PASTORAL SERVICES
Pastor Chet Yoder, Director of Pastoral Services
UPCOMING PASTORAL EVENTS DECEMBER 1 & 15, WEDNESDAY Men’s Christian Fellowship 9am, Groups are meeting in various places.
Continuing the study “Life Lessons from Romans” Contact Don Aldrich (610) 299-0713 for information.
DECEMBER 2, THURSDAY Widowed Men’s Gathering | 8am, Concord Room All widowed and single men are invited.
DECEMBER 2, 9, & 16, THURSDAY Women’s Bible Study | 10:30am, Garden Towers
Topic: Holidays: Cheer, Fear, or Tears? Led by Jeanne Jensma with biblical resources for managing emotions during the holidays.
DECEMBER 16, THURSDAY Men’s Breakfast at Yoder’s | 7:30am, Yoder’s Restaurant
Food, Fellowship, and a devotional by Pastor Doug Bozung.
DECEMBER 24, FRIDAY Christmas Eve Service | 3pm, Chapel
Theme: Witnesses to the Incarnation; devotionals interspersed with favorite Christmas carols. Pastries and beverages in the lobby, 2pm.
Women in Community is canceled until further notice. Scripture Meditation will be on hold until March.
JUST THINKING . . .
THE RACIAL EQUITY JOURNEY We did not cause the well-documented disparities between Blacks and Whites discussed earlier in this space. Assuming we all believe that all persons, regardless of race, should be treated the same, should we be giving further thought to these disparities? Isabel Wilkerson, in her book “Caste” puts it as follows (paraphrased). “America is like an old house, built many generations ago. We are like the current occupants of a great house but it has stress cracks and some fissures built into the foundation. While we did not erect this grand old house, its structural problems are ours to deal with now. Any further deterioration is on our hands. The problems will not go away by themselves.” Do you agree with this analogy? Why or why not? After several months of “just” thinking, where are we on this racial equity journey and how do we continue the journey? We (Chaplains Chet and Karyn) are interested in learning your thoughts about this.
HOLIDAY: CHEER, FEAR, OR TEARS?
THURSDAYS, DECEMBER 2, DECEMBER 9, AND DECEMBER 16 10:30AM, GARDEN TOWERS
The approaching holidays may include times when our emotions seem to be at crosspurposes. We experience the joy of gathering with loved ones along with the sadness of missing those no longer with us. We embrace the thought of meaningful experiences, along with the fear of how we will survive. Many times we will experience seemingly opposite emotions at the same time. Ladies, you are invited to join Jeanne Jensma for a time of exploring our emotions: the gift that it is to possess emotions, how to navigate and redirect painful emotions, and how our emotions and spiritual life fit together. We will focus especially on anxiety, grief, loneliness, and depression. Jeanne Jensma spent over a decade in Brazil as a missionary, mostly teaching in a school for TCKs (third-culture kids) and also assisting with churchplanting. Mid-life, she pursued training in counseling and then founded a retreat center for missionaries and pastors with a counseling ministry at the core. The ministry, named Alongside (www.alongsidecares.net), is located in Richland, MI.
HUB-450
Do you have a teaching background and possible cross-cultural experience? Looking to become involved in an after-school tutoring program for Middle and High School boys? HUB-450 is in need of quality volunteers! HUB-450 is a cross-cultural ministry located at 450 N. Prince Street, Lancaster. Tutoring sessions will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3-5pm, start date TBD. A commitment to consistent involvement is required. Contact Deb Meunstermann, (717) 898-2251 ext. 201, or call Chaplain Karyn (6235) with questions.
CHURCH DISMANTLED FOLLOW UP
Conrad Kanagy will offer a teaching/discussion series, “A Church Dismantled” via Zoom in January based upon his first book. Sign-up at Resident Services for individual connection with your computer or to join with a group at GSV. Books available from Pastoral Services. More information to follow.
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