Pat Bell- Northern Region

The Community of Calvary Lutheran Church 

comes together in Shared Grief 

at the loss of Bobby Chapman IV.

Shared Grief

A light has gone out of the world. 

Darkness has not won. 

But there is one less light 

for our journey home. 

Precious is each moment of life. 

Even the mundane of a meeting becomes 

a holy moment to remember. 

There are no words to express our grief .

We only pray for increased faith, 

and your presence Lord,

 to walk us through our loss. 

 Help us cling to your promises, 

for you are our only refuge.

Pat states- "I wrote Shared Grief because I did not know what to pray 

after the tragic accident at Calvary. I was there that night.

 But I did know that death had not won."

Pat Bell tells us a bit about her faith journey.......

When I think back on my faith journey 

it is a lot of years travelled 

with lots of baggage on my shoulders. 

I am an introvert who in the past almost never 

shared my inner self with anyone. It was a lonely journey.  

Then in 1998, God led me to spiritual direction. 

In meeting with a spiritual director who was so very caring 

and kind I was able to look at all that baggage honestly 

and stop being a prisoner to hurts of the past. 

I became more aware of God's presence in my life

 and knew that God really did love me warts and all. 

 It was so freeing after all those years.

As part of my spiritual discipline,

 I began putting the Psalms in my own words 

and eventually I began writing my own words in verse.  

This became a way of working through things

 and being open to the working of the spirit within me. 

 The words are Spirit written. I just put them on paper. 

The real miracle though was that I actually

 started sharing my writing with others.

Current spirit disciplines are listening to music 

(mostly David Haas CD's)

 as a means of  letting go of distractions,

 so I can spend time in prayer- 

with room within to sense God, 

His presence and leading. 

  I still meet with a spiritual director monthly. 

Recently I have found coloring designs 

or mandalas while listening to music 

helpful and a great stress release.

I have recently retired and feel in transition still. 

Not quite sure where the Spirit is guiding

 me right now. 

At church I am currently Director of Lay Ministry

 and a women's bible study 

meets in my home twice a month.

Joy in my day - 

I find this a challenge to answer,

 as I still have a reserved personalty,

 but I experience inner joy in seeing what God is doing

 in my two children's lives and my grandchildren. 

  Children and grandchildren are a great joy.  

God has put a number of very special friends

 in my life and time with them is joyful.  

God loves me through the care 

and friendship of these special people.

We give thanks for the way that the Lord

 is leading Pat and her presence

 in the community of Calvary, Baltimore.

And we pray this blessing upon them all..........

I