| Youth Ministry Office Director The Eastern District Youth Ministry Office is directed by the Rev. J. Christian Giesler. Office hours are from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM on most weekdays. However please call ahead for an appointment as Chris is often on the road meeting with congregational leaders, or doing workshops. For more contact information please click here. |
Creation 2008Each of the past few summers a number of Eastern District Congregations have joined together for this contemporary Christian music festival. This year's event was rained out, but we'd love to have you join us next year. More information |
| 552nd Anniversary Cruise to the Caribbean. Bishop Hopeton Clennon and the Downey Moravian Church are sponsoring a cruise to the visit Moravian sites in Jamaica and Grand Cayman. The dates are February 28 - March 7, 2009. Full details are available at http://www.moravian552cruise.com. No, you won't be able to take your youth group, but what a great retreat for all of you leaders.
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Welcome to the Youth Ministry Office of the Eastern District of the Moravian Church
When trying to build a congregational youth ministry program do you ever feel like you are getting mixed messages? Do you get the feeling that you are being pointed in several different directions? There are so many models to try, everybody seems to have advice, everybody has expectations, everybody remembers how it was done when they were young, and the youth you are trying to serve are changing on a daily basis. Doing ministry of any type well is never an easy thing, and youth ministry is no different. It is, however, immensely rewarding and it is vital to the spiritual growth of the young people that have been entrusted to us.
Greetings friends, and thanks for stopping by this web site. While we like to call it a dirt road on the Information Super Highway, we hope that you find it informative. Furthermore we hope that through your connection to our office you can begin to find some direction. It is our prayer that this ministry will be used by your local congregation to build a more effective youth ministry program. This can be done in many different ways:- Regional Youth Leader Events: Each year the Youth Ministry Office sponsors training events for adult youth leaders of our local congregations. These are held in the different regions throughout the District and their purpose will be to share resources, planning ideas, techniques, and to establish a support system.
- Consultations with local Congregations: The director of the Youth Ministry Office is available to local congregations to visit with the pastor and youth leaders to examine the youth ministry efforts that are currently being undertaken. After that evaluation, strategies for establishing a more effective program will then be explored.
- Youth Retreats: For the past five years this office has sponsored a Winter Retreat for Sr. High/Post High Youth. This coming fall we hope to add a retreat for Post High youth as well as one for Jr. High Youth Groups.
- Resource Review: We have a wide variety of youth ministry resources here in our office for you to review. Please call for an appoint to come in and browse.
Confirmation Retreat
April 25-27, 2008
Hope Conference and Renewal Center
April 25-27, 2008 will be the dates for the next confirmation retreat held at Hope Conference and Renewal Center. The program will be led by Marie Couts and Chris Giesler who head up the District's Christian Education and Youth Ministry Offices. This year's program will be centered around the history and polity of the Moravian Church at its teaching on what it means to be the Church, the body of Christ in today's world. Emphasis will be placed on how we do Church in a Moravian context by examining some of our distinctive traditions and practices. Congregations wishing to participate should register directly with the office at Hope Center and should supply counselors (both male and female) for their group. This is a wonderful way for youth to meet folks from other Moravian congregations, and for first-time campers to get a taste of how great Hope Center is.
Any questions can be directed to Chris Giesler at 610-867-7566 or by email at chris@mcnp.org
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This is an event that church leaders of all sorts will not want to miss. Nationally known author and much sought after speaker, Mark Yaconelli will be with us for a deeply spiritual time of growth. While our end goal will be to make us better leaders in our congregations, the weekend itself will spend a good deal of time helping leaders find peace in the grace of God. Come one, come all, In addition to Mark's key note addresses, Chris Giesler and Marie Couts will be offering practical workshops that will help give leaders much needed tools for the work that God is calling to. A brochure with full information can be found by clicking here. Any questions can be directed to Chris Giesler at 610-867-7566 or by email at chris@mcnp.orgPastors/ Youth Worker/ Sunday School Teacher Workshop
April 18-19, 2008
Advent Moravian Church, Bethlehem, PA