To the Editor:

My wife and I recently moved to Rhode Island and are enjoying every aspect of our life in the Ocean State. I am blessed to serve as the pastor for St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church and Bethany Ministry in Warwick.

I began my ministry here after spending 30 years in the Army as a chaplain. I have lived in many places and served overseas. I have been in many hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. Both of my parents died at home with hospice care and I am very familiar with that organization and their great work.

I want to say how very impressed I am with all the care facilities I have visited since coming to serve at St. Paul. I have consistently experienced a very welcoming environment, responsive, upbeat and professional staff and open access to my parishioners for Word and Sacrament ministry.

Having served in the military I understand that this type of consistent care is the result of good leadership, clear communication, follow through and acknowledgement of those who deliver the services. I commend all those at the State, local and institutional levels who make the hard decisions, allocate resources, provide surety and to those especially who are there to care; on holidays, on weekends and in the middle of the night.

I have ministered in these specific locations and just wanted to say thanks for partnering with me and other clergy to provide pastoral care to our parishioners when they are in need:

Kent Regency, Scandinavian Nursing Home/Scandinavian Assisted Living, St. Elizabeth's Home/The Seasons, Greenwich Farms Assisted Living,

Brookdale Assisted Living, Elderwood Nursing Facility, Darlington Memory Lane, West View Nursing Home, Matthew XXV Senior Housing,

Rhode Island Hospital, Kent County Memorial Hospital and Miriam Hospital.

Chaplain (Colonel) Michael T. Lembke,

United States Army, Retired

Pastor, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church and Bethany Ministry