What do YOU look for in a garrison chapel community?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:38:48 -0400

If you or your family is religious, what sort of things are looking for in a garrison chapel service or congregation? What is it that meets your needs and keeps you going back?

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 24 at 2015 3:51 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 15:51:33 -0400

More than anything, I want to feel welcome. To me, that usually means going to a smaller church (i.e., one with a smaller congregation). Big churches/congregations tend, in my experience, to be less welcoming.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 6:57 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 18:57:49 -0400

A place to gather with fellow Pagans and celebrate holy days and other special times without interference from people who don't believe we should be afforded that right.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Apr 24 at 2015 7:28 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 19:28:21 -0400

CH (MAJ) William Beaver, to be completely honest, I avoid the base chapel like the plague.

Response by SGT S Sharpless made Apr 24 at 2015 8:50 PM

SGT S Sharpless — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 20:50:14 -0400

If they have the type of church service that I like to attend but chances are they don't so I seek churches outside of post.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2015 5:26 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 May 2015 17:26:55 -0400

CH (MAJ) William Beaver. I look for resident open minded wise old conservative rabbi. Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made May 6 at 2015 1:00 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Wed, 06 May 2015 13:00:25 -0400

CH (MAJ) William Beaver the problem with many post Chapels is their need to try to be non-denominational. I understand that need at sea or forward deployed, but at home I have worshiped with people who believe as I do in my own church.

Yes, I have attended services at the Base Chapel. There are times and reasons I have felt the need to be with fellow Sailors to worship. Sometimes it is the Pastor, sometimes it is the occasion, sometimes it is just a feeling of camaraderie or need for the same.

As a child i was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church. There are very few Eastern Orthodox Chaplains in the Navy but when I ran into them, I made a special effort to attend services in their Chapels. In boot camp that meant a trip to the main base in Great Lakes, that itself meant three hours off from boot camp. Three hours out of RTC, heaven itself. After services, fresh pastry and coffee, better than breakfast in the galley. After Boot Camp I attended services here for an additional year while in school, services in English and made many friends.

That is the main thing that Post Chapels can provide, friends. Service members of all pay grades learning about each other and becoming friends outside of their duty days. Yes the Chapels can provide other services too, but community is the main thing, especially for single members.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 6 at 2015 1:43 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 06 May 2015 13:43:29 -0400

Healing when one is broken. Help identifying the pertinent cross section of recourses when the seas are stormy. A constant in a sea of variables, and give me an azimuth.