On a quiet stretch of Garber Road in Crestwood, a small city in southern St. Louis County, the Episcopal Church of the Advent has been a steady presence since 1957. The parish built its identity around feeding the hungry, providing meaningful worship, and growing a faith-filled community. Since the fall of 2021 it has shared its building and much of its ministry with St. Thomas Deaf Church, one of only three Episcopal congregations in the country formed specifically for the Deaf community, making Advent one of the most distinctive parishes in the Diocese of Missouri.
Two Churches Under One Roof
Advent and St. Thomas are formally two congregations that have chosen to be "Partners in Christ." Church of the Advent was founded in 1957 when two groups of local Episcopalians came together to form a single parish. St. Thomas Deaf Church traces its roots to about 1876 and was founded by the Reverend Austin Ward Mann, one of the first Deaf priests in the United States. For nearly a century and a half, St. Thomas has ministered to Deaf Episcopalians in the St. Louis region.
The two congregations came together under one roof in 2021 when the Reverend Dr. Emily Hillquist Davis, then the vicar of St. Thomas, was called as the new rector of Advent. Members of Advent invited the members of St. Thomas to follow Davis to Crestwood. Rather than merge, the two churches chose to keep their autonomy, a decision rooted in Deaf culture and in the importance of self-governance for Deaf congregations. Angela Botz painted a picture to commemorate the partnership; it depicts the ASL sign for "partners" and now hangs in the parish.
Sunday Worship: Two Services, One Altar
Two Sunday services share the sanctuary each week, both centered on Holy Communion. The 8 a.m. service is intentionally short and spoken, with no music. Parishioners describe it as a quieter, sensory-friendly option that moves quickly while keeping the full shape of Episcopal worship.
The 10 a.m. service adds music, hymns, and full American Sign Language interpretation. This is the service that is livestreamed on Facebook, so members who are traveling, ill, or simply at home can join in real time. Both services use the same Eucharistic liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer.
Visitors are gently warned that the passing of the peace takes a while, because this is a congregation that likes to talk. There is plenty of standing and sitting as people are able, hearty singing whether or not anyone can carry a tune, and prayers for the healing of loved ones. Children are always welcome in worship; a special play area is set up inside the sanctuary so parents can keep little ones close. Coffee hour follows the 10 a.m. service.
A Heritage Rooted in American Sign Language
The presence of St. Thomas Deaf Church has shaped Advent in ways large and small. The church building is interpreted into ASL at the 10 a.m. service by experienced interpreters, and the parish is committed to making its events accessible to Deaf and hard-of-hearing participants. Angela Bjornstad, a sign language interpreter who began attending St. Thomas during the COVID pandemic, serves as the interpreter coordinator for both congregations.
The two congregations share space but maintain separate identities, a distinction that matters for Deaf self-governance. Their shared mission prayer asks God to "shape us to live full, gracious and unpretentious lives through our worship, our humor and our support of each other" and to "extend what we receive here into the communities where we live and work and to invite all into the joy of this mission."
Outreach: Hands in the Soil and Food on the Table
Feeding the hungry has been central to Advent's identity since 1957, and several ongoing programs put that conviction into practice.
The Garden of Weed'n is the parish's vegetable garden, where volunteers meet every Wednesday evening from spring through fall. The group works in the beds for about an hour and then gathers on the patio over drinks, including regular and non-alcoholic beer, soft drinks, and water, to chat. Produce and proceeds from the garden go directly to Feed My People, a food pantry serving the St. Louis area. Beginners and experienced gardeners are equally welcome; the only requirement is a willingness to get a little dirty.
PeaceMeal dates are scheduled several Saturdays each year, when members and friends travel to a partner location in St. Louis to prepare and serve a sit-down or carryout meal for those in need. Carpooling from the church is available, and no one has to stay for the entire event.
The parish also takes part in Rise Against Hunger, an ecumenical meal-packaging event organized with other congregations in the Diocese of Missouri. These programs are not one-off charity drives but regular rhythms of service that draw the parish outside its walls.
Learning ASL Together
Free beginning American Sign Language classes are offered several times a year to members of Advent, members of St. Thomas, and the wider community. The instructor is Ron Selinger, a member of St. Thomas Deaf Church and a Deaf instructor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Maryville University. Selinger holds a degree in theater from Lindenwood University and has studied at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Classes cover the ASL alphabet, numbers from 1 to 100, and basic vocabulary; sessions are voice-interpreted so that hearing students can follow along. The parish has expressed hope of adding an ASL II class in the future and eventually opening the classes to older children.
Weekday Rhythms: Yoga, Yarn, and Potlucks
Beyond Sunday worship and outreach, the parish building hosts a steady calendar of weekday gatherings.
Yoga Morning Prayer with the Reverend Emily Hillquist Davis meets on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 a.m. The class is open to beginners and beyond; the asana practice is adjusted to whoever shows up, and the spiritual content is described as suited for Christians, incarnational mystics, seekers, and those full of awe and wonder. Mats, yoga blocks, and straps are available to borrow.
The Prayer Shawl Makers gather on Wednesdays in the parish hall to knit, crochet, and chat. As the makers work they pray, weaving prayers and love into each shawl. When complete, the shawls are blessed during a Sunday service and given to anyone who needs or wants one. The ministry is open to knitters of any denomination.
Blossom, a holistic spiritual teaching and discussion group for "Thirsty Souls," meets on the second Thursday of each month. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for potluck setup and conversation; the meal and program run from 6 to 8 p.m. The group welcomes people of any religion or no religion, mystics, seekers, and friends of friends.
The Men's Club meets for a monthly dinner out on the third Thursday of each month at a rotating restaurant. Anyone is welcome, regardless of gender. Carpooling from the church is typical, and the restaurant changes each month.
SAJE Senior Ministry holds its monthly bingo gathering on the last Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. in the parish hall, with prizes and a relaxed social atmosphere for older members of the community and their friends.
Welcoming All Who Come
Advent's welcome statement is unusually direct: "Whether you are here for the first time or have been in church all your life; whether you are liberal, conservative, independent or progressive; whether you are urban, suburban, rural or no place to lay your head; whether you are rich, dead broke, old, young, straight, gay, Trans, non-binary, arriving with a busload of kids, coming alone, firm in your faith or filled with doubts, God brought you here and we welcome you - just as you are!"
Children are welcome throughout worship, and a dedicated play space inside the sanctuary keeps young children close to their families. Visitors can park on site at 9373 Garber Road. Office hours are Wednesday through Friday, generally 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The parish hall and the Garden Room are available to rent for meetings and events.
The parish also takes seriously its responsibility to keep children and vulnerable adults safe. Clergy, staff, and key volunteers are required to complete Safe Church, Safe Communities training through the Diocese of Missouri, covering topics such as healthy boundaries, power and relationships, and inclusion.
Advent and St. Thomas Deaf Church worship the same God under the same roof, share the same mission prayer, and serve the same community: one in spoken English and one in ASL, both together at the altar. For a small congregation in south St. Louis County, the partnership is a quiet but powerful witness to what it can mean to be the Body of Christ.