Warrior's Journey Home

We are a group of veterans and civilians with a compassion for our military and military families. Many of our veterans are combat veterans whose families have experienced the challenges and stress of military deployment. We are a non-political, non-sectarian ministry sponsored by First Congregational Church of Tallmadge.

Listen - Speak - Heal

Our mission is to provide the means of spiritual healing for our veterans, their families, and the community through education, support, forgiveness, healing, reconciliation, reunification, and initiation.

"For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 27:11

For more, click here to view our brochure.

2010 Schedule

Updated January 5, 2010

Regular Meetings begin at 6:00 PM unless otherwise noted.

January 10 – Regular meeting

January 24 – Regular meeting

January 31 – 10:00 Worship Military Sunday – Reading Names and Packages

February 7 - Regular Meeting

February 21 - Regular Meeting

March 7 - Regular Meeting

March 21 – Regular Meeting

April 4 – Easter Sunday - No Meeting

April 11 – Regular Meeting

April 23-26 Healing the Heart & Restoring the Soul Retreat (Tentative)

May 2 – Regular Meeting

May 16 – Regular Meeting

May 30 – Memorial Day Meeting  -  Reading the Names - Packages

June 13 – Regular Meeting

June 27 – Regular Meeting

July 11 – Regular Meeting

July 25 – Regular Meeting

August 8– Regular Meeting

August 22 – Regular Meeting

August 29 – Reading the Names – Packages 10:00 Service of Worship

September 5 – Regular Meeting

September 19 – Regular Meeting

October 3 – Regular Meeting

October 17 – Regular Meeting

October 31 – Reading the Names – Packages at 10:00 Service of Worship

November 7 (Sunday Worship recognition of Veterans)  Veteran’s Day is Nov. 11

November 21 – Regular Meeting

November 29 – Regular Meeting

December 5- Regular Meeting

December 19 – Christmas & Holiday Gathering

CARE PACKAGES

Several times a year we send care packages to those who are serving out of the country.
You can help us in two ways:
1. By donating items for the care packages, which we are always collecting at the church. Please consult the list of suggested gifts toward our care package ministry.
2. By letting us know the name and information for someone who is serving overseas. See below for details on submitting this information.

Items for Military Care Packages

The list is an ever evolving one as the troops needs change and the four bases in Iraq have large PX’s (like a Super Wal-Mart) on each of the bases.

Operation Jelly Bean

Since Easter is right around the corner, our first theme for 2009 will be Operation Jelly Bean.  We are collecting bags of Jelly Beans to be shipped with each package.  We are also going to ship extra packages to te 1st of the 145th of our adopted troops.

Package Foods: All types of snacks, fruit, and energy bars, popcorn, trail mix, gum (in 5 or 10 package). Life savers or hard candy in small packages. All snacks must be in their own package box no single bars or pieces of candy.
Powder Packets: Like Propel, Linton Tea’s or anything energy type– No single packets.
Writing Pads: Writing Pads, Pens, Envelopes (size # 10).
DVD’s & CD’s: Any type of Movies (except war), CD’s current within 4 years.
Misc. Stuff: Baby wipes, (great for quick clean up), Waterless soap (small size), Lotion (any type-small size tube only), Lip balm (like Vaseline, small tube type in sealed package), Sunblock (in tube like Aloe Vera), Eye drops (small size), Baby or foot powder – small container. Deck of playing cards always a favorite.
Neck Coolers: This is a hot item with the troops; it’s a neck tie that has a cooling agent in it – cost about $2.99 each at http://www.safetygearcorp.com.
Magazines, Books and Newspapers: Please make sure that magazines and newspapers are current.
For our female troops: Smoothing bath and body gels (tube type only)
Special Note: Just remember anything you would like to receive our troops would also, but they have to be in their own packaging – per regulations. The post office has changed the shipping container to a larger one (more weight allowed, up to 20 lbs) but the cost has increased to $10.95.

New Care Package Recipient

If there is someone you know, a family member, friend, or anyone you like us to send a care package to, we would love to comply (military for love to do it). Please complete the form below and drop it off at the church office or you can e-mail it to Michael Livingston at mrliving2@sbcglobal.net. Most of our packages go to Iraq and a few to Afghanistan, but this looks to be changing.

Please notify us when any of our service personnel comes home from Iraq or Afghanistan.

Name:
Branch of Service:
Rank:
Address to mail package to:
Date of Deployment:
Approximate Return:
Contact Person for service person:
Phone number of contact person:
E-mail of contact person:

Some Comments on Operation Big Chip:

The Congregation is to be congratulated on making operation "Big Chips" a big success.  This little effort on everyone's part was just awesome.  Some of the emails we received were funny andn some were very appreciative of th ethoughts and prayers that went along in remembering our troops during the Christmas holiday.

"I was going to share th chocolate chips, but I ate them all," did share candy, send more.  From a CW-4 Army commander.

"We passed out all of the candy to our troops, saved t chips for later at night, all gone within an hour."  Thanks a million.  - Lt. Col of a Marine group.