Our Chaplain, Rev. Sandra T. Gray would like to take this time to share a special Thank You prayer and blessing for the new year with our blog family. Throughout the 5 Weeks of Giving you have helped us answer the Call to Care by donating toys, hats, gloves, scarves and blankets. You’ve also extended your volunteer hours to help load, deliver and wrap countless gifts and donations and even more you’ve helped us fund programs that inspire self reliance, dignity and hope. From the bottom of our hearts … Thank You!

THANKS SO MUCH!

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy … And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work…”  Philippians 1:3, 4 and 6a

 Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

As we begin 2014, we continue to thank God for your generosity of spirit, commitment, compassion, and ministry of service from the beginning of your involvement with Volunteers of America Chesapeake.  We thank God for the resources He provides to help care for others, including people like you, as His compassionate and loving ambassadors.  We pray that you continue to radiate God’s light and love, as well as exercise regularly to strengthen your heart, remembering:

“There is no better exercise for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”  Anonymous

Our “5 Weeks of Giving Prayer” continues for you throughout the New Year:

“May God’s blessings of hope, joy, love, and peace continuously flow through you.

May you radiate them throughout 2014 saturating the environment, as you serve. 

May our ministry of service be enhanced as these same blessings cascade through our commissioned ministers as they serve; walk in God’s grace; and share through their actions the Core Values of Volunteers of America: caring, respect, faith, quality, and trust. 

May God bless you each day, as you take His Word to heart and give charitably all year.  May you feel His hand in everything you do.

May the givers and receivers be blessed, for we know God’s response to kindness is to “…make all grace abound to the giver.”

May His grace be abundant and the richness of His love be shared through you; and in your hearts may He be praised.

May you experience a new level of blessings as your service reveals a newer measure of your compassion and love.

May your light continue to shine before others that they may see God in you.”

 In His grip,

Rev. Sandra Trice Gray

Chaplain