Issue #315 – December 23, 2019

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In this Christmas season, we, the NACC Staff, extend our deep gratitude and heartfelt prayer to you, our NACC members, for continuing Jesus’ healing ministry. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

(Items marked with a * are new or updated items)

NACC

1. Executive Director’s Reflection *
2. Thank you to those who have given to 2019 Annual Member Campaign! Last chance to make a 2019 gift!*
3. In Vision: Spiritual support of pediatric staff takes many forms *
4. NACC office holiday hours *

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
2020 CONFERENCE, Monday, May 11 – Thursday, May 14 in Cleveland, Ohio!

5. Monday May 11 – Thursday, May 14, 2020, for 2020 Conference!
6. Watch in mid-January 2020 for the registration announcement! *

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

7. Registration will soon open for the 2020 NACC webinar series! *
8. Healing Tree: a request for prayers *
9. Recent job postings *

1. Executive Director’s Reflection *
I reflect on how often we give our loved ones, or the ones put in our care in ministry, an assurance that we will be with them as they face a troubling situation, a loss, a challenge, a surgery, or a long road to recovery. “I will be with you in this.” Sometimes this is all we can say as we are at a loss for words, but not at a loss of love and compassion. It’s the most important expression of love – staying with them through it all in whatever way we can.

How remarkable and astounding is it not, that “I will be with you” is almost the very expression and meaning of Emmanuel – God with us. The Hebrew name עִמָּנוּאֵל or Immanu’el, as we know, means “God is with us.” Its roots are in both עִם “with” and אֵל “’el” for “God.”

It’s hard to imagine that every time we say, “I am with you in this,” we are not only repeating the meaning of the name but embodying Emmanuel – God with us! Every time I voice my willingness to abide with, stay with another, it’s my living out “God is with us.”

How much more tangible and real today can the message of Isaiah 7:14 be? I do believe people today, just as in the days of Isaiah, need a sign. We are that sign every time we say, “I will be with you in this.”

As we enter 2020 (Wow, even writing that year is a threshold experience!), I pray our healing ministry emanates powerfully Emmanuel – God is with us – in our every “I will be with you in this.”

Blessings on your Christmas season!
Blessings on your 2020!

David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director

2. Thank you to those who have given to 2019 Annual Member Campaign! Last chance to make a 2019 gift!*
We are so deeply grateful to all of you who have helped make our 2019 Annual Member Campaign a success! As of today, our 2019 Annual Campaign total to $60,789 from 515 gifts. In 2018, our NACC Annual Campaign total was $59,877 from 493 gifts.

You can still join our NACC members in making your 2019 gift! You can make that donation online RIGHT NOW by going to the Annual Campaign webpage (www.nacc.org/donate) or just click here to donate. Please give as you can! Blessings!

3. In Vision: Spiritual support of pediatric staff takes many forms *
Chaplains’ ministry to staff can also improve the quality of staffers’ patient care. In the current issue of Vision, pediatric chaplain Jim Manzardo describes how chaplains support staff directly and indirectly.
www.nacc.org/vision/november-december-2019/spiritual-support-of-pediatric-staff-takes-many-forms

4. NACC office holiday hours *
Here are the hours for our National Offices from now through Friday, January 3rd:

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
2020 CONFERENCE, Monday, May 11 – Thursday, May 14 in Cleveland, Ohio!

5. Monday May 11 – Thursday, May 14, 2020, for 2020 Conference!
Mark your calendars for the Vision 20/20 The Future of Spiritual Care Conference in 2020! This conference will be held Monday, May 11, through Thursday, May 14, 2020, in Cleveland, Ohio. It will be preceded by pre-conference workshops (PDI). Plan to join us!

6. Watch in mid-January 2020 for the registration announcement! *
Final plans for the 2020 Conference are shaping up. Watch in mid-January for the on-line registration announcement!

CHAPLAINCY NEWS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORTS

7. Registration will soon open for the 2020 NACC webinar series! *
Registration for the 2020 NACC webinar series will open on January 1, 2020! The series comprises 11 webinars, plus free webinars on Certification with the NACC, Renewal of Certification, and Certification of Associate Chaplains with the NACC. Details of each of the webinars and information on how to register for them will be available soon – look for an e-mail in your inbox!

NOTE: All of the NACC webinars are recorded, and online access to the recordings is made available to all registrants. If you cannot participate live, you still have the opportunity to enhance your learning (and earn CEHs) by means of the recordings.

8. Healing Tree: a request for prayers *
Please let us know if you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing. We will leave the person’s name on the Healing Tree list for three months unless you ask us to remove your or the person’s name earlier. You can always request us to leave the name on longer.

We continue to pray for: Fr. Art Schute, Kathi Schaaf (Sister of Sr. Charlene Schaaf CDP who recently died and for Sr. Charlene and her family), Nolan (4-year-old grandson of member Dale Recinella), Fr. Jim Radde, SJ, Isabelita Boquiren, Susan Balling, Jim and Frances Castello.

9. Recent job postings *
The following positions have been posted recently on our Positions Available page.
For more information go to www.nacc.org/resources/positions.

DIRECTOR of SPIRITUAL CARE – Trinity Health
Livonia, MI – Trinity Health

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST
Indianapolis, IN – Franciscan Health-Indianapolis

CATHOLIC STAFF CHAPLAIN
Los Angeles, CA – UCLA Health

PART TIME CHAPLAIN POSITION
Oakland, CA – MERCY Retirement and Care Center

MISSION & SPIRITUAL CARE DIRECTOR
Brainerd, MN – Essentia Health

FULLTIME STAFF CHAPLAIN
Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Clinic Marymount Hospital

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Boston, Massachusetts – Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

FOUNDING CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATOR/FACULTY POSITION
Baton Rouge, LA – Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

STAFF CHAPLAIN
Kalamazoo and Grand Blanc, MI – Ascension