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
In the middle of
these days of summer, I extend greetings to you. Provincial Synod has
completed its deliberations and I trust that every congregation has received a
report about the synod from your delegate(s) and pastor(s). It was a
good time of fellowship and a strengthening of the Lord’s work across the
Province. The most important item to note is the affirmation of the synod
to reclaim the Great Commission as our Provincial Calling during the next
four years. A very few of the highlights for synod were the
elections, the adoption of an experiment to develop an alternative plan to
financing the ministries we accomplish together, the call for a partnership in
helping Katrina victims, a commitment to provide some seed money to expand the
ministry for HIV/AIDS victims in Tanzania and expansion of the program to
South Africa, the approval of a new staff position -- "Director of Church
Planting", a revision to the sabbatical leave program and a
commitment to ecumenical outreach through participation in Christian Churches
Together as well as Church Uniting in Christ. Of course, many more
very important actions occurred and I trust that your delegates will
report on the actions in the weeks ahead. One of the significant elections was
the re-election of the Rev. David Wickmann as the President of the
Provincial Elders' Conference. Also elected to the PEC were Glenn
Hertzog and Jill Westbrook from our district as well as JoEllen
Laprade and Bill Kiessling from the Western District. Western
District delegates also elected the Rev. Jim Hicks as the president of the
Western District and, thereby, a member of the PEC.
While
we rejoice in the election of Jill Westbrook to the PEC, we are saddened that
this will necessitate her departure from the Eastern District Executive
Board. A process to elect another Ohio member to replace Jill is
currently underway and all pastors and Joint Boards in the Eastern District
will be involved in that election. We will miss Jill greatly on the EDEB
but we wish her well as she begins service on the PEC. Jill has served
faithfully for 10 years on the EDEB.
Dates
to note during the month of July include the Moravian Music Festival at Capital
University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus on July 2-8, the first
meeting of the newly elected PEC in retreat on July 14-15, and a gathering of
the PEC's of the Northern and Southern Provinces meeting jointly in
Winston-Salem on July 28-29. Also this month, Church of the Redeemer will
be saying "farewell" to the Rev. Steve Craver on July 9,
the John Hus convention for all of the NYC congregations will take place
at 11 AM at United Moravian Church on July 9, and the Rev. Gordon
Mowrer will be installed as the interim part-time pastor at Midway Manor on
July 16.
Congregations
currently at various stages of the call process are Church of the Redeemer,
York First, Advent for a second pastor, and Grace congregation in
Queens. Brooklyn Fellowship, Vanderbilt Ave. on Staten Island, and
Utica Good Shepherd are also currently without called or appointed
pastoral leadership but have made decisions to wait before entering the
process.
We
are excited to be able to report that the Rev. Jeff Van Orden is returning to
full-time Moravian ministry and has accepted the call to serve the Riverside
congregation where he will begin his duties in August with installation set for
September 10 at morning worship. Likewise the date for the installation
of the Rev. Leon Matthias at Tremont Terrace will be on a yet-to-be-determined
date in September, but he will begin his work at Tremont in August.
Previously announced has been the installation of the Revs. Cynthia and David
Geyer at College Hill on August 27.
Enjoy
your summer and don’t forget to support your church as you do so. Blessings.
Gary
Prayer Concerns and Joys
Continue to hold
in prayer our brothers and sisters dealing with health issues as they move
towards strength and healing. Remember
Sister Margaret Wilde, Sr. as she recovers from a broken leg.
Continue also to
remember those churches attempting to discern God’s will for pastoral
leadership.
Pastoral Changes
Brother Jeff
Van Orden has accepted the call of the church to serve as pastor of the
First Moravian Church, Riverside, NJ.
Jeff served as pastor of the Philadelphia Third congregation and in
specialized ministry in Philadelphia from 1973-1983. He has been employed in the investment management industry in
Philadelphia, NY, and Connecticut since 1983.
He and his wife, Kristen (Harberg), are excited to be returning to service
in the church. They will begin their
ministry at Riverside in August.
Sister Sayward
Green has accepted the call of the church to serve as pastor of the York
First Moravian Church, York, PA.
Sayward is a May graduate of Moravian Theological Seminary and is a
member of the Graceham Moravian Church.
- Schedule of Events
July
2-8 – 22nd Moravian Music Festival and Seminars, Capital
University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH. www.MoravianMusicFestival.org
July
9 - The 3rd Annual Moravian Convention in celebration of the life
and work of John Hus will be held at United Moravian Church in Manhattan.
The celebrations begin at 11:00 am.
July
18 – Concert on the Green, Nazareth Community Chorus and Nazareth Big
Swing Band. Lawn of the Whitefield
House, Nazareth. Sponsored by the
Moravian Historical Society and Moravian Hall Square. Free, no tickets required.
Concert begins at 6:15, featured performer at 7:00. Bring your own chairs or blanket and food.
Coming Events
Oct. 7, 2006 (Saturday) - Annual Youth
Rally at United Moravian Church in Manhattan. The theme for this year is "Youth in Mission"
May 4-5, 2007 - District Conference focusing on the Great Commission, Stewardship, and Mission at East Hills Moravian Church, Bethlehem, PA.
July
2-9, 2007 – 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, Bethlehem
* F.
Y. I.
From the Benefits Office
Prescription Drug Generic Co-pays
When a generic drug is available to
replace a brand it provides significant savings for our health care plans. A 1% increase in the use of generics yields
a 1% savings in overall prescription drug costs or approximately $3600 per
year.
You are encouraged to discuss generic options
if available to replace brand drugs with your doctor. To share the savings obtained through the use of generics,
effective July 1, 2006, the co-pays are being reduced from $10 to $5 for retail
and from $20 to $10 for mail-order.
From the Interprovincial Board of Communication
Join the
550th Anniversary Daily Texts 2007 Challenge
Just a reminder
that quantity discounts are available on orders for the Daily Texts 2007 if
placed before July 31, 2006. These discounts have been put in place to help answer
the 550th Anniversary Challenge, the more you buy, the more you save. Encourage
your congregations to buy one for themselves and their household, or one for
every person in their household, or additional ones for mission work in your
own communities and beyond.
Help us answer
our challenge to have a Moravian Daily Texts in every household for the year
2007. Make this anniversary a time to introduce the Texts to others so they too
can find a way to share the same devotional with Christians around the Globe.
For more
information, contact the IBOC at 800.732.0591 or contact your local Moravian
Book Store (prices and promotions may vary).
Don't wait - the discounts end as of July
31, 2006....
From the Provincial Synod Resource Team
The Resource Mission Team (formerly the Finance Committee) at Synod was astounded to hear the report of the Treasurer that a large percentage of the funds for Common Ministries, Benevolences, and District and Provincial Administration arrive in the Church Center offices at the end of the year and have asked that all congregations (pastors and Joint Boards) be asked to send their assessments on at least a quarterly basis (monthly would even be more preferable). The lay persons on the Mission Team had no concept of how the church could even function when the monies arrive so late and asked that this word be passed on through district newsletters.
Birthdays
and Anniversaries
July Birthdays
1 Mrs. Sarah Norwood
3 Dr. Robert Burcaw
4 The Rev. Sue Koenig
8 Mrs. Rosemary Kleintop
Mrs. Susan Ullrich
9 The Rev. John Hoenig
The Rev. Dr. Steve Craver
13 The Rev. Kent Trievel
17 Mrs. Nancy Danneberger
20 The Rt. Rev. Edwin Sawyer
27 Mrs. Colleen Bruckart
28 The Rev. Dawn Volpe
The Rev. Ron Rice
July
Anniversaries
2 The
Rev. Carol & Mr. Keith Dague
10 The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. William Pfeiffer
The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Gordon Sommers
11 The Rev. & Mrs. James Bruckart
13 The Rev. & Mrs. Norman Prochnau
15 The Rev. & Mrs. Gwyned Williams
17 The Rev. & Mrs. Marvin Henkelmann
The Rev. & Mrs. Gary Marsh
19 The Rev. Mary Ann & Mr. Anthony Pula
21 The Rt. Rev. & Mrs. Arthur Freeman
23 The Rev. & Mrs. C. Hopeton Clennon
24 Mr. & Mrs. Steven Couts
30 The Rev. & Mrs. Wellesley Ferguson
31 The Rev. & Mrs. Allen Bergmann
Churches celebrating
anniversaries in July:
6 - 1763 -
New Dorp, Staten Island, NY
1800 - Gnadenhutten, OH
17 - 1955 - Grace, Center
Valley, PA
30 - 1747 - Emmaus, PA
Please submit
information for publication to the District Office by the 15th of
each month