SF Chronicle Columnist Carl Nolte Visits the IMC

Chaplain’s Column, Winter 2019 In October I had the opportunity to read a chapter of Moby Dick at a reading marathon at the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. Naturally my favorite chapter is Chapter 9: “The Sermon.” Father Mapple enters in a pulpit shaped like a bow of a ship and delivers a powerful oratory on the Book of Jonah. He is attempting to make relevant the lessons of Jonah to his contemporaries. I couldn't help but think of the same parallels for seafarers today. No, I don’t think seafarers are in danger of a crazy captain chasing a whale and then getting swallowed into the belly of the beast. But I have spoken to many seafarers who have served on ship for more than 20 years in the same position with no hope of retirement or advancement. For many they feel like they are in fact in the belly of the beast and there is little hope of getting out. There are no retirement plans or little opportunity for promotion. They have spent most of their life at sea and very little of their life with their family. Our ministry, as Father Mapple says in his sermon, has a responsibility from the Lord to speak this truth that others cannot. Let us indeed take up this calling and speak truth as the Lord our God calls us to do. Our ministry has a proud history of caring for seafarers in San Francisco Bay and, as long as there are people on ships, a certain future. The ocean has always been a place of mystery and adventure that calls people from all over the world towards it. But when the hard reality of the hazardous work of the ship, the unrelenting dangers of the environment, and the loneliness of the sea grab hold of one’s soul, God comes through it all to bring grace and peace to those in need: that is why we need seafarer centers in seaports. – JAMIESON PREVOZNAK, Chaplain, SMGG

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WINTER 2019 WWW.SMGG.ORG

Ship Ahoy! Newsletter of the Seafarers Ministry of the Golden Gate

Last month, San Francisco Chronicle Columnist Carl Nolte visited the International Maritime Center (IMC) to write his “Native Son” column about “Volunteer ‘ministry of hospitality’ soothes seafarers with fellowship, supplies” (pictured at right, with IMC volunteer Robert McKoon on left). It was published on Sunday, Dec. 15th, on page A2, and the website link is:

https://tinyurl.com/y73eyzg6

He was able to meet with Chaplain Jamieson Prevoznak, and volunteers Gail Carter, Chester Chan, Greg Govan, Tess Benin, and Alodia Corpuz, and also visited two ships and crew in port.

Father Mapple, by Rockwell Kent (Plattsburgh State Art Museum)

Stories from the Sea, Winter 2018 On August 30th , 2018 a bulk carrier ship ran out of food and was about to disembark to their next port of call. The ship ran out of food because they were delayed in the Port of Sacramento for several days due to a moveable bridge that was out of order. Many of the crew did have shore passes but they expired while their ship was still in port. We visited the ship and met with several of the crew so we developed a friendship and trust. A day before they were about to disembark, the ship called the IMC asking us if we could help. During the week long delay in Sacramento they had run through their fresh food provisions and most likely would have run out of food before their next port of call in Asia. We were asked if we could help them buy food, so we went to the local restaurant supply store and bought over 500 pounds of fresh and healthy food that will last them across the ocean. It was a lot of work to bring so much food to the ship and to carry it up the gangway, but this ship had no other choice to rely on the SMGG/IMC and we were happy to help as it is our calling. Though Jesus fed 5,000 people, it truly is a blessing that we were able to provide the most basic necessity to the crew of 20.

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SMGG, 4001 7TH ST,, OAKLAND, CA 94607 SHIP AHOY! SEAFARERS MINISTRY OF THE GOLDEN GATE

(510) 839-2226 - DONATE VIA PAYPAL AT WWW.SMGG.ORG WINTER 2019

CHRISTMAS AT SEA, 2018 We gifted 1514 presents to 67 different ships this year which is the most we have ever recorded. Thank you to all who helped gift presents, who packed at Christmas at Sea Packing Day, and who donated to make this program possible. The seafarers are always grateful and look to us every year for these special gifts. For 2019 we want to keep up the knitting donations all year long as we know that knitting is a long process. Please help us spread the word about collected knitted items for the seafarers as we are always in need of knitted hats, scarves, and gloves. Contact Chaplain Jamieson Prevoznak (chaplain@smgg.org) for more information and an exclusive SMGG knitting manual. Please send donations to the IMC or contact us for pick up .

Thanks for giving to SMGG by mail, via PayPal at our website www.smgg.org and contact chaplain@smgg.org for more information on events and volunteering. Newsletter by Jamieson Prevoznak, Roehl Cinco and Nancy Smith.