Seamen’s Church Institute River Chaplains’ Blog

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Verse of the Day

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17, ESV)

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MINISTRY ON THE RIVER - 800-708-1998

Ann Mills
Commissioned Lay Pastor
111 Kentucky Ave
Paducah, KY 42003
270-575-1005

Pamela Stephens
Endorsed Lay Chaplain
9650 High Level Rd
Houston, TX 77029
713-674-1236

The Rev Jim Wilkinson
Chaplain
425 S Second St, Ste 310
Louisville, KY 40202
502-562-0085

MOR Volunteers

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Towboaters

A Time to Laugh

"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven." – Ecclesiastes 3:1

Often chaplains find that they’re called upon to serve when something difficult has happened in another’s life: a loved one has been lost, someone has had a difficult diagnosis from their family doctor.  But in between the hard times are a lot of good times.  I had a chance to share one of those good times with a crew in Channelview, Texas recently.  The captain had a rubber chicken sitting on the window sill in the pilothouse, and I commented on it.  It turns out it is a great stress reliever to grab the chicken by its long rubber neck and shake the daylights out of it! 

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I liked the chicken so much, the captain gave me an extra chicken he had in his room.  I was delighted!  (I’ve always wanted a rubber chicken!)  I spent some more time talking with him and the rest of the crew in the galley, and we had a great time talking and laughing and having fellowship together.

Ministry on the River chaplains are always here for you to talk with at any time.  We wecome your calls, and your families’ calls, whenever you need us for great or small crises.  And the rubber chicken, now residing in my office space, is a tangible sign for me that we are also here to share your joys and your laughter.  I look forward to seeing more of you out in the intracoastal gulf waterway, and welcome the chance to share a smile and a laugh, as well as to talk about more serious topics with you.  May God bless you and give you much time to laugh.

- Chaplain Pam

Posted: June 19th, 2008 under Pam's Posts, Towboaters.
Comments: none

Roads and Rivers

Last week, the waters in the channel near Houston were covering over low roads, like this one where DeZavalla Road normally passes over a channel inlet.  Here, the waters from the inlet were covering the road, so that I couldn’t see how deep it was. 

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On this day, I turned around and took an alternate route.  The next day, the road was visible under the water, so my little car and I waded through. 

Mariners are used to navigating the waters every day, so this little bit of water probably doesn’t look like much to you.  It gives me an appreciation for what you do, working long hours and long days, in wind and rain and sometimes snow and ice.  You know that sometimes, just as I had to turn my car around and take another route that day to get to my destination, often you will wait and watch for the weather and conditions to get better before you can continue on.

 
God guides us on our journeys through this life.  When conditions are not right for us to move forward, sometimes we need to stay where we are for a little while.  As we look at the flooded road blocking our way, we can’t tell how deep the water is.  We can risk it and cross over, or we can go around it and try another way.  I don’t think that God expects us to always fight our way through dangerous or difficult situations, but that sometimes God expects us to stop and look, assess the situation, and sit with it if needed. Then, when the way has been cleared for us, we’ll know it’s time to move ahead.
 
- Chaplain Pam
 

Posted: June 13th, 2008 under Pam's Posts, Towboaters.
Comments: none

Friday afternoon on the Ohio

Today around 250 folks from the industry gathered at Schultz Park on the river here in Paducah. It was the 2nd annual River sweep. We ate lunch (thanks, Marquette!), got our marching orders from Chad Pergracke of Living Lands and Waters, and then got in boats…mostly those of commercial fishermen who donated their time and boats to the effforts…and took off. "Safety first" was the message. "Be careful getting on; be careful getting off. Watch out for heatstrokes. Keep all your limbs in the boat. Use sunscreen. Stay hydrated." Common sense stuff, but you never know.

The group I was in found lots of interesting stuff…tires, a 19" tv, Santa Claus (you read that right), a basketball, a jillion snuff cans, bleach bottles, pop bottles, bottle bottles, rope, crates, stuff, stuff, and more stuff. I’m hot , gritty, nasty and ready for a shower.

And I’m grateful to be a part of and industry that cares.

Thanks be to God.

 Ann

Posted: June 12th, 2008 under Towboaters.
Comments: none

Lunch with the crew

I had lunch with the Association of Retired Marine Personnel today. It was their annual barbecue get together. What a feed! BBQ pork, ham, ribs, chicken plus all the traditional stuff…baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw and DESSERT. Lots and lots of dessert!

Better than  the food was the company. It was great to see old friends,  make new ones and listen to the tales being told. The friendships run as deep and long as the river.

Thanks be to God.

Ann

Posted: May 29th, 2008 under Towboaters.
Comments: none

Christening of Corps of Engineers M/V Gordon M. Stevens

On a bright Friday morning, 23 May, the newest vessel of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, the M/V Gordon M. Stevens was christened at the Paducah, KY, Riverfront.  I gave the Invocation and the Blessing of the Boat and presented the Bible.

Presentation of th Bible:  Captain, I present this Bible to the M/V Gordon M. Stevens, that the Word of God may ever be with those who crew this vessel.  As this Good Book begins with the words, “In the beginning God,” and ends with the word “Amen” (So be it!), may that same God who created all things and called all that he had made good, watch over you from this day of your vessel’s launching until your journey’s end.

Chaplain Jim Wilkinson+

Posted: May 28th, 2008 under Churches and Groups, Jim's Posts, Towboaters.
Comments: none

National Maritime Ceremony in Louisville

On the evening of Monday, 19 May, I said the Invocation and did the Blessing of the Wreath at National Maritime ceremonies aboard the M/V C. Q. Princess, at ceremonies hosted by the Port of Louisville Propeller Club.

Blessing of the Wreath:  We bow in reverence to honor the memory of all mariners who have passed from this life this past year.  Bless, O Lord, this wreath as we now cast it upon the water.   May it be a sign of our continuous and abiding trust in you, as all our cares we cast on you.  Now in a moment of silence, from the depths of our hearts, we honor the memory of our departed.  Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them.

Chaplain Jim Wilkinson+

Posted: May 28th, 2008 under Churches and Groups, Jim's Posts, Towboaters.
Comments: none

Many Blessings!

Boat blessing April 17, 2008Recently I’ve had a chance to do something new in my river ministry: to bless boats, the way we sometimes have our houses blessed.  The boat blessing is not the same as a christening.  It’s fairly informal.  Prayers are said for the living and working quarters of the boat; a Scripture passage is read; and a candle is lighted and passed around the circle of crewmembers and others present, giving everyone the chance for silent or verbal personal prayers for the crew and boat.

The reasons for each of these boat blessings have been varied, but the aim is the same: to acknowledge God’s presence and unfailing love in our lives, wherever we live and work.  If a boat has not had a chance to be christened, due to the incredibly busy work schedule for towboats, a blessing is a way to provide the same kind of spiritual care for a boat that a christening provides, in a less formal setting.

– Chaplain Pam

Posted: May 22nd, 2008 under Pam's Posts, Towboaters.
Comments: none

On the waterfront

It doesn’t look dangerous…

 

 

 

 

Last night a 14 year old kid drowned at the Riverfront here in Paducah. He was just playing in the water with friends when the current caught him. It was that quick.  The river’s like that.

And so we offer prayers for all who are on the water. 

Posted: May 21st, 2008 under Start, Towboaters.
Comments: none

Welcome!

Welcome to the Chaplains’ Blog for Ministry on the River (MOR) of Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI).  

Posted: April 9th, 2008 under Start, Towboaters.
Comments: none

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