Welcome into God’s Holy Presence  . . .

“Thank you so much for the beautiful Beads of Prayer. Our hospital chaplain gave them to us after church and we wanted to let you know what a blessing your - and St. Alban’s Parish – gifts were to us.

Please pass along our gratitude, not only for the Prayer beads, but for your prayers.”

--Lt. Col Kathy Van Der Linden

“General Robin Rand wanted me to tell you he will take them (the prayer beads) with him when he flies on his missions. In addition to being our commander, General Rand flies the F-16 twice a week on five-hour missions providing close air support for troops on the ground.”

--Chaplain Neuberger, USAF

Email to Episcopal Military Chaplains in the Middle East:

As Advent nears I was reminded by a call from dear friends of mine and of all chaplains – Didi and Bob Smith, dedicated lay folks in St. Alban’s Church, Washington, DC -- that they have some meaningful gifts to send you and your troops as you lean toward Advent and Christmas. 

By heading up an ANGLICAN PRAYER BEAD project, “On Beads of Prayer”, Didi and her husband Bob have faithfully supported our troops via our Episcopal Church chaplains since shortly after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began.  Didi organized a team of “beaders” at St. Alban’s and surrounding churches who hand-make some of the most beautiful (and, important for your ministry, field-sturdy) Anglican Prayer Beads I have ever seen.  They lovingly tuck each set into a really nifty, sturdy, little draw-string bag and add attractive instructions on how to use the beads in one’s daily prayers.  Then they ship them FREE OF CHARGE to our chaplains in harm’s way for distribution.

With prayers for you and those you serve,

The Rev. Gerald J. Blackburn
Dir. of Federal Chaplaincies (Military, VA Hospitals & Bureau of Prisons)
& Exec. Officer to the Bishop Suffragan for Federal Ministries
In the Office of the Rt. Rev. George E. Packard