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
I greet you in the
name of our Chief Elder. What a wonderful time of year this is. I always appreciate
very much the fall weather and the moderate temperatures that come with
it. I look forward to the beautiful changing colors of the leaves as I
drive from one location in our district to another. I spend a large
amount of time in my van (or, sometimes when it is more economical for the
church, in a rental car) and I always enjoy the fall foliage.
As new directions, new programs, new mission directions,
new pastor-parish relationships have taken hold during the past month, I am
very impressed with the ways in which our Provincial Synod theme of
"Reclaiming the Great Commission" has emerged in so many of our
congregations. This came home to me during the recent installation
of the Rev. Leon Matthias at Tremont Terrace Moravian Church when
Brother Leon challenged the congregation to be a W-E-L-L congregation (a
congregation where Worship, Evangelism, Learning, and Love are in full evidence
when visitors come.) I would pass that challenge to each of you as pastors
and leaders in your local congregations. Encourage your congregation to
be a WELL congregation. Of course, that could be looked at from a health
standpoint as well. It might sound corny to you but I would add an
"S" (for Stewardship) to the beginning of that word as a challenge to
make your congregation also a SWELL congregation.
During the month of October, there are many events that
occupy my calendar (and in most cases, the district calendar.) It begins
with the closing celebration of the Philadelphia Third congregation on Oct.
1. This congregation has had a very significant ministry throughout the
years since it’s founding on September 27, 1868. That ministry will be
celebrated on Oct. 1, which will also be the official date of closure.
The current membership of the congregation has made the decision that each of
them can be better about the mission of our Lord within the contexts of other,
stronger congregations. The prayers and best wishes of the entire district
go with each of the members as they celebrate what they have been, grieve what
they will be leaving, and anticipate with excitement what they can each do
within new parish settings.
We (I and individual members of the EDEB) will be meeting
with Joint Boards of several congregations this month, discussing the health of
those congregations in some cases, entering the call process in other cases,
leading dialogue between called pastor and Joint Board in still other cases,
and discussing the continuance of the appointment is yet other cases. At
this point in time, we have meetings with nine such congregations scheduled.
I call the attention of the congregations in the Penn-Mar area to the Health
and Wellness workshop, being led by the Lay Ministries Commission, at Lititz on
Oct. 14, beginning at 11 AM. A "sold out" Stabler Arena will
see a Garrison Keillor (of "Prairie Home Companion" fame) special
Moravian performance at 7 PM on Sunday, Oct. 22 -- a pre-550th Anniversary
celebration being jointly sponsored by the PEC and by Central Moravian
Church. We will celebrate with Sister Jennika Borger on Sunday
afternoon, Oct. 29, as she is consecrated a Presbyter of the Moravian Church at
a 4 PM celebration at Edgeboro congregation.
Also, this month, the Moravian Ministries Foundation
Semi-Annual meeting of the Board of Trustees will take place in Charlotte,
NC, on Oct. 21 and I, as a member of that board, will be in attendance. I
will also be in attendance at meetings of the Boards of Trustees of Moravian
College and Moravian Theological Seminary during the week of Oct. 24-27.
I would seek you special prayers as your district board meets in retreat at
Mary Immaculate Center to plan the year ahead on Oct. 27-29.
Finally, what would an October District Developments
newsletter be like without my telling you about the football Packers or the
hockey Oilers? There still is not much to tell, but I will be taking
three days of vacation time to fly out for the Packer game on October 8 in
Green Bay against the Rams. I will also include some time that weekend to
see a couple of my grandchildren and their parents.
Incidentally, Happy Thanksgiving to our brothers and
sisters at New Dawn and The Journey and to the celebrants at the Ian Edwards
home on Staten Island where Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated with real
gusto (Canadian Thanksgiving is on Oct. 9.) Have a great month.
Blessings. Gary
Prayer
Concerns and Joys
Baby Jonathan
Frank, grandson of Brother Al Frank, continues to do well. The family looks
forward to his transfer from Philadelphia to St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem
Sister Virginia
Goodman was recently hospitalized and is convalescing in a rehabilitation facility.
District
Board member, Alma McMahan, and Brother Kent Trievel both
recently had foot surgery and will be spending some recuperation time at
home. Brother Steve Nicholas is
also recovering from recent surgery.
We rejoice that
Sister Gloria Reisinger is doing well and has returned to work part
time.
Please continue
to hold in prayer all our brothers and sisters dealing with health issues as
they move towards strength and healing.
Retirement
Brother John
Hoenig will retire from the call of the church effective October 5,
2006. Brother Hoenig has served the
church for 26 years in pastorates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as
time under call to specialized ministry.
- Schedule of Events
Oct. 2-30, 7–9pm. Mondays (5 sessions), The In-Between Books: The Deuterocanonicals presented by Walter Wagner at MTS.
October
3–31, 6-8pm. Tuesdays (5 sessions), Holistic Evenings
of Renewal designed for pastors, seminary students, and their
families led by Marcella Kraybill-Greggo and Barbara Hassler Martell at
MTS.
Oct.
4-7 – Quilt Camp at Hope Center.
Oct. 5-Nov. 9, 6-8pm. Thursdays (6 sessions),
Martin Luther King Jr.: Sign of God’s Fidelity presented by Scott
Hutchinson at MTS.
Oct. 7 - Annual Youth Rally at
United Moravian Church in Manhattan.
The theme for this year is "Youth in Mission"
October 13, 9am-3pm. Beating Clergy
Burnout designed for pastors and those who serve in specialized ministries
led by J. Fred Lehr, Dmin at MTS.
October 15, 3:00 pm, Moravian Historical
Society Annual Lecture, Moravian Music: Introduction, Theme, and Variations
by Nola Reed Knouse, Director of the Moravian Music Foundation. Held at Advent
Moravian Church. The lecture honors the
50th anniversary of the Moravian Music Foundation. For more information, call 610-759-5070.
Oct. 16, 30 and Nov. 13 (Mondays),
1:30-3:30pm. Theology, Literature And Coffee — Allentown, Luther Crest/Diakon, Lutheran Social Ministries,
800 Hausman Rd., Allentown, PA
Oct. 17 (Philadelphia) & Oct. 18
(Harrisburg), The Engaging Church, a practical day of learning
for clergy and lay leaders on how to attract outsiders, connect with visitors,
and assimilate new members into your church.
Brochure enclosed. Request
the special denominational discount rate of $50 per person when registering. More information is available at www.ChurchGrowth.net.
Oct. 19-22, Cursillo Weekends for
men;
Oct. 26-29 for women.
Information about this spiritually renewing experience and registration
forms are available from Carol Dague (610-865-3842 or cdague@juno.com).
The weekends are free and registrations will be accepted until the Monday
before the weekend.
Oct. 26, 12 noon-2:30 pm (includes
lunch), Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: Helping Soldiers and Their Families
Re-adapt to Civilian Life, designed for pastors and counselors. Presented by Bruce Farrell in conjunction
with the Lehigh County Conference of Churches at MTS
Nov. 2, 7:30 pm, Moravian Historical Society
annual business meeting at the Whitefield House in Nazareth.
Nov. 13-15 – PA State Pastors’ Conference,
It’s A Different World: Global Community, Globalization and Our Local
Churches, at the Harrisburg Hilton
in downtown Harrisburg. Moravian
dinner Monday, November 13, 6:00 pm.
Call the Eastern District Office to register for the dinner.
Coming Events
January 22-23, 2007 – The 2007 Ohio Ministries Convocation at the University Plaza Hotel, Columbus, OH.
January 30-February 1, 2007 – 2007 Eastern District Pastors’ Retreat at Mary Immaculate Retreat Center. The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, leader.
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.
Board of World Mission News
Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Eastern District Moravians have new neighbors! You are invited to meet them and
work beside them.
The Board of World Mission recently
purchased a house in the Pinehurst section of Ocean Springs, MS. It, like all
the homes in the Pinehurst neighborhood, was completely under water and badly
damaged during Hurricane Katrina. Moravian work crews traveling to Ocean
Springs over the past seven months have rebuilt and renovated several homes in
the area and will soon have this new home ready for use.
The purchase of this house means that
soon Moravian missionaries- like you!- will have a permanent
place to stay, a home-base, a kitchen, a shower, and most importantly, a place
where the displaced Pinehurst citizens can visit, worship and connect with Moravians.
An Eastern District work crew is currently
being assembled for a work trip in early November. Please consider helping your
new neighbor in the Pinehurst section of Ocean Spring, MS, by offering your
service in this mission effort. Both skilled and un-skilled workers are
welcome! Contact the Board of World Mission at 610-868-1732 for more information.
Birthdays and Anniversaries
October Birthdays
1 Mrs. Karen Schwarz
4 Mrs. Penny Surber
5 Mrs. Susan Dreydoppel
9 The Rev. Dr. Roger
Knisely
Mrs. Alice Heller
10 The Rev. Derek French
11 The Rt. Rev. Arthur Freeman
The Rev. Charles Eichman
15 Mrs. Tina Giesler
16 The Rev. Sara Aker
17 The Rev. Dean Jurgen
18 Mrs. Winifred Michel
19 Dr. Doris Schattschneider
21 Mrs. Mabel Matthias
The Rev. Wellesley Ferguson
22 Mrs. Linda Wickmann
The Rev. Dorothy Stutzenberger
26 The Rev. R. Burke Johnson
27 Mrs. Dorothy Kuhfahl
28 Mrs. Mavis Gordon
October
Anniversaries
2 The Rev. & Mrs.
Kevin Henning
3 The Rev. & Mrs. Percival
Gordon
11 The Rt. Rev. M. Blair Couch &
Mr. Warren Gericke
The Rev. & Mrs. Richard Thierolf
12 The Rt. Rev. & Mrs. Stanley Thomas
14 The Rev. Derek French & Ms. Katrina
Lehman
16 The Rev. & Mrs. Dean Jurgen
20 The Rev. & Mrs. Warren Wenger
21 The Rev. & Mrs. Hugh Daley
27 The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Witbro
Churches celebrating October
anniversaries:
3 - 1762 - Schoeneck, Nazareth, PA
8 - 1758 - Graceham, Thurmont, Maryland
18 - 1889 -
Stapleton, now Vanderbilt Ave., Staten Island, NY
20 - 1985 - Church
of the Redeemer, Dublin, OH
24 - 1874 - Uhrichsville,
Ohio
25 - 1914 - Edgeboro,
Bethlehem, PA
Please submit
information for publication to the District Office by the 15th of
each month