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
A Word from Gary
Greetings. As I write this, I am in
the middle of clearing my desk for the meeting this weekend of the Moravian
Ministries Foundation in Wisconsin followed by a few days of vacation when Amy
and I will be visiting with children and grandchildren in Wisconsin.
Because we will be flying into and out of Green Bay, we will have the
wonderful opportunity to drive past Lambeau Field several times and, if I was
of a different denominational tradition, I might genuflect a couple of times in
the sight of the statue of Vince Lombardi ("St. Vince" to many of us
Packer fans). However, truth be known, my other favorite professional
sports team (the Edmonton Oilers hockey team) is currently making me feel
a lot more "on top of the world" than the Packers did last
year and I hope that they are still in the playoff run by the time you
receive this edition of District Developments.
Okay -- enough
of that! Let me begin with an apology about an error and a couple of
omissions in the list of significant anniversary milestones among our ordained
brothers and sisters in the Eastern District last month. I indicated that
Sister Sara Aker is celebrating 15 years of ordained ministry this year --
actually it is 20 years this year! Sorry, Sara. Also, my apologies
to Will Sibert and Chris Giesler for forgetting to mention that they are
marking 20 years of ordained ministry this year. Blessings to all of you.
I trust that all
of our pastors and congregational delegates are "gearing up" for
synod and that all others are remembering them with a special prayer
focus. Synod begins on Thursday, June 15, and extends through Monday,
June 19. Synod years are very important in the life of our province and
in our lives as congregations because it is synod that determines the direction
of our mission for the next four years. We want to be open to God's
wisdom and God's leading and this should be the prayer of every Moravian in the
Province.
Our summer camp
and conference ministry has begun and we look forward to the changed lives that
will result from this significant ministry of our district. At Camp Hope,
be aware of the following program opportunities: PrePrimary Conference
(June 25-27), Fishing Camp (June 25-July 1), Middler Conference (July 9-15),
Junior High Conference (July 16-22), Swimming Camp (July 23-29), Performing
Arts Camp (July 23-29), Sr/Post High Conference (July 30-August 5), and Primary
Camp (August 6-12). In the Mid-States, Camp Epworth for
Jr. Highs is June 18-24, Tar Hollow for Sr. and Post Highs is July
22-29, and Camp Bethany for Primary kids is August 7-11.
Two
announcements to share with the district this month -- The Rev. Gordon Mowrer
is coming out of retirement to accept the appointment to serve as the part-time
pastor of the Midway Manor congregation beginning in July and the Rev. Leon
Matthias has accepted the call to serve as pastor of Tremont Terrace Moravian
Church. We rejoice with these two congregations as they step forward into
the future. We also share the announcements that the Rev. Philip Lythcott
has resigned his call as the pastor at Vanderbilt Ave. and that the Rev. Steve
Craver has accepted the call to serve the Rural Hall congregation in North
Carolina. Congregations currently at various stages of the pastoral
call/appointment process therefore are: Church of the Redeemer, Vanderbilt
Ave., Grace Queens, Brooklyn Fellowship, York First, Good Shepherd New
Hartford, and Riverside First. In addition, Advent has indicated a desire
to call a second pastor and is working on a position description for the
same.
Have a blessed
month. –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. Brother Bill
Pfeiffer is hospitalized at Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia as continued
tests will determine a treatment plan.
Sister Diane Joseph continues on medical leave. Sister Kay Rohn and Sister Jan
Schanck continue treatment.
Remember our
three Northern Province ministerial candidates - Lance Fox, Sayward Green,
and Katie Van Der Linden - as they await a call to service in pastoral ministry.
Continue also to
remember those churches attempting to discern God’s will for pastoral
leadership.
Pastoral Changes
Brother Leon
Matthias has accepted the call of the church to serve as pastor at Tremont
Terrace Moravian Church, Bronx, NY.
Brother Matthias has been serving the Grace Moravian Church in Queens,
NY.
Brother Gordon
Mowrer has accepted an appointment to serve as part-time interim pastor at
Midway Manor Moravian Church, Allentown, PA.
He will begin in July.
Brother Steve
Craver, who has served as pastor of the Church of the Redeemer, Dublin,
Ohio, has accepted a call to the Southern Province. Brother Craver will finish his ministry at Redeemer in July.
Brother Philip
Lythcott has resigned his call as pastor of the Vanderbilt Avenue Moravian
Church, Staten Island, NY.
- Schedule of Events
June 3 - Moravian Health and Wellness Ministries Networking Event sponsored by the ED Lay Ministry Commission. Emmaus Moravian Church.
June 10 – Moravian Historical Society, Whitefield House Museum annual 28th Arts & Crafts Festival, 10-3 on the lawn of the Whitefield House. The Lehigh Valley’s largest outdoor arts and crafts festival features crafters, music, food. Free admission. 610-759-5070.
June 5-16 – German Script course at the Moravian Archives, Bethlehem. www.moravianchurcharchives.org.
June
15-19 - Provincial Synod at Moravian College, Bethlehem
July
2-8 – 22nd Moravian Music Festival and Seminars, Capital
University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, OH. www.MoravianMusicFestival.org
Coming Events
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
Holy Land Pilgrimage
A group of Moravians from the Northern and Southern Provinces will again
be making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land this coming January 2-11, 2007. The group will tour sites such as Nazareth,
the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Beit Shean, Tel Meggido, Caesarea, Jerusalem,
Bethlehem, Jericho, the River Jordan, and the Dead Sea. Cost for the trip is approximately $2,000,
which includes airfare, breakfast and dinner daily, motor coach transportation
as well as an expert local tour guide.
There will be an informational meeting for all those interested in the
trip on Thursday, June 22, 2006 at the Moravian Church Center in Bethlehem beginning
at 7:00 PM. If you cannot make that meeting
but are interested in joining the trip, please contact the Rev. Chris Giesler
at 610-867-7566 or by email at chris@mcnp.org.
News from the Urban Ministries Commission
The Urban Ministries Commission announces
the availability of two types of grants: (1) Initial grants for pastors and approved
candidates for ordination to attend trainings/seminars/lectures related to
urban ministries including instruction in Spanish, up to $300 per person
($1,500 available); (2) matching grants of up to $500 for travel expenses for
any Eastern District congregation which sends a work team to New Orleans, LA to
assist with Hurricane Katrina Relief which may be coordinated through the Board
of World Mission, Lutheran Disaster Relief or other ecumenical agency ($5,000
available). Details concerning grant applications will be distributed to
congregations at the upcoming Synod.
The Urban Ministries Commission will host
a luncheon roundtable discussion on issues related to urban ministries during
Synod. Date, time and location will be announced.
Mission Projects
Several congregations in the ED have
responded to the challenge to seek mission opportunities. Grass roots efforts
are sprouting up all over the district. Week-long, local and international
trips, Habitat houses, adoptions of AIDS orphans in Africa are just a few of
the ways Moravians have responded. As you begin your fall Christian Education
planning, think about this idea.
All Sunday School classes at East Hills
Church were challenged to find, plan and complete a mission project. The Senior
Highs collected donations of age-appropriate toys, games, word puzzles, etc. to
fill 30 shoes boxes to donate to The Jared Project, an effort begun in a major
university that offers these gifts to kids, 2 – 16, who are under long-term
care in local hospitals. The Third and Fourth grade class, all 12, each created
and designed fabulous framed art projects which were sold through silent bids
on a Sunday morning. $450 was raised to create a clothing closet for Alzheimer
residents at a local nursing home. The works of art were so beautiful that the
“artists” commissioned additional pieces and pictures to sell to the losing
bidders. Parable of the Talents, anyone?
Birthdays
and Anniversaries
June Birthdays
2 Mrs.
Elizabeth Jurgen
4 The
Rev. Dr. Willard Harstine
6 Mr.
Daniel Joseph
13 The Rev. Tom Nalesnik
14 The Rev. Marlin Schaffstall
16 Mr. Frank Johnson
The Rev. Patricia Honszer
17 Mrs. Kathleen Nicholas
18 Mrs. Doris Wenger
19 Mrs. Fay Thomas
20 Mrs. Naomi Case
Mrs. Erdmute Frank
23 The Rev. Dr. Jerry Witbro
The Rev. William Cranford
25 Mrs. Emma Williams
The Rev. William Hosking
26 Mrs. Margaret (Edward) Wilde
The Rev. Otto Dreydoppel, Jr.
27 Mr. Jim Honszer
28 The Rev. Carol Dague
Mrs. Eleanor Johnson
29 The Rev. Kevin Henning
June Anniversaries
2 The Rev. Dr. David & Dr. Doris
Schattschneider
3 The Rev. & Mrs. Robert Engelbrecht
The Rev. & Mrs. Otto Dreydoppel
4 The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Douglas Caldwell
5 The
Rev. & Mrs. Charles Eichman
8 Mr. & Mrs. Jim McMahan
10 The Rev. & Mrs. R. Burke Johnson
11 The Rev. & Mrs. Michael Foran
15 The Rev.
& Mrs. Otto Dreydoppel, Jr.
Dr.
Robert & Rev. Dorothy Burcaw
Mr.
Daniel & Rev. Diane Joseph
17 The Rev.
Andy Meckstroth & The Rev. Dr. Lynette Delbridge
18 The Rt.
Rev. & Mrs. Edwin Sawyer
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Westbrook
19 The Rt.
Rev. & Mrs. Douglas Kleintop
22 The Rev.
Dr. & Mrs. Willard Harstine
The Rev.
& Mrs. David Bennett
Mr.
Frank & the Rev. Melissa Johnson
26 The Rev. & Mrs. Terry Folk
29 The Rev.
& Mrs. David Henkelmann
30 The Rev.
& Mrs. Chris Giesler
Churches
celebrating June anniversaries
9 - 1957 - East Hills, Bethlehem, PA
11 - 1857 - Fry’s Valley, New Phila., OH
12 -
1955 - Battle Hill, Union, NJ
25 -
1742 - Central, Bethlehem, PA
1747 - Nazareth, PA
26 -
1988 - Fellowship, Brooklyn, NY
Please submit
information for publication to the District Office by the 15th of
each month