The Seamen's Church Institute

As we brace for the largest major snowstorm in years here in the northeast, please remember our mariners and seafarers who work in all weather transporting essential supplies. Your support for our services to them means more now than ever. Approaching the end of the year, your financial gifts will make the difference in increasing our impact. Contributions may be made online through this link: https://donate.seamenschurch.org/eyc

Thanks The Waterways Journal for the great story on our Christmas at Sea program! Here is a link to the article online: https://www.waterwaysjournal.net//sci-continues-christmas/ "And while the gift boxes may appear smallless than a foot cubedthe contents can have a big, long-lasting impact, said Gawain 'Shu' Schouest, port captain for Crescent Towing in New Orleans. 'It means a lot to them to see that somebody else cares for them,' said Schouest, who’s been with Crescent... Towing for more than 30 years. 'I still remember the first time I ever got one, and it meant a lot. To actually get something makes them feel like they’re home.'" Photo below, courtesy of The Waterways Journal, of SCI Chaplain Tom Rhoades with Christmas at Sea boxes

The Rev. Tom Rhoades hopes that all boat companies will make SCI one of their first five calls in the face of tragedy. "We are first responders," says Tom. "There are huge dividends in diminishing trauma when we can get on the scene early that's when we can do our best work."

Our own The Rev. Kempton D. Baldridge is featured in the third volume of the coffee table book set: Trilogy of North American Waters - Mississippi River. Entitled "Headwaters and Heartland to Delta and Gulf," a review for the book is available online here: https://dailyyonder.com/review-mississippi-river-headwat//

Are you a sailing enthusiast who has been looking for that perfect picture for your home or office that captures the thrill of competition and being on the water? Sign up at www.SCISilverLining.com/Auction now for the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) Silver Lining Online Auction and you will have the opportunity to win a signed ‘21 Seconds Ahead’ print of the famed Stars & Stripes sailing yacht that won the America’s Cup in 1987! Don’t miss out on the chance to bid on thi...s and other exciting items when the Auction goes live November 9 through November 11. The Auction includes a wide variety of items from categories such as Travel & Experiences, Beauty & Fashion; Wine, Dine & Spirits Too!; Sports & Fitness; Behind-the-Scenes Tours; and Art & Literature. Be sure to sign up now to receive updates on new items leading up to the Silver Lining Online Auction. #silverlining #shopforgood #sailracing #sailing #americascup

Christmas at Sea's #StayHomeandKnit program has been so successful that we are able to provide gifts to more mariners working on the inland rivers and gulf this year than ever before thanks to our volunteer needleworkers and packers!

Our Christmas at Sea volunteers have been hard at work! These donations will mean more than ever this holiday season.

Our Christmas at Sea gift deliveries are now in high gear!

The Fall issue of The Lookout, featuring a Women in Maritime theme, is set to hit mailboxes in November. Complimentary subscriptions to SCI's printed magazines and our monthly digital newsletter may be ordered online: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/GLU4MBg/publications

Christmas at Sea needleworking volunteers often ask about making mittens and gloves to match the hat and scarf gifts, however, mariners need the heavy, utilitarian gloves, shown in the photo, that will withstand the difficult physical work required on the boat. The hat pictured on the left is our famous Anchors Aweigh pattern. All of our knit, crochet and sewing patterns are free, and can be found on our new website here: https://seamenschurch.org//christma/patterns-publications/

SCI October Newsletter

Throwback Thursday: "Today we continue our look at SCI's automobiles from the past with two photos of an ungainly looking bus from the early 1920s. The bus is parked at the main entrance to 25 South St on Coenties Slip with buildings visible on the left that SCI would soon purchase and raze for the 1925 annex to 25 South St. Notice the great variety of hats with a few straw boaters confirming that this is a summer photo along with bowlers, newsboy caps, and a white flat sailo...r cap. Also, notice the sign under the Atlantic Bell on the side of 25 South St. advertising our ever inclusive Chapel for Seamen, Boatmen, and Others." #tbt #throwbackthursday #throwback

Looking to improve your golf swing and learn to play like the pros while watching the boats pass by on the Hudson River? Sign up at www.SCISilverLining.com/Auction for the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) Silver Lining Online Auction and you will have the opportunity to win five private lessons with a teaching pro at The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers in New York City. This renowned club has been lauded as America’s most technologically advanced driving range and teaching cente...r, and was voted by Golf Magazine as one of golf’s 50 coolest places in the world! Don’t miss out on the chance to bid when the Auction goes live November 9 through November 11. By signing up, SCI will also send you updates of new exciting Auction items leading up to the Silver Lining Auction! #silverlining #shopforgood #chelseapiersgolfclub #golfinglife #golfers #golfnyc

#ThrowbackThursday #tbt #throwback SCI Archive Fun Fact from Stefan: "Last week we looked at a quirky ride that SCI used to reach sailors in the 1950s. We'll spend a few more weeks this month looking at vehicles that helped SCI transport chaplains to sailors and sailors to activities away from their berths.... This photo shows the earliest SCI automobile pictured in our archives. it appears to be stopped at the south corner of Jeanette Park (Coenties Slip) with part of the main entrance to 25 South Street visible in the background at right. This is likely not long after 1918 when the park underwent a major restoration, including the erection of a bandshell memorial to the WWI merchant marines."

Now More than Ever

Rounding out our #GratiTuesday series is Chaplain Winston Rice thanking mariners for working 24/7 365 days a year! Did you know SCI chaplains are also available around the clock to provide support to the men and women working on the water? Please join us in supporting their efforts and make a donation today. #communityconnections #workworkwork #supportmaritime

Last week, SCI Chaplain James Kollin counseled two seafarers in Port Newark who were expecting to finally disembark after months of extensions to their contracts. Their bags were packed and tickets home purchased when they got word that their two replacements had tested COVID-positive - devastating news for both the seafarers who are desperate to see their families again, and the incoming seafarers who need to be making money again.

Chaplain James Kollin (pictured below pre-COVID) says that the pandemic has posed the greatest challenge in his 20 years of service with SCI. "The seafarers often tell me that it is not the body that suffers under COVID on the ships, it is the mind. They are coping with overwhelming mental fatigue and high anxiety." Now, more than ever, we need the help of our SCI community. If you have been thinking about donating, now is the time. Your contribution will make a critical dif...ference for SCI and the people we serve. Online donations accepted here: https://donate.seamenschurch.org/cas