Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
Eastern
District Watchword 2006
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A Word from Gary
I greet you in
the name of our victorious, coming, and ever-present Chief Elder whom
we know as friend and brother. With the
season of Advent comes the beginning of another church year and I want to
extend to each of you who currently serve as pastors and board members my
sincere thanks for your service and dedication during the past year. I also extend appreciation to those who are
currently retired from active service in the pastorate or on boards and
committees. Your commitment is very
much appreciated.
As
I reflect on the life of the district during the month of November, I am thankful
for those who were present with us at the PA Council of Churches sponsored
Pastors’ Conference. It was a good time to connect. Several pastors
were able to come only for the dinner on Monday evening and that was also a
good time for us. Also during November, the Planning Committee for the
2008 District Synod began their work under the leadership of Sister Barbara
Dietterich and a good start has been made. The synod will be held on June
18-21 in Bethlehem. Although it is still being fine-tuned, the synod
theme will focus on our call to be united in our joining God in mission to the
world. The district-wide mission trip
to Mississippi in November proved to be a truly inspiring event for all that attended. This trip was the 49th trip that the Moravians
of the Northern and Southern Provinces have made to the area and residents have
been amazed at this outpouring from the Moravians. There are several other trips planned. Also during the month of November was the Presbyterial consecration
of two of our pastors -- Sue Koenig and Marian Boyle. Congratulations to both.
Just
so you are up do date on our latest clergy calls, Diane Joseph was installed
(re-installed??) as a pastor in team ministry with Kevin Henning at Emmaus on
Nov. 26. It is good to have Diane back
from her year-long disability. Sandra
Thigpen has accepted the call to serve as the pastor of Grace congregation in
Queens and will begin her duties there on Jan. 1 with installation set for Jan.
7. Sister Thigpen has been serving as
the pastor of St. Philips congregation in Winston Salem. Dean Jurgen has accepted the call of the
Lititz congregation to move into the Director of Pastoral Ministry chair and he
will be installed on Dec. 31. The Rev.
Paula Hart, an ordained clergyperson in the United Methodist Church is providing
pastoral care and worship leadership for the Good Shepherd congregation in New
Hartford, NY. Gordon Mowrer has
accepted appointment for another year as the part-time retired pastor at Midway
Manor. Congregations actively in the
call process are New York First, Vanderbilt, and Lititz. Remember all these congregations and pastors
in prayer, as well as Fellowship congregation in Brooklyn, as they discern
God's leading for them as well as the congregations and pastors where reappointments
need to be determined before the end of the year -- Faith congregation in Washington,
DC, and John Heckewelder congregation in Gnadenhutten, OH.
During
the coming month, the Evangelism Commission meets on December 11 and the
District Executive Board meets on December 8-9.
A
book written by Sister Cory Kemp, former Moravian clergy person, recently
crossed my desk. Entitled, "You Don't See Many Chickens in
Clearance," it is a collection of essays on faith and living. I
commend it to you. I also remind you of the book, "The Missional
Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World," by Alan Roxburgh
and Fred Romanuk. This book will be our jumping off point for our May
4-5, 2007, District Conference at East Hills. Watch for the brochures
soon to come to you from the District Stewardship Commission.
Don't
forget our 2007 Annual Pastor's Retreat at Mary Immaculate Center on Jan. 30
through Feb. 1 with the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell as our Keynote
leader. Have you registered yet?
We
look forward in this season of preparation leading up to the
proclamation of the Good News of God’s dramatic arrival into our midst in the
person of Jesus and the reality that God is ever present with us in our every
step. I bring you sincere Advent and
Christmas greetings from all of the members of the Eastern District Executive
Board and our spouses, from Lucille, and from all of the staff in this building
who serve us daily throughout the year.
James
Montgomery's Advent Hymn, "Hail to the Lord's Anointed," reminds us
of the Christ who came to break oppression, to set the captive free, to take away
transgression, and to rule in equity for the purposes of rescuing those who suffer
wrong, helping the poor and needy, bidding the weak to be strong, and turning
darkness into light. And the hope that comes with this incarnation is
found in love, joy, peace, and righteousness.
It
is our prayer that all of these reminders of who Christ is will be your
experience during this holy season. May
special blessings encompass you and your family. –Gary
Pastoral Changes
Sister Sandra Thigpen
has accepted the call to serve as pastor of the Grace Moravian Congregation,
Queens, NY. She will be installed at
Grace on January 7. Sister Thigpen concluded
her ministry as pastor of St. Phillips Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, NC on
November 26th.
Brother Dean Jurgen
has accepted the call to serve as the Director of Pastoral Ministry at the Lititz
Moravian Congregation. His new
position officially begins January 1.
Brother Gordon
Mowrer’s appointment to serve as part-time interim pastor of Midway
Manor Moravian Church, Allentown, PA has been extended through
2007.
Brother Reed Acheson
has accepted an appointment to serve as part-time interim pastor of Vanderbilt
Moravian Church, Staten Island, NY.
Brother Acheson will be in Staten Island several days each week while
still maintaining his residence in Allentown, PA. He begins this new ministry in January.
Prayer Concerns and Joys
Sister Chloe
McKoy, wife of Brother Leslie McKoy, was hospitalized in November and is
now home.
Please continue
to hold in prayer all our brothers and sisters dealing with health issues as
they move towards strength and healing.
- Schedule of Events
Through January 7, Moravian Historical
Society, Whitefield House Museum, Nazareth, PA. Light Divine: Moravian Christmas Customs, special
holiday exhibit.
January 12-14, Sr. High/Post High
Winter Retreat 2007 at Hope Conference and Renewal Center. The theme for this year’s retreat will be
“Another 40 Hours.” Open to all youth
in high school through age 21.
Brochures are available on line www.mcnp.org/youth.
Jan. 16, 4 pm-Jan. 19, 1 pm – Evangelism
– For Whose Sake? at Mary Immaculate Center. Glen Stoudt, leader.
Program fee $275. 610-861-1519.
January 22-23, – The 2007 Ohio Ministries Convocation at the University Plaza Hotel, Columbus, OH.
Jan. 27, 9 am-12 noon. Building Teams in Your Church at MTS. Jill Peters, leader. 610-861-1519.
January 30-February 1 – 2007 Eastern District Pastors’ Retreat at Mary Immaculate Retreat Center. The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, leader. Registrations due Jan. 1.
Feb. 10, 9 am-12 noon – Transformational Leadership and Visioning at MTS. A companion workshop to the Jan. 27th Building Teams program.
Coming Events
March 3 - The Men's Fellowship of Tremont Terrace
Moravian Church will host a 'Boyz to Men Symposium' in celebration
of the 155th Anniversary of Tremont Terrace and the 550th of the worldwide Moravian
Church. The theme is “Building and Empowering Relationships.”
April 29, 7:30 pm – Unitas Chorale concert,
Christ UCC, Bethlehem.
May 4-5 - District Conference focusing on the Great Commission, Stewardship, and Mission at East Hills Moravian Church, Bethlehem, PA. Cost $35/person. We are encouraging attendance of at least 5 from every congregation – more are welcome! Registration brochures will be sent in Jan.
June 27 –30 - Creation Music Festival
June 27-30 – Interprovincial Moravian Women’s Conference, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota
July
2-9 – Moravian Young Adult Convo – “Make the Moravian Journey Home…and
catch a vision for our future.” Prague,
Czech Republic and Herrnhut, Germany.
For ages 18-25.
June
18-21, 2008 – Eastern District Synod at Moravian College.
IBOC
News
Don't miss out on a great sale being run
by the Interprovincial Board of Communication. The Moravian Book of Worship,
pew edition, is NOW 50% off! On orders placed before December 31, 2006, the pew
edition is $9.00 each instead of the regular price of $18.00. If you are
looking to add copies to your pews or replace copies that are damaged, now is
the time to do it!
Orders can be
placed using the online ordering system of www.moravian.org or by calling
800.732.0591 and asking for Customer Relations.
Year-End
Contributions
Just a reminder,
if you would like to place a notice in your bulletins concerning year-end
contributions to the church.
A contribution
is effective when delivered.
The only exception to this rule is in the event of a check that is dated,
mailed, and postmarked in December 2006. Donors' checks must be delivered or
postmarked on or by December 31, 2006 in order to claim a charitable
contribution deduction for 2006.
Checks that are
placed in the church offering on the first Sunday in 2007 will not
qualify for a charitable contribution deduction in 2006, even if the
check is predated to 2006 or was actually written in 2006.
Birthdays
and Anniversaries
December
Birthdays
1 Mrs. Rose Nehring
2 The Rev. Robert
Engelbrecht
4 The Rev. Cynthia Rader
Geyer
5 The Rev. Dr. Albert
Frank
7 Mrs. Marie Morman
The Rev. Wanda Weidman
8 The Rev. Leon Matthias
9 The Rev. Raymond Schultz
The Rev. David Geyer
11 The Rev. Jeffrey Gehris
The Rev. Duane Ullrich
13 Mr. Keith Dague
Mrs. Irene Goserud
Mr. Bill Westbrook
14 Mrs. Carole Johnson
Mr. Jeff Johnston
18 Mrs. Catherine Weidner
20 Mrs. Shirley Cox
21 The Rev. Richard Bruckart
The Rev. Douglass Norwood
Mrs. Evelyn Shay
25 The Rev. Frank Barker
Mrs. Jan Witbro
26 Mrs. Cynthia Rice
27 The Rev. Warren Wenger
Dr. Eileen Edwards
28 The Rev. Darrell Johnson
29 Mrs. Lauren Schafer
30 The Rt. Rev. M. Blair Couch
31 The Rev. Gregg Schafer
Mr. Gary Bailey
December
Anniversaries
6 The Rev. Dr. & Mrs.
Michael Johnson
21 The Rev. Aden Ward &
The Rt. Rev. Kay Ward
23 The Rev. & Mrs. Abzal Sahadath
28 The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Reed Acheson
29 The Rev. & Mrs. Gordon Mowrer
Churches celebrating
December anniversaries:
9 - 1883 Coopersburg, PA
11 - 1887 College Hill, Bethlehem, PA
17 - 1914 Reading, PA
19 - 1747 Lebanon, PA
25 - 1863 First, now Advent, Bethlehem, PA
27 - 1748 First, New York, NY
1842 First, Dover,
OH
31 - 1865 First, Riverside, NJ
1947 Schoenbrunn,
New Phila., OH