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The 24th Moravian
Music Festival July 14-20, 2013 in Bethlehem, Pa.
Join us for a week-long celebration of the spirituality, heritage and beauty of Moravian music. The 24th Moravian Music Festival is a unique opportunity to lift up your voice, blow your horn, ring your bells and make a joyful noise with musicians, fans and friends of this inspirational music. For registration and program information, visit www.MoravianMusicFestival.org
Come to sing, play, learn or just listen!
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Laurel Ridge Senior High campers make the most of a rainy day. Photo by Lynn Davis
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In this issue: Moravian Camping Ministries Youth in Action And more!
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Christ and him crucified remain our confession of faith
Moravian Camping Ministry
In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love
6 Laurel Ridge: The Southern Province’s jewel in the mountains
5 Building faith in the great outdoors 8 Why did I put that guitar in the car? 10 Camp Hope readies for busy season of Eastern District Camping 12 Camping in the Western District 14 Camping in Canada at Camp Van-Es 16 Mid-States getting “Back to the Basics” 17 Camping brings California Moravians together Ecumenical Partners
Member, Associated Church Press
18 Moravian Bishop Kay Ward pens Bible study for Lutheran magazine Gather Moravian Youth 21 A different way to spend Spring Break: college age mission trips 27 Young adults study the importance of their faith at Wisconsin retreat
Visit our website at http://www.moravian.org. Letters to the editor, address corrections, and other correspondence may be e-mailed to the magazine at pubs@mcnp.org.
May 2013
In Our Congregations 24 Palmyra Moravian celebrates sesquicentennial In Every Issue 4 Ponderings: The park bench oasis 30 Official Provincial Elders’ News 3
PONDERINGS
The park bench oasis
(ISSN 1041-0961 USPS 362600) May Vol. 44, No. 4 Publications Agreement No. 40036408 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Express Messenger International, PO Box 25058, London, Ontario N6C6A8, email: emi@exmessenger.com Official Journal, The Moravian Church in North America, Northern and Southern Provinces Published monthly, except bimonthly January-February and July-August issues, by the Interprovincial Board of Communication, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018.
Every spring and fall, the directors of the Interprovincial Board of
Communication meet to review, discuss, strategize and plan. This spring, we tried something a little different for our Southern Province meeting: a weekend at Laurel Ridge’s Higgins Lodge. The Lodge offered the ideal mix of meeting space, comfortable accommodations and good meals that helped us focus on our work. The acres of beauty with spectacular views, however, proved both inspiring and distracting. After hours of discussing finances, book projects, technology initiatives and Daily Texts covers, we gave in. We decided to take time to recharge in the glory of nature that surrounds Laurel Ridge. Some hiked to the main camp, some took a drive around the area, others found a quiet place on the deck. Me? I headed off on what I thought would be a good long walk in the woods. Before long, however, I realized the trail I thought was leading me down the ridge ended up circling back to the parking lot. As I turned back disappointed, I came across a lonely park bench in the middle of the woods. That bench became an oasis from the world, offering just the refreshment needed to jump back into the meeting. I sat in the bright afternoon sun and dug into The Book of God, “the Bible as a novel” by Walter Wangerin; took some pictures; even dozed off for a few minutes. The wind, first warm then increasingly cooler, gently swayed the trees around me. Upon returning to the Lodge, the next four hours of meeting time proved creative and productive. When I returned to Bethlehem, the task of finalizing this issue lay before me. That afternoon break at Laurel Ridge turned out to be the perfect preparation for editing an issue focused on Moravian camping ministries. I hope you enjoy reading about how time spent in nature helps young Moravians grow in faith and spirituality. Now I just wish I had that bench in the woods a little closer to home…
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Subscription rates: $15.00 per year, U.S.A. & Canada; $18.00 per year, all other countries. Individual copies available for $3.00 each. The Moravian is sent to the families of the Moravian Church as a privilege of membership. Periodicals postage paid at Bethlehem, PA. Circulation: 17,800 Postmaster please send address changes to The Moravian, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245. Continuing The North American Moravian, The Moravian and The Wachovia Moravian. Michael Riess, Editor Siobhan Young, Communications Assistant Jodi Bortz, Customer Relations/Business Assistant Interprovincial Board of Communication Paul Knouse, Paul Peucker Chair Adam Pristas Jane Burcaw Richard Sides Jane Carmichael Valerie Wagner Lance Fox Jill Westbrook Gary Kniskern Design by Sandy Fay, Laughing Horse Graphics, Inc. Address all correspondence regarding articles, subscriptions, or advertising to The Moravian, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245 FAX: 610.866.9223 Phone: 610.867.0594 800.732.0591 e-mail: pubs@mcnp.org www.moravian.org Contents © 2013, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in North America. All rights reserved
The Moravian
MORAVIAN CAMPING MINISTRY
Building faith in the great outdoors For
generations of Moravians, the weeks spent at a Moravian summer camp represent pivotal events in their spiritual growth. While having fun, making friends and communing with nature, campers build a closer connection to their faith and to God. The Moravian Church in North America hosts four camp and conference centers in the U.S. and Canada, along with other camping programs that reach hundreds of children each year. In our annual round-up of camp activities for 2013, we feature Camp Hope, Laurel Ridge, Mt. Morris, Camp VanEs and other camping programs that will bring young Moravians together to revel in God’s creation. Each of these facilities offer both summer camping experiences and year-round opportunities to renew relationships with God and grow in faith. The words of Bishop George Higgins, one of the driving forces behind the development of Laurel Ridge in North Carolina
sum up the role of the camping ministry of the Moravian Church: “…we have a special need to discover anew the wonder of God’s creation. We need time for reflection, for prayer, for worship. We need to open our lives to God’s call for commitment, for service. This we find in the environment of a church camp.” ■
MORAVIAN CAMPING MINISTRY
Laurel Ridge: The Southern Province’s jewel in the mountains There are a lot of places you could go this summer. You could travel to New York, the city that never sleeps, or to a quaint New England town. You could hop a plane to L.A. and hob nob with celebrities; hitch a ride to Omaha, Nebraska for a taste of Americana; or take a bus to Washington, D.C. and try to change the world. May I offer an alternative for your consideration? Come to the top of the mountain at Laurel Ridge. Now there aren’t any bright lights like the big city (unless you count the soft glow of a waning campfire or the dusky Milky Way visible among the millions of stars on a clear night); and there aren’t any celebrities (unless you consider some of the “lifers” who can still recall the days when Laurel Ridge was just a dream in some Moravians’ hearts). There isn’t a charming old general store (unless you amble over to the Canteen for a sweet treat on a hot summer day); and there are no politicians to lobby for change (only the change you will see in yourself and those around you as you experience the grace of God that is inexplicably ever-present at this magical place). 6
There is something for everyone here; two day camps for children completing first and second grade, week-long camps for youth who have completed grades 3-12, and an extended weekend retreat for college students. We rely on volunteers to counsel each of these camps, so there are plenty of opportunities for adults to get involved and enjoy a week on the mountain as well. Eco Camp (grades 3-5) offers a special emphasis on the environment, where campers are introduced to the beauty of nature and joyfully taught that the “Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it!” Older campers have the chance to venture out into the high country and get their hands dirty at our new Eco Mission Camp (grades 6-12). Applying the lessons of Eco Camp, they will work with park rangers on various environmental care ventures. Youth groups are welcome to attend our traditional Mission Camps (grades 6-12 with adult leaders). Groups are assigned project sites where they will work to repair decks and fences, build ramps, clean windows, and clear brush for some of our less fortunate neighbors in Ashe and Alleghany counties. The Moravian
The true construction occurs in participants’ hearts as they build relationships with the community and realize their potential as instruments of God’s love. When all the work is said and done, there are new kayaks for the lake and an exciting addition of nine holes of disc golf that meander around the edge of summer camp, providing the opportunity to play with friends in new ways this summer. Finally, we will conclude the camping season by inviting the whole family to return to Family Camp Weekend in September — an occasion to recall the memories that were made in the dog days of summer and recapture those feelings one last time before the leaves change. There may be an endless list of places you could visit this summer but I urge you to put us at the top of your list; because while you can’t get to heaven across the Brooklyn Bridge, I heard you might just have a chance crossing the dam at Laurel Ridge. Visit Laurel Ridge online: www.laurelridge.org. ■ Erin Key is the Program Manager at Laurel Ridge. Contact her at erin@laurelridge.org for inquiries about attending camp as a camper or volunteer counselor. Laurel Ridge 2013 Summer Camp Schedule Pre-Junior 1 June 14-16 Pre-Junior 2 August 11-13 College Camp May 29-June 1 Eco camp June 16-22 Junior 2 July 7-13 Junior 3 August 11-17 Middle High 1 June 23-29 Middle High 2 August 4-10 Senior High July 14-20
MORAVIAN CAMPING MINISTRY
Why did I put that guitar in the car?
My guitar and I stood in a quick-draw faceoff with a car appearing to be moaning over the thought of pulling my camp bulk up and over the continental divide for a fifth time in two months. My eyes went back and forth from my over packed car to my seldomplayed guitar, remembering that with limited skills, little practice, and with numbness in my hand associated with a bulging disk, I figured that I was being overly optimistic about camp songs reverberating over the hills as they had in summers past; plus, my role for the next six days was to lead nature hikes, so the guitar could, as it had all summer, stay at home. But suspecting that Laurel Ridge’s Junior 3 camp was going to have a small staff with few musicians, I shook my head and stuffed one more bulky item into the back seat. My thought: Why am I putting this guitar in my car? 8
“Are there any adult musicians on our volunteer staff to lead songs during assembly?” I asked upon arrival. Our Dean, the Rev. Scott Venable replied “No one. Alan…did you bring a guitar?” All I could think of was the twang that hurt my ears when I last tried to strum a few tunes. Scott went on to ask if we could write out a list of songs for me to lead in conjunction with our theme. I sure hated to tell him that it would be easier for me to give him a list of songs that fit my limitations, but he needed to know right up-front what he was getting; a guy who might manage to play a short list of easily chorded, simple tunes. Our first group assembly was on Sunday night. We began to sing with a few fun songs and as I silently apologized for what might be a chorus of discord, brought out the guitar and plucked out Peace Like a River, Sanctuary, and Feed my Sheep. The campers revealed excitement and energy as they sang out in wonderful voice! The sound was awesome and uplifting, but I could feel pain in my hand and prayed silently, “Oh God, I need some help this week!” As I began my breakfast hike from cabin to dining hall the next morning, I was greeted with guitar music! My prayer answered! I looked for an adult with a guitar, but instead it was camper Jack who had guitar in hand. Jack told me that he didn’t know the chords to our camp songs, but he was eager to learn. Alan Snow (pictured above) is a member of Friedland Moravian Church and a devoted Laurel Ridge camp volunteer. The Moravian
So I decided to invite him to play on stage at our next assembly. I hadn’t walked very far until I ran into a very familiar face, camper Abigail, who I remembered as an excellent musician. I invited Abigail to play guitar with us. She was very excited about joining us! If I had any doubts about our trio, they were soon dismissed. I was worried when I had to quit playing during a song due to pain in my hand. Funny how the sound was better when I dropped out! Of course, a couple of times I did hear a couple of wrong notes, but I discovered that they were coming from my guitar! I was amazed at how fast Jack learned the tunes by just watching me. And Abigail could tune all guitars in a couple of minutes by ear! She could play any song on the list with ease.
…these two young campers and their motivation to serve and their vision of sharing their talent as ministry humbled me. I was very grateful for these wonderful camper musicians and thanked God for sending me help; but moreover, these two young campers and their motivation to serve and their vision of sharing their talent as ministry humbled me. Our time of singing became a time of worship, going from notes and performance to praise. The Spirit was at work and I could see it all around camp; in tears after a moving M-staff led campfire to exploring God’s creation on a nature hike. From making lasting friendships to the caring for campers in the infirmary. In playing on the field, making candles, Lovefeast trays, Ukrainian eggs, and catapults, and even in sliding down May 2013
the monster slide in the lake, the community for one week was peace on earth. After our last worship, Jack, Abigail, and I walked down the mountain together. It was hard to think about the week coming to a close. Abigail turned to us and said “I want to have a prayer with the guitarists.” She prayed aloud about our time of music ministry service on the mountain. After Abigail finished her prayer, Jack looked at me and said, “Someday, I will be on M-Staff”. My question: Why did I put that guitar in the car? On the last day of the last camp of the Laurel Ridge summer, I knew why. Hmm, I wonder what God can do with my fishing rod? ■
VISIT THE MORAVIAN MAGAZINE ON FACEBOOK! The Moravian Magazine is now on Facebook! Visit <www.facebook.com/MoravianMagazine> to learn more about what’s happening with the magazine, view current and back issues online and interact with The Moravian editorial staff. So next time you’re on Facebook, check out The Moravian Magazine and hit the “Like” button to become a fan! And while you’re there, let us know what you think. You can also get the weekly Watchwords through Facebook by visiting the Moravian Daily Texts on Facebook. 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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MORAVIAN CAMPING MINISTRY
Camp Hope readies for busy season of Eastern District Camping
Hope
Conference & Renewal Center, an outdoor ministry of the Eastern District, is preparing for hundreds of campers and staff members to experience a memorable week of camp this summer. The season will be filled with swimming in the pool, boating on the lake, singing and learning in Hassler Hall, meeting new friends, laughing at campfires, playing basketball and volleyball, worshipping
by the lake or on the hill, and much more. Overlooking Little Silver Lake in Hope, N.J, Hope Center offers a special time for all ages. Youth of confirmation age will open the season in early May, as they learn about Moravian history and heritage, led by the Eastern District Director of Christian Education, Marie Couts. Youth and adults are welcome at the NorthEast Moravian Disaster Relief work weekend, and families and campers of all ages join together at the Memorial Day Weekend Family Camp. There is a camp for each age group. Students who have just completed grades 1 and 2 can come sample the camping experience during Pre-Primary Conference, led by dean Shannon Swingle with a program by Pastor Andy Kilps. This camp lasts only three days, but it packs a lot into that time. For campers finishing grades 3 and 4 there is Primary Conference, a week of activities and study, but with plenty of recreational and social time. Pastor Tammie Rinker, the camp dean, and
Moravian Camp and Retreat Dates for 2013 Confirmation Retreat May 3-5 Marie Couts NEMDR Weekend May 17-18 John Egerton Memorial Day Camp May 24-27 Rev. Jennika Borger Primary Conference June 23-29 Rev. Tammie Rinker Fishing Camp June 23-29 Bob Wingrove Pre-Primary Conference June 30-July 2 Shannon Swingle Middler Conference July 7-13 Rt. Rev. Blair Couch & Rev. Sayward Lippincott Jr. High Conference July 21-27 Rev. Rhonda Robinson Swim Camp July 28-August 3 Ellen Saylor Sr./Post High Conference August 4-10 Barbara Ottervik and Brian Lauderman Quilt Camp October 2-5 Rev. Lois Bly Mease Pastor Cynthia Geyer are planning a memorable week. Middler Conference is for those completing grades 5 and 6, and includes its own carnival, Olympics, and special activities, under the leadership of Pastors Blair Couch and Sayward Lippincott. Pastor Rhonda Robinson is preparing an exciting week for campers finishing grades 7 and 8 at Jr. High Conference, where they will grow spiritually and socially through study and sharing. Those completing grade 9 through age 21 look forward to Sr./Post High Conference, where they connect with new and old friends, and strengthen their faith through community, a coffeehouse, and a commitment service. This year, the week will take you â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond the Bunsâ&#x20AC;? with Pastors Jeff Coppage and Lance Fox, led by deans Barbara Ottervik and Brian Lauderman. There are camps for special interests as well. Guys and girls in grades 7 through 11
who want to learn to fish, or to improve their skills, are invited to attend Fishing Camp. Fishing specialist Bob Wingrove and Chaplain Derek French will teach campers about equipment, bait, lures, and lead them on an overnight trip to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, as well as prepare the traditional Friday night fish fry. Campers who have completed grades 3 through 6 can come to Swimming Camp, where you learn new skills and strokes, taught by the Hope Center Aquatics Team with dean Ellen Saylor and Chaplain Jeffrey Gehris. Women who love to sew, whether (continued on page 20)
Susan M. Dreydoppel is the administrative assistant for Hope Conference & Renewal Center. She is a member of the Schoeneck Moravian Church in Nazareth, Pa., and represents the Lehigh Valley, North on the Eastern District Executive Board. May 2013
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MORAVIAN CAMPING MINISTRY
Camping in the Western District What do you get when you mix cardboard, tie-dyed stockings, guitars, running across a field trying not to be tagged, stars across the expanse of the sky, and an opportunity to grow in faith with children, youth and even adults over age 50? The answer is Western District camps. While most of the District’s camps are held at Mt. Morris Camp and Conference facility in Wautoma, Wis., Western District camps can also be found in California (see accompanying story on page 17) and Camp Minddy (for youth who’ve finished grades 3-5 in Minnesota and North Dakota) which has a new location this year at Luther Crest. Regardless of the location the overall goal of all our camps is to reach as many people as possible with an experience of God in a Christian community.
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This includes the campers as well as the staff. The camps all have a similar format. The staff arrives before camp to get organized, set up and oriented to the program and schedule. Each camp begins with registration and a welcome of the campers. Usually the first evening will have a special event to help assimilate the campers to the staff and each other. For example, the Junior Camp (grades 3-5) will have a wagon ride through the camp so the campers will see the layout of the camp, while Chetek (9th grade through 21) will have some “Wacky Olympics” for the small groups to begin to work together. Each day’s activities include a program time, devotions, worship, crafts/special interest groups, all camp game/activity, campfire, and vespers all done in a manner fitting the age group. While there is a schedule, camps are flexible enough to embrace the spirit of the moment. Last year at Winmor (for middle school students), a lovefeast got moved up a day when during the evening activities the staff recognized the spirit moving right then and there and got the supplies out at that time for the camp to share food and beverage in an atmosphere of love. At Chetek, Brian Dixon was leading vespers and opened up a feather pillow and flung the feathers all over the campers creating an outpouring of delight. The mess was a bit of a challenge to clean up but the spirit of joy was worth it. The Moravian
One of the ministries of our camps is to incorporate younger adults into leadership positions. The Junior Camp, 4M camp (for children in grades 1 and 2), Camp Minddy and California camping all make room for high school and college age young adults to not only be cabin counselors and small group leaders but also lead other ministries such as vespers and evening games. Last year Junior Camp, was led by Dan Miller and Greg Behrend (age in mid 20’s), and the director of Junior Camp is Beth Behrend, also in her mid 20’s. The Camp and Conference committee for the Western District camps is chaired by Kathy Liebenow and includes Rev. Jane Gehler, Justin Rabbach, Tom Harberg, Staci Wickert and Amy Anderson as members. The committee oversees all the camps by installing directors, establishing the cost for each camp and support including: supplies, training materials, promotion and registration. Working through the District office, the committee also began a more formal process for background checks of staff for last year’s camps. Jane Gehler serves the camping ministry as the registrar for all the camps. This centralizes the registration process and overall management of the finances. New this year is the distribution of debit cards for directors to make purchases for camps, so that directors and/ or staff won’t have to wait for reimbursement for supplies purchased as all our camps are staffed by volunteers. The committee oversees the resources of the voucher program the District is blessed to have available to help make camp financially accessible for everyone. Kurt Liebenow is director of Chetek, while Kathy Liebenow is chair for the Camping Ministry Committee. May 2013
Promotion and information about camps is evolving as we learn about new technologies. Registration is almost all done online now through the camping ministry website, wdcamping.com. Each camp is to develop their own web page to offer specific information and updates about each camp. Several of the older age camps have Facebook sites as well and offer encouragement to the campers throughout the year. Visit www.wdcamping.com to learn more about the 2013 Western District season. ■
2013 Camp dates and locations Junior Camp: June 24 -28, at Mt. Morris, Wis. Camp Minddy: July 28-31, at Luther Crest Camp Site, Minn. Chetek: July 14 -20, at Mt. Morris, Wis. Winmor: July 21-27, at Mt. Morris, Wis. Ba6 (Basics): August 11-15, at Mt. Morris, Wis. 4M Camp: August 12-14, at Mt. Morris, Wis. Moravian Family Camp: June 28-30, at Malibu Creek State Park, CA
MORAVIAN CAMPING MINISTRY
Camping in Canada at Camp Van-Es The essence of faith is to be alive. We as followers understand that to be alive is to be renewed each day, to experience life in the light of a joy that surpasses all understanding, and live in and share the love of a Savior. At Camp Van-Es kids come to experience just that. It is so fitting that this year’s theme at VanEs is “Come Alive.” Kids are brought into a caring community from all walks of life where they experience first hand what it is to be alive. They feel loved, get to laugh and play, sing songs, and be silly as all kids should while learning about Jesus and the love He has for them. It is as they come alive that we see Christ work in their lives and they can come to understand the joy and grace we have been so wonderfully given.
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Once again we will be seeing kids from grade 1 all the way to grade 12 filter through the camp gate. Some will enter with smiles and laughter and others with fear and apprehension of the new experience to come. But what we know for sure is that they all leave with hugs, tears of longing for newfound friends and a sense that they are unconditionally loved. In the last few years it has be great to watch as kids that have come through the camp move on to become staff and are able to embody the spirit of Christ that they experienced as campers. They look to provide an experience as special as theirs was and still is to them, to help them come to know this Redeemer that claimed them as His own.
The Moravian
Some campers explain camp as being different…different in the sense that “they can come and be their real selves, they don’t have to pretend or be someone they think people want them to be”, but be true to who Christ made them. The best part of camp is that there is something for everyone to do. Should you fancy swimming, you can take a dip in the pool. Love sports? You can run around in our rainbow field. You can also be artsy creating a craft or friendship bracelet, or challenge your friend at archery, which is new as of last summer. We are once again blessed by the directors and staff that volunteer their time to make camp the blessing it is. We are equally blessed to be receiving an Antioch student to be aiding in our ministry. The love and dedication that the staff of Camp Van-Es show is second to none and the camp is truly thankful for them. Behind the scenes we also have to thank the Camp Van-Es board for their passion for kids and the impact camp can have in the faith walk of those that come. The camp board has been busy furthering the ministry of Camp Van-Es by moving forward with the addition of a New Lodge facility on property that was approved by the 2012 Canadian District Synod. This addition will expand the ability of the camp to make a difference in the
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2013 schedule Grades 3 & 4 June 30 -July 5, led by Rev. Steve Gohdes Grades 7-9 July 7-13, led by Revs. Ian & Eileen Edwards Grades 5 & 6 July 14 -20, led by Rev. Rebecca Craver and Marilyn Guernsey Sr. High Camp July 21-27, led by Rev. Matt Gillard Grades 1 & 2 July 28 -31, led by Rev. Wendy Beck communities around camp and their ministry as it opens up ministry opportunities during the non-summer months for more comfortable lodging. If you would like more information on the lodge please see our website at www.vanescamp.com. It is with great joy, excitement and expectation that we welcome the 2013 summer season. Christ is alive and well at Camp VanEs. God has provided and we shall answer His call. Please pray for us as we continue to welcome and watch kids “Come Alive with Christ”. ■ Brandon Salyzyn is a member of the Canadian District Executive Board and Camp Van-Es board. Photos by Brandon.
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MORAVIAN CAMPING MINISTRY
Mid-States getting “Back to the Basics” The Mid-states camping program will return
to Tar Hollow State Park near Chillicothe, Ohio on July 21-27 for Senior/Post High Camp for 2013. The mid-states camping program has been held at Tar Hollow since 1948. The Rev. Darryl Bell from The Promise church in Ohio and Rev. David Bennett, Eastern District president from Bethlehem, Pa will lead the 2013 program, “Back to the Basics.” They follow last’s years team of our own mid-states pastors the Rev. Denny Rohn and the Rev. John Wallace, who made a great team as they presented the program entitled “I’d Rather Be….” Mid-states camping programs are planned by the Regional Youth Council made up of four elected youth officers, six or more appointed cabinet members and four adult members (two pastoral and two lay advisors) who are also elected by the youth. The RYC plans the camp and theme and gives directions to the program person/people and they run with it. In this way our youth learn to work together on a common goal and have ownership in the
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events of the week. It is a great learning process for all involved. We have many “traditions” at our camp that help to make our week special. One of them is our Wednesday night themed mission dinner, where campers raise money for a chosen mission project. The RYC go all out and spend their entire afternoon of free time decorating the lodge to fit the theme. They are a dedicated and determined group of young people! Through their efforts and generosity nearly $3,000 was raised for their mission project last year. This year they have chosen two mission projects: they plan to adopt a village in Africa and send money to Hurricane Sandy Relief. For information on Mid-states Moravian camping opportunities for other age groups, including Epworth, Illiana and Bethany, visit http://midstatesmoraviancamps.webs.com/ ■ Jo Keller is a member of Hope Moravian Church in Hope, Indiana.
The Moravian
MORAVIAN CAMPING MINISTRY
Camping brings California Moravians together California Moravian Youth Camp has been a
fun and meaningful part of every summer for decades. Young Moravians have been blessed by the relationships and profoundly spiritual experiences afforded by camp each year. Over the years, as California Moravian congregations have closed, our camper base has dwindled. So, this year it seems wiser stewardship to not rent a regular summer camp as we have in the past. We will instead be offering a Moravian Family Camp, June 28-30, at Malibu Creek State Park, just a few miles from the well-known Point Dume (perhaps one of the most beautiful spots on God’s earth!). Children and their families are welcome to participate. It will have all the trappings of summer camp: campfires, Bible lessons, nature hikes, swimming (although it will be in the ocean and not in a chlorinated pool), crafts, and games. One great aspect about California Moravian Youth Camp each year is that the costs are subsidized by the Pacific Southwest Christian Education Commission, which receives money annually from the Larger Life Foundation. So, since we’ll be saving on camp rental costs this year, we will be able to increase the subsidies granted to each camper. (It will pretty much be free this year for all campers, which will allow people to participate who might not otherwise be able to.)
May 2013
Last year, for California Moravian Youth Camp, Bishop Chris Giesler flew out from Pennsylvania for the week, to be the program leader. We had 12 campers (how biblical!) at Oak Glen Camp in Yucaipa, representing both California Moravian congregations: Morongo and Downey. Bishop Giesler led a wonderful program highlighting the uniqueness and beauty of each person God creates. The kids spent their days molding clay creatures, beading jewelry, and gluing intentionally broken terra cotta pots. They also enjoyed swimming, hiking in the nearby desert mountains, minigolfing, singing and dancing, talent shows, tadpole-gazing in a nearby pond, learning their spiritual gifts, participating in rigorous Olympic relays, and eating all the camp food! This year, the program leaders will be Rev. Vicki Jens-Page and myself. The theme is yet to be determined, but with the two of us at the helm, it’s sure to be invigorating. We pray that God’s Spirit, who is prevalent throughout all of the natural world, will be very much a part of this year’s California Moravian Summer Camp experience. Dates for California Moravian Family Camp: June 28-30, 2013. ■ Christie Melby-Gibbons is pastor of Downey Moravian Church. 17
ECUMENICAL PARTNERS
Moravian Bishop Kay Ward pens Bible Study for Lutheran magazine Gather Moravian Bishop Kay Ward will share her faith and wisdom with sisters from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Amerca (ELCA) as she hosts a nine-month Bible study event on the pages of Gather magazine. Gather is the magazine of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the Rt. Rev. Ward is author of the Bible study, “In Good Company: Stories of Biblical Women,” which will run in the magazine from September 2013 through May 2014. “I am so humbled to have been asked to undertake this exciting project for the Women of the ELCA,” said Kay “[Readers] have been in my mind all these months of writing. I have been ‘In Good Company.’”
In the Bible study Kay has invited nine women from the Old Testament, several from the New Testament, and a handful of women she knows to stop in for a visit. “They will be companions with us each month, long enough for us to get to know them and also to get to know ourselves a bit better,” she said. “Their stories will draw us into Bible study, invite us to worship with the Psalms, and give us opportunities to tell our own stories.” Gather magazine has featured a Bible study in its pages since Women of the ELCA was first formed 25 years ago. Only the name of the magazine has changed. A couple of years ago, the magazine changed its name from Luther-
an Woman Today to Gather because editors felt a new name would appeal to broader audiences. The ELCA is full communion partner with six churches, including the Moravian Church. Men also subscribe to the magazine and use the Bible study. “It’s natural that we would ask a Moravian to write our Bible study because of our full communion partnership,” said Gather Editor Kate Elliott. “She came highly recommended by our 2012-13 Bible study author Audrey West, who is a Lutheran scholar and a very good friend of Kay’s.” Gather magazine offers far more than a Bible study each month (like The Moravian Magazine, it is published 10 times a year, but the January/February and July/August issues are combined). Ward’s Bible study introduces us to Old Testament women including Hannah, Deborah, the Widow of Zarepath, Miriam, Abigail, Jephthah’s daughter, Rizpah, Rahab, and the Woman of Endor. The New Testament women we meet don’t always have names. For example, we learn about the persistent woman; the poor widow who put all she had in the church treasury; Mary, the mother of Jesus; Mary and Martha, friends of Jesus; one of the women Jesus healed, and others. “I knew about many of Old Testament women before I began, but I didn’t know their whole story,” says Kay. “Now that I know them better, I have grown fond of each and every one of them. “I will confess,” she added, “some of them I did like better than others, but they were all interesting and eager to share their stories.” She said the women of the New Testament may be more familiar to us but we learn (continued on next page) May 2013
Subscribe to Gather A subscription to Gather magazine is $15 a year. It takes about six weeks to get your first issue, so order early to receive it by September. Visit gathermagazine.org to order online or call 800.328.4648 to order by phone. To receive a free issue of the magazine, send an email to gather@elca.org; put MOFREE in the subject line. The only piece essential for the “In Good Company” study is a subscription to Gather, but you may also order a Leader Guide, which gives additional instruction to leaders, a Companion Bible, which includes all the verses in the study, and a pack of 12 bookmarks, which you can use to promote the study. • Leader Guide, ELCAWO1035 $7.95 • Companion Bible, ELCAWO1036 $3.95 • Bookmarks, ELCAWO1037 $3.75 • Brochure about the study, ELCAWO1038, free Call 800.638.3522, ext. 2580, or visit http://resources.elca.org/Products-Women.html to order. Sign up for an online account and search for WO Bible studies.
Camp Hope
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Kay is the author of three books of reflections available from the IBOC.
(continued from previous page) something new from searching their heartaches and their faithful decisions. “We grow in our faith as we read the stories of these women,” Ward said, “not that we want to become like them but because they are like us, and we feel kinship with these long-ago sisters.” Well-known to Moravians across North America, Kay was the first woman to be chosen as bishop in the Moravian church’s 550year history. She was ordained in 1979 and consecrated bishop in 1998. She has written three collections of essays (visit store.moravian.org to learn more) and lives in a log cabin in central Wisconsin with her husband, Aden. They have four children and three grandchildren. Check to see if Ward is leading a Bible study introduction event in your area. Visit www.womenoftheelca.org/bible-study-intro-events-pages-101.php. ■ 20
it’s on a quilt or on something else, are invited to attend Quilt Camp in October, organized by Pastor Lois Bly Mease. Times of Bible study and worship are included in all of the special interest camps. Even if you are no longer in school, or not even Moravian, Hope Center has a place for you. Pastors and lay persons can use their talents as counselors, nurses, program leaders, and role models. Campers are encouraged to bring a friend with them to camp, regardless of their religious affiliation. For those who need it, financial aid may be available; contact your pastor or Hope Center. Center Administrator Stephen Sobczak and the summer staff invite you to experience Hope Center this summer. Reservations for camps are being accepted now, with an Early Bird Discount available for those who register by May 15. For more info, contact Hope Center at 908.459.4435 or www.camphope.org or hopecenter@camphope.org. ■ A Picnic! Hope Conference & Renewal Center is very grateful to the congregations of the Eastern District for their overwhelming support in the last several years. To show their appreciation, Hope Center invites everyone in the Eastern District (and any other Moravian who might be in the area) to a free Memorial Day Church Picnic on Monday, May 27. Come experience Hope Center as you enjoy the swimming pool, fishing and boating on the lake, games and relaxation. The pavilion and grill are available for your picnic. Bring your own food and lawn chairs. Join us for an informal worship service on the lawn in the afternoon. The picnic runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.—come when you can, leave when you must.
MORAVIAN YOUTH
A different way to spend Spring Break: college age mission trips Some of my memorable ministry experiences working with youth and adults have come from short term mission trips. As I began my position as the Director of Youth, College and Young Adult Ministries in the Southern Province, I wanted to see if there was any interest among our college students for a Spring Break trip to Staten Island to help victims of Hurricane Sandy and to see New York City. Two trips were offered the first two weeks of March, and thirteen college age young adults answered the call to serve. Here are some of their experiences:
My experience with the Moravian College Age Mission Trip was enlightening and will be something I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t readily forget. For three full days we worked in homes on Staten Island affected by Hurricane Sandy. The work was cold and rough, taking apart the insides of seawater soaked homes, but not entirely different from what you might expect working on May 2013
a mission trip. Instead, it was the stories, the people, and the gratitude that stuck with you. On the first day of work, we met Ralph, a retired firefighter in at least his seventies. He had more energy than half our group combined. However, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t his house we were repairing. He was a local resident working with the relief efforts to help his neighbors. He cared about them and he cared about us. Ralph was part of a much larger effort. Workers were there from multiple states and countries. It all went to show that with caring and cooperation, nearly anything could be done. One cannot easily forget the residents of Staten Island. Each person was unique and (continued on next page) Douglas Rights is director of Youth, College and Young Adult Ministries for the Southern Province Board of Cooperative Ministries. 21
(continued from previous page) memorable and each had a story of rising surge waters that could be sold to Hollywood. It was frightening as these people simply were not ready for something like Sandy. The storm demolished their old lives and so the help provided to bring back just some of that was met with such great gratitude. If the characters we met or the trips to New York City on off days were not enough to sell this mission trip, then the gratitude would be. When you’re all done with work you just feel
good, and that’s reason enough to help out. — Andrew Lyda, King Moravian, recent graduate of Wright State University
I had an awesome time on the trip to Staten
Island. It was amazing to see how many homes had still not been worked on four months after the storm hit. The damage was incredible and hearing the stories from the people we worked for was heartbreaking. Some people lost everything they owned and were only receiving help from gracious volunteers in the community. The work we did was tedious and
Southern Province students assisted homeowners in Staten Island, N.Y. with their cleanup and rebuilding efforts in March.
tiring, but seeing all the work we did and the smiling faces from those we helped made it so worthwhile. It was incredible the amount of love that I felt from the people on Staten Island. — Sarah Barber, New Philadelphia Moravian, Cabarrus Community College
Our
Mission Trip to Staten Island was a great way to spend Spring Break. We worked on five different houses as we dug up floors, took down walls, and sprayed for mold. At each worksite we got the chance to hear stories about Hurricane Sandy’s arrival and what was left. Knowing that our group was a part of helping each homeowner get back on their feet was so rewarding. I hope the work we did, the conversations we had with the people, and the prayers we prayed provided hope for the homeowners on Staten Island. — Anna Fulton, Clemmons Moravian, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
The trip was a blessing in itself. It was very eye-opening going to homes of Hurricane Sandy victims and hearing their stories about the storm and how it affected them and continues to affect them. Everyone we worked for was so appreciative, and it warmed my heart. If I had to use one word to describe this trip, I would say “humbling.” This trip May 2013
reminded me of how blessed I am. I think we continuously take the small things in life, like a warm bed, heat in our homes, and good weather for granted. I could have spent my Spring Break in several different places, but I’m so happy that God called me to Staten Island. The people I met, the people I worked with, and the trip in general was the most humbling experience I’ve had in my life. — Caitlin Sheppard, Olivet Moravian, North Carolina State University
This trip has been an incredible experience. We were able to form relationships with the people and help them in any way we could. They were so grateful, and it made all the hard work completely worthwhile. — Meghan Peddycord, Calvary Moravian, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill For these mission trips it was my joy and privilege to be part of two wonderful, hardworking groups who were great representatives of their churches, our province, and our denomination, and who were great witnesses for God. I believe the Lord used these two groups to help bless some of the people of Staten Island and from their experiences you can see how God blessed those who went. ■ 23
IN OUR CONGREGATIONS
Palmyra Moravian celebrates sesquicentennial The brothers and sisters of the Palmyra Moravian Church rejoice as we celebrate our 150th Anniversary on May 17, 2013. Our mission statement: “Grow in Faith, Live in Love, Share the Hope, as we Journey with Jesus” will guide us as we continue to serve the Lord through the ministry of our congregation. In looking back on our beginnings, it was the Rev. Phillip Henry Gapp who began visiting Palmyra, New Jersey in 1851. He came to this small community by crossing the Delaware River from Philadelphia by steamboat to build up Christian gatherings in the homes of German speaking people. As the meetings grew in attendance so did the need for a church building and in the fall of 1860 a suitable lot was located and purPalmyra’s Trombone Choir in 1905
chased for $150.00. A 23-by-35 foot church was built and the 19 charter members saw their church consecrated on May 17, 1863. During a special Church Council held on March 9, 1902 it was agreed by a unanimous vote to build a new church due to the increasing membership of the congregation. The original church was torn down; the congregation dedicated their new church on May 29, 1904. The church bell was purchased in March 1905 from the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Md. The parsonage first constructed in the 1880’s was completely renovated in 1909, doubling its size. In 1933 Riverside and Palmyra Moravian Churches held the first Moravian Easter Dawn service for all Christians in the surrounding communities at Lakeview Memorial Park. Some 25 brass instruments led an 80-voice choir with an estimated 10,000 worshippers in attendance. Today, Palmyra joins area churches of other denominations for sunrise services on Easter. The local building boom of the late 1950’s Karen Poppert is a member of Palmyra Moravian Church in Cinnaminson, N.J.
The Moravian
and early 1960’s enabled the congregation to experience a significant increase in membership. A new Christian Education building, dedicated in 1960, is today used by the Sunday School, several Girl Scout Troops, Vacation Bible School, Men & Women’s Prayer Breakfasts, Fellowship dinners, Ecumenical services, Peach Festivals, Pancake Breakfasts and other special services. The original church steeple was struck by lightning in 1947 and had to be removed. In 1977 a new steeple, patterned after the original one, was installed, returning the church to its earlier beauty.
Palymra Moravian Church in the early 1900s (left) and today (right)
A congregation blessed Over the years Palmyra Moravian has been blessed to have 24 pastors; today, the church is led by the Rev. Andy Kilps. All came with great faith and a determination to serve the Lord and the people of this congregation. We are a beacon in the community as the church now rings out to all with our recently installed Carillon Chimes. The Social Action committee in our church serves the Lord by reaching out to those in need in our community and the world. They also support two international children. Our newly formed Outreach Team will focus on evangelism — sharing the good news of Jesus with those in our community. (continued on next page) Palmyra’s Vacation Bible School, 2012
May 2013
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(continued from previous page) Members young and old Today our church continues to have an active congregation of young and old members, all willing to bring their talents and gifts to serve the Lord here at Palmyra. Ruth Wittmeyer has been a member of Palmyra Moravian Church for 95 years. She is happy to tell you that she is the oldest member of our congregation at a young age of 95. Her great-grandfather Emanuel Roberts was one of the early members of our church. Ruth says she likes “all the traditions of the Moravian Church, especially the Candlelight service.” Since she was baptized she has known 12 of the pastors who came to Palmyra. One of her fondest memories is the 12 years that she was a Youth Advisor. Ruth hopes “our church will continue to bring families together as they worship in our sanctuary.” One of our newer members, Chris Pfeiffer, said that having been born and raised in the Moravian Church, he fondly remembers Candlelight services, Lovefeasts and the Children’s Messages. “Since becoming members my wife Lauren, daughter Rylie and I have been blessed and welcomed in with open arms by the congregation,” says Chris. “We are so happy to be part of the Palmyra Moravian family and grateful to have such a great place to continue our spiritual growth. We look forward to our daughter Rylie taking part and carrying on the rich history and traditions that make Moravians unique.” Celebrating 150 years We began our 150th Anniversary celebration on May, 17, 2012. With the theme “A Faithful Past, A Hopeful Future, the Journey Continues!,” our anniversary logo appears on our 26
Sunday worship bulletin, our anniversary ring tray and our anniversary Christmas ornament. An anniversary banner, which has been placed in front of the church, gives a visible witness to the community of our joyous celebration. Activities in our 150th year have included a “Day at Camp Hope” in October and in December our children presented art work describing what our church means to them. The 150th Committee has also taken a trip to the Archives in Bethlehem, Pa. to bring back historical items and information that will help us create a 150th anniversary booklet for our members. A signature quilt is being created to honor our 150th celebration and when complete will hang in the Christian Education Building. Also a DVD is being put together that will include new and old photos as well as interviews with previous pastors of Palmyra. We look forward to holding a special congregational dinner, which will be a catered meal planned for May 4th (giving our women a much needed break!). We are looking forward to a Palmyra Moravian Church Historical Drama in which our children will actively participate on May 5th. Sunday, May 19th will culminate our 150th year of celebration. We will have Holy Communion during the morning service and in the afternoon we will hold an Anniversary Lovefeast service at 4 p.m. with Bishop Chris Giesler bringing the message. We will end our celebration with a festive Anniversary dinner. After a century and a half of ministry we have a lot to be thankful for. Our Lord Jesus has guided and blessed the people of Palmyra Moravian Church every step of the way. In the assurance of faith we know He will continue to do so! Indeed, as our 150th Anniversary theme proclaims, we have “A Faithful Past, a Hopeful Future, the Journey Continues!” ■ The Moravian
MORAVIAN YOUTH
Young adults study the importance of their faith at Wisconsin retreat I always get excited driving to Mt. Morris in
Wautoma, Wis.; not just because of the beauty Mt. Morris has to offer but because of the people I am going to meet upon my arrival. The weekend of March 1-3, 2013 was no different. I traveled west on Hwy 21 from Oshkosh, Wis. with a car full of four young adults. As we got further from the cities and closer to Mt. Morris I started to feel my excitement building. I thought about the laughter to be had, the songs to be sung and the inside jokes that only this special group will understand and fully appreciate. The idea of a young adult retreat had been in my mind for several years. Each year, as more young adults age out of camp and can no longer return as campers, the discussions
begin: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We need to have a weekend sometime so we can stay in touch.â&#x20AC;? Some might say a retreat is simply so old friends can catch up and reminisce on old times, but I believe it is much more than that. Being a young adult in this modern age is a great blessing. We spend our childhood and adolescence growing up meeting camp friends for one week each summer. Our time together is short but meaningful and we maintain those friendships via texting, Face(continued on next page) Gregory Behrend from Green Bay, Wis., is Cobweb Committee Director with the Western District.
(continued from previous page) book and phone calls for the rest of the year. Through my eyes, these are the same relationships my parents had in their youth when they would keep in touch through letters and phone calls. We’re just able to send several letters per day. It is clear to me that the true strength of my friendships was created in those weeklong get-togethers each summer. I believe it is what we are doing at events like church camp that not only provide the opportunity for these friendships to form but more importantly the depths of these friendships to grow. I was hoping this weekend’s retreat would hold true to that theory. As I pulled into the beautiful scenery of Mt. Morris I was soon surrounded by 26 young adults from across Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. The room shared my excitement to gather together as we sing the Moravian traditional table grace for supper. Like most gatherings of these sorts, the weekend started with small talk of recent news and for some, the stories of proposals which have occurred since our last meetings. It was not long into the weekend when our program leader, the Rev. Brian Dixon began 28
to challenge us with our theme idea: “At first, Faith teaches us how to live. Then, it shows us what to live for. And, finally it calls us to love and serve those we live with.” I thought to myself, “Now we’re talking!” In my experience, amidst the moments of laughter and story sharing, a good program allows for the opportunity for my inner most life, my deeper emotions and thoughts to start to come to the surface. I found myself wanting to dig deeper and share my thoughts and ideas with my friends because it is in those moments that the true strength of any friendship is built. This can be a very delicate moment that may need to be handled with caution, but I believe we as Moravians thrive in these moments. In all things love! By having a retreat like this and gathering together we create a safe and caring arena to open ourselves up a little more. I believe this is something hard to find in today’s modern society, but it is something we as maturing young adults are in dire need of when we are living away from a Moravian church. We discussed over the weekend what the Moravian Church might look like in the future. Would we still gather together each Sunday morning and sing four hymns, read scripture, have a children’s time and hear the Pastor preach? I hope so! I myself seem to hold strongly to many of the traditions I grew up with in the Moravian Church. However, our current education system teaches us to think outside the box and come up with new ideas. In our conversation some new ideas were shared but the most important part I got out of the conversation was the group’s idea of how faith has shaped us. Stories were shared of times when we gathered together as friends in a community of The Moravian
faith where we felt ourselves develop into better people. This idea leads to the importance of why we gather: to worship God, to embrace each other and better ourselves through our time together…sounds a lot like Sunday mornings. To me that’s the importance of these gatherings and the importance of Sunday morning worship; to prepare us to be bet-
We are taking the church with us wherever God has led us. ter Christians when we step outside our walls. Lately, many of the church reports and meetings that I have been involved with discuss why there are few young adults in the church. Congregations are asking themselves “what can we do to get them to stay here after they are confirmed or after they leave for college?” I encourage these conversations; there is great importance for young adults to be in the pew on Sunday morning or joining church groups during the week. But maybe there are different questions that churches should be asking themselves. Maybe the questions should be “where are the young adults in this world? What are they doing?” For many young adults we pack up our bags and head out into the greater world. Know that are not leaving the church! We are taking the church with us wherever God has led us. We are sharing Christ through the lives that we live in our young careers and through years of higher education. We still pray, we still sing, we still help those people around us, because the foundation we were built upon is strong. So don’t wait for us at the church door on Sunday morning, because we may not be there every week. Seek us out and encourage us to continue the work we are doing with the people we are meeting. Tell us that you love May 2013
us and you will always be there when we come home to visit. To be able to come home, to return to the community of faith that has built us, is very important and has deep meaning. If you care to venture along and rekindle the energy you had when you were 23 feel free to visit us and see the church we are living in. A church without walls…..God’s greater world. Check out Moravian Church Without Walls on line to see more about what young Moravians are working on. https://sites.google.com/ site/moraviancww/Home A weekend retreat is very important for any group of people. When we gather together whether it is on Sunday morning, at church camp or a weekend retreat, God is in the midst. This weekend was a wonderful opportunity for young adults to gather together from the vastly different areas of the Midwest. Our time spent together this weekend was filled with dirt cake, broom ball, games, stories and further growth in our journey of faith. I want to thank the MWCEC and the Cobweb Communication Committee for sponsoring and planning this year’s Young Adult Retreat. We look forward to next year’s Young Adult Retreat currently planned for February 21-23, 2014 at Mt. Morris. ■
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OFFICIAL PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ NEWS NORTHERN PROVINCE Outdoor Ministries Sunday, June 2, 2013 The 1994 Synod of the Moravian Church– Northern Province passed legislation regarding the observance of an Outdoor Ministries Sunday. The date for this observance has been established by the Provincial Elders’ Conference as the Sunday after Trinity Sunday, which falls on June 2 this year. Pastors are encouraged to use either of the liturgies provided in 1996 or 1997. The liturgies are available in the “Public Documents” section of the Northern Province Portal or by contacting the Provincial Office. Ordination and Installation Sister Laura A. Gordon, a May graduate of Moravian Theological Seminary will be ordained a deacon in the Moravian Church on June 2, 2013 at Edgeboro Moravian Church, Bethlehem, Pa. Bishop J. Christian Giesler will officiate at the ordination service. Laura has accepted the call to serve as pastor of Advent Moravian Church in Bethlehem, and will be installed June 9, 2013. Eastern District Sister Cynthia Rader Geyer, who has been serving as pastor in team ministry for College Hill Moravian Church, Bethlehem, PA, has accepted the call to serve as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Eastern District of the Northern Province. Sr. Geyer will begin her new work June 10, 2013. 30
Washington, D. C. Brother Bevon White, a pastor from the Jamaica Province, has accepted an appointment to serve as pastor of Faith Moravian Church of the Nation’s Capital, Washington, D. C. Br. White began his work April 1, 2013. Presbyterial Consecration Sister Christie Melby-Gibbons, presently serving as pastor for Downey Moravian Church, Downey, California, will be consecrated a presbyter of the Moravian Church on June 2, 2013. Bishop Kay Ward will officiate at the service, which will be held at Downey Moravian Church. Retirement Brother David D. Danneberger requested and was granted permission to retire from the active call of the Moravian Church effective September 30, 2013. Brother Danneberger was ordained a deacon of the Moravian Church June 1, 1975 and has served the church in pastorates in Pennsylvania (Canadensis, Grace, York First), Maryland (Trinity) and Ohio (Gnadenhutten). He also served under call to specialized ministry as chaplain at Lehigh Valley Hospital (Allentown, PA), Executive Director of the York County (PA) Council of Churches, and was released for other service to the United Church of Christ where he served pastorates in York, PA. The church is grateful for his thirty eight years of faithful service. Elizabeth D. Miller Provincial Elders’ Conference The Moravian
God’s legacy is the GIFT OF LOVE. What will yours be?
A
S A PEOPLE OF FAITH, Moravians know our work can serve God far beyond our lifetimes. With careful planning, our money can do the same. The Moravian Ministries Foundation’s GiftLegacy program helps individuals, churches and agencies create plans for giving that support the ministries they care about most — now and in the future. GiftLegacy offers confidential consultation to individuals and tools to help meet personal and charitable financial goals. For churches and agencies, GiftLegacy helps structure planned giving programs that resonate with congregations and supporters. In keeping with our mission, the Moravian Ministries Foundation GiftLegacy services are always offered free of charge. Contact us today to discuss your charitable legacy.
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