Serving as I have for several years at the Church of the Advent the Bishop, Tom Breidenthal and Canon Johanssen requested that i offer my services as a nurse at St. Michael and All Angels Parish in Avondale. That church was recently closed but the Bishop requested that we still maintain Episcopal presents in that community through the soup kitchen and health ministry begun by St. Michael and All Angels. I have been serving since the beginning of summer as health coordinator during the soup kitchen hours on Thursday and Friday of each week. I provide blood pressure screening and counseling to those coming for a good home cooked meal. I provide the same assistance to residents of an apartment house known as Avonview, directly across the street from the church.

The role of a Deacon is that of servant ministry, serving as a bridge from the church into the community and back again. Another way of saying that is to help interpret the needs and gifts of that community to the local parish. And in the same fashion, being a member of the local parish there is a call to present Christ and the Good News to that same community.

My duties are to assist the rector in conducting the Holy Liturgy on Sundays and to preach. I provide pastoral care for those who are unable to attend services, by providing home communions and visiting members who are in the hospital.

Last year I served as the contact person for a mission trip to New Orleans for a group of parishioners. Our work involved gutting flood damaged homes, distributing food, water and other needed items to some hard hit areas. We also served on a mobile medical unit that provided health screening and referrals as needed. This was a very rewarding and moving way to serve as God's hands and feet.

Another parish project has been collecting children's clothing for HIV orphans for the Dohn's our physician/missionary serving the Dominican Republic. Parishioners and their friends and neighbors have been very generous in contributing to this effort.


Phyllis Armstrong
Deacon, Church of the Advent

 

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