UAW Local 1853 Chaplaincy

07/31/2026

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It is with profound sorrow that we bid farewell to Jeanne Gibson, our beloved Rosie the Riveter, has passed away today, July 29, 2026, at the remarkable age of 100. 🕊️

At just 18 years old, Jeanne left her home in Minnesota in the summer of 1944 and answered her nation's call, becoming a welder at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle. With determination and grit, she helped build destroyers that strengthened the Allied war effort during World War II. She later continued her service with the Army Transportation Corps in Juneau, Alaska, embodying the resilience and patriotism of the Greatest Generation.
Yet Jeanne's legacy extended far beyond the war.

She earned her Ph.D., dedicated three decades to teaching, earned her private pilot license, and spent the rest of her life proving that courage, determination, and purpose know no age. In 2024, Jeanne and her fellow Rosies were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of our nation's highest civilian honors, recognizing the extraordinary women whose sacrifices and determination helped secure victory during World War II.

She had a special gift for encouraging young girls, reminding them that no dream was too big and no obstacle too great. Through her words and her example, she inspired generations to believe in themselves and pursue lives of courage, service, and purpose.
Jeanne remained a tireless advocate for preserving the legacy of the Rosies, volunteering at Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park on "Rosie Fridays" and ensuring the stories of the women who helped win the war would continue to inspire future generations.

Though Jeanne has taken her final flight, her legacy will never fade. It lives on in every story she shared, every young person she inspired, every life she touched, and in the enduring example of courage she leaves behind.
Our hearts are with Jeanne's family, her fellow Rosies, and all who were blessed to know and love her.

06/20/2026

Happy Father’s Day from the UAW Local 1853 Chaplaincy! 🛠️💙

​"A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society."
— Billy Graham

​We pause to recognize and celebrate all the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures across our plant. Whether you are putting in hard hours on the line, guiding your children at home, or leading by example in our community, your daily sacrifices do not go unnoticed. You are a steady foundation for your families and an invaluable part of our union brotherhood.

​May God bless you with a restful, joyous Father's Day surrounded by the people you love.
​In solidarity and faith,
​Your UAW Local 1853 Chaplaincy Team 🙏
​

06/19/2026

A Juneteenth Prayer for Solidarity and Freedom

​Gracious Creator,

​We gather today in celebration and solidarity to honor Juneteenth, a joyous day that represents the enduring pursuit of freedom, justice, and equality. We give thanks for the progress we have made and for the continued opportunity to uplift our brothers and sisters.

​As union chaplains, we ask for the strength and wisdom to protect the rights, safety, and dignity of every worker. Guide us as we stand together to build fairer workplaces and stronger communities, ensuring our collective voice champions equity and respect for all.

​Bless our union, our families, and our daily labor. May the spirit of Juneteenth inspire us to work tirelessly toward a future where prosperity and opportunity are shared by everyone.
​In faith and solidarity,

​Amen.

06/11/2026

The Sacred Nature of Skill and Craftsmanship
​Scripture Focus:

​"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts.'" — Exodus 31:1-5

​Reflection:
When discussing spiritual gifts, the focus often defaults to teaching, preaching, or pastoral care. However, the first person in Scripture explicitly described as being "filled with the Spirit of God" was not a priest or a prophet. He was a craftsman and a builder named Bezalel.

​The theological framework of this passage establishes a critical biblical principle: physical labor, manufacturing, engineering, and technical design are divine callings. God did not simply hand the Israelites a finished Tabernacle. He provided the raw materials and endowed human workers with the cognitive ability ("wisdom and understanding") and the technical ex*****on ("all kinds of skills") required to build it.

​This establishes three systematic truths for the modern workplace:
​Skill is Spirit-Given: The ability to troubleshoot a mechanical issue, assemble a complex component, or sequence digital media is not merely a secular talent; it is a direct endowment from God.

​Material Work Has Spiritual Value: God cares about the physical world. Working with raw materials, mechanical systems, or operational logistics matters to Him because He designed the physical laws that govern them.

​Excellence Honors the Creator: Bezalel was called to work to exact specifications. Whether operating on an assembly line, managing mechanical maintenance, or coordinating production schedules, executing your job with precision and integrity reflects the nature of a God who brings order out of chaos.

​Your daily labor is not a distraction from your spiritual life; it is a primary venue for expressing it.

​Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the skills, intellect, and physical abilities You have granted us. Help us to view our daily tasks—whether in manufacturing, administration, maintenance, or technical design—as an extension of Your creative work. Grant us the focus to work with precision, the integrity to work with excellence, and the understanding that our labor honors You.
Amen.

06/01/2026

The Fear of the LORD!

The book of Proverbs starts out with the claim that, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 1:7)

What is this fear of the Lord that the Bible talks about?

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word yare doesn’t just mean “fear.” Yare also invokes emotions of awe and honor. In Exodus 15:11 Yare is the feeling of awe that comes from contemplating God’s character.

“Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome [yare] in splendor, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11)

God’s character is the source for each of the wise sayings in the book of Proverbs. When Proverbs encourages you to be trustworthy, shrewd, diligent or generous it is because God’s character is trustworthy, shrewd, diligent and generous.

The Bible praises the woman of Proverbs 31 because fear of the Lord roots her character in God’s character, rather than in other things.

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)

When your character is grounded in the fear of the Lord, it changes how you work. You don’t strive to serve your own ends or to please other people, but instead you take actions based on God’s character. For example, you can praise other people’s work rather than taking all the credit for yourself. The fear of the Lord can also lead you to forgive your coworkers when they make a mistake, or speak up about something that’s wrong in your workplace. Living in fear of the Lord means you don’t need to live in fear for your job or your status.

What will you do in your work today out of the fear of the Lord?

05/25/2026

Good morning,

Today, as we observe Memorial Day, we pause to remember, reflect, and give thanks.

We honor the lives of those who sacrificed so much, while also taking time to reflect on how we are living, loving, serving, and caring for one another each day. In a world that can feel heavy and divided, may we continue to choose gratitude, compassion, faith, and purpose.

Praying this week’s devotion encourages your heart and gives you a moment to pause in God’s presence.

05/25/2026

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." — John 15:13

​Today, the Local 1853 UAW Chaplaincy Committee pauses to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. We stand in deep gratitude for their courage, praying for God’s continued comfort over their families, and reaffirming our sacred duty to ensure their legacy of service is never forgotten.
​Lest we forget. 🇺🇸✝️

05/15/2026