Art Bucher for the Prison Connections Team writing

Thanks to everyone who participated in Angel Tree Christmas gift-giving to children with a parent in prison this year.  Here’s how a few of the gift deliveries went:

When I first telephoned Le, she sounded suspicious. There was a language barrier and I could tell we weren’t quite getting through to each other.  I asked her to wait while I went across the street to my Vietnamese neighbor, who agreed to hold the phone and translate. He explained about the Angel Tree gifts to her in Vietnamese, and reassured her.  She finally said “OK,” and told us what her three kids really needed.  We didn’t say much to each other when the gifts were delivered last week, but she did say, “Thank you” and “Merry Christmas!”

Another story:  When Karen’s door opened to my friend Joe Ryan and me last Friday, she looked very surprised. When we showed her the gifts and told her they were for her two small children from their dad, she immediately clasped her hands over her face and burst into tears.  She kept saying “Thank you,” and then told us “I had surgery today.”  The children, a girl and a boy, smiled and said, “They’re from daddy!”

At another home, a teenage girl heard us at the door talking to her mom and saw us handing over the gifts.  Smiling and her eyes tearing, she rushed to the door and blurted out, “These are from my dad? How did he do that?!”  She also looked surprised, perhaps not expecting anything at all from her father this year.  I gave her a brief explanation; she still looked a little confused, but she said, “Thank you.”

Lastly:  I got a phone call last week from a woman in South Philly who had somehow missed getting on the Angel Tree list this year for her twins.  She had my number from a previous year and asked us for help.  I was able to tell her right there that Circle of Hope had people who wanted to do this for her and her twins.  She held my hands when I came to the door later in the week and she said, “They [the twins] are gonna be so excited.  Thank you.”

I wanted to pass on these thank yous to all of you.  These families were genuinely touched by our offering to show a little love this Christmas despite the very difficult and real barrier of prison walls. Together we were able to help a parent show their care for their children, and show our care as a church for the caregivers of these children.  All of this helps God to show his love for everyone.

Forty-five children in our region received Christmas presents that their incarcerated parents asked us to purchase and wrap on their behalf. Thanks again to all of you who purchased and wrapped gifts, and thanks if what you did was to give to the common fund this year which partially goes to make compassionate things like this happen.  I hope you also had a touch of joy this Christmas.

Art Bucher for the Prison Connections Team

Mini-retreat: Making Decisions — the Life of Ciarán of Clonmacnoise
Sunday, August 22, 9am – 2pm @ Circle of Hope Broad & Washington 1125 S. Broad St.
Sign up for what is sure to be an insightful, meditative time.

Contact Rod White at rod@circleofhope.net to sign up.

Free Speech
Friday 7/23/10 at 7:30pm
Broad and Washington: 1125 S. Broad St. 19147

Last Friday night upwards of 40 people crammed their sweaty selves into a Victorian aged parsonage–home of Gloucester City’s own little intentional community.  It was a wonderful conglomeration of old friends, newly connecting ones, total strangers and a handful of high school students from Camden. Delightfully awkward conversations abounded as we awaited the arrival of the night’s guest: poet, Derrick Brown. He was set to share his poetry at 7:30 in conjunction with an out-of-school assignment from Camden teacher C.J. Reynolds and Haddon & Fern’s own Events Team.

Eight pm rolled around and neither C.J. nor Derrick Brown had arrived. At 8:15 we got a phone call explaining that C.J.’s car broke down in Staten Island, and that they were working on a way home. It would be at least 2 hours, but the majority of us decided it was worth sticking around for. The students had prepared poetry to open the show with, and we decided that they should just go ahead and share as we waited. Right as we finally assembled ourselves to listen, another phone call brought the tragic news that Derrick Brown was going to stay in Staten Island because he had a show in NYC the next day. We were already gathered. Poetry was still going to be shared. We decided to just go with it.

What ensued was probably better than if Derrick had shown up and spoken his own words. The poetry of C.J.’s students was remarkable. These kids were rappers and artists, and honest words rolled fluidly off their tongues. Though they self-admittedly felt the most out of place, they were the ones who boldly set the space for the rest of us to share. Kent Ellingson ran home to grab his guitar and sing a song he had written for Shalom House. The guitar was borrowed, originals were played and Neutral Milk Hotel was inevitably covered. As more people stood up, more people gained courage to do the same. The night ended with Jen Hulfish drawing on the energy of the night to speak words that led her closer to healing from the loss of a neighbor.

Sometimes open mic’s are horrendous. What was beautiful about this one was that it was so humbly grounded in the space we were all gathered. Some words were recycled, but many were written on the spot, drawing from the peculiarity of this gathering of people; Adam Malliet’s beard, the oldness of the house and the warmth and acceptance that was so apparent. Madeleine L’Engle describes these as ‘thin places’ of our reality that allow a few more drops of God’s presence to get through than usual. New life spoken with aged air from the ancient bits of matter comprising our lungs in an old house in an older town left us all drenched.

Circle Thrift Kid’s Story Time
Wednesdays, 10:30am, Circle Thrift Broad and Washington

Every Wednesday in July and August at 10:30am, bring your kids to Story Time! Parents can receive a few extra minutes to shop around. You will also receive a 25% off coupon when you bring your children. Stop by Circle Thrift Broad—1125 S. Broad St, in the basement.

AMPM
Sunday, July 11, 10am, Broad and Washington

Join us for the AMPM this Sunday, July 11 at Broad and Washington.

This is a public meeting designed with kids and families in mind. All are welcome! The theme of the meeting this week is “What do Paul and Hip Hop have in common? There will be stories, music, food and, of course, even some hip hop moves this time.

Rabbi Time
Monday, July 12, 8pm, Broad and Washington

We want to keep addressing the issues of the day and creating a response that fits the next generation of the church. Rabbi Time is a time to do this. Rod will choose a topic to begin with and discuss. You are also invited to bring your further questions to add to the dialogue. Please respond to howard.pinder@gmail.com if you plan on attending.

Beach Trip
Here are a few more details about the trip on July 17. Hope you can join us!
When: July 17
Where: Wildwood, NJ. We’re meeting at Glenwood Avenue and the Boardwalk (on the beach).
Why: Because it’s fun!
What to expect:

• Beaches are free! No beach tag required.
• Food: We’re not organizing/providing any food. You may want to gather some friends up for a picnic OR plan on purchasing food from the hundreds of vendors on the boardwalk. There are also lots of local pizza and hoagie shops off the boardwalk in the surrounding area.
• Bathrooms: There is bath house with restrooms on the boardwalk at Glenwood Ave. There are also port-o-potties every few blocks located on the boardwalk.
• Baptisms: A few of our friends will be getting baptized in the ocean at 4pm…come out and support!
• Activities: We’re not organizing any activities. We want to provide an organized gathering with opportunity for you to hang out with old friends and make some new ones!

last year's beach trip + baptisms.

Monthly Leadership Training
Saturday, July 3, 9am, BW.

How to study the Bible. All are welcome.

Annual sidewalk BBQ!
Sunday, July 4, 4-5pm and 6:30-7pm, BW. Free!

Come out to 1125 S. Broad St. (Broad, between Washington and Ellsworth) to enjoy some grilled goods and the company of friends and neighbors!

It rained a lot a few years ago during our BBQ. Not this year! Sunny and hot, hot, hot!

Beach Trip
Saturday, July 17, Wildwood, NJ.

Be as cool as this cat and join us on our annual trip! More details coming soon.

Soldiers of Conscience Film Screening
Thursday, June 10, 7pm @ BW. Free!
Check out the film’s official website
From the film’s website:
“Soldiers of Conscience is a dramatic window on the dilemma of individual U.S. soldiers in the current Iraq War – when their finger is on the trigger and another human being is in their gun-sight. Made with cooperation from the U.S. Army and narrated by Peter Coyote, the film profiles eight American soldiers, including four who decide not to kill, and become conscientious objectors; and four who believe in their duty to kill if necessary. The film reveals all of them wrestling with the morality of killing in war, not as a philosophical problem, but as soldiers experience it – a split-second decision in combat that can never be forgotten or undone.”

Art Shop Garden Festival
Friday, June 11, 6pm-10pm @ FN
Saturday, June 12, 10am-3pm @ FN
Come on out and celebrate the season with fresh fruits and veggies from our Philly urban farmers, and items made by local artists for your home & garden. Think outdoor dinners with friends, picnics in the park, day trips to the beach, window box and container gardens, and spring and summer clothing with accessories that celebrate the warm changes in the air. View Facebook invite here.

AMPM
Sunday, June 13, 10am @ BW
The AMPM is a morning public meeting for everyone, designed with families in mind. This month at the AMPM we are going to begin traveling with Paul. We will also engage in the Fanga, which is a welcoming peace song and dance from Africa. Kids or no kids—all are welcome!

(Brittney “Blew” Lewis and Kristen Baskin of Leotah’s Place)

Howard said he is excited to start his new role and serve the community in this way.

“I feel like God has given me the gifts to give and the passion to share,” he said.

His journey to become a cell leader coordinator has been ongoing for over five years.

In 2005, as a junior at Temple University, Howard said he was on the outskirts of checking out Christianity, despite growing up in a Church as the son of a Pastor.

Howard heard about Circle of Hope and got connected with Rod’s cell. He said that first cell experience is really when he met God.

“I was amazed. They seemed to really love me genuinely. They really seemed to have something,” he said. “The night when our cell multiplied, I knew I wanted to follow Jesus.”

Howard soon became a cell apprentice and not long after, he became a cell leader himself. Since then, Howard has been a part of numerous cell multiplications. In his most recent cell multiplication, Megan Hanner became a new cell leader and Adam Elabd and Ashley Roth became new cell apprentices.

Howard said he is feeling led to do the work of a cell leader coordinator.

“The biggest work of a coordinator is to really encourage and challenge our leaders, but not just to “make their cells work,” but to deepen their own relationship with God,” he said. “One of the best things a cell leader can share with their cell is a relationship with God. We do that in the cell and all throughout the body.”

Howard is thankful for having the experience of being in a cell and finding Jesus, taking the next step to apprentice a cell leader, becoming a cell leader and now transitioning to being a cell leader coordinator, too, he said.

“I look back at the way that being a part of Circle of Hope has really given me so much. I have a genuine desire for people to want to know Jesus,” he said. “I just think Jesus wants to turn our world upside down and I am committed to doing that in Philadelphia and the world.”