Ramadan Mubarak!

Here's this week's video chapel message, with transcript below for those of you without speakers on your computer.

Opening Prayer:

God of the still, small voice, quiet us within.

Help us to understand your guidance.

Let the words of the scripture inform us:

“Be still and know that I am God.”

In weakness, help us know our strength.

In depression, help us know our joy.

In apathy, help us know our love.

We pray all his with grateful hearts and in your name, Amen.

Ramadan Mubarak!

Ramadan Mubarak is an Arabic phrase that translates to "Happy Ramadan." Ramadan is the holy month of fasting and prayer for Muslims that lasts for 30 days. This year it began on April 12 and ends on May 11.

I have some personal experience with this holiday. When I lived in San Angelo, I belonged to an interfaith organization known as Peace Ambassadors of West Texas. Created by the local Catholic bishop in the area at the time, Bishop Phifer, we provided education, outreach, and service. We did things like provide interfaith observations, served at soup kitchens, and one year, we had a booth at a children’s festival which happened to occur during the month of Ramadan.

We were having a great time at the booth providing rather active games for the kids to play. At one point, a woman working the booth with me that I knew to be Muslim, looked a little pale. It was a hot Texas day. She sat for a little while and rested but declined any food or water because it was Ramadan, and she was fasting. After a little rest, she was back at it, playing with the children. I remember being impressed and inspired by her dedication to her spiritual practices during the time of Ramadan.

In the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is the ninth month and according to the BBC, it counted among the holiest months in Islam. It is believed to be the month in which Mohammad, whom Muslims consider a prophet, revealed a holy book — the Quran.

During Ramadan Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset.

Fasting during the holiday is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, along with the daily prayer, declaration of faith, charity, and performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Followers of the Islamic faith will celebrate Ramadan by fasting, not eating or drinking any food or water from sunrise to sunset each day. These fasting periods can range from 11-16 hours per day. Before fasting each day, Muslims will begin with a pre-fast meal. At dusk, Muslims celebrate with the meal known as the iftar, which means "breaking the fast," often shared with family and friends.

Daily fasting gives Muslims a period of spiritual reflection. Muslims will also avoid negative acts like gossiping, lying, or arguing during the month.

Muslims who are adults and are of good physical and mental health are expected to fast. But some do not fast. Reasons for not fasting include travel, women who are pregnant or currently breastfeeding, or those with disabilities or illnesses.

Charity is an especially important practice in Islam. During Ramadan, Muslims will often hold food drives or fundraisers to help the less fortunate. There are also special prayers during Ramadan, all this with the goal of a deeper understanding of the Divine and to cultivate compassion for those who are less fortunate.

When Ramadan is finished, Muslims will celebrate with the Eid, or the "Festival of the Breaking of the Fast," During this celebration, children receive gifts from family and friends. Muslims may also recite a special prayer during the morning of Eid Day, followed by a community celebration with food and games.

If you ever are invited to join in on Eid or Ramadan observations, I highly recommend them. Some of my fondest memories of my time in San Angelo are those of observing Eid with the Peace Ambassadors. The food took hours to prepare and tasted amazing, the company warm, welcoming, and joyous. Learning about a culture different than mine dissolved fear and made me a better, braver, and more compassionate person.

I thank you for listening and may the God of your understanding bless you today!

Just because we are not meeting in person does not mean we cannot make prayer requests. You can do so in the chapel on the first floor of the hospital, or by email to jshawker@connallymmc.org Your requests are kept confidential and prayed over for a total of sixty days.

The Prayer for Protection (Rev. James Dillet Freemen)

The light of God surrounds us.

The love of God enfolds us.

The power of God protects us.

The presence of God watches over us.

Wherever we are, God is. Amen.