c. 2006 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) When the Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off this summer, some of its astronauts will already have been lifted in prayer by their congregations. In fact, one Houston-area church will simultaneously have two members in space.

“It’s unreal,” said Pastor John Kieschnick of his Lutheran church that includes a Discovery flight crew member and an astronaut on the International Space Station. “We were just taken aback by that.”

Meanwhile, an African Methodist Episcopal Church recently recruited local clergy for a special service to pray for its astronaut member, praying for specific space-related issues, from foam to favorable weather.

As astronauts literally reach for the stars, their clergy report that they continue to hang onto their faith. The space travelers are sent off with special ceremonies from the worshippers they leave behind. And while their churchgoing activities may be limited during training and time in orbit, sometimes they can keep in touch using e-mail and even cell phones.

Kieschnick, pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Nassau Bay, Texas, received a recent call just before a wedding ceremony from Jeff Williams, who is currently on a six-month mission at the space station with a Russian cosmonaut.

“It was five minutes before the service began and Jeff called me on my cell phone,” Kieschnick said. “He sent prayers from the International Space station for the couple.”

Kieschnick has also kept in touch with his far-flung parishioner via e-mail, and the church has sent Communion wafers and wine up to Williams aboard a Russian resupply spacecraft.

“There’s special little Communion kits that can be sent,” the pastor said. “We set that aside when we celebrate here so it’s an extension of the altar of our congregation.”

Practicing one’s faith in space is nothing new, but sometimes requires special planning.

Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli on a shuttle mission, carried a small Torah scroll and ate kosher foods onboard Space Shuttle Columbia. He died with the rest of the crew in 2003 when Columbia disintegrated during its return to Earth.

The Chronicle of Higher Education reported in May that a National University of Malaysia professor has developed a program that would help a Muslim astronaut determine what times to pray and which direction to face during the traditional five daily times of prayer.

NASA public affairs officer Doug Peterson said astronauts who spend a long time in space often times will “practice their religion in space just as they would on Earth.”

In mid-June, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church held a commissioning ceremony to mark the upcoming departure of member Mike Fossum on Discovery, which is scheduled for liftoff on July 1 _ only the second shuttle flight since the 2003 Columbia disaster.

“We like to send them with the prayers, and godspeed, blessing of the congregation,” said Kieschnick, who is a cousin of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod President Gerald Kieschnick.

He described Williams and Fossum as “outstanding Christian men” in a congregation where at least one-fifth of the 3,200 members either work for NASA or one of its subcontractors. NASA’s Johnson Space Center is located in nearby Houston.

Both men have been members of the church for more than a dozen years. Williams is a lay minister in the church and Fossum is a small group leader.

In his preflight interview on NASA’s Web site, Fossum described his reaction when he learned in 2003 that he would have his first opportunity to fly in space.

“I hang up the phone … and fell to my knees,” he recalled. “I said, `Thank you, God; I can’t believe it’s really going to happen!”’

Stephanie Wilson, a member of the Reedy Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Galveston, Texas, also will be taking flight for the first time. Her pastor, the Rev. Brenda Payne, said Wilson has been an active member in the church, singing in the choir and serving as a trustee and in the church’s outreach to the needy.

“She is very much aware of the risk, but this is something that she believes that she has to do in terms of furthering space endeavors and the possibilities that it has for, really, not only her nation but the world,” Payne said. “This is a dream come true for her and we’re so happy for her.”

On June 11, the AME congregation hosted an ecumenical service in Wilson’s honor, calling on clergy from a range of denominations to pray for specific areas of concern including “foam issues.” Columbia’s fatal accident was caused in part by foam that fell from its external fuel tank and punched a hole in the orbiter’s wing.

“Of course, we started off by praying for the entire crew,” Payne said. “The very last prayer centered on a … safe entry and safe landing.”

KRE/JL END BANKS

Editors: To obtain photos of Williams, Fosum and Wilson, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.

Note time references in 1st and 13th grafs: Discovery liftoff scheduled for July 1.