--Maria Maguire
Because of my role as the Apprenticeship & CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Coordinator at EarthDance Farms, I was asked to speak about Community Supported Agriculture at a Saint Louis University freshman seminar on globalization. This opportunity helped me to learn how the good food movement is challenging the empire of agribusiness. I joined the class in a field trip to the Donald Danforth Science Center, and I got to meet some folks from Fair Shares, a Combined Community Supported Agriculture operation. This was a really cool way for me to apply what I’ve been learning in our Jesus and Empire class at Eden Theological seminary. My Deaconess Anne housemates and I have been learning the ways in which Jesus resisted the oppression and injustices of the Roman Empire. As Christians looking to follow Jesus in our own day and age, my housemates and I have been examining the ways in which we can challenge oppressive systems of empire in America. As a group we have learned about issues of racial inequality an economic injustice, in particular. My placement site has given me the opportunity to view justice through the lens of food. When I presented at SLU, I spoke about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), which is a farming model that was brought to the US from Japan in the 1990s. CSA makes it possible for city or suburban residents to enjoy fresh produce grown locally by regional farmers. It is an effort to give people direct access to local farmers, which, in turn, promotes social and ecological justice. People pay up front for an entire season’s worth of CSA shares. When a person invests in a CSA share, always at the beginning of a season, she is taking on financial risk alongside her farmer. She says to the farmer, farming is risky business. Some crops will do well, and others won’t. I know it’s hard to make a profit and run a farm. But I believe in what you are doing. I believe in the power of local food, and I want to take on that risk with you. But why take on that risk? Why is local food important, and why would I invest in a local farmer? Investing in a local farmer is a way to resist empire. When you know your farmer, you have access to important information; who grew this food, and were they fairly compensated? Did the farmer responsibly use natural resources in the process? What kind of chemicals and how many, if any, were employed to grow this food? Growing food always involves social and ecological input. Think of bananas that the U.S. imports from South America. Was there child labor involved? How much pesticide was used? I haven’t a clue; do you? It’s very difficult to know, since the growing happened so far away. But when the growing occurs close to home, you can know what is going on. You can know who grew the food, and what resources they used. You have an awareness of the social and ecological input. When you get to know your farmer, you can support a just way of raising food, and you can help resist an unjust system of food.
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--Burton Guion
I’m a Missouri native, so St. Louis is in some ways a familiar city to me. Before I moved in to the Deaconess Anne House, I had already been up in the Arch, watched the Cardinals play at Busch Stadium, and strolled around Forest Park. However, much of St. Louis was – and still is – profoundly foreign to me. Neighborhoods that I am now relatively comfortable with, like Old North (where I live) and College Hill (where I work), I would never have dreamed setting foot in as a visitor. The greatest gift of living in North St. Louis so far has been this new comfort with living and working in neighborhoods that, frankly, I would probably have been scared to spend too much time in otherwise. This is not to say that I feel totally at home in Old North, or that I am a completely “streetwise” person after just one month in the city. On the contrary, I have realized how oblivious I am to the realities of life in a poor urban neighborhood. But this realization has taught me more about how people like me (young, white, educated) are so often mistaken about poor urban neighborhoods. Yes, there is violence, crime, and drug abuse in these neighborhoods. Yes, there is blight, poverty, and stagnant local economies. But it would be foolish to assume that these realities tell the whole story of what it is like to live in a poor urban neighborhood. At the end of the day, the people who live here are much like people anywhere else – they work, they play, they worry about their children, they try to live with each other as best they can. I don’t want to romanticize my experience so far in Old North – as I wrote above, there are many, many issues that neighborhoods like Old North must solve, and indeed are working hard to solve. North St. Louis is neither a place to be pitied nor a place to be feared. It is a place where you can be challenged, and I hope it continues challenging me every day I live here. Last year's DAH Corps Members are now settling into life outside of our community. Many have returned to their home states (Chris, Tori, Rosemary), some have moved to a new state (Sarah Alex), and thankfully, some are still in Missouri (Sherry, Bren, Martin), if only for a little while (Bren moves to Texas in October). This was an amazing group of men and women. If you are visiting this blog, you probably already know that. If you are missing them, as I am, you may wish to watch this wonderful year in review that Bren made for our going away party last August. It's a photographic chronology of an epic year. Enjoy. ![]() One of my most meaningful experiences in my role at Magdalene St Louis actually happened in Nashville. We are modeled after the residential program of Thistle Farms which has existed for some time now. Some other people involved in establishing a community here went with me to learn from the staff and graduates there. We had meetings with their founder, clinicians, and volunteers. Then we spent time in one of the main homes with the current residents. We were able to have conversations with them about how they came to Magdalene, what it means to them, and how it works. The women gave us a tour, shared pictures, and gave us gifts. This experience was so meaningful because it gave me my first glimpse of what we would soon have in St. Louis. We have been working so long to open the doors of our renovated house. This experience reminded us why our task is so important. It gave us a view into the future of how things would be when we have women engaged in a healthy community. And lastly, it brought to reality this picture I had been envisioning of Magdalene. This real life experience was even more powerful, beautiful, and meaningful than anything I could imagine. This memory connects me with the sisters in Nashville as we are now open and trying our best to daily show how love heals. --Tori Dahl
One of my favorite things to do at my placement site, St. Stephen's The Vine and EarthDance Organic Farm School, is to work at the Farmer's Markets and be out in the fields getting my hands dirty. I have had the opportunity many times to act as a Market Manager, as well as being the Marketeer for EarthDance once, which has given me a lot of different perspectives on Farmers' Markets. On the farm last fall, I started by doing mostly odd jobs around the farm, helping our farm manager and assistant manager. One of my largest responsibilities was to work with the Work Experience Program Students who came to the farm 4 days a week. I really enjoyed the challenge and adventure of learning new skills in order to be able to guide others in completing the tasks. There is something so rewarding about physically laboring to grow and tend the food that others will eat. I have greatly loved being so involved in the food process and finding so much growth, joy, and hope in the world of agriculture. --Rosemary Haynes
A call to Ferguson is what describes this Episcopal Service Corps year for us. The movement calls for us to be a part of it in many different ways and that’s what makes our community unique. Some of us are called to be in communication with others. Some are called to pray and simply listen. Some are called to be on the front line. We are called to be where are we are most comfortable and are free to feel discomfort in or out of our safety zones. Ferguson is much like an intentional community. A group of people gathered for a call to service and social justice. We have to focus more on building relationships within those people to form a stronger community. Being at Deaconess Anne House has formed me into the person that is called to be on the front line. It has given me the strength to build those relationships and from those relationships I have gained a family. I have been a part of the growth in both communities of DAH and Ferguson; both which have touched hearts of many and continue to do so.
--By Martin Geiger
"The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!" We've said it constantly since the Easter Vigil, but it never stops losing its thrill. Eucharist at Deaconess Anne refocuses us around the astounding story of Christ's resurrection, and reminds us to look for the wonderful and often scary moments of resurrection in our own lives. One of the things I love best about the church practices we've developed is our "sermon" - Rebecca or Mark spends some time explaining the story they hear in the Gospel, and asks us to reflect about the experiences we've had that connect us to that story. We tell a lot of different stories in that space - stories of closeness with God and others, stories about pain and difficulty and the times we've been hurt, and stories about where we found healing. I value the chance to hear stories from my housemates and our many visitors, to sit at the place where our stories and the words of the Gospel meet - not to solve all our theological problems, but to share where we are, and begin to think about our own stories as shaped by God's grace and the love our community has for each other. What we have on the altar when we celebrate communion together is more than bread and wine - it's our selves, soul, body, and story together, awaiting the transformation of the Spirit. By Rev. Rebecca Ragland
One of the realities of life in early adulthood is transitoriness. Relationships change, where one lives or works often changes too. This is partly why the Benedictine practice of stability is valuable for Deaconess Anne House Corps Members. As young adults, they’ve already navigated many changes. For them, stability is living together under a shared rule and faith practice regardless of the challenges. So far, this year's members have experienced significant instability. They began their year in St Louis just days after the shooting death of Mike Brown. They were in Ferguson joining the protests soon after their arrival. The stability of their common life strengthened them during that time of crisis and transition. As fall turned to winter, the corps members worked at their nonprofit placements, connected with the neighborhood and continued to engage in protests. Then, more challenges arrived. The Rev. Jon Stratton, founding director, took a new call at Trinity Episcopal Church, Central West End. After a few weeks, with The Rev. Mike Angell serving as interim, The Rev. Rebecca Ragland became director. The community maintained stability by faithfulness to each other and to the practices of the Daily Office. Then one of the Corps Members, Alex Herbertson, decided it was time for her to leave the program. Again, the community experienced instability and change. It was hard to say goodbye to Alex, just as it was hard to say goodbye to Jon. For the community, stability continues to center around daily Morning Prayer, community meals, Monday night Eucharist, our love for each other, and our shared commitment to social justice. We have also found stability in our beautiful Deaconess Anne House, the generous care of our sponsor parishes, and the ongoing vision of the Diocese. As we move into the final summer semester of our program, the Corps Members continue to be invested in the Diocese, their placements, and the Old North neighborhood. Before next year's Corps Members arrive, this year’s group is making a legacy in film and print for them to inherit. Tune in for more in our newsletter! Click here to learn more about upcoming events: |
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