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A Word from Gary
Greetings in the name of our Chief
Elder. As I write this, the weather has begun to be truly beautiful.
I am preparing to attend the Church Planting Training Seminar
in Ashland, OH, together with two of our seminary students (Matt Gillard and
Christie Melby-Gibbons), seminary graduate Andy Kilps, and our newest pastoral
addition to the Eastern District, Chris New. As announced
elsewhere, Chris has answered the call to become the Church Planter of the
Journey Community in Mississauga. Andy is awaiting call and has indicated
that, sometime in the years ahead, he might be interested in Church Extension
work. I have read over the schedule for the Seminar and I can tell you it
is a very intensive seminar. Just to answer any fears you may have -- no,
I am not planning to become a Church Planter when my term is up next
summer. I am too old and the work is too hard. I will want to get
back in a regular parish to do normal pastoral work. I am attending
simply so that I can better understand the challenges and opportunities our
brothers and sisters in new church endeavors face and so that I can
perhaps help coach and affirm their ministries.
What a wonderful
conference we were able to share at the beginning of May. Alan Roxburgh
challenged the 161 attendees in very concrete ways to become leaders
in the missional movement that has encompassed our church. In light
of that challenge, let me remind all church boards and all pastors about the
district grants for community missional involvement that will be awarded this
summer. Two grants are available -- one for up to $10,000 and one for up
to $5,000. Grant applications need to be on Lucille's desk no later than
August 1, 2007.
Also in May, we
had a very important dedication of the Lower Lodge at Hope Renewal and
Conference Center by dedicating it to the memory of Wilmer Hassler, Sr., and in
honor of Bill Hassler, Jr. Henceforth it will be known as Hassler
Hall. What a fitting way to mark the excellent work of these two men over
the years for and at Hope Center.
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 24-26), Fishing Camp (June 24-30), Primary Conference (July 10-14),
Junior High Conference (July 15-21), Middler Conference
(July 22-28), Senior/Post High Conference (July 29-Aug. 4),
Swimming Camp (August 5-11), Performing Arts Camp (August 5-11), Camp Hope
and Life Camp (August 12-18), Labor Day Family Camp (August 31-September
3) and Quilt Camp (October 3-6). Check out the Website at www.camphope.org.
In the Mid-States, Camp Epworth for Jr. Highs is June 17-23 in N.
Webster, IN, Tar Hollow for Sr. and Post Highs is July 21-28, and Camp Bethany
for Primary kids is August 6-10 in Nashville, OH.
In addition to
our soon being able to welcome the Rev. Chris New to the district, we are also
pleased to report that MTS graduate, Rebecca Craver (soon to be "the
Rev.") has accepted the call to serve in team ministry with the Rev.
Jennika Borger at Edgeboro Moravian Church and also to serve with the Board of
World Mission as Director of Youth in Mission. Welcome, Chris and Rebecca,
to our district. Rebecca will be ordained
in Winston-Salem at 3 PM on June 17 and will be installed at Edgeboro
during worship on July 1. Chris will be
installed at the Journey during worship on August 5.
We pledge our
prayer support for the Women's Conference at St. Olaf at the end of the month
and also our prayers for safe travel for all participants. Your 2008
District Synod Planning Committee continues its work with a meeting slated for
June 15. You will soon be hearing from Brother Rich Thierolf (if you have
not already) regarding nominations for that event. Rich is heading up the
Nominating Committee. Please be as pro-active as you possibly can as you
bring forward the best possible resource people for our district-wide boards,
committees, and agencies. During the weeks ahead, Brother Otto Dreydoppel
and Brother Gary Harke and Sister Maggie Wellert will represent the
Moravian Church at the Episcopal/Moravian Dialogue which will take place
on the campus of Moravian Theological Seminary on June 4-5; I will be
representing the Moravian Church at the ELCA Synod Assembly for the DC synod on
July 7-9 in Gettysburg; Sister Sue Koenig will be representing the Moravian
Church at the ELCA Synod Assembly for the NE Ohio Synod on June 15-16; and
Brother Mike Foran will be representing the Moravian Church at the Church of
the Brethren's National Annual Conference in Cleveland on July 3. We
value our relationships with our ecumenical partners. And finally, please
keep all the members of your District Board in your prayers as we meet in Bethlehem
on June 22-23. Have a blessed
month. --Gary
Pastoral Changes
Sister Rebecca Craver
has accepted the call to serve ¾ time as a pastor in team ministry of the Edgeboro
Moravian Congregation with Sister Jennika Borger and ¼ time as Director of
Youth in Mission for the Board of World Mission. She will begin her new ministry on July 1st.
Brother Christopher
New has accepted the call to serve as the church planting pastor for The
Journey Community in Mississauga, Ontario.
He will conclude his ministry at the Edmonton Moravian congregation on
June 30th and will begin his work in Mississauga on August 1st.
Prayer Concerns and Joys
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 Dave Wickmann, Leon Matthias, Reed
Acheson, & Lauren Schafer.
- Schedule of Events
June 2, 3:00 pm -
Farewell Singstunde for Albert and Erdmute Frank at West Side
Moravian Church. A reception in the fellowship hall will follow the service.
June 4-15 – German
Script Course at the Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, PA.
June 22-23 – Moravian Days on the campus of Central Moravian Church. Sponsored by Bethlehem Area Moravians.
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.
Aug 30 - Sept 2 - Family Camp at
Hope Center
550 Anniversary Celebrations
August
10-12 – Mid-States Moravians Celebration of the 550th Anniversary
of the Moravian Church. For info on
costs and hotel accommodations, contact registrar, Sandy Petrella at petrella@verizon.net or 330-339-6857.
September
17-28 – A Christian Heritage Tour in the footsteps of Master Jan Hus and
the Moravian Church. Visit Prague,
Kralice, Berthelsdorf and more. Leaving
from Toronto and New York City. Contact
Rev. Marge Hassler, 416-656-0473 (office) or 610-751-4220 (cell).
October 20-27 - Moravian 550 Cruise to
the Eastern Caribbean. Leaving from New York City. Contact Bishop Hopeton
Clennon, 562-688-4971, or visit www.moravian550cruise.com.
November
10, 7:00 pm – Gala Variety Show at the State Theatre, Easton, PA. Gala
variety show featuring the musical gifts and talents of groups and individuals
from around the Eastern District.
Groups or individuals interested in being part of the event, contact the
Rev. Chris Giesler in the Eastern District Youth Ministry Office, 610-867-7566,
or chris@mcnp.org.
2008
January
22-24, 2008 – Eastern District Clergy Retreat at Mary Immaculate Center,
Northampton, PA
June
18-21, 2008 – Eastern District Synod at Moravian College.
Mission Work Conference for Young Adults
Do
you have young adults (ages 17-26) in your congregation who have shown an interest
in mission work? Do you have young
adults who have shown an interest in serving the Church both near and far? Please help them to define their mission and
ministry by seeing that they attend a conference that will be held August
31-September 3, 2007 at Laurel Ridge, our Moravian Conference Center in the
Southern Province. The conference is
being sponsored by our Moravian Board of World Mission and the theme for the
weekend is "Feet First: Go ye therefore". There is no cost for attending the weekend, young people and
their congregations would only need to help cover transportation costs. If you have any questions please contact the
Board of World Mission at 610-868-1732 or 336-773-1732. You may also contact Glenna Tasedan, the
coordinator for the weekend, by phone at 336-922-6762 or by email at
gtas29@yahoo.com.
550th Anniversary
Gala Variety Show Participants Deadline
We remind everyone of the Gala Variety
Show that will take place on November 10, 2007 at the State Theatre in Easton,
PA. This show will feature some of the
best musical talent from across the Eastern District in one great show. If an individual or group wants to be
considered for a slot in the evening the deadline for submission of a DVD or
audio tape was June 1. However if you
can submit it by June 7 it will still be included in the evaluation. Submissions have been coming in and slots
are going to be filled up soon, so please act quickly. If you have any questions or want an additional
application form (the first ones were mailed to congregations in November),
please contact Chris Giesler in the Youth Ministry Office at 610-867-7566, or
by email at chris@mcnp.org.
Sperling-Zimmerman
Home
The
Sperling-Zimmerman Memorial Home has a vacancy. Any applicant who has formerly served in the Moravian Churches in
Ohio shall be given preference. Contact
Ken Abbuhl, Box 279, Tuscarawas, OH
44682, or phone 740-922-2518.
Birthdays
and Anniversaries
June Birthdays
2 Mrs.
Elizabeth Jurgen
4 The
Rev. Dr. Willard Harstine
Mr. Aaron Van Der Linden
6 Mr.
Daniel Joseph
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.
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 Philadelphia,
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.