1. Let us hold fast to
the confession of
our hope without
wavering, for he
who has promised is
faithful. And let
us consider how to
provoke one another
to love and good
deeds, not neglect-
ing to meet togeth-
er, as is the habit of
some, but encourag-
ing one another,
and all the more as
you see the Day
approaching.
(Hebrews 10:23-24)
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 +
GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL
CELEBRATING 62 YEARS IN GOD’S SERVICE
toms of depression encourage them to seek help, or
better yet offer to accompany them to their doctor
so they can be evaluated. Feel free to contact me in
the case of an emergency or if you wish to talk
about a problem in confidence. I also frequently
refer members and friends to The Lutheran Coun-
seling Center and other Christian therapists. Grief,
illness, job loss, or childbirth can also cause sudden
and severe depression so if you or someone you
know has experienced sudden and traumatic
change, stay connected to them and take time to be
with them and ask them how they feel.
Here at Good Shepherd we are intentional
about spending time with each other. We gather
for worship, adult education, bible study, bereave-
ment, prayer, meditation, and lunch weekly. We
call each other when we don’t see each other and
we work together on ministry teams and through
many different outreach programs. We faithfully
seek to encourage and build up each other in faith
and hope. While church is not a cure for depres-
sion, Jesus intended it to be an environment where
loving support is abundant and where relation-
ships based on love and forgiveness flourish.
With God’s help and your renewed commit-
ment to Good Shepherd, we can continue to offer
an alternate reality to the world. This reality takes
the brokenness of creation seriously, including the
illness of depression, and offers not a cure, but
loving companionship. Together, when two or
three of us are gathered we know that our Lord is
also present. So for your own well being and for
the well being of your brother and sisters in Christ
here at Good Shepherd let us all renew our com-
mitment to this special place God has entrusted to
us for the sake of His children.
Robin Williams, beloved child of God died as a
victim of depression. While no other person was
with him, the creator of his brilliance and source of
his solace, our Lord Jesus was there to embrace him
and take him home to the truest reality, one of love
and peace.
Together with Christ,
Pastor Eric Olaf Olsen
Dear Faithful People of Good Shepherd:
When I was just eleven years old I scampered
back from The Record Baron, our neighborhood
record store, with a new treasure. No it wasn’t a
new 45, or a Blondie or Clash album, this was a com-
edy album entitled- Reality: What a Concept! by Robin
Williams. Like so many, I remember Robin’s TV
debut on Happy Days as Mork and the follow up
series Mork & Mindy, but the word in the school
lunchroom was that Robin’s album was for “adults
only.” That was the only marketing angle a record
company needed to attract a young adolescent male
audience! Leon at the Record Barron was happy to
take my well-earned paper route money, and soon I
found myself running up the attic stairs to my room.
I no sooner put the album on the hi-fi turntable that
I heard Robin’s voice say, “Do you want to hear a
New York Echo?” “Hellooooooo”…. Well, I can’t tell
you what came next, but I can say I dove across the
room to suppress the volume, causing the album to
skip like crazy and my mother yelled up the stairs
asking what in the world I was listening to!
His album was not cohesive and his thoughts
were scattered, but under his hysterical humor lay a
social commentary and a lampooning of prejudice
and privilege. Robin Williams, through humor con-
tinued to point out the fact that something wasn’t
quite right about the reality we accept to live in. I
have always agreed with him on that point. As Billy
Crystal said at the Emmy’s, “It is hard to speak of
him in the past tense, because he was so present.”
Unfortunately, no one was present with Mr. Wil-
liams when he lost his battle with severe depression
otherwise he would not have been able to end his
own life. If someone, a family member or a friend
was there, maybe reality would be different.
Robin’s tragic suicide compels me to speak a
word about depression. Depression affects about 16
million people in the U.S. according to the National
Institute of Mental Health and over 350 million peo-
ple worldwide according to the world Health Organ-
ization. There are different levels of severity of de-
pression and different treatment options which usu-
ally include the use of medication and cognitive ther-
apy. Depression can kill, destroy families and friend-
ships, and can escalate if left untreated. Social, bio-
logical, and environmental factors influence depres-
sion. My own grandfather suffered from manic de-
pression and nearly successfully ended his own life
through suicide. Only after his attempt did I under-
stand how his reclusive lifestyle intensified his ill-
ness.
If you or a loved one is exhibiting signs or symp-

2. Our Congregation Council members listed below with their Ministry Team
Liaison/Co-Chairperson assignments were installed on August 24,2014 at the 10 am
service.
, Dell-Ann Benson – Finance, Barry Broggy – Youth, Lori DeFilippis – Parish Life,
Pat Fiedler – Parish Life & Youth, Patty Larson – Social Ministry, John McGowan –
Property, Bob Rickmeyer – Stewardship & Communications/Technology, Loretta
Ruff – School Board, John Schwaninger – Property, Roy Steinhilber – Evangelism,
and Marge Wenger – Worship and Music.
Council business recently included the election of Executive Committee officers
as follows: President – Kevin Ocker, Vice – President Lori DeFilippis, Secretary –
Marge Wenger, and Treasurer- Dell-Ann Benson. As we continue to grow in numbers the work of our
Ministry Teams continues to include plans for upcoming events this fall, an updated school website, re-
pairs to the infrastructure, diverse opportunities for worship, participation in community events and out-
reach in the community at large.
Rally Day is set for Sunday September 7, 2014. Following the 10 am service we will both celebrate and
feel the loss of Vicar Nicholas Sollom’s internship with Good Shepherd. Please consider being with us as
we barbecue, give thanks, and show our appreciation for Vicar Nick’s time with all of us.
Our Harvest Festival is set for Saturday October 25th
; this very successful event requires organizing
committee. Please consider participating, if you are interested contact Roy Steinhilber.
In Christ,
Kevin Ocker
Council President
Common Table Prayer
Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest,
Let these gifts to us be blessed.
Blessed be God, who is our Bread,
May all the world be clothed and fed. Amen.

3. If you would like to submit an article for inclusion in our October 2014 Newsletter, please e-mail it to
church@ourshepherdlives.org on or before Friday, September 19, 2014. Thank you very much!
If you are reading this it is September! You
are probably seeing tons of school ads, and yel-
low school buses are starting to roll by your
house. Teenagers are struggling to get their
summer reading done; parents are anxious to
get kids back on some type of schedule; pens
and loose-leaf are flying off shelves; and teach-
ers, like I once was, are experiencing butterflies
knowing there is so much to be done to suc-
cessfully start another school year. I used to
enter September with a bit of apprehension,
realizing that instead of sand between my toes,
I would soon have chalk between my fingers.
But then I realized I have just as much fun in
the fall as I do in the summer, and the fall
brought many more things to look forward to.
One of the things I loved was seeing all my
students again and the people I worked with.
What a happy homecoming! Church life is like
that too. It will be great seeing people who
have been away for the summer and those who
have been off and on traveling. I look forward
to that! What a joyful time it will be!
One of the things I am excited about and
also face with a bit of nervousness is beginning once again our monthly Taize service. Taize is held on the
third Sunday of the month from September through May. We had one in May and over 80 people attended.
Our sanctuary is beautiful, but can you imagine how breath taking it was when lit with close to 400 can-
dles? The music was so spiritually uplifting! Lois Fassino was our cantor, Kathy Prinz our flutist, and Tere-
sa Ratkowski our pianist.
The Taize service consists of several scripture readings, silence, shorts verses of songs sung repetitively,
and prayer. It is a time of meditation and communion with God. The service is 45 minutes long, so it does
not intrude on getting ready for the workweek or school. Wine, cheese, soft drinks, and light refreshments
are served afterwards. Our next service is on September 21 at 7:00. Circle it on you calendar and consider
coming.
I have always considered September a time of new beginnings and challenges. It is certainly so in the life
of the church and there are so many things to get involved in from ministry teams (which always need new
members and their ideas), Lectio Divina Bible studies, Worship to Go, choir, ushering, Bread Ministry, baptismal
banner making (the list of opportunities goes on and on). The life on the church depends on personal in-
volvement. Consider trying something new and having even more fun than you had in the summer.
- submitted by Marge Wenger

4. You may have noticed some upcoming events and programs on our calendar, some
new, others annual, that may have piqued your curiosity and interest.
 Once again, Roy Steinhilber will be organizing the teamwork that goes into our
annual Fall Harvest Festival (on 10/25). If you wish to participate in this very
important fun- & fund-raising opportunity, please contact Roy or the church
office.
 We have been holding a monthly service of Holy Communion for the residents of
Huntington Hills. This ministry was brought to Huntington Hills last year at the
request of Ethel Batchelder and continues as part of her legacy. If you wish to join
Pastor Olsen, Teresa Ratkowski, and others on the second Sunday of each month,
please contact the church office to let us know.
Thank you for considering becoming involved in these activities that continue to vi-
talize our church family!
When Labor Day comes there are changes and decisions
to be made. For example I always experience the perennial
question whether it's still okay to wear white pants or
should they be packed away along with beach chairs and
suntan lotion. At my age you'd think I should know the an-
swer to that question. I notice some of the trees in my neigh-
borhood have started to change what they are wearing.
Maybe white pants are out!!
Changes in seasons bring other changes too. Kids are
back in school and families travel less. We notice attend-
ance at liturgy increase. One of the changes to certainly impact us this fall is the absence of Vicar Nick who
became so much a part of the rhythm and fabric of our church life in the past year.
Besides the palpable personal loss we may be feeling at Vicar Nick's leaving, many of us have expressed
concern for our pastor with regard to the ministry and work now to be shouldered more exclusively by him.
But does it have to be?
Our epistle today spoke how we as a church are one body with many members and many different gifts
and functions. Too often, however, we suffer the Moses' complex and think we're not good enough and nei-
ther is our gift. When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush and told him to go up against the Phar-
oah and free His people, Moses excuse was he didn't speak well. We often think the Biblical people God
chose were especially gifted or especially good. Yet they weren't. Jonah ran away from God's call, Peter de-
nied Jesus, Thomas doubted, King David killed one of his generals to take his wife, Jacob deceived his father
to steal his brother's birth rite. Yet God used them! It is such a freeing concept knowing God can use us
just as we are.
Vicar spoke about Worship to Go in his sermon today. It was one of the
ministries in which he was involved. Church on the Go takes a worship service
with the Eucharist to either Huntington Hills or White Oaks nursing home
once a month. We talk to the residents, sing with them, help them find the
hymns we're singing, take part in liturgy by reading a Bible passage, or dis-
tributing communion. No special gift is needed for this ministry other than
the gift of being present. We share smiles; we share touch; we share the peace of God; we share Jesus' love.
In doing this we are bringing the Light to others.
We used to sing, "This Little Gospel Light" when we were kids and sang "put it under a bushel, NO". I don't
think any of us would intentionally put our light under a bushel, but maybe we forget how powerful the
smallest light can be. Open a door between two rooms, one light, the other dark, and you'll notice the light
always goes into the dark, not the other way around. Light always overcome darkness.
The Ice Bucket Challenge is very popular right now. As we head into fall and the challenges it brings
including decreasing daylight, perhaps we might consider the Be a Light Challenge. All it involves is sharing
your gift, sharing your light in one of our ministries. There's an empty spot, waiting for you.
- Submitted by Marge Wenger
Raise your reading score
and comprehension lev-
el. It will help with all
subjects in or out of
school. If you are a low-
level reader, I can help
you. I have sixteen years’
experience tutoring pre-K to adult, one-on-
one in your home or mine. I use the Orton
Gillingham//Wilson method, a multi-
sensory approach to phonics. I charge on a
sliding scale basis. Call Ms. Helen @ (516)
557-2467.

5. Many thanks to all who joined
with us this summer and
shared a dish or two, caught a
fish or two, made a memory or
two, helped support each oth-
er, Genevieve’s Helping Hands,
and/or our “Heal the Pane” cam-
paign. We had a great time in
splendid weather enjoying each
other’s company and lots of
music. We will long remember
and appreciate the clams and
cocktail sauce that Ole Olsen
brought to our concerts. And
we also thank our grill masters
Roy & Deb Steinhilber and
Lori & Eric Tollefsen who also
made sure we were pleasantly
satiated before each show. Our
monthly blues concerts with
Karlus Trapp & Danny Keane
and Riptide helped us to raise
raised over $1,900 for our
school’s windows, and we
thank YOU again for your sup-
port!
Vicar Nick went fishing for the first time!
Some terrific chefs are in our congregation!
POB JFK HS Music Director Adam Paltrowitz brought his choir back for their annual concert in
our church. Led by guest conductor Ron Meixsell the kids sounded amazing. We were also
introduced to our Middle Schools’ new music teacher, Robert Lombardo, who, along with Can-
tor Caryn, accompanied on piano. This event yielded $235 in free-will donations toward our
school windows.
Hundreds of Genevieve’s friends enjoyed a great meal, listened
to inspiring music, and remembered Genevieve and the charity
in her name, raising enough money for at least two grants! .

6. On Thursday, September 11, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. we will commemorate the 13th
anniversary of this solemn day in our nation’s history with a prayer service for
peace and remembrance...Please plan to attend this very special service.

7. DATE SERVICE
ASSISTING
MINISTERS
LECTOR FLOWER CARE GUEST USHERS
September 7
Thirteenth Sunday
of Pentecost
10:150 a.m.
Judy Hinsch
Lori Mason
John Hinsch Anne Rickmeyer
Cathy Aldrich
Eleanor Bierlmaier-Dugan
Karen Faucera
Cathy Vollono
September 14
Fourteenth Sunday
of Pentecost
10:15 a.m.
John Schwaninger
Marge Wenger
Richard Benson Anne Rickmeyer
Rich & Ellen Benson
George & Inara Hirn
September 21
Seventeenth Sunday
of Pentecost
10:15 a.m.
Terry Miccio
Christin Walsh
Paul Hinsch Kitty Hall
The Tollefsen Family
Lori, Eric, Alyssa & Nicole
September 28
Eighteenth Sunday
of Pentecost
10:15 a.m.
Kathy Ocker
Bonnie McGowan
George Milhim Kitty Hall
The Uzzo Family
Andrea, Eric,
Jonathan & Christina
As we prepare to place our order for personalized offering envelopes for 2015, please consider electronic
giving. Electronic Giving is a quick and convenient way to make your regular offerings without having to
write a check or even having to leave your house!
WHAT IS ELECTRONIC GIVING?
 With your authorization, an amount determined by you is withdrawn from your checking account,
on a date which you select and "given" directly to the church bank account.
 You determine the frequency and may start it at any time.
 No more weekly checks or envelopes to deal with
 And if you miss church service, your offering will still be made!
This benefits both you and Good Shepherd and is so easy to get started!
If you are interested, please complete the Electronic Giving Authorization form on the next page and submit it
to Maureen in the church office. Forms are also available in the narthex. You may begin electronic giving at
any time.
If you would like to discontinue receiving personalized offering envelopes, please contact Maureen in the
church office by September 30. Thank you.
If you have any questions or concerns about electronic giving, please contact Dell-Ann Benson.
September Altar Care: Janet Cox

9. Michael Alexander—9/23
Stephen Betz—9/19
Kristin Cacchioli - I9/30
Izabella Canino—9/12
Richard Collins - 9/4
David Cronin—9/19
Juliette DiMartini—9/20
Michael Dumont—9/1
Naomi Hulver—9/16
Aidan Kwarta—9/23
Keith Mason—9/21
Gillian McGowan - 9/10
Kristen Mezick—9/22
Michael Milhim—9/17
Isabelle Moran - 9/20
Lisa Olsen—9/22
Morgan Passolo—9/25
Kyle Pawlenko - 9/12
Robby Pietrofere—9/28
Deven Rausch—9/13
Matthew Salerno - 9/6
JoAnn Schulz-Dellacona—9/8
Katie Sonnenberg - 9/16
Matthew Stoddart—9/5
Madison Tare—9/16
Adriana Vollono - 9/5
Bethany Wilinsky—9/28
Denise & Stanley Bartkow
47 years on 9/2
Maryellen & Richard Collins
28 years on 9/6
Maureen & Sean Cooke
27 years on 9/11
Susan & Ryan DeVerna
8 years on 9/17
Joanne & Andrew Krisztin
44 years on 9/20
Pastor Eric & Lisa Olsen
19 years on 9/22
Helen & Robert LaBarbera
1 year on 9/22
Faith Donitz
9/14

10. DATE TOPIC/THEME HOST CHURCH PASTOR/LEADER GATHER MAGAZINE ISSUE
9/26/14 We Are Called Christ Lutheran, Wantagh Pastor Martin Nale October 2014; Session 2
10/31/14 Transformation Takes Time
St. David’s Lutheran
Massapequa Park
Pastor David Meyer November 2014; Session 3
12/5/14 Faith in the Family Our Redeemer, Seaford Pastor Ronald Klose December 2014; Session 4
1/30/15 Repent and Forgive Faith Lutheran, Syosset Pastor Martin Nale Jan/February 2015; Session 5
2/27/15 Making Conversion Lastion
Grace Lutheran Church
North Bellmore Pastor James Krauser Jan/February 2015; Session 6
3/27/15 Suffering and Endurance St. Stephen’s, Hicksville TBD March 2015; Session 7
4/24/15 Inspired by the Risen Lord St. John’s Lutheran, Bellmore Pastor Laurie Cline April 2015; Session 8
5/29/15
The Church Transforming & Re-
forming
Good Shepherd, Plainview Pastor Eric Olsen May 2015; Session 9
All youth, youth advisors, chaperones and their families are invited to
attend our annual trip to Great Adventure on Saturday, October 4,
2014 sponsored by the LYO of Metro NY Synod. The park is open
from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Come and enjoy your favorite rides and
shows. The theme for the entire park is decorated for Halloween.
We will meet for lunch from 2:00 - 3:00pm at the Catering Picnic
Grove. The LYO Board will greet everyone and lead us in a table
grace before lunch. Your choice of hamburgers and hotdogs with
fixings, salad, pasta with marinara sauce, nacho’s and cheese, soda, and cookies is
provided. Please stay for a brief worship experience following lunch.
Please send your check for $49 per person, payable to Good Shepherd, by Rally
Day, September 7th
S A T U R D A Y, O C T O B E R 4 , 2 0 1 4
Fright Fest
At Great Adventure

11. F O R T H O S E I N N E E D
O F H E A L I N G
Maureen Kelly Araujo, Alex & Derek Bartkow, Maya Berger (Vicar Nick’s friend), Eleanor Bierlmaier Dugan, John
Binsfeld (Benner family friend), Edwina Bishop, Troy Braaten, John & Eddie Brusdeliens (J. Hinsch family friend), Jacie
Capuano (Beatrice Haas’s friend), Brad Carbone & family (R. Benson family friend), Lynne Carlson (Irma’s daughter-in-
law), Carol Cassis (Elaine Cassimatis’ mother), Ava Cataldo (GSL student), Colleen & her baby (McGowan family
friend), Rita Cooper (Ruth Strakele’s friend), Gisela Conforti, Dorothy Cronin, Claudia DeMauro, Kristin DeMayo
(McGowan family friend), Ryan DeVerna, Denise (Lisa Olsen’s coworker), Susan
Dowd (Maisch family friend), Brooke Ducey, Sally Ducey, Anna Duda (Denise
Bartkow’s mother), baby Scarlett Duffy (Hickey/McGowan family friend), Becky
Ernst (Paul Wenger’s cousin), Mary Faccio (Helmers family friend), Ryan Faret
& family, Jim Fassino, Pat Froehlich (Peggy Lang’s friend), Mary Gessing
(Vincent Cronin’s cousin), Bob Giddings (Vorstadt family friend), Lilah & Jim
Gillett (Kathy Prinz’s friends), Eileen Greenfieldt (Griffin family friend), Tom
Gucciardo (Olsen family friend), Liz Haley, Hedy (GLS Teacher Barbara Valen-
za’s mother), Diane Helmers, Reverend Donald Hoger (Eleanor Ulich’s friend),
Barbara Horak (Maisch family friend); Renee Iannone (Irma Carlson’s niece),
Alexis Jacobsen (GSL teacher LeeAnn’s daughter), Anna Jerome, Robert Kamps
(Lee family friend), Michele Kies, Chris Kim (Hu Jin’s friend), Lois Lengenfelder,
Christian Lakis, Kenneth Lane, Martha Langhahr, Claire Larrie (Mary Wiegert’s
sister), Officer Steven Loftin, Angel Lorch, Kim Maca (Kathy Prinz’s friend), Dottie Melillo (Kathy Prinz’s friend),
Claire Mehrhoff (Alice Vorstadt’s friend), William Mitze, Fran Mouton (Alice Vorstadt’s friend), Henry Nacewicz,
Linda O’Brien (McGowan family friend), Rose Oliver (Ellen Benson’s friend), Don O’Neil (Olsen family friend), Meghan
Ortega (Lisa Olsen’s niece), Nick Portugal (Liam Broggy’s friend), Kathy Prinz, Dr. Mark Prowatzke (Danny Wenger’s
father in law), Cathy Rees (Alice Vorstadt’s friend), Nicole Richards (Karen Faucera’s friend), Justin Rogers (Karin
Kienle’s nephew), Glenn Schabel, Adam Sink (Judy Hinsch’s nephew), Ian Spadaro, Don Stevens (Patty Larson’s
friend), Nancy Stingelin, Ruth Strakele, Russell Striffler (Maisch family friend), Joyce Tare, Nicholas Taylor (Joyce
Schwaninger Taylor’s relative), Susan Tonnesson (Terry Miccio’s friend), Shannon Udell (Miccio family friend), Madi-
son Von Bargen (Ruff’ family friend), Jeff Zenko (Karen Faucera’s friend), and Brother George Zenle (Wenger family
friend).
F O R T H O S E S E R V I N G
I N T H E M I L I T A R Y
Roger Griffith & Nick Sollom
F O R T H O S E P R E P A R I N G
F O R O R D A I N E D M I N I S T R Y
Keith & Kyle Calderone (Army), Specialist Sean Hassett (Lori Mason’s cousin), Master
Sgt. John Headle, CPT. Paul Rickmeyer, Captain Robert Saueracker, LTC. Phillip Sounia,
USMC, Corporal Nicholas Ventrelli-O’Connell (Patty Larson’s family friend).
F O R T H O S E
W H O A R E G R I E V I N G
Joanne Schulz-Dellacona & the family of Rich-
ard Dellacona, grieving the second anniversary
of his passing; The family & friends of baby Ol-
ive; Lois Kazarian and the family & friends of
her friend, Jean Dolce.

12. Blessing of the Animals
Saturday, October 4, 2014 @ 10:00 a.m.
The Blessing of the Animals is an out-
door worship service held in many Chris-
tian congregations on October 4th
in recog-
nition of the Feast Day of St. Francis of As-
sisi. The service recognizes the ideals of St.
Francis, one of the most loved Christian
saints.
Good Shepherd invites all people who
love animals, along with all pets and their
human friends, to this service, which focus-
es on God’s gifts of animals, the natural
world, and our responsibilities as stewards
of God’s creation.
If you are interested in attending the
service, you need only arrive at Good Shep-
herd with your pet, on a leash if appropri-
ate. All pets are welcome, but also consider
the wisdom of bringing aggressive animals. Large animals are also wel-
come, but must be led (for example, horses must not be ridden). Or, you
may bring a photograph of your animal.
We will meet on the grassy area surrounding the church building at
10:00 a.m..
Invite your friends and neighbors. This is a fun worship experience
for young and old.

13. HuntingtonHills’WorshiptoGois
nowonthesecondSundayofthe
month.
CominginOctober—Amonthly
Thursdayprayergroupfollowedby
TheShepherd’sTableatShepherd
Hill.

15. UPDATE FOR SEPTEMBER 2014
WITH COUNSELING SITES LOCATED IN:
NASSAU SUFFOLK MANHATTAN QUEENS WESTCHESTER
Prepared especially for LCC Association Congregations & Schools
The Military Connection*
By: The Rev. Anthony Stephens, Ph.D., J.D., LMHC
My deployment to Afghanistan with the
New York Army National Guard as a chaplain
last year was both a peak experience and an
unsettling one. After 9/11, LCC counselors
gained particular expertise in working with
victims of trauma. I continue, like my col-
leagues, to feel very comfortable helping our
clients work through trauma. This does not
mean that experiences of trauma are not fre-
quently bad and sad – but we have proficiency
at “keeping our heads while all around are los-
ing theirs”, to quote Rudyard Kipling. My ser-
vice with LCC has thus prepared me well for
the mental health work of a chaplain. Howev-
er, I had experiences that I had not had out-
side of deployment.
As a chaplain I expected that during my
deployment I would see death and horrific in-
jury. I also expected that I would see spectac-
ular and graphic decompensation – what was
called in World War I and World War II “shell
shock.” When I signed up I expected to be on
the beaches administering last rites while tak-
ing direct fire, just as members of the Chap-
lain Corps had done during the D-Day land-
ings. This expectation was heightened when I
lent a stole to a fellow National Guard chaplain
prior to a ceremony because he had forgotten
that his had been covered in blood and was no
longer serviceable. As it happened my person-
al experiences were much tamer than I antici-
pated. I never took direct fire. I was never an-
ywhere near an IED.
Although my experience of the Veterans
Administration (VA) has been wholly positive,
many others have not had the same experi-
ence. Further, the VA is now deeply mired by
accusations of abandonment and neglect.
Many vets, I fear, will have nothing to do with
the VA, or anything that sounds remotely gov-
ernmental – even though the price is right.
Where can they go? What about non-vet mili-
tary? There is an epidemic of suicide in the Ar-
my. More soldiers are dying to suicide than
direct fire. As a new chaplain to a battalion
recently returned from Iraq, while the combat
veterans might have had issues, the active
suicidality was most conspicuous in those who
had not deployed. Absent deployment, for
many there are no VA benefits.
For non-deployed service members there
are numerous stressors, such as tighter budg-
ets, smaller work force assets, more arcane
and prolix metrics, plus families who are less
ready to move at the whim of the military,
and who may see a lot less value in their sig-
nificant other’s military career. For families
who may not want or trust military or govern-
mental assets to deal with the adjustments
necessary to being a military family, LCC can
provide top flight care, with considerable flex-
ibility and strict confidentiality. It’s worth a
call.
Nothing in the foregoing should be
deemed to construe anything but respect for
the service members of the Armed Forces,
and their families, whether combat veterans
or otherwise. It is my privilege and honor to
serve as a reservist military chaplain. Our re-
mit is to nurture the living, care for the
wounded and to honor the dead. In the same
way, since 2000, I have been privileged to
serve as a staff psychotherapist with the Lu-
theran Counseling Center. I feel very comfort-
able that LCC is equally committed to a mis-
sion of nurturing the living and caring for the
wounded, particularly those who grieve.
*The comments above are those of the author and do
not undertake to represent the position of the United
States Army or government of the United States. Pastor
Stephens provides pastoral counseling for adults, cou-
ples and teens at LCC’s Paul Qualben site located in Bay
Ridge, Brooklyn. Contact Lutheran Counseling Cen-
ter at 1-800-317-1173 or 516-741-0994 or e-mail
us at Center@lccny.org for more information or to
set an appointment.