Southern Province
Margate Moravian Church
The Provincial Elders’ Conference is pleased to announce Margate Moravian Fellowship requested and was granted Congregation status, which will go into effect in conjunction with the occasion of their 19th anniversary on May 30, 2023.
The Margate Fellowship was initially started in 2004 with the first official worship held on May 30 in the City of Margate, Florida.
The congregation has decided to keep the name “Margate” recognizing the Margate is a fish. The early Christian church used ICHTHUS (which in Greek means fish) as a symbol of the Eucharist and as a symbol of the church. ICHTHUS is translated Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, our/the Savior. Consistent with that, the church will also use Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17 as the scripture theme for the church “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men”.
The PEC affirms the growth of the Margate community through almost 19 years of history, its ministry to the nearby community, and the development of its stewardship. We agree that it equals a level of participation and commitment that is fitting with being a congregation.
On behalf of the Southern Province of the Moravian Church in America, the Provincial Elders’ Conference offers their sincerest congratulations to the Margate Moravian Church and wishes God’s richest blessings in their future endeavors.
In observance of this milestone, the Margate congregation held a service of celebration on May 28, 202, at 3:00 p.m. Coverage of the celebration will be featured on moravian.org
Pastoral Changes:
The Rev. Andrew Heil has accepted the call to be the pastor of Grace Moravian in Mount Airy, NC. He concluded his ministry at Home Moravian, Winston-Salem, N.C., on May 7, 2023 and will be installed at Grace on June 4, 2023.
Please support the Heil family and the Grace congregation with your prayers as they begin this new chapter.
Northern Province
Clergy Updates Calls/Appointments
Sr. Cynthia Rader Geyer, who had served as the Eastern District Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries through December 31, 2022, and was serving a temporary call to District Service, has accepted a call to be Released for Other Service to serve as the full-time pastor of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Allentown, Pa. She began her ministry among our ELCA siblings on May 1, 2023.
Br. Jon Michael Deisher was installed as a Licensed Lay Pastor at the West Salem Moravian Church in West Salem, Ill., on Sunday, April 2. Br. Deisher has completed a thorough credentialing process and continues educational work to equip him to serve faithfully and effectively at West Salem.
Br. T.C. Moore was received as a Deacon of the Moravian Church during a worship service at Roots Moravian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota on Sunday, April 23, 2023, with Bishop Kay Ward presiding. T.C. was ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church and has completed a thorough credentialing process for him to transfer his credentials and be received into the ordained ministry of the Moravian Church.
Br. T.C. Moore and his spouse Sr. Osheta Moore were installed as pastors of Roots Moravian Church on April 23, 2023. T.C. has accepted an appointment as pastor of Roots; Osheta was installed as a Licensed Lay Pastor. She has undergone a thorough credentialing process. Br. Bruce Nelson, President of the Western District Executive Board, and Sr. Betsy Miller, President of the Provincial Elders’ Conference participated in this service of installation and celebration.
The Roots congregation voted to become Roots Moravian Church in February of this year.
Sr. Jamie Almquist, a candidate for ordination in the Moravian Church, has accepted the call to serve as pastor of the Good Shepherd Moravian Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Jamie earned her MDiv from Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colo. in 2021 and has completed a Certificate in Moravian Studies from Moravian Theological Seminary on May 6, 2023. Jamie has been serving the Glenwood Moravian Church under appointment as she concluded her theological training.
Jamie was ordained a Deacon of the Moravian Church at Glenwood Moravian Church in Madison, Wis., on Saturday, May 20, with Bishop Kay Ward presiding. She will begin her ministry at Good Shepherd when the immigration process permits.
Sr. Jodi Heim, a lay member of the Berea Moravian Church, has been appointed as the Licensed Lay Pastor of the Berea and Our Savior’s congregations, both in Winona County, Minnesota. Jodi has undergone a thorough credentialing process and is continuing to pursue theological and pastoral training. She begins her ministry on June 1, 2023.
Sr. Mikayla Sauerbrey, a candidate for ordination in the Moravian Church, has completed an MDiv from Moravian Theological Seminary on May 6, 2023.
Presbyterial Consecration
Br. Benjamin Lippert, presently serving as pastor of the Schoenbrunn Moravian Church in New Philadelphia, Ohio, will be consecrated a Presbyter in the Moravian Church on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at 11 am, with Bishop Douglas Kleintop as the consecrating bishop.
Obituary:
Mrs. Marian Couch
Sister Marian (McCuiston) Couch died in Winston-Salem, N.C., on April 3, 2023, at the age of 98. She was born January 9, 1925, in Winston-Salem, N.C. a daughter of Robert Alexander and Margaret Agnes Blair McCuiston.
Sister Couch was united in marriage to Brother Paul de Scweinitz Couch on June 4, 1949, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
She served alongside her husband in pastorates in Haverford Moravian, Indianapolis, Ind.; Calvary Moravian, Allentown, Pa.; Redeemer Moravian Church, Philadelphia, Pa.; East Hills Moravian Church, Bethlehem, Pa.; Sharon Moravian Church, Sharon, Ohio and Church of the Redeemer, Dublin, Ohio.
Sr. Couch is survived by three daughters: Blair, Allison, and Margaret, a son, Paul Jr., six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Paul, on July 24, 1994, and a son Frederick.
The funeral was held at Home Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, N.C. on April 13, 2023. Memorials are gratefully received for Home Moravian Church, Winston-Salem NC, or Sunnyside Ministry.
Obituary:
The Rev. Glenn F. Heintzelman
Brother Glenn Frank Heintzelman died in Allentown, PA on May 3, 2023, at the age of 73.
Born November 24, 1949, in Northampton, Pa., he was the son of the late Frank and Miriam (Ruth) Heintzelman. Brother Heintzelman graduated from Moravian College with a B.A. in 1971. He received a B.D. from Moravian Theological Seminary in 1976. He received an M.A. from Lehigh University in 1972. He was ordained a Deacon of the church on January 4, 1976 and was consecrated a Presbyter on July 20, 2003.
He was united in marriage to Bonnie May Hughes on January 20, 1973, at Nazareth Moravian Church. Together they served in pastorates in Morongo, California; Trinity, New Carrollton, Md.; Reading, Pa.; Egg Harbor, N.J.; Castleton Hill, Staten Island, N.Y.; Canadensis, Pa.; Kellner & Saratoga, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. and Unionville, Mich. Brother Heintzelman also served as Chaplain at ASH Hospital, Allentown, Pa., and Chaplain at Lehigh County Prison. He entered into retirement June 2008.
Surviving with Bonnie are their sons: Adam R., at home and Aaron P. of Kansas City, Mo.; a granddaughter, Maci Leigh; sister, Jeanne Serfas (David) of Virginia.
A memorial service was held on May 12th at Calvary Moravian Church in Allentown, Pa. Memorial gifts are welcome for Calvary Moravian Church in care of Keller Funeral Homes, PO Box 52, Fogelsville, PA 18051.
