Our Stories …
May Christ Be Born in Us – Christmas 2020
Today all of Christendom celebrates the birth of Jesus in a manager in Bethlehem. What does it mean for us? Theologians have written volumes on the meaning of Christmas. One such theologian was Symeon the New Theologian (949‒1022), a Byzantine Christian monk and mystic revered to this day by Eastern Christians. Symeon believed humans had the capacity to experience God’s presence directly. He visualized this union happening within the [...]
Changing the lives of People on the Street each day II
I met Doug at the Saint Vincent de Paul Sunnyslope Dining Room. He told me had had homeless for about 6 months. During this time he lost his job and was struggling to get his life back together. This was challenging because he had lost all of his belongings after being robbed. After I talked with him and prayed with him, he accepted my offer to help him find [...]
Changing the lives of People on the Street each day
Each day, chaplains, both paid staff and volunteers encounter people experiencing homelessness. Here is a recent encounter by Chaplain Darwin: I met Richard at St. John’s Lutheran Church’s Food Bank. Richard told me that he was working to make a new life for himself since the left Chicago to come the Arizona to make a new start. He said he was able to get some work through an agency, [...]
Bringing Hope to Veterans This Veteran’s Day
Today, our nation celebrates Veteran's Day. On a day when we should be recognizing the sacrifice of many who gave their lives for our freedom, there are many whose service is causing them to wonder, why? "I served my country and it abandoned me." "I served my country and now I can't get help." Fortunately, there are agencies like MANA House in Phoenix, Arizona who provides shelter to veterans [...]
When the Spirit Moves
“John” had just served 24 years in prison and was released only a few days earlier. Incredibly, he was the only person in a room full of people who rushed over to help me. It was 9 am on a sizzling Phoenix August morning and I was heading into the office when all of my books and paperwork slid out of my hands and made a thundering boom onto [...]
An Encounter By Our Office Manager Carol
“John” had just served 24 years in prison and was released only a few days earlier. Incredibly, he was the only person in a room full of people who rushed over to help me. It was 9 am on a sizzling Phoenix August morning and I was heading into the office when all of my books and paperwork slid out of my hands and made a thundering boom onto [...]
Free At Last!
During the pandemic the Chaplaincy continues to touch lives. Carol Critcher, the Chaplaincy Office Manager, had this recent experience, “John” had just served 24 years in prison and was released only a few days earlier. Incredibly, he was the only person in a room full of people who rushed over to help me. It was 9 am on a sizzling Phoenix August morning and I was heading into the [...]
God Answers Prayers!
God hears our prayers! Last Tuesday, Bobbie came to our Bible study. On Thursday, she returned. “I was told you would pray for me.” We talked a while about her circumstances. She lost her place to live and her job after she returned to her past use of drugs. She has contact information for her family but she feels distant from them. “I don’t think they will return my [...]
Labor Day, Homelessness and the Pandemic
This weekend some Americans will gather around their barbeques, some will go camping, and some will enjoy spending their time with their families. Notice I say, “some.” Why? As the pandemic continues to move through our communities, it is doing more than threatening the physical health of many. Some communities may be experiencing a flattening of the curve, yet, for many the loss of their jobs through this pandemic [...]
Bible Study with the Homeless
“I need healing for a broken heart.” Seven of us gather in the conference room of the Chaplaincy for the Homeless office. I distribute bottles of cold water and the Bible lesson for the day, “Who are We?” The Bible lesson is a series of Bible verses or sections of the Bible which guide our discussion. As we take turns reading the Biblical texts, we discuss them. I invite [...]
Why do we follow Jesus?
"Jesus has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few cross-bearers. Many desire His consolation, but few His tribulation. Many will sit down with Him at table, but few will share His fast. All desire to rejoice with Him, but few will suffer for Him. Many will follow Him to the breaking of the bread, but few will drink the bitter cup of His Passion. Many revere His miracles, [...]
The Story of a Changed Life
A few weeks ago, a man from our community attended one of the chapels provided by the Chaplaincy for the Homeless. He offered to share his testimony of God’s intervention in his life. A life of drug abuse, a lost marriage, a lost family, lost relationships – a too common story of people on the street. Here are his words talking about his experience of sharing his story with [...]
The Impact of a Wedding
“We are going to have a wedding in the chapel!” With these words, Cynthia Bach, Spiritual Care Advocate for St. Vincent de Paul, announced to me that two residents of the Central Arizona Shelter Service (CASS), had asked to be married. She also informed me that the couple needed a marriage license. In a few days I met the young couple, Richard and Carol (names changed). We talked about [...]
Praying for those suffering from Mental Illness
This evening I was asked to pray the Invocation for the 23rd Candlelight Service for the Mentally Ill. Here was my prayer: Eternal God, giver of life we gather here this evening to pray for our community, for each other and especially those who suffer with a diagnosis of mental illness. Among us this evening are those who live with mental illness, we pray for your healing mercies to touch them, strengthen [...]
Come be united with God…
Today is Worldwide Communion Sunday. Here is a something to think about if you go to a church today and participate. "Whenever we receive Communion, we enter into communion with the Holy Trinity. Did anybody ever tell you that? With each reception of Holy Communion, we experience, already here on earth, the same divine activity that we will one day experience in all its fullness in heaven—the divine activity [...]