The Newsletter of The Eastern District Moravian Church May 2018
David E. Bennett, President
Catch a Glimpse of Hope This Season!
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Sister Sue Dreydoppel, Director for Hope Conference & Renewal Center, for contributing this month’s article.
Did you attend the 2016 Eastern District Synod? Do you remember the feeling after everyone had completed their mission assignments, tired but elated at all the people and organizations that had been served? That is the same feeling that each camper at Hope Conference & Renewal Center (“Camp Hope”) will have this summer, as they explore the camp theme of coMISSION, or doing mission together.
The deans (leaders) of each camp are planning mission projects that will be done during their week of camp. Campers will assist with several congregational projects, bring outgrown clothes for Mountainview’s clothing distribution, and fill food packets, similar to what was done at the 2016 Synod. If your congregation has a project that could use some help, contact me to discuss how camp could cooperate with you on this mission.
If you were not a delegate to the 2016 Synod, or you want that satisfying feeling again, come out to camp on May 11 and 12 for “Intro to Mission,” led by members of the Northeast Moravian Disaster Response (NEMDR). For a day or two, you can live your faith in service, learn how responding to a call to mission can change lives, and help with needed projects at Camp Hope. If that weekend is not good, but you can give some volunteer time to the camp, give me a call. Camp can always use extra help, especially as we prepare for the summer.
We are accepting applications for summer staff members now, and we still could use a few. If you have some hard-working youth or young adults in your congregation who still need a summer job, please encourage them to apply. They simply go to camphope.org/employment, and fill out an online application.
If you are planning a Camp Promotion Sunday in your congregation, remember that we have camp videos to help you. Sign on to youTube.com, and search for “Moravian Camp Hope NJ.” 2018 Camp Hope Season + Intro to Camp gives a brief historical look at the camp and previews the 2018 camp season. 2018 Camp Hope Season only is just the preview of the coming camp season. You can also use them during Sunday School or youth group to build excitement about camp.
If your congregation offers camperships for your campers, please let me know the amount soon so that I can set it up with the online registration program. We have quite a few campers waiting for that amount to complete their payment.
Finally, I invite all Moravians to the Memorial Day picnic at camp on Monday, May 28. Come out for a day of swimming, boating, and fellowship. Bring your own food; a grill is available. The event is free, in appreciation for all that the Eastern District congregations do to support Camp Hope.
You can contact Camp Hope at 908 459-4435, or [email protected].
Moravian Camp Dates for 2018 Hope Conference & Renewal Center
Pre-Primary Conference: June 17 – 20
Camp Dean: Shannon Swingle
Middler Conference: July 1-7 Camp
Deans: Rt. Rev. Blair Couch
Rev. Sayward Lippincott
Senior High Conference: July 8 – 14
Camp Deans: Steve Kish
Chelsey Mancuso
Swim Camp: July 15 – 21
Camp Dean: TBD
Musical Theater Camp: July 15 – 21
Camp Dean: Sarah Hriniak
Jr. High Conference: July 22 – July 28
Camp Deans: Rev. Jodie Harney,
Kasey Thomas
Primary Conference: July 29 – August 4
Camp Deans: Rev. Tammie Rinker
Rev. Bevon White
Fishing Camp: July 29 – August 4
Camp Dean: Bob Wingrove
Calendar Items
May 4 – 6: Eastern District Confirmation Retreat.
May 11 – 12: An Introduction to Mission at Camp Hope Sponsored by NEMDR.
May 25 – 28: Memorial Day Weekend Family Camp. Registration required
Monday, May 28: Memorial Day Picnic, 10 – 6: Free, bring your own food, lawn chairs.
Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church, North America
As a representative for the Board of World Mission Aaron Van Der Linden was on site to guide and coordinate efforts to rebuild the Port Arthur, Texas community, which was inundated by Hurricane Harvey last year. Much has been accomplished, however, much rebuilding remains to be completed in and around Port Arthur. Currently, David Miller and Mark Sebek, both of the Unity of the Brethren, are coordinating the incoming teams. Teams are received in Port Arthur where accommodations for approximately 15-20 people are available. Accommodations include lodging and meals. The local folks want to put their lives back in order. Some may need help doing just that. Do you or a group have some time to help them out with their needs? If so, please contact the BWM through Jill Kolodziej, the Director of Antioch. Jill can be contacted via email at: [email protected] or by phone at 920.256.9472.
Crossroads Lay Leadership Outreach Course
The Crossroads Lay Leadership Program at Moravian Theological Seminary is running a special session of Contextual Outreach this May and June. This course is designed for individuals or church teams to explore their impact in the community around them and to develop a local ministry plan. Congregations who have participated in this course in the past have reported that the process has helped them design activities which have helped them to impact their neighborhoods in a positive way for Jesus Christ. The goal of this program is not to teach churches how to increase their membership but rather how to increase their impact.
This course is co-taught by the Rev. Dr. Riddick Weber, Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Moravian Theological Seminary and Dr. Jill Peters, Missional Leadership Developer, Moravian Theological Seminary who also runs the Crossroads Lay Leadership Program.
Course content includes working with demographic data, Caleb community interviews and other ways to learn the real, felt needs and service gaps within their community. Congregations define their target area of study which could be their neighborhood or an area close to their church’s location. Through classroom activities, teams embark on a process to analyze this data and start to structure possible activities to meet the needs of their neighbors. Teams are coached on how to look at community ministry differently.
The registration for this course is $220 per person. Additional participants from the same church can register for $100 each.
Classes are held at Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-9 pm. (May 29, 30, June 5, 6, 12, 19, 27 and one additional time reserved for exploring your neighborhood.) All Crossroads courses are also offered in a real time, distance learning format for those who live outside of our area.
For more information or team member registration, please contact Jill Peters at [email protected]. Online registration for the first team member can be done at our website: www.moravianseminary.edu/crossroads
Comments from past participants:
-We realized that we needed to work on how we communicate with our neighbors.
-After presenting our ministry plan to our church, it defined programs outside our doors for the next two years.
-We were surprised at how little we knew about our neighborhood and this changed how we connect.
-Our neighborhood changed around us and now we are trying to serve them.
-We discovered some ministry partners including other churches in our area.
Join us for this valuable course.
Dr. Jill Peters
Missional Leadership Developer
Moravian Theological Seminary
Change of Address
Effective 5/1
Aden and Kay Ward
1035 Perry St., Apt. 2319
Watertown, WI 53098
Effective 4/18
William and Penny (Frances) Surber
5644 Innkeeper St.
SE Dennison, OH 44621
Moravian Ministries Foundation
Amazing Moravian Women By Vince Holbrook
The Moravian Ministries Foundation in America (MMFA) is proud to honor Amazing Moravian Women in a new series of articles that will be published on their website each Saturday morning. The first in the series was published this Earth Day weekend. It featured The Rt. Rev. Kay Ward, the first female bishop in the Moravian Church in America. The series will spotlight a different woman of our faith each week. Join us on the MMFA Facebook page or website to enjoy them all each Saturday.
Click below to read the first story: https://mmfa.info/featured-articles/amazing-moravian-women-the-rt-rev-dr-kay-ward/
On Sale Now!
The 2018 Moravian Daily Texts are now being offered at 50% off.
Shop at: store.www.moravian.org
May Anniversaries
6 The Rev. Gary Harke & Ms. Bonnee Lauridsen
11 The Rev. Sue & Mr. Michael Koenig
14 The Rev. Maggie Wellert & the Rev. Keith Harke
16 The Rev. & Mrs. Belfield Castello
17 The Rev. & Mrs. William Surber
20 The Rev. Benjamin Lippert & Mrs. Emily Lippert
22 The Rev. & Mrs. Duane Ullrich
23 The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Darryl Bell
27 The Rev. & Mrs. George Richmond
29 The Rev. & Mrs. Richard Bruckart
Churches celebrating May anniversaries
6 – 1860 – West Side, Bethlehem, PA
17 -1863 – Palmyra, Cinnaminson, NJ
22 – 1966 – Redeemer, Philadelphia, PA
25 – 1986 – Faith of the Nation’s Capital, Washington, DC
May 3, 1728 – Beginning of Losungen (Daily Texts) in Herrnhut, Germany.
