Moravian Young Adult Convo
June 25th – July 2nd
The other day I was speaking with a colleague in the Southern Province about a Convo we both attended as young adults. As together we remembered Convo at Fort Caswell Beach in North Carolina, wonderful memories resurfaced of the many friends that are still a part of my life as a result of that experience – in fact, many are now ministry partners. Although I would not credit that one experience for guiding my life toward ministry, it was certainly an important bridge along the journey. I’m also cognizant of the many people who aided so many of us in getting to the Convos. The youth leaders who spent countless hours in fundraising…. the Women’s Fellowship for contributing to the cause…. the Elders who ensured our journey would be chaperoned and safe …those generous ones in the pew who would pay twice as much for a baked good to ensure our way would be funded. The list is endless. As we now ready ourselves for a new generation of young Convo-goers, let me express my appreciation for all of those who will yet help pave the way so a new generation of young Christians can gain life-long friends, be moved by the Spirit, and forge ministry partnerships in service to Christ and the Church.
Every four years Moravian young adults in North America have an opportunity to come together for a Moravian Young Adult Convocation. Join program leader, The Rt. Rev. Chris Giesler, and travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas and St. John to see many of the historic Moravian sites and find inspiration and vision for current ministry. Together we will retrace the steps of the first Moravian Missionaries, David Nitschmann and Leonhard Dober, from the gleaming crystal shores of St. Thomas harbor to lush greenery of Posauneberg (the Bretheren’s Plantation) now the site of the New Herrnhut Moravian Church. We will climb the famous 99 Steps of Charlotte Amalie for an incomparable view of the Caribbean and locate Nisky Moravian Church where we will gather to worship and explore our Moravian Mission roots. We will meet Moravian pastor and author Winelle J. Kirton-Robert and together examine the Moravian beliefs that influenced the faith of formerly enslaved Africans. Finally, we will have two full days to help rebuild Moravian Churches and schools damaged by Hurricane Irma.
All Moravian young adults ages 18 through 26 are invited to attend this summer’s Moravian Youth Adult Convo 2019. For more information about Convo 2019 and to register online, go to: http://bit.ly/ConvoReg
There is a limited number of space for this trip, registrations need to be made ASAP. If you have questions, please contact Rev. Cynthia Rader Geyer, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries at [email protected] or call/text (484) 554-0102.
Cost: $1850 plus airfare (includes beach front housing, meals, travel in St. Thomas and St. John, a variety of activities and tours, and Convo 2019 t-shirt!)
Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church North America
We are in this Mission Journey Together! As the Board of World Mission works to create and continue relationships around the world, we are very aware that we cannot do this alone. We invite you to use this resource to join us in specific ways in mission. Listed below are opportunites to serve, to pray and to give.
SERVE: The Covenant Moravian Church in Wilmington, NC will be hosting work crews March 24-30, 2019 to provide assistance with hurricane reconstruction. There will be a variety of projects to work on, but the main focus will be re-roofing a house. INTERESTED? Please contact Chris Giesler ([email protected]) for more details.
PRAY: Please pray for the Nicaraguan province which is struggling with conflict in regard to Provincial Leadership. Prayers for a peaceful resolution, and for the church to follow Christ’s example are much appreciated!
GIVE: Please give to help support the Moravian Leadership Seminar in Peru in March. At least 10 Peruvian pastors, including 3 from the Amazon District, will take part.
Donations may be mailed to BWM, 1021 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. Online, please visit www.moravianmission.org/donate.
THANK YOU!
Find Financial Peace in 2019
Your Moravian Ministries Foundation in America is pleased to announce a new partnership with Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. This partnership allows U.S. Moravian congregations to acquire all the program materials needed to lead this time-tested and highly-regarded program at a fraction of the usual cost.
We have sent information about this offer to all U.S. Moravian pastors and asked them to pass it along to trustees, stewardship committees, or other leaders in your congregation.
If you are interested in either taking the class, or leading them, we encourage you to make your interests known to your pastor or trustees. If your own congregation opts out, we’ll do our best to help you find another local Moravian congregation that plans to offer the program
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Crossroads Classes
Crossroads Lay Leadership program at Moravian Seminary is running “Unpacking the Scriptures: Preaching” course with the Rev. Dr. Sue Pizor Yoder for eight weeks starting March 11. Learn about constructing a sermon, how to speak to different generations, and polish your public speaking skills. Sue is a gifted pastor, preacher and teacher. Also starting in early March on the 7th is Traveling Mercies with the Rev. Maggie Wellert. This is a congregational care course with Maggie and several other speakers who address issues of communication skills, addictions, teens, spirituality and caring for those at the end of life. Great course for church teams. For exact dates, details and registration go to:
http://www.moravianseminary.edu/crossroads
or contact Jill Peters at:
Be The Church Workshop Schedule & Sites:
Washington, DC- Trinity – 3/9/19
Lehigh Valley North- Advent -3/16/19
Lehigh Valley South – Mountainview – 3/23/19
Penn Mar – Lancaster – 3/30/19
Delaware Valley – Riverside – 4/27/19
Ohio/Toronto – Sharon – 5/18/19
Metro NYC – John Hus – 9/14/19
Staten Island – Castleton Hill – 10/12/19
Participants in this workshop will explore the biblical basis for serving others; hear from churches that have conducted successful “Be the Church” days; learn the basics of Mission Insite for understanding the community around the local congregation; and receive guidelines for conducting your own “Be the Church” day! Please see District Developments January 2019 Issue for full details of the workshop. Questions? Call or email: Marie Couts- [email protected] Cell: 330.401.1212.
Schedule of Events:
Sponsored by The Moravian Church in North America, Eastern District. Art for Justice:
From March 1 – April 7, the Banana Factory (at 25 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem, open Mondays – Fridays 8:00am-9:30pm, and Saturdays & Sundays 8:30am-7:00pm) will host an exhibit called Hope in Hard Times: Prisoners’ Art for Social Justice. This exhibit will be complemented by the following special openings and events:
March 1 and April 5, 6 – 9 p.m. First Fridays at the Banana Factory. Special speakers, projects, and engagements.
March 19, 7 p.m., Lecture at Moravian College’s Prosser Auditorium Speaker: Tyrone Werts, Soros Fellow, PA Lifer commuted by Gov. Rendell. We encourage you to register for this free event at the following site: www.moravianseminary.edu/academics/continuingeducation
March 24, 2 – 4 p.m., Vigil for Hope in the Criminal Justice System at the Banana Factory. Our keynote speaker, Chester Hollman, Jr. tells the story of his son Chester Hollman III’s wrongful conviction and sentence of life without parole in PA.
Saturday, April 27, 2019 – Eastern Region Moravian Women Spring Rally– 9am at Schoeneck Moravian Church; Nazareth. Registration deadline April 15. For more information: [email protected]. Please look for information at your church office.
May 3-5, 2019, Confirmation Retreat at Camp Hope. To find out more about this event please visit: http://camphope.org/
June 20-23, 2019- “Unleash Your Power!”2019 Moravian Women’s Conference. Embassy Suites 425 North Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101-Presented by The Interprovincial Women’s Board, Moravian Church in North America. For more information or to register:https://moravianwomensconference.org
Find our Eastern District Youth and Young Adults via Social Media
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Special Election: Lehigh Valley South Eastern District Board Member
The 2018 Provincial Synod elected Ralph Wanamaker, Jr. to the Provincial Elders’ Conference. Brother Wanamaker was serving as the Lehigh Valley South district board member, leaving that position vacant.
The Book of Order ¶913 charged the EDEB to arrange for the election of the new member and, following the submission of nominations, two individuals agreed to allow their names to stand in an election across the Eastern District. That election was implemented and is now complete.
Sister Linda Rapp, a member of College Hill Moravian Church, has been elected to fill the remainder of the term for the Lehigh Valley South board member of the Eastern District Executive Board.
The Eastern District Executive Board and the entire fellowship of the Eastern District, expresses appreciation to both Sisters Linda Rapp and Carol Messina for allowing their names to stand in this process and for their open willingness to serve the Eastern District if elected.
We ask for your prayers for Sister Linda as she begins her service upon the district board and for Sister Carol as she remains open and faithful to God’s call to other service in Christ’s name.
