By Steve Eighinger

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Those in attendance at Union United Methodist Church’s contemporary service Sunday morning will have an opportunity to hear chaplain Lt. Col. John Read speak — from Baghdad.

Read will address the congregation via an audio hook-up from Iraq. He will be thanking the congregation for its efforts in spearheading a drive which raised 1.3 million minutes of phone cards for U.S. soldiers to use while stationed in Iraq.

The service begins at 11:30 and will last approximately 30 minutes, according to the Rev. Bob Morwell.

«Worshippers will be able to hear the chaplain reflect on his work in that embattled city,» Morwell said. «The general public also is invited, and if time permits the chaplain may be able to field a few questions from the congregation.»

The telephone call was arranged by Morwell, who initially teamed with Read via e-mail to help begin a nationwide drive among Methodist churches to collect phone cards and have them sent to Iraq. The two originally made connections via e-mail.

Methodist chaplains serving in various combat zones distributed the phone cards to soldiers of all faiths.

More than 800,000 of the minutes raised came from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. The IGRC encompasses 950 Methodist churches in Illinois, including four in Quincy.

All cards collected were 500-minute AT&T models, the only type accepted in Iraq and which cost $25 each. The four Methodist churches in Quincy combined to contribute 82 cards.

«We will be displaying pictures taken in Iraq on our big screen while the chaplain is speaking,» Morwell said. «One of the pictures shows a group of U.S. soldiers holding up a sign which says ’Thanks’ (for the phone cards).»

Morwell said the service is scheduled for the chapel area inside Union United Methodist, but if the turnout is too large for that area the service will be moved to the main sanctuary which seats about 300.

«Everyone is welcome,» Morwell said.

Morwell said a trial run has been made with the connection to Iraq and all results were positive.

Any questions about Sunday’s service or presentation may be directed to the church at (217) 223–6062.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Eighinger at seighinger@whig.com or

(217) 221–3377