Prayers and Processions - Hospital Chaplain

Jeff Klein's eyes open slightly, and he whispers that it's okay to come in.

Strings of lights wave across a monitor -  a record of his heartbeat - and lines of oxygen thread through his nose to aid his breathing. His wife Kathy rests against his bed rails to the left, and her downward gaze is filled with concern.

The Rev. Jill Kundtz gently smiles at both, steps up to the right and gathers her hand. Their arms drape over him like a curtain. Kundtz is the hospital chaplain for Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. “I want to make sure that patients have support, whether it be physical support, emotional support or spiritual support,” said Kundtz. “Essentially I journey with my patients.”

Kundtz is a Christian, but she supports anyone, regardless of their faith. “We don't put God in a box.”

Klein, 52, who was admitted earlier due to chest pains, is grateful for her prayers.

“You feel like God is all around you, it's almost like you're immersed in his presence,” said the Great Bridge resident. “You feel like God is next to you, you feel his touch.”

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Prayers and Processions - Wedding Day

“It was exciting and terrifying at the same moment,” said Rebecca Segall. “It was a great moment that we were all able to celebrate, but at the same time I'm scared of heights.”

Smiles scattered through the dance floor as she was twirled around, tethered to her husband, Craig Segall, 22, by a tiny cloth, as part of the Jewish tradition of the Horah. The two were married at the Lesner Inn in Virginia Beach.

During the Horah, a newlywed couple is lifted into the air and carried around by their loved-ones. For these two, it also was a symbol of the couple's new unity as a Jewish couple, since Rebecca was a recent convert to the Jewish faith.

“For me religion wasn't too important,” said Rebecca. “I realized how important it was to him, and I identified with it more than any other religion that was out there. It was easy for me to make that transition.”

“I felt so happy for my side of the family” said the 22-year-old the Norfolk resident. “They've been so supportive (of the conversion) and it was nice for them to take part in that moment.”

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Prayers and Processions - Home Prayer

Jacob Kendrick, 2, pounces in his padded dinosaur pajamas onto his father, Mike Kendrick, as his other son, Dylan, 3, drapes over his back. His daughter Lily, 5, laughs.

It's all under the watchful eye of a Jesus Christ poster that proclaims "I Am."

It's a prelude to a nightly event – altar time – which is worship time for the Virginia Beach family. On this evening, the kids are wound up and needed to bounce out some energy before prayer.

“I think it's what holds us together, having the altar time,” said Nereida, Mike's wife.  “It's important  for them to know that we're there for them, and that Christ is there for them as well.”

Mike describes his family as Bible believing followers of Jesus Christ.

“The most important thing is leaving a legacy, and for them to know Jesus personally,” said Mike. “It's probably the most significant thing I'll do in my whole life.”

The poster hangs as a centerpiece of their living room.  “It's important for our kids to constantly see that he is our solid rock,” said Mike. “It's like having a picture of a loved one in your office.”

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Prayers and Processions - Cowboy Church

Tim Kirkpatrick bows his head and slips off his cowboy hat. He begins to pray.   Below him, a small terrier mix named Sheriff Woody wags his tail and scampers in the dirt. Kirkpatrick, 40, is a part-time pastor of the Hickory Ridge Cowboy Church.   “We started it so we could reach people with an outdoors mind,” he explains. “There's a lot of farmers, horse people and animal people around here. This is the avenue that we use to reach them.”   Members meet Saturday nights in a large tent set up on the grounds of Hickory Ridge Community Church in Chesapeake.   Kirkpatrick says he caters to Christians who aren’t comfortable with traditional services. He recalls one uneasy congregant who told him, “If I can come with manure on my boots, wear my blue jeans and if I don't have to put my teeth in, then I'll come.” Kirkpatrick will take the a full-time position of the church pastor in February, which will also be the first anniversary of the church.

“It's God leading it, I'm just along for the ride, said Kirkpatrick. “These are my people, and it's a great way to reach them for Christ.”

Story and photos by Ross Taylor

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Prayers and Processions - Home Communion

A clock clicks, and her hands wring in cadence. A silver walker waits to Beth Massel's left - just in case.

John St. John quietly stands and slips a small wafer into Massel's palms, which are spread in front of her like a platter.

“I feel like if I don't get this, I feel like I'm missing the family dinner,” said Massel. It's something I need.”

Massel is a member of the Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach. She's unable to attend church, and communion, because of knee replacement surgery.

“To have someone come to the house when I can't come to the church – it's the greatest thing,” said Massel, of Virginia Beach. “I just feel empty if I don't get to communicate with people at church and commune with God.”

“It fills me up again.”

St. John is one of several church members who bring communion into the home.   “When they can't go to church, the church can go to them,” said St. John. “It's a good thing to do. It's not much more complicated than that.”

Massel takes the wafer and then smiles and says, “Thanks be to God!”

The two hug goodbye and St. John steps out into the spill of soft afternoon light.

Story and photos by Ross Taylor

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Prayers and Processions - Spirit Night

Sneakers squeak as the whisper of pom poms flutter above cheerleaders who lean into each other and giggle. Gold and green balloons bob in the corner, tethered to a tiny table plastered with pennants.

It's frenetic and formless, and energy is high for Spirit Night at Holy Trinity School in Ocean View. After a few moments the athletic director, Dan Holmes, gathers a microphone and strings it out onto the court.

It's time to pray.

Teammates tether to a line that serves as their bench, and they bow below an American flag. Their prayer softy echos into the gym.

“One of the really unique things about this program, is that you don't necessarily have to go to the school to participate in basketball” said Holmes, of Norfolk. “The basketball team is open to all members of the parish. You can send your kids to public school and still have a faith-based athletic program. That's one of the things we're really proud of.”

The school, which is in it's 85th year, combines expressions of faith along with its athletics; and on this night, their winter sports season is kicked off with the Lord's Prayer.

Moments later, the children bolt from the line and smiles split across their faces.

It's time to play.

Story and photos by Ross Taylor

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Prayers and Processions - Our Lady of Guadalupe

If you look close enough, you can see concern in her face. Her eyebrows hang above deep brown eyes, cast downward at hands bent in prayer. The tiny details are almost lost in the wrap of plastic adoration.

He, on the other hand, is an imposing figure, festooned with feathers and dressings of a traditional Aztec attire.

She is the representation of the Virgin Mary, the beloved figure of many Hispanics. He is Juan Salinas, the Aztec representation who, according to tradition, first encountered Mary in 1531.

“Originally we were forced into the religion by the Spaniards,” said Joanna Salinas, daughter of Juan, who also performed with him.  “But when she appeared to us, she appeared as an Aztec woman - as one of us. Then people willingly turned to her, that's when we found the connection.”

The father and daughter are from Mexico City and performed during the small festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe earlier in December in front of Tienda Jessy's along Ocean View Avenue.

“On that day we dance in honor of her, it's a celebration to her,” said Joanna. “More than anything it's a special relationship, between Mary and her people. She is our protector.”

Story and photos by Ross Taylor

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Prayers and Processions - Bethlehem Walk

Just inside a wooden shack, next to the plastic playground, Leah Dickerson, 15, cuddles Jasmine Reyes. Leah's brother, Zach Dickerson, 17, picks up a pacifier and hands it to Jasmine's little sprouts of fingers.

 The siblings play Mary and Joseph - and Jasmine, an African-American girl, plays Jesus Christ - during the Bethlehem Walk at King's Grant Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach. It's an unconventional approach to the timeless Christian tradition, but one that draws nothing but admiration by those in attendance.

“I think it's important to share our faith with other people,” said Zack. “Even though it's like a walk-through play, it may change someone's faith in what Christmas really is about. The bible commands us to share our faith with other people and to spread the good news of the gospel, of Jesus.”

This year more than one thousand people walked through the performance, which shows what life was like in Bethlehem 2000 years ago. Members from King's Grant and St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church put together the walk-through performance which features dozens of characters, all of which lead up to the main attraction of  Mary, Joseph and Jesus.   “It's an honorable experience,” said Leah. “You have this feeling that people care for you and they want to see baby Jesus and his mother.”

Story and photos by Ross Taylor

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Prayers and Processions - Santa's Faith

A constellation of Christmas lights click and Joe Tursi waits. His hands clasp, except for his thumbs, which part back and forth like wiper blades.

It's a little after 7pm, and no one has come. Yet.

It's been a tough few months for Tursi, a handyman whose work has dropped in the economic downturn. “Mentally I'm keeping faith and hoping things will get better,” said the Virginia Beach resident.

 “People have been helping us, and now I'm trying to give back,” remarked Tursi, who decided to dress as Santa. For just two dollars children can get their picture taken with him at his home along Mill Oak Drive. Tursi's pledged to give profits from his venture to St. Mark's Catholic Church. It's his way of giving back.

A few more minutes, Tursi peers outside.

They're here.

Small children gather outside and stare in awe as he steps outside. “They have faith in Santa,” said Tursi. “They believe in him.”

His wife echoes those sentiments and draws a comparison to their belief in Jesus Christ, said Tabatha Tursi. “You know he's going to come one day, like Jesus. We prepare for Santa to come just like we prepare for Jesus.”

Story and photos by Ross Taylor

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If interested, email Tursi at: bigjoeboss@cox.net for future available portrait times.

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Greetings from Ocean View - Bat's cave

Every Sunday, his mother's white Lincoln circles slowly behind the Ocean View Senior Center. Particularly around the holidays, Sunday is the day that inspires the most generosity. Friends come to share a beer with him at the picnic table; his mother drops off a little money, a sandwich or a change of clothes.

"This is home. This is where I sleep at," said Eddie "Batman" Borroum, 55, while tucked into an entry nook of the Art Deco building. Maybe he's been out here 5 or 6 years. Maybe much longer. A friend of Bat's claims that the city police once had a bet going as to how many more days he would survive.

"A penny can't buy you nothing on the streets," he said. Yet that's what he asks for when he panhandles. A penny is such a small request that it often yields more. After some accumulation, he'll head to the 7-Eleven for food, cigarettes, or a drink - in that order, he said. People don't understand. "I keep telling everybody, 'Don't worry about me. Worry about yourself.' All I want to do is be me."

"I don't fight. I don't rob. I don't steal. I don't argue." Away from the crowds at shelters, he discreetly sips gin out of a plastic water bottle. "All I can do is get drunk, sit in my corner and watch the world."

Photo and text by Preston Gannaway

(This is my final column before passing the torch along to Ross Taylor. Thanks for sharing all the OV love. I hope to be back with more Greetings from Ocean View next summer.)

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