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Current and upcoming events
at ICHTHYS House
Nightly worship - 9:30 p.m. - 365 days a year
Day of Silence and Solitude
Saturday, May 1, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Come and study, rest, read, or pray. Food and beverages will be available.
Community Dinner
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A Special Word from Clyde
Significant in the ministry of ICHTHYS House is the name itself. "Ichthys" is the Greek word for fish, and it is the word formed from the initial letters in Greek of the affirmation: "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior." The fish was adopted by the early church as a central identifying symbol, and has remained through the centuries a symbol of Christian faith and hospitality.
The ICHTHYS House ministry, since its beginnings in the 1960's, has been unapologetically Christian in its base and inspiration. Both the original ICHTHYS House at 229 College Avenue, and its successor at 215 College Avenue have been answers to prayers and have been intentionally dedicated to the Lord; and His living, loving presence is daily invited.
The special prayer of the House is Ephesians 3:14-21:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner person, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
It is interesting to remember how much of Jesus' ministry took place in homes, as in those of Jairus, Peter, Mary and Martha and Lazarus. Paul, in his letter to his Christian sisters and brothers in Rome, calls them to "practice hospitality," as one way to share the love of Christ.
We believe hospitality is especially the call of Christ for ICHTHYS House. As in the monastic Rule of St. Benedict, we seek to welcome all guests as Christ.
Among the resources of the House is a very large library. Books have been special friends for me since my father started taking me to the library when I was in the second grade. Authors whose writings have especially touched my life include Henri Nouwen, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, William Barclay, Helmut Thielicke, Elizabeth O'Connor, Gerald May, Thomas Keating, Madeleine L'Engle, Frederick Buechner, and of course, Quakers John Punshon, Elton Trueblood, Douglas Steere, Richard Foster, Howard Macy and Thomas Kelly. A very major book in my life is Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest, which I've read almost daily since Keith Miller (another favorite author) gave me a copy 36 years ago.
God bless you!
- Clyde Johnson
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