The Rev. Virginia W. Nagel
Ephphatha Parish of the Deaf
Episcopal Diocese of Central NY
Today begins a new chapter in the story of the ministry with the deaf in the Diocese of Rochester. It is also a new chapter in the story of St. Mark's and St. John's, in the history of Ephphatha Mission for the Deaf, and, of course, in the life and ministry of our sister Suzanne.
It is all part of the story that began long ago when God made himself known to people, and taught us and led us into a closer relationship with Him. Perhaps you know the old song, I love to tell the story....'twill be my theme in glory...to tell the old, old story....of Jesus and his love. Today we begin a new chapter of that story, right here, in St. Mark's and St. John's, and in Ephphatha.
Today, Suzanne is joining a distinguished company of lay people, some hearing, some deaf, who have worked in the deaf community to help those of us without hearing, or with limited hearing, to know and love the Lord Jesus.
The first church service for the deaf in the Diocese of Rochester was held in 1873 at old St. Luke's on Fitzhugh Street. The Rev. Thomas Gallaudet, the Apostle to the Deaf, held that service. It was one of the first services he held outside New York City, when he decided to extend his mission to the deaf community outside the bounds of the Diocese of New York. For that first year, services alternated between St. Luke's and Christ Church. The Rev. William Berry of Troy (and later of Manlius, near Syracuse) assisted Dr. Gallaudet in starting this mission, which later became Ephphatha. Dr. Gallaudet came 3 or 4 times a year, and Fr. Berry filled in each month that Dr. Gallaudet was not able to come.
In April, 1874, the first lay missioner for the deaf in the Diocese was licensed as a
lay reader. This was Mr. John C. Acker, a printer by trade. The deaf mission took up permanent quarters at St. Luke's Church, where a small upstairs chapel was made available for their use. When I was a student at the Rochester School for the deaf in the 1940's and 1950's, we still used that chapel for monthly services for the deaf community.
There have been many other lay missioners to the deaf all over the United States. Some have been deaf people, such as the Henry Winter Syle, who later went on to seek ordination and became priests in the deaf community. Some were hearing people to whom God had given a calling to serve the deaf churches. The very first woman to be licensed as a
lay reader, Joanne Campbell of Harrisburg, PA, was given her license in 1960 specifically so that she could hold services of Morning and Evening Prayer for the deaf in Central Pennsylvania. Joanne died a couple of years ago, and her husband, a hearing man, continues his support of the ministry with the deaf there.
It is good to know our history, but it is even more important to be aware of our responsibilities in carrying on that history. And so, I would like to speak briefly to each of the groups who join together today to install Suzanne in her new calling from God.
First, Suzanne: it will not be easy for you, a hearing person, to learn to "think deaf" and understand why deaf people do some things differently from other people. You will need to open your heart wide to the deaf community. You will need to get used to living in two worlds at the same time. Part of this service will be our prayers for God's grace for you, as you learn to do this. You will often be discouraged, and wonder how you can go on. I can only tell you that when God calls us to this work, he gives us the grace and the gifts to do it. You, like all others who minister in the deaf churches, will need to know that you cannot try to re-make deaf people into a hearing mold; you will have to learn to accept us deaf as we are, and let the Lord lead you. There's an old spiritual in which we sing: Leaning on the Lord...we've come this far, leaning on the Lord....there's no going back; on we go, always leaning on the Lord. You couldn't have a better motto!
Second, to the people of Ephphatha Mission, I would say: The most important things we can do in our life are to learn to know the Lord Jesus, and give him the glory and worship he deserves. We do this by obeying him, and by worshiping together each week, as the Bible tells us to do. There are many ways to worship, and they are all good, as long as we give that worship to God. Holy Communion is probably the most impressive and formal way to worship, but most churches have not had Holy Communion as a regular service until after World War 2. Your parents and grandparents, like mine, usually had Morning or Evening Prayer most Sundays, and Holy Communion only once a month or a few times a year. So, I say to you: be flexible in how you worship. Come to Morning Prayer when that is the service, come to Holy Communion when that is the service. Both are "real" services. Learn all you can about God from the Bible and from sermons. And love and help your Lay Missioner, Suzanne, who is following Jesus' example and using her life to bring you closer to God.
Third, to the people of St. Mark's and St. John's, I will say: You are blessed to have Ephphatha here, because it helps you remember that God is God for everyone, not just for people "like me." You have the big opportunity and challenge to learn to know and love people who are different from you, people who talk with their hands instead of their mouths, people who live in a world that is mostly silent. If you can find it in your heart to take the time and trouble to get to know us as individuals, you may find we are more like yourselves than you thought. But I ask one thing very seriously of you all: Make the effort to greet our deaf people. Learn a few signs, enough to say Good Morning or How are you? When you are in a group with deaf people, give them a chance to talk, to tell you what they think. It's often hard for deaf folks to get a word in when hearing folks are chattering non-stop. And, above all, remember that having Ephphatha here is a real blessing for you, and thank God for that blessing, and find ways to make Ephphatha more and more accepted and loved here at St. Mark's and St. John's. I promise you will not be sorry.
What we are doing today is in obedience to Jesus' command, to go to all the earth and tell all people about the love of God, the redemption of Jesus the Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We all have a responsibility to carry out this command. Amen.
