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A Prayer for Chaplains
Glorious God,
You call us to love and to serve,
not only with words, but also in presence and actions.
Lord, you surround us completely in time, in space, and in spirit.
No matter where we go,
you journey with us and use us to reveal your grace and mercy.
During this time of testing from the novel coronavirus,
we pause to lift your beloved who serve as chaplains.
Whether they serve in the military,
in health care, in hospice,
in palliative care, in prisons,
with first responders, in commercial industry,
or another institutional setting,
guide and protect them and magnify your grace through them.
Through your chaplains open the eyes of those who fail to see your presence.
Through your chaplains encourage souls overcome with fear and worry.
Through your chaplains refresh those wearied from devotion to the works of healing, protecting, providing, and defending.
Through your chaplains assuage the anguish of death.
Through your chaplains give hope during joy and sorrow,
chaos and calm,
success and failure,
rest and exhaustion.
Jehovah Jireh — provide your chaplains with endurance
and protect them when they serve in heart wrenching, anxious, and dangerous places.
Give your chaplains wisdom to know when to be socially distant
and when to be physically present,
always connected to the precious soul you have placed in their path.
Lord, provide your chaplains with words of comfort and truth,
whether they sit beside families of loved ones,
staffs of institutions, or leaders of people.
May they effuse the peace that comes only from you.
Encourage your chaplains to embrace their significance as they help all people overcome during this national and global challenge.
Embolden chaplains to persevere in their essential calling.
Gracious God, we give thanks for your chaplains. Amen.
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ell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' 34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
[Herod] turned pale when he heard that a new prophet named Jesus was stirring up trouble because he was sure that it must be John come back from the grave to get even, and he decided to have him taken care of a second time. This threat doesn't seem to have especially bothered Jesus, because when news of it reached him, he referred to Herod as a fox and sent word back that he had bigger things on his mind to worry about. (His use of the word fox is interesting because, although then as now it could be used to suggest slyness, its more common use apparently was a term of contempt. Pussycat might be a better rendering....)
The Presbytery of Northern New England (PNNE) will vote on the amendments to the constitution at the PNNE stated meeting on January 12, 2023. We are giving advance notice because it is a lot of reading. If you have questions as you review them, you can contact the Stated Clerk, T. J. DeMarco at 
