Rumsey read the Easter story from scripture to Airmen in the field, after which groups would split up into a Catholic service and a Protestant service.
The Easter services in the field started last year, to give students and instructors the opportunities to worship even when training.
“We started Easter services because we saw Easter Sunday as the holiest day in the Christian calendar,” said Rumsey. “We wanted to meet that need with as limited interruption to their training day.”
Rumsey and Harmon coordinated with leadership on base and the churches to be able to provide the services correctly. Harmon received special admittance to be able to present the Eucharist himself.
“Above all things in this circumstance, we have a Chaplin present ministering to the faith that military members need,” said Harmon. “I have permission to be able to carry the Eucharist, but it has to be absolutely clear that we do not have a Protestant ministering to Catholics.”
Rumsey would like to see the program expand to meet as many religious needs as possible regardless of faith.
“I believe this opportunity is a very good illustration of the Chaplain Corps mission,” said Rumsey. “We accommodated the religious needs of students and instructors in the field in the best way possible.”
Date Taken: | 03.29.2016 |
Date Posted: | 03.29.2016 17:55 |
Story ID: | 193827 |
Location: | FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, WASHINGTON, US |
Web Views: | 240 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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