The following prayer is offered by chaplain Steven Spidell, coordinator of Presybterian Outreach to Patients:

I am in your Presence, Lord.
Your healing love flows through me
with every breath I take.
You are all I need.

Repeat this prayer until you are relaxed.
Breathe slower and deeper with each breath.

Rev. David R. Jenkins, the Director of Chaplaincy at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, was awarded the Doctor of Ministry Degree on May 20, 2007, at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The final project, entitled "Enhancing Integration of Psychological and Theological Reflection on Caregiving Practice: Implications for CPE Curricula" focuses attention to an integrative teaching method for Clinical Pastoral Education Students.

Rev. Jenkins states: "My goal in this project was to determine to what extent students could become "bilingually competent", that is, proficient in the use of both psychological and theological languages in the context of providing spiritual care to our cancer patients." He would welcome any discussion of this topic through our community forum, where he has established this topic on the message tree under the title: "An Integrative Model for Theological Reflection".

Presbyterian minister and chaplain Steven Thorney will join the Chaplaincy Department staff, effective June, 2007. In his new role, he will serve as the palliative care chaplain, focusing on the provision of spiritual care to cancer patients, and their families, in the context of palliative medical care. Reverend Thorney brings extensive experience, returning to a chaplain role which he previously held at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, prior to being called into the parish ministry. Over the past ten years, he has served as Associate Pastor at Missouri City Presybterian Church, specializing in pastoral care to the congregation. We welcome Steve back, and look forward to renewing an old collegial friendship here!

Sister Alice Potts, our beloved staff chaplain, has been honored by the Society of Surgical Oncology. At its 60th annual conference in Washington, D.C., the society presented her with its James Ewing Layman's Award, given annually to a non-physician who has made a significant contribution to the prevention of cancer and to improving the care of cancer patients.

Sister Alice, who has belonged to the Sisters of Providence order for 64 years and ministers to patients, plans to retire on May 31, 2007, after 30 years of service. She graduated from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a bachelor's degree in education. She received a master's degree from Marygrove College.

Sister Alice worked as a teacher and principal for 25 years before receiving training in clinical pastoral education at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston. She later joined the chaplaincy staff at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, where she has focused on care of patients in the intensive care units, as well as facilitating patient and caregiver support groups.

Back in April 2006, I recommended a devotion entitled "Disrupted" by Rev. Dr. Virgil Fry. Dr. Fry has just published a companion book, entitled: "Rekindled, Warmed by Fires of Hope". Once again, Virgil has used his considerable experience as a chaplain and writer to create another rich devotional resource, drawing upon scriptures, wisdom sayings, and personal experience in the pastoral care ministry. The prayers he includes are real, and express the deepest spiritual longings of the heart.

I recently came across a very interesting article entitled: "The Discussion Group for Mortals", published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol.24, No.28, October 2006, pp 4661-4663. The title of the article is the actual name of a women's cancer support group at the Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook, Illinois. The group used readings in literature and philosophy, as well as spirituality to help inform their thinking about death, and to influence their explorations into their personal beliefs. In addition to various readings, films were included, as well as current journalism. To quote one group member: "We wanted to know the truth, but we also wanted to be consoled, to be able to transcend, to believe and be comforted, if possible." This wasn't to be a group about terminal illness, but about being human and finite. As the author of the article, Kathryn Corntett Heekin reflected: "Dying is a journey we all make, and we can learn from talking about it. A group for mortals is for everybody."

If you take the opportunity to review this article, I would be interested in hearing from you, through our community forum, about how this particular article impacted you, as well as ways in which you have experienced group support as a resource for coping with cancer.