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The Canteen Chapel at Christmas
Although we are always aware
that the Canteen is operating
in Cyberspace, we want the troops
and anyone who is on the receiving end
of prayers at the Canteen,
to know that these prayers are very real.
I hope the troops and Canteeners
alike, will view this Canteen Chapel,
as a place where you might go in times of
trouble or times of joy to be with your God.
"Come unto me all ye who are weary and
burdened,and I shall give you rest." (Matt: 11:28).
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George W. Bush: A President of Faith
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A Man of Prayer
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A reporter on CNN was asked
"What did George W. Bush do
on his first morning as president-elect?"
This was Tony Clark's answer:
"He attended a prayer service with family,
friends and staff members."
George W Bush's priorities were established
on the first day of his Presidency.
The President Takes His Faith to Work
 
President George W. Bush looks over to Thomas Martello, 6,
during the signing ceremony of the Victims of Terrorism
Tax Relief Act in the East Room Jan. 23.
"We're joined today by families who have lost loved ones
in the great acts of evil," said the President.
"As you draw on faith and personal strength to cope with your grief,
I hope you'll also find comfort in the knowledge that
your nation stands with you and prays for you.
We mourn those whom we've lost, and we face the future together."
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The President Lives his Faith
President Bush says he prays every day
in all kinds of situations,
and has been seen to quietly bow his head and pray
before news conferences and important meetings.
"I pray for guidance. I do not pray for earthly things
but for heavenly things, for wisdom
and patience and understanding."
"For strength and support, Bush turns to
the same things that have sustained
him for two decades: his faith and his family . . .
Bush prays and reads the Bible every day.
These days, aides say, they often spot
a Bible on his desk in the Oval Office.
In conversation or meetings, he often refers to
passages of Scripture that he has just read."
"There are prayers that help us last
through the day, or endure the night.
There are prayers of friends and strangers
that give us strength for the journey.
And there are prayers that yield
our will to a will greater than our own."
George W. Bush September 14, 2001
National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.
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Music for Christmas
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The Hallelujah Chorus (Mormon Tabernacle Choir) ......Ave Maria (Kiri Te Kawana)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Garth Brooks).....
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Andy Williams)......What Child is This (Enya)
Joy to The World (Anne Murray).......When a Child is Born (The Mistletones)
Deck the Halls (Mormon Tabernacle Choir)........O Holy Night
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The Children's Corner
Click on child in prayer, to hear Veggie Tunes
(this is over half an hour of music)
"Angels We Have Heard on High"
sung by a Children's Chorus
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Hymns of the Military
Army Hymn: "God of Our Fathers"
Navy Hymn: "Eternal Father Strong to Save"
Air Force Hymn: "Lord Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly"
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We, at the Canteen, offer these prayers
to those serving their country
today. God Bless you all.
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Psalm 59:1,16&17
(Patti Vaillant)
"Deliver me from mine enemies,O my God:
Defend me from them that rise up against me.
But I will sing of thy power;yes I will sing
aloud of thy mercy in the morning; for thou
hast been my defence and refuge in the day
of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength will
I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of
my mercy."
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Our Prayer
(Celine Dion/Andrea Bocelli)
I pray you'll be our eyes,
And watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know.
Let this be our prayer,
When we lose our way.
Lead us to a place,
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe.
I pray we'll find your light,
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night,
Remind us where you are..
Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above.
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love.
Let this be our prayer,
Just like every child,
Needs to find a place,
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.
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Chap Grant's Christmas Greetings
to the Canteen.
BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOURS. . .
GRANT AND PRISCILLA
CHRISTMASTIDE 2002
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The Chaplain's Corner
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J. Grant Swank, Jr.,
Pastor, New Hope Church
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AN INN FOR CHRISTMAS
"I'll bring you another blanket," I said.
"Greg, when you leave in the morning, make sure you turn out the lights."
Greg smiled, understanding that he did have a
habit of forgetting to turn out the lights in his
one-room shelter at the church.
How could parents put their child out at Christmas?
"How is it that they told you to leave?" I asked
him when he wandered into my living room that
desperately cold night.
"They said they had had it with my being a Christian."
"You can use the rest rooms -- shave, bathe. You
can use the church kitchen to make your meals.
Sometimes we'll invite you over for supper. How's
that?"
On the following Sunday I informed our
congregation of Greg's plight. After worship,
people needed no prodding to get heads and hearts
together.
"Do you have the box decorated?" someone
asked. I assured her that Marie had everything in
place.
"Good morning, Greg," I called to him as he
left his one-room abode to join the rest of us.
"Good morning, Pastor," he replied cheerily.
Greg had been invited to his parents' for Christmas
Day. He would go, he said, "to show them that I
love them in spite of what they've done to me."
Fine. Then go.
Our church fellowship meal was eaten with relish.
Such delicious tastes!
"Now?" Sally asked.
"Now," I whispered back.
The huge box was brought out into the center of
the fellowship hall.
"Greg."
It was not easy to get Greg's attention when he
was eating!
"Greg, we have something special for you today.
Here are some presents we wrapped up just for
you. May this be a blessed Christmas after all."
The young man--not all that tall--rose to extra
height with gladness as he sauntered over to the gifts.
"How can I say what's in my heart?" he asked,
hardly able to say much more.
"Greg?" I knocked on his door late Christmas night.
Loud music was blaring.
"Greg?" I knocked again.
"What are you listening to?" I asked whimsically.
Greg turned down the volume.
"I guess I was just trying to drown out something
inside with that noise," Greg said haltingly.
"That bad, was it?" I ventured.
"That bad."
"And what did your parents get you for
Christmas?" I asked.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Nothing at all?"
Greg nodded. At the other side of the room were
all the gifts given by the church folk.
"My parents are not very happy people. I feel
sorry for them. I'm beginning to understand that
they really do need a lot of help."
"Their not giving me anything was really getting to
me tonight. I turned up the radio so that I could
drown out some of the hurt inside."
"No problem, Greg."
"Yet, Pastor, through this whole mess I've realized
one precious gift that stands out more than anything
else."
"What's that?"
"It's that I do have a family. They are more than I
have ever had in my whole life. They are all those
people who come into this church. They love me."
I left him and walked back home.
"How's he doing?" my wife asked as I walked
through the door.
"Not too well. But not too badly either. I mean, I
think this is one of the most precious Christmases
Greg will ever know. For some very important reasons,
this season will no doubt stand out in his memory as
one of the most meaningful times in his life."
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Click on banner above to listen to this song.
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Our Canteen Chaplain,Grant Swank,is pastor
of the New Hope Church. He has pastored for
40+ years, ministering in Calgary, Alberta;
Indianapolis; Kansas City; Manchester CT;
Akron OH; Fishkill NY; Walpole MA and presently
in Maine.
Grant also finds ministry in writing for various
Protestant and Catholic publications, including
CHRISTIANITY TODAY, DECISION and THE PRIEST.
Presently, Grant is providing columns for
websites such as CHALCEDON, INTELLECTUAL.
CONSERVATIVE,
MENSNEWSDAILY, MICHNEWS and WOUNDEDSHEPHERDS.
He also writes a weekly column, "Lakes
Religion," for the PORTLAND PRESS HERALD
newspaper, Portland ME.
He and his wife, Priscilla, have traveled
extensively, including the Middle East, Europe
and South America. The Swanks have three adult
children: Crystal, Jay and
Heidi Jo.
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