Category: Chaplain

Posts most often created by the Chaplain

From the Deacon’s Bench

By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

  Matthew 5:13-16

Here it is, another month. What happened to the month of January? Here we are in the second month, looking at a lot of snow and very cold weather, wondering if spring is ever going to get here. Well, take heart, my fellow brothers and sisters, it will come.

While we are waiting for the warmer weather to come, let’s work on letting our light shine on others. By that I mean during the cold weather, many people (especially the elderly) are spending more time indoors trying to keep warm.

Those of us who can and are able to get out should spread our “light” to those who need help. By calling our friends and neighbors to see if they are doing fine or if they need rides to the store or the doctor. They might just need to talk.

Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

Benediction: “Gracious Father, help us to be better people. Teach us to learn how to help those who are sad and mourning. Amen.”

Thought for the month:

“May good luck be your friend in whatever you do, and may trouble be always a stranger to you.”

While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.

From the Deacon’s Bench

By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

  Matthew 5:4

Happy New Year to one and all! I hope you had a very nice and rewarding Christmas season. Please remember that the season just doesn’t end on the sixth of January.

The Lord God did not want us to just worship Jesus’ birth; He wanted us to carry the feeling of love into the world every day. He wanted us to help the downtrodden. By helping those who are mourning, you will be helping yourselves.

Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.”

Benediction: “Gracious Father, help us to be better people. Teach us to learn how to help those who are sad and mourning. Amen.”

Thought for the month:

“May good luck be your friend in whatever you do, and may trouble be always a stranger to you.”

While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.

From the Deacon’s Bench – Friends!

By Clay Collins, Guest Columnist
207 837-0564

“And He saith unto them, ‘Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?’ Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” .   

  Matthew 9:26

Friends! Have you ever taken the time to determine just who your friends really are? Who are your rainy-day friends? Who are your casual friends? Who are your good friends? The ones who are there for you when you need them?

These are just a few questions to help you put your friends into the right perspective. Not all friends are alike! There are friends from work or school who are more casual acquaintances than friends. There are those friends who would drop everything and come running (literally) if you should need help of any kind. Then there are those friends who will stick by you when all of the other friends have long gone.

We must cherish all of our friends, as they each have a purpose in our lives. God would not have given us the friends that we have if there were not a purpose to it. It has been said that friends are like a fine wine; both add comfort to a significant situation. For if it weren’t for good friends, how would we be able to cope with our day-to-day lives?

Friends are a gift from God that we cannot overlook. I am thankful every day for all of my dear friends, for without them, I could not appreciate the true gifts from God. Thank you one and all for being my very dear friends.

Until the next time, remember, “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch”.

Benediction: Our Father, thank you for our friends for without them, life would not be worth living. Help us to realize that our friends are really a true and loving gift from You. We give our thanks in Thy holy name. Amen. 

Thought for the month:

“Life has many gifts – take time to unwrap them all!”

While Chaplain Christine is burdened with technology challenges, she has invited Past MSG Chaplain Clay to share some spiritual thoughts with our Grange Flock.

Veterans at State Session

submitted by Terry LaCombe Stevens

Veterans attending the 151st Maine State Grange Session were honored by Chaplain Christine Hebert and gathered for a photo.

Chaplain’s View – June 2025

Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277

My Journey

I beg assistance, God of my journey,

To accept that all of life is only a loan to me.

To believe beyond this moment.

To accept your courage when mine might fail.

To hold all of life in open hands.

To treasure all as gifts and blessings.

To look at the painful part of my life and to grow through it.

To allow love to embrace me on days that might feel empty and lonely

To receive the truth of Your presence.

Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.

God doesn’t leave you. You leave Him.

Chaplain’s View – April 2025

Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277

In Everything We Do…

“In him we live and move and have our being…For we too are his offsprings”

Acts 17:28

We thank you, Lord, who gave us sight and sense to

smell the flowers,
hear the wind,
feel the waters in our hands,
sleep with the night and wake with the sun,
stand upon the star,
sing your praise,
hear your voice.

“Blessed and praised be the Lord, from whom comes all the good that we speak and think and do.”

Saint Thomas of Avila

Let us forever be grateful!

Chaplain’s View – March 2025

Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277

We hope every day in some way, shape or form. Why not turn to the Lord for it? Here is a great example, The Lord gave us Saint Anthony. When I have lost or misplaced something, I say, “Saint Anthony, please come around, there’s something lost that must be found. Thank you.” I find it 99% of the time and rather quickly. Try it, you might be surprised.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”

Thessalonians 2:16-17

We put our hope in the Lord, he is our protector and our help.

Psalms 33:20

Chaplain’s View – January 2025

Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277

Going forward in the new year, let us remember to be kind to one another, spreading love, joy, happiness, and faith. Let us have faith enough so we can hope for anything we want. Why not hope for kindness, joy, happiness, and love?

Being kind to one another is showing love.

“And now abideth faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.”

I Corinthians 13:13

Chaplain’s View – December 2024

Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277

Happy New Year to you and your families.

Let us reflect not only on our accomplishments of last year but also on the things we fell short on. Did we do our best? We should do all things in the name of Jesus; after all, we are his disciples and should seek his guidance. The Bible tells us that if we ask, we shall receive if it’s according to his will.

Here are a couple of verses to reflect on:

“Be delighted in the Lord. Then He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him to help you do it, and He will.”

Psalms 37:4-5, The Living Bible

“Now teach me good judgment as well as knowledge. For your laws are my guide.“

Psalms 119:66, The Living Bible

Chaplain’s View – November 2024

Christine Hebert, MSG Chaplain
(207) 743-5277

Cultivating a Thankful Heart

(Guest written by Tina Thurston of Norway Grange with the encouragement and guidance of Chaplain Christine Hebert.)

As Grange members, we are not only consistently reminded of our fraternity with each other but also reminded that we are servants of God. Good and faithful servants at that! Constantly challenged to not only build our own strengths and talents but to uplift and foster the strengths and talents of each other.

How then do we do this? What is it, good brother or sister reading this, that sparked your interest and desire to go beyond yourself to make a difference in the world around us?

Although I cannot answer that question for you, I can surmise from my own calling that the answer would have to be God’s knowledge. The knowledge that if we greet the world with unwavering thankfulness, the faith and belief that God is the creator and s/he loves us more than anything- “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if received with Thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.” (I Timothy 4:4-5) We can do anything.

Like all Bible quotes, a wealth of implied instruction is there waiting for us to open ourselves to the true beauty of God’s plan for us.

God created everything. Everything is good. Therefore, there is nothing bad, and if we perceive anything as less than good, we know it is not of God, but a distraction away from our path. So, no matter what confronts us, God says to receive it with Thanksgiving. Being thankful is one of the most powerful ways to be. The act of giving thanks is consecrated by the word of God and prayer –
an ability to turn a frown upside down. To be witness to the awesome love our Lord and Savior has for us by doing his will. We are so very fortunate to know the power of a thankful heart and mind. We are so blessed with the abundant love a thankful countenance affords us. No wonder we are told to spread the good news!

As we continue to ponder the great mystery of this thing we call life, I remind you – “With God all things are possible.” (Mathew 19:26)

And most importantly – and I sincerely believe this to be a commandment: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

Carry on with a thankful heart, good and faithful servant, carry on!

Note that as requested, the words to Veterans of the USA are available in the Chaplain’s View of the Program Books and Information Page.