CENTENARY UNITED TO OFFER SERVICES IN SIGN LANGUAGE FOR DEAF

For the deaf and hearing impaired, church services can be hard to follow.

The Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau wants to minister to the deaf and hearing impaired by offering special church services using sign language.

"We are starting a new ministry for the hearing impaired and deaf people in this part of the state," said the Rev. Bonnie Sparks.

The United Methodist Church has a deaf ministries program in the St. Louis area. But Sparks said there haven't been any regular services offered for the deaf in this region.

Sparks said Centenary, 300 N. Ellis, will hold a special service at 10:45 a.m. April 14. There will be two interpreters who will share the duties of translating every word of the service.

Even the music has been chosen with a view toward the visual sense. The service will feature a bell choir and violins. "Everything is very consciously chosen to be as visual as possible," she said.

The church also is equipped with listening devices for the hearing impaired.

The Rev. Neil Stein is expected to deliver the sermon.

Sparks said the service is open to people of all denominations. Typically, she said, deaf people don't affiliate with a particular denomination.

"The key is that we try to accommodate the need rather than the denomination," said Sparks, who has a daughter who is hearing impaired.

If there is sufficient demand, Sparks said the church hopes to offer special church services on a regular basis, possibly once a month or once every two months on Saturday evenings in the church's Family Life Center.

Sparks said the Rev. Gerald Grainger, pastor for deaf ministries for the Methodist Church in eastern Missouri, could be involved in future services.

Persons interested in more information can contact the church at 334-2869. Sparks said that those who are hearing impaired can contact the church through Missouri Message Relay Services.