…and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its
rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
Matthew
2:9
A Word from Gary
Greetings
from your district office, your district staff, and your District Executive
Board. We trust that each of you – our
pastors and our congregational leaders from throughout the Eastern District – have
experienced a joy-filled and peace encompassing Advent and Christmas. As we enter a new calendar year and into the
season of Epiphany on the first Sunday of the new year, we focus upon the true mission of our church as we
will again define it during our Eastern District Synod next June 18-21 --
"One in Mission, One in Call."
This continues the focus we initiated at our last District Synod,
"Our All to Give, Our Faith to Live," and our mission as defined by
that synod, "Enabling Christ's Ministry by Living Our Faith." Then, our Provincial Synod in 2006 picked up
that same missional theme -- "Christ Is Risen! In faith, we follow Him in mission." That theme finds fulfillment in recognizing
that the Epiphany message centering on the gift of God's self to ALL people
gives us our mandate to work for the healing of all divisions of prejudice and
bigotry. Unfortunately, it is the case
that all too often such division and bigotry even exists between God’s
children. “Showing Jesus” and “healing
divisions” and "Reclaiming the Great Commission" and "Living Our
Faith" and "following the Risen Christ in Mission" – that is the
calling we have, that is the task that is before us, not only during the
Epiphany season but every day of our lives.
All of that emphasis is a part of what we will, in June, declare in our
Synod theme -- "One in Mission, One in Call." May God guide us as we go about that
task. Please be sure to have pastor(s)
and lay delegates registration forms submitted to the District Office by February
1st.
The
month of January will hold some special events in the life of our
district. A very warm welcome back to
the district to Brother Bill Andrews who begins his ministry at St. Paul's
congregation on January 13 (his official installation will occur during morning
worship at 10 AM that day). Brother
Norman Prochnau will begin his duties as Interim pastor at Midway Manor on
January 1 and will be installed on January 20 during worship at 10:30 AM. Our sincere gratitude is extended to Brother
Gordon Mowrer for his fine pastoral leadership over the past couple of
years. The Ohio Ministries Convocation
(for all pastors) will be held in Columbus on Jan. 28-29. I hope to see all the Ohio pastors at that
event.
The
event to which we pastors in the district have been looking forward for almost
a year will be the District Pastors' Retreat on Jan. 22-24 at the Mary
Immaculate Center. Registrations were
due by Jan. 1 but we will still accept any that have procrastinated but please
hurry and get them in. This will be
another great event for us. Our retired
pastors are invited to come at half price and our seminary students are also
invited to be day participants for no charge.
Also,
during January, the John Heckewelder Memorial congregation in Gnadenhutten,
Ohio, will continue in the call process seeking new pastoral leadership. The meeting will be held at 2 PM on January
27. Our gratitude is extended to
Brother Monte Canfield who, as an ordained clergy of the United Church of
Christ, came out of retirement to give pastoral leadership to the congregation
for the past five years. He has now
declared his full retirement and we wish him well. He will continue to provide pastoral care and pulpit leadership
until a new pastor has been called.
Our
congratulations to the Edwards (Eileen and Ian are the pastors at Great Kills
congregation on Staten Island) on the birth of their son and Brian's brother,
Declan Patrick, on December 12. Eileen
is currently on family leave and all reports are that the family is doing well.
Finally,
the reminder that you all know is coming but you don't really want to hear --
the Annual Reports are due by Feb. 15.
PLEASE make every effort to have them into our office and into the PEC
office on time. This is so very
important. And for those couple of pastors
and congregations that have not yet sent in the 2006 annual report -- we also
need that one sent in. - Gary
Pastoral Changes
Brother
Norman Prochnau has accepted an appointment to serve as part-time
Interim Pastor at Midway Manor Moravian Church, Allentown, PA, beginning in
January. Brother Gordon Mowrer
concludes his appointment at Midway Manor at the end of the year. We are grateful for the ministry and leadership provided by
Brother Mowrer over the past year and a half.
Prayer Concerns and Joys
On Wednesday
December 12, 2007 at 1:39 pm, the newest member of the Ian and Eileen
Edwards family made his appearance.
Declan Patrick came in at 7 lbs 12 oz, 20 3/4", and a sweet
disposition. Congratulations to Ian,
Eileen, and big brother, Brian. You can
view photos of baby Declan on the Great Kills web site at www.greatkillsmoravian.org.
Our condolences to the
family and friends of Sister Gertrude Loppnow, who entered the final call to her eternal home on December 11th
at Watertown, Wisconsin. Please uphold
Bishop Milo Loppnow in your thoughts and prayers. A memorial service was held at the Marquardt Manor Chapel on
December 14th.
Condolences also to
the family and friends of Lynn Geyer (mother of David Geyer) who entered
into the nearer presence of her Lord, November 27, 2007.
Bill Sibert (father of Will Sibert) entered into the more immediate presence
of his Savior December 13. We extend
our prayers to Will, his family and loved ones, and all who have known Brother
Sibert during his life.
Our prayers are
extended to Brother and Sister Stanley and Fay Thomas on the passing of
Fay’s mother. Services were held at the
Battle Hill Moravian Church on December 13th.
Please remember Brother Glenn Heintzelman
as he continues to undergo medical tests and Brother John Hoenig as he
recovers from his hospitalization and heart procedure.
Please continue
to hold in prayer all our brothers and sisters dealing with health issues as
they move towards strength and healing.
We particularly remember Kay Rohn, Denny Rohn, Leslie McKoy, Sharon
Conn, Sam Propsom, Marvin Henkelmann, Joan Engelbrecht, Bill Hosking, Lynette McRae, Kathy
Nicholas, Katherina Gordon, Gordon Mowrer, and Gordon Sommers.
- Schedule of Events
January
4-13, 2008 - North East Moravian Disaster Response (N.E.M.D.R.) trip to Ocean
Springs, MS. Contact Gregg Schafer via
email, gcschafe@aol.com or by phone,
570-676-3334.
January
18-20, 2008 - Sr. High/Post High Winter Retreat, “Hold on Tight To Your
Dreams: Keeping Your Faith in a Stormy World,” at Hope Conference and Renewal
Center. Brochures can be printed off
the District’s Youth Ministry web site at www.mcnp.org/youth, by phoning Chris
Giesler at 610-867-7566, or by emailing him at chris@mcnp.org.
January
22-24, 2008 – Eastern District Clergy Retreat at Mary Immaculate Center,
Northampton, PA. Brochure is on the
Eastern District web page www.mcnp.org/easterndistrict.
January
28-29, 2008 – Ohio Ministries Convocation, Religion and Politics, University
Plaza Hotel, Columbus, OH. Online
registration at www.ohcouncilchs.org.
April
25-26, 2008 - Healthy Congregations Workshop to be held in New
Philadelphia, Ohio.
April
25-27, 2008 – Confirmation retreat at Hope Center. Contact Chris Giesler at 610-867-7566 or by
email at chris@mcnp.org.
June
18-21, 2008 – Eastern District Synod at Moravian College.
IRS
Mileage Reimbursement
As you will see at the following link,
the standard mileage reimbursement rate for miles driven while performing
official functions in the church (meetings, visitations, workshops, etc.) was
increased last week by the Internal Revenue Service. The new rate of 50.5 cents per mile takes effect on Jan. 1,
2008. Your reimbursement for miles
driven on your own vehicle while performing official duties of the congregation
from that date forward should reflect this new rate. Please advise your boards and treasurers of this fact.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=176030,00.html
IBOC Introduces New Publication Designed For Men
Coming early 2008 the Interprovincial Board of Communication
is introducing a new publication to its shelves. Crossroads: Stories at the
Intersections is the first book written for the Moravian Church by Ted
Bowman, a known author in many other circles. Ted is an educator specializing
in change and transition and the resulting grief and loss from those situations.
He is also an ordained minister in the Moravian Church. He grew up in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and has lived in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/Saint
Paul for 30 years.
Ted writes this book from the perspective of father,
stepfather, grandfather, spouse, son, and brother. Written from the male
perspective for men, this book includes 52 stories and reflection pieces that
can be used in Bible Studies, Sunday School Classes, Men's Group meetings, book
discussion groups, or just for individual study and reflection. Though written
for the male perspective this book can be used for many audiences, teenager
through adulthood, male or female as it covers the spectrum of life and the
many transitions individuals go through as we mature and take on different
roles.
This new book is anticipated to arrive in early 2008 –
PRE-PUBLICATION ORDERS are being taken now at the special introductory price of
$10.00 each through January 31, 2008. After that date the book will be available
at its regular sale price of $14.95 each.
Also available
through the IBOC are rubber wristbands available in Purple, Periwinkle Blue,
and Bright Pink. These wristbands, available for $3.00 each or $2.00 each for
orders of 25 or more, are EXCELLENT for youth groups and events. Live the faith
by wearing a wristband that says, “Moravians – Unity, Liberty and In All Things
– Love”. Other LIVE THE FAITH items available are Moravian Seal Auto Magnets
for $6.00 each or $4.00 each for 25 or more and leather bookmarks with the
Moravian Seal embossed in gold (available in red, blue, brown, and dark green)
for $3.00 each. For those looking for a special item, our glass stars for
$16.00 each proclaim “The Moravian Church – In all things LOVE” in silver on a
dark blue ribbon.
All items can be
ordered by calling 800.732.0591, ext.38 or by going online at www.moravian.org/publications/catalog.
Birthdays
and Anniversaries
January
Birthdays
2 The Rev. Belfield Castello
3 The Rev. Dr. William Matz
4 Mrs. Linda Fox
5 Mrs.
Mary Mowrer
The
Rev. Andrew Meckstroth
7 Mr. Robert Volpe
8 Mrs. Carol Acheson
The
Rev. Sharon Conn
Dr.
L. Kalyan Dey
11 The
Rev. Diane Joseph
12 The
Rev. Sandra Thigpen
13 Mrs.
Jean Dreydoppel
14 The
Rev. David Bennett
18 The
Rev. Dr. Gordon Sommers
20 Mrs.
Joan Engelbrecht
22 Mrs.
Jacquelyn Bell
The
Rev. William Andrews
23 The
Rev. Richard Thierolf
24 The
Rev. Dorothy Burcaw
Mrs.
Betty Castello
27 Mrs.
Renae Weaknecht
Mrs.
Kristen Van Orden
Mrs.
Gail Andrews
29 The
Rev. Wilfred Dreger
30 The
Rev. Charlesworth Edwards
January
Anniversaries
1 The Rev. & Mrs. David Danneberger
2 The Revs. Darrell & Chris Johnson
8 The Rev. Dr. William Matz &
The
Rev. Dr. Mary Matz
8 The Rev. Dr. Lyn Bechtel &
Dr.
L. Kalyan Dey
9 Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Hertzog
12 The Rev. Marge & Mr. Bill Hassler
16 The
Rev. & Mrs. Gregg Schafer
20 The
Rev. & Mrs. Bruce Weaknecht
29 The
Rev. & Mrs. David Wickmann
Churches celebrating Jan. anniversaries:
1
– 1815 – Sharon, Tuscarawas, OH
1
- 1968 - United, New York, NY, merger of New York III and IV
6
- 1963 - Church of the Good Shepherd, Utica, NY
31 - 1971 - St. Paul's, Upper Marlboro, MD