What's the best way for an Army Chaplain to stay connected to their sponsoring church?

     I have been thinking for the past couple of years now, about how connected I feel to my local church. I am an Army Chaplain, so I am geographically removed from my sponsoring Church. In some ways, this has led to a sense of disconnection. It places a burden on my heart to stay connected with the families that I love, yet I struggle with the best way to do that.

     So far, connection has consisted of sending in the occasional prayer request or update when something is changing and submitting my annual report and having a telephone conference with the board. Duty and Deployment messed up my opportunity to go to the Chaplains' Conferences the last two years, but I did finally get to preach at my home church over Christmas break (the first time I'd seen them in 2 years).

     I'm posting, because I know that there are many of you, military or not, who have good ideas for how to remain vitally connected to my local church and I'm praying you can offer those suggestions here.

     Thank you and Godspeed.

     Richard