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Moravian Basics: Covenant for Christian Living Students Paint Lenten Scripture Moravians in Mission …and more!
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On the cover: Layne Gerbig of First Moravian Church in Dover, Ohio painted her interpretation of John 3:1-17.
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Moravian Basics: Covenant for Christian Living Students Paint Lenten Scripture Moravians in Mission …and more!
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20 Christ and him crucified remain our confession of faith
Moravian Lent and Easter
In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love
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The Easter Morning Sunrise Service Dover First Moravian Church: Painting the Lenten Scriptures
Moravians in Mission 8
Ocean Springs team continues its work rebuilding lives
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Unity and Southern Province delegation travels to Cuba
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Tanzania Orphan Program enters its twelfth year
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Sukuma join the Moravian Church in Tanzania
Moravian Basics Member, Associated Church Press
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The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living
Moravian Music 28
New music submissions accepted through July 31, 2012
In every issue 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.
April 2012
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Ponderings: Lenten Services offer prayer, learning… and soup!
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News Shorts: Church celebrates 555 years, Leatherbound Moravian Book of Worship
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Official Provincial Elders’ News 3
Photo by Mike Riess
PONDERINGS
(ISSN 1041-0961 USPS 362600) April 2012, Vol. 43, No. 3 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. Subscription rates: $15.00 per year, U.S.A. & Canada; $18.00 per year, all other countries.
Lenten Services offer prayer, learning…and soup! Every month, I have a page or two to share my thoughts and ideas about the work I do, the people I meet and the things I experience as part of the Moravian community. When Spring rolls around — although as I write this, the calendar says I still have several more weeks until it is “officially” here — my thoughts turn to Lent and Easter. For many years, Lent was that time between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday when I was expected to give things up. As a child, that would be candy or comics (my mother often saw through my efforts to give up brussels sprouts or cream corn). As I grew older, it was giving up television time or soda. But as I reached adulthood, I gave up giving things up for Lent. I found it wasn’t bringing me any closer to my faith to do without something for a couple of months in the spring. Since entering the Moravian world, I’ve been looking for ways to give back, not give up; for ways to get involved and learn more about what makes Lent such a special time. I am getting more in touch with my Daily Texts, and leafing through a copy of Readings for Holy Week. I listen more intently to the scripture readings on Sunday that tell the story of Jesus’ ministry and last days. The songs I play with the Edge band — the ones about a heart of worship, the wonderful cross, inviting God to fill our place of worship, creating a clean heart, the Refiner’s fire — all take on new depth and meaning. This year, I’m also taking time during Lent to learn more about the history of the Moravian Church. Thanks to a special Lenten program at my church, my Wednesday evenings in Lent have become a time for fellowship and learning. 4
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 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 © 2012, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in North America. All rights reserved
The Moravian
The Wednesday evening Lenten Services at Edgeboro, themed, “My Hearts One Desire: Five Moravian Leaders that Changed Our Church,” trace the roots of the congregation back to the founding of the Unitas Fratrum. Developed by our pastor, Chris Giesler and student pastor Aaron Linville, the Lenten Services at Edgeboro feature a different figure in Moravian history each week. The evening starts at 6:00 with a soup and bread dinner. Church board members and volunteers serve up a variety of amazing soups (last week’s vegetable soup and corn chowder were especially delicious) and a healthy dose of fellowship. Following an hour of food and friendly conversation, the congregation heads upstairs to the sanctuary for worship. During the service, either Chris or Aaron lead the lesson about the historical figure. Through the five week program, they will discuss Gregory the Patriarch, founder of the Unitas Fratrum; John Amos Comenius, a bishop of the Ancient Unity considered the father of modern education; Christian David, one of the original exiles to seek refuge on Count Zinzendorf’s estate; Rebecca Protten, a freed slave from St. Thomas who was an evangelist there and later became one of the first black women ever ordained in Christianity; and the Rev. Douglas Rights, one of the four seminarians who helped start the Edgeboro congregation (and father and grandfather to a number of Moravian bishops and pastors.) This is the first time in many years that the Lenten season has meant this much to me. As I sat with my wife Kathy at last week’s service, I couldn’t help but feel my spirituality grow and my knowledge expand. It is wondrous how an evening of soup, good friends and good learning can bring more meaning to the season. We eat, we pray, we learn… a wonderful way to spend an evening. April 2012
In this issue of the Moravian, you’ll find more stories of the Lenten season and how Moravians celebrate this holy time. We share the story of first Easter Sunrise service in Herrnhut and the inspired Lenten artworks painted by young members at First Moravian Church in Dover, Ohio. In addition, you’ll read about mission efforts here in the U.S., in Tanzania and in Cuba. To strengthen understanding of the Moravian Church, we continue our “Moravian Basics” series with the “Moravian Covenant for Christian Living.” For many of us, this may be the first time in a long time we’ve read through this meaningful guide to an expression of a Christian life. I invite you to read and be refreshed. And while spring is a time for celebrating, it is also a time for travel. As representative for the Interprovincial Board of Communication and editor of The Moravian, I will be travelling to central Pennsylvania and North Carolina for communications workshops; Laurel Ridge for the Moravian Environmental Stewardship Conference; and then to Appleton, Wis. for the Northern Province/Western District Synod, followed a week later by a trip to Calgary, Alberta for the Northern Province/Canada District Synod. I look forward to meeting and working with Moravians across the country, and bringing you news of your church. Blessings to you and yours during this Lenten and Easter season. I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. And I’m looking forward to this week’s soup! Peace,
Mike Riess, Editor 5
MORAVIAN LENT & EASTER
The Easter Morning Sunrise Service At Moravian churches across the Northern and Southern Provinces, Easter morning is an especially wondrous time. In the sometimes chilly early morning, Moravians greet the rising sun in their God’s Acres, with hymns, horns and a resounding, “The Lord has risen… The Lord has risen indeed!” According to an article from the Northern Province Moravian Archives’ series “This Month in Moravian History,” the traditions of the Sunrise Service date back 280 years. In the early morning of Easter Sunday 1732 the young men of Herrnhut, Germany, gathered in the cemetery on the hill overlooking their Moravian community to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. It was the first Moravian sunrise service. The next year the service was held for the entire congregation. The Easter morning sunrise service has become one of the characteristic liturgical traditions in the Moravian Church. 6
The first sunrise service seems to have been initiated by a group of single brothers. The Herrnhut diary states: “We agreed among our band [group] of young men that this Easter morning we were to go up the Hutberg early before the rise of the sun. This happened … early before 4 o’clock. After we had spent 1 1/2 hours with singing we returned to have a prayer meeting, during which we sang several hymns and read the third chapter of Peter’s first letter.”
Based on an article from the April, 2007 issue of “This Month in Moravian History,” written by Paul Peucker, director and archivist of the Northern Province Moravian Archives in Bethlehem, Pa. Above: An engraving from the mid-1700s depicts an Easter service in Herrnhut, Germany. The Moravian
Zinzendorf appears to have been present that morning. In a letter to his cousin Ludwig von Castell he wrote: “This morning we had the nicest celebration among our graves.” In later years Zinzendorf attributed the origins of the Easter sunrise service to an example from the Greek Orthodox Church. Whether or not the first group of single brothers were aware of this tradition in 1732 is questionable. It seems more likely that the young men in Herrnhut followed local tradition. Until this day it is customary that young people in the Oberlausitz, the region where Herrnhut is located, stay up the night before Easter, and go round singing or making noises with firecrackers. The young men in Herrnhut apparently combined their Easter night watch with visiting the graves, the same manner the women in the Bible had done. Since the God’s Acre, or cemetery, in Herrnhut had been laid out the previous fall, 1732 was the first year Easter could be celebrated there. The typical liturgical form for the Moravian sunrise service was established during the 1740s and 1750s. The brass choir woke the congregation prior to the first part of the liturgical service, which was held in the church. The liturgy did not consist of reading the Easter accounts from the Bible, but rather took the form of a creed. During the service the congregation proceeded to the local God’s Acre, where the second part of the
Editor’s Note: As you celebrate Easter in your congregations this year, think about the special traditions and unique ways you celebrate Lent and Easter. Send your thoughts to us at moravianmagazine@mcnp.org for our Easter edition in 2013.
liturgy was read while the sun rose over the graves as a symbol of the resurrection. The sunrise service soon became an integral part of Moravian liturgical life in every congregation. In 1743 the Bethlehem congregation met at 4 o’clock in the morning. The next year the service included a visit to the graves: “The congregation arose at four o’clock in the morning and assembled in the Saal. Following the hymn Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bonds, we all proceeded in pairs, with music playing, to the graves of our brethren, sang and played to the glory of our risen Lamb, and rejoiced that He lives and that we shall live with Him and that death has no power over us. From there we returned after sunrise to the Saal, singing as we went.” So this Easter, as Moravians sing, “Sing halleluia, praise the Lord!” and “…for us, for us the Lamb was slain! Praise ye the Lord! Amen,” remember those young men in Herrnhut and their early morning celebration of Christ’s resurrection. ■
The 2011 Easter Sunrise Service in the Salem Congregation God’s Acre follows traditions begun 280 years ago.
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MORAVIANS IN MISSION
Ocean Springs team continues its work rebuilding lives In 2010, the Board of World Mission’s Moravian Disaster Relief team established a base in Ocean Springs, Mississippi to help continue the rebuilding work along the Gulf Coast. Weldon and Joanie Harris run the Moravian Mission House in Ocean Springs.
As 2011 drew to a close, Joanie and I were reflecting on the year and realizing how blessed we are to be here in Mississippi. God has continued to provide not only for us, but for the people on the Gulf Coast, especially those who are still in need nearly 6-1/2 years after “The Storm.” It’s probably a surprise to most people outside the Gulf Coast that there is still so much work to be done. Other calamities have made their mark since Katrina, and so there is a lot of focus in other areas of the country and the world. But like most disaster areas, the work goes on long after the media has left. It will truly be a generation before the traces of Hurricane Katrina are erased… if then. To that end, the response from Moravian
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teams throughout the provinces has been nothing short of inspiring. In 2010, we hosted a total of seven teams here at the Mississippi Mission House. We bettered that total in 2011 within the first three months! Throughout this year, more teams continued to make their way down. We hosted 21 teams in 2011! It has been a blessing to us to see the contributions that people have made of their time and talents to help repair homes on the Gulf Coast. So what have we been working on? Since March of 2010 we have completed 27 projects ranging from re-roofing houses to complete rebuilds where we gut a house down to the studs, and rebuild it from the inside out. We have been able to accomplish so much
The Moravian
through three important partnerships: Camp Victor, a Lutheran volunteer camp in Ocean Springs; Adopt A Home Ministries from Seattle, Wash.; and Volunteers of America through Pastor Derrick Tapper of Calvary Baptist Church in Pascagoula, Miss. The Moravian Board of World Missions has agreed to provide funding through 2012. In addition, the three ministries above also provide funding and volunteer resources to complete projects that are “in the queue.” This is truly an ecumenical effort! Below is a glimpse into the people and projects that we recently worked on. Ann Williams Ann contacted us while we were working on another house in her neighborhood. She had paid two different contractors to start work on her home, and they both ripped her off, which was unfortunately pretty common. We began work on her place back in January of this year. She received her occupancy permit just in time for Thanksgiving! Dorothy Simpson Mrs. Simpson’s son stopped by another project site and asked to show us his mother’s
April 2012
house. It was flooded with a few feet of water from Katrina, but she has not been able to live in her house since the storm. She did have the roof repaired to keep the inside of the house from deteriorating. She suffers from Alzheimer’s. Her house needed to be gutted and rebuilt. We began work on her place in (continued on page 30) Weldon Harris manages the Moravian Mission House in Ocean Springs, Mississippi with his wife, Joanie. Photos show just a few of the projects worked on by volunteers in the Gulf Coast region.
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MORAVIANS IN MISSION
Unity and Southern Province delegation travels to Cuba On January 13-15 Bishop Sam Gray and David Guthrie visited the Cuba Unity Mission Area. They joined Paul Gardner, Chair of the Unity Board; Jørgen Bøytler, Unity Business Administrator; and Rene Henriquez, a pastor from Grand Cayman who has been involved in contacts with Cuba for many years. In October 2011, the Southern Province Provincial Elders’ Conference agreed to a request from the Unity Board Executive Committee to accept partnership with the work in Cuba, which had been supported by the Jamaica Province. Our PEC asked the Board of World Mission to assume responsibility for coordinating this partnership. The purpose of the visit to Cuba was to meet with a group of church leaders and to formally begin this new relationship for the sake of the Gospel. The Cuba Unity Mission Area began in 1997 and will celebrate 15 years of witness and service this year. There are four districts: Havana, Matanzas, Camaguey and Holguin. A total of 10
eight ordained pastors and nine lay pastors provide leadership. The work includes eight congregations and 12 “fraternities” (fellowships), and approximately 330 total members. The ministry of the churches includes worship, Christian education, service to those in need, outreach to children, women’s ministry, and evangelism. The Mission Area is led by an executive board and recently became an associate member of the Cuba Council of Churches (with some 27 participating church bodies). Hopefully, the Moravian Church will be officially recognized by the Cuban government during 2012, which will permit moving forward with plans for much-needed facilities and greater opportunities for ministry. While Roman Catholicism is Cuba’s predominant religion, it is estimated that 1 million of the 11 million residents of Cuba are evangelical Christians. On Saturday during the visit we met for sevThe Moravian
Hopefully, the Moravian Church will be officially recognized by the Cuban government during 2012
eral hours with pastors and leaders from the various districts. (A trip from Holguin to Havana by car would take 12 hours). The meeting was hosted by the congregation of the president of the Cuban Council of Churches. Our delegation also met with a government minister in charge of relationships with evangelical Christian churches and heard a presentation by family members of some Cubans who are imprisoned in the U.S. Later that day a special program was presented by the Moravians in the Havana area that included songs by the children, a special liturgy for women emphasizing their partnership with Jesus, reading a brief history of the Moravian Church, and singing a hymn composed for the occasion that gave an outline of Moravian history. As this new partnership begins there will be many opportunities for cooperation in such things as training of pastors and leaders, furnishing resources translated into Spanish, provision and improvement of worship and gathering spaces, and organizational development. Your prayers are invited for our brothers and sisters in Cuba. â–
The Rev. David B. Guthrie is president of the Provincial Elders’ Conference of the Southern Province and a member of the Board of World Mission. Photos courtesy of Sam Gray. Photos above left and right: Members of a team from the Southern Province, Board of World Mission and Moravian Unity meet with church representatives in Cuba in January. April 2012
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Young artists Bryn Cronebach, Hailey Rogers, Layne Gerbig, Emily Burrell (standing, l-to-r) and Elaine Stingel (seated) painted artworks interpreting scripture during 2011 Lenten Services at First Moravian Church in Dover, Ohio. This painting, done by Bryn, interprets Acts 2:1-4.
MORAVIAN LENT & EASTER
Dover First Moravian Church: Painting the Lenten Scriptures It seems strange to sit in the sanctuary during Lent and watch a young woman painting a canvas in the front of the church, while scripture is being read and the pastor is delivering his sermon. We worship through the written word, vocal messages and music, but rarely do we use visual art to express our praise. Pastor John Wallace of Dover First Moravian in Ohio, had heard of just such a program and decided to try it in his church. He visited the local high school’s art show and viewed the work of some of the young people from the church, then asked them to participate in Sunday Lenten Services. Pastor John gave the artists a specific scripture lesson directly from the Bible, and asked that each interpret it in paint before the congregation. Although he provided paint and canvases for them, the only guidelines he gave were to read and understand the passages, pray about them, and decide how they would interpret them. As it turned out, all of the artists were young women who felt some anxiety about performing their craft in front of a congregation. They worried that they might not finish before the end of the service, or that those watching might be judgmental or annoyed by the distraction of their painting. They need not have worried. Layne Gerbig, daughter of Don and Fran Lee Elliot is a member of First Moravian Church in Dover, Ohio. Photos courtesy of First Moravian. April 2012
Artist: Layne Gerbig, Scripture: John 3:1-17
Gerbig of Dover, was assigned the Scripture John 3: verses 1-17, when Nicodemus came to Jesus and questioned him about his miracles, and Jesus talked to him about being born again through faith. Layne chose an abstract style to interpret the passage. She painted a large sun representing Jesus at the top of the canvas. Then she added numerous smaller dots, all in warm colors, to represent Christians of faith moving toward the light of salvation. “It is hard to put faith into words,” says Layne, “but with art you can, because you can actually see the symbols. I was really able to express myself through the painting. I was also nervous because I was the first artist, but the congregation was very excited about it, and complimented me highly.” “Can you think of a more inspirational setting than a sanctuary with the sun shin(continued on next page) 13
Artist: Hailey Rogers, Scripture: John 11:28-44
(continued from previous page) ing through the stained glass windows?” she asked. John 11: verses 28-34, was the passage given to Hailey Rogers, daughter of Paul and Linda Rogers of Dover. In interpreting the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, she chose to paint an empty tomb, with the stone rolled away and light shining through the opening. Then she added ribbons of many sizes and shapes to represent the wraps that had been taken from the body of Lazarus. “They are also supposed to symbolize the sins we are wrapped in until we decide to follow Jesus,” said Hailey. “The most amazing thing happened while I was painting. The sun came through the window of the church and through the back of the canvas. It cast the shadows of the wooden braces holding the canvas, and it formed a cross right across the painting. I’m a perfectionist and didn’t like the idea of people watching me work, but everyone connected to the cross and the painting, and I realized what you do doesn’t have to be perfect in order for people to be touched by your message.” “Since having this experience, I now feel 14
closer to God when I paint. I never really thought about it before, but I do now,” said Emily Burrell, daughter of Terry and Julie Burrell, of Dover. “My verse was John 9: verses 1-12, about the man who was born blind and then given sight by Jesus. The disciples had asked if it was his fault or his parents, and Jesus said it was neither, that he had been born blind so that the work of God might be shown. It sounds like it would be simple to interpret, but I found it unclear. Finally, I decided on a drooping flower to represent the blind man, and light at the top to represent Jesus and his power.”
Artist: Emily Burrell, Scripture: John 9:1-12
Elaine Stingel, daughter of CSM John, and Joyce Stingel of Dundee, nearly chose not to participate in the project because she was so busy preparing for graduation, as well as running track for the school. At the last minute she took the assignment of John 20: verses 1-18, in which Mary Magdalene discovered the body of Jesus was missing from the tomb, The Moravian
Artist: Elaine Stingel, Scripture: John 20:1-18
and then became the first person to see him as the resurrection began. Elaine painted two large angels sitting on either side of the tomb. “I am a very detail-oriented person,” she said, “but I deliberately left the faces of the angels blank so that anyone viewing the painting might see them through their own eyes. Now I’m so glad I participated. I learned you have to put time aside for God, no matter how busy you are.” It was Bryn Cronebach, daughter of Melanie and Brian Cronebach of Dover, who truly left her mark on the altar. In her nervousness at interpreting Acts 2: verses 1-4, which describes speaking in tongues on Pentacost, she dropped her brush and left a dab of bright orange paint on the carpet. “Pastor John said we will leave it there for posterity,” she laughed. Her painting portrays the Holy Spirit as a large white dove with outspread wings, hovering over bright orange flames, and music
…church members got to see a side of them they might never have otherwise, and that they themselves discovered hidden gifts in their work.
notes depicting a universal language that can be understood by everyone. “The neatest thing of all was that one of the women in the congregation, Dawn Miller, wrote a poem about the Holy Spirit while I was painting. Imagine: art, inspired by art, inspired by God,” she said. The girls agreed on the many benefits of the experiment. “We all had control over what we would do,” said Elaine. “This was something that required skills that not everyone has. It is nice to be recognized for your abilities. Pastor John is an artist himself, so he had a true appreciation of what he was asking us to do. He said it was interesting to him to be talking to the congregation, while the focus was on us.” Emily said that church members got to see a side of them they might never have otherwise, and that they themselves discovered hidden gifts in their work. Bryn, whose father is an artist, commented on how nice it was to express feelings through doing something you love, and to know how proud your parents are of you. For most of us, the thought of ‘religious art’ brings to mind the Italian Renaissance painters, Michelangelo, his painting in the Sistine Chapel; Leonardo de Vinci’s depiction of the Last Supper, and Raphael’s Angels, rather than the simple interpretations of young students. The youth’s paintings touched their congregation in new ways. They expressed a unified desire that other churches try the project in hopes that it might give them renewed faith and a different way to offer praise. “We hope others will try this so that their young members can have this wonderful experience,” said Hailey, and Elaine summed it up nicely when she said, “If you want to get your full measure from your church, you have to put in as much as you take out.” ■ 15
MORAVIANS IN MISSION
The Tanzanian Orphan Program enters its twelfth year The Moravian Church of Western Tanzania, our partner province, began a comprehensive AIDS program in 2001. It has three components: prevention, treatment, and orphan care. By the summer of 2002, Mama Kimwaga and three women from the Sikonge Moravian Church had enrolled 34 children from the local village, and the orphan program began to grow. Eleven years later 39 Moravian women are assisting nearly 3,000 children in 34 rural villages and five parishes in the city of Tabora. They provide each child with food, clothing, medical care, school supplies and uniforms, and small personal items such as soap and skin oil. The only functional change since the program’s inception has been the addition of scholarships for any orphan able to pass the government’s secondary school entrance exTwo young orphans from Totuo in Tanzania
ams. This began in 2006, and the numbers have increased each year; there were 439 children registered for higher education at the end of 2011. The cost of orphan care has also risen slowly over the years, but in 2011 it still averaged $23 per child per year. This has been possible for three reasons: first, Tanzania remains an extremely poor country; the cost of living is therefore very low. Second, the program does not provide total support; it supplements what the extended family is able to provide to bring the child up to economic par with his village peers. Third, 100% of every dollar donated goes to Tanzania where it is spent by Tanzanians for Tanzanians. In 2011 orphan expenses reached a new high of nearly $67,000. This number has risen yearly due to first, the continual increase in the number of orphans attending secondary school and second, inflation, which is now at its highest level in 20 years. Adopt a Village The Adopt a Village program was begun in 2006. The primary motivation was to provide funding for the orphan program, but it was also conceived as a vehicle for churches in North America to form relationships with villages in western Tanzania. Nearly half of the orphan budget is currently generated through Adopt a Village, but the extent of this program’s success in partnering Moravian churches with villages in remote western Tanzania was unanticipated. Multiple Sunday schools in North America have exThe Moravian
Orphans from the Mlogolo primary school with Mamas Margaret and Lydia.
changed pictures and letters with their partners in the Sikonge district. A Peace Corps volunteer, who had spent several years in Tanzania, developed a bilingual letter for the children at Emmaus Moravian. It will soon be used to allow Sunday schools throughout North America to communicate with their counterparts in Tanzania. Four wells with hand pumps have been funded. Classrooms and dormitories at Moravian, government and private schools have been built. Money has been donated for nearly 300 desks and countless church benches. Textbooks have been purchased. Fries Memorial assisted their partner parish in the construction of their church. Most encouragingly, members of three congregations have actually visited their adopted village; a fourth visitation is being planned for this summer. The magnitude of this response has been impressive by any standard. Orphan care began as one of three components of the Tanzanian comprehensive AIDS plan. Four years ago the Moravian Church of Western Tanzania, in partnership with the district and federal governments, assumed April 2012
total financial and medical responsibility for the prevention and treatment arms. The orphan program, which now functions as an independent entity, continues to be funded primarily by Moravians from North America. Adopt a Village originally requested that participants pledge $1,000 for each of three years, but the needs of the orphans remain ongoing. The majority of churches that originally joined the program have remained committed to these children beyond the three-year mark, for which the Moravian women in Tanzania who provide their care are extremely grateful. A donation of any amount will help; as little as $25 will support an orphan for over a year. Checks can be sent to Board of World Mission, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 180161245. Put “Adopt A Village� in the memo line. These children represent the future of Tanzania. They need our help to realize their full potential and become productive citizens in their developing country. ■Bill Hoffman is a member of Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Photos by Peg Hoffman. 17
MORAVIANS IN MISSION
Sukuma Join the Moravian Church in Tanzania A new Moravian church, located in the Sukuma village of Mabangwe, was consecrated to Christian service on December 18, 2011. The celebration marked the culmination of nearly five years of evangelism, planning, negotiations, and construction. Mabangwe is located 60 kms south of Sikonge, 140 kms south of Tabora, in western Tanzania. The area is inhabited primarily by Sukuma, an animistic people, most of whom have never heard the name of Jesus. The tribe, valuing cattle more than education, typically keeps their children out of school to tend to their herds. Although the necessity of Moravian Pastors in Tanzania consecrate the new church in Mabangwe, Tanzania.
providing forage for their animals requires most to live as nomads, many of those in the Sikonge district have settled in villages easily recognized as Sukuma by the distinctive grass roofs on their homes. Oscar Pyumpa, a Moravian pastor from the Nyamwezi tribe, began visiting the Sukuma located on the edge of his parish in 2007. As his evangelism began to bear fruit, he sought assistance in his effort. Bibles and hymn books were provided by both Central Moravian Church and the Society for Promoting the Gospel. The Society also gave the pastor funding for a motorbike and helmet that
enabled him to more easily reach this rather remote area. As the congregation grew, the elders requested and received permission to use the local primary school as a temporary place of worship. Their attention was then directed towards the erection of a permanent sanctuary. In December 2008, Pastor Pyumpa accompanied two Central members to the building site. The foundation was in place. The congregation had been cutting bricks from clay, drying and firing them, and then using them to erect the walls. Construction had begun in earnest. In July 2010, a contractor experienced in church construction from the village of Sikonge inspected the site. While the walls had been nearly completed, they were judged of inadequate strength to support the weight of a roof. Members of the building committee were assembled and in the subsequent discussion it was decided that their work would continue under professional supervision. Funding to finish the structure was to be provided by the Society and Central Moravian. The church was completed in May 2011, but scheduling difficulties delayed the consecration until after the short rainy season had begun in December. Mchg. Richard Lwali, the executive secretary of the Moravian Church of Western Tanzania, presided. Ten pastors, two evangelists, and three choirs, including one from a Sukuma congregation begun only months before, managed to arrive in spite of rain soaked and rutted mud roads. The rain was quite heavy at times, but nothing dampened the enthusiastic joy the Sukuma Bill Hoffman is a member of Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Photos by Peg Hoffman. April 2012
expressed during the service. Members of the congregation spontaneous joined the choirs in the dancing and singing. Two young Sukuma, a man and a woman, both of whom graduated as evangelists this January, were introduced to the adulation of all present. Near the conclusion of the 3 ½ hour service, fourteen children were baptized. As the benediction was given, the rain miraculously stopped and the congregants were able to walk the 400 yards to their previous house of worship where the festivities continued with the traditional chicken and rice dinner. Before the baptism the congregation consisted of 76 adults and 34 children. Witnessing the enthusiasm and determination of these Sukuma leaves no doubt that their numbers will continue to grow. ■Mchg. Richard Lwali, executive secretary of the Moravian Church in Western Tanzania, displays a plaque presented by Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem.
MORAVIAN BASICS
The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living In our July/August issue of The Moravian, we shared one of the basic tenets of the Moravian Church: The Ground of the Unity. Thanks to the positive response to reprinting this central document of our Church, we are printing another key pillar of our faith, the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living as part of our occasional series on Moravian Basics. The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living is an attempt to state in clear arrangement and contemporary form a document which has long served the Moravian Church. The Church today has need of a clear statement of its faith and life through which each member may become aware of the nature of his/her Christian commitment. Such a document can become an invaluable aid in the instruction of both new and present members and a meaningful guide in the expression of the Christian life. That such a revision of the Agreement should have been made is entirely in harmony with the spirit of the early Moravian Church which believed that all forms should be updated and made relevant to the present life of the Church. 20
The Moravian Covenant in its original form was adopted by the Moravian Church at Herrnhut, Saxony, as the Brotherly Agreement on May 12 of the year that marked the Church’s spiritual renewal, 1727. The Covenant was not intended to be a “discipline” forced on the congregation from above, but rather an “agreement” into which the members entered voluntarily. This pervades the Covenant, which in itself is only a recommended form, to be voluntarily accepted by each of the local congregations before it becomes effective for their congregational life. Most of the Covenant deals with the Christian life, and since it is in terms of everyday life that the Christian witness is often most effectively borne, the document is subtitled “Principles by Which We Live and Bear Our Witness.” The theme of “witness” is carried out in all the sections. The introductory section, “Ground of Our Witness,” deals briefly with the faith and doctrine of the Moravian Church, something that is not explicitly dealt with in older forms of the Covenant. Section I, The Moravian
MORAVIAN CONVENANT FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING “The Witness of the Christian Life,” describes the “how” of the life in Christ and thus forms a basis for all that follows. The following sections then consider various areas of Christian responsibility. Section II deals largely with Christian responsibility in the local congregation and in relation to Christians of other churches; III, responsibility in the home; IV, one’s duties as a citizen; and V, as a Christian in the world. While new Moravian Church members and confirmands study this guide, it’s quite possible that lifelong Moravians have never read this important document. This version of the Covenant for Christian Living was revised according to the Northern and Southern Province Synods of 1998 and approved by the PECs meeting jointly in 2001.
The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living Formerly known as The Brotherly Agreement of the Moravian Church Principles by Which We Live and Bear Our Witness The Ground of Our Witness 1. We are called into a Christian fellowship by the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the eternal purpose of God the Father (Ephesians 3:11) by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1821), and as members of Christ’s Body, the Church, to serve all people by proclaiming the Gospel and witnessing to our faith by word and deed. 2. The Triune God as revealed in the Holy Scripture of the Old and New Testaments is the only source of our life and salvation; and this Scripture is the sole standard of the doctrine and faith of the Unitas Fratrum and therefore shapes our life. 3. With the universal Christian Church, we share our faith in the Triune God, who revealed Himself in the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Savior of all people. We particularly declare His living presence and Lordship over the Church, joy in the benefits of His life, sufferings, death and resurrection and emphasize a close bond of fellowship with each other in His name. We believe that Christ is present with us in Word and Sacrament. We decline to determine as binding what the Scriptures have left undetermined, or to argue about mysteries impenetrable to human reason. In this regard, we hold to the principle “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.” (continued on next page) 21
MORAVIAN CONVENANT FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING (continued from previous page) 4. We thankfully recognize the value of the historic creeds of the Christian Church in calling upon believers in every age to give an obedient and fearless testimony, recognizing Jesus Christ as Lord. A Moravian confession of faith is to be found in the Easter Dawn Liturgy. I. The Witness of the Christian Life 5. We believe that as in baptism we have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection, so we have died to sin and should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-11). 6. When seeking guidance we find that the simplest expression of Christian living is contained in the earliest of Christian confessions, “Jesus Christ is Lord.” This implies that obedience is due Him as the absolute Ruler and Lord of our lives. Not only His teachings (e.g., Matthew 5-7) but, even more, the example of His life (Philippians 2:5; Ephesians 4:20) provide an understanding of the obedience that He desires. Although the early Church, guided by the Spirit of Jesus, did not develop a code covering all issues, it offered guidance in various areas of Christian living (e.g. Colossians 3:1-4,6; 1 Peter 2:11- 3:12; Ephesians 4:1-6:20). 7. Living the Christian life depends not only on our own effort but upon God our Father, who in Jesus Christ accepts us as heirs of God (Galatians 4:4-7) and strengthens and sustains us (Philippians 4:13). 8. We realize that our Christian faith must continually be nourished if it is to remain 22
living and vital. Therefore, we desire to grow in our Christian lives through family devotions, personal prayer and study, and the opportunities for spiritual development offered by the Church. II. The Witness of a Living Church A. The Moravian Unity 9. Recognition of Authority — As members of the Moravian Church we will abide by the decisions made by the official boards of our congregations, and agree to be governed, both as individuals and as a congregation, by the enactments of the Unity Synod of the Moravian Church and of the Synods of the Province to which our congregation belongs. 10. Stewardship — We deem it a sacred responsibility and genuine opportunity to be faithful stewards of all God has entrusted to us: our time, our talents, and our financial resources. We view all of life as a sacred trust to be used wisely. 11. We will support, according to our ability, the financial needs of the local congregation, the District, the Province, and the Unity. We will consider the support of the benevolent causes of the Moravian Church, both at home and abroad, as a privilege, an opportunity, and a responsibility. 12. We will also recognize the support of worthy causes outside of the Church as part of our stewardship. 13. Personal Relationships — Since disciples of Jesus are to be known by the love they have to one another (John 13:35), we will cherish Christian love as of prime importance. The Moravian
MORAVIAN CONVENANT FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING 14. We will be eager to maintain the unity of the Church. Realizing that God has called us from many and varied backgrounds, we recognize the possibility of disagreements or differences. Often these differences enrich the Church, but sometimes they divide. We consider it to be our responsibility to demonstrate within the congregational life the unity and togetherness created by God who made us one. How well we accomplish this will be a witness to our community as to the validity of our faith. 15. We will endeavor to settle our differences with others in a Christian manner (Galatians 6:1), amicably, and with meditation, and, if at all possible, avoid resort to a court of law (Matthew 18:15-17). 16. Worship and Sunday Observance — Remembering that worship is one of our proper responses to Almighty God, an experience designed for our benefit, and a part of our Christian witness, we and our children will faithfully attend the worship services of the Church.
April 2012
17. We, therefore, will be careful to avoid unnecessary labor on Sunday and plan that the recreations in which we engage on that day do not interfere with our own attendance or that of others at divine worship. 18. Holy Communion — In the celebration of this Sacrament we receive the renewed assurance of the forgiveness of our sins, and of our fellowship with Christ; unite with one another as members of His Body; and rejoice in the hope of His return in glory. Therefore, we will commune faithfully and thus renew our pledge of allegiance to Him. B. The Unity We Seek 19. We will have fellowship, in all sincerity, with children of God in other Christian churches, and will carefully avoid all disputes respecting opinions and ceremonies peculiar to one or another church. In this fellowship we will cooperate with (continued on next page)
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(continued from previous page) other churches in the support of public charities or Christian enterprises, which have a just claim upon us as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. 20. We realize that it is the Lord’s will that the Church of Jesus Christ should give evidence of and seek unity in Him with zeal and love. We see how such unity has been promised us and laid upon us as a charge. We recognize that through the grace of Christ the different denominations have received many gifts and that the Church of Christ may be enriched by these many and varied contributions. It is our desire that we may learn from one another and rejoice together in the riches of the love of Christ and the manifold wisdom of God. We welcome every step that brings us nearer the goal of unity in Him. III. The Witness of the Christian Home A. Marriage 21. We regard it as a sacred obligation to hold to the ideal of Christian marriage as a lifelong commitment given by our Lord in His teaching. We consider it essential, 24
therefore, that all persons contemplating marriage should receive premarital counseling and that our young people should be instructed, beginning in adolescence, in the meaning and obligation of Christian marriage. This instruction should be given through the Church and home. 22. We regard Christian marriage as a lifelong covenant before God which requires the continuous loyalty of the man and the woman toward each other. Any breaking of the marriage bond is a result of sin and causes human suffering; therefore it is the duty of husband and wife to meet all frictions, offenses, and disagreements with a humble, forgiving spirit that persistently works for reconciliation. If at any time the stability of their marriage is threatened, the couple is to seek the counsel of a pastor, of other spiritual leaders in the Church, or of other professional Christian counselors as soon as possible before any other action is taken. 23. Following the example and teaching of our Lord, we acknowledge the responsibility to deal compassionately and redemptively with human frailty and sin in every area of life, including the failure of marriage. As ambassadors of Christ we are called to be agents of reconciliation, we recognize that persons of sincere faith and with good counsel may still decide or be forced to divorce. We believe it our Christian responsibility to pray for, support, and encourage those who have divorced, the children of the divorced, and all who are wounded by divorce. B. Family Life 24. As parents, remembering that our children are the property of the Lord Jesus The Moravian
MORAVIAN CONVENANT FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING Christ (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 1:19), we will bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4) and take all possible care to preserve them from every evil influence. For this reason we will seek to approve ourselves as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, setting an example for our children. We will give faithful attention to the spiritual development of our children, both in the home and in the church. We will endeavor to conduct regular family devotions. IV. The Witness of a Christian Citizen A. Recognition of Civil Authority 25. We will be subject to the civil authorities as the powers ordained of God, in accordance with the admonitions of Scripture (Romans 13:1; 1 Peter 2:13-14) and will in nowise evade the taxes and other obligations which are lawfully required of us (Romans 13:7). B. Responsibilities 26. Considering it a special privilege to live in a democratic society, we will faithfully fulfill the responsibilities of our citizenship, among which are intelligent and well-informed voting, a willingness to assume public office, guiding the decisions of government by the expression of our opinions, and supporting good government by our personal efforts.
D. Peacemakers 28. For the sake of the peace which we have with God, we earnestly desire to live peaceably with all people and to seek the peace of the places where we dwell. V. Our Witness in the World A. Love Toward All 29. We will not hate, despise, slander, or otherwise injure anyone. We will ever strive to manifest love towards all people, to treat them in a kind and friendly manner, and in our dealings with them to approve ourselves upright, honest, and conscientious, as becomes children of God. Together with the universal Christian Church, we have a concern for this world, opening our heart and hand to our neighbors with the message of the love of God, and being ever ready to minister of our substance to their necessities (Matthew 25:40). B. Our Manner of Life 30. We will at all times be ready cheerfully to witness to our faith (1 Peter 3:15,16) and if need be, to suffer reproach for Christ’s (continued on next page)
C. A Higher Loyalty 27. Though giving our loyalty to the state of which we are citizens, we do recognize a higher loyalty to God and conscience (Acts 5:29). April 2012
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MORAVIAN CONVENANT FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING
(continued from previous page) sake (Luke 6:22,23). Being aware that our witness is made by both what we do and what we avoid doing, we will endeavor to let our manner of life “be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27), “not being conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). But in our yearning for the redemption of the whole creation, we will seek to meet the needs of the world in self-giving love, and as true yokefellows of Jesus Christ, willingly share in the fellowship of his sufferings, walking in his strength, by whom all things “are given us that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). C. Temperance in All Things 31. Remembering the admonition of Scripture to be temperate in all things (1 Corinthians 9:25), we shall endeavor to look upon our bodies as temples of God’s Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). We must also remember to respect the welfare of others who may be affected by our actions (Romans 14:20,21). We are aware of the problems that can be caused by the intemperate use of such things as alcoholic beverages, food, tobacco, drugs, and other things. We consider it the responsibility of every Christian to decide most carefully how they can be used in good conscience. We regard intemperance in any area of living as being inconsistent with the Christian life.
his people out of “every race, kindred, and tongue,” pardons them beneath the Cross, and brings them into a living fellowship with himself. We regard it as a commandment of our Lord to bear public witness to this and to demonstrate by word and deed that we are one in Christ. 33. Universal: Because we hold that all people are God’s creatures (Genesis 1:27) and that he has made of one blood all nations (Acts 17:26), we oppose any discrimination based on color, race, creed, or land of origin and declare that we should treat everyone with love and respect. E. Other Areas 34. We realize that all areas of Christian life and conduct cannot be covered in this statement of principles by which we live and bear our witness, and we call attention, therefore, to the Christian’s responsibility to follow Christ as Lord of all areas of life. VI. Discipline 35. We make it a duty of the Board of Elders, which is charged with the spiritual welfare of the congregation, to see that this Moravian Covenant be adhered to and faithfully observed; and we will cooperate with the Board of Elders in its efforts to maintain the discipline of the congregation. As a redemptive community we will be much more concerned in aiding than censuring those who falter, being conscious of our own need for correction and forgiveness.
D. Unity 32. Christian: We recognize no distinction between those who are one in the Lord. We believe that God in Jesus Christ calls 26
This document is also available online at www.moravian.org and from the Interprovincial Board of Communication. ■ The Moravian
NEWS SHORTS
Moravian Church celebrates 555 years On March 1, 2012, the Unitas Fratrum, the worldwide Unity of the Moravian Church, celebrated its 555th anniversary. To mark the occasion, The Rev. Dr. Paul Gardner, chairman of the Unity Board, shared this letter with all Provinces of the Church:
Dear Brother and Sisters, In the name of our Chief Elder, Jesus Christ, I greet you on behalf of the Unity Board! On this day we mark the Anniversary of the founding of the Unitas Fratrum (1457). It is a day for quiet reflection and thanksgiving to our Chief Elder who has guided our Church throughout these 555 years. We stand collectively on the shoulders of the pioneers of the Unity; the Brothers and Sisters who unselfishly laboured for the cause for which Christ died. May we pray for a greater unity within the Unity, deeper fellowship, mutual understanding and respectability as we discern together God’s direction. There is much work to be in all our Provinces, may we use this day to rededicate ourselves to the mission of our Church. The New Testament Text from the Watchword; Hebrews 10:23 — Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised His faithful. May God bless you always. Regards, The Rev. Dr. Paul Gardner
April 2012
Leather-bound Moravian Book of Worship now available By popular request, the Interprovincial Board of Communication is once again offering a leather-bound edition of the Moravian Book of Worship. This beautiful edition is bound in navy blue leather, stamped with a silver foil, with a ribbon bookmark sewn in. The speciallytrimmed pages have silver edges. Ideal as a gift or for your own personal use, this special edition is available from the IBOC for $35. Regular hard-bound and large print editions of the Book of Worship are also available. Visit www.moravian.org, or call 1.800.732.591, ext. 38. ■ 27
MORAVIAN MUSIC
New music submissions accepted through July 31, 2012 While Moravians are known for their rich musical heritage that dates back hundreds of years, there is also some great new music being written that continues that tradition. The Moravian Music Foundation has been gathering up this new music for a new publication. The Foundation continues to seek submissions for a collection of newly-written Moravian songs and hymns. While we rejoice that many of our congregations are already using a wide variety of newer songs for worship, we do not plan to publish a collection of pieces which are available elsewhere – instead, this is our opportunity to make available the songs and hymns that Moravians have written within the past few years and are writing now. Songs included in the collection will be those judged most appropriate for congregational use. With the help of the Provincial Elders Conferences of both Northern and Southern Provinces, a committee has been formed to guide this project to completion, projected for Summer 2013 to coincide with the 24th Moravian Music Festival July 14-20, 2013. We don’t yet know how big the collection will be. We do know, however, that a lot of 28
Moravians are writing new songs and hymns, and we will carefully and prayerfully consider each submission. To date, the committee has worked its way through more than 130 songs; the deadline for receiving new songs is July 31, 2012. This collection will be available in both paper and electronic formats, to allow the greatest flexibility and usefulness. We invite you to send your songs and hymns to: New Song Book, c/o Moravian Music Foundation, 457 S. Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101; or e-mail them to nknouse@mcsp.org. You may send words only; music only; words and music together; or audio files. We can accept electronic files in Sibelius or Finale; Word documents for the text or text and chords; .MP3 files; people showing up to sing for us while we record it and try to write it down; and so on. In order to be considered for the collection, all songs should be received by July 31, 2012 — so start writing! ■
The Rev. Nola Reed Knouse is director of the Moravian Music Foundation. The Moravian
OFFICIAL PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ NEWS NORTHERN PROVINCE
SOUTHERN PROVINCE
Bronx, New York Brother David Wickmann, who has been serving as part-time pastor of Tremont Terrace Moravian Church, Bronx, New York, concluded his work with the congregation February 12, 2012.
Charlotte, North Carolina Brother Mohamed Braima, who along with his wife Safiatu, has served as a missionary in Sierra Leone, West Africa for the past six years, was ordained as a mission pastor in the Moravian Church at the request of the Board of World Mission on February 12, 2012 at Little Church on the Lane in Charlotte, NC. The Rt. Rev. Sam Gray officiated.
West Salem, Illinois Brother Jason Andersen, who has been serving as pastor of Freedom Moravian Church, Appleton, Wisconsin, has accepted the call to serve as pastor of West Salem Moravian Church, West Salem, Illinois. Brother Andersen will begin his new work June 18, 2012. Hope, Indiana Brother F. Jeffrey Van Orden, who has been serving as intentional interim pastor of Church of the Redeemer Moravian Church, Dublin, Ohio, has accepted an appointment to serve as the transition pastor of Hope Moravian Church, Hope, Indiana. Brother Van Orden will begin his new work May 7, 2012. Elizabeth D. Miller Provincial Elders’ Conference 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 are available by contacting Deb Swanson at deb@mcnp.org.
April 2012
Brother Braima was born in Sierra Leone and came to the US in the 1970s to further his education. He is a long-time member of Little Church on the Lane and lived in Charlotte for 30 years. He graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary with an M.Div. in 2006. That year he and Sister Braima returned to their home town, Luawa Yiehun, a village 270 miles east of Freetown, the Sierra Leone capital. Their dream was to build a church and a school. In 2008 they completed and dedicated a church. In 2009 the first building of the Moravian Secondary School was opened and they are now teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.
OBITUARY
Sister Jo Anne Atkins Chadwick Sister
Jo Anne Atkins Chadwick, widow of The Rev. Truett Chadwick, Sr., passed away on February 15, 2012 at Salemtowne Retirement Community in Winston-Salem, N.C. She was 88. Sister Chadwick graduated from Flora MacDonald College in 1945 with a Bachelor of Music degree. She married The Rev. Truett Chadwick in 1947 and during their 54 years of marriage they served seven congregations in the Moravian Church, Southern Province. Sister Chadwick taught school in several school systems in North Carolina as well as private piano lessons. She had a beautiful soprano voice and enjoyed classical music and opera. She was also an avid sports fan. She was a member of Home Moravian Church and was a devoted wife, grandmother, and greatgrandmother. She is survived by one son, two daughters, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Funeral services were conducted at Home Moravian Church in WinstonSalem, N.C. by The Rev. Carl Southerland and The Rt. Rev. Lane Sapp with burial in God’s Acre at Bethania Moravian Church. ■
VISIT THE MORAVIAN MAGAZINE ON FACEBOOK! The Moravian Magazine is 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.
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Ocean Springs team (continued from page 9) April 2011. The outside is complete, and we hung the drywall by the end of the year. Aaron and Jessica Barksdale Aaron and Jessica and their two small children inherited this home recently from Jessica’s mother who passed away. It was flooded during Katrina and it needs a lot of fixing up. Since they were not the owners at the time of the storm, they do not qualify for grants or assistance in rebuilding. Jessica needed a new kitchen, so we worked to help. We still have much to do in Mississippi and volunteers are needed anytime over this next year. We are currently working in the town of Moss Point and area helping families that have had little or no help since Hurricane Katrina. If your team is interested in participating in this worthwhile ministry, we could use your help! Go to the link below and click on Mississippi Mission House Calendar to check availability of the Mission House. If your team is more than eight people, then you are encouraged to stay at Camp Victor Volunteer Camp in Ocean Springs. Cost is $125 per person per week, and includes three meals a day. Contact Weldon Harris at wharris3@gmail.com for more information. For more project information, and a complete library of project photos, you can visit the MS Projects Home page at http://tinyurl. com/MSProjects-HomePage. ■
CORRECTION: In the article, Moravian Youth “Stand Up for Jesus” in our Jan/Feb issue, Tremont Terrace Moravian Church was missed as one of the participating congregations. We apologize for this omission.
Crossroads
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A unique opportunity to reach Moravians across North America! When developing marketing and promotional plans for your event, product or service, be sure to include The Moravian Magazine in the mix! Advertising in The Moravian gets your message to more than 17,000 Moravian households in the U.S., Canada and around the world. Our cost-effective advertising options offer a unique opportunity to spread your message, promote your event and offer products and services to a Moravian audience. For more information and to get started advertising in The Moravian, visit www.moravian.org or e-mail pubs@mcnp.org. Some restrictions apply; contact IBOC for full details. ©2012, IBOC
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