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Mayor’s MessAGE | The senseless shootings across the country must stop [4]
FRIDAY, DEC. 21, 2012
The hands of worship Calvary Baptist’s Deaf Church brings the word of God in special ministry through signing, observing By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
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Scholls to mark Jessica’s 18th birthday with vigil at Coulon Parents trying to rebuild house where she was killed in May By TRACEY COMPTON tcompton@rentonreporter.com
Pastor Fred DeBerry of Calvary Baptist’s Deaf Church in the Highlands uses sign language to communicate his sermons to the congregation. He’s been with the deaf church for 34 years. Tracey Compton, Renton Reporter
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Doug Scholl can identify with parents of the young children who were killed in last week’s shootings in Newtown, Conn. Like them, he will spend his first Christmas without his child, Jessica Scholl, who, prosecutors charge, was murdered in May by her former boyfriend, Jarod Lane. “It has been really tough watching the TV,” said Doug Scholl of Renton. “I feel really bad for those parents in Connecticut.” This month marks a particularly difficult season for Doug and Stephanie Scholl, Jessica’s parents. What would have been happy occasions, their wedding anniversary on Dec. 23 and Jessica’s birthday on Dec. 28, Jessica Scholl are touched by sadness. So to celebrate what would have been Jessica’s 18th birthday, family and friends have organized a special vigil from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 28 at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park. They will light Japanese lanterns with lotus flowers and tea lights in her honor near the swimming area. “We think about what Jessica would want us to be doing and we just can’t not move forward because that’s not what she would want,” said Stephanie Scholl. Originally Jessica’s mother had planned to do something just with the family, but decided to plan something bigger to include friends, who [ more Jessica page 12 ]
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Scott Bass has been traveling by bus from Everett to Renton every Sunday morning for the last five years to attend service at Calvary Baptist Church in the Highlands. With transfers and waits, it’s a daunting trip for anyone, but Bass is also blind and deaf. He comes all the way from Everett to attend Calvary Baptist’s Deaf Church. He’s been a member for 28 years and traveled to the Renton Highlands for church when he lived in Seattle, too. “There’s no one way “I feel God has led to do it if you really me to be here,” said want to reach deaf Bass, as interpreted by Pastor Fred Depeople for Christ.” Berry. “I never miss Pastor Fred DeBerry, it at all.” Calvary Baptist Deaf Bass was born deaf Church and had “traveling vision” up until the age of 16. Coming to Calvary Baptist gives him a big smile, he says. He is one of about 35 current members who find community in this church. The deaf church is a ministry of the larger hearing Calvary Baptist Church, of which Grant Bowles is the senior pastor. The deaf church is a mix of people, slightly older, who come from Renton and beyond for fellowship and worship. Some are deaf, some are hearing people but married to people who are deaf. Some have children who are deaf; others have parents who are deaf. Most of them know sign language or are learning to sign. Caroline Huberty has attended the
Toys for kids | Hundreds of children will receive Christmas presents this year, thanks to the efforts of the Salvation Army, Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast [3]