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Welcome to the
Mennonite Chaplains Association Web Site Mennonite Chaplains Association is a network of chaplains and pastoral caregivers called by God as followers of Jesus Christ, committed to the Anabaptist faith perspective, providing fellowship, support, collaboration, collegiality, educational opportunities, and resources for ministry Good Reading this Month
Reflections on the New Year 2012
Stand at the crossroads and look, Each New Year I revisit Joyce Rupp’s meditation on “January: The Road of Life” in her book entitled May I Have This Dance? (1992, Ave Maria Press) “Our life is a journey,” she writes. “We are always ‘on the road.’” We come into each new year a different person because the events on our road of life have continued to shape and mold us. Rupp reminds us that “the road” as an image of the spiritual journey is present in both Hebrew and Christian scriptures: Sarah and Abraham’s road of faith; Joseph’s road to forgiveness; the road through the wilderness; Esther’s road of justice; the star-marked road of the Wise Ones; the road of the prodigal son; the road to Jerusalem; the road to Gethsemane, the road to the empty tomb, the road to Emmaus, Saul’s road to conversion. These travelers who have gone before us are our inspiration, comfort and hope on our own journeys. “Whenever we walk into a new year, we are invited to enter into the unknown. We do not know what events will surprise us along the way. We can only see life for today. But we can risk the road because we have the tremendous assurance that God goes with us on the journey – ‘Be confident. For go where you will, your God is with you’ (Joshua 1:9). As we enter the new year, we trust God with our lives. We trust that there will be enough strength and beauty amid all the pain to sustain us and to urge us forward. We trust that on this road we will come to greater wholeness and transformation” (p. 23). A New Year’s Prayer Response: God, surprise us again.
When we miss the beauty and the joy of earth’s goodness… Response: Walk closely with us, God.
As we strive to live our lives well… Closing Prayer God of this new year, we are walking into mystery. We face the future, not knowing what the days and months will bring to us or how we will respond. Be love in us as we journey. May we welcome all who come our way. Deepen our faith to see all of life through your eyes. Fill us with hope and an abiding trust that you dwell in us amidst all our joys and sorrows. Thank you for the treasure of our faith life. Thank you for the gift of being able to rise each day with the assurance of your walking through the day with us. God of this new year, we praise you. AMEN A New Year’s Blessing May you be aware of all the places your feet carry you in the new year. May you know “How beautiful are the feet of the messenger of good news” (Romans 10:15). Rev. Cheryl Paulovich, Chaplain
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RESOURCE LINKS
Check out the following websites for information concerning education, certification, or for articles about spirituality in healthcare and meditative reflection.
Association of Professional Chaplains National Association of Catholic Chaplains Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) Spirituality & Health PlainViews Psyche & Spirit CPSP Pastoral Report GOOD READING
Below are some interesting reading contributed by our members.
Do you have an article on spirituality in healthcare that you wish to share? Send it to . |
