Archived News: Diaconal & Servant Ministry
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USA, Canada & North America
Fresh Start Laundry celebrates one-year anniversary
by The Rev. Deacon Dianna Deaderick On 14 October 2016, St. Luke's began a new ministry called Fresh Start. It was our mission to provide free laundry services, showers, clothing and food for the area's homeless population and working poor. Since opening, our services have expanded to include free HIV testing, dental care, bus tickets, diapers, and furniture and household items. In less that one year, we have served more than 560 different people and average between 70 - 80 people each day of operation. We currently serve our clients each Thursday from 10:00 - 3:00 and the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, also from 10:00 - 3:00. In addition, our Saturday ministry includes a full noontime meal. AIDS Healthcare Foundation has partnered with us on the first Thursday of each month. On those days we provide an advocacy event for clients and community partners on a variety of topics including health issues and other concerns. AHF provides a lunch for all in attendance at no charge. We are also partnering with the Columbia Oral Health Clinic, who is providing free dental care and dentures for our clients. Also, each Thursday Mother Jill+ conducts a noontime prayer and healing service. The needs they bring before the altar are beyond words. When God put the call in my heart to begin this ministry I never could have imagined where we would be today. Deacon’s Godly Play book used in London, England
In July of 2015, the Reverend Deacon Lois Howard had her ministry to Alzheimers' and Dementia patients, using Godly Play, published as a digital book. Just prior to Christmas, Lois was contacted by a Godly Play Trainer in London, England, who informed her that a grant had been applied for which would enable churches in the United Kingdom to launch a program similar to her ministry, using much of the material found in her e-book. She was asked to write a letter in support of the grant to accompany the proposal being submitted. The grant was to train teams of people in 16 different churches throughout England to carry on a ministry to Alzheimer's and dementia patients using Godly Play. The hope of the United Kingdom Trainers was to target 16 churches each year over a 3 year period of time meaning that, at the end of three years, 48 churches would carry out such a ministry. In mid-March, Lois received word from London that the grant for 20,000 pounds was indeed awarded and the program would be officially launched on April 29th in Sheffield, England and on May 6th in Birmingham. A news release the week of May 9th, with photos was published in the Church of England newspaper, showing Lois as she works with Alzheimer's patients every Monday morning in Lexington. Lois and six other folks, representing three denominations, just began their eleventh year of ministering to these folks at a residence known as The Breckinridge. This ministry, a ministry of presence, allows these special folks to experience wholeness in the midst of their brokenness. Lois introduced Godly Play to the Diocese of Lexington in 1988 while serving as Minister of Christian Education at Christ Church Cathedral and she then went on to be accredited by Godly Play Foundation as a National Trainer in 2000. She is an active member of the College of Trainers of the Godly Play Foundation and was trained by Dr. Jerome Berryman, creator of the Godly Play program. Although her ministry in this Diocese has not grown, she is thrilled at the prospect of it being carried out throughout the United Kingdom. She also was told that a Trainer from Finland and one from Australia indicated an interest in traveling to England to experience the program and perhaps take it to their respective countries. Lois' downloadable booklet Using Godly Play with Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients can be purchased here. In Mission, Faith Matters Deacon Clelia Garrity reflects on her work in Haiti.
Deacon behind “Episcopal Church Memes”
Water: Global Conference
March 2017, Deacon Brandon Mauai, member of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation, spoke. Read. Wally Eamer helped broker an historic peace in the forests of British Columbia.
March 2017, Harvard Business School Alumni. Read. Grants awarded June 2016
89 Educational Scholarships Granted throughout Episcopal Church, Anglican Communion St. Stephen Recognition: Diaconal ministry in the tradition of St. Stephen
Refugee Toolkit: The Church's role in Refugee Resettlement 2016
The Diocese of Texas has created a Refugee Resources Toolkit. This extensive curriculum contains facts, background and best practices for congregational engagement. Dinah's House Opens May 2016
Deacon Gay Cox helped start Dinah's House, a place where women feel at home, safe and supported. They hope to reach those who are trafficked and sexually exploited. Read more. Tiny House built on church property
December 2015. St. John’s Episcopal Church, MN partnered with a local organization to build and service a “Tiny House” in which a homeless person will live through the winter and beyond. Deacon’s ministry featured in Anglican World
February 2016. Deacon Carol Eaton's Beach Towel Ministry has been picked up from AED's Diakoneo magazine, and featured in the Anglican Journal! See page 23. Deacon’s photography serves Cleveland’s homeless
July 2015. Deacon Lydia Bailey works as the volunteer coordinator at the 2100 Lakeside Men’s Shelter, the largest in Ohio. Her photos of the residents culminated in an art exhibit called “Portraits of Homelessness.” Read more. That Deacon on YouTube
April 2015. Deacon Anthony Keller, of the Diocese of Los Angeles, has introduced That Deacon on YouTube, a new channel on the diaconate and a deacon's work in the world. Watch it here. You can subscribe to his monthly blog - and suggest it to those in formation. Refugee Crisis Work
Deacon Wanda Cuniff spent a week in early August 2014 on the Border at McAllen, Texas. She and others volunteered with local organizations to respond to the refugee crisis. Read more. Chef-turned-Deacon
In the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church kitchen in Armory Park, AZ, chef-turned-Deacon Jefferson Bailey is feeding neighbors and building community. Read the article.
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The Wider World
Deacons support historic service of reconciliation
After several years in the planning stage, an historic Service of Reconciliation was held at St. Mary’s Church in downtown Los Angeles on July 5, 2015. Several interwoven threads of reconciliation, both local and international, were celebrated during the morning service and discussed in an afternoon panel. The primary focus was the difficult and deeply faithful reconciliation that is currently a work in progress between the Anglican Church of Korea and Nippon Sei Ko Kai (the Anglican Church in Japan).
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Row 1: Rev. Jamesetta Hammons, Bp. Catherine Roskam, Bp. Paul Kim, Bp. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Bp. Uematsu, Buddist Bp. Jongmae, Rev. Aidan Koh
Row 2: Rev. Margaret Hudley McCauley, Rev. Nancy, Bp. Allen Shin, Bp. Diane Jardine Bruce, Rev. David, Rev. John Dongjin Kim Row 3: Rev. Barbara Stewart, Rev. Antonio Sato, Rev.Choi, Rev. Stephen You, Rev. Esther Kim, Br. Cristobal Ambrose, Rev. Joanne Leslie, Rev. Guy Leemhuis, Rev. Keith Yamamoto Photo by: Sikyung Yoo |
This reconciliation effort is being led by the two primates, who met when they were young priests: The Most Rev. Nathaniel M. Uematsu, Primate of Nippon Sei Ko Kai and The Most Rev. Paul Keun Sang Kim, Primate of the Anglican Church in Korea. Along with these two lead bishops, who each spoke movingly and frankly about their journey of coming to embrace a former enemy as a friend, the celebrant for the Service of Reconciliation was our own Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, who also participated in the afternoon panel. The preacher was Diocese of Los Angeles Suffragan Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce, who had taken the lead in planning this memorable event.
Of course, the deacons of Los Angeles wanted to be present both to support the liturgy and the spirit of reconciliation being celebrated. Archdeacon Joanne Leslie and Deacons Jamesetta Hammons, Margaret McCauley and Guy Leemhuis were all privileged to participate and rose to the occasion despite the fact that they and many others in the service had only arrived from General Convention the day before.
Of course, the deacons of Los Angeles wanted to be present both to support the liturgy and the spirit of reconciliation being celebrated. Archdeacon Joanne Leslie and Deacons Jamesetta Hammons, Margaret McCauley and Guy Leemhuis were all privileged to participate and rose to the occasion despite the fact that they and many others in the service had only arrived from General Convention the day before.
Haiti Medical Mission
in this video, Deacon Clelia Garrity talks about her ongoing medical mission work in Haiti and the challenges the Haitian people face.
in this video, Deacon Clelia Garrity talks about her ongoing medical mission work in Haiti and the challenges the Haitian people face.