Prayer Day for Moravian Unity Work, March 3, 2019
The first Sunday in March is designated as a day of prayer for the special causes which are supported by all provinces of our Moravian Unity. This year the offerings will provide for a church building in the Azam Province of India, in the Moravian Mission Area South Asia, which includes several areas in India and in Nepal.
NORTHERN PROVINCE
Watchwords
In December 2018, members of the Provincial Board of the European Continental Province met in Herrnhut, the birthplace of our renewed Moravian Church, and drew watchwords for the Unity Board, Unity Provinces, Mission Provinces, Unity Undertakings and New Mission work.
The Northern Province watchword from March 10 is: “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me. Then I acknowledged my sin to you.” Psalm 32:3,4,5
Chaska, Minnesota
Brother Michael Eder, who has been serving as part-time appointed pastor for Chaska Moravian Church, Chaska, Minn., concluded his work January 6, 2019.
New York, New York
Sister Desna Henry Goulbourne has accepted an appointment to serve as half-time pastor for United Moravian Church, New York, N.Y. Sister Henry Goulbourne began her work January 16, 2019.
Davenport, North Dakota
Brother Martin Avery, a pastor with the United Methodist Church, has accepted an appointment to serve as part-time pastor for Canaan Moravian Church, Davenport, N.D. Brother Avery began his work February 3, 2019.
Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Sister Christine S. Johnson, who was serving under appointment as full-time interim pastor for Emmaus Moravian Church, concluded her work March 8, 2019.
Presbyterial Consecration
Brother James Lavoy, presently serving as pastor of Rio Terrace Moravian Church, Edmonton, Alberta, will be consecrated a presbyter of the Moravian Church on May 26, 2019. Bishop M. Blair Couch will officiate at the service, which will be held at the Rio Terrace Church.
Retirement
Brother Richard Beck requested and was granted permission to retire from the active call of the Moravian Church effective August 31, 2019.
Brother Beck was ordained a deacon of the Moravian Church November 29, 1986 and has served the church in pastorates in Alberta (Bruderheim, Good Shepherd), Wisconsin (West Side), and Pennsylvania (Schoeneck).
The church is grateful for his thirty-three years of faithful service.
Elizabeth D. Miller
Provincial Elders’ Conference
SOUTHERN PROVINCE
2019 Watchword for the Southern Province
Each year the European Continental Province makes arrangements to draw watchwords for the individual Provinces, Mission Provinces, and Mission Areas.
The texts assigned to the Southern Province are those for Sunday, October 26:
You are a people holy to the Lord your God; it is you the Lord has chosen out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession. Deuteronomy 14:2
God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. Romans 3:30
The prayer in the U.S. edition of the Daily Texts is:
God, you are one; we are so many and so different. What a miracle! Amid and despite the divisions of the world, you have called us, your people, to show all humanity that we are one family – your daughters and sons. May it be so. Amen.
David Guthrie
Provincial Elders’ Conference
