Moravian Magazine August 2019 (Issue 5)

No. 5 • AU G U ST 2019

In this issue: 2019 Youth Convo Bi-vocational ministry Reflections on Racism ...and more!

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The Moravian

On the cover: An ocean view from 2019 Youth Convo in the US Virgin Islands. Photo by Annika Drath

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10 Our Lamb has conquered; let us follow Him

Partners in Christ

In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love

Moravian History

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Reflections on racism in America

10 “...like a trumpet in the land”

Create in Me 13 Pick Up and Play

Moravian Ministry 14 Called to serve, called to work: choosing a bi vocational path

Moravians in Mission 17 Convo youth explore Moravian mission roots

In Our Congregations 23 St. Philips Moravian Church returns to Salem

...And More Visit our website at http://www.moravian.org.

Letters to the editor, address corrections, and other correspondence may be e-mailed to the editorial staff at moravianmagazine@mcnp. org.

August 2019

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Ponderings: A summer history

25 Moravian Writings on Luke 12:49-56 29 Official Provincial Elders’ News 30 Obituary: Grace Snavely Robinson

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PONDERINGS

Summer...a season for Moravian history For many of us, summer is a time of relaxation, vacation and fun. But for our Moravian ancestors, summer proved to be a very eventful time, with some of the most significant events shaping the church occurring during the “dog days.”

I got to thinking about this while preparing a display of photographs for an exhibition in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The photos were from the 2015 Moravian Roots Tours directed by the Moravian Theological Seminary. On that trip, we visited key landmarks in the birth and growth of our church – Prague, the hills of Bohemia and Moravia, and the area around Herrnhut in eastern Germany.

A look through our Moravian calendar shows three very significant historical highlights occurring over the summer. The first? July 6, also known as the Jan Hus Festival. Each summer, congregations offer special services commemorating the death—and more importantly, the life—of Jan Hus. While many consider Hus the founder of the Moravian Church, that’s not quite true. Hus was a popular preacher, a prolific writer and a reformer who challenged the corruption of the church, but did not start a new church. His teachings, however, inspired the establishment of the Unitas Fratrum, the forebear of our modern-day church, 40 years after his death.

During our Roots tour, we were in Prague for 600th anniversary of Hus’ death. In the Czech Republic, Hus is a not only a religious figure; he’s also seen as a national hero. As a member of our church, the events on July 6, 2015 were moving and memorable. And having experienced July 6 in Prague, the Hus Festival has become more meaningful for me ever since.

Later in the summer, we Moravians celebrate the August 13th Festival. What’s so special about the 13th of August?

The August 13th Festival celebrates a renewal of the Unitas Fratrum in Herrnhut, Germany, that established the church we know today. During the 1720s, those living in the community of Herrnhut on Count Zinzendorf’s estate had become fractured and discordant over matters of doctrine. Zinzendorf refoA statue honoring Jan Hus in Old Town Square in Prague.

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Continuing The North American Moravian, The Moravian and The Wachovia Moravian.

Michael Riess, Editor Susan Kiefner, Communications Assistant Jill Bruckart, Customer Relations/Business Assistant Interprovincial Board of Communication Ginny Tobiassen, chair Terri Bischoff, Peggy Carter, Margaret Couch, Paul Knouse, Kat Lehman, Amy Linville, Dan Miller, Valerie Bean Wagner.

Design by Michael Riess, IBOC. Address all correspondence regarding articles, subscriptions, or advertising to The Moravian, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 FAX: 610.866.9223 Phone: 610.867.0594 800.732.0591 e-mail: moravianmagazine@mcnp.org www.moravian.org Contents © 2019, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in America.

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The Moravian

This church in Berthlesdorf, Germany was the site of the August 13th, 1727 communion service.

cused his efforts on the religious settlement and in May 1727, with the acceptance of the Brotherly Agreement, harmony in the community began to improve. At the same time, Zinzendorf learned more about the system of church discipline of the Bohemian Bretheren—the ancestors of many of the settlers on his estate—and realized how similar it was to his thinking.

Later that summer, the community gathered on Wednesday morning of August 13 for a communion service in the church in the small town of Berthelsdorf, just north of Herrnhut. Those at that service felt an overwhelming outpouring of the Holy Spirit; one account says, “the old bitterness, the hard words and the anger were all being washed away in a flood of tears.” The experience was so powerful, many consider it a Moravian Pentecost, and many view it as the birth of the church as we know it today. The events of August 13, 1727 also form the basis of one of our most treasured Moravian traditions: the lovefeast.

But the summer’s not over yet! Later in August, we celebrate a third key anniversary that is central to our Moravian tradition: August 21. On that date in 1732, two of our most famous missionaries, Leonard Dober and David Nitschmann, set off for their work in St. Thomas, thus beginning the mission work that would come to define Moravians through today. It is written that Zinzendorf accompanied Dober and Nitschmann on the first 15 miles of their journey, blessing them and sending them out into the world.

There would be many more to follow.

As I sorted through my photos for the exhibit, I realized that 2015 trip made each of these summer days take on a greater meaning for me; they’ve become so much more than dates in my Moravian Desk Calendar and Plan Book (which, by the way, we are working on for 2020). These are special occasions to celebrate what our Moravian church has accomplished over the years, remembering how our foundations in Prague and Herrnhut educate our traditions and practices today.

In this issue of the Moravian, we hear from a group of young Moravians who followed in Dober and Nitschmann’s footsteps on the 2019 Young Adult Convo. Traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands – St.

Thomas and St. John – the youth and their leaders learned about the inspirational work of these early missionaries and their impact on the church there today. They also took on mission work themselves, pitching in to help restore the Emmaus Moravian Church ravaged by hurricanes.

We also share stories of racial reconciliation in both a moving trip to Montgomery, Alabama and the return of a congregation to its original home in Salem. Other articles illustrate how Ohioans celebrate the missionary work of David Zeisberger in a longrunning stage play, how a group of musicians come together to trade songs, how one young pastor is working two careers, and more.

So as you’re vacationing this summer and enjoying all July and August have to offer, remember we Moravians have much to celebrate. July 6, August 13 and August 21 are summer days Moravians should be proud of.

Peace,

August 2019

Mike Riess, Editor 5

Sculpture at the Equal Justice Initiative Museum and Memorial in Montgomery, Ala.

PARTNERS IN CHRIST

Reflections on racism in America

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t the invitation of Churches Uniting in Christ (CUIC), an ecumenical body that includes the Moravian Church Northern Province, five clergy (Marian Boyle Rohloff, Mark Breland, Sue Koenig, Betsy Miller, Neil Routh and Hermann Weinlick) from the Northern and Southern Provinces attended CUIC’s annual meeting in Montgomery, Alabama. A significant part of our time together was focused on learning about the history of systemic racism in America. We chose to attend in part because of the efforts of both provinces to dismantle racism. (Note: Both Provincial Synods in 2018 passed resolutions addressing racism and discrimination.)

Four of us arrived in Montgomery early so that we could drive to Selma, Alabama and walk across the Edmund Pettis Bridge, the site of the 1965 “Bloody Sunday” when Dr. Martin The Rev. Dr. Betsy Miller is president of the Provincial Elders’ Conference, Moravian Church Northern Province. Photos by Marian Boyle Rohloff and Sue Koenig.

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Luther King, Jr. and others tried to march from Selma to Montgomery to call for voting rights for people of color. Just walking across the bridge helped us begin to grasp the plight of those who embarked on this four-day journey toward freedom.

The next day, along with all participants at the ecumenical gathering, we visited the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where Martin Luther King, Jr. served as pastor. We then journeyed to the Equal Justice Initiative Museum and Memorial (https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/).

The museum, built on site of a former slave warehouse, overwhelmed us with scenes, videos, historical clippings, and data that portrayed the magnitude and extent of systemic racism across the United States. Where the museum was filled with information, the memorial was hauntingly silent as we walked among 4,000 steel coffin-shaped boxes hanging from above. Known as the “Lynching Memorial,” the boxes depict, by county, those who were lynched, often with the explicit support of the local, state or federal government. It was very The Moravian

difficult to even walk the entire circuit, with tears and disbelief that human beings could treat other human beings so horrifically.

Here are reflections by some of the Moravians who participated: Marian Boyle Rohloff West Side Moravian Church, Green Bay, Wis. I still feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of evil actions and yet heartened by the hope and faithfulness of those who resisted.

One thing that struck me was the awareness of how recently Jim Crow-era practices were still in place, and how the generational trauma would be very real and close to the surface. I very much appreciated how the Legacy Museum lifted up present day systemic racism and the New Jim Crow (read The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander and watch the documentary “The 13th” on Netflix). As people of faith there is absolutely no way that we can say one race is more crime-prone, dangerous or inclined to drug use, so why is it that black and brown people are incarcerated at a higher rate than white people...there are systemic issues at work.

In our U.S. Moravian context, our communities may include a few people who are

African American or those people of color emigrating from other countries. However, I think it may be important to highlight the systemic nature of racism that is part of all our lives and how power is understood in this country.

I was also struck at the Dexter Ave. Memorial Church by how that congregation became a vehicle for social change. What if we can see our role more in this transformative sphere?

Sue Koenig Graceham Moravian Church, Thurmont, Md. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and experience of going to Selma and Montgomery. I feel great sadness, grief, guilt and remorse for what I saw, and I was greatly disturbed by the cruelty and abuse that people suffered. I am continuing to pray and think about the experience and how it might be used in efforts to “name the demon” of racism and work to dismantle and end racism in our church and society.

I reflected on themes of risk and sacrifice: after the march from Selma to Montgomery, people lost their lives; others lost their homes.

Debriefing after visiting the EJI Museum and (Continued on next page)

Marian Boyle Rohloff, Neil Routh, Mark Breland, Sue Koenig and Betsy Miller at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala.

August 2019

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work against racism in its very specific and systemic form in the US evolving from the enslavement of African people

A memorial with rememberances of more than 4,000 people lynched.

Reflections on Racism (Continued from previous page)

Memorial, an African American woman shared the need to develop trust of white people and she sees a significant part of the trust-building as a willingness to risk (and to sacrifice).

“Slavery didn’t end in 1865, it evolved.”

This was evident as I toured the museum – and moved through exhibits of slave auctions, lynching notices, and mass incarceration; and then to the Memorial with the remembrances of more than 4,000 people who were lynched.

The reasons for lynching were often trivial: a 14-year-old boy “frightened a white girl”; “asked a white woman for a drink of water”; “testified against a white man for the rape of a white woman.” I was struck by similarities to today: reasons for the shooting of black children – he had on a hoodie; he had a cell phone and candy in this hand.

I feel called to work against racism in all its forms, and at the same time to “remember what my eyes have seen” in Montgomery and

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Neil Routh Grace Moravian Church, Mt. Airy, N.C. I feel very honored to have been part of the CUIC Plenary Session, and the excursion to Selma. I continue to process the collective experience. The visits to Selma and Dexter Church and the EJI exhibits were profound.

I intend to report back to the Southern Province team about the experience of Montgomery and Selma and encourage making connections with EJI to explore how we go about a truth and reconciliation project on the subject of slavery in Old Salem (i.e., when the Southern Province as an entity owned slaves).

Hermann Weinlick Retired pastor and ecumenical officer, Minneapolis, Minn.; from his monthly Ecumenical Newsletter Most of my ecumenical contacts remind me that the Christian church is not a white church and that the concerns of non-white American Christians are often different from the concerns of white American Christians. Yet in the United States we can hear voices who suggest or assume that the Christian church is white or that whiteness is essential to our national or Christian identity. Even today, not being white is often a handicap in education, employment, or buying a home, through systems that, often unintentionally, favor white persons.

We are members of a denomination whose major mark in church history is as a missionary church, going to the far corners of the world, to people mostly not white, to tell the story of God’s love in Jesus for all humanity, not just those who are white. n

The Moravian

CUIC participants visit the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr served as pastor.

“A time of renewal and a sobering experience...”

It was an honor to represent the Moravian Church at the 2019 CUIC Plenary. It was both a time of renewal and a sobering experience. The singing, preaching and genuine love shared during worship at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church reminded me of the unique African-American worship experience at Second Moravian Church in Indianapolis, Ind. I felt inspired to let God’s love continue to inform and guide my witness as a child of God. How does one respond to “those” who feel hatred towards me and others like me because of my skin tone? It is disappointing to hear our president make racial comments and know many brothers and sisters of the faith support his statements. Indeed, as a community, we have missed the mark. I am in touch with my anger, though I work to suppress it, at “those” white folks that hate me and the systems that promote and sustain racism.

To some extent, I was lost. God had not left me, or I God; I no longer recognize my world and my heart ached for answers in these turbulent times.

Worship gave space for God’s Spirit to lift my spirit and bring healing to my troubled heart. I was unsure how to engage this “new” world with an aching heart.

I learned that I could not hope to confront the prejudice within me and in others without God’s love as my foundation. I have a renewed understanding of Mark 12:30-31 as I hope to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: love your neighbor as yourself…”

It was difficult to feel “loving” after reliving our shared history of racial injustice as taught at the Legacy Museum. The narrative museum uses meAugust 2019

dia, video, sights and sounds of the domestic slave trade, racial terrorism, the Jim Crow South and mass incarceration to connect and weave together our American story of racism. The sobering and disappointing truth is in the knowledge that the “Church” has been complicit in establishing, enabling and encouraging racism in every generation.

I am convinced the Moravian Church cannot be silent in this present battle against racism. We must find our voice and have an active presence to promote racial justice. My Montgomery experience taught me that people suffered and died to change the hardened hearts of their neighbor. It was personal! They were victories because a faithful branch of the “Church” sacrificed to make love and justice a reality. ­—Mark Breland, Lititz Moravian

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MORAVIAN HISTORY

“…like a trumpet in the land”

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t is 8:30 p.m. in the city of New Philadelphia, Ohio. Anticipation looms in the air at the sight of a wonderful amphitheater tucked into a hillside of the Tuscarawas Valley. The sun just begins to set as one lone actor, dressed in the colonial garb of 1772, complete with a tricorn hat, positions himself down stage right of the outdoor theater, illuminated by a lone spot light. An actor portraying Moravian missionary John Heckewelder, proclaims, “More than 200 years ago, we Moravians came into this valley to build here, the first settlement in Ohio, the settlement of Schoenbrunn.”

For the past 50 years, Ohio’s first and finest outdoor drama, Trumpet in the Land has celebrated the story of our Moravian missionminded leaders that ventured into the “wilds” of Ohio in those prerevolutionary war days.

Set during the heated conflict of our nation’s search for freedom and independence from Great Britain, this powerful drama, written by Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Paul Green, depicts the fortitude and passion of Mora-

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vian missionary David Zeisberger as he led a small community of Christian Delaware native Americans on their quest to live in peace and harmony in eastern Ohio.

In the spring of 1772, some 26 people established the first settlement in the Buckeye State. This practical and peaceful settlement was named Schoenbrunn, which means “beautiful spring” in German. These industrious and faithful Moravian missionaries and native Christian Delaware people built the first Protestant Church and the first school west of the Allegheny Mountains. Trumpet in the Land portrays this iconic story of faithfulness, determination, humor, conflict, tragedy and inspiration. The story launches images of personal fortitude, tenderness and heroism needed to establish a Christian mission village of harmony and equality in the throes of the American Revolutionary War. Behind the scenes of this outdoor powerdrama stands a company of actors, technicians, leaders, administrators and volunteers stagThe Moravian

ing this potent production each season. At the center of this entourage of playhouse leadership are siblings Margaret, Roseann and Joseph Bonamico. These delightful sisters and brother have been staging this program since President Richard Nixon was in office.

Margaret has worked behind the scenes for Trumpet in the Land for the past 48 years, 32 of them as general manager. She says, “Managing productions the size of Trumpet takes long hours, endless details and mountains of paperwork. The process is like assembling a giant puzzle; there are many pieces that all need to fit perfectly before the full mosaic can be appreciated.”

The play uses multiple props and special effects including the traditional theatre sounds and lights along with more complicated features like fires, weapons, horses and more.

There are so many elements that go into an outdoor drama but the one biggest, uncontrollable element and nemesis remains Mother Nature. Sometimes, the show “cannot” go on and yet the bills still need to be paid (one of the

drawbacks of hosting outdoor entertainment.)

Roseanne Bonamico, the eldest sibling, remains more than Margaret’s “Girl Friday;” she is the house manager for all of the productions the troupe produces each season.

Roseann truly lives up to her title as she can be found managing the concessions stand, taking tickets, greeting the audience, cleaning the pavilion and supervising more than 60 volunteers who work as ushers, parking attendants, custodial assistants and grounds keepers.

So as the older Bonamico sisters gravitate toward the production side of the drama their younger brother, Joseph, focuses on the artistic side, directing and acting in Trumpet in the Land. Joe has helped to tell this incredible Moravian story for the past three and half decades in the role of Simon Girty, the adversary to David Zeisberger in the play; he also played Girty in a History Channel documentary.

Joseph’s talents extend beyond the amphitheater stage as he also appeared on screen, television and in a Super Bowl commercial to (Continued on next page)

Scenes from “Trumpet in the Land.” Above left: David Zeisberger (Bart Herman) and congregation in the church at Bethlehem; below: Zeisberger takes the American and British flags and pleads with Simon Girty and Ben Campbell to stop fighting.

August 2019

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David Zeisberger (Bart Herman) being driven out of Captain Pipes’ camp by Simon Girty (Joseph Bonamico)

Trumpet

(Continued from previous page)

boot. However, Joe’s true love remains live theatre. You can see that passion for the theatre, each time he steps onto the stage of Trumpet in the Land. He never disappoints in a story and character that he has walked with theatrically for the past 33 years.

Trumpet in the Land blesses the community by opening the doors for many local, aspiring actors as well. College theater students throughout the region have honed their skills and spent many a warm, sticky summer in Ohio telling our story. Local talent of all ages have also polished their raw potential on the stage in the hills. The Bonamicos’ generous hearts and spirit to the community have used this stage and Moravian story to plant seeds in the lives of many a young thespian. Margaret

Margaret, Roseann and Joe Bonamico keep Trumpet in the Land running year after year.

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believes in the last 50 years, approximately 4,000 actors have graced this beautiful theater with their passion to tell a story of peace and brotherhood.

New ideas continue to brew in Margaret’s mind as she desires to develop a smaller version of this Moravian/Delaware story to bring into the local school districts to enhance the teaching of Ohio history. “Knowing the historical context of the real drama helps us to learn from our past and makes us less likely to repeat such mistakes in the future,” says Margaret.

“The Trumpet in the Land story still speaks to us today. We still face and fight the same wars of racism and bigotry some 250 years later.”

Trumpet in the Land helps us come face-toface with our own iniquities of social justice.

On behalf of the Moravian Church and the people of northeast Ohio, we thank Margaret, Roseann and Joseph Bonamico, our faithful Catholic friends of Christ, for their steadfast, compassionate witness in telling the story of David Zeisberger and the Delaware Nation: a living portrait, a relevant story in one dramatic and heroic work we call Trumpet in the Land.

Come visit us for our 51st season in the lush Tuscarawas Valley of Ohio. n The Rev. John Wallace is pastor of First Moravian Church in Dover, Ohio. Photos courtesy of Trumpet in the Land.

The Moravian

CREATE IN ME

Pick Up and Play

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s a pastor, I sometimes get invited (or challenged) by strangers to casually weigh in on complex theological issues. And, sometimes I am asked whether I prefer contemporary or traditional music in worship. For years, my standard response was, “You know, if I had my druthers, we’d sing gospel bluegrass every Sunday.”

Which seems to immediately disqualify me from either side of the “worship wars.”

Admittedly, I am a newcomer to Christian worship in anything other than a more traditional style.

Faced with the challenge of planning non-traditional services, I went to the well of worship from conferences, camps and chapels past. From scribbled notes, fading memories and impressions of these experiences, I hope to design meaningful liturgy to share with the Church as a fragrant and sonorous offering to God. An even greater resource I am discovering, however, is the Church itself.

You may have heard that the fancy word for worship, “Liturgy,” comes from the Greek idea of public service, or the work of the people. In this sense, worship is not so much a ministration of the clergy to–or on behalf of–the Church. It is a meet-

August 2019

ing between God and the people of God. It is call and response, mystery and wonder, loving initiative and thanksgiving.

Sharing new ways to engage in worship is the hope and inspiration behind Pick Up and Play, a gathering of praise and worship leaders from Moravian churches in Pennsylvania’s greater Lehigh Valley. Billed as a time for practice and play, pizza provided, BYOI (Bring Your Own Instrument), our first gathering at the Emmaus Moravian Church brought together around twenty musicians from six different parishes. We learned and shared music from each other’s repertoires; transposed, improvised and workshopped an original piece; and made plans to get together again.

Learning to be part of a worship team, seeking out collaborative, creative community and wanting to be in conversation with others about the practice of praise; these are the joyful labors we hope to encourage. And, we would encourage you wherever you are to look for others to explore and to offer new approaches to music and ministry together. n The Rev. Brian Dixon is pastor of Emmaus Moravian Church in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

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MORAVIAN MINISTRY

Called to serve, called to work: choosing a bi-vocational path

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ave you ever had to choose between two professions where you find yourself loving the work you do for both, but are forced to make that difficult decision of which life path to take (at least for the time being)? Imagine being able to do both!

Meet the Rev. Victoria A. Lasley who has managed to serve as the associate pastor of Fairview Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and work as a cosmetologist at Mickey & Co. Hair Designs in King, North Carolina part-time. As she works two part-time jobs, she is considered bi-vocational.

While at Fairview, Victoria split her time between her church and salon duties, serving set office hours as a pastor on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday; working set hours behind the

chair at Mickey & Co. Hair Designs Wednesday through Friday; and takes time out of her days when she isn’t serving as pastor or cosmetologist to serve on different committees and boards for the church as well as serving as a Trustee for Salem Academy and College and the chair for the Laurel Ridge Board.

For Victoria, bi-vocational ministry was her answer to the question “What do I want to do with my life?” In addition to providing a “back-up” plan if college did not pan out the way she was hoping, cosmetology provided her a way into the ministry.

“I became interested in the idea [of bi-vocational ministry] when I transferred to Salem College for my sophomore year of undergrad in 2011,” Victoria says. Having grown up in the

The Rev. Victoria Lasley, a bi-vocational pastor, at Mickey & Co. Hair Designs in King, N.C. Photo by Austin Craver

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The Moravian

Vicotira presenting during the 2018 Southern Province Synod in Black Mountain, N.C.

church and heavily influenced by the men and women at Bethania Moravian Church, Victoria felt the call to serve at Laurel Ridge; first in hospital chaplaincy, which later shifted to congregational ministry.

She started cosmetology school during her junior year of high school as a back up plan if college did not work out; while attending college she completed her license. “I began to see the possibilities of working my way through college and potentially working as a cosmetologist and minister,” Victoria notes.

Wanting to work in two different careers, she turned to her friends, family and advisor for advice. Her advisor, Dr. Marlin Adrian, Assistant Professor of Religion at Salem College, challenged her with the question, “Why can’t you do both and who is stopping you?”

After much reflection, research and discussion with her family, Victoria decided to go for her MDiv at Wake Forest University while maintaining her job at the salon. As certain classes are required of Moravian candidates at Moravian Theological Seminary, with both specific educational and hands-on components, Victoria worked together with the Rev. Joe Moore to figure out a three-year plan of classes and internships which would allow her to pass both her MDiv and meet the requirements set by the Provincial Elders.

In the end, after many conversations with Moravian Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University School of Divinity and the PEC, a compromise was made for her MDiv degree to be recognized along with the completion of her Certificate of Moravian Studies with the Distance Learning program in May 2017.

“Without Rev. Scott Venable agreeing to take me as a pastoral intern my second year of divinity school and encouraging my vision of ministry and God’s call, there is no telling if I would have been called in a bi-vocational setAugust 2019

ting like I am at Fairview. Good conversations filled with questions, concerns and excitement from Fairview members and boards helped them see how this model works and Fairview took a chance on me and we all stepped out on our faith in May of 2017 when they extended the call and I accepted.”

Cosmetology as Ministry “I see bi-vocational ministry as an opportunity to bring the secular and sacred worlds together,” says Victoria. To unite the secular and sacred, Victoria listens. Serving her clientele in the salon, Victoria notes that the salon is a place for people to download their burdens by sharing them with their cosmetologist, allowing the space to become a place of ministry. She listens (Continued on next page) 15

“

I see bi-vocational ministry as an opportunity to bring the secular and sacred worlds together...

Ministry

(Continued from previous page)

”

to her clients while she works, and because they know her background in the church, she provides a safe space where her clients can open up about their lives and their burdens.

“If anything, even though we’re not seeing members of my clientele necessarily in Moravian churches, they know who Jesus is,” says Victoria. “If they don’t, they figure out who Jesus is by the time they leave because I respectfully mention him once or twice. And they hear Christian music throughout their time here in the salon. We play it with other genres of music to be respectful of all faith backgrounds and beliefs.”

As a result, Victoria feels that working at the salon has been beneficial, not detrimental to her ministry work. “If anything, it’s helped influence me to meet people where they are [in their lives], in the church and here in the salon.”

Besides listening, Victoria connects the secular and sacred via finances. “I noticed the

Moravian churches around me were beginning to share their financial troubles and I wanted to be proactive about my call into ministry. I wanted to help,” she says.

Since not every church can afford a fulltime pastor or two pastors, Victoria decided to research bi-vocational ministry instead. “I discovered many churches have a long history of this practice that comes with a lot of benefits,” she says. “Bi-vocational ministry offers me the opportunity to serve a church in the best way possible without bringing them financial stress; I can still make a living and fulfill God’s call on my life into the ministry.”

While Victoria isn’t alone in her bi-vocational ministry, as a young pastor she has demonstrated that bi-vocational ministry is a viable option of service for those who feel called to serve the Moravian Church, but also wish to pursue other paths. Bi-vocational ministry offers a possible solution to lessening churches’ financial burdens and may provide other ways to do local mission and outreach work. n Story by Anna French, IBOC intern. View the Board of Cooperative Ministries interview with Victoria at: https://www.moravian.org/ bcm/2019/06/05/being-a-bi-vocational-pastor/ Ed. Note: Shortly before this story went to press, Victoria took a leave of absence from Fairview.

She remains dedicated to active ministry.

Moravian Crystal

© 2019 MCC

Moravian Crystal Company is pleased to present a collection of elegant renderings, highly detailed and produced in 3D laser engraved imaging into optical grade crystal. These unique gifts, designed in Winston-Salem, N.C., celebrate Moravian history, heritage and traditions.

For more information or to order, visit www.moraviancrystal.com Moravian Crystal Company, Inc. • 2150 Country Club Rd, Suite 248 • Winston-Salem, N.C. 27104 (336) 306-5688

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The Moravian

MORAVIANS IN MISSION

Convo youth explore Moravian mission roots

2019 Convo participants at work at Emmaus Moravian Church in the US Virgin Islands.

August 2019

Convocation: the act or process of calling an assembly of persons to a meeting. In late June of 2019, young adults from all over the North American continent were called to meet in the U.S. Virgin Islands for the 2019 Moravian Young Adult Convo. And answer the call, they did.

St. Thomas was the site of the earliest Moravian missionaries and has a strong Moravian presence to this day. With the theme “Exploring our Moravian Mission Roots,” our hope was that by retracing the steps of our early missionaries and walking a few steps in mission ourselves, we might catch a vision of our future.

A group of 15 youth and five adults, hailing from across the Northern and Southern Provinces, gathered in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Some were old friends, others were new acquaintances. Being a small group, we bonded quickly and soon realized we were all brought together as a part of God’s calling. Our leader, the Rev. Cynthia Rader Geyer, welcomed us and advised us to be prepared for a week of walking in the steps of our Moravian foremothers and fathers and to be aware of where the spirit might be leading us to make new paths.

Our first evening together, we gathered at Nisky Moravian Church. We enjoyed the hospitality of the Nisky congregation. Bishop Chris Giesler introduced us to our program, telling (Continued on next page) 17

Convo participants at New Herrnhut Moravian Church, the oldest Moravian congregation in the Western Hemisphere.

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stories which illustrate that small decisions have long range impacts. While we look back in history and see decisions such as sending German-speaking missionaries to serve slaves in St. Thomas in 1732 as something big, it came about through a series of much smaller conversations, encounters, prayers and God’s spirit at work.

Impact of early Moravians The following day we traveled to the Memorial Moravian Church, where we learned more about the impact of both missionaries and slaves on our early Moravian church in the western hemisphere. After an exciting tour of the island (including a stop for steel drums and some breathtaking views) we were greeted by Senator Myron Jackson, a son of the Memorial Moravian Church. He shared a personal view into the history of the island and 18

explained some of the current challenges of being a US citizen in a US territory. We finished our day with vespers on the beach led by Pastor John Wallace. Under the stars, with the sound of crashing waves, it was hard not to feel the presence of our Lord. We were encouraged to reflect on the Lord’s impact in the lives of those before us as well as our lives today.

On Thursday, we made our way to New Herrnhut Moravian Church, the oldest Moravian church in the western hemisphere. This beautiful but simple structure was built by slaves on an old sugar cane plantation on land that was purchased by the Moravians from the Dutch government in 1737, over 282 years ago!

While there is no denying the keeping of slaves

by Moravians on the island, the intent was that they be brought to live on the Moravian land to profit themselves. Soon after, they built a sanctuary for themselves, not for the Dutch landowners. Nestled on a picturesque hill, it is not hard to see why this spot was chosen.

At New Herrnhut, we assisted with their Vacation Bible School. A few highlights were a game of volleyball with the kids and the sharing of some of our favorite camp songs. We were overjoyed when they joined in and even recreated some of the familiar actions that go along with many of our camp songs. We visited the Rock of Remembrance and God’s Acre and could feel the spirit alive and well. Our day ended with an enlightening lesson in the art of island storytelling.

“

We laughed, we sang, we witnessed heartache and injustice, and we felt the power of God through doing his will...

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The Moravian

“

I found Jesus in the kind and warm faces of the people of St. Thomas. They opened up their churches, pantries and hearts to us. The spirit of Jesus Christ is alive and well in the US Virgin Islands.

”

Modern-day mission work As Friday dawned, we journeyed via ferry boat to the island of St. John. As we prepared ourselves for a day of hard work at the Emmaus Church, Pastor John encouraged us to be flexible yet safe. We were greeted by Emmaus’ pastor, Vankys Isaac. While we were struck by the charm of the Emmaus church and it’s gorgeous setting, we were stunned at the sheer force of a storm that could rip the roof off of a structure.

We were given a tour of the devastation of their grounds and were told of the impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria that is still being felt today.

We stood in the sanctuary marveling at the tents the congregation had erected for shelter from the intense sun so that they could gather for worship. It touched our hearts that this

flock loved their church home so much that they would refuse to worship in another, more comfortable or convenient space, but were then not surprised that Pastor Isaac was resolute in his faith that God would put a roof back over their heads. Work gloves were slipped on, hats positioned and we set to work cleaning out the basement. Years of treasures that had been tucked away were sorted and cleaned out. It was dusty, sweaty work and numerous water breaks were needed but we succeeded in clearing and organizing a space so that future work crews could move forward.

The next day was also a physical labor day.

This time we arrived at the Nisky Moravian Church with paint brushes and rollers in hand.

Scraping and sanding was completed before a fresh coat of paint was applied to several high visibility exterior walls. Not a very glamorous job, but we hope that the congregation’s spirits would be lifted when they arrive for worship or school to see fresh, clean walls.

Our reward for our hard work was spending the afternoon at Megan’s Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Our group played ball, built sandcastles, floated in (Continued on next page)

At work at Emmaus Moravian on St. John.

August 2019

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Convo participants during program and fellowship activities.

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(Continued from previous page)

the crystal-clear water and enjoyed each other’s company.

Appreciating God’s glory On Sunday, we traveled back to St. John to worship at the Bethany Moravian Church. Set in the hills of the lush island, we appreciated God’s glory in both the message and faces of the congregation that welcomed us. Once again, we were treated to island hospitality and good food! After lunch Bishop Giesler led us in an exercise of recognizing our spiritual gifts as well as a very impactful exercise of learning the gifts others see in us. We knew our time together was coming to a close and it was time to prepare for returning to our lives back home.

Our last day was spent on our own to explore the islands. As we divided into smaller groups to experience new adventures of parasailing, zip-lining, snorkeling, shopping and more, our connections were deepened and strengthened. At the end of the day we were excited to share our stories as we gathered back at Nisky Moravian for a closing worship. We reflected on our fellowship of Convo 2019. So many brothers and sisters in Christ had welcomed us and shown us love. We were inspired by our new-found spiritual connections and a renewal of a call to service.

Later, in the moonlight on the beach of Lindbergh Bay, we raised our voices to sing the Jude Benediction one last time. We felt we had stood in the presence in sacred places and gave thanks to the only God our Savior and felt the potential of all glory, majesty, dominion and power from before times and forever. n Carmen Gesinger is a member of Waconia Moravian Church in Waconia, Minnesota. She was one of the adult leaders on the 2019 Young Adult Convo trip to the US Virgin Islands. Thanks to the Convo particpants for their photos!

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The Moravian

Participants reflect on Convo 2019 On the last day of Convo, participants shared their reflections on a week of mission, fellowship and fun.

Bryan Gates of Christ Moravian Church in Calgary, Alberta, shared, “I am truly grateful to have had a chance to take part in our churches, with their incredible history of mission work.

And there is nothing I would trade for this opportunity to learn and grow. I hope that I can share the things I’ve learned here with others at home, and remember them always as I continue my faith journey.”

Libby Paden of First Moravian Church in Dover, Ohio, shared, “My expectations of Convo 2019 were met and mostly exceeded, and I am forever grateful. We dove right into our Moravian roots and we continued each day to learn more and more, all while still serving this community who welcomed us with open arms. I also expected that as we learned about our Moravian roots, I would have known lots of the history, but it turned out I only knew just a very small amount.”

When asked where he had found his mission roots, Eli Stovall of Raleigh Moravian Church, answered, “I feel as if I found my mission roots through the many years of attending Laurel Ridge summer camp. Through the people there I have found a need to spread the joy I have found in the lord to those in need of some joy. I am well aware that my roots still have so much further to spread before they are fully-grown; this growth can only occur if I tend to them and nurture them. Only by helping those in need and caring for those who require care will I be able to understand what it means to spread the light of God. Kaile Reid of John Hus Moravian in Brooklyn, N.Y., said he found his “mission mind” from his family. “My mother was an elder for my church for a number of years and she will always evangelize in and around the community; this sparked my interest. Then my brother put the ic(Continued on next page) August 2019

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Reflections

(Continued from previous page)

ing on the cake by going on mission trips himself to Cuba and Jamaica.”

Alyssa Drath of Berea Moravian Church, Minn., shared her thoughts on how the culture and attitudes of the US Virgin Islands shaped her sense of community. “The attitudes of the people I’ve met from the USVI shifted my perspective on community greatly,” says Alyssa. “Between the five Moravian churches and the abundance of people I’ve met along the way, you can tell they are all individually independent, but they know they can confide in others. They’ve all been through some pretty devastating events together and they work together in times of struggle. The most powerful sense of community I felt this week was when we traveled to Emmaus Moravian Church and the pastor showed us the devastation of their sanctuary and he said, ‘Have no doubt. God will put a roof back over our heads.’ I think that shows a great amount of strength, love and faith from the Emmaus congregation. It’s been such a blessing and amazing journey, and I thank everyone of the US Virgin Islands for it.”

Several of the leaders of Convo 2019 offered their thoughts, too. Amber Roback of Raleigh Moravian shared, “Convo 2019 has allowed the Holy Spirit to stir up joy, acceptance, renewal of call to service, compassion for our Caribbean

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brothers and sisters and their long suffering of injustice, a vision for leadership with Moravian young adults and an open heart for a hopeful future both for our church universal and for me personally.”

Chris Giesler added, “Convo 2019 was an amazing event for me in a number of ways. It gave me the opportunity to spend a week with 15 dynamic Moravian young adults from around North America who are already leaders in the regions from which they come. They were truly an impressive group of people who are dedicated to serving others through their connections in the Moravian Church.

“As program leader for the Convo I was challenged to deepen my knowledge of the first mission endeavor undertaken by the Moravians. We hear a lot about people like Dober, Nitschmann and even more about Zinzendorf’s vision for missions, but none of this would have been possible without the courageous work of slaves with names like Rebecca, Mingo and Abraham, doing the work of spreading the Gospel among their own people.

“At Convo 2019 we learned a lot about the successes and the shortcomings of those early mission efforts, and we reflected on how we are called to do mission in our age. Convo was not just about remembering past; more importantly, it was about finding our calling today.” n

The Moravian

IN OUR CONGREGATIONS

O

St. Philips Moravian Church returns to Salem

ne of the Southern Province’s oldest congregations—and one with a unique history—is returning to its roots.

St. Philips Moravian Church, which has been located on the north side of Winston-Salem on Bon Air and 30th Streets since 1967, moved back to its historic church sanctuary in Salem in time for its 197th anniversary celebration on the first Sunday in May (May 5, 2019).

For more than half a century, the church served the Bon Air community, reaching new people and even having a very successful preschool for 35 years. But in recent years, the neighborhood has changed significantly and, even with many and varied attempts, it was unable to reach the current population.

So, the congregation believes it can serve more people in fulfilling the mission of Christ’s church to share the Gospel and meet human needs of the wider community by moving back to Salem. This belief comes because as it has been August 2019

holding services there in each month that has five Sundays (four times each year), it has enjoyed a large number of visitors, most of whom are not tourists.

An historic church The church was begun in 1822 by Moravians to foster the spiritual life of the slaves who worked in Salem at the time, and remains one of the oldest African American congregations in North Carolina.

According to the Southern Province Archives, the seventh oldest church in the Southern Province was born as a mission to fill a great need. In 1822 Salem’s Female Missionary Society noted the absence of religious opportunity for the “Negroes” — the slaves — “in this neighborhood,” and urged the Provincial Elders Conference to address the matter so that “in the course of time . . . a church may be built for their own use.”

(Continued on next page)

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St. Philips

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Br. Abraham Steiner, a veteran of mission service, was called upon to make this a reality. Br. Steiner held the first service on March 24, 1822, and at the May 5 meeting announced “a beginning of a small congregation of colored people” with three communicants.

St. Philips’ first home was in what is now a restored log church building, which sits to the front and side of the historic church sanctuary in Salem. That historic sanctuary was built in 1861 to meet the needs of the growing congregation. And because there were few opportunities for educating the black community, rooms were added to the front for Sunday School and general education in 1890. The congregation was named “St. Philips” by Bishop Edward Rondthaler in 1914.

It was a grand and proud day for the congregation at the end of the Civil War, when on May 21, 1865, a chaplain of the 10th Ohio Cavalry formally announced the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln to a packed sanctuary of what were now becoming “former slaves.”

The congregation first relocated to a new recreation center in the Happy Hill neighborhood just south of the log church building, where many of the members resided at that time. Then a new

church building was built near there but was immediately lost due to the construction of the new highway 52. That led to the move to the Bon Air Avenue location in 1967.

Back to Salem It is from the Bon Air location that the congregation is now returning to its historic sanctuary home in Salem at the south end of Church Street, below Salem Square. It is the oldest slave church building still standing in North Carolina.

St. Philips congregation members worked with their pastor, the Rev. Dr. Bill McElveen, to complete the move this year. According to Bill, moving to the historic church in Old Salem — which was restored by Old Salem Museums & Gardens in 2004 for use as an interpretive building — is an exciting opportunity.

The congregation celebrated its move with a Lovefeast service on May 5. The service, attended by both congregation members and local Moravians, marked a re-birth of the St. Philips church.

“We’re beginning what we hope is a new chapter at the historic church,” says Bill. “This is our chance to start anew.” n Thanks to the Rev. Bill McElveen, D.D. for this article. Bill serves as pastor of the St. Philips Congregation. Photos courtesy of Conrad Mitchell, a member of the St. Philips congregation.

Congregation members and guests attend the return to St. Philips’ Salem sanctuary.

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The Moravian

MORAVIAN WRITINGS

“Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth?”

Messages on Luke 12:49-56 Each week, Moravians across the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean share a common message through their Sunday bulletins.

This month, we share writings based on Luke 12:49-56. This Bible text is for Proper 15 in Lectionary Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary used by the Moravian Church.

The Signs of the Times

Society has, by and large, turned its back on God’s commands—and, sadly, so has the church, for the church has embraced some of society’s iniquities. The signs are plain. They are just ignored by the world.

The signs have already caused the divisions that Jesus speaks of in Luke 12:52 and 53. Families are divided—natural families and church families. There are divisions caused by politics, economics and religious practices.

There is only one solution: Jesus. There needs to be true repentance, the turning from our sinful ways, and following Jesus as the only way.

There is no middle ground when it comes to following Jesus. He demands our devotion and our commitment, even if it means other relationships, even family relationships, are cut off.

Are you willing to risk the disapproval of your family, even your church family, so that you can follow Jesus?

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Reid Lauderman, pastor, West Salem Moravian Church, West Salem, Ill. • August 18, 2019

“Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?” Being a pastor in farming communities the past nine years has helped me be more aware of the weather. When I was younger, I never wanted much rain, because then the grass would grow faster, and I’d have to mow more often, or outdoor activities would be cancelled. I hated it when baseball games were rained out. Now I’m more aware of the need for rain to help the crops grow, and I’ve learned how to interpret weather patterns by looking at the skies.

There are signs out there as well that point to the coming of God’s kingdom. All we have to do is look at all the immorality in the world.

August 2019

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On Luke 12:49-56 (Continued from previous page)

Luke 12: 49-56 New Revised Standard Version “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son

and son against father, mother against daughter

and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law

and daughter-in-law

against mother-in-law.”

He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens.

And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

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The Fire Christ Kindles

Belfield A. Castello, pastor, New Dawn Moravian Church, Toronto, Ontario • August 20, 1995

Many people think and respond to the gospel as a mere tame and spiritless influence, or a mere soothing and stroking down of human faults and passions. This is totally contrary to Jesus’ description of the gospel in today’s reading, in which he spoke of it as a “fire.” Fire in this context is a symbol for spiritual judgment.

Before the fire of the gospel can blaze to cause cleansing, scourging and demolishing, and add the grace of washing, transforming, kindling, inspiring and enabling; the bearer of the gospel must die. Jesus knew that his baptism of suffering was a necessary initiation for his followers.

Men and women in every age and generation have lived in the blaze of this fire which enkindled their souls with the fire of love, the fire of zeal, the fire of compassion, the fire of an outspoken boldness, and a fire of even an impatient and intolerant hatred of misery and wickedness. This fire has demolished idols and made missionaries strong, martyrs brave and churches militant. This fire has caused social upheaval, instead of the status quo because of its demands that loyalty to Christ take precedence over the dearest loyalties on this earth.

The progress of the gospel and the response to it do not lead to peace and ease, but strife and division, even in families.

Jesus condemned the crowds because of their ability to discern the signs of the weather but not the signs that were associated with his ministry. Their lack of perception was due not to ignorance but to hypocrisy (Luke 12:56).

It was because of their hardness of heart and The Moravian

“I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! their refusal to acknowledge and welcome the kingdom of God. They rejected the work of the Spirit of God in their hearts and in the ministry of Jesus.

As we reflect on the first Moravian mission of August 21, 1732, may our hearts be rekindled with the fire of the gospel.

Setting the World on Fire Rick Brewer, chaplain, Marquardt Village, Watertown, Wis. • August 16, 1998

One of the earliest lessons we teach our children is to not play with matches. We don’t want them starting fires. We want to keep them safe from harm.

We know how destructive fires can be.

“Smokey the Bear” tells us of the devastation caused by forest fires. Mrs. O’Leary’s cow reminds us of how the city of Chicago was destroyed by fire. The newspapers are full of stories about how the careless use of smoking materials and matches has started house fires that have destroyed lives, families and possessions.

That is the destructive power of fire.

On the other hand, in our Gospel for today, Jesus seems to be pointing toward a positive force of fire. “I came to bring fire,” Jesus states, as though he were ready to set the world on fire. These words are filled with urgency. Jesus seems to ask the question, “Are you ready for what I am about to do?”

August 2019

What is it that Jesus would do that would need such immediate attention? How was he going to “set the world on fire”?

Jesus’ ministry challenged the faith of all who heard him. To those who believed, Jesus seemed to be saying that if they took their faith seriously, they would likely be misunderstood by some and opposed by others—even family.

To those who didn’t believe, Jesus seemed to be warning of the power of the “fire” he would bring and how lost they would be.

On Pentecost there were flames of a spiritual fire that began to “set the world on fire.”

The beginning of the church had a sense of urgency. God was calling the church to be ready.

I believe the call is the same today. The Spirit of Jesus is still trying to set the world on fire through the church.

We need only to listen to God’s call and be ready to respond.

Freezing and fire

Kevin Henning, pastoral team, Emmaus Moravian Church, Emmaus, Pa. • Aug. 19, 2007

Today’s Gospel lesson is probably not one we would pick as a congregational watchword. Jesus is making a speech riddled with images of fire, baptism, division. At least with two of the images, fire and baptism, Jesus appears distressed that he hasn’t completed these tasks.

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On Luke 12:49-56 (Continued from previous page)

Placing this in the midst of the journey to Jerusalem, Luke may be implying that the completion of these tasks takes place on the cross, when Jesus is “immersed” in death.

One thing is clear: things will soon be changing. Jesus has come to upset the status quo. An interesting passage in the Gospel of Thomas attributes this saying to Jesus: “He who is near me is near the fire, and he who is far from me is far from the kingdom.”

A by-product of fire is light, and light reveals those dusty relics we all like to cling to, even when they have outlived their usefulness.

They may be attitudes, behaviors, or ways of doing things that were once effective, but are kept around just because they are convenient.

They keep us safe in a hostile world. They provide a foundation amidst an ocean of change.

It is little wonder that the greatest priority for many of us is to get as far as possible from the divine fire.

But if we take today’s passage seriously, dusting off those relics once in a while is no longer acceptable. Can it be that we don’t know how to interpret the present time? Can it be we have grown so complacent that we are freezing to death, not even aware it is happening?

Jesus has come to shake things up and to challenge us to examine the inconsistencies between attention and neglect, in our churches and in our personal lives. These inconsistencies may reveal a pattern of prioritizing the insignificant while jeopardizing the things that are of greatest value and importance. n These messages appear as part of the Sunday Bulletin Service offered by the Interprovincial Board of Communication. Churches interested in subscribing to this service can contact Jill Bruckart at jill@mcnp.org.

The world’s oldest daily devotional that’s new every morning!

The 2020 edition of The Moravian Daily Texts continues a 290-year-long tradition of offering an inspirational connection to the Holy Scriptures every day.

Each entry in this beloved daily devotional includes “watchwords”—Old and New Testament verses to accompany readers throughout the day—combined with beautiful hymn texts and heartfelt prayers selected and written by Moravians across North America.

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Learn more at store.moravian.org 28

The Moravian

OFFICIAL PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ NEWS Moravian Day of Service—Weekend closest to September 16 (Sept. 15 2019) The 2018 Provincial Synods of the Northern and Southern Provinces passed similar resolutions to create an annual church-wide day of service, the “Moravian Day of Service.”

In the joint meeting of the PEC, November 2018, the weekend closest to September 16 was identified for this outreach in mission and service to our communities. The Board of World Mission was tasked with providing information and resources to support this effort across the Moravian Church in America.

Resources may be found at www.moravian. org/dayofservice.

NORTHERN PROVINCE Prayer Day for World Peace and Nuclear Disarmament August 4, 2019 In accordance with legislation enacted at the 1982 Synod of the Northern Province and affirmed by the 1990 Synod, the first Sunday in August has been designated as a day of prayer for world peace and nuclear disarmament.

Prayer Day for Public Education August 25, 2019 Congregations of the Northern Province are asked to observe Public Education Awareness Day on the last Sunday in August. Prepared liturgies, intercessory prayers for students and all who teach in and administer public schools and sermons at worship may call attention to our responsibility for public education and seek the blessing of God upon these endeavors.

August 2019

Leaves of Absence Sister Eileen Edwards, who has been serving under call to Canadian District service, requested and was granted a leave of absence from the active call of the Moravian Church effective July 1, 2019.

Sister Trina Holmberg, who has been serving the Edmonton Moravian Church under appointment, requested and was granted a leave of absence from the active call of the Moravian Church effective Sept. 15, 2019.

Elizabeth D. Miller Provincial Elders’ Conference Covenant Moravian, Wilmington, N.C. SOUTHERN PROVINCE

The Rev. Jeff Jones, pastor at Bethabara Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, NC, has accepted a call to become pastor of the Covenant congregation in Wilmington, N.C. Concurrent with this call, Jeff will also serve as pastor of Water of Life Lutheran Church, a congregation of the N.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Jeff concluded his ministry at Bethabara church July 14, 2019. A service of installation at Covenant is planned for Aug. 11.

Ad Policy for The Moravian — The Moravian accepts paid advertising that is consistent with the magazine’s objectives and editorial convictions as they are stated in the purpose and mission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication. Advertisements for activities, services and products of specific interest to members of the Moravian Church have priority. The Moravian does not accept purely editorial advertisements that advocate specific ideas or issues. Articles, columns and letters to the editor are the appropriate vehicles for the presentation of ideas and issues. The Interprovincial Board of Communication is responsible for the content and design of the magazine, including advertisements. Ad rates and specifications are available www.moravian.org.

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New Beginnings, Huntersville, N.C. The Rev. Russ Williams, pastor at Union Cross Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, N.C., has accepted a call to become pastor of the New Beginnings, congregation in Huntersville, N.C. Russ concluded his ministry at Union Cross church July 7, 2019. A service of installation at New Beginnings is planned for August.

David Guthrie Provincial Elders’ Conference

Obituary: Grace Snavely Robinson

Grace Arlene Snavely Robinson, age 95, died July 9, 2019 at Salemtowne, Winston-Salem, N.C. Grace was born August 10, 1923 to the late Emma and Clayton Snavely and was raised in Lititz, PA. She was a devoted Moravian her entire life, active not only in the Lititz congregation, but also with the Eastern District Youth program. She attended Moravian Seminary for Women (now Moravian College) in Bethlehem, Pa., where she met the Rev. Dr. Kenneth William Robinson. They married in 1951. That same year Kenneth was ordained in the Reading Moravian Church, Reading, Pa., and became pastor of the Fry’s Valley and Port Washington congregations in Ohio.

Grace shared in Ken’s ministry in the Northern Province and in the Southern Province, beginning in 1954 at Home Moravian Church (Assistant) and then, at First, Greensboro, Ardmore, Bethania and Home (Associate). Kenneth retired in 1991 after 40 years of active service. For many years, concluding in 2018, Grace was a faithful staff member and volunteer at the Moravian Archives, where she specialized in transcription of handwritten documents.

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Grace was preceded in death by her five siblings, and, in 2012, by her loving husband Kenneth. She is survived by her children, Mark and Meribeth Robinson, and one grandson.

A memorial service was conducted July 12, 2019 at Home Moravian Church with the Rev. Andrew Heil and the Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Wayne Burkette presiding. Burial followed in God’s Acre in Salem.

moravian

day of september 15, 2019

Moravians from across U.S. and Canada focused on mission in their communities… all on the same day!

September 15, 2019 For more information on getting your congregation involved, visit www.moravian.org/dayofservice/ The Moravian

If you’re a stewardship leader, pastor, or trustee at a Moravian church, this conference is for you! Learn strategies to build year-round, holistic stewardship programs that foster gifts of time, talent, treasure, and testimony. Register now online:

http://c.planetReg.com/CelebrateStewardship!

Stewardship Services for Moravians, by Moravians.

Call Laura at 888-722-7923 or email her at lwatson@mmfa.info today for more information.

www.mmfa.info 119 Brookstown Avenue, Suite 305 Winston-Salem, NC 27101 888-722-7923 August 2019 31

Periodicals Postmaster please send address changes to: The Moravian, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018

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August 2019