bless All Who Serve are available to military chaplains, ministers and enlisted men and women of all faiths. Chaplains and ministers should contact Julie Shaw (mailto:mplassistant@uua.org) at the UUA. Servicemen and women should contact Lorraine Dennis (mailto:ldennis@clfuu.org) at the Church of the Larger Fellowship.” You could also email me, through this website or at the email address in my profile.

I’m looking forward to engaging with my fellow military UU’s in the coming days. It’s good to be back!

Yours in faith,

Chaplain David

Thoughts on UU Military Ministry

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:59:00 GMT

by Seanan.

Share Your Thoughts

Greetings to everyone on the CLF Military Ministry website,

I invite you to imagine who we are here, and how we have gathered over the last year and a half. We are military service members on active duty, we are veterans, we are chaplains and candidates, we are partners and family members of veterans, we are UUs attentive to the relationship between Unitarian Universalism and the military. There are probably other categories that would apply as well. This website is both a place for people to discover Unitarian Universalism, and a place for members of many years to gather.

My sense is that this site has been valuable to us all. It has been profoundly important to me just to know that you are all out there – and to hear us all check in from our part of the world every once in a while. And we, the staff at the CLF, recognize that the site has intermittent use. We hope this means that you have adequate spiritual resources and activities available – wherever you are. But is there something more or different that we could do.

With the reality of many of our veterans coming home with the spiritual burdens of war, we can feel fortunate to have the CLF’s commitment behind this military ministry. How can we, the participants, contribute to shaping the future of this important ministry?

In faith and service,

Seanan

Courage and Service

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:02:14 GMT

by Seanan.

Veterans Day has slipped behind us and time marches on toward Thanksgiving and the December holidays. I am currently living in the States; I’m not deployed. Over the last few years, since I joined a Reserve unit, I have met people with loved ones who are deployed. It is a reminder to me of the first year after I left active duty. For the first time in my life, I was the one who remained behind. I watched my friends deploy. It was a complicated set of feelings. Now I had some insight about a mother or father’s feelings when their son or daughter deploys. It was interesting to see from both angles. I understood the worry and concern. And I understood the incredible trust and bonding that happens in a military unit. I understood the sense of purpose and focus that a young person in the military experiences. I understood the strange blend of courage and fear, of commitment and uncertainty that seep into our consciousness as we climb aboard the plane to a distant conflict. For those of us back home, our primary sense may be one of concern for our loved one. But for those of us who are deploying, we know we will need something additional from our families and friends back home. We will need someone who strives to understand our journey as we experience it. When we come home, we will need someone who is not surprised by how different we may seem. As the holidays approach, let us not have our sadness clouded by worry. If we are sad for a relative who is not present to enjoy the holidays with us, let us acknowledge that honestly. And, let us take a moment to celebrate the courage and sense of service in our loved ones who are deployed during the holidays. They set out with courage. Let us give thanks for their courage and sense of service. Happy Thanksgiving.

In Faith and Service,

Seanan

Veterans Day Service at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:08:52 GMT

by Seanan.

I’d like to let everyone know that last weekend I participated in a wonderful event at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham. David Pyle and I were invited to lead a program on how UU churches could become more invitational to military personnel and their families. This was a mutually rewarding event. It gave David and me an opportunity for us to share some of our stories of military service, and it gave members of UUCB an opportunity to share their stories as well. Our conversation covered a lot ground – from military history and Battle Mind Injury to pastoral care and what it’s like to be a military service person in Unitarian Universalism. Clearly there was a lot on our hearts and minds. I am so glad that we got to share with each other. I’d like to extend a special thanks to the UUCB members who organized and hosted this excellent event.

In faith and service,

Seanan

Greetings on Veterans Day

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:37:18 GMT

by Seanan.

I wanted to wish you all a happy Veterans Day. With the recent tragedy at Fort Hood, it is a complicated day. Our nation is at war. We may be deployed, or we may be missing loved ones who are deployed. Veterans Day points to something deep in the human spirit; it acknowledges that life contains struggle. Wherever we are, let us take a moment today to honor our service and to appreciate the friends and families who support us. We have answered the call, like many who have gone before us, to meet with conflict face to face and to stand by the highest values of our country. We know, as well as anyone, that this is not always easy. But the stories of our service will be important to who each of us is and to our country. We can take pride in answering the call to serve the larger whole, of which we are a part.

Keep up the good work – even if it’s difficult. Keep your head down, and look out for your buddy. And when you get a chance, take a moment to think with pride on who you are and the legacy of service men and women who have gone before you. Happy Veterans Day.

Prayers for Fort Hood

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:32:18 GMT

by Seanan.

It’s been a few days since the disturbing violence at Fort Hood, Texas. The Web of Life writhes again in agony over this recent outburst of human brokenness. There is so much sadness for so many aspects of this unusual shooting. Our fellow patriots have died. And, however distinct he may have been, it was one of our own who killed, wounded, and traumatized them.

We are flooded with emotions, questions, and impulses. The sadness and grief of life cut short. Frustration and anger over this violation to our sense of security and civility. Despair in knowing that, as strange and unfathomable as this event seems, it is part of a pattern in our violent, crowded culture.

What shall we do? There are no easy answers.

A crime has been committed, and the shooter should be subject to a criminal investigation and prosecution. But we must never lose sight of either the victims’ or the shooter’s humanity. To do that would be to lose sight of our own. To do that would be to never know what really happened that day.

We have been cast into being, not as isolated individuals, but as members of communities. We must seek each other out and come together as a community of support – each of us helping the other in our particular needs. My heart goes out to the friends and families of the victims. I struggle to imagine the spiritual burden that the survivors will carry with them for the rest of their lives. I pray for all of the victims, the survivors and the slain – that they and their families be surrounded by a community of love with the courage to walk with them through this grief.

When I first heard the news, I found myself singing Spirit of Life over and over again. It was as if I was inviting… or imploring… some power of love back into this world – a power that seemed somehow absent on November 5th at Fort Hood, Texas. If love was what was needed in order to prevent that tragedy, what form would such love take? Let us all keenly feel the obligation to build a world capable of redeeming this tragedy.

In faith and service,

In sadness,

And yet still, in hope,

Seanan

A Brief Reflection on Halloween

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:01:46 GMT

by Seanan.

Last Saturday was Halloween. I watched the revelers pass by in costumes while I waited for friends from church to meet me for dinner. Afterward, we celebrated Halloween by seeing a stage re-enactment of Orson Wells’ War of the Worlds radio drama. It was a great program – very entertaining. And it was also eerily enlightening about how humans face life and mortality when there are people dying nearby.

The next morning was Sunday. I got up and went to church where, as do many UU churches, we celebrated Dia de los Meurtos (The Day of the Dead). There was an altar on the chancel with pictures of loved-ones gone by. It is touching that this service, even in its sadness and grief, had an air of celebration about it. Such a communal event can be an opportunity for us to remember those who have died, but who, in their living, have touched our lives. Their memory is worth celebrating. We might still be grieving their loss, but we may hold open a small place in our heart and mind for the day we can more easily celebrate the joy of having known that special person.

For those of you who are deployed, human mortality may be a close and personal topic. For those of us in the States, the last two weeks have also been sad reminders of our human fragility. There have been several aviation mishaps in recent news – combat, military training, and civilian mishaps. Especially if we are deployed, it may be difficult to find time to allow ourselves the vulnerability of sadness.

Deep, personal loss is an inevitable part of life. The shock of loss may leave us confused. It may seem paradoxical, but eventually we must bring ourselves to both of these places: of honest grief, and of celebration for their life. In both grieving and celebrating, we may need a companion.

In Faith and Service,

Seanan

Your new CLF intern minister

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:58:39 GMT

by Seanan.

Greetings to everyone on the UU military ministry website – an affiliate site of the Church of the Larger Fellowship.

First, I would like to acknowledge all the energy and commitment of the people who made this site and our connections possible – Cynthia, David, Jane, Lorraine, and many others. And I am happy to acknowledge all of the participants who have found the site and joined the conversations. Thanks to all of you.

The CLF is committed to the success of its military ministry for Unitarian Universalists. To that end, the CLF has hired an intern minister – that’s me, Seanan Holland. I have already met many of you through the military ministry chat groups. I’ll be working with the CLF and the military ministry web-site for six months.

I’m looking forward to spending more time with all of you in our on-line forums. I’d love to hear your ideas about what you hope for from these pages. Whether you are deployed or stateside, we’d like to offer on-line courses, organizing resources, and fellowship that fit your needs.

In faith and service,

Seanan

Intern Minister

Church of the Larger Fellowship

UU World Article on Chaplain Rebekah Montgomery

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:20:19 GMT

by Chaplain David.

UU World has posted an article on Chaplain Rebekah Montgomery being selected for "Military Chaplain of the year"!

http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/145527.shtml

Yours in faith,

David

Chaplain Rebekah Montgomery Named Chaplain of the Year! Congratulations!

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:55:56 GMT

by Chaplain David.

Unitarian Universalist Minister and Military Chaplain Rev. Rebekah Montgomery has been named "Chaplain of the Year" by the Military Chaplain's Association! Congrats Rebekah!

Here is the Press Release / Article from the National Guard Bureau:

Army Guardsman named ‘Chaplain of the Year’

By Staff Sgt. S. Patrick McCollum

National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. (7/9/09) – Chaplains have a myriad of reasons for serving their country, but recognition is usually not one of them.

“Chaplains are often in the position where we love to serve so much, it’s always a surprise to be rewarded for it,” said Army Capt. Rebekah Montgomery, who will receive the “Chaplain of the Year” award from the Military Chaplains’ Association July 17.

A Unitarian Universalist chaplain serving at both the Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Va., and Maryland’s 58^th Troop Command, Montgomery, she has been a student of religion since high school.

She found that religion fascinated her. “I was always drawn to how people negotiate their daily lives with the experience of the spiritual,” said Montgomery, who grew up in Bethesda, Md. “I got so much stimulation out of understanding other faith traditions and I still do.”

After an 18-month tour in Afghanistan, Montgomery found herself back in Maryland with two jobs. One weekend a month, she is the brigade chaplain in the 58^th TC, a job that she says keeps her grounded in the “M-Day” unit mentality.

“With my state, that’s where the real nuts-and-bolts mission is," she said. “I feel like I’m staying in touch and serving at the local level.”

During the week at the readiness center, she focuses on a broader mission, advising high-level officials on spiritual issues.

“My position at NGB is sort of an aide-de-camp for a general,” she said. “You go places and see things you would never see in an M-Day unit.”

At the readiness center, Montgomery has also participated in the recent Suicide Prevention Stand-Down, making herself available to Soldiers who need counseling.

“Suicide has been an issue I have seen deployed, in the field, and on drill weekends,” she said. “It’s a fact of life, and is something chaplains are often involved in.”

While Montgomery feels she has made a contribution, she said it is hard to trace. Morale and the number of infractions can be indicators, but one can’t measure exactly something that didn’t happen.

“We don’t see the direct results, but we trust God is using us in a profound and positive way,” she said. “You can’t quantify how many divorces didn’t happen. You can’t quantify how many suicides didn’t happen.”

Her efforts have been noticed though, and Montgomery said she never forgets the reason she was nominated.

“Just having the opportunity to serve Soldiers is the greatest mission on earth.”

New CLF Military Ministry Facebook Group!

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:02:57 GMT

by Chaplain David.

UPDATE: We also now have a "Facebook Page" to go with the Group...

http://www.facebook.com/business/dashboard/?ref=sb#/pages/CLF-Unitarian-Universalist-Military-Ministries/100028824441

In order to increase the exposure of CLF UU Military Ministries, we now have a Facebook Group! The purpose is not to compete with this site, but simply to use Facebook to advertise the community we are working to build here at CLF Military Ministries.

So, if you are on Facebook, please join it, and invite others to do so as well, whether they consider themselves "Military affiliated" or not. This site is for those who are military affiliated UU's... the Facebook site is where everyone who wishes can show support.

Here is the CLF Military Ministry Facebook Group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107418821757

Yours in faith,

David

Unitarian Universalist Online Arlington National Cemetery Memorial

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:20:41 GMT

by Chaplain David.

Click the Above Picture to View the Memorial

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23154972@N07/sets/72157620946630120/show/

Honor Memorial Day -- UUA Servicemember's Devotional Project!

Sun, 24 May 2009 13:02:51 GMT

by Chaplain David.

Honor UUs in the Armed Services

"Each time I have to stand by the "Chaplain Corps" table strewn with religious and spiritual information for the National Guard Soldiers I support, I find myself yearning deeply for material that is representative of the open, diverse, nurturing, affirming and accepting ideas of the UU tradition…So many of our military service members are hungry for a community that allows them to develop and grow in a faith that fits who they are and what they believe."

—Second Lieutenant Kelly Cummins, Chaplain Candidate

Not since 1942 has Unitarian Universalism provided resources to our service members or the chaplains who serve them. We are now seeking to publish a collection of materials that provides encouragement and comfort to Armed Service men and women in their times of need. Such a collection is an alternative to the usual religious literature that is readily and abundantly available to service members. Additionally, this collection would spread the word about our Unitarian Universalist values.

In order to begin publication of this handbook, we are seeking to raise $25,000 before June 30, 2009 to produce, manufacture and distribute 20,000 copies at no charge to service members, military chaplains, and military chapels.

So far, the UUA has raised $7,500 for this special project.

In honor of Memorial Day on May 25th, Click Here to Read More or to Donate Now!

http://www.uua.org/giving/donatenow/142432.shtml

Yours in Faith,

David

CLF Military Ministry now on UUpdates

Thu, 07 May 2009 11:14:51 GMT

by Chaplain David.

The CLF Military Ministry News Page is now on UUpdates, thanks to John Cooley. Thank you John. For those of you who do not know about www.uupdates.net, it is the premiere aggregator of UU News and Blogs. Many UU’s stay connected into the “Interdependent Web” by checking UUpdates every day… and now they can also see news on what is happening with our UU Military Chaplains, developments in the CLF Military Ministry, and important news about military UU’s.

If you are visiting the site because you have found us through UUpdates, welcome! This is an online ministry for “Military Affiliated Unitarian Universalists”. That includes servicemembers, veterans, military spouses and families, extended military families, friends of servicemembers, veterans or families, Department of Defense civilians and military contractors. If one of these catagories seems to be you, then we invite you to register and participate in online discussions, online chat sessions, and other online events. Perhaps you might share the story of your military affiliation and UU faith in our “Stories of our Service” section. Perhaps you might be interested in our listing of UU and Military Acronyms, or in some of the sermons here from our Chaplains and Chaplain Candidates.

As we say in the UU Worship service at the Great Lakes Naval Station, “Whatever has brought you here, you are welcome, and we rejoice in your presence.

Yours in Faith,

David Pyle

UU World Article on the CLF Military Ministry!

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:06:29 GMT

by Chaplain David.

Don Skinner at UU World has written an article about this new effort by the CLF to create an intentional Military Ministry, including the existence of this website. Check it out and send the link on to your friends and fellow UU's!

http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/131120.shtml

Yours in Faith,

David