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St. John's Episcopal Chapel
~The 6th Week ~
A Journey Through Biblical Essentials
We’re entering the 6th week of the Camp and what we’ve anticipated, in reality has been far surpassed. Our first and second grade little girls are reacting to biblical instruction and guidance, far better than we could have ever hoped or anticipated. They are, with the assistance of the volunteers from St. Michaels, Agape InnerCity Christian Assembly and The Church of the Cross (Bluffton, South Carolina), through the Bible, "Teaching and admonishing [our Little Princesses]… with Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual songs, singing & making melody in [their] hearts to God"- Col.3:16b
The “Pink Bus” has gained its own notoriety and “mystique”. Community people and those as far as Awendaw, and even as far a Bluffton, are speaking of this repainted, older model 35-passenger school bus as, people during Paul Revere’s time, spoke concerning his role in the Revolutionary War. The Pink Bus is speaking so loud concerning the caring by the church of the unfortunate and those that seemingly had no hope of a prosperous future before this large pink object began its journey through the streets of Charleston’s Eastside and beyond. It just moves through the streets of Charleston, not making any noise, just the sound of the diesel engine, but the “silence” and appearance of that “John the Baptist” has garnered the attention of television channels, radio stations and the Post & Courier’s Adam Parker, who will began an article at the behest of Al Zadig on this “Pink” phenomena and its reason for just “rolling along”.
Also keep in mind that on Sunday, August 2nd, at 5:00 pm, at the Agape InnerCity Christian Assembly Church Building (727 East Bay Street), a performance and presentation of awards will take place, honoring the Lord Jesus Christ and gift of the “hearts and souls” of our wonderful little girls, our little Princesses. Please attend this wonderful presentation, where the little ones that you so wonderfully, supported with your prayers and finances will be honored and will perform biblical songs and a “skit”. We’re sending out special invitations to each of the sponsors and to the congregation in general for your great support of this inner-city effort.
Lastly, on Thursday, August 6th-8th, 48 people, including 18 Princesses, permanent volunteers, parents, and chaperons will descend on Orlando Florida, via a trip to the Holy Land Orlando and the SeaWorld Theme Park. We’re still in need of finances, but the fundraising is going very well and we anticipate meeting our goal and “soaking up the Florida sun”…
Thanks for caring for us…
Janie D. Wilson
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| Biblical Essentials |
St John’s Chapel
Twelve (12) people, from various Episcopal churches met on Thursday, March 26, 2009, in a small board room, around a make-shift conference table, in a building under construction, located in the inner-city Eastside of Charleston, SC at 12:45 pm. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss our future corporate ministry experience together. The group of Christians consisted of the old/young; rich/poor; black/white; male/female; Clergy/Laity where the “walls of petition” didn’t exist.
The Facilitator, Al Zadig and Brother Dallas, Vicar set the “invisible” agenda by offering a method for this group to very carefully, and intentionally communicate with the community, which we were called to serve in. In fact, as one member of this group stated, this is the first time that I’ve been part of a group in which there was no written agenda. At this Spiritled meeting, four (4) words were given from which we would “create an agenda” as we marched through our undertaking of developing the path or tunnel for the Repentance, Reconciliation, Restoration and Resurrection that would flow through this ministry. This group would not be charged with property management, budgetary concerns, and other administrative duties that confront most Vestries. But, we were tasked by the Holy Spirit, to bring uncomplicated, relational worship into and through St. John’s Chapel and into the Eastside Community. And, this was only our second PreVestry meeting at the above mentioned site.
resolution for the ministry name to be restored to the original emerged from this meeting. The name of the ministry is, as it formerly was, “St. John’s Chapel.”
Stay tuned for more from this Spirit-filled group of believers who are operating without an agenda, except to bring “spiritual and moral” freedom to this community, as we allow the Holy Spirit to use us, to make it “…like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.” The result of this effort will be to “use the old rubble of past lives to build new lives, and rebuild the foundations from out of the past. [We’ll] be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again” Is. 58:11-12
~ The Rev. Dallas Wilson
The African American Family Center for Biblical Dialogue (AAFCBD)
What Are Little Girls Made Of?
For Preschool (K1) and Elementary School Grade Girls
Through the Diocese we are restoring the 1859 historically significant St. John’s Chapel, a deconsecrated church (1959). We are located in the Eastside Community of Charleston. Our community has the most extraordinary and devastatingly negative statistics imaginable; however, it is in our community where we will make the impact. We received a $50,000 United Thank Offering (UTO) Grant which was used to purchase a 25-passenger vehicle equipped with an internal/external music system as well as an internal audio/video system. This “Pink” bus will used as an instrument of outreach to little girls. Inner-city little girls must be made to feel special, unique, and ladylike. PINK will do that! It is our “Paul Revere” that gets the message out to our communities. Imagine, as an impressionable young girl, a large “PINK” vehicle picking you up daily from school for Christian fun and creative activities, a bus with “cool” music and a message of encouragement moving through the streets of a violent and impoverished community. For more information, please contact Janie Wilson, President/COO of AAFCBD at janiedw@bellsouth.net or 723-1323 or Dallas H. Wilson, Jr., ThD, Vicar (dhw_jr@bellsouth.net).
Ministry to the Holy City:
St. John’s Hanover Street: Where are We?
As many of you know, St. Michael’s has been asked by the Diocese of South Carolina to help re-plant St. John’s Church on Hanover Street on the Eastside of Charleston. This was an exciting request considering that nearly 170 years ago, the wife of our former Rector (The Rt. Rev. Theodore Dehon) Sarah Dehon helped start that church! In 1958, St. John’s shut down and relocated to West Ashley. After some years of prayer and negotiation, the Diocese under Bishop Salmon made a decision to re-open the Hanover Street location under the leadership of the Rev. Dallas Wilson and his wife Janie.
So, where are we? To make a very long story short, things are progressing beautifully. It is our goal to officially open the church on October 12, which will be its 170th anniversary.
So, what have we done in the last couple of months?
Brother Dallas and Janie attend our staff meetings for mutual ministry
Conversations continue with Wilmot Fraser Elementary School to mentor first and second grade girls (if Frasier does close due to budget cuts, conversations will begin with other neighboring elementary schools)
A Pre-Vestry will be launched on February 26
Renovations on the buildings and grounds continues in preparation for the October 12 opening
Volunteer constructions projects are being identified
St. John’s is our backyard mission field, located less than 2 miles from St. Michaels, and it is thrilling to see what the Lord is doing, even at this early stage. Please keep this ministry in your prayers!
The “Feeding of the Multitude”
The “Feeding of the Multitude” is an annual winter “outdoor” ministry event, with a focus on the unfortunate and the indigent of the Charleston community. This event was established in November 1991, by Agape InnerCity Christian Assembly, Inc., along with six (6) churches and the John Guest Series, to showcase the necessity for the churches of Charleston to come together, across cultural, denominational and ethnic barriers to serve the underprivileged and neglected of our Charleston community.
During last year’s outreach held on Saturday, November 22, 2008 in Mall Park (the same venue as “Midnight” Basketball in offered), ten (10) churches came together, some from as far as Sullivan’s Island (Holy Cross), West of the Ashley (Church of the Good Shepherd) and even from Bluffton (The Church of the Cross) to serve. St. Michael’s and Peet Dickerson’s Good News Band “were in the house” and “rocked” for Jesus. During that outreach effort, 1,200 individuals were ministered to, while enjoying a nutritious meal, including turkey, ham, macaroni, string beans, stuffing and sodas donated by Coca Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated and Piggly Wiggly Stores.
And, during this very well organized and busy afternoon, the Holy Spirit directed the leadership committee to include two (2) elderly institutions in our ministry efforts e.g., Canterbury House and Joseph Floyd Manor, where an additional 500 meals were offered to the residents.
This year’s Saturday, November 21, 2009 “Feeding” will also be held at Mall Park, at 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, involving a minimum of six (6) peninsula churches.
Come join this Charleston Church opportunity to fulfill the mandate of our Lord Jesus Christ found in the Gospel of Matthew, verses 35, 36:
35'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'