OaksofRighteousness - Saint John's Episcopal Church, Delhi, NY

Oaks of Righteousness Mission

In 2011, Mothers Christina Vance and Hannah Mudge started a house church near Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with the goal of ministering to un-churched college students, unemployed, and homeless people in North Central Troy, NY. They have been establishing relationships within this less fortunate community with the goal of leading these people to Christ. Their ministry is off to a great start and has been well received. Mothers Christina and Hannah both had part-time jobs to deal with their living expenses but have been recently blessed by a local patron and can and are now full-time priests in the Diocese of Albany.

Mother Christina interned with us at St. John's as part of her seminary requirement prior to her ordination to the Priesthood on December 18, 2010. Mother Hannah was also ordained on that date.

To help with their ministry, St. John’s vestry has designated the fourth Sunday of the month to have our kids take up a special collection during the offertory for this important ministry. Please prayerfully consider how you might continue to help each month. Thanks for your generous contributions to date. May the Holy Spirit continue to fill our hearts with joy and love as we reach out to those less fortunate.

Mission Opportunity

We had an opportunity to further invest ourselves in this extraordinary ministry. On four Sundays, one each month, from July through October parishioners from St. John's and our sister parish, St. Peter's in Hobart, went to Troy to assist them with their mission work. These trips consisted of a cookout, a kid’s worship time after dinner, and a chance to fellowship with, pray for, and join in kid’s crafts and songs for these less fortunate people.

The trips we took to Troy to assist Mothers Christina and Hanna with their were fruitful with prayer, music, Scripture reading, games, fellowship, food, skits, and face painting.

While there we, along with parishioners from churches in the Troy area, provide food, cook, serve, clean up, and just extend a friendly hand, smile, song, and/or prayer.

Mothers Christina and Hannah have been blessed and have been able to rent a diner and have all of their expenses paid for the next year so these missions can continue through the winter months. They plan on officially opening their Cafe/Ministry Center on Sunday, March 4th, with a formal dedication. The cafe will open at 2 PM for snacks, coffee, soft drinks, and fellowship and their first Eucharist will be celebrated at 5 PM, with Bishop Love, our Bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, as celebrant. At this time the building will be dedicated and their new altar consecrated.

Along with the ecumenical ministries they are currently involved in they plan to have the cafe open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. Their plan is to offer food and drinks in a ministry setting where prayer may requested or offered. They plan to minister to the less fortunate in a way to instill in them their work has value by encouraging them to wipe down a table to earn a cup of coffee as one example.

Mother Christina visited St. John's on January 22nd and expressed her gratitude for the continued support of St. John's and thanked God for all the blessings of which they have been bestowed.

Please continue to hold them in your prayers as they step out into this new chapter of their extraordinary ministry.

This handmade altar was recently presented to The Oaks of Righteousness for use at their newly cafe/ministry center diner in Troy.