Chaplain's Corner

Chaplain’s Corner

Chaplain's Corner / By

Soren Kierkegaard, the great Danish theologian of another century, tells a story of a prince who wanted to find a maiden suitable to be his queen. One day while running an errand in the local village for his father, he passed through a poor section. As he glanced out the windows of the carriage his eyes fell upon a beautiful peasant maiden.

During the ensuing days he often passed by the young lady and soon fell in love. But he had a problem. How would he seek her hand?

He could order her to marry him. But even a prince wants his bride to marry him freely and voluntarily and not through coercion. He could put on his most splendid uniform and drive up to her front door in a carriage drawn by six horses. But if he did this he would never be certain that the maiden loved him or was simply overwhelmed with all of the splendor.

As you might have guessed, the prince came up with another solution. He would give up his kingly robe. He moved, into the village, entering not with a crown but in the garb of a peasant.

He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language.

In time the maiden grew to love him for who he was and because he had first loved her.

This very simple, almost childlike story, written by one of the most brilliant minds of our time explains what we Christians mean by the incarnation. God came and lived among us.

I am glad that this happened for two reasons. First, it shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is with us, that He is on our side, and that He loves us.

And second, it gives us a firsthand view of what the mind of God is really all about. When people ask what God is like, we, as Christians, point to the person of Jesus Christ. God himself is incomprehensible. But in Jesus Christ we get a glimpse of His glory. In the person of Jesus we are told that God, that mysterious Person that created the stars and the universe, is willing to go all of the way, to be one of us, talk our language, eat our food, share our suffering, die on a cross. Why? So that a single person-you, me, might be redeemed…and, grow to love Him.

May I submit to you, the incarnation of God-in the form of Jesus Christ, is the most amazing miracle that has ever taken place…that God came and lived among us. I do not confess to understand it, nor can I really explain it, but I can tell you this, I believe it.

Enjoy the miracle of Christmas this year.

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Congress Gov

Legislative Updates

Legislative Update / By

CVS will rejoin the TRICARE pharmacy network as of Dec. 15, while Walmart/Sam’s Club will leave the network at the same time, Express Scripts officials told MOAA. With the change, military families will have access to the two largest chain drugstores in the U.S. – Walgreens and CVS – together with many smaller chains and independent pharmacies. Ask Your Lawmakers to Support the Major Richard Star Act. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) have introduced the Major Richard Star Act as an amendment to the NDAA – Senate Amendment 3984 to H.R. 4350 would support over 48,000 combat injured with medical retired pay and VA disability payments concurrently. Under current law, these combat injured (and often seriously disabled) veterans are subject to an offset where their medical retirement pay is reduced for every dollar of VA disability received. Servicemembers forced to retire because they were injured in combat – like Maj. Richard Star, USAR, who passed away earlier this year – had their retirement pay significantly reduced. The Comforting our Military Families through On-base or Remote Treatment (COMFORT) Act (S. 3021/H.R. 5758) would seek to Improve License Portability for Military Family Counselors. The COMFORT Act will help reduce the shortage of behavioral health providers and better equip DoD to meet the demand for counseling services for military families. With increased license portability, MFLC counselors will have increased flexibility to respond to local traumatic events, natural disasters, or redeployment of multiple units to one military ba

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DOD Seal

Defense Dept Announces Cost of Living Increase Retired Pay

Military / By

The Department of Defense announced annual cost of living adjustments that will benefit military retirees and survivors during calendar year 2022. Most military retirees will receive a 5.9 percent increase to their retired pay beginning with the pay they receive on January 1, 2022, which is the largest such increase since 1982. Likewise, survivors of members who died on active or inactive duty, or survivors of military retirees who participated in the Survivor Benefit Plan will, in most cases, see a 5.9 percent increase to their annuities beginning in January.
Survivors who are eligible for the Special Survivor Indemnity Allowance (SSIA) will also receive an increase to their SSIA payments that reflects this 5.9 percent adjustment. The maximum amount of SSIA payable will be $346 beginning in January, although some survivors may receive less in SSIA as the Department of Defense continues to implement the phased reduction in the Survivor Benefit Plan – Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offset, as enacted by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
These cost of living adjustments are calculated based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers for the four quarters ending with the third calendar quarter of 2021 (July, August, and September 2021), and generally go into effect for all pay received beginning in January 2022.
Those military retirees who retired during calendar year 2021, and all military retirees who retired under the REDUX retirement system may receive a slightly different annual cost of living adjustment. The complete list of updates to military retired and retainer pay, and survivor annuities, allowances, and premiums can be found at https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Retirement/Cola.aspx.

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Surviving Spouse Corner

Surviving Spouse Corner

Surviving Spouse / By

The Holidays are upon us. If you or someone in your family has suffered a loss, this may be a difficult time for you. If some time has passed, it may be time for some reflection.
Times change, people change, our lives change, and our circumstances change. That is Life’s path. I intend to be more adaptive in my life journey. Will you join me?
Here are a few strategies to try.
Share your memories:
Sort through photos and pick out some special ones and write about what was happening that day, or something funny or sweet that someone said in that moment. Be sure to identify the date, persons involved and if appropriate, add a caption.
Begin a diary or a journal and include remarks that reveal your feelings. If you can, do this in your own hand. I still am thrilled when I come upon something my mother, father or husband wrote to me.
Call an old friend or shut-in. A card is nice and appreciated, but a Christmas call will bring more smiles.
Create some new memories:
Start a new family tradition. Revamp your advent wreath or go to Midnight Christmas Eve services if the children are old enough. Let the kids plan the Christmas menu. Be flexible.
Create a new memory with friends. Try a holiday bridge luncheon, cookie exchange, or lunch and a movie. These may be successful and turn into traditions.
I have another suggestion you can do with family or friends, visit the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.
On Saturday, December 18, beginning 10:30 am Wreaths Across America will remember and honor our veterans through the laying of Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our county’s fallen and saying their name aloud.

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MOAA National

Membership and Mission of MOAA

Military, MOAA / By

The National Military Officer’s Association of America (MOAA) and affiliated Councils and Chapters are non-partisan and encourages active engagement to understand legislative issues and the stance of officials to inform MOAA membership during elections. The last page of this newsletter will always be a Central Florida Chapter (CFC) membership application for your use to recruit new members. MOAA’s greatest mission is to improve the lives of those who serve, and their families. The larger our numbers, the greater our voice. All commissioned and warrant officers of the Uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, U.S. Public Health Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the reserve and other components of these services (regular members), and their surviving spouses are eligible for MOAA membership. If you know of an eligible veteran, please print and cut out the membership application form and ask the veteran to join up and become a member of your Central Florida Chapter!

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