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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 from all of us here in your
district office. We are beginning to enjoy the wonderful summer weather
and we look forward to all that will occur in the life of our district this
summer. Our Camp and Conference program at Camp Hope certainly is at the
head of the list. Make sure that everyone in your congregation is aware
of the variety of experiences we have available. Camp booklets should
have been received a few weeks ago at every congregation from the Camp Hope
Program Committee.
During May we
also will celebrate with Moravian Theological Seminary as the commencement
exercises occur on May 13 at 4 PM in Central Church. Included in the
graduating class who will receive their Master of Divinity Degree are Northern
Province approved candidates Lance Fox, Sayward Green, and Katie Van Der
Linden. Several graduates from other provinces and denominations also
will be receiving M. Div., MAPC, and Masters in Theological Studies degrees as
are a few individuals who do not fall under the umbrella of "approved candidates"
from any denomination. Congratulations to all graduates.
Three pastoral
installations will occur this month -- Wanda Weidman at York Covenant
on May 7, Terry
Folk at Schoeneck on May 14, and Rick Bruckart at Hope Conference and Renewal
Center on May 29. We pray for renewed ministry for each of these three as
well as the three entities that will benefit from their gifts. Rick's
installation will occur at 2 PM during the annual Memorial Day Church Picnic
held during the Memorial Day Family Camp weekend at Camp Hope. Members of
all congregations in the district are invited (indeed, urged) to attend the picnic
and to share in the installation.
I will be
attending a meeting of the Moravian Ministries Foundation Board of Trustees in
Ephraim, WI, on May 20 and Amy and I will be taking a few days vacation in
connection with that meeting to visit our families in Wisconsin.
This month I
would like to recognize the significant ministries provided for our congregations
by our ordained personnel. There are a few of us who are celebrating
milestone (five-year intervals) anniversaries of our ordinations this year and,
like I did last year, I would like to especially recognize those currently in
our district who are marking those milestones this year. Brother Charlie
Eichman is the "man of the year" as he celebrates his 55th
anniversary of ordination this year. Brother Bob Engelbrecht is the
"runner up" as he celebrates his 50th anniversary. Gordon
Sommers hits 45 years this year and I hit my 40th anniversary of
ordination. Al Frank celebrates 35 years and Charlesworth Edwards
celebrates 30 years. Dean Jurgen and Bruce Weaknecht both hit the quarter
century mark this year. Hugh Daley and Reed Acheson reach the 20th anniversary
of their ordinations. Sara Aker, Dotty Burcaw, Sharon Conn, and Carol
Dague all celebrate their 15th anniversary of ordination. And last, but
not least, are Jennika Borger and Melissa Johnson who celebrate the 5th year of
their ordination this year. Blessings and best wishes to each of
you. The greater church thanks you for your gifts and talents and leadership
over the years.
Have a great
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. Sister Kathleen
Pfeiffer is recovering at home and doing well following hip replacement on
March 30th. Sister Diane
Joseph continues on medical leave.
Sister Kay Rohn’s treatment has been stepped up. Sister Jan Schanck will be undergoing
several months of follow-up treatment.
Condolences to
the family and friends of Brother Warren Kuhfahl, who entered the more
immediate presence of his Lord on April 8.
Brother and Sister Kuhfahl served pastorates in New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, and Indiana. Memorials
may be sent to East Hills Moravian Church, Hope Conference and Renewal Center,
or the Board of World Mission.
Continue also to
remember those churches attempting to discern God’s will for pastoral
leadership.
Pastoral Changes
Brother David
Geyer and Sister Cynthia Rader Geyer have accepted the call of the
church to serve as pastors at College Hill Moravian Church,
Bethlehem. Brother and Sister Geyer
have been serving the First Moravian Church in Riverside, NJ since 1997. They will begin their new ministry in
August.
Brother Larry
Christianson, who has served as Western District President since 1998, has
accepted a call to Specialized Ministry to serve as chaplain at Moravian
Care Ministries, located in Chaska and Waconia, Minnesota. Brother Christianson will begin his new ministry
in mid-August.
- Schedule of Events
May 6, 7:30 pm – Unitas Chorale concert- Lancaster Moravian Church, Lancaster.
May 13 - Moravian Health and Wellness Ministry meeting at Lititz Moravian Church for Central PA and Maryland area churches. Participants will receive notebooks which they can use as a resource for starting Health and Wellness ministries in their local congregations.
May 15-17 – The 56th Johns Hopkins Institute for Spirituality and Medicine. What Does It Mean to Be Human? A Public Discourse on Genetics, Ethics, and Spirituality. www.hopkinscme.net.
June 3 - Moravian Health and Wellness Ministries Networking Event sponsored by the ED Lay Ministry Commission. Emmaus Moravian Church. For information contact Lynnette Delbridge, 718-442-5215, or
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
2006 Programs at Hope Center
May
26-29 – Memorial Day Family Camp
May
29 – Memorial Day Picnic
June
25-27 – PrePrimary Conference
June
25-July 1 – Fishing Camp
July
9-15 – Middler Conference
July
16-22 – Jr. High Conference
July
23-29 – Swimming Camp
July
23-29 – Performing Arts Camp
July
30-Aug. 5 – Sr./Post High Conference
Aug.
6-12 – Primary Conference
Oct.
4-7 – Quilt Camp
Info
available at www.camphope.org or
908-459-4435
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
Youth
Ministry Course
Moravian Theological Seminary will be
offering a Youth Ministry course in the upcoming summer session. Classes will be held on Monday, Wednesday,
and Thursday, May 15 through June 14.
The classes begin at 6:00 pm and end at 9:00 pm. There will be no class on May 29. Chris Giesler will be the instructor. You may take the course for credit or you
may audit the class. There is a fee
charged for tuition. For more information,
call the Seminary at 610-861-1516 or visit their website at www.moravianseminary.edu.
Religious
Studies Opportunity
Have you
ever wished you knew more about other religions? Or your own? Have you
ever considered a career in ministry?
Have you thought about working with a faith-based organization?
Moravian
College, through its evening division, the Comenius Center, now offers a major
in Religious Studies. Adults may enroll for either a first or second
bachelor’s degree. For those interested in continuing on to seminary, there is
an option for admission with advanced standing to Moravian Theological
Seminary. For more information, please contact Dr. Clarke Chapman
at 610-861-1410 or megcc01@moravian.edu.
German
Exchange Student
The German
family of Heinz Groß from the Moravian Church of Berlin Neukölln is looking for
a host family, where their 16 year old daughter Hannah could spend a year as an
exchange student. Hannah would like to
spend this year, beginning in August 2006, in a Moravian environment/congregation. The family is connected to the organization
"Eurovacance", which would have an area-representative look after
Hannah. This person would make
arrangements with a school and be contact person for upcoming issues. The expectations towards the family are to
give Hannah accommodations and to be a family for her.
For questions
please contact Erdmute D. Frank, 1944 Woodbury Road, Bethlehem, PA, 18017, Tel:
610-807-0483, email: e.enkelmann@gmx.net.
Birthdays
and Anniversaries
May Birthdays
1 The
Rev. Gwyned Williams
7 The
Rev. Dr. Douglas Caldwell
Mrs. May Jones
8 The Rev. Jennifer Bowden
9 The
Rev. Kay Rohn
11 Mrs. Gloria Barker
14 The Rev. Virginia Goodman
16 The Rev. Dr. James Hilander
22 The Rev. David Henkelmann
24 The Rt. Rev. Stanley Thomas
28 Mrs. Carolyn Hertzog
The Rev. Edward Turner
May Anniversaries
6 The Rev. Gary Harke & Ms. Bonnee Voss
7 The Rev. Dorothy & Mr. Charles
Stutzenberger
11 The
Rev. Sue & Mr. Michael Koenig
16 The Rev. & Mrs. Ray Schultz
The Rev. & Mrs. Belfield Castello
17 The Rev. & Mrs. William Surber
22 The Rev. & Mrs. Duane Ullrich
23 The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Darryl Bell
26 The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Albert Frank
27 The
Rev. & Mrs. George Richmond
29 The Rev. & Mrs. Richard Bruckart
Churches
celebrating May anniversaries
6 - 1860 - West Side, Bethlehem, PA
17
- 1863 - Palmyra, Cinnaminson, NJ
22
- 1966 - Redeemer, Philadelphia, PA
25 - 1986 - Faith of the Nation’s Capital,
Washington, DC
Please submit
information for publication to the District Office by the 15th of
each month