Care Packages and Support for our Military Service Members
Praying for Peace
By Sang-Churl Bae, Pastor of North Salem United Methodist Church
By now you should know what goes on in the world, especially with Iraq. There is no other time than these days we need to pray more and harder for the troops and the leaders. I am sure some of us may differ on this war against Iraq. However, this crisis calls for our advent prayer for the safety of the troops and of Iraq people. So I am sending you prayers that you may incorporate into your prayer these days. In God's Peace,
Prayer for Those in Military Service
Righteous God, you rule the nations.
Guard brave men and women in military service.
Give them compassion for those who confront them as enemies.
Keep our children from hate that hardens, or through scorekeeping with human lives.
Though for a season they must be people of war, let them live for peace, as eager for agreement as for victory.
Encourage them as they encourage one another, and never let hard duty seperate them from loyalty to your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen!
A Vision of Hope
We pray that someday an arrow will be broken,
Not in something or someone, but by each of humankind, to indicate peace, not violence.
Someday, oneness with creation, rather than domination over creation, will be the goal to be respected.
Someday fearlessness to love and make a difference will be experienced by all people.
Then the eagle will carry our prayer for peace and love, and the people of the red, white, yellow, brown, and black communities can sit in the same circle together to communicate in love and experience the presence of the Great Mystery in their midst.
Someday can be today for you and me. Amen
Care Packages for our Military in Iraq
As many of you are aware, our church hopes to send care packages to our military personnel.
Items needed include:
Dog flea collars
Avon Skin So Soft
Wet wipes or diaper wipes
Gum, hard candies, snack items (ie packages of crackers/cheese, peanut butter, cookies, etc)
Anything else you care to send along
They have requested NO chocolate as it melts too quickly in the desert.
Please bring your items to church on Sunday. As Christians we can make a difference in this big way, prayer and care. There are addresses available for three individuals, please ask at the church for details.
If you cannot come to the church please mail to:
North Salem United Methodist Church
PO Box 206
North Salem, NH 03073
Prayer List
All military men and women and elected officials serving our country
Minerva Sarkisian
Gretchen Seigfried
Patrick Bovee
Deanaa
Linda Keeler
Pat Berube
Bob Lutey
Vanessa
Paul Quartarone
Allyn Billings
Linda Bellomo
Matthew McDonald
Dick Noyes
Nicholas
Nina Goulet
Don
Merrianne McDonald
Peggy Murray
Joe & Connie Quartarone
A Letter from Iraq
by Shawn, LCpl/USMC
Merrianne and Class,
Thank you very much for taking the time to write to me. I was very pleased to see your letters waiting for me when I woke up this morning. Actually it was the afternoon by then because I had to work through the night, but all the same. It always brightens my day to know I received mail! I'll try and answer all of your questions in this letter. If I miss one, I'm sorry. I guess the Iraqi sun is just starting to fry my brain a little too much. :)
To Jessica: Asking if I hate Social Studies, it wasn't my favorite subject. But it did start to get very interesting and I started to enjoy it. Don't worry, I bet you will too.
To Michelle: It is a great experience being over here. I have learned a lot about my job in the Marines, and a few things about myself, I'm glad I came out here.
To Sarah P: Yes, it does get scary here sometimes. But nothing too bad, we are very well protected here so I find a lot of comfort in that. And don't worry, I'll try not to stay up past 10:30 too many times!
To Cami J: I am doing very well out here actually, we just got a Ping Pong table in one of our tents so I'm playing that all time. Just like Forest Gump.
To Cali: Yes I miss my family and friends a lot! You never really know how much you could miss them until you are pulled away from them like this.
To Amanda: Nice pen. That note really did brighten up my day, and my room. And the tent! I have got to get me a highlighter pen like that when I get back.
And finally, To Kelly: It is very very hot over here! I used to think NH summers were hot at 90 and 95. Over here we wish for temps that cool! I think the hottest it has gotten here so far is 125. Last night it dropped to 103 and at 8 am it was already 115.
It does help a lot that all of you wrote to me. Thank you very much. We are finally in the home stretch of our deployment and should be back to the United States in mid-August. I should be back in NH in early September. So I can't wait. First thing I'm going to do when I get home is get a huge pizza and eat it all by myself! Then go to the mall, not to buy anything, but go just because I can!
Anyways I have to go, chow time! Thanks again for writing and take care! I'll be thinking of you all when I'm out here!
Shawn, LCpl/USMC
PS. I knew I was missing one! Bet you thought I forgot! To Melanie: I am doing my best to stay out of harm's way and it seems to be working! No one in my unit has been hurt since we have been out here, other than a little too much sun! Guess someone is looking out for us all!