Anglicans For Life

Anglicans for Life is:

• "a life-affirming ministry in the worldwide Anglican Communion,
• to advocate for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death,
• in the Church and society,
• working together as followers of Jesus Christ,
• reaches out and ministers to the lost, the needy, the sick and suffering,
• experiencing fun and fellowship as we fulfill the great commission."

The congregational chapter is headed up by Thelma Barto and is an enthusiastic proponent for education as well as hands-on ministry. From counseling at local Crisis Pregnancy Centers, to awareness about the Freedom of Choice Act, members of St. John's are involved in making a difference in our world.

The web site for the national headquarters of Anglicans for Life may be found here. We can also commend several other informative web sites, including:

LifeSite News: http://www.lifesitenews.com

National Right To Life: http://www.nrlc.org/

Christ Anglican Mission, Millville, NJ

Christ Anglican Mission in Millville NJ holds services every Sunday at 10 am. On the 4th Sunday of each month, Holy Communion is celebrated, otherwise the service used is Morning Prayer. In both cases, the service is from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer adapted to Modern English. The meetings take place at Central Baptist Church, 225 Sassafras St., Millville NJ 08332.

During Lent, the following dates are exceptions to the above: Palm Sunday (4/5/09) and Maundy Thursday (4/9/09). On these two dates, Holy Communion will be celebrated at 7:30 pm.

Directions to Christ Anglican Mission are as follows and you can also visit their web site: www.christanglicanmission.org. You may also email Rev. Ken Cook, or the Senior Warden, Mrs. Sherry Tomlin.

Directions To Christ Anglican Mission

From the North: Route 55 south to Exit 27, take Route 47 south for 2 miles, Left on Sassafras St., Left into parking lot.

From the South: Route 55 north to Exit 24, Left onto Route 49 (Main St.) for 1.5 miles, Right onto Route 47, Immediate right onto Sassafras St., Left into parking lot.

From the West: From Route 49, Left onto Route 47, Immediate right onto Sassafras St., Left into parking lot

 

Deaf Ministry Initiative

St. John's Missions Group is at the very early stages of developing a ministry for the severely hearing impaired. The following is a write-up by the team leader, Jim Cushing. For more details, feel free to talk to Jim directly.

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 Introduction

When people think of missionary work they often think of going abroad, being immersed into a new culture, and learning a new language. Fortunately for those less inclined to travel for whatever reason (the very large bugs of a rain forest come to mind), one can remain right in their own community and still engage in mission work that involves immersion into a new culture and learning a new language. Specifically, as I am sure you have guessed, the mission to the deaf community is the domestic mission to which I am alluding. 

Present Ministry Availability

The deaf community is one of the last subgroups of American culture where the Gospel has not made very many significant in roads. Despite being raised in Christian, or at least “religious” households and recognizing Christian concepts (e.g.: Christmas), the average deaf person’s knowledge of, let alone belief in Christianity is astonishingly small.  Less than five (5) percent of deaf attend church regularly; one of the primary reasons for this is the lack of opportunity.

In the vicinity of St. John’s, there is:

1. a single, and nearly dead (and likely spiritually bereft), Episcopal congregation for the deaf known as All Souls in the Germantown area;
2. St. Phillips Lutheran Church (which has no permanent home and virtually no parishioners, indeed according to the ELCA website it has not even submitted an attendance report);
3. Christ the King Lutheran Church all the way out in West Chester (I have no idea if this church is healthy or not as it is too far away to take the time to investigate);
4. First Deaf Mennonite Church in Lancaster (again, I have no idea if this church is healthy or not as it is too far away to take the time to investigate);
5. Bethel Baptist Church in Sellersville;
6. Deaf Roman Catholic Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; and,
7. the occasional super-large church that has someone signing at the front of the church (e.g.: Calvary Chapel or Davisville Baptist Church).

A Google search, and review of the telephone book, reveals no other deaf ministry in our area. As you can see, the options for a deaf person to go to church in the St. John’s community area are virtually nil. Is the Christian community’s failure to adequately communicate the Gospel to the deaf the stumbling block God warns of in Leviticus? Perhaps, but we have the opportunity to help make the deaf "hear" the Gospel.

Basic Needs And Assumptions

In order to pursue a ministry to the deaf, some things will be required. Of course, the details can be hammered out as the planning takes place.

First, funds will have to be available for a sign language interpreter and/or classes.  Obviously, as a church, we will likely get a discounted rate for an interpreter, but there may be a cost nonetheless, if only for transportation to the church on Sundays (more details on this below). In the alternative, there is a possible self-renewing grassroots ministry which we could pursue as described below. Obviously, this option, too, will require some funding.

Second, consistency is key to keep the deaf coming back. We need to provide services for the deaf each week else people may lose interest.

Third, the deaf are a subculture and, therefore, essentially require social gathering(s) to be organized for the deaf along with the actual ministry. I can certainly expand on this point personally with you if need be. However, at this juncture I can simply and personally vouch for the fact that when the whole world is shut out from you and virtually no one interacts with you (and those that do generally do so in an uncomfortable and stilted way), gathering with those with whom you can relate and communicate is of the utmost importance. Without this, no matter how nice you are to them, the deaf will continue to feel isolated and not really a part of the church.

Fourth, the congregation will need to be sensitized to the needs and cultural norms for the deaf and how best to interact with them.

Fifth, some basic things to help facilitate their involvement in the Liturgy (e.g.: all seated in the same area near the interpreter; creating a way they can engage in the Anglican-book-juggle and still sign the liturgy).

Sixth, a healthy amount of advertising is needed (details on advertising are below).

Seventh, encouraging any deaf person you know to come attend. 

 Costs

Anticipating your questions about the cost and availability of a paid interpreter, I have done extensive research into what services may be available in this area. Before looking at the rates, please note the following:

1. each has his/her/its own policies for last-minute cancellation (their cancellation or our own) which I have not detailed;
2. each has his/her/its own policy for last minute retention which I have not detailed; and,
3. do not infer that the rates necessarily correspond to quality.

Very often interpreters work both freelance and for an association. If contacted independently of the association the interpreter will charge his/her own rate which is generally lower than that of an association of some sort. However, that same person charges the association’s rate if retained for an assignment by the association itself. Obviously, whether the interpreter goes to the 8:00am Mass or Sunday School or any other event will be determined by demand and financial feasibility. I also suggest that we have a “regular” interpreter but also have at least one other one as back up and to interpret the Sundays the regular one is unable to do so for one reason or another. The best service providers are as follows:

• Language Services Associates (its ASL Manager coordinates the deaf ministry at her church): $80/hr for interpreting, 2hr minimum, $40/hr travel; $0.505/mi for travel (this is discounted from their normal rate by $20/hr and $10/hr for travel);
• Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre, Inc.: $102 for 2 hours; $51/hr thereafter;
• Martha Hicks: $25/hr, 2 hour minimum;
• Christina Rutledge: $35/hr; 2hr minimum, $17.50 each 30 minutes over 2 hours; $245 full day; $0.505/mi travel plus tolls.

Regarding advertising, I have a few contacts with which to advertise in the deaf community, but getting the word out other ways is obviously helpful. Personally, I can advertise with the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (this includes people much older than school age as the PSD alumni generally maintain close contact for life), a deaf email listserve I am on, a website or two, and a variety of deaf people I know. I am sure newspaper advertisements would help. I would also think contacting area congregations to alert them of the ministry would help. They may have deaf people to direct to us or resources to offer to help us. Furthermore, individuals in the congregation may have deaf friends or family who can be brought to church. Finally, Silent Word Ministries, a national Christian deaf organization, can hold “Fantastic Saturday” at the church where they contact the deaf community to hold essentially a deaf fair to inform them of the existence of our ministry.

Background Data And Research

In order to present an informed proposal to the Vestry, Ferrell Miller and I did some grassroots research into the viability and logistics of a deaf ministry. At a meeting of the Mission Committee, speakers from Davisville Baptist Church (Ken Weigert) and Our Lady of Ransom (Sr. Kathleen and Norman Smeal) made presentations. Ken Weigert does sign language interpreting at Davisville, whilst Sr. Kathleen helps coordinate the Roman Catholic Deaf Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and Norman Smeal is a parishioner at Ransom.

Although Mr. Weigert has not dedicated his ministry to the deaf, he did share his experiences with the deaf. Mr. Weigert believes that a consistently provided sign language interpreter each Sunday is imperative.

Sr. Kathleen made a brief presentation regarding the Roman Catholic Apostolate. The Apostolate has been ministering to the deaf for well over a century. It has established an entire congregation of deaf, which currently has a hard of hearing priest and a nun (St. Kathleen) who are fluent in American Sign Language and celebrate the Mass using sign language as the primary language.

Obviously, the Roman Apostolate is far more large, complex and comprehensive than St. John’s could offer but we can learn a great deal from them. Sr. Kathleen, along with Mr. Smeal, made it clear that a successful deaf ministry must be integrated into the existing congregation. The deaf must feel comfortable and welcome in the congregation. They also mentioned that programs and/or social functions for the deaf are very important to help them become a part of the congregation’s life. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, they made it clear that allowing the deaf into leadership and decision making positions for the deaf ministry is vitally important to allow the deaf to take ownership into the ministry and feel like an integral part of our church.

Having such a large number of deaf at the parish allows parishioners to form a sign language “choir” for various musical interludes (e.g.: introit, gradual, anthem, etc). Also, for ease of liturgical worship, a deaf parishioner should stand near or next to the celebrant (or reader, etc) to lead the congregation’s liturgical responses so that all make the appropriate liturgical responses reasonably simultaneously.

On the strength of the presentations of Mr. Weigert, Sr. Kathleen, and Mr. Smeal, Ferrell and I wanted to see a deaf ministry in action. Mr. Weigert informed us of the existence of a thriving deaf ministry at Bethel Baptist Church in Sellersville. To that end, Ferrell and I went on an expedition deep into the wilds of Bucks County to visit Bethel Baptist Church. Fortuitously, Bethel has a nave that is very similar to that at Jesus Focus. The deaf all sit in the same section of pews; a wedge of pews on the side of the nave. In the front of that wedge of pews is a podium with a lectern. Over the course of the Sunday service a series of hearing folks from the congregation went to the podium to interpret the service for the group of deaf. They interpreted every hymn, prayer, and, of course, the entire homily. The interpreter did not interfere with any hearing during the service, nor did s/he obstruct the view of any congregant due to the deaf all sitting in the same section.

After the service Ferrell and I spoke with the coordinator of the deaf ministry. Her passion for the Gospel has led her to take on the ministry as a mission in her life and has twenty (20) plus years of sign language under her belt. She feels that the best way to have a successful, integrated, and effective deaf ministry is to have a homegrown set of interpreters. As a professional interpreter she was able to teach members of her congregation sign language. There seems to especially be an emphasis on teaching the youth as it is something, with practice, the youth can excel and be excited about doing. Although only 1 interpreter is needed per service, Bethel uses as many as 8 congregants who switch off and on for individual hymns or prayers as a way to get as many people involved and practiced as possible.

If employed at St. John’s, such a strategy will create, hopefully, a self-perpetuating ministry within the congregation where parishioners can be active participants. Due to the multiplicity of interpreters, an interpreter can be available for many, if not most, congregation events and services such as Sunday School and socials. Obviously with homegrown interpreters, the cost of the ministry is dramatically decreased as compared to a hired interpreter. Additionally, a Christian interpreter may be more appropriate for a Christian setting than a non-believer.

St. John’s could very well pursue a ministry similar to that of Bethel. While the area community colleges offer courses on sign language, virtually all of the individuals above recommended the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf as a good resource for sign language training. PSD classes are $125 per person for a 5 week, 2 night per week class. There are 3 levels of classes in increasing difficulty. This appears to be a rather small investment for a potentially large return. Members of the congregation could volunteer to go to the classes and increase in sign language fluency until they are ready to interpret. Indeed, we do not know if anyone in the congregation is already fluent enough in sign language as it is, without the need for classes. An Anglican liturgy is easier to interpret than a Baptist one as it is essentially the same each week (save hymns and homily) and the hymns and homily can be known the interpreter ahead of time.

Perhaps a way to start this program is to sponsor interested parishioners to go to classes at PSD. When an interpreter is ready, advertisement of the ministry using the sources and avenues mentioned above will take place. Finally, Silent Word Ministries can hold a Fantastic Saturday at the church to kick off the ministry scheduled for the next day.

Upon starting the ministry, the challenge is keeping it going using the recommendations of the speakers describe above. St. John’s could become known as the local church for deaf ministry and be a crucial part of reaching the deaf with the Gospel. Finally, simple steps could be taken to help instruct the congregation as to how to interact with the deaf to help both the deaf and members of our congregation feel more comfortable with one another with the goal of making the deaf equal members of St. John’s rather than merely a ministry. For example, teaching the congregation a few simple signs could go a long way. Additionally, merely making some suggestions to the congregation for behavior and interaction with the deaf would prove to be very helpful.

I appreciate your taking the time to consider this ministry opportunity.  Thank you and God bless.

Jim Cushing

Earthquake Relief

With the most recent earthquake in Chile, the world has again been shaken by news of a terrible tragedy, another that defies our ability to grasp its enormity. In Haiti, 170,000 are estimated to have died, with another 300,000 injured. Though it's far too early to estimate casualties in Chile, we are informed by scientists that the 8.8 (formerly Richter scale, now designated M_W or Moment Magnitude scale) earthquake is the 7^th strongest in recorded history and may have caused a shortening of the earth's day by about 1.26 milliseconds!

• Chilean Relief: You may refer to the general statements below and also see the Anglican Relief and Development Fund's web site for up to date information on Chilean relief efforts.
• Haiti Relief: Please see this statement concerning relief.
• General Information: We also commend these other opportunities to serve the larger world for Jesus' sake.

Jesus Focus Food Pantry

Ongoing Need!

Jesus Focus Ministry has a continual need for supplies for their food pantry. Serving over 900 families per month, Jesus Focus welcomes any gifts that are most convenient for you:

• At the most basic: money, canned food, dried goods
•  Cereal
• Peanut butter or jelly
• Tuna fish
• Canned vegetables or fruit
• Spaghetti sauce
•  Pasta
• Canned juices

Many thanks to those who have already contributed; whether money, time, or food. For more information, see Debbie Freisheim or call the church office for more information (215-396-1970). You can also look at the Jesus Focus web site for more information.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? (Jas 2.15–16)

Miscellaneous Events

Sometimes St. John’s engages in ministries that defy a precise definition - such as our 2008 First Annual Interactive Live Nativity. At least until we can find a better category, we’ll store those events here.

Nicaragua Missions

The Nicaragua Ministry is a three pronged effort with our partner church in Santa Maria, Nicaragua.  You are encouraged to seek the Lord in determining if you should become a part of this ministry.

  

Medical Fund

The medical fund is designed to help community members of Verbo Church by providing much needed funding for medicine, doctor visits and other urgently needed health care.  This fund is supported through the missions committee, as well as through individual donations.  Donations can be made payable to St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, with a designation for "Nicaragua Medical Fund."  Please contact Sandy Buckley for further information.

  

Send a Child to School Ministry

Members of St. John's also individually or collectively sponsor students in the local schools in Santa Maria.  We currently have 14 students being sponsored, with more possible every school year which runs February through November in Nicaragua.  Funding goes to support school fees, school uniforms, books and basic supplies.  Contact Chris Freisheim for further information.

  

Summer Mission Trips

The summer mission trip to Nicaragua trip is an annual short term international mission project to Santa Maria which began in 2005.  The focus of the week long mission is running a vacation Bible School for the children and a series of Bible Studies for the parish.  Additionally, the team looks to complete a hands on project or two that improve the church property.  Recently, the team has painted the exterior of the church, installed ceiling fans and installed a cement floor for the new kitchen.  In order to participate in this trip, all that is needed is a committment to the Lord and a desire to serve Him humbly.  Team members participate in pre-trip orientation meetings and Bible studies to prepare heart and mind for the work ahead.  Knowledge of Spanish is helpful, but not required as professional translators join our team while in country.

Learn more about past trips by reading the blogs from 2007, 2008, 2009 or 2010. or by viewing the 2008 trip video HERE. This is a great way to get a feel for the work that St. John's is doing there.  Note: the video is about 90 megs, so you should have a connection that's faster than dialup. You can download the file for later viewing by right-clicking on the word 'HERE,' and then selecting 'Download As …' or something similar.  This will vary depending on your browser.

Contact Chris Freisheim if you have interest or questions.

Feel free to review the team pre-work below.  

• Orientation Studies
• What to Bring
• In Country Schedule Highlights
• Masaya and Grenada Information

Support For Personal Missions

Many at St. John's are involved in domestic and foreign evangelism on a variety of levels. Just a sample list follows:

• SCEI - http://www.goscei.com. Here's a video from Butch Bodenheimer's most recent trip to Columbia. The image of the baseball card to the right has been signed by the star himself and will be worth something someday - we hope! :-)
• Opportunity International - http://www.opportunity.org
• Crisis Pregnancy Center - http://www.pregnancyresourceclinic.org
• Habitat For Humanity - http://www.habitat.org

Our people take the gospel seriously and are following Jesus wherever He leads them! If you are a member or regular attender at St. John's and involved in something about which you are passionate that has a direct or indirect effect on God's kingdom, we want to hear about it and to help support what you do!