Meditation WCTT AM Radio
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, CSW
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Corbin, KY
February 3, 2014
Greetings Friends. Today in the Episcopal Church, we remember the Dorchester Chaplains: Lt. George Fox (Methodist), aged 43, Lt. Alexander Goode (Jewish), aged 32, Lt. Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed), aged 33, and Lt. John Washington (Catholic), aged 35.
On January 23, 1943, a converted cruise ship, the Dorchester, set sail from New York. The ship was carrying 902 troops to Greenland. One day from their destination, a German U-Boat torpedoed the Dorchester’s boiler room at night. The electrical systems of the ship were knocked out. While the men had been ordered to sleep with their life jackets on, many took them off because of the heat or bulkiness. Panic ensued. Only two lifeboats were successfully launched and many men dove into the 19 degree water.
It is reported that the four chaplains moved among the men, organizing an orderly evacuation of the ship, assisting, calming and passing out life jackets to those forced to jump into the cold water. The chaplains readily gave up their own life jackets to the soldiers. Together, they remained on the rear deck, arms linked in prayer and singing hymns, until the ship sank, claiming their lives.
230 men were rescued from the icy waters. Many survived because of the assistance of the chaplains. A survivor, Grady Clark reported
As I swam away from the ship, I looked back. The flares had lighted everything. The bow came up high and she slid under. The last thing I saw, the Four Chaplains were up there praying for the safety of the men. They had done everything they could. I did not see them again. They themselves did not have a chance without their life jackets.
These chaplains embodied the words of Jesus found in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” And that’s what Jesus did for us. Laid down his life for us, his friends.
In 2012, I had the great opportunity to visit and to study in the Holy Land at St. George’s College in Jerusalem. Close to the end of my two weeks there, our study group walked the last steps of Jesus to the Cross. I wrote this poem about the experience. Elmer Parlier is here to help me share this with you. He is playing the guitar and also singing.
To be Sung with the Poem Via Dolorosa by The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers
| Alas and did my Savior bleed And did my Sov’reign die? Would he devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?
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At the Cross, At the Cross Where I first saw the light And the burden of my heart rolled away It was there by faith I received my sight And now I am happy all the day. |
| It was dusk moving in to dawn as we started down the street towards the gate of the old city At the end of the street I had traversed so many times during the week, there was the gate set into the ancient wall A police station on the corner The streets of the old city were quiet Refuse of the day before sat in the corners Cats with no owners and homes in the streets Birds chattered their early morning songs Two young men sat on their stoops Fans and air conditioners and exhaust systems whirred The smell of thyme wafted from the A man carried a large board with bread on his head Shop signs advertised old Russian icons Souvenirs, souvenirs and pilgrim houses and hostels Soldiers checked their Iphones, uzis hanging from their necks
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| Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
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At the Cross, At the Cross
Where I first saw the light And the burden of my heart rolled away It was there by faith I received my sight And now I am happy all the day.
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| And we walked the streets Remembered your steps Your pain Your suffering Your sorrow No pardon, no going back
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| But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe Here Lord I give myself away ‘Tis all that I can do.
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At the Cross, At the Cross
Where I first saw the light And the burden of my heart rolled away It was there by faith I received my sight And now I am happy all the day.
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| It is another day in Jerusalem The tomb is empty You still walk among the living
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| At the Cross, At the Cross
Where I first saw the light And the burden of my heart rolled away It was there by faith I received my sight And now I am happy all the day
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At the Cross, At the Cross
Where I first saw the light And the burden of my heart rolled away It was there by faith I received my sight And now I am happy all the day
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“Here, Lord, I give myself away, ‘tis all that I can do”.
Amen and blessings to you this day.