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 and pray that events of the summer for you
were especially meaningful. Most of all, I trust that you had extra time
for family and vacation and recreation.
With
September comes a return to schools and colleges, cooler days, a more
established program schedule, and football (my favorite spectator sport, in
case you didn’t know). The laid-back
days of summer give way to a more regimented life-style. I trust that you are not one of those who
“need to get back in the habit” of regular congregational involvement but,
whether you are or not, I encourage you to return with a determination and a purpose
that is reflective of claiming the Great Commission.
The
good news this month is to report on the awarding of our two district Mission
Development Grants for 2006-2007. We thank all congregations that submitted
proposals and we wish that we could have awarded grants to all. We
encourage unsuccessful congregations to continue to try to find ways to make
your proposals come alive. The Edgeboro congregation will receive the
$10,000 grant for a proposal to establish an "Enrichment Zone" -- a
proposal for youth after-school ministry as a mission to the Edgeboro community.
The Nazareth-Schoeneck congregations were awarded the $5,000 grant for their
"Mission: Moravians Movin' Out" proposal for outreach and mission
ministry to the entire Nazareth and area community.
Events
of special note this month: Our District Candidate Review Committee will
meet with prospective clergy candidates on September 9. The district Christian Education Commission
meets on September 15-16. The 5th
Anniversary celebration of CARD (Christian Action for Renewal and Development)
will be held at Grace Church in Queens on September 17 at 4 PM with a special
gala to launch their Capital Fund Campaign will be held on Sept. 23 in the
Bronx. The Rev. Sayward Green will
be installed as the York First pastor and the Rev. Jeff Van
Orden will be installed as the Riverside pastor on September 10. The
Rev. Leon Matthias will be installed as the Tremont Terrace pastor on September
24. September 16 is the day when Moravian Clergy throughout
the unity renew their vows in a Cup of Covenant on what is known as Ministers’
Covenant Day. Even though I encourage
you to pray for your pastor(s) every day, I especially call upon every member
of every congregation to uphold your pastor(s) in prayer on September 16. We live in a period when our clergy are blanketed
with unwritten expectations and daily demands more than ever before. They are often ill treated and abused (and I
use that word very deliberately), even by the most faithful members with the
best of intentions. Hold our clergy
before God’s throne of grace this month through your prayer support.
Budget
Committees are beginning to do their annual task in many of our congregations. Before the month of September is over, you
will be receiving a letter from the Provincial and District offices outlining
the assignments for the 2007 calendar year.
I would remind each budget committee about the fact that they should add
an item for 2007 for the district-wide clergy retreat to be held
on Jan. 30 - Feb. 1 at Mary Immaculate Retreat Center near Palmerton,
PA. Many of our clergy are eagerly
anticipating this event at which the Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell
will be the keynote speaker. Included with the congregational packet of
District Developments this month is a registration form for your pastor's attendance.
You
will also want to budget funds for your pastor and congregation members to
attend the District Conference on May 4-5. It will be held at East Hills
Moravian Church on May 4-5, 2007. A block of rooms has been
reserved. Registration forms will soon be prepared and distributed.
Our Keynote Speaker will be Alan J. Roxburgh, author of the book "The
Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World."
We have secured enough copies of this book to distribute one to every pastor plus
one additional copy to every congregation and we are currently finding ways to
get that book out.
I would encourage all readers of District
Developments and especially board members to pay special attention to the
articles regarding the pastorate as a profession in the September/October issue
of the Moravian. Excellent articles and words for all of us to take to
heart as we try to gain understanding into the work of our ordained leaders.
Have
a great month. Blessings. Gary
Prayer Concerns and Joys
Our condolences
to a number of families who have lost loved ones in the last month. Please remember Kay Ward and family
on the loss of Kay’s mother, Verna Beason, on July 25. Also Wanda Weidman and family on the
death of her mother, Velma Weidman, late in July. And keep the Frank family in your prayers as they mourn
the passing of little Madison Rose, who lived for just less than 78
hours. She was the daughter of Allen
and Janelle and granddaughter of Albert.
Also remember Madison’s twin brother, Jonathan, who continues to do
well.
We rejoice that
Sister Gloria Reisinger’s surgery went well and we continue to pray for
strength and healing.
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
September
17, 4:00 pm – C.A.R.D. 5th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving
at Grace Moravian Church, Queens, NY.
The Rev. Gary Straughan, guest speaker.
September
23, 7:00 pm – Fifth Anniversary Gala, Christian Action for
Renewal and Development (C.A.R.D.) at the Elegant Rose Hall, Bronx, NY. The public launching of the Capital Fund
Campaign, Throwing Open the Doors for Seniors and Youth. $100/person. Bishop Stanley Thomas, Chairman. The Rev. David Wickmann, special guest
speaker.
Oct.
4-7 – Quilt Camp at Hope Center.
Oct. 7 - Annual Youth Rally at
United Moravian Church in Manhattan.
The theme for this year is "Youth in Mission"
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.
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. Brochure enclosed.
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.
Cursillo Weekends
Cursillo Weekends
for the Eastern District will take place Oct. 19-22 for men and 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.
September and October 2006 at Moravian Theological Seminary
The
following Continuing Ed events will be held at Moravian Seminary, 60 W. Locust
Street, Bethlehem. For more information
or to register call 610-861-1519 or visit www.moravianseminary.edu/continuingEd.
Successful Church
Evangelism presented
by Rev Melvin Tatem. Tuesdays (13 sessions), Sept 13–Dec 19, 2006; 7– 9:15pm
How to Not Think
Theologically: Dionysius on the Inscrutability of God presented by
Gregory Kongor, M.Div., chaplain at Country Meadows Retirement Home in
Bethlehem. Friday (1 session), Sept 22, 2006; 2–4:30pm
Seminary 101 – An Introduction to Theological
Education intended for
individuals who may be considering seminary to get a taste of graduate level
teaching. Presented by Moravian Theological
Seminary faculty and staff. Mondays (5
sessions) Sept 25–Oct 23, 7-9pm
Seven Weeks with Seven Whispers - the book, The Seven Whispers, Listening
to the Voice of Spirit, will offer a framework for meaningful
conversation about spiritual insights and practices. Presented by Emily Wallace,
MAPC. Mondays (6 sessions), Sept 25–Nov 6, 2006; 7–9pm.
Recognizing and Dealing
with Substance Abuse in Pastoral Counseling intended for pastoral counselors and
other counseling professional and MAPC students. Presented by Greg Krausz, and
Bruce Bowen. Fri., Sept 29, 8:30am–4pm.
St. Francis Retreat Center, 395 Bridle Path Road, Bethlehem, PA
The In-Between Books: The Deuterocanonicals
presented by Walter
Wagner, Mondays (5 sessions), Oct. 2-30, 7–9pm.
Holistic Evenings
of Renewal designed
for pastors, seminary students, and their families led by Marcella Kraybill-Greggo
and Barbara Hassler Martell. Tuesdays (5 sessions), October 3–31, 6-8pm.
Martin Luther King Jr.: Sign of God’s
Fidelity presented by Scott
Hutchinson, Thursdays (6 sessions), Oct. 5-Nov. 9, 6-8pm.
Beating Clergy Burnout designed for pastors and those who serve
in specialized ministries led by J. Fred Lehr, DMin. Friday, October 13,
9am-3pm.
Theology, Literature And Coffee —
Allentown
Mondays,
Oct. 16, 30 and Nov. 13, 1:30-3:30pm. Luther
Crest/Diakon, Lutheran Social Ministries, 800 Hausman Rd., Allentown, PA
Birthdays
and Anniversaries
September
Birthdays
1 The Rev. Dr. Lyn Bechtel
The Rev. Ian Edwards
2 Mr. Richard Everhart
5 The Rev. Dennis Rohn
Mrs. Lorraine Dreger
8 The Rev. Erwin Boettcher
The Rev. Hugh Daley
10 The Rev. David Danneberger
12 The Rt. Rev. Douglas Kleintop
13 The Rev. Marian Boyle
15 The Rev. Mary Ann Pula
The Rev. John Morman
Mr. James Reifinger
The Rev. William Surber
20 Mrs. Sherry Gehris
21 Mrs. Joan Daley
24 The Rev. Melissa Johnson
28 The Rev. Bruce Weaknecht
30 Mrs. Junie Sahadath
Mrs. Maria Prochnau
September
Anniversaries
5 The Rev. & Mrs. John
Case
9 The Rev. Dr. & Mrs.
Howard Cox
22 The Rev. Dawn & Mr. Robert Volpe, Jr.
27 The Rev. & Mrs. Frank Barker
30 The Rev. Jennika & Mr. Jonathan Borger
Churches celebrating
anniversaries in September:
16 - 1858 - Canadensis, PA
16 - 1984 - New Dawn, Toronto
27 - 1868 - Third, Philadelphia
29 - 1946 -
Midway Manor, Allentown
September 16, 1741 - Recognition and acceptance of Christ as
the Chief Elder of the Moravian Church.
Please submit
information for publication to the District Office by the 15th of
each month