Next EVF meeting - the power of prayer over PTSD

I welcome all veterans and families and friends of veterans to the next EVF meeting, which will include a discussion about the role of prayer in dealing with PTSD and the scars of battle. I'll kick off the discussion with a few comments on Christian spiritual practices like the Jesus Prayer, Benedictine spirituality, acts of service towards others and the eucharist and then turn the floor over for questions/comments or anyone offering spiritual practices from a variety of spiritual/religious traditions.

This is an open ended conversation, not a lecture, so please be prepared to share with us your insights on this important topic.

When: Wednesday, October 6, 6pm - 8:30pm
Where: Church of the Ascension, 1133 N. LaSalle Blvd. Chicago, IL
What: Evening Prayer at 6pm. Low Mass at 6:20pm. Fellowship and discussion at 7pm.

Hope to see you there, and please tell your friends,

Jim

First meeting recap

The first meeting of the 2010-2011 season took place at Church of the Ascension yesterday. It was attended by Father Rod Reinhart of St. Joseph,St. Aidan's/ Blue Island and St. Clements/Harvey, Mother Marion Phipps of St. Hugh of Lincoln/Elgin, Tim Obrien of St. Luke's/Evanston and myself. We began the evening with the service of Evening Prayer followed by a Low Mass. We then moved next door to Wheeler Hall for pizza, chips, cake and wine over conversation about how the upcoming year will look.

The topic for our next monthly meeting will be how establishing a regular prayer life based on the Christian tradition can be a great supplement to psychological/medical treatment for veterans suffering PTSD and other ailments. The date for that meeting will be October 6 back at Church of the Ascension. Hope to see many of you there.

Before that happens, Tim and I agreed to go out to St. Hugh in Elgin on September 22 and take part in the Eucharist for Veterans there and have a talk on Ed Tick's War and the Soul afterwards. The event begins at 7pm at 36W957 Highland Ave. in Elgin. Hope to see you there as well.

First meeting of the year!

Tonight will be the first Episcopal Veterans Fellowship meeting of the 2010-2011 year.
When: 6pm - 8:30pm
What: Evening Prayer, Low Mass and a potluck meal
Where: Church of the Ascension, 1133 N. LaSalle Blvd. Chicago, IL

This meeting kicks off the third season of EVF, which looks to build on the previous two. We ended last year with a topical meeting based on a book discussion of Edward Tick's War and the Soul. We will continue the topical series for our monthly meetings (first Wednesday's of the month) after tonight's kickoff meeting, which will be a potluck meal with discussion about upcoming events.

We plan to discuss the following topics at upcoming monthly meetings:

• how to maintain a regular prayer life based in the Christian tradition (focusing specifically on Eastern Orthodox, Benedictine and Anglican traditions) and how such a routine can bring a sense of stability and peace to veterans and their families.
• how to set up veteran prayer services and eucharists in your church and home.
• Bible study for veterans, focusing specifically on the Psalms.
• how to meet the physical needs of veterans through setting up christmas gift drives, food pantries, job referrals, etc. for veterans. 
• a support meeting where military families can talk about their concerns and struggles while their loved ones are away or come home completely changed by their experiences of war. 
• How to navigate the VA system (both health and educational benefits).
• Warrior Writers Workshop for veterans.
• A reprise of Edward Tick's War and the Soul
• Possibly discuss mythologist Joseph Campbell's Hero With a Thousand Faces, a book which discusses the archetypal hero with an emphasis on the hero-warrior tradition.
• How to be a peer support specialist for veterans.

We will discuss other potential topics and come up with a master schedule for the year of monthly meetings.

We will also briefly discuss upcoming events (Veterans Day Eucharist, Diocesan Convention, EVF Seminar at Grace, Oak Park and the Christmas Gift Drive), potential upcoming events (Prayer Dinner for Military families) and how to improve this blog and create a Website for EVF.

Hope to see you there!