A Word from Gary
Lenten greetings to all. As we make our pilgrimage to the empty tomb
this year, may you truly grow in your commitment to Christ. The Daily Text for
Ash Wednesday asks the question, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (The
question Cain asked of God regarding his responsibility for his brother, Abel,
in Genesis 4:9). Then, in the NT text,
Paul's directive to the church at Thessalonica and to the churches of the
Eastern District declared, "Be patient with everyone" (I Thess.
5:14). What powerful watchwords these can be for the season of Lent. Of course, we have responsibilities for
our sisters and brothers. And patience with our sisters and brothers is
something so needed, especially when it is so much easier to ignore their pleas
or to dismiss them because they disagree or to turn away when they pester
us. I am reminded of a caring God whose
patience is untold and whose care for all of us is highly evidenced in the
Christ of Holy Week. As you
grow in your relationship with Christ this Lenten season, may you find new and
exciting ways to live our your faith as you follow the Risen Christ in mission.
I write first
about our District Clergy Retreat held the last two days of January and
the first day of February. Our district
pastors, retired pastors residing in the district, and Moravian seminary
students enjoyed a wonderful retreat in which the focus had to change completely
at literally the last minute. Our
retreat leader, the Rev. Dr. Joan Campbell, came down with pneumonia and just
hours before the retreat was to begin we had to find different leadership. I am extremely grateful to four of our own staff
people and to Sr. Angelene Swart (President of the Worldwide Unity who happened
to be visiting in the Lehigh Valley that week) for their inspired
leadership. Although program is intended
to be secondary (retreat and renewal are focuses number one and number two),
these individuals helped to save the program.
The participants had nothing but praise for what they experienced. Next year the retreat will again be held at
the Mary Immaculate Center. The dates
are January 29-31, 2008, and our retreat leader will be Mary Wright who will
lead us in considering the power of storytelling. All clergy are asked to begin planning now and to put those dates
into your calendars.
The significant
events that occurred in February included planning for the 2008 District Synod
under the guidance of Barbara Dietterich on February 3, a farewell dinner for
retiring pastor John Hoenig and moving pastor Marian Boyle on February 9 in the
Delaware Valley area, the consecration of Melissa Johnson on February 11, the
crippling snow storm of Valentine's Day, the district board dinner with
Northern Province Seminary students on February 16, the installation of the
Rev. Sandra Thigpen at Grace Queens congregation on February 18, and working
with the Edgeboro and St. Paul’s congregations in the call process on February
6 & 27.
As we enter into
the month of March, I want to highlight some very important events: the
continuation of the call process at New York First on March 1, the installation
of the Rev. Mark Breland at Lititz on March 4, the alumni luncheon and reunion
for Moravian Theological Seminary graduates on March 8, the Weber lectures with
William Willimon at the seminary on March 9, the Bicentennial Symposium at MTS
on March 10, the gathering of the District Candidate Review Committee with
three potential ministerial candidates on March 10, the beginning of the call
process at Palmyra on March 13 along with a time for visioning and goal
setting, and the Western District Conference on March 23-25. At the end
of the month and through the first week of April, Amy and I will take ten
days vacation as we travel to northern Maine to help Amy's daughter, Vanessa,
and her husband, Eric, welcome a new baby into their lives (that is, if the
baby keeps the same schedule the doctor indicated he should have).
The goodness of
God abounds in our district. It is
thrilling to hear of all the wonderful events that are occurring. I would remind all pastors and board leaders
that your 2006 Annual Reports are now past due. Less than half of our district congregations have submitted their
reports thus far. Please make this a
priority. I would also remind pastors
and board leaders to make sure to begin talking about preparing a grant
proposal for the two "Mission Development Grants" that will be
awarded in August (one for up to $10,000 and one for up to $5,000). Make sure your grant proposal is on
Lucille's desk by noon on August 1. If
you mail it, make sure that it has arrived by that date because none will be
considered if they arrive after that.
Details have been send to each congregation regarding a district wide
550th Anniversary observance to be held at the State Theater in Easton on
November 10 featuring music and drama and skits and ???? from our congregations. Don't forget our District Conference on May
4-5 at East Hills.
Finally, as I
respond to the annual reports, one of the notations I make is that our financial
picture as a district for 2006 turned out to be much better than we had
feared. Our gratitude goes to all those
congregations that fully shared in our common ministries and benevolences. Your commitments help us truly be a district
in mission with Christ.
As you journey through Lent, 2007, remember that God walks hand in hand with you. Blessings.
Pastoral Changes
Sister Marian Boyle
has accepted a call to serve as pastor of the Green Bay West Moravian
Church in Wisconsin. She has served the Palmyra Moravian Church since
2002. She will begin her new ministry
in April.
Following
Brother Kent Trievel’s resignation as Church Planter in our effort in
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, we extend our best wishes as he accepts an
appointment with the United Methodist Church in the Mohawk Valley, New York.
Sister Lynette
McRae has accepted an appointment to serve as part-time Interim Pastor of
the Tremont Terrace Moravian Congregation during Brother Leon Matthias’
recuperation.
Prayer Concerns and Joys
Brother Dave
Wickmann continues to recuperate at home, as does Sister Chloe McKoy following
recent surgery. Brother Leon Matthias
continues to be hospitalized and is progressing well with rehab.
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 April 15 - Whitefield House Museum,
Moravian Historical Society, 214 E. Center St., (Route 191), Nazareth; Keepsakes
to Keychains: 200 Years of Lehigh Valley Collectibles exhibit, featuring
souvenirs and memorabilia of local places, events and people. Call (610)
759-5070 for info.
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.”
March 9, 9:30-2:30 – Weber Memorial
Lectures, The Future Shape of Ministry, Prosser Auditorium, Moravian
College. William Willimon, lecturer.
March 10 – Bicentennial Symposium Through
200 Years: At the Crossroad of Church and Seminary at Moravian Seminary.
Call 610-861-1519 or visit www.moravianseminary.edu/conted.
March 17, 4 pm, Penn-Mar Moravian
Lovefeast at Lititz Moravian Church.
Celebrating our “roots” to “fruits” with historic music of our heritage
and new music of our mission.
March 23-25 – Moravian 550th
Anniversary Conference and Celebration, Appleton, WI. Contact Western District Office,
800.206.5928.
April 13, 9:30-2:30 – Zeisberger
Lectures on Evangelism, Reaching the Generation of Learned Skeptics and
Cultured Despisers. Thomas Bandy, lecturer.
April 14, Penn-Mar Mission Society Annual
Meeting at Lebanon Moravian Church.
9:30 am registration, 2:15 closing worship. Contact Jeff Gehris at 301-271-2379 or j.d.gehris@juno.com.
April 26, 9:30-1:30 – Moses Lectures
in Moravian Studies, Lindsey House in Chelsea: The World Headquarters of
the Moravian Church, 1752-55. Vernon Nelson, lecturer.
April 29, 7:30 pm – Unitas Chorale concert,
Christ UCC, Bethlehem.
May 4-5 - District Conference, The Missional Leader at East Hills Moravian Church, Bethlehem, PA. Cost $35/person. Contact Marian Boyle, Registrar, pmoravianchurch@snip.net or 856-829-2886.
May 19 - a Spiritual
Retreat Day for health care workers at Mary Immaculate Retreat Center
sponsored by the Lay Ministry Commission.
June 4-15 – German
Script Course at the Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, PA. Registration form is
available at www.moravianchurcharchives.org
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.
August
10-12 – Mid-States Moravians Celebration of the 550th Anniversary
of the Moravian Church. For more information
on costs and hotel accommodations, contact registrar, Sandy Petrella at petrella@verizon.net or 330-339-6857.
June
18-21, 2008 – Eastern District Synod at Moravian College.
Celebrate the 550th Anniversary of the Moravian Church
Moravian 550 Cruise to the Eastern Caribbean,
October 20-27, 2007
·
Port
of Embarkation: New York City
·
Ports
of Call: St. Thomas, Antigua and St. Kitts
·
Port
of Disembarkation: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tour
Host: Bishop Hopeton Clennon. For more
information please call 562-688-4971 or visit www.moravian550cruise.com.
Evangelism
Commission
In
an effort to encourage and support evangelism through the local churches and
the members of the Eastern District, the Eastern District Evangelism Commission
is seeking to partner with two churches to provide an Evangelism
Intervention. An Evangelism
Intervention is an on site, personally tailored scripturally based program
offered to real people, in real time, to produce real action in your
community. Simply fill out and return
the enclosed application to begin the process of establishing a new Evangelism
focus in your community.
Birthdays
and Anniversaries
March Birthdays
1 The
Rev. Donald Fulton
2 Mrs.
Mary Harke
3 Mrs.
Elizabeth Sawyer
4 The
Rev. Abzal Sahadath
5 The
Rev. Marvin Henkelmann
Mrs. Wilma Henkelmann
7 Mrs.
Mary Ellen Henkelmann
Mrs.
Alma McMahan
The
Rev. Sayward Green
8 The
Rev. Dr. David Schwarz
The Rev. Leslie McKoy
12 Mrs. Geraldine Eichman
The Rev. Peter Skelly
Mrs. Joyce Trievel
18 Dr. Howard Cox
19 The Rev. George Richmond
21 The Rev. Michael Johnson
23 Mrs. Susan Sommers
25 The Rt. Rev. C. Hopeton Clennon
30 The Rev. Dr. David Schattschneider
31 Mrs. Marie Couts
March Anniversaries
1 The
Rev. Wanda Weidman & Mr. Richard Everhart
9 Mr.
& Mrs. John Ziegler
12 The Rev. Barbara Rich &
The Rev. Dr. William Hosking
20 The Rev. & Mrs. Gary Straughan
23 The Rev. & Mrs. John Hoenig
27 The Rev. & Mrs. Douglass Norwood
Churches
celebrating March anniversaries:
5 - 1939 - Calvary, Allentown, PA
14
- 1886 - Great Kills, Staten Island, NY
14
- 1951 - Mountainview, Hellertown, PA
25
- 1752 - First, York, PA
27
- 1966 - John Hus, Brooklyn, NY