SCI’s President & Executive Director, the Rev. David Rider, visited Christ Church, Ridgewood, NJ on Sunday, September 27 to lead the adult forum, preach and receive nearly 400 knitted scarves, caps and vests for this year’s Christmas at Sea outreach to seafarers.
At the adult forum, Fr. Rider discussed Church missionary societies in the 1830s, including SCI’s origins on the docks of lower Manhattan. He quickly fast-forwarded to today’s ministry of ship visiting and a hospitality center in Port Newark, along with SCI’s justice and advocacy work via its Center for Seafarers’ Rights (CSR). Parishioners had many questions about the current upsurge in piracy hijackings, and Fr. Rider explained CSR’s initiative to promote guidelines for the medical and mental health evaluation of merchant mariners and their families during and after piracy events. “On its best days,” Fr. Rider said, “the Church does everything to promote human freedom and dignity. When that cannot happen, the Church works tirelessly to minimize human suffering and promote reconciliation.”
After Fr. Rider preached at the 10:15 service Christ Church’s rector, the Rev. S. Elizabeth Searle, thanked volunteers for their labors of love. She blessed the colorful knitted gifts that beautifully surrounded the church’s pulpit, also asking God’s protection on all who would wear them in the cold months ahead. Fr. Rider expressed appreciation, too, and promised parishioners that the gifts would quickly find their way into Christmas boxes bound for Port Newark.
This year, some 40 Christ Church knitters have created 670 knitted objects, about half of which were sent to SCI over the summer. The knitters gather regularly on Saturdays, including parishioners and neighbors of all ages. All agreed that knitting creates a wonderful sense of internal community while serving those beyond themselves. Recently, the group did the math and estimated that 670 gifts represent more than 5 million stitches. Talk about a labor of love!
Each year, 4000 SCI volunteers around the country knit and pack gifts for more 17,000 mariners in Port Newark and the inland river system. This year, SCI will include gifts at its new International Maritime Center in Oakland CA, too. If your church or community service group would like to join Christmas at Sea, contact Jeanette DeVita at this blog.
