Some in the community have said recently to various members and Pastor David, "I heard that DCC (Deaf Christian Church is closing..." The truth is that the name "DCC" has been officially changed to "Philly Deaf" over a year ago. But to answer the question about closing... The answer is "No." Philly Deaf has not closed, and is not planning to close. However, the Brookhaven care group has changed locations as of September 1st. The original ministry name of DCC was in Brookhaven, Pa for 14 years; first in the Full Gospel Assembly of God building, then, the past 8 years, at the 24 Radio Park Lane location. The care leaders of Philly Deaf, after much consideration and deliberation decided NOT to renew it's lease with the current building owners at that Radio Park Lane location, and, instead, to begin looking for a new host church where the lease payments would be lower each month. That location, Calvary Temple of Philadelphia, was the answer to our prayers and the end of our searching. Calvary Temple 3301 South 20th Street Philadelphia, Pa 19145 This location for Sunday evening meetings is now begin called: PHILLY DEAF SOUTH, while the current meeting location for Thursday evenings is being changed from Kensington Care Group, to: PHILLY DEAF NORTH. The scheduled meetings will continue to meet at Philly Deaf North on Thursday evenings; 6:30 p - 8:30 p and the new Philly Deaf South meetings will continue to meet on Sunday evenings; 6:00 p - 8:00 p You can contact the Philly Deaf Admin Care Leaders, Trina Herzog at: Trina@phillydeaf.com or Office@phillydeaf.com, with any questions that you might have regarding this move. We'll be emailing to the PD email list and will post on the web, directions and map of the new location, as well as public transportation to get to the new Philly Deaf South location (just off of I-95).  (Author: John Piper) I saw the fast-moving, misshapen, unusually-wide funnel over downtown Minneapolis from Seven Corners. I said to Kevin Dau, "That looks serious." It was. Serious in more ways than one. A friend who drove down to see the damage wrote, On a day when no severe weather was predicted or expected...a tornado forms, baffling the weather experts—most saying they've never seen anything like it. It happens right in the city. The city: Minneapolis. The tornado happens on a Wednesday...during the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's national convention in the Minneapolis Convention Center. The convention is using Central Lutheran across the street as its church. The church has set up tents around it's building for this purpose. According to the ELCA's printed convention schedule, at 2 PM on Wednesday, August 19, the 5th session of the convention was to begin. The main item of the session: "Consideration: Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality." The issue is whether practicing homosexuality is a behavior that should disqualify a person from the pastoral ministry. The eyewitness of the damage continues: This curious tornado touches down just south of downtown and follows 35W straight towards the city center. It crosses I94. It is now downtown. The time: 2PM. The first buildings on the downtown side of I94 are the Minneapolis Convention Center and Central Lutheran. The tornado severely damages the convention center roof, shreds the tents, breaks off the steeple of Central Lutheran, splits what's left of the steeple in two...and then lifts. Let me venture an interpretation of this Providence with some biblical warrant. 1. The unrepentant practice of homosexual behavior (like other sins) will exclude a person from the kingdom of God. The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) 2. The church has always embraced those who forsake sexual sin but who still struggle with homosexual desires, rejoicing with them that all our fallen, sinful, disordered lives (all of us, no exceptions) are forgiven if we turn to Christ in faith. Such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11) 3. Therefore, official church pronouncements that condone the very sins that keep people out of the kingdom of God, are evil. They dishonor God, contradict Scripture, and implicitly promote damnation where salvation is freely offered. 4. Jesus Christ controls the wind, including all tornados. Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:41) 5. When asked about a seemingly random calamity near Jerusalem where 18 people were killed, Jesus answered in general terms—an answer that would cover calamities in Minneapolis, Taiwan, or Baghdad. God's message is repent, because none of us will otherwise escape God's judgment. Jesus: "Those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:4-5) 6. Conclusion: The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction. Reaffirm the great Lutheran heritage of allegiance to the truth and authority of Scripture. Turn back from distorting the grace of God into sensuality. Rejoice in the pardon of the cross of Christ and its power to transform left and right wing sinners. Condolences to the Haushauer Family 08/20/2009
Our condolences and prayers go out to the Haushauer family with the passing of Ruth. Pray for Glenn and Lillian to be agents of God grace as they minister to the immediate family Ruth Hoshauer's Memorial Service 08/20/2009
Location Names are changed Philly Deaf has been a multi-site ministry since 2007. The northern group has been known as Philly Deaf K-Chat, and the Southern group has been known as Philly Deaf DC-Chat. Beginnning September 1st, 2009, Philly Deaf Ministries will simply be called by the names of: Philly Deaf North (PDN or PD North...the kensington group) and Philly Deaf South (PDS or PD South...the South Philly Group). Moving the Brookhaven location 08/17/2009
 A storage room has been rented for the cleaning out of Philly Deaf items from the Brookhaven church location. Beginning August 17th, we start the process of taking down, moving and cleaning to prepare for Philly Deaf's departure on August 30th. The new location for the Philly Deaf Sunday evening Deaf chat is Calvary Temple of South Philadelphia, near the sports stadiums. This new location will begin meeting on September 27th, 2009.  Sunday, August 30th, there is NO BROOKHAVEN MEETING FOR PHILLY DEAF THIS WEEK. WE ARE ALL INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SERVICE IN THE PARK IN DELAWARE WITH SEVERAL OTHER DEAF MINISTRIES AND CHURCHES. THIS BEGINS IN THE AFTERNOON (NOON); LOOK AT THE PHILLILY DEAF Web CALENDAR FOR LOCATION AND DETAILS. this event begins with a service in the park, before food, fellowship and games begin.  AUGUST 23RD, We begin the meeting NEXT WEEK in Brookhaven, BUT THE TIME HAS CHANGED TO 10:00 am until 12:00 noon. this change is due to the fact that the 23rd is the last day that we are meeting at the Brookhaven location. This is also a 'light' potluck (finger sandwiches, fruit, salad, and deserts) please bring something to share with others. |