Dear Legionnaires, Auxiliary Members, SAL, and Riders,
Thank you to everyone who listened as I introduced a new idea at our recent General Membership Meeting. While it’s tough to read the overall crowd, the feedback was positive.
As your Post 44 Chaplain, I’d like to invite you to our first Faith, Service & Fellowship discussion on Tuesday, October 20.
Many of us who served in the military remember the important role chaplains played in our lives. They were there when we needed someone to talk to, someone to pray with, or simply someone who would listen. That support was available around the clock.
But what happens after we leave the military? We don’t stop being veterans when our service ends. Life continues to bring challenges… loss, family issues, difficult transitions, loneliness, questions about purpose, and times when we simply need someone to talk to.
That’s what I’d like to explore through this series.
What is Faith, Service & Fellowship?
This will not be a sermon and or traditional Bible study. It will be a small-group conversation about Christianity, faith, service, and the veteran experience. I’ll bring a topic, some Scripture, and a few questions to get us started, but the real value will come from the experiences, perspectives, and stories we share with one another.
This will be the first part of a four-part series.
Session One … October 20
Why Does the Legion Have a Chaplain?
We’ll explore the role of the military chaplain, what spiritual support can mean to veterans, and what role a Legion Chaplain can play in supporting our Post 44 family today.
Session Two (~2 months later) … Faith Under Pressure
How do we find strength when life becomes difficult? We’ll discuss challenges veterans and families face, including loss, major life transitions, loneliness, and difficult circumstances.
Session Three (~4 months later) … Faith in Action
What does it mean to put our faith and values into action? We’ll look at service, compassion, helping others, and how we can better support veterans and families within our community.
Session Four (~6 months later) … Purpose, Legacy & Our Next Chapter
How do we find meaning and purpose after military service? We’ll discuss mentoring, relationships, service to others, and the legacy we want to leave behind.
Our Bigger Goal… While each session will stand on its own, there is a larger purpose behind this series.
I’d like to help build a stronger network of support within the Post 44 family.
We have a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge, compassion, and life experience among our Legionnaires, Auxiliary, SAL, and Riders. My hope is that we can become better connected and better equipped to recognize when a fellow member may be facing a challenge… and know how we can respond.
Sometimes the response may simply be a phone call, a visit, a prayer, or a listening ear.
Other times, someone may need help connecting with the VA, a community organization, financial or housing assistance, counseling, or another professional resource.
The goal isn’t for Post 44 members to become counselors or social workers. The goal is to make sure that no member must face a difficult situation alone and that we know where to turn when someone needs help.
Ultimately, I’d like our Post to develop a culture where we look out for one another, notice when someone may be struggling, reach out, and connect them with the right support.
First Session
Date: Tuesday, October 27
Time: 1800 Hours
Location: American Legion Post 44
Topic: Why Does the Legion Have a Chaplain?
Legionnaires, Auxiliary, Sons & Daughters, and Riders are all welcome.
You don’t have to be a theologian. You don’t have to know the Bible. And you certainly don’t have to have all the answers.
Just come ready for an open, respectful, and meaningful conversation. I hope you’ll join me as we begin what I hope will become an important new part of our Post 44 fellowship.
For God and Country,
Chaplain Post 44,
Chaplain Thomas Smith
Email: tpsmith0155@gmail.com