CCA Remembers Our Fallen Heroes

CCA Remembers Our Fallen Heroes

Today, CCA honors the sacrifice of those who bravely stood to defend and preserve our freedom, and ultimately gave their lives. We acknowledge that their sacrifice is noble and true. Freedom is never free. It always comes with a price. We remember our fallen heroes, and today are thankful for what was in their hearts that drove them to such noble service.

Gratitude

Our Ultimate Freedom is in Jesus Christ We are humbled by the sacrifice of those who protect our country. Their devotion reflects how God sent His only Son so that we may be free from the penalty of sin and have everlasting life. This Memorial Day, let us be inspired with a profound sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the invaluable freedoms we enjoy, each one bought with a price. May this sense of gratitude compel us to live a life of service and sacrifice, serving Christ, our neighbor, and our country. God Bless, Richard Hoffman, Ph.D.   Clinical Director Christian Counseling Associates

SERVICES....WHY CCA....NEW CLIENTS....LOCATIONS....ABOUT

Christian Counseling Associates   Serving Pennsylvania, Arkansas, New York, Ohio, West Virginia and Internationally in Liberia, West Africa

Stay Social With Us:

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Memorial Day

A Time to Remember. A Time for Care.

May 29, 2023

“One has indeed personally to come under the shadow of war to feel fully its oppression; but as the years go by it seems now often forgotten that to be caught in youth by 1914 was no less hideous an experience than to be involved in 1939 and the following years. By 1918 all but one of my close friends were dead.”
– J.R.R. Tolkien (1892 – 1973)

In 1916, J.R.R. Tolkien was a 24-year-old soldier fighting in the Battle of the Somme. He was wounded in action, joining over 1 million other British, French and German casualties. Like many others, his military service left an indelible impression on his life and on those around him. England has over 60,000 war memorials, some dating to the 1600s, and each, while made of stone, metal or fabric, is in reality a living remembrance of the sacrifices made by a service member and a way to honor the sacrifices of those left behind.

This weekend is Memorial Day, and it represents more than just a holiday on the calendar. It is a time set aside to remember people. It is time set aside to remember those who fell in the service of our country, and it is time set aside to care for those left behind: fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, friends and loved ones. Across the nation, many will take time out of their day to honor those who have fallen while fighting in the service of their country at places like Valley Forge, the trenches at Argonne, the hills of Cuba, the beaches at Normandy, Okinawa, Korea, Vietnam, Beirut, in the streets of Mogadishu, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. While for some it will be patriotic, for many others it will be deeply personal.

Our denomination has over 120 chaplains serving in the military and Veterans Administration hospitals and many have either “personally come under the shadow of war and have fully felt its oppression” or are ministering within a broader community where that reality is an indelible part of their life journey. While it will be a day for remembrance, as chaplains it is more importantly a time to share a prayer, offer a shoulder to cry on, to counsel, or to walk in silence, but never alone. And hopefully, become an indelible support in a time of remembering.

While some of us will never know or fully understand the sacrifices made when a father, mother, son or daughter are sent off to war, there are many who will. And they will need communities of care, support and compassion. And that is the church. And that is why we celebrate Memorial Day.

Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Rev. Dennis Hysom, Executive Director, Presbyterian Federal Chaplaincies

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
April Davenport, Associate General Counsel, Legal Services, Administrative Services Group (A Corp)
Kathie Davenport, Program Administrator, Church Engagement, Board of Pensions

Let us pray:

Eternal and living God, surely your goodness and your mercies have followed us all the days of our lives. On this Memorial Day, we pause to remember that our blessings, liberties and rights have been secured at great sacrifice to others. Loving Lord, we ask you to console and strengthen those who mourn the loss of their loved ones. May this Memorial Day be a time to remember the grief of our loss and turn our eyes forward seeking the fruit of your peace ahead. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Memorial Day is a day to remember and a day to mourn

The cost of war is seen in Ukraine

May 30, 2022

Chaplain Kozachyn (provided)

From Psalm 29 (The Message):

 God’s thunder spits fire.
God thunders, the wilderness quakes;
He makes the desert of Kadesh shake.

 God’s thunder sets the oak trees dancing
A wild dance, whirling; the pelting rain strips their branches.
We fall to our knees—we call out, “Glory!”

 Above the floodwaters is God’s throne
    from which his power flows,
    from which he rules the world.

 God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.

War is neither necessary nor romantic. The deaths that come from war are needless and tragic. Those who give their lives in war may be remembered and honored for their selfless sacrifice, but the wars which brought their deaths are not glorious adventures. Our entry into war may at times be unavoidable but must never be sought. We mourn those killed in war on Memorial Day as we grieve the pain of loss and deprivation.

War in our world is a contradiction — we celebrate and rejoice in the redemption God has made available to all, the peace given through the love and grace of our Lord, and the strength we each can embody as we are filled by the precious Spirit. And yet, war remains even as we know sin and hatred are pervasive despite the very presence of God’s kingdom.

On this Memorial Day, we are reminded of the tragedy of war — we remember and give thanks for those who have given their lives in service to our nation. We have often advanced the cause of freedom and justice through taking up arms to defend and protect the oppressed.

But we are also reminded of the cost of war and the evil that produces it. We see in glaring detail the tragedy heaped on the people of Ukraine.

One loss in Ukraine not often mentioned is Maksym Anatolyovych Kozachyn, a military chaplain of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Ordained in 2000, Chaplain Kozachyn was leaving the Kyiv region when shot and killed by advancing Russian soldiers. The soldiers did not permit locals to remove his body from the car in which he was murdered.

The Ukrainian military has embraced chaplains and has made efforts to ensure all faiths are represented. Many chaplains of the United States and other nations have helped Ukraine develop a sense of chaplaincy. These servants play a critical role in ministering to the members of the besieged and outnumbered Ukrainian forces and have brought a palpable sense of the presence of God into the midst of great suffering and chaos. Chaplain Kozachyn gave his life seeking to be with his people.

Father Andriy Zelinskyy, SJ, the chief military chaplain of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, said in a recent interview, “We find ourselves at a time when the greatest gift we have is in danger, that is, our humanity. “ 

On this Memorial Day, may we remember and mourn those whose lives have been lost in the tragedy of war. May we also remember God makes us strong and gives us peace through the precious humanity and sacrificial obedience of the beloved child — our Savior and Redeemer. May we seek to redeem all our humanity.

A Litany for Ukraine (written by Father Tim Cole, a retired British Army chaplain who is currently the rector of Christ Church [Episcopal], Georgetown, District of Columbia) 

The Litanist says
God of justice and peace, in the face of unthinkable violence in Ukraine:
We pray for the Ukrainian people in their struggle to retain liberty.

Litanist  Lord, in your mercy,
People    hear our prayer.
We pray that they may be spared from trauma, violence and death.

Litanist  Lord, in your mercy,
People    hear our prayer.
We pray that global leaders will stand firm, doing all in their power to protect innocent human life.

Litanist  Lord, in your mercy,
People    hear our prayer.
We pray for the peoples of Europe and of this nation, that we may be united in our defense of liberty, justice and peace.

Litanist  Lord, in your mercy,
People    hear our prayer.
We pray for Russian soldiers, that they may act with restraint and compassion.

Litanist  Lord, in your mercy,
People    hear our prayer.
We pray for the Russian people, that they may reject aggression, violence and war.

Litanist  Lord, in your mercy,
People    hear our prayer.
We pray for the safety of non-combatants.

Litanist  Lord, in your mercy,
People    hear our prayer.
We pray for justice.

Litanist   Lord, in your mercy,
People    hear our prayer.
We pray for peace.

Litanist  Lord, in your mercy,
People    hear our prayer.

A period of silence is kept.

Presbyterian Federal Chaplaincies supports more than 150 PC(USA) chaplains who minister in federal prisons, veteran administration hospitals, and as noncombatants in the military “that all may practice in peace.” Please visit our website at presfedchap.org or call (202) 630-6225 for more information.

Lyman Smith, Executive Director, Presbyterian Federal Chaplaincies

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Roger Spalding, Prospect Research Analyst, Relationship & Development Operations, Mission Engagement & Support, Presbyterian Mission Agency
Frank Spencer, President, Board of Pensions

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Memorial Day is more than a holiday

Today, we remember

May 31, 2021

In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
    May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
May he send you help from his sanctuary
    and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May our God remember all your gifts
    and look favorably on your burnt offerings.

May the Lord grant your heart’s desires
    and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory
    and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.
May the Lord answer all your prayers.
Psalm 20 (NLT)

Group of nine. (Provided)

We gathered by the shoreline of a lake in Colorado. We were tired and showing symptoms of compassion fatigue. We had endured 24 deaths in 12 months — 10 of those by suicide.

We had to take a knee, remember and mark the lives of our fallen siblings in order that we could stand once again.

We came together on the shoreline, each sharing how one soul or several of those we had lost that year had moved us, mattered to us and changed us.

We placed the initials of all 24, each on a separate rock. We formed the rocks in a circle at the foot of a crude cross made of branches and twine. We stood, shared and remembered for about 40 minutes.

We all prayed together.

And then we inhaled the beauty of the day and fished and kayaked and shared a meal.

We exhaled, remembering but leaving the weight on the shoreline.

We returned to our ministry the next day. Better.

I am a missionary. Many denominations support my specialized ministry role under the umbrella of Missions. After all, missionaries speak a foreign language, wear a certain cultural garb and practice ministry in a context typically outside the majority mainstream. All of this describes me very well. The mission field in which I labor is the United States Air and Space Forces. The people I serve are American Airmen and Guardians. Those of us who gathered are Chaplains and Religious Affairs Specialists. We come from a variety of faith traditions and backgrounds, but we are all on one team at a base in Colorado.

Daughters and sons of your congregations are our flock, and we love them. Their bravery and resilience to serve in the Profession of Arms come with reward and cost. Some will serve 20 to 30 years and retire. Some will serve for a season and then move on to other meaningful vocations. Some will serve and pay with their lives. The freedoms we hold dear demand sacrifice.

Today, Memorial Day, is more than a holiday. Today, as a nation, we remember.

Let us all take a knee and remember the fallen and the sacrifices they made for our freedom. May the Lord have mercy on us all.

Chaplain, Lt. Colonel Robert D. Ward, USAF, a missionary to the military on loan to the Department of Defense from the PC(USA)

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff
Tony Lewis, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
Dick Liberty, Board of Pensions

Let us pray:

Lord, today we stop and remember the sacrifice made by those who paid the ultimate price on behalf of our nation. We pray that their sacrifices are never forgotten, nor the pain of their families.

We acknowledge that freedom comes at a cost and pray that we will pursue peace. We pray our efforts will improve the plight of all and that our struggles will not be to privilege a few but rather seek to share your bounties with all souls everywhere.

Today, Jehovah Jireh, provide meaning in the memories of those who are no longer with us. Provide comfort and healing to their loved ones.

Let us turn to you, Lord, in our grief and in our remembrance of the fallen. Guide us toward unity and true justice as we honor those who gave their lives for the freedoms we now enjoy.

On this Memorial Day, we pray for peace and remember those who gave all. Lead us toward a world where no one must give their lives in pursuit of justice, freedom and acceptance. May we be receptive to your guidance and may we never forget the fallen. Amen.

Today in the Mission Yearbook - Pursuing peace in the midst of chaos and fear

This Memorial Day, we give thanks for those who gave their lives for our country

May 25, 2020

Chaplain (CDR) Walter (Sonny) Dinkins, SOTF-SE Afghanistan leads a memorial service

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).

Memorial Day calls us as individuals and as a nation to remember all who have died in military service to our country. Our Memorial Day dates to the Civil War, as mothers and widows, both north and south, decorated the graves of their loved ones who had perished. The 30th of May became the traditional date for remembrance. Now we remember our fallen on the final Monday of May.

Presbyterians pursue peace between and among all people in our communities and across the globe — a lasting peace, not as the world knows, but as God has given and called us to seek and to share.

As we observe Memorial Day this year during the COVID-19 pandemic, let us remember and be thankful for those throughout history who have sacrificed their lives in response to our nation’s call. During the 1918 flu pandemic, more military members died from disease than from combat in World War I. Even today, because of their dedication and service with honor, we continue to enjoy freedom to celebrate life, act freely, pursue justice and proclaim the Good News of the Gospel.

Informed by the selfless service of those we remember, may we increase our actions and efforts to bring unity and trust between and among all people regardless of our differences. Let us unite in Matthew 25-inspired ministries and use our gifts to complement the sacrifice of those who purchased and preserved our freedom.

May your Memorial Day 2020 be both a day of challenge and thanksgiving as together we pray for our leaders, engage the travails of these times and look forward to the promised peace of our Lord.

Lyman Smith, CAPT, CHC, USN, Retired, Director, Presbyterian Federal Chaplaincies

Let us join in prayer for: 

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Dawn Diggs, Presbyterian Foundation
Rebecca Dimon, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us pray:

Gracious God, we are grateful for those who gave their lives in hope of worldly peace and unity among humanity. Their service came not only at the cost of their future, but dramatically changed the lives of their families and loved ones as well.  With thankful hearts, we ask that you inspire each of us to use our gifts, our time, our talents and treasure to bring unity in the midst of diversity, and to proclaim and live out your peace that transcends the challenges of this current age. Amen.