Concerns & Celebrations“BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!”
Our prayers are with... |
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DeathsBrother Norman Byerly of Winston-Salem, NC passed away March 15. In the Southern Province he served Macedonia, Hopewell, Hope and Mt. Bethel churches. Keep Helen, Wayne, Tim, David and families in your prayers. We express our love and sympathy to his family and friends. IllnessSister Polly Applefield, retired Moravian Minister Sister Ann Bauguess, mother of Phil Bauguess Brother John Obenchain, husband of Carolyn Obenchain, Ardmore Moravian Church Earlette Peek, wife of Bob Peek-Immanuel-New Eden Moravian Sister Ann May, mother of Tripp May-Bethabara Moravian and grandmother of Russell May, Hopewell Moravian. Our prayers are with these. PastoralSister Margaret Leinbach began March 1 serving First Moravian Church in Greensboro, NC as an Intentional Interim pastor. (see Page 6 to learn more about Intentional Interim Ministry). Congratulations! BirthsArkon and Rosemary Stewart are proud Grandparents of Lukas Alexander Marshall born on February 18. Lukas is the son of Adam and Tracie Stewart Marshall. Congratulations! |
Ordination Anniversaries:
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| George Chiddie | 53 years |
| Richard Spaugh | 39 years |
| Phil Bauguess | 31 years |
| Keith White | 27 years |
| Terrence Alspaugh | 18 years |
| Wayne Byerly | 9 years |
| Riddick Weber | 4 years |
Congratulations and God Bless You!
Covenant Moravian Church, Wilmington, NC will be dedicating their new fellowship hall and sanctuary renovations on Sunday, May 14 at 11am (luncheon following in the new fellowship hall). George Hamilton IV will be in concert on Saturday, May 13 at 7 pm. For additional information call the church at 910-799-9256.
All members of our congregations are cordially invited to participate in this inspirational service. It will begin in front of Home Moravian Church and conclude in God’s Acre. Ministers, spouses and family members are invited to assemble in the west vestibule of Home Church by 5:45 a.m.
We know that many pastors will be involved in the band, choir or leading other Easter services. Our prayers are with all pastors and congregations as we proclaim together the wonderful message that our Lord is Risen !!
(submitted by Scott Venable)
PEC ReportThe Provincial Elders' Conference met on March 21 and began with a time of sharing and intercessory prayer. PEC reviewed plans for synod and several resolutions to be submitted to synod. Call processes continue at Rural Hall and Holly Springs. Margaret Leinbach is serving in an intentional interim ministry at First Moravian Church in Greensboro. Bob Hunter reported on recent contacts with persons considering candidacy for ordained ministry. PEC is considering a program of racial reconciliation and has requested funding support from several sources. There was also discussion on appointments to the following: Music and Worship Commission and the Interprovincial Board of Comunications. (submitted by Bob Sawyer) Gemeinschaft Leadership Development TrainingThe annual training event to prepare August Leaders for all three levels of Gemeinschaft is scheduled for July 13-16, 2006. This event will take place at Higgins Lodge, Laurel Ridge Camp and Conference Center, Laurel Springs, NC. Anyone interested in participating in this training program may obtain registration and/or promotional materials from the Board of Christian Education’s web site (www.moravianboardofce.org), speak with your pastor, or contact Judy Knopf at 336-722-8126 or jknopf@mcsp.org. Gemeinschaft is a spiritual formation program in which participants meet for prayer, study, fellowship, journal writing, silence, and mutual participation. Groups of five to seven folks meet for 40 weeks, 2 ½ hours each week beginning around August 13th and ending around Trinity Sunday. The commissioning for Gemeinschaft participants during worship in the local congregation should take place on or around Sunday, August 13, 2006. (submitted by Judy Knopf) Christian Churches Together in the USAAbout 75 church leaders from a broad cross-section of American Christianity came together in Atlanta March 28 – 31 to formally organize, approve bylaws, and select officers and a steering committee. But more importantly |
importantly those present continued serious conversations about poverty in America, its causes and its solutions. While prayer, fellowship, and conversation about many topics have been part of the discussions leading up to this meeting, a strong and broad based consensus is emerging that Christians can and must work harder and work together to combat poverty in our country. Those who have participated since the first gathering in 2002 have agreed that there is no reason to establish another ecumenical group unless it would be truly representative of American Christianity. CCT in the USA has identified five “church families” – Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Historic Protestant, Evangelical/Pentecostal, and Racial/Ethnic churches. Those present in Atlanta recently agreed that indeed participation was broad, and particularly in the light of the consensus to address poverty, it was time to organize formally. (submitted by Bob Sawyer) Prayer for Star MountainFor over 120 years the Moravian Church has ministered to people in need in the land of Jesus' life and ministry. For much of that time the ministry was with persons stricken by leprosy. Originally the work was just outside the Old City in Jerusalem. In the 1950's the work was relocated to a Palestinian hillside north of Ramallah and was named Star Mountain. In 1981 the Unity (worldwide Moravian Church) recognized that since fewer and fewer people were affected by leprosy the ministry should be reviewed. Provision was made for those still under care at Star Mountain, but a new ministry -- that of working with handicapped children -- was a pressing need that our church could meet. On Tuesday, April 11, Star Mountain will celebrate the 25th anniversary of that important work. The staff, students, and families of the Star Mountain ministry live daily in a situation of great difficulty. Of course the broader context in that region is one of conflict, danger, and insecurity. I hope that our congregations will observe a time of prayer for Star Mountain and for all Israelis and Palestinians in worship on April 9, and that Moravians across the Southern Province will do the same on April 11. Let us pray for the staff and especially the children. Let us pray for the director, Rawda Marouf, the assistant director, Volker Bach, and leaders in the European Continental Province in their ministry of oversight. And let us pray for peace, justice, and security for all in that troubled area. (submitted by Bob Sawyer) |
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ClassifiedPaid Mission Internships: The Laurel Ridge Youth Mission Camp program is offering two paid internships this summer. The internship is open to young adults interested in mission program development. There are 4 weeks of Mission Camp. Applicants must be able to live at Laurel Ridge June 17th-July 1st and/or July 15th-July 29th. The internship includes a variety of duties including experience in community set-up, daily program operations, and follow-up. For more information contact: Debbie Good-Erickson at Laurel Ridge 1-888-831-5922. Volunteer Music Director: The Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministries is looking for a volunteer Music Director to work with the inmate choir at the Cherry Street Prison. Chris Gunnell is currently the volunteer Choir Coordinator and will continue to work with the choir in that role. The volunteer Music Director for the inmate choir needs to be able to:
For more information please call Chaplain Robert
Wolfe, 336-759-0063, ext 34.
Choir Director: Advent Moravian Church seeks a Choir Director to be responsible for directing the adult choir and working with the pastor, organist, and pianist in worship planning. Skills and experience with handbell groups and/or familiarity with contemporary worship are desirable, but not essential. Interested persons should send a resume to: Personnel Committee, Advent Moravian Church, 1514 W. Clemmonsville Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27127. Questions, please call Pastor Dan Conrad at 336-788-4951. Secretary: Olivet Moravian seeks a church secretary working approximately 25 hours/week. For more information call the church office at 336-924-8063. |
Special Discounts on
Moravian Book of Worship at Moravian Book
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The PEC office will be closed on Monday, April 24. |
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Rick Sides honored with the John Hus Alumni Award from Moravian SeminaryNominated by his fellow alumni, Rev. Richard L. Sides received the John Hus Alumni Award at the Annual Reunion Luncheon of Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on March 10, 2006. Initiated in 1974, the John Hus Alumni Award gives special recognition to an alum, who, through outstanding service, has brought distinction to the ministry and to Moravian Seminary. Rick's 31-year ministry as a leader of the Moravian Church and community was affirmed by the award. As a student, Rick participated fully in seminary life and in 1975 graduated summa cum laude and received the John David Bishop Award. He was ordained into the Moravian ministry after accepting the call to serve as the first year-round director at Laurel Ridge, the church camp of the Southern Province. Rick played an instrumental role in facilitating the development of Laurel Ridge into a year-round camping and conference ministry through the expansion of its facilities and programming. He served pastorates at Christ and Home Moravian Churches in Winston-Salem, N.C. from 1978-1994. In addition to his pastoral duties, he led annual canoe trips to the boundary waters of Ontario, became a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator trainer, and was a much sought after retreat leader. Since 1994 Rick has served as the Executive Director of the Board of Christian Education (Southern Province), offering leadership with a staff that administers provincial youth and adult education, camping programs, stewardship formation, Gemeinshaft, and the Moravian Book and Gift Shop. He has also led numerous educational trips to the Holy Lands. Throughout his 31-year ministry Rick has been elected to many positions of leadership and currently serves on the Provincial Elders’ Conference and as a Trustee of Salem Academy and College. He has served as a Trustee of the Seminary and as chair of the Central Board of Elders of the Salem Congregation. A community leader in Winston-Salem, he has been an active board member of the Downtown Church Center, AIDS Care Service, Crisis Control Ministry, and a volunteer with Habitat with Humanity. Rick’s wife, Elizabeth, and their adult children, John and Laura, continue to be a source of great encouragement to his ministry. |
All alumni of Moravian Theological Seminary are eligible for nomination for the John Hus Award. It is appropriately named for John Hus, one of the great leaders of the Moravian Church, who is revered as a pastor, preacher, scholar and martyr for his faith. Each fall, alumni of the Seminary are invited to make nominations for the Hus Award. Congratulations to Rick Sides, an alumnus who has been an inspirational leader of his church and community and whose ministry has brought distinction to Moravian Theological Seminary! Healing Touch
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From The Provincial Treasurer’s OfficeHealth Insurance – Bad News, Good News. We have now renewed our Provincial health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. As you would expect, our premiums have continued to increase. Unfortunately this is driven by very poor claims experience. From September 2004 to September 2005, our trailing twelve month claims costs have increased almost 30%! Not only have prescription drug usage and costs increased but we have also seen a significant increase in doctor and hospital costs. That’s the bad news. The good news is that our premiums have gone up only 6.7%. This “relatively minor” increase was accomplished in part by increasing the doctor visit and prescription drug copays. While this does cost our employees more money, we had anticipated this and encouraged everyone to consider this when they were signing up for our 2006 Flex Plan. At least this way, these increased amounts can be paid by an employee with pretax dollars. Sales Tax Refunds – How would you like to receive a discount on almost everything you buy at the store? Well, that is what Churches can get due to their non-profit status. I am sure that most churches already file for sales tax refunds (or have sales tax exemption certificates), but if you don’t, you are walking away from “free” money. The rules are fairly straightforward as to what does or doesnot qualify. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to give Lois Crain (the resident expert) a call at (336) 722-7922, ext. 1003 or to call your State Department of Revenue or check last year’s Provincial Ties at http://mcsp.org/newsletters/ news_apr2005.htm#treasurer. 2005 Church Audits – Audits of all Churches are due in to the Treasurer’s Office by May 15, 2006. Instructions and forms went out via e-mail to all Church Treasurers and Trustee Chairs in late February. If no one at your Church seems to have gotten this information, please give us a call and we can e-mail it to you or send it via regular mail. Provincial Financial Board
(Submitted by Ted Leinbach, Provincial Treasurer) |
Sabbath WeekendPost College / Young Adults
Come enjoy light devotional activities, singing, good food, worship on Sunday morning, and plenty of time to relax, sleep, enjoy the mountain, see old friends and meet new ones! Special this year will be the Spiritual Spa on Saturday morning led by Joseph Ratledge, Wake Forest Divinity School student. For registration or information call or email Brad Bennett at 336-722-8126 or bbennett@mcsp.org. (Fee: $50 for weekend) (submitted by Brad Bennett) YAMs! Young Adult MoraviansThe YAMS are single or married, post-college age and active. YAMS come together for support, prayer, fellowship, Bible study and fun. They meet every Monday night, 7:30 p.m. at Fries Memorial for Bible study. They meet once a month for potlucks at rotating churches, have an annual retreat at Laurel Ridge, and do various mission projects and special get-togethers. For more information or to join their e-mail list, contact: Whitney Lamb - 336-922-0846 - Virginia Pope - 336-969-0990 - vleighpope@hotmail.com Matt Davis - salmo15@earthlink.net Tiffany Walton - 336-240-8931 - SeVeNtYSiX7676@aol.com (submitted by Brad Bennett) Mission Awareness DinnerMoravian Mission News May 7, 2006 - 5:30 p.m.
Special Features: Praise Music by Clemmons Moravian, Slides and Music from Honduras, Board of World Mission Report, Mission Group Displays Paid dinner reservations due April 17 - $10.00 - Mission Society, 500 South Church St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 (submitted by Sheila Beaman) |
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Address Book
Judith Justice
First Moravian (NC): office@greensboromoravian.org George Chiddie: gchiddie@triad.rr.com Mission Shop becomes World VillagesThe Mission Shop on Reynolda Road closed on March 18. It will reopen as World Villages at 37 Miller Street (next to Whole Foods) in the near future. Watch for the Grand Opening! Gifts...with a mission in mind Moravian Church in America, South Address Correction Requested |
For Your Calendar: April
Deadline for the May Issue of Provincial Ties is April 27 |
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Copyright by Southern Province of the Moravian Church North America |