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January - February 2023

1/1/2023

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Are we looking forward for the MLK holiday?  Some people confuse Martin Luther with Martin King, Jr.  Here we examine both persons.  In 1934 African-American Baptist minister Michael King attended an international conference in Germany where he learned about Protestantism’s founder Martin Luther.  King was so motivated by the actions of Martin Luther, he changed both his name and that of his young son, who became known to the world as Martin Luther King Jr.
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Luther and ML King stood against the powers.
Luther was furious about  the selling of “indulgences,” in which people essentially paid for the grace of God to fund such lavish projects as the new St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. He eventually realized that there was no need for a corruptible Roman Catholic Church hierarchy; a person could achieve salvation simply by putting their faith in Christ and depending on Scripture as the main religious authority.

M.L. King’s frustration didn't pertain to the Church, but at a system of racial segregation that had become ensconced in everyday life and law since the Civil War.  He was raised in the Jim Crow South, which among other abuses, required black voters to pass an exam.

Luther and King arrived at the right time in history.
The formation of Reformation was established well before Luther first opened a Bible, as dissenters like 14th-century English theologian and academic John Wyclif had previously fought against the Church’s abuse of power. However, Luther benefited from the recent creation of the printing press, which enabled his ideas to quickly spread across Europe.

Similarly, efforts to organize and strengthen African Americans had been around since before King was born, But Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat to white people, presented an excellent opportunity for King to highlight the Montgomery Bus Boycott and assume leadership of the growing civil rights movement.

Both risked their lives by opposing authorities.
Martin Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X in early 1521 and persistently defended his beliefs against hostile audience at the Diet of Worms and the charges of heresy bearing the threat of a death sentence.

King's strategy of civil disobedience caused him to become a prime target of both the police and violent extremists. He was arrested about 30 times and survived an assassination attempt a decade before being murdered on April 4, 1968.

Luther and King's movements have continued and spread far beyond them. 
By speaking up to the Catholic Church, Luther is credited with firmly establishing the Reformation and opening the door to a modern world built on concepts of individuality, religious liberty, and self- government. About one-eighth of the seven and a half billion people worldwide today, more than 900 million people, identify as Protestants. And one of the major groups of Protestantism is named after Luther, that is, Lutheranism.

King's role also brought concrete reformations, from the 1956 Supreme Court ruling that terminated segregation on city buses to the Civil Rights and Voting Acts of 1964 and 1965. Possibly the most potent figure from the American civil right movement, he is one of the few non-presidents to be awarded a monument at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and the only one to be honored with a national holiday.

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If God already knows what we need, why we need to pray?

Prayer allows more opportunities of fellowship with Him and opens the way to our Father in heaven.  For instance, when you have personal issue, you run into your best friend.  However, he is not there for you sometimes.  God is always there for you.  If we don’t pray, how can we foster our relationship with Him?  Praying is the way to communicate with Him and develop our faith in Him.  Meditate our prayers and share with Him.  

God doesn’t want us to worry about everything but pray with thanksgiving through faith.  The Bible advises us to pray. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Although God doesn’t answer in the ways we think He should, we should trust in Him and be grateful with His plan.  He knows what the best for us.  We need to keep on praying (Thessalonians 5.17), but not based on wishes, but thank Him for his love and providing our needs. 

We cannot reverse God’s answers to our prayers, but he will answer with “no”, “yes”, or “wait.”  Pray according to God’s will.   Don’t worry about the outcome too much.  Prayers have no limitation.  You can express your troubles with Him.  Just pray as you can, not have to pray every minute as an obsessed person.  In Luke 18:1-18 Jesus encourages to pray frequently, citing the example of a persistent widow who begged a judge to act on her case.  Remember, Nehemiah 10, “for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

~~ Pastor Andy

Online Worship & Fellowship at Christ/Deaf
Sunday worship & fellowship 10:00AM
Wednesday Bible Study 10:00AM
Contact Pastor Andy for log-in information.

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There is old proverb that says, “If you want to learn something new, teach it to someone else.”  I recently had that experience when a friend asked me to help him write a devotion based on the longest chapter in the Bible – Psalm 119.
This is an unusual psalm that we studied in our prison fellowship.  The first letter in every eight lines follows the Hebrew alphabet.  The focus of the psalm is on the importance of the Word of God in our lives.  Psalm 119 describes God’s Word by various terms:  Commandments, Decrees, Statues, etc.

My friend asked me to pick one of those terms and write a devotion about it.  I randomly chose the word precepts.

That English word precept has a meaning similar to the word principle, i.e. wisdom, principles for life.  But as I dig into the Hebrew word that Bible translators render as “precepts,” I find another meaning: taking care of business, God business, following through on the commitments He has appointed for us.  The picture that helps me apply this word precept to my life in Christ is agenda.

Psalm 119:7 – “The works of His hand are faithful and just; His agenda is trustworthy.”
Psalm 119:93 – “I will never forget your agenda, for by it You have given me life.”
Psalm 119:173 – “Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your agenda.”

No matter our place or situation in life, God has a plan, an agenda, specific for each of us.  His agenda for you is not the same agenda that He has prepared for me.
So, how can we know the agenda God has prepared for each of us?  It’s quite simple: Consume His Word and stay open to the Holy Spirit’s leading in directions you did not plan to go.

~~ Pastor Ron

Pastor Mark Willig's devotion series on Psalm 119:
http://www.10greatteachings.com/pdf/TheGreatPsalm119.pdf


Remember those who are in prison
as if you were in prison with them.
Hebrews 13:3

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Reprinted from January & February 2003 Mustard Seed
How to say “Happy New Year”?
With trepidation?
With discouragement?
With hopelessness?
With a sneering “So what?!”
Eh! None of the above!!!!
Life is what we make of it
with the time we have on earth.
 
So, here it goes .. Happy New Year!!

We stand upon the threshold of the year;
Before us lies a strange, uncharted land.
Go with us, Lord, remove each doubt and fear,
Give us high courage, grasp our reaching hand
That we may safely tread the road ahead.
May we look forward, not to days long spent,
But toward a year of brave accomplishment.
~~ Grace Knoll Crowell

Isn’t it Strange
Isn’t it strange
That princesses and kings
And clowns that caper
In sawdust rings
And common people
Like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
Each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass,
A book of rules;
And each must make,
Ere life is flown,
A stumbling block
Or a steppingstone.
~~ Steve Ward
Eastern Shore Wildfowl Carver

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it
complicated.    ~~ Confucius
 
I know not what the future holds,
But I know who holds the future.  ~~ anonymous

What lies behind us and what lies before us are
tiny matters compared to what lies within us.  ~~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

What If...
If it had been Three Wise Women,
they would have...
asked directions,
arrived on time,
helped deliver the baby,
cleaned the stable,
made a casserole,
brought practical gifts
and
There would be
Peace on earth.

I’ll part with this:
You would be surprised to know how many
people are like a bass drum - with plenty of
noise, but nothing on the inside.
~~ Quips ‘n Quotes

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Public Libraries Save Lives!
Flat Laurent Rules

 My Personal Experience
The following story is about a 24-year-old formerly blind boy seeing out from a train window.  It reminded me of the same feelings I once had as a new Deaf  librarian, a 42-year-old looking out from the window of the library for the first time in 1976, when I joined the American Library Association (ALA).

“Dad, look the trees are going behind.” Dad smiled, while a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 24-year-old’s childish behavior with pity.  Suddenly he again exclaimed. “Dad, look the clouds are running with us!”

The couple could not resist and said to the old man, “Why don't you take your son to a good doctor?”

The old man smiled and said, “I did, and we are just coming from the hospital.  My son was blind from birth.  He just got his eyes today.”

We agree that the couple should not judge the boy before they truly knew him.  Every person on the planet has a story and the truth might surprise us.

Incidentally, ALA has been enlightening my life.  I finally learned of my true identity when I began learning the truth about library values for the Deaf with many cultures. I also learned about organizational culture and that America has a rich deaf history – Laurent Clerc, the unsung American hero, and much more.

Thanks to my late Deaf husband, Ted, for his patience, my loyal friends, and my open-minded colleagues (Deaf and hearing) for not misjudging me over many years.
In spite of the lack of modern technology during that time and the communication barriers among us with the hearing of the 20th century,  I tried hard to find a solution that would be a cost-effective and efficient service for the nation's libraries, regarding the Deaf culture and the quality of library and information services for the Deaf.  I came up with a resource that I called The Red Notebook: Communicating with Hearing People. That resource has grown and adapted to today’s technologies to become the Deaf Culture Digital Library (DCDL).

In November 1979, I was honored to be a delegate-at-large to the first White House Conference on Library and Information Service (WHCLIS).

The two years prior to WHCLIS, I asked for input from some librarians and professionals with expertise in deafness from Gallaudet, the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf (AGBAD), local public library systems, and members of ALA and other appropriate organizations.
I also encouraged several organizations to write a letter to some WHCLIS delegates about supporting the DCDL.

Good News! The delegates eventually voted for the DCDL resolution on both the federal and state levels.

Following the WHCLIS, Gallaudet, NAD, DC Association of the Deaf, Maryland Association of the Deaf and many more have since acted.

The FOLDA has such a rich history. Now we have people who are scanning and digitizing many files for later sharing with both deaf communities and the library communities through our website: www.foldadeaf.net

Incidentally, last November 2022, we moved the library collections of books and archival deaf cultural programs from the FOLDA in Maryland to Ohio.
Ohio Association of the Deaf has formed an independent Sub-Committee for Friends of Ohio Libraries for Deaf Action. Flat Laurent (our life-size stand-up display of Laurent Clerc) also moved to Ohio. Joe Osborne-Payne, Chief of the Information Office at the OAD will be the contact.  If your organization is interested to keep up with annual deaf events or about the library of the future – Deaf Culture Digital Library on both national and state levels, please let me know via email: ahagemeyer@gmail.com.
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Alice Hagemeyer, Flat Laurent, Joe Osborne-Payne

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November - December 2022

11/1/2022

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Be Thankful
Luke 17:11-19 highlighted one out of 10 lepers thanked Jesus after being healed by Him from the skin disease.  The lepers said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  The term “Master” is fascinating because it represents ‘commander.’  They recognized Jesus as having authority.  When they sought for mercy, that is the cry of sinful man to God.  It represents the same thing in our liturgy when we sing, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” They were in an ordeal, and they sought help, and they needed Jesus for relief in their desperation.

The first lesson was Jesus did not state anything about mercy as he just told them to go and show themselves to the priests.  Jesus rendered them tasks that did not necessarily make a lot of sense at the time, and He didn’t promise healing.   Jesus often places us in stances that we should do, but other ways of doing things and other things we can do may be more inviting.  The lepers had faith that Jesus could heal, so they obeyed His command.  Trust God, His goodness, trust His good will toward you, and trust that He can make the difference you need.  Even when things seem odd, this Gospel would encourage us to live each moment in cheerful dependence on God and His good will toward us.

Interestingly, that one was a Samaritan, the hated Gentile who said “Thank You” to Jesus.  We could analyze at the proportion, one out of ten.  Is that realistic?  The main idea is that thanksgiving is far less common than no thanksgiving.  Some people come to church by “duty” rather than out of the delight in the Lord.  Some of us are among of the nine, and some of us have come to gracefully give thanks and praise for the profusion of blessings that Jesus has provided to each of us.  Forgetting is even a sin.
 
This forgiveness, life, and salvation doesn't require of us a specific code of conduct, although there are always those who want to tell us that it does, such as that we must walk the Christian walk in order to be saved.  But Jesus placed us free from our sin by His own.  We are liberated and forgiven from the Law into the glorious liberty of the grace of God. 

Jesus said, “Rise, and go your way; your faith has saved you.”  We obtain all the good that we receive from God by grace through faith.  Your faith, not your church attendance, or your good works, or your good thoughts, but your faith has saved you.  Your Bibles may say, “Your faith has made you well,” but the original term of Jesus indicates literally, “Your faith has saved you.”

This tenth man obtained something more, because he believed something more, and acted on His faith.  He acknowledged Jesus for who He is, and when he returned, he rendered thanks and praise to Jesus.  He believed more than just the healing, but the salvation he received by grace through faith, just like we do.

Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you.”  That faith should guide us to holy life.  It should lead us to heartfelt thanksgiving.  It should guide us to trust Jesus for more than just heaven and so guide us to do what Jesus has placed before us to do. 
Happy Thanksgiving!

 ~~Pastor Andy
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Which political candidate should we vote for?
We will be having a major midterm political election.  As a Lutheran pastor, I cannot instruct you to vote which party.  However, I advise you to elect ones who are aligned to God’s will according to the Bible instead of emotional thinking.  The most important is to keep the moral value up and fiscal responsibility in America. 

An article, Lutheran Voter Information Guide, provides excellent guidance in voting.  You should investigate political candidates related to various issues.   You may ask them (from the Guide):
  1. Are you willing to support changes to school funding that will honor the educational choices of all parents equally, including the choice of religious schools?
  2. Do you believe that Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, should continue to receive either state or federal funds?
  3. Do you think it is proper for the government, at any level, to pressure its citizens into accepting a view of human sexuality that denies God’s good design in the social world by normalizing transgenderism and gender fluidity?
  4. Do you fully support the 1993 (Federal) Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) which currently protects people of faith from having the exercise of their faith unnecessarily restricted by the government?

For further information, please visit:
https://lcrlfreedom.org/images/pdf/2020LutheranVoter-InformationGuide.pdf

~~ Pastor Andy

Online Worship & Fellowship at Christ/Deaf
Sunday worship & fellowship 10:00AM
Wednesday Bible Study 10:00AM
Contact Pastor Andy for log-in information.

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Forgiveness vs Consequences
Recently our men in prison have been studying the life of King David.  The Bible describes David as “a man after God’s own heart.”  Yet the Bible also clearly shows many of David’s stupid mistakes and his dark, ugly sins – including adultery and murder. 

 As we read David’s prayers (the Psalms), we see that David clearly understood his own sinfulness.  He often begged for God’s mercy and he prayed for God to make him a better person. Where we see David most in sync with God’s heart was when David was quick to admit his guilt.  And in times of great need, David looked to God for guidance and help.

Another important lesson we learn from David is that, even though God forgave David for his wrong-doing, God also allowed David to experience full consequences for his hurtful actions.  One student observed: “We can choose our sins, but we can’t choose our consequences.”  So true!

Many of our men struggle with this truth every day.  “If God has forgiven me, then why is He still making me serve time in prison?  Why doesn’t He allow the Parole Board see that I have changed?” That is a question for which I have no answer, except to never stop trusting that, no matter our circumstances, our lives are in God’s hands.

I believe that God has a good plan for each of our lives.  But often our own stupid ways mess up that plan.  When we embrace the consequences that come as result, God gives us opportunities to minister His love to others through those consequences.

~~ Pastor Ron
Remember those who are in prison
as if you were in prison with them.
Hebrews 13:3

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Clerc – Gallaudet Week
December 3 – 10
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Laurent Clerc
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Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet
American Deaf Education
Visionary Leaders

Fifty Things That Shaped Deaf Culture:
Deaf History Month
1972 - 2022
This year, 2022, both the deaf communities and the library communities celebrate the 50th anniversary of National Deaf History Month!   
 
The first such event was held in November 1972.  John A. Love, Governor of Colorado proclaimed the week. The Colorado Association of the Deaf was behind this success with two Deaf movers and shakers, David Anthony and Jerome Moers, members.  The next such event was held during the first week of  December 1974 when the DC Public Library announced the purchase of TTY (Teletypewriter/phone for the Deaf).

American Originals 
In 2016, Time Books, an imprint of Time Inc. Books published a softback  (96 pages) called 100 American Originals: The Things That Shaped Our Culture.

 I checked it for originals relating to deaf culture such as the first-ever American public school for the Deaf, founded in 1817. This idea was about using government funds that two educators Horace Mann had later for the “normal” school and Samuel Howe for the “blind” school in the 1830s.  

The only two Originals related to the Deaf I found are No 46:  The Telephone (mentioning Alexander Graham Bell, a teacher of the deaf), and No. 47  the Lightbulb (mentioning Thomas A. Edison but with no word about his deafness).
 
American Originals: Deaf Culture: 1972-2022
1. The State proclamation  (Colorado) (1972)  
2. The Phone Access DC (1974) 
3. The Deaf of Organizational Culture THE RED NOTEBOOK (1976)  
4. Library Friends  groups (1986) 
5.  ASL Access  Read ASL (1997) 
6. The Maryland Law - Deaf Culture Digital Library (2014)
7.  The Ohio Law Deaf History Month  (2017), and others 
 
BOOKS!  Authors!  Future Writers! Support Your Local Public Library 
Library Friends for Deaf Action,
Please encourage your local or state organizations to ask the local public library about using their meeting room for presenting a deaf cultural program during Clerc-Gallaudet Week, December 3 - 10, 2022. If the date is too close, then plan for March 13 - April 15, 2023.

If you can, please email your program announcement by November 14, 2022, to FOLDA via ahagemeyer@gmail.com
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Laurent Clerc taught French Sign Language to Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet at the school for the deaf in Paris before they departed France for America. During their 52-day voyage across Atlantic Ocean on the ship, MaryAugusta, from June 18 to August 9, 1816, Clerc practiced writing and reading English fluently and Gallaudet practiced signing. When they arrived in America, they continued to communicate with each other in sign language and this language became what we now call American Sign Language.

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September - October 2022

9/1/2022

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Celebrate Grandparents Day
this September 11!

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What does the Bible say related to grandparents? Grandparents are critically important to God. They help us know the authenticity of real people. Our Sovereign God focuses on the existence and value of each life He formed. He prioritizes high value on heritage, legacy, and generations.

Even in the New Testament we see Paul recognizing Timothy’s grandmother for having assume an imperative role in Timothy's faith. He states, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well” (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy’s grandmother first educated her own daughter in faith, but then she continued by teaching that faith in her grandson as well.

There is another example of fondness in the story of Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi’s son (Ruth’s husband) died and Ruth wed another relative and gave birth to a son. “Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse” (Ruth 4:16). Despite this baby was not her grandson by blood, Naomi adopted him as such and became his nurture provider. Grandparenting can come in many ways and should not be limited to those who are related through blood. In this day and age of broken families and blended families, there are plentiful opportunities for older generations to devel
op positive relationships with children who need that.

In God’s plan, the blessing of faithful grandparent provides a spiritual influence for grandchildren, carrying down God’s teachings from generation to generation.


“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them” Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV.
In Titus 2, Paul directs older men and older women to teach those younger. God covers generations from beginning to end of the Bible. He created the family and its structure. He wrote laws to assist them. God’s purpose forms truth into the next generation, intentionally building one upon another, perpetuating faith throughout generations.

Several Ways to Assist Grandparents Today

Ask God to educate them from His Word. Pray for ongoing spiritual growth. In 1 Timothy 1:6, Paul tells his followers to “fan into flame the gift of God.” This is an excellent prayer for grandparents, that in contrast to dying embers, they may reignite in their faith and service. Give an opportunity for them to share facts from the Bible. Listen to their past stories, but encourage them. 

Grandparents deal with critical needs and many decisions. Even though physical, mental, and often financial changes, grandparents still have a purpose in God’s view. Pray for them to discover and seek God’s purpose in their season of life.

Pray for excellent relationships with the parents of their grandchildren. Bring before the Lord their most precious relationships and call God to defend those.

Pray they end well.  Some people will have years like “Golden years aren’t so golden.”  We all likely acknowledge tales of godly people who did not end well. Spiritual battles have no boundary line.

Pray seriously. Pray their special influence to become a blessing for their grandchildren. Moses asked, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NIV  


~~Pastor Andy


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Why is Israel called the “promised land”?
God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3...
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”
God challenged Abraham to depart from his homeland and distant relatives to follow divine guidance.  God promised to deliver Abraham to a new land and to create his offspring a great nation.  Although Abraham didn’t know what the future held, he trusted God with his journey, permitting God to choose a homeland for his family.  Now, Israel (Abraham’s primary descendants) is as much a promised nation as the promised land. 

~~Pastor Andy

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“What do I need to do when I get out?”
This was a question from an inmate who was on schedule for release from prison. He wasn’t asking about his professional life or his social life. He was concerned about his spiritual life. He was new in his Christian faith and he wanted to continue growing. He was very aware of the many temptations that were waiting for him outside.

People who come to faith in Christ while in prison discover that on the outside “Following Jesus is hard!” (...the exact words of one former inmate.) While in prison, you are never alone. The institution sets your daily schedule. You have few choices that you can make. Other Christian brothers are nearby to challenge you and encourage you.

When you are on the outside, all that changes. New freedom brings new choices. You find that all the old habits and desires that sent you to prison are still lurking in the back of your mind. You experience the Apostle Paul’s words: “I want to do what is good, but I can’t. I don’t do the good things I want to do. I keep on doing the evil things I don’t want to do.” (Romans 7:18-19)

Those who went to prison with drug addictions, when they are released, find the craving to get high is still with them. Even though they trust Christ, they might not have the disciplines or the support they need to stay clean. They may become self-confident and fall again into the devil’s trap. I have stopped counting the number of men I know who sincerely participated in Christian fellowship in prison, but they were unable to handle freedom on the outside. Several have died from a drug over-dose, and others suffered a more violent end to their lives.

Only those have strong families and Christian friends to encourage them and keep the accountable do well.


~~ Pastor Ron
Remember those who are in prison
as if you were in prison with them.

Hebrews 13:3

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(reprinted from October 2009 Mustard Seed)
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In the year 1517, a troubled young German priest named Martin Luther saw something that bothered him deeply.  The church headquarters had launched a major fund raising program for a new building project -- St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  To meet the challenge, a clever Dominican monk, Johann Tetzel, began promoting a scheme that would get peasants to contribute their life savings.  With his bishop's permission, Tetzel traveled from town to town selling forgiveness!  All folks had to do was pay the price, and then they received a certificate of “indulgence,” in which the Pope forgave their sins, freeing them from the penalties of “purgatory,” and guaranteeing their place in heaven.  You could also buy indulgences on behalf of your dead relatives, whose souls would be freed from purgatory at the precise moment you paid the price. [After Tetzel was paid his sales commission, the bishop sent half the money to Rome, and the other half he kept to pay off own debts.]

During this time, Martin Luther still had serious doubts about his own salvation.  But watching church officials pull this scam on members of his congregation was more than he could endure.  He wrote his objections about indulgences, and on October 31, 1517, Luther posted his 95 Theses on the University of Wittenberg bulletin board, which happened to be his church door.  He wrote his Theses in Latin, intending that they should be debated among the church officials and theologians.  But someone copied them, translated them into German, and published them for everyone to read.  The result was an “explosion” known today as the Protestant Reformation. 


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(Reprinted from June 2000 Mustard Seed)
Day by day
O Lord
Three things I pray:
      to see Thee more clearly,
      love Thee more dearly,
      follow Thee more nearly,
day by day.
~~ St. Richard of Chichester
[This became a song in Godspell.]

The humor of children:
  • The fourth commandment is “Humor thy father and mother.”
  • Christians have only one wife. This is called monotony.
  • The plane that brought Jesus to Egypt was flown by Pontius the pilot.
  • It is sometimes difficult to hear in church because the agnostics are so terrible.
  • Noah’s wife was called Joan of Ark.
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Recipe for happiness:
Each morning when I open my eyes, I say to myself, “I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”      ~~ Groucho Marx

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Bye to August!
Hello to September and October!

August has been a busy month, FOLDA  has not forgotten the Deaf of many cultures whenever we honor the firsts and notable pioneers, heroes, or celebrities for giving back – founding, birth, and the related.

Ready for September or October?
Both months are like any other month with many local community events and anniversaries. The public library has the accountability for local quality community resources. In the case of the Deaf of many cultures, the library would collaborate with local appropriate organization or affiliate of the three national organizations (profession, charities, or government).

National OSD  (Organizations Serving the Deaf)

  • Profession – Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD)  Deaf State Schools, Colleges/Universities, "Mainstream", etc.

  • Charities – National Association of the Deaf (NAD) State / local Deaf organizations, museums, alumni, etc.
  • Government – National Association of State Agencies of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NASADHH) Deaf-owned businesses, agencies with a special interest in communication access or government services, etc.


The Deaf or deaf (adj) refers to partially or wholly lacking the sense of hearing.  Webster's Dictionary.   The Deaf is a noun. School for the Deaf; The Deaf of American culture.

September 15 – October 15   National Hispanic Heritage Month – US Presidential Proclamation
OSD: Council de Manos The Deaf of Latinx culture.

September 23 – International Day of Sign Languages -  General Assembly of the United Nations Proclamation.  Observed during the International Week of Deaf People the last week of September that includes "23" sponsored by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).
OSD - NAD is a non-governmental organization affiliated with the WFD.  

Much more!

Deaf History
  • Why is it important to know deaf history as part of American culture?
  • History repeats. The Deaf of heritage culture continues to learn from failure, not from success such as in MD and Ohio.
  • E.g. Maryland’s Deaf Culture Digital Library was signed into state law by the MD governor in 2014.
  • Ohio Deaf History Month, March 13 - April 15 by the Ohio governor in 2017.
  • Deaf members of the American Library Association (ALA) want to see more Deaf librarians and better relationships with the Deaf in local communities.
Three First Historical Events That Change America today.
  • March 13, 1988 – The Deaf of Political Culture. Deaf President Now Victory, Americans with the Disabilities Act, The Deaf of Disability Culture.

  • April 8, 1864 – The Deaf of Organizational Culture Deaf Grassroots Movement, Deaf Culture Digital Library
  • April 15, 1817 – The Deaf of Family Culture Diversity,  Inclusive deaf community engagement
Questions You May Have Never Thought to Ask?
How many NAD Presidents were born in September or October?

Eight (1880 -2016) The immediate 34th and current president (35th) are unknown yet.    

Source: Abbé de L'Épée, in America by Alice L. Hagemeyer 2012. (toolkit)  2023 FOLDA Tool Kit: Deaf Culture: Libraries Connect Communities. (Work in progress)  

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July - August 2022

7/1/2022

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Happy Independence Day!
What a blessing it has been that for 246 years we’ve been surviving in freedom and especially freedoms of religion and conscience. It is imperative that we pray that we do not lose these freedoms! We can’t take them for granted. “Utilize it or lose it” might be proper to say when it comes to not only the freedom to gather on Sunday, but to speak freely about the truth that Jesus is the Savior, that sin is the cause of all unfortunate incidents, including sin in our own hearts, and that repentance and faith is the only solution to our destination with Him.

There are examples of patriotism in the Bible.  Jeremiah was one who was concerned that his fellow countrymen understood the truth.  In our Old Testament Lesson, he thought that being a prophet would lead to become an honored profession. However, it led to plots against his life.  So being a patriot for the Bible in Jeremiah’s time means facing persecution for just preaching the Word of Israel’s God! 

Like Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.”

Jesus firmly warns His disciples that they too, like Jesus Himself, will deal with furious events, denunciation, and persecution as they proclaim the way of salvation.

“You will be hated by all people because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. And when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next.”
But persecution is not a legitimate reason to be stay silence about His essential teachings in life: being prepared for the next life through faith in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. Frankly, Jesus says,
“Do not be afraid of them, because there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. …Everyone who confesses me before others, I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.”
Paul urged his apprentice, Pastor Timothy, to always be prepared to preach and educate the truth of God’s Word, “in season and out of season.” People will solicit false teachers to have them to twist the Bible. But that doesn’t make the need for preaching the truth any less acute. Instead, it makes it even more imperative. “Endure hardship,” Paul advised the young pastor, and do the work to which you were called. God recruits each one of us to serve as Jesus’ hands and feet and mouth to glorify his light and love through what we say and do.

The good news of the Gospel reveals that in Jesus there is full forgiveness and the assurance of eternal life opens hearts and minds. People who welcomed and receive this good news opened their homes to welcome the apostles. And if no welcome was given, the apostles were to “shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them” (Mark 6:11b). Jesus’ command still works like this on the front line of patriots today.

Be a patriot for the Gospel and serving His will! 

Happy Independence Day!
 

~~Pastor Andy
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Lee Strobel, who graduated from Yale University and became a lawyer and Chicago Tribune journalist, had been an atheist for a lengthy period.  He was intrigued to investigate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Eventually, he was convinced that Jesus Christ indeed resurrected and He is the Messiah.  Strobel became a pastor and professor of Christian thought at Houston Baptist University.

In our previous newsletter we discussed Strobel's research regarding the question: "Did Jesus die on the cross?"

Now we look at the follow up question:


Did Jesus walk on earth after death?
Dr. Gary Habermas utilized the creed of Christian beliefs, found in 1 Corinthians, as the foundation of his argument and expounded that Jesus was not only seen by hundreds of people, but He also ate with them, spoke to them, and interacted them.

Strobel examined to determine whether the resurrection is substantiated outside of the Bible, while consulting Dr. J. P. Moreland.  During the interview, Dr. Moreland furnished five examples supporting the real resurrection, including a mass conversion of Jewish skeptics shortly after Jesus’s death and the rapid emergence of the early Christian church.

The best evidence for the empty tomb is that even the enemies of Jesus implicitly admitted the tomb was empty.  When the opponent said, “The disciples stole the body.”  How did it vanished is the pivotal issue.

There were eyewitnesses from ancient history.  It comes from about two sources of information and for the conviction of the disciples that they encountered the resurrected Jesus. There are at least nine ancient sources inside and outside the New Testament confirming and corroborating the conviction of the disciples that they encountered the risen Christ. That is significant valid historical data.


~~Pastor Andy

Strobel, Lee. The Case of Christ,  Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1998.
Strobel Lee. The Case for Faith, Grand Rapids, Mich. Zodervan, 2000.
See the movie, The Case of Christ (2017) on the Internet!


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"We are back!"
Finally, the prison gates in Maryland are open for us to enter every week to meet for Bible study with our incarcerated Deaf brothers in Christ, with their hearing and hard-of-hearing colleagues. Inmate-led Sunday worship is also up and running.

Very few other prison programs are back in action yet. Kairos Prison Ministry is still waiting for the green light to resume their weekly “Prayer and Share” meetings.

During the long absence of outside volunteers like ourselves, God has raised up ministry leaders among those who reside inside the prison fences. Now that we are allowed to back in, these same inmate pastors are blessing us who come in from the outside.

The pandemic has not hampered the power of God’s Word, nor has it quenched the work of the Holy Spirit.

For two years churches on the outside were closed. Many struggled to the point that their doors of fellowship and ministry remain permanently closed.  But in those populations that were most at risk of catching a highly contagious virus because of their forced confinement, many used their unwelcome “free time” to grow in God’s Word and share that Word of encouragement with one another.

Hearing Christians in prisons that we serve have a tradition. When their fellowship meeting ends, someone shouts a question: “Who is the Church?” and all respond in loud voice: “We are the Church!”

The Church in prison is still strong.


~~ Pastor Ron
Remember those who are in prison
as if you were in prison with them.

Hebrews 13:3

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Inclusive Deaf Community Engagement
Deaf Definitions
  • The deaf community refers to deaf groups from many cultures. Hearing groups are included. Family members, relatives, friends, colleagues, and neighbors.

  • The Deaf (noun) deaf (adjective) is defined as partially or wholly lacking the sense of hearing.
  • Deaf Culture: The shared languages, arts, customs, folklore, history, traditions, and values of deaf groups -- The deaf of many cultures.  American, Disability, Ethnic, Family, Literary, Mental Health, Prison, Sports, and many more.

The Deaf of Maryland Culture

Look at this collage of photos from events in the early history of Christ/Deaf.

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If you could not find a picture in this poster of your favorite late celebrities, pioneers, and heroes or of many late library friends for giving back to Maryland and America over years, your library would have such information.

E.g., Raymond Baker, Rita Corey, Alexander Ewan Jr, Jack R. Gannon, Melvin Garretson, Francis Higgins, Rudy Hines, Bernice Hoeper, John Lopez, Jeanette Mortzfeldt, Don & Ruth Peterson, Mary Jane Rhodes, Frederick Schreiber, Willard Shorter Jr,
Linwood Smith, Paul & Anna Snyder, Jackie Stover, George Veditz and many more.  RIP.

Did you know Maryland is the only state so far that our governor signed Deaf Culture Digital Library (DCDL) into state law?  However, Ohio is the only state where the governor signed into law - March 13 – April 15 as Deaf History Month.

Today in 2022 Americans celebrate the 50th anniversary of such an annual event.

Libraries in the US
There are 116,557 libraries of all kinds in 59 states.
DC and territories are counted as states.

The largest library number is School 99,094.

The smallest is Academic. 3,094.

Some universities and colleges have separate library buildings. Gallaudet library is located inside the building of Merrill Learning Center. Gallaudet once had a separate library building called Edward Miner Gallaudet Memorial Library.  

Quite a few state deaf schools and programs have a library. Unfortunately, very few known librarians work at deaf schools.

About 15 such schools have a museum.  Maryland School for the Deaf has a building called Bjorlee.  It houses a collection that began in 1872. Artifacts of importance to the Maryland School for the Deaf’s history as well as to the Frederick community. The building was formerly called Bjorlee Library. 

More to tell later.  Have a great summer! 


Printed with permission, by Alice L. Hagemeyer, FOLDA.
Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action
www.foldadeaf.net

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May - June 2022

5/1/2022

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Memorial Day is when we should ponder and honor the fallen soldiers.  Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, wrote “Our dead brothers still live for us, and bid us think of life, not death -- of life to which in their youth they lent the passion and joy of the spring.”

The American soldiers who rendered their lives for U.S. citizens to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness won’t be telling us how to observe the holiday. However, Holmes’ quotation to “think of life, not death” would respect the fallen soldier. Their sacrifice follows the example of Jesus Christ giving His life for our freedom. It's selfless love for others – not so others can mourn forever, but live!

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One of the most decorated American soldiers, Ranger Kristoffer Domeij, was killed in action in Afghanistan on his 14th deployment with the Elite Army Rangers.  Regular troops may have completed about four deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan but Special Operations troops such as Domeij’s tend to have served 10-12. The 75th Ranger Regiment typically deploys on 105-day deployments, shorter than the average year-long Army or marine deployment, but they are acknowledged as unusually intense tours with one operation every single night.

Domeij served for a combined total of 48 months deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan alone.  He was also posthumously awarded another Bronze Star to bring his collection to three and Meritorious Service medals.

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The combat operation in which he died, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, also claimed the life of Lieutenant Ashley White, 24.  Female soldiers could do things that the males cannot do, and they are starting to realize that according to Sgt. Christine Baldwin, who like White was among the first groups of women deployed to Afghanistan this year as specially trained ‘cultural support’ troops.

Male soldiers often cannot talk to an Afghan female because of the strict cultural norms that segregate the sexes and the tradition of women remaining behind closed doors most of the time. U.S. women have been on the front lines in Afghanistan since the war began, and over time they have been used to reach out to the Afghan population through health care initiatives and other programs.

We pray for families of fallen soldiers. 

Psalm 27:3-4 states,

“If an army surrounds me, I will not be afraid. 
    If war breaks out, I will trust the Lord
. 
I ask only one thing from the Lord.  This is what I want:
    Let me live in the Lord
’s house all my life. 
Let me see the Lord
’s beauty
    and look with my own eyes at his Temple.”


Lord, we pray You will assist us to be grateful for the sacrifices that have been made to secure the U.S. the land of freedom.  May it always prevail so.  Amen

~~Pastor Andy


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Lee Strobel, who graduated from Yale University and became a lawyer and Chicago Tribune journalist, had been an atheist for a lengthy period.  He was intrigued to investigate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Eventually, he was convinced that Jesus Christ indeed resurrected and is the Messiah.  He became a pastor and professor of Christian thought at Houston Baptist University.

Did Jesus die on the cross?
Yes, it is true based on evidence.  Lee Strobel consulted Dr. Alexander Metherell who examined the crucifixion.  The doctor determined that there is no way that Jesus survived the crucifixion due to extreme brutal suffering from being flogged, nailed, and tortured. It is impossible for anyone to stay alive and wake up from the tomb.
     
The Bible says that during Jesus’ suffering, He sweat blood. “This is a known medical condition called hematidrosis. It’s not very common, but it is associated with a high degree of psychological stress,” the doctor noted. 
     
Jesus’ suffering and passionate prayers over His tremendous torture could certainly have been enough to cause this medical condition. A 1996 article in the Journal of Medicine analyzed 76 cases of hematidrosis and determined that the most common causes were acute fear and intense mental contemplation.
     
Strobel asked Dr. Metherell what affect this bloody sweat would have had on Jesus. “What this did,” he replied, “was set up the skin to be extremely fragile so that when Jesus was flogged by the Roman soldier the next day, his skin would have been very, very sensitive.”
     
Strobel asked, “What could have prompted Jesus to willingly endure the misery of Gethsemane, the brutality of the flogging and the unspeakable torment of the cross?”  Dr. Metherell replied, “I suppose the answer can be summed up in one word – and that would be LOVE.”

Strobel, Lee. The Case of Christ.  Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1998.  Plus, a movie,  The Case of Christ (2017) on the Internet!


~~Pastor Andy

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COVID closed our access to Deaf in Maryland prisons for over two years.  Our only way to keep connected with the men inside has been through this Mustard Seed newsletter.
   
Just when we thought that we could go back in, the omicron variant shut everything down again!  We had one inside Bible study in December 2021. Then the notice came that programs and family visits are back on hold.  Thankfully, this hold has only been temporary.
   
Families are able to visit in person again. The State department of corrections has given prisons permission to resume volunteer programs like ours.  Each institution sets its own schedule and protocols for returning to in-person gatherings.
   
A couple weeks ago on Sunday, April 17, was a turning point at the institution we serve.  Men inside were given permission to gather in the chapel to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  And celebrate they did!
   
Following that event, we have been notified that Bible study for Deaf and Hard of Hearing will be back on the schedule.  It is our hope that by the time you read this, we are inside meeting again every week.
    
Two years of separation feels like a long time.  But when we see in the Bible how long and how often God allows His faithful servants to be confined for simply being faithful* we are encouraged and challenged to be as faithful.

 * Joseph in Genesis 39-41;
    Jeremiah in Jer. 37-38;
    Paul in Acts 24-28;
    and many others.


~~ Pastor Ron
Remember those who are in prison
as if you were in prison with them.

Hebrews 13:3

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Worship & Fellowship opportunities at Christ/Deaf

We meet in person in the chapel
the 3rd Sunday of the next few months 9:30AM

We meet on Zoom
Sunday worship & fellowship 10:00AM
Wednesday Bible Study 10:00AM

To receive log-in information,
Please contact us for log-in information,

Save the date:
Great Lakes Regional Conference

October 7-9, 2022
(Columbus Day Weekend)
Location at
Holy Cross Deaf Lutheran Church
360 Morse Rd, Columbus, Ohio 43214

Theme:
“For the Joy of the LORD is your Strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
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A Junior High School science teacher taught a lesson on the properties of magnets. The next day he gave his students a quiz. The first question asked: “My name begins with an “M,” has six letters, and I pick things up. What am I?” Half the kids in the class wrote, “Mother.”

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”  – Mother Teresa

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”  – Martin Luther

“There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.”  – G.K. Chesterton

“Let no one grieve that he has fallen again and again, because forgiveness has risen from the grave.”  – Saint John Chrysostom

Three buddies were discussing death and one asked the group: What would you like people to say about you at your funeral?

#1 answered: 
    “He was a great humanitarian, who cared about his community.”

#2 answered:
    “He was a great husband and father, who was an example for many to follow.”

#3 answered:
    “Look, he’s moving!!”


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Annual Events, American and International
Continued from March/April 2022.

Library Events
The nation’s libraries annually for observing events of special interest to library communities and the local community.

March Week – Teen Tech Week
April is National Poetry Month
April is School Library Month
April  week – National Library Week 
April day – National Library Outreach Day
April day – National Library Workers Day 
April week – Preservation Week

September is  Library Card Sign-Up Month 
September week – Banned Books Week

October week – National Friends of Libraries Week 
October /November  week - International Games Week

November is Picture Book Month

Ages, Ethnicities and Interests
There are national annual events that would apply to interested libraries and organizations serving the Deaf to observe.
Name, year of founding, and link  – US Presidential proclamation. 

May- June
Ages
May - Children’s Book Week  (1919)  https://everychildareader.net/cbw/
May - Older  Americans Month (1963) https://acl.gov/oam/history 

Ethnicities
May - Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (1978)
https://nationaltoday.com/asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month/Proclamation 
May – Jewish American Heritage Month (2006) www.jewishheritagemonth.gov

Interests
May - Mental Health Awareness Month (1949)  https://whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/04/30/a-proclamation-on-national-mental-health-awareness-month-2021/ 

June - Rainbow Book Month (1990) www.ala.org/news/2020/04/launch-rainbow-book-month
June Week – Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week (1984) 
www.helenkeller.org/hknc/dbaw 


Telling Stories, the Deaf Way
The Deaf of many cultures, from disability to heredity.
Local communities of the nation, the public library.

The following books have stories related to the three first deaf historical events in our American history that save lives:

March 13, 1988 (the first deaf civil  rights victory);
April 8, 1864 (first liberal arts college for the deaf, and
April 15, 1815 (first public school for the deaf) 
  1. Pictures in the Air: The Story of the National Theatre of the Deaf, by Stephen C. Baldwin

  2. Through Deaf Eyes: A Photography History of an American Community, by Douglas C. Baynton, Jack R Gannon and Jean Lindquist Bergey.  The Companion Volume to the Public Television Documentary

  3. Deaf Persons in the Arts and Sciences, A Biographical Dictionary, by Harry C. Lang and Bonnie Meath-Lang

  4. From Oaks to Acorns, by Frank R. Turk

  5. Introduction to American Deaf Culture, by Thomas K. Holcomb

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March - April 2022

3/1/2022

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Ash Wednesday
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Annually, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. In 2022, Ash Wednesday will be on March 2. Ash Wednesday concentrates the Christian’s heart on repentance and prayer through personal and communal confession. The ashes exemplify two main things: death and repentance. 

Looking at the Past
It involves the past and we need to focus on the current life and look forward to the future.  Ash Wednesday is the day when the journey toward Easter starts.  It helps us to ponder the past, to analyze the current, and to look forward toward the future. 

Based on the Bible, ashes represent regret.  To show his sadness, Job covered himself in ashes.  The ashes from last year’s palms remind us that even though we may have obtained Christ, we need to keep our faith in Him. 

Analyzing Our Current Life
While Jesus questioned his audience to ponder the truth that those who are healthy don’t need a doctor, he was asking each of them to analyze themselves.  Those who determine that they are sick will consult a doctor and only when we acknowledge our sin can receive His forgiveness.  Ash Wednesday reminds us that Jesus Christ is indispensable for our eternal and forgiveness of sins.  Have we forgotten that our need is everyday?  Colossians 2:6 emphasizes, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him.”

Looking to the Future
Our destination is Easter Sunday which is about the resurrection.  Some people festive holidays without true meanings.  For instance, Thanksgiving Day without thanksgiving, Christmas day without Jesus Christ as the Savior, and the Easter Sunday without the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 
 
Biblical verses to ponder for Ash Wednesday
If you’d like to begin thinking and observing Lent and Ash Wednesday, here are a few Biblical verses specific to Ash Wednesday to mediate on, and then you can pray to observe the day.

•    Our Creation: Genesis 2:7


Then the Lord God took dust from the ground and formed a man from it. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nose, and the man became a living person.
•    Our Sin: Genesis 3:19
You will sweat and work hard for your food. Later you will return to the ground, because you were taken from it. You are dust, and when you die, you will return to the dust.
•    Our Repentance: Psalm 51:7- 10 
Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Make me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you crushed be happy again. Turn your face from my sins and wipe out all my guilt. Create in me a pure heart, God, and make my spirit right again.
•    Resurrection: John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die."
~~Pastor Andy

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COVID Vaccine
Some people asked me about the Lutheran position toward the COVID vaccine.  Here are the answers from the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod President.

1.What do I do now?
The LCMS cannot direct members of LCMS congregations that they should refuse the vaccine or seek an accommodation. As LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison said in his statement, the decision to receive the vaccine or not is one that should be made by each individual. The role of the LCMS is to provide you resources for you to prayerfully consider as you decide.

2. Should I take the COVID-19 vaccine?
This is a question only you can answer. Some may choose not to receive the vaccine because of concerns over its relation to abortion or because of other health complications. Others may be vaccinated despite such reservations out of concern for their own health or that of their neighbor. Since neither Scripture nor the Synod has explicitly addressed this issue, it remains a matter of Christian freedom, which you must decide according to your individual conscience.

3. Can I obtain a religious exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine?
Religious or personal belief exemptions are based on conscientious objection and do not require official support from the denomination. The absence of an official Synod stance does not impact your ability to seek an exemption. In fact, most requests for religious exemption must be for personal, deeply held religious convictions, and not for the position of a church body or church official.

You might review our excellent previous Mustard article from Pastor Ron Friedrich (March-April 2021 "Ask Pastor").

~~Pastor Andy

Sources:
https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/JwRuy9gYA0TtiIwOHmgXl3bNNmw7Di9R
https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/7dx1LaKHWxKn8brctUDUQzGISF7o3zrF


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"How Long, Lord!?"
Just when we thought we could have religious services in prison, everything shut down again, due to the spread of the omicron variant. However, we now received news that COVID infections among Maryland prison staff and residents have again decreased to the point that institutions are beginning to resume in person family visits, and individual facilities are making plans to restart program activities and religious services. We are waiting anxiously for our “green light” to reenter for our precious time of fellowship.

Waiting is hard. Nine times Old Testament Psalms ask  “How long, Lord!?”

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” Psalm 13:1

“How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?” Psalm 79:5
Waiting tests our faith.  It is easy to trust God when times are good. Hard times force us to trust Him even more.
The Lord’s love never ends;
    his mercies never stop.
They are new every morning;
    Lord, your loyalty is great.
I say to myself, “The Lord is mine,
    so I hope in him.”
The Lord is good to those who hope in him,
    to those who seek him.
It is good to wait quietly
    for the Lord to save.  (Lamentations 3:22-26)
Remember those who are in prison
as if you were in prison with them.

Hebrews 13:3

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Annual Events
American & International

A. Proclamations by the US Presidents
The President of the United States annually proclaims a day, week, or month, as annual events, and calls upon all Americans to observe them.
Libraries, service agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and others have been sponsoring whichever events that apply to them.

Awareness – Day Week, or Month
E.g., Alzheimer’s Diseases, Autism, Breast Cancer, Childhood’s Obesity, Disability Employment, Domestic Violence, Helen Keller Deaf-Blindness, Mental Health, Stalking, and other appropriate cultures.

What about Deaf Awareness? This term originated in 1972 by the State of Colorado when its Governor proclaimed a week in November as Deaf Awareness Week. Such a week, which was never proclaimed by the US President, has become obsolete after a few years due to the successful interaction of the deaf and the hearing.

Heritage – Day, Week, or Month
E.g., Asian American & Pacific Islander, Caribbean American, German American, Hispanic, Irish American, Jewish American, Native Americans, and other appropriate cultures.

What about Deaf Heritage? Never proclaimed by the US President, but the deaf community may use the name whenever their social organization, a school for the deaf, and museum sponsor festivals and the related. Things such as works of arts, cultural achievements, and folklore that have passed on from earlier deaf generations to the present deaf generation!
 
History – Day, Week, or Month
E.g., African American, Black, Women, and other appropriate cultures.
History refers to an account of events that have happened in the past. What about Deaf History? Not yet proclaimed by the US President, but the public may go ahead to observe it. Such an annual event helps expose the knowledge of deaf history. Organizations Serving the Deaf (OSD) and library service to the public, especially the American Deaf Community.

Specialty – Day, Week, or Month
E.g., Adoption, American Red Cross, Education and Sharing, Family Caretakers, Farm Safety and Health, Foster Care, Grandparents, Great Outdoors, Mentoring, Older Americans, Parks, Public Service Recognition, Small Business, Volunteer, United Nations, and other appropriate cultures.

B. Deaf Events
1. February 11 – Inventors’ Day
A US presidential proclamation by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Birth date of Thomas A. Edison.
To recognize the enormous contribution inventors, make to the nation and the world.
Edison said that his deafness was an asset! It allowed him to work with less distraction and to sleep deeply, undisturbed by outside sounds.
https://www.edn.com/us-inventors-day-is-established-february-11-1983

2. March 6 – National Deaf Youth Day
Since 2017.
Formed during the term of National Association of the Deaf President Christopher Wagner (2012-2016). To recognize and bring together deaf youth from schools for the deaf, mainstream programs, and academic institutions. Contact via Email:  nad.info@nad.org.
https://youth.nad.org/ndyd
 
3. March 13 – April 15 – Deaf History Month
Since 1997. Endorsed in 2006 by the American Library Association and the National Association of the Deaf. To commemorate the three most important deaf milestones in American history.
  • March 13, 1988: The first Deaf Civil Rights Victory which led to the passage of the American with Disabilities (ADA), signed into law on July 26, 1990.
  • April 8, 1864: Charter signed by the US President Abraham Lincoln, authorizing the Board of Directors of the Columbia Institution (now Gallaudet University) to grant college degree to deaf students. The first and only liberal arts college in the world was founded for the deaf in America.
  • April 15, 1817: the first public school for the Deaf in America, known as the American School for the Deaf, opened in Hartford, CT.

4. April – Last Sunday – Mother Father Deaf Day
Since 1964. A private organization maintained and governed by CODA International members founded by Children of Deaf Adults. To give members the opportunity to honor their deaf parents and to recognize the gifts of culture and language they received.
https://www.coda-international.org

5. May – Better Hearing and Speech Month.
Founded in 1927 by American Speech and Hearing Association, a national membership professional organization with a purpose to make effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all.
https://www.asha.org/bhsm
https://www.asha.org/about/history

6. June – the full week that includes June 27
National Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week.
A US Presidential proclamation in 1984. To observe the birth anniversary of Helen Keller, who was born on June 27th in 1880, and in recognition of the achievements of people who are DeafBlind.
https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc

7. September – the full week from Monday to last Sunday of the month
International Week of the Deaf
(IWDeaf), formed by the World Federation of the Deaf in 2009. September 23 is the International Day of Sign Languages as proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2018.
http://wfdeaf.org/get-involved/wfd-events/international-week-deaf
https://www.un.org/en/observances/sign-languages-day

8. December 3 – 10 is Clerc-Gallaudet Week
Launched December 1-7, 1974, by the DC Public Library in cooperation with the National Association of the Deaf and the DC community. It was then called Deaf Awareness Week followed by Deaf Action Week and Deaf Heritage Week. International: Proclamation from the General Assembly of the United Nations.
  • Dec. 3 - International Day of People with Disabilities since 1992 and
  • Dec 10 – Human Rights Day since 1948.
During the week, the public honor Laurent Clerc and  Thomas H. Gallaudet, two visionary leaders in the field of American Deaf Education, whose birthday would be celebrated during the month Clerc (Dec 26)  and Gallaudet (Dec.10). The week is now planned to go globally. Canada, France, and other countries are welcome to join us. The International Federation of Library  Associations and Institutions (IFLA), may be encouraged to work with all counties. IFLA is the leading international body representing the interests of people who rely on libraries and information professionals.
https://www.ifla.org


Continued in next issues:
C. Library Events
D. Deaf Culture: Ages, Ethnicities and Interests


Annual Events: American and International will continue updating for the benefit of libraries and librarians to celebrate all year round.  The diversity of the deaf community  in local communities of the nation, the public library --  Feb 2022.
Alice L. Hagemeyer, MLS.   Honorary member, American Library Association. 

Friends of Libraries for Deaf Action
www.foldadeaf.net

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~~ Ruth Peterson

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Januay - February 2022

1/1/2022

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PictureEmperor Henry IV vs Pope Gregory VII
The Holy Roman Empire had struggles to maintain their power between emperors and popes before Martin Luther came to reform in 1517. 

Roman Emperor Henry IV and Pope Gregory VII grew up together and depended on each other. Henry was a fine young guy when he became king. As early as the age of fifteen, Henry attempted to increase his power over clergy in the Holy Roman Empire. Eventually Henry’s actions caused a conflict with Pope Gregory VII who was one of the great leaders of the Medieval Church. Henry assisted Gregory to become pope. But Gregory decided he wouldn’t agree with Henry. Gregory said Henry was breaking the law. Then Henry accused Gregory of not being a true pope. Pope Gregory claimed much authority arguing the pope’s courts are above king’s courts. Only popes can use the imperial sign. Popes can kick-out the king. Only popes can appoint bishops and archbishops.  Henry attempted to contradict that. But Gregory as pope said no one in the Holy Roman Empire can get communion. That made many people worry about their salvation. Nobles/leaders rebelled against Henry, forcing him to repent.

PictureEmperor Henry IV begged for forgiveness from Pope Gregory VII while being outside for 3 days.
Henry went to the pope to repent. He  stood outside, barefoot, in the snow, and waited for Gregory to come out. Gregory waited a couple days, forced Henry to stand and wait, then came out, and forgave Henry. Finally, Henry went home, annihilated the leaders who rebelled against him, declared his own authority again. Henry demanded investiture; that means a leader, like a king, can select the next bishop.  The pope can’t always appoint. Gregory refused. In the end, they compromised. The pope would appoint people, Emperor would approve them, but that did not happen in their lifetime, until after their deaths. 

The years from 1076 to 1084 were difficult ones for Henry. First, he was excommunicated, or removed from the Church, by Pope Gregory VII.  The primary reason for excommunicating Henry was simony, which is a crime of selling clerical positions or relics. 

In 1077, Henry was allowed to return to the Church. Gregory excommunicated him again in 1080. But in 1084 Henry had Gregory removed from power. Greg died in exile in 1085.  Eventually, Henry faced more conflict, this time from within his own family. In 1093, his sons rebelled against him, and in 1105 one of them had him imprisoned.  Henry escaped but died soon afterward.

Gregory’s perspective was based on a statement of Christ in the New Testament Book of Matthew, Chapter 16: Jesus said to Peter, "upon this rock I will build my church."

Henry’s perspective: St. Gregory was Pope Gregory I, or Gregory the Great (ruled 590–604), one of the most respected leaders of the early Church, had too much power and filled with pride and did not submit to God's authority as Henry claimed the current Pope Gregory VII was doing.


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Church History in ASL

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If Jesus does all the good works for our salvation,
what is the point of doing good works if He did all for us?

A biblical verse James 2.1 clearly explains that without good works, faith is dead.  If we have genuine faith, we will do good works through Him afterward, even though we still sin.  If you sin purposely without fear and don’t change your lifestyle, your faith is dead as James 2.17 states.  Similarly, good trees create good fruit, but good fruit don’t create good trees.

Faith given by God enables you to do good works being credited by God.  The Gospel rescues us from the Law’s grueling requirements for good living.  The Gospel provides us power to do good works.  Good works glorify God and help our neighbors.  Good works that He does through us are His work, not ours.   Christ saved people who did good works, not because they did good works, but because of they were blessed by God.

A Christian life is based on a growing relationship with the holy God.  If God has promised you will be a pianist in the future.  If you believe God’s promise, do you plan to watch television all the time with the promise that you are destined to become a pianist?  No way!  Being a Christian means having a relationship with Christ.  God wants to make Jesus’ character in us.

Also please review previous Mustard Seed articles that touch on this question:
        February 2006 - Ask Pastor
        April 2007 - Editorial
        March 2008 - Ask Pastor

~~ Pastor Andy

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Good News!
It has been 20 months since we were last able to enter prison to minister to our Brothers in Christ there.  Now at last we can go back in.

The prison system is gradually allowing programs to restart.  Educational programs are partly remote, with students meeting daily in the prison classrooms, while their instructors stay outside, teaching through internet video.

Chapel groups are able to meet in person only once each month.  Our Deaf Bible study group met for the first time in December 2021. 

My first question to the men was, “What has God been teaching you during our time apart?”  They shared stories about their daily challenges during the pandemic lockdown.  They also told about opportunities to bring God’s Word and encouragement to other men with them.

Some said that during our long separation, they still were able to feel connected with us via the Mustard Seed.  They expressed sincere appreciation that they were not forgotten.  They have been praying for us who live outside the prison, as we were praying for them.

Our one disappointment was that not all the men who had hoped to come to our first reunion were able to attend.  We look forward to seeing them in our January session, Lord willing.

~~ Pastor Ron
Remember those who are in prison
as if you were in prison with them.

Hebrews 13:3

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It has been a tradition here at Christ/Deaf to host a luncheon to celebrate the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.  The pandemic forced us to suspend that tradition in 2020.  This year we met at a restaurant.  The turnout was great!
 
A second purpose for our gathering was to celebrate Rev Andy’s recent ordination and installation as our new pastor, and also to thank retired Pastor Ron for his 20-years of service to us.

The highlight of our gathering was to see our friends, David Hagemeyer, and his wife, Leslie, again.
 
David is the son of Alice Hagemeyer, a contributing editor for the Mustard Seed.  You will find Alice’s regular feature column about Deaf Culture on the next page of this edition.  David and Leslie also are leaders in the Deaf community.

On July 4, 2020, David suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a freak accident while he and Leslie were enjoying the holiday in Ocean City, Maryland.  The injury has caused permanent paralysis.  David is now unable to walk, and he is able to Sign only with his arms.  He has no movement in his fingers or hands.

David keeps his positive attitude, and he continues to work hard toward recovery.  He expressed his gratitude for all who have prayed for him and supported him during his ordeal.

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This is a story about four people. Their names are Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

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Congratulations to Virginia!
The Library of Virginia recently announced the new Deaf Culture Digital Library (DCDL), a collaboration between the Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL) and the Library of Virginia.

Birth of VA DCDL
This annual event began in the first full week of December 1974.  It was then called Deaf Awareness Week.  The Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library in Washington, DC, first launched it and was proclaimed by what we called today, D.C. Mayor.

ReBecca Bennett, who at the time was serving as the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Outreach coordinator at the Disability Resource Center in Fredericksburg, felt that the Deaf community in Virginia could benefit from a Deaf Culture Digital Library similar to the MD Deaf Culture Digital Library.  So, she checked with Babak Zarin, Access Services librarian at CRRL.
 
After Zarin interviewed members of the Virginia Deaf community and researched  Virginia’s deaf cultural resources, he met with Nan Carmack, the Library of Virginia’s director of Library Development and Networking, DCDL was finally established in 2021. 

Babak Zarin, DCDL Project Coordinator, Access Services Librarian, said:

     Deaf culture digital libraries allow for vital community resources and Deaf culture to be shared with relative ease and can help foster a greater connection between public libraries and members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community.
     I continue to be surprised at how often this particular community (Deaf) gets overlooked in library services.

Work in Progress
The VA DCDL website (https://deaflibva.org) is still a work in progress and seeks the collaboration of the VA Deaf community through feedback, referrals to additional resources, and submissions of Deaf culture events across the commonwealth.  For more information about VA DCDL, please contact Babak Zarin at babak.zarin@crrl.org or Nan Carmack at nan.carmack@lva.virginia.gov.  

Congrats again to Virginia!

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Christ Lutheran Church of the Deaf serves the Deaf community in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area with the message of hope and life in
Jesus Christ.