The Moravian Magazine, May 2015

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SPECIAL FEATURE: Moravian Camping Ministry Growing ministry in Peru Sheltering the homeless Peace in the Middle East

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Go beyond the Daily Texts with books, music and Moravian gifts from the IBOC! While best-known for the Moravian Daily Texts, the Interprovincial Board of Communication (IBOC) offers an ever-growing variety of historical, inspirational, educational and spiritual books, each with a special connection to The Moravian Church.

From this outstanding collection, you can understand more about the history and practices of our Church, be inspired, teach your family, grow in your connection to God and renew what it means to belong to the Moravian Church.

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On the cover: Sunrise service at the Eastern Overlook, Laurel Ridge. Photo by Mike Riess

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SPECIAL FEATURE: Moravian Camping Ministry Growing ministry in Peru

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Sheltering the homeless Peace in the Middle East

Christ and him crucified remain our confession of faith In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love

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SPECIAL FEATURE: Moravian Camping Ministries 5 A commitment to camping 6 Thinking about summer at laurel Ridge 9 Mid-States Camping changes hearts 10 Camp Van-Es to light Hearts on Fire at 2015 camp 11 Western District 2015 Camps offer opportunities for youth of all ages 12 Camp Hope readies busy season of fun and faith 14 Helping Camp Hope by selling and stitching Moravians in Mission 16 Experiencing a growing faith in Peru 24 Prayers for Middle East Peace

Member, Associated Church Press

In Our Communities 18 Sunday School Class shows it’s “all about deeds” with work at Overflow Shelter 20 Bethlehem Group helps shelter homeless during harsh winter months In Our Congregations 22 North Dakota Moravians honor a returning soldier with a special service

Visit our website at http://www.moravian.org.

Letters to the editor, address corrections, and other correspondence may be e-mailed to the magazine at pubs@mcnp.org.

May 2015

Studying Moravian Doctrine 26 Moravian Covenant for Christian Living, Part IV: Love, Unity and Diversity, and Settling Differences In Every Issue 4 Ponderings: Taking the longer way home 29 Time Travel: Turning Back Pages: May 1965 30 Official Provincial Elders’ News; Obituary, The Rev. R. Donald Winters

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PONDERINGS

Taking the longer way home We have a running joke in my family about driving out of the way known as “taking Route 29.” The saying stems from my father-in-law’s dislike for driving on the Interstate. When traveling to visit his daughter and her family in Durham, he will avoid the much quicker I-95/I-85 route and take one that wends its way through the two-lane byways of the Mid-Atlantic States—much of which is Virginia Route 29. The journey typically takes two days instead of the usual nine or ten hours.

So when someone in my family finds ourselves taking the long way around to get somewhere, we call it “taking Route 29.” It always draws a chuckle and has become shorthand for the slow way of doing things and getting places.

Until, that is, when on a recent trip to Greensboro, Google Maps sent me on—you guessed it—Route 29. I had visions of meandering from East Nowheresville to North Wheretheheckami. Yet I was pleasantly surprised to find a modern, quick-moving highway that took me through greening fields and small towns. There was less traffic than on I-81 or I-64. I made terrific time, shaved miles off the trip, had more fun driving and gained a new appreciation for the scenery around me.

Which got me thinking (there’s always a lot of time to think during a drive to North Carolina): how else had personal perspectives and long-held beliefs caused me to avoid a potentially better path? Is constantly striving for the quick way home causing me to miss out on a more satisfying journey? Are my destinations so important that I lose sight of how I get there?

In many aspects of our lives, we look for the easy answers, the paths of least resistance, the quick fixes. Even in our spiritual relationships, we often look for the fast track. But is that really the best way to go?

Can taking the perceived “long way ‘round” get us to a better place?

I know, a lot to consider. It’s amazing how a small thing like turning onto a road in the middle of Virginia can alter a perspective. That ride down Route 29 illustrated to me that letting go of a long-held viewpoint can lead to a better journey.

Peace.

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(ISSN 1041-0961 USPS 362600) May Vol. 46, No. 4 Publications Agreement No. 40036408 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: OnTrac International, 121 5th Avenue NW, New Brighton, MN 55112 email: file@ontrac.com Official Journal, The Moravian Church in North America, Northern and Southern Provinces Published monthly, except bimonthly January-February and July-August issues, by the Interprovincial Board of Communication, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018.

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Continuing The North American Moravian, The Moravian and The Wachovia Moravian.

Michael Riess, Editor Renee Schoeller, Communications Assistant Arlene Clendenning, Customer Relations/Business Assistant Interprovincial Board of Communication Paul Peucker Lance Fox, Chair Adam Pristas Ginny Tobiassen Terri Bischoff Jane Carmichael Jane Weber Jill Westbrook Peggy Carter Gary Kniskern Design by Sandy Fay, Laughing Horse Graphics, Inc. Address all correspondence regarding articles, subscriptions, or advertising to The Moravian, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245 FAX: 610.866.9223 Phone: 610.867.0594 800.732.0591 e-mail: moravianmagazine@mcnp.org www.moravian.org Contents © 2015, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in North America.

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The Moravian

CAMPING MINISTRY

A commitment to camping The Moravian Church’s commitment to outdoor ministries offers an escape from the fastpaced world and unique opportunities for spiritual growth in both children and adults.

The Moravian Church in North America hosts four camp and conference centers in the U.S. and Canada. Each of these facilities offers both summer camping experiences and year-round opportunities to renew relationships with God and grow in faith.

And for 2015, those camps, along with camping ministries in the Mid-States region, will serve hundreds of children with a wide variety of programs and activities. This month’s issue of the Moravian highlights what campers can expect in the upcoming season. ■ Moravian Church Camps in U.S. and Canada Hope Conference and Renewal Center • Hope, New Jersey (Eastern District) Van-Es Camp and Conference Centre • Sherwood Park, Alberta (Canadian District) Mt. Morris Camp and Conference Center • Wautoma, Wisconsin (Western District) Laurel Ridge—A Moravian Church Camp, Conference and Retreat Center • Laurel Springs, North Carolina (Southern Province) For links to each of these camps visit http://www.moravian.org/the-moravian-church/camping-and-outdoor-ministries/

CAMPING MINISTRY

Thinking about summer at Laurel Ridge

It’s

time to start thinking about Summer!

Which camp will you choose? At Laurel Ridge, the camp for Southern Province Moravians, there are so many choices this year!

Pre-Junior: July 31–August 2 (Completed Grades 1 or 2) Deans: Gail Theard and Margaret Norris. Pre-Junior Camp is the perfect introduction to Laurel Ridge for your little camper! Two days fly by so fast that most campers ask “when am I old enough to come for a whole week?” The schedule is packed with songs, games and activities to keep our youngest campers busy and happy for their stay away home.

Junior 1: July 5–11/Junior 2: August 9–15 (Completed Grades 3, 4 or 5) Junior 1 Deans: Rev. John D. and Mary Rights— Junior 2 Deans: Rev. Scott and Liz Venable.

Themed “Blessed are the Peacemakers,”

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Junior Campers get to know the different ways that we, as Christians, can be peacemakers, along with traditional elements like crafts, sports, lake activities and campfires.

Eco Camp: June 21–27 (Completed Grades 3 through 5) Deans: Rev. Rick Sides and Rev. Christy Clore. At Eco Camp we believe that “if there is a creek you should be in it, and if there is dirt it should be on you!” This camp takes hands-on learning to the next level, immersing campers in God’s creation to learn about the bugs, fish, animals and plants that are indigenous to the 700 acres that Laurel Ridge is situated on. If your camper is ready for an adventure, then this is the place to be!

Middle High: August 2–8 (Completed Grades 6, 7 or 8) “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, Nope it’s Jesus!” The Deans Bob Dowdy, Meredith Dowdy and the Rev. Jeff Jones are Laurel Ridge Program Manager Scarlett Dowdy and Elaine Stingel, last year’s environmental intern.

putting together a program using super hero Clark Kent’s story to highlight Jesus’ story from birth to death. We start on Sunday with his long-awaited birth, then take a look at his childhood, coming of age, his temptations and finally the Great Commission that he leaves us with throughout the week. How can we as Christians mirror his example? Also enjoy summer camp activities such as swimming, canoeing, sports, Group Interaction Course (low ropes), archery, crafts, music and campfires every evening.

Senior High: July 12–18 (Completed Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12) Deans: Rev. Joe Moore and Rev. Ginny Tobiassen—AP Confirmation, a refreshing new look to what it means to be confirmed with a program by Moravian Bishop, Hopeton Clennon. Renew your faith journey as you spend time taking a closer look at how you are doing and for those who have not been confirmed yet, a deep look at what to expect. Also enjoy summer camp activities like swimming, canoeing, sports, Group Interaction Course (low ropes), archery, crafts, music and campfires every evening.

Mission Camps: • Mission Camp 1: June 21–27 Dean—Justin Rabbach • Mission Camp 2: July 5–11 Dean—Donna Hurt • Mission Camp 3: July 19–25 Dean—Jennifer Boles • Mission Camp 4: July 26–August 1 Dean—Sam Gray

groups and their adult leaders with work sites based on their skill level and project needs.

The Program this year is based on John 15:5 and Acts 1:8. Groups need to provide capable adult leaders (1 per every 5 youth) and transportation to work sites (note: these camps are housed in Higgins Lodge).

If your camper is ready for an adventure, then this is the place to be!

New camp options Junior And Middle High Arts Camp: June 28–July 3 (Completed Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8) Come and Join Deans Betsy Messick and Rev David Merritt for those of you who truly love the arts and want to explore them in a mountain setting, this is the place for you. ARTS= A – Almighty; R – Redeemer; T – Teacher; S – Savior. You will be able to explore many of the activities that will be offered including painting, drawing/ (continued on next page)

Mission Camp at Laurel Ridge provides youth groups with the opportunity to serve the less fortunate in the High Country. We receive referrals from local agencies and match youth May 2015

Scarlett Dowdy is program manager at Laurel Ridge. For more information on Laurel Ridge, visit www.laurelridge.org.

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(continued from previous page) sketching, dance, singing, instrumental music, photography, etc. This new and intuitive camp will be enhanced by looking at the gifts God has given us (note: this camp is housed in Higgins Lodge).

Middle High Eco Mission: July 12–18 (Completed Grades 6, 7 or 8) Deans: Rev. John Rainey and Donna Rainey.

Inspired by the lessons taught at Eco Camp, Eco Mission takes older campers out into the surrounding areas to serve as stewards of God’s earth. Past work sites have included Mount Jefferson State Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Blending elements from our Mission Camps and Summer Camps together, campers will get to travel off-site during the morning and early afternoon to complete work projects and experience traditional camp activities in the late afternoon and evening (note: this camp is housed in Higgins Lodge).

Senior High Adventure Camp: June 21–27 (Completed Grades 9, 10, 11 or 12 and college-age) Housed in Summer Camp and limited to 30 campers. The dean is Wesley Hudson. This camp will include many activities such as repelling, 8

kayaking down the New River, fly fishing, overnight tent camping on the Blue Ridge Parkway, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, trail running, etc. There will also be outdoor games with much needed physical/athletic abilities. At the end of the week there will be Big game day, a cross between a triathlon and Scottish games.

Because of the nature of this camp the cost is $450.00.

Sign up today: www.laurelridge.org— go to “our programs,” click on summer camps. If your child would like to attend two camps, you will receive $100.00 off the total of both camps. Camp scholarships are available! Apply online!

If you are looking to serve this summer, there are counselor positions that need to be filled. You may also sign up online. Under “our programs” in the drop down box you will see “volunteer counselor.” This will take you to the registration page to be a counselor.

For questions about any of these camps please contact Scarlett Dowdy, Program Manager, 336.359.2951, ext 225. Or send an email to scarlett@laurelridge.org.

See you on the mountain! ■

CAMPING MINISTRY

Mid-States Camping changes hearts Many hearts and lives have been changed through the Moravian camping programs offered to our youth. Sometimes we don’t realize the impact that camp had until years down the road, but we are so fortunate to have these camps available to our youth. And the 2015 camping season will be here before we know it!

Camping in the Mid-states has changed a little for the 2015 camping season. 2014 marked the 25th and final year for Epworth Forest camp, the camping program for our junior-high-aged youth. Epworth Forest served our youth well during the past quarter century and offered some unique experiences for everyone involved.

However, because of decreasing numbers of this age group in our camping ministry, we felt it was no longer feasible to keep this camp up and running.

Starting this year, we will be incorporating the youth who have completed 7th and 8th grade back into the Tar Hollow program along with the senior high through age 21 young adults. The youth completing 6th grade will stay in their respective junior camps, Bethany or Illiana.

Tar Hollow will take place the week of May 2015

July 18–25. The Rev. Bryan Trotter will lead the program with the theme, “Jesus is not a Chupacabra, finding the real Jesus within the mythology.”

Illiana and Bethany will follow closely behind on July 27–31 and August 3–7 respectively. Bethany’s program will be “What’s Up Hus?” and will be led by Rev. John Wallace. Illiana’s program will be led

by Rev. Andy Kilps with the program title yet to be announced.

We are also blessed with so many capable and willing staff members who give so freely of their time and talents, including using their vacation time, to serve on staff and make sure that our youth can have these life-changing experiences. If you are one of those staff members, know that your gifts have not gone unnoticed.

Thanks for giving to our youth and to the Lord in this way! ■ Jo Keller is a member of Hope Moravian Church in Hope, Indiana. For more information on Mid-States camping, visit http://midstatesmoraviancamps. webs.com/

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CAMPING MINISTRY

Camp Van-Es to light Hearts on Fire at 2015 camp The snow is gone and the trees are start-

ing to bud; Camp Van-Es is gearing up for another summer filled with fun, laughter, friendship and God’s Spirit moving.

There is a special joy and energy about working with kids that brings out the best in us. We had to ask ourselves this year: what is it that has this effect on people who work in the camping ministry? Undoubtedly it is the joy and passion with which children approach life that inspires us.

Whatever they do, their hearts are in it… they pour who they are into what they do.

It is fitting, then, that this year’s theme is Hearts on Fire. It is a reflection of the childlike wonder that we hope remains within us and will remain within the kids who pass through our care. We hope to ignite kids’ hearts and set them on fire for Christ.

The Camp Van-Es summer program and its leaders look to live up to the theme of Hearts on Fire, as it is only with hearts on fire for kids and for Christ that we can hope to fulfill God’s call in our lives, to go and share his love with the world. We look to offer a program full of adventure, excitement and opportunities for spiritual 10

growth. Whether it is a meaningful craft giving insight into a quality of Christ or going for a walk in God’s Creation, Christ is there working through the hearts of our leaders and in the hearts of our campers.

Christ continues to be the same today as he was yesterday and years ago. His love and grace is still needed today as much as it was then and so we continue to offer up the grace and mercy that he has offered us as his children. May God’s spirit move and set hearts on fire for him this summer. ■ Brandon Salyczyn is a member of the Van-Es Camp and Conference Centre board of directors.

2015 CAMP DATES Grade 3 and 4 Camp: June 28–July 3 Grade 5 and 6 Camp: July 5–July 11 Junior High Camp: July 12–July 18 Senior High Camp: July 19–July 25 Grade 1 and 2 Camp: July 26–July 29

The Moravian

CAMPING MINISTRY

Western District 2015 Camps offer opportunities for youth of all ages The Moravian Church has been offering youth camps for decades and I think that they have mastered it. This summer, the Western District Camping Ministry offers opportunities for youth of all ages to learn, have fun and experience faith surrounded

by God’s creation.

Each week’s camp is tailored to the ages of the youth participating, but all have one thing in common: they’re sure to bring an exciting theme designed to help you grow in your relationship with God. The friendships that are built during camp are like no others and will keep you

coming back year after year. And if that is not enough to entice you to come to camp, think about making crafts, swimming, hiking, playing volleyball, Moravian Kickball, lots of singing, campfires, great food and much more… all in the great outdoors!

Most of the Western District camps are held at Mt. Morris Camp and Conference Center in Wautoma, Wis. Last year, Mt. (continued on page 28) Kathy Liebenow is chair of the Western District Camping Ministry Committee.

Above: Campers at Chetek.

THIS YEAR’S CAMP DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Junior Camp (completing grades 3–5): July 6–10 • Director: Kerry Krauss Chetek (completing grade 9–21 years old): July 19–25 • Director: Kurt Liebenow Winmor (completing grades 6–8): July 26–August 1 • Director: Marian Boyle Camp Mindyy (completing grades 2–5): July 26–29 • Directors: Amy Gohdes-Luhman and Jenny Moran (Note: camp is in Minnesota) Ba6 (Basic) (completing grades 3– 6): August 16–20 • Director: Sara Valley 4M (completing grades 1 and 2): August 17–19 • Director: Stacy Wickert 11

CAMPING MINISTRY

Camp Hope readies busy season of fun and faith

Hope Conference & Renewal Center, an outdoor ministry of the Eastern District, is preparing for hundreds of campers and staff members. The summer season will be filled with swimming in the pool, boating on the lake, meeting new friends, laughing at campfires, worshiping by the lake or on the hill and much more.

Overlooking Little Silver Lake in Hope, New Jersey, Hope Conference Center offers a special time for all ages. Students who have just completed grades 1 and 2 can sample the camping experience during Pre-Primary Conference. This is a shorter camp, but it packs a lot into that time. For campers finishing grades 3 and 4 there is Primary Conference, a week of activities and study, but with plenty of recreational and social time. Middler Confer 12

ence is for those completing grades 5 and 6 and includes its own carnival, Olympics and special activities.

For those finishing grades 7 and 8, Jr. High Conference allows campers to grow spiritually and socially through study, sharing and fun. Those completing grade 9 through age 21 look forward to Sr./Post High Conference, where they connect with new and old friends and strengthen their faith through community, a coffeehouse and a commitment service.

There are camps for special interests as well. Guys and girls in grades 6 through 10 who want to learn to fish, or to improve their fishing skills, are invited to attend Fishing Camp, where they will learn about equipment, bait, lures and take an overnight trip to the Pennsylvania Poconos. Campers who have completed grades 3 through 6 can come to Swimming Camp, where they learn new skills and strokes, taught by the Hope Center Aquat-

MORAVIAN CAMP AND RETREAT DATES FOR 2015 Memorial Day Family Camp: May 22–25 • Leader: Rev. Jennika Borger Pre-Primary Conference: June 21–24 • Leaders: Shannon Swingle and Rev. Adam Spaugh Fishing Camp: June 21–27 • Leaders: Bob Wingrove and Rev. Derek French Primary Conference: June 28–July 4 • Leader: Rev. Tammie Rinker Middler Conference: July 5–11 • Leaders: Rev. David Geyer and Rev. Sayward Lippincott Jr. High Conference: July 12–18 • Leaders: Rev. Rhonda Robinson and Steadman Robinson Swim Camp: July 19–25 • Leaders: Ellen Saylor and Rev. Jeff Gehris Musical Theater Camp: July 19–25 • Leaders: Sarah Hriniak, Ryan Morrow and Rev. Otto Dreydoppel Sr./Post High Conference: July 26–August 1 • Leaders: Steve Kish, Rev. Cynthia Geyer and Rt. Rev. Chris Giesler Quilt Camp: September 23–26 • Leader: Rev. Lois Mease Camp Hope Alumni Retreat: November 13–15 • Leader: Ruth Huth

ics Team. Women who love to sew, whether it’s on a quilt or on something else, are invited to attend Quilt Camp in September. Times of Bible study and worship are included in all of the special interest camps.

The specialty camp for performers, Musical Theater Camp, gives campers in grades 5–9 a taste of all aspects of live performance, from singing and choreography to backstage crew. The week will culminate in two live performances of Fiddler on the Roof, Jr., a version of the Broadway play specially arranged for younger performers. The performances at 7 p.m. Friday, July 24 and 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25, are open to the public. Tickets will be available before each performance.

Whether you attended camp in the “good old days” or the recent past, the Camp Hope

Alumni Retreat is an opportunity to experience the fellowship and fun again. Join other Camp Hope alumni for a weekend of reminiscing, sharing and service. You can find more information on the Camp Hope Alumni Retreat Facebook page or at www.camphopealumniretreat.org.

In the Dining Hall, Chef Kim Samsel has developed a new menu for 2015, serving some new international dinners along with old favorites. She can also accommodate veg(continued on page 15)

Susan M. Dreydoppel is the Administrative Assistant for Hope Conference & Renewal Center. She is a member of the Schoeneck Moravian Church in Nazareth, Pa. and represents the Lehigh Valley, North on the Eastern District Executive Board.

May 2015

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CAMPING MINISTRY

Helping Camp Hope by selling and stitching Camps

need a lot of assistance and support, especially from volunteers. In the case of Hope Conference & Renewal Center, some volunteers serve as counselors or nurses.

Some paint doors and repair roofs. Some make quilts and sell Avon.

Selling Avon for Camp Louise Snyder, a member of East Hills Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pa., has been selling Avon products for almost 50 years. Her daughter, Karen, attended Hope Conference Center, first as a camper and then as a staff member.

Louise wanted to join her daughter on camp staff, but serious allergies prevented her from being in a camp environment. So she came up with another way to help “Camp Hope.�

Since the late 1990s, Louise has organized an annual fund-raiser to benefit the camp. She recruits individuals to sell Avon in as many congregations as she can. The sellers turn their sales sheets and money collected over to Louise, who places the order and then divides it up for each congregation when it arrives.

All of the profit from those sales, including Photo above: Camp Hope Quliters display their work. At left: Louise Snyder sells Avon products to support Camp Hope.

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The Moravian

Louise’s commission, is donated to the camp.

Louise also offers prizes to the congregations with the top sales and to the individuals with the top sales amounts.

Each year, fifteen to twenty congregations take part in the event.

In the 17 years that Louise has been organizing this fund-raiser, she has raised almost $70,000 to benefit Hope Conference Center.

But she is not stopping. If you want to help Louise support Hope Conference Center, you can do it year-round. You can order through Louise’s website, louisesnyder.avonrepresentative.com, at any time during the year.

Click on the “Contact me” button and then the “other” button to let her know that you want your order to benefit Hope Conference Center. Or you can order with Louise over the phone—call the camp office for contact information.

Quilting for Camp Six quilters met at Hope Conference & Renewal Center in early October for the annual Quilt Camp, working together on a cross-stitched quilt top with an autumn theme which had been donated to the group.

The group is happy to accept leftover fabric, quilt tops, quilt pieces, or other materials which anyone does not want or cannot use.

The quilters will use the materials to produce quilts, wall hangings and other materials, which they sell at periodic Round Robin events at various Moravian congregations and events. All proceeds from any sales go to Hope Conference Center.

Anyone interested in purchasing a completed quilt or in hosting a Round Robin sale should contact the camp office at hopecenter@camphope.org or call 908.459.4435. ■

May 2015

Fun and faith (continued from page 13)

etarian, vegan, gluten- or lactose-intolerant or other special dietary needs as long as the camp is informed in advance.

Even if you are no longer in school, or not even Moravian, Hope Center has a place for you. Pastors and adult lay persons alike can use their talents as counselors, nurses, program leaders and role models. Campers are encouraged to bring a friend with them to camp, regardless of their religious affiliation.

For those who need it, financial aid may be available; contact your pastor or Hope Center.

Center Administrator Stephen Sobczak invites you to experience Hope Center this summer. Registrations for camps are being accepted now. For more info, contact Hope Center at 908.459.4435 or www.camphope.org or hopecenter@camphope.org. ■

AN INVITATION Hope Conference & Renewal Center is grateful to the congregations of the Eastern District for their overwhelming support. To show their appreciation, Hope Center invites everyone in the Eastern District (and any other Moravian who might be in the area) to a free Memorial Day Church Picnic on Monday, May 25. Come experience Hope Center as you enjoy the swimming pool, fishing and boating on the lake, games and relaxation.

The pavilion and grill are available for your picnic. Bring your own food and lawn chairs. The picnic runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.—come when you can, leave when you must.

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MORAVIANS IN MISSION

Experiencing a growing faith in Peru The Iglesia EvangĂŠlica Morava de Peru is growing in faith, in numbers and in music!

People are learning of the saving work of Jesus Christ and committing themselves to lives of discipleship through the sacrament of baptism. Young people are responding to God’s call to serve in the church. Music is vibrant and lives are being changed.

It was my privilege to travel with Br. Sam Gray to Peru in early February to work with the leaders of the Mission Area as they organize themselves in preparation of holding a national conference this summer. In January, the worldwide Unity officially named the Moravian Church Northern Province as the Supervising Province to walk with the Peru Mission Area as it grows toward recognition as a Mission Province.

My week among the Peruvian Christians was fascinating, rich and personally transforming. On the evening of our first full day in Lima, Sam and I baptized a young adult in a local swimming pool. I also preached (in 16

Spanish) at Mangomarca, one of the two congregations in Lima.

My sermon was the least of the witnesses to the power of God at work in their midst. A young person sang a song; an older woman gave a witness talk; all 25 people in attendance sang with joy and prayed with fervor.

Worship services are held in the living rooms of someone connected to the congregation. Pastors transport plastic chairs, banners, musical instruments and whatever is needed to hold worship. Much like our emerging ministries that rent space, church leaders transport everything to their worship location. Unlike our emerging ministries, the Peruvians transport everything by taxicab.

The bulk of our time was in Chiclayo, where the leadership team met to review changes to the Book of Order and assure that what they were suggesting was in compliance with the Church Order of the Unitas Fratrum and in keeping with their local values and customs.

If you think studying the Book of Order is difThe Moravian

At left, Betsy Miller and Sam Gray perform a baptism at a pool in Peru.

ficult (and often boring) in English, try two solid days of it in Spanish! The group was very patient with my efforts to lead Bible Studies and offer my comments in Spanish. All of that work was more than worth it when we heard the call story of a young man who declared his intention to study for the ministry.

During our time in Chiclayo, we worshiped in two other locations. The Rhemanente Band, a group of six teenage musicians of the congregation, led music. They are quite gifted and have recorded their first original song. They honored me when they asked me to serve as La Madrina (Godmother) of the Band! Evidently, it is a custom in Peru for all bands to have a godmother.

With two other baptisms, two more worship services and the joy of visiting with people all along the way, our trip was complete. But the work has just begun. When the Board of World Mission asked our Provincial Elders’ Conference to serve as the supervising province, the PEC asked me if I were willing to take on this additional work. My response was simple: “How can I say no if it means that more people will hear the good news of Jesus Christ?”

During my week of ‘work’ among the people of Peru, my heart was “strangely warmed” by the faithfulness, commitment and tenacity of people who offer all that they have to bring God’s love to people who are thirsty for the saving message of Jesus Christ. All of the pastoral leaders have full-time jobs; ministry is part-time work, but full-time passion for them. I was inspired and humbled.

As the supervising province, we have the privilege of walking alongside our brothers and sisters as they organize themselves. We have the responsibility to pray for them; the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few, but growing. We have the opportunity to offer May 2015

ourselves even as they offer themselves.

Currently, each of the four congregations is seeking a place to rent so they can establish a presence in the neighborhood and offer ministry more than one night a week.

Rent is high, relative to income, but $10,000 would provide rent for four congregations for a year. In fact, two pastors have signed a lease, trusting that the funds will come to pay the rent. Surely there are individuals and congregations in our provinces that feel God calling them to adopt a congregation. Maybe a Sunday School could help build up a children’s ministry in Peru. Maybe a Joyful Noise Offering could be designated for Peru.

Even though we often feel like we don’t have enough, one trip to Peru will remind us of just how rich we are. I invite you to join me in adopting a congregation, a ministry, a Mission Area that is changing lives day by day.

Gifts may be directed to the Board of World Mission, designated to Peru. ■ Betsy Miller is president of the Northern Province Provincial Elders’ Conference.

Photos courtesy of Sam Gray, Board of World Mission.

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IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Sunday School Class shows it’s “all about deeds” with work at Overflow Shelter The Discovery Sunday School Class of New Philadelphia Church is all about deeds. We know there are so many unanswered needs within our community and when called upon, we work to help where we can.

Such an opportunity came with the Overflow Shelter at Augsburg Lutheran Church in Winston Salem, N.C. The Overflow Shelter was an outgrowth of Anthony’s Plot Community where every night, from December 1 through March 31, they coordinate the winter emergency Overflow Shelters. The shelters provide life saving shelter, a warm meal and access to housing resources for the vast majority of Winston-Salem’s unsheltered population. They average almost 100 guests a night and shelter them at one of five church sites.

Augsburg Lutheran Church is one of those sites. The collaboration of congregations and community groups has become known as the “City with Dwellings”—a reminder in Isaiah of God’s vision of a restored people who rebuild the community and re-house the displaced among them.

The guests arrive at their appointed “Dwelling” by bus from a central location downtown at Lloyd Presbyterian. They are assigned a “housing home” where they have a storage 18

container assigned to them to place their personal belongings in for the duration of the night. At the dwelling, they have access to rest rooms where they can bathe and wash up for dinner.

Members of our Sunday School class made contributions of “blessing bags” for the guests. These are individual bags that the guests can use containing personal toiletries such as shampoos, deodorants, lotions, toothpaste and wash cloths. The guest can store the blessing bags in their assigned storage bin for use on subsequent nights when they come in.

We started this ministry in December and provided a hot meal for the residents twice a month from December through March. We funded the food expense through class donations that we took up each month. Other members of our Church helped by preparing sandwiches for “To-Go” lunches, as well as by spending many nights at the shelter during this four-month period.

On March 18, 2015, the Discovery Sunday School Class served their last assigned meal of the overflow season with chicken and dumplings, homemade cole slaw, farm-totable green beans, rolls and an abundance of The Moravian

Far left, Kay Adams and Beth Gerringer prepare a meal. Middle left: Tim Adams and Donna Griffin dish up a hot dinner for the guests. Left: Joseph Hairston (Joe-Joe)—one of the guests that transitioned from homeless to a permanent residence.

homemade desserts, most of them chocolate!

I interviewed Joe-Joe—Joseph Hairston— who was one of the first eight in the Overflow Shelter. He had been sleeping in an abandoned truck and had been waiting on the Overflow Shelter dwelling to open since early October. His journey began 14 months earlier when he began the process of qualifying for the “rapid” re-housing program through the Section 8 Voucher system. He had to wait three months just to get his apartment inspected before he could move in.

What do you do for furniture, linens and kitchen appliances if you are starting from nothing?

The people he met through the Overflow Shelter helped him through all the bureaucratic hurdles. For him, this experience has strengthened his faith and he points to so many angels that have sheltered him along in his journey here on earth. He has been out of work for the past three years, but has kept praying. He needed surgery, but until he found permanent housing, surgery was not an option for him. He now is in an apartment close to the hospital and is contemplating the scheduling of his surgery.

Because of his medical issues, returning to his prior job of unloading trucks wasn’t possible. He was given the name of someone to help him possibly qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation through the State of N.C. in order to be retrained to do another type of work.

Lynn Thrower is secretary of the Discovery Sunday School Class, New Philadelphia Moravian Church, Winston Salem, N.C. May 2015

JAMES 2: 14–18 FAITH AND DEEDS What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

Vocational Rehabilitation will also, if approved, fund his surgery and on-going training programs to become a viable applicant for another trade. For the first time in his life, Joe-Joe is looking ahead!

Another initiative started from this endeavor is known as Green Nest. Their goal is to house gently-used furniture and housing items gathered from donations to help the homeless and veterans transition from homelessness to permanent housing.

Most of us do not think about the enormity of the transition from being homeless to moving into a permanent dwelling. What do you do for furniture, linens and kitchen appliances if you are starting from nothing? Green Nest has been formed to help make this transition easier for residents. What a blessing!

As we move into spring and summer, The Discovery Class is already planning how they will support and fund efforts to serve hot meals to the homeless in the fall and winter for this coming year.

For more information on helping to transition residents to permanent housing, check out www.greenestws.org For more information on Anthony’s Plot Community, check out www.anthonysplot. org. ■ 19

IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Bethlehem group helps shelter homeless during harsh winter months During the cold harshness of this past winter, a group of Moravians in the Bethlehem area helped shelter the homeless at night.

Through a growing partnership with area churches of other denominations, Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering, Inc. (BES) provided more than just a warm place to sleep.

The seeds for BES were sown in January of 2009 when the Bethlehem Trinity Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen found that many of the people they were serving were also homeless and forced to sleep outside in the subfreezing winter weather due to a lack of space in area shelters. For many, there was literally “no room at the inn.”

Churches from a variety of faith traditions, Moravian Churches included, joined to meet this real and frightening need. The ministry solidified when four homeless individuals died on the streets of a neighboring community during a bitterly cold series of nights and days. Churches in Bethlehem literally said, “Never again on our watch!”

The number of participating churches has grown ever since. Each of the Moravian Churches of Bethlehem as well as many churches from the ecumenical community have supported the mission of BES by providing overnight shelter sites, volunteers and support services.

The mission of BES is to be a faith-based 20

partnership that provides a network of care and hospitality for the homeless in our community, with the belief that all people have the right to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their circumstances. We believe serving those in need is a tangible expression of God’s love and that individuals and groups who work in partnership with others create a more talented and resourceful community.

Motivated by our shared mission and vision, BES endeavors to demonstrate the power of God’s love by being God’s hands and feet in an effort to bring hope to the homeless.

We seek to be effective caregivers to those we serve by providing compassionate and innovative assistance while raising awareness of the realities of homelessness and inspiring the greater community to action.

Overseen by an elected Board of Directors and driven by an array of working mission teams, we work together with the greater community including city and county officials, service agencies and hospitals with the goal of one day eliminating homelessness in our city and region.

Now in its seventh season, BES offers shelter each evening from December 1 through March 31. The ministry is primarily staffed by volunteers who drive a BES-owned van to transport men and women when the shelter site is not within walking distance of downThe Moravian

town; open the shelter site and prepare for the night; welcome those who arrive and oversee the check in process to keep a record of those who are overnight guests; provide dinner in the evening and breakfast in the morning; chaperone overnight; and clean up.

Although the average number of those seeking shelter is about 30 men and 10 women in the early months, later in the season and certainly on colder nights, shelter is sought by as many as 55 men and 20 women.

In the months of December and January this shelter season, a total of 519 shelter nights were provided for women and 2,014 for men, a total of 2,533 sleeping spaces used in two months. Most guests are from the Bethlehem area, but some come from as far as New York and Philadelphia.

Many guests receive this support for a few days or weeks as they deal with a difficult time in their lives. Others have been in the shelter program each night for most of the seven years we’ve been operating. Each guest comes to understand the driving mission and vision of BES. Each guest is incredibly thankful.

Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering runs on a modest budget of $28,000 per year, funded mainly through grants and donations from individuals, agencies and congregations.

Funding covers the costs of transportation, in-

surances, cots and bedding and two part-time shelter consultants who share the responsibility of visiting each shelter site each evening, getting to know guests and volunteers, helping to deal with concerns and issues that may arise and being on call during the evening.

Churches offering shelter absorb many of the other costs, including utilities, food (usually donated by those who cook and serve), kitchen and bathroom products and maintenance.

This ministry of BES is very hard work. The ministry of BES is so very strong because of the volunteers who offer space and loving support. It is also so very fragile because we know that Matthew 25:31–40 is not easy to live. Churches and people have their seasons; some simply burn out and need a break. But the need for those seeking shelter never takes a break—a fact we know only too well, and BES thanks the many people of faith who step up and say, “I will cover this season of need.”

Thank God for those who do, year in and year out. ■ Gary Marsh, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and volunteer for BES, recently retired as the Northern Province’s Director of Stewardship.

IN OUR CONGREGATIONS

North Dakota Moravians honor a returning soldier with a special service They say that Christmas comes just once a year. On March 20, 2015, Christmas Eve came again to the Goshen Moravian Church in Durbin, N.D. One of our own church members, Sergeant Michael Jahnke, serving in the U.S. Army, recently returned home from a nine-month deployment to Kuwait in support of Opera-

tion Spartan Shield. Michael’s family decided to celebrate Christmas as a family on March 21. When the women of the church found out about this, they decided Michael also needed to have a Goshen Moravian Christmas Eve Candlelight service.

This service turned out to be not only a church family affair with more than 40 church members and friends attending, but also received community support. Outside the church, decorated with Christmas wreaths as well as yellow ribbons on the posts, a group of veterans were ready to welcome Michael with an honor guard of American flags. The sheriff’s deputy and another truck with an American flag were sent to pick up Michael and his family at their home. The caravan arrived, the sheriff’s truck with its lights flashing, indicating our honored guest and church son had arrived.

The surprise for Michael that was outside was nothing compared to the surprise inside The Moravian

Members of Goshen Moravian celebrated a candlelight Christmas service for returning Sergeant Michael Jahnke (in green shirt) in March.

the church. The entry room was decorated with Christmas table centerpieces and the electric Christmas candles were in the windows. Candlesticks were placed on the ends of the pews and the electric candles were lit.

The manger was at the front of the sanctuary, and the Christ candle was lit.

The service was the same service Goshen held on Christmas Eve, 2014. We showed a video of the Christmas pageant that was performed by the youth and the children. I delivered the same Christmas Eve message although I had to make a few modifications because of references to events during Advent.

Our offering that evening was earmarked for the Wounded Warrior Project and over $350 was collected.

Then it was time for the candlelight service, with candles provided by the Bethel Moravian Church. As the candles, trimmed in red ribbons, were distributed and the youth led the congregation in the singing of “Morning Star,” Michael was invited to take the Christ candle and light the candle of each person at the end of the pew; the light was then passed through the pews. Finally, as the congregation joined in singing “Silent Night,” Michael, the congregation and I lifted our candles during the singing of the final verse. Our Christmas Eve in March service concluded with the singing of “Joy to the World.”

While Michael was in Kuwait, he attended a promotion board with the artillery battalion. The board is held to interview soldiers who are eligible for promotion to determine if they have the knowledge and skills to be a Noncommissioned Officer. The board members recommended Michael for promotion to Sergeant and on February 1, 2015, he was promoted. All the soldiers in Michael’s division returned home alive although four had May 2015

been injured in a Humvee rollover—some seriously. But through continued prayer, all are making strides to be released from the hospital and rejoin their families.

“Christmas 2014 was bittersweet,” said Michael about his Christmas experience in Kuwait. “We all were away from our families, but at the same time we had our military family there with us. We had a great dinner at the chow hall served by the commanders, sergeants major and first sergeants from across the brigade. Being able to video chat with my family also made the holidays on deployment more enjoyable for my fellow soldiers and me.”

It was a pleasure to be able to honor a member of our congregation who sacrificed so much in service to his country and to his God. I would pray that each congregation would look for ways to honor the sons and daughters of their congregations who serve our country and miss out on special celebrations here at home. ■ Reid Lauderman is the pastor of the Goshen Moravian Church in Durbin, N.D., and of the Bethel Moravian Church in Leonard, N.D. Photos by Carolyn Jendro.

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MORAVIANS IN MISSION

Prayers for Middle East Peace life, but they also speak of hope, of building bridges among Christians and Muslims and Jews and between Palestinians and Israelis.

The Provincial Elders’ Conferences in both the Northern and Southern Provinces have named May 18, 2015 as a Prayer Day for Middle East Peace. In particular, we pray for the ministry of the worldwide Unity at Star Mountain in Ramallah, and Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).

Israel

and Palestine—what comes to mind when you hear those words? For many it is conflict, violence or injustice. Holy Land pilgrimages shape the response of others, who are deeply moved by visits to the holy sites.

For many North American Moravians whose pilgrimages included a visit to the Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center, responses might include something about Moravian ministry among the most needy in the region for 150 years.

Others find that a pilgrimage is particularly powerful when they spend time with Palestinian Christians, who often refer to themselves as the “living stones” (see 1 Peter 2:5). “We are glad that you come to see the paving stones on which Jesus walked,” they say, “but we are even more pleased when you visit with us, the living stones.” They tell us of a difficult

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Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center The ministry of the Moravian Church in the Holy Land dates back to May 20, 1867, when Friedrich and Magdalena Tappe arrived in Jerusalem to establish a mission serving lepers. They established the Jesushilfe hospital in Jerusalem. In 1958 the land near Ramallah was purchased for what became the Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center.

Because of advances in the treatment of leprosy (Hansen’s disease) during the 1960s the number of patients declined, and in 1974 the church decided to focus on intellectually disabled children. Initially the emphasis was on a boarding facility, but in 2000 the boarding school closed and community-based rehabilitation in villages throughout the region was expanded.

Current programs include an integrative kindergarten, a school, an autism program, a vocational training program and a community work program. Support services include art education, physiotherapy, speech therapy, psycho-social support and sports. A new protected workshop offers work for those completing vocational training but who are The Moravian

unable to find jobs due to very high unemployment rates in the area.

Staff members are Palestinian, both Muslim and Christian, except for a liaison officer from the Moravian Church in Europe.

Visit “Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center” on Facebook; see www.moravianchurcharchives. org, Publications, This Month in Moravian History for June 2010 and July 2006; and check out the March 2012 issue of the Moravian Magazine (http://www.moravian.org/the-moravian-magazine/moravian-march-2012/ moravian-magazine-march-2012/).

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) The Southern and Northern Province Synods of 2006 affirmed the participation of both provinces in Churches for Middle East Peace.

CMEP is a coalition of 22 national church denominations and organizations, including Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant traditions. It works to encourage U.S. government policies that will ensure security, human rights and religious freedom for all people of the region.

CMEP works to encourage U.S. policies that actively promote a just, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ensuring security, human rights and religious freedom for all the people of the region. The Moravian Church in America is a member of CMEP. This coalition supports a comprehensive solution that will bring lasting peace and justice to the region, including a negotiated peace agreement, establishing security for the State of Israel, creating a viable independent Palestinian state and reaching an agreement on Jerusalem that allows the city to be shared

by Israelis and Palestinians, and makes the city open to Jews, Christians and Muslims.

CMEP helps church organizations, leaders May 2015

and individuals nationwide to advocate in a knowledgeable, timely, balanced and effective way and to express their concerns about justice and peace for all peoples in the region.

Many find the “Action Alerts” from CMEP particularly helpful. These “alerts” inform recipients of proposed legislation and specific events that can influence peace in the region.

For more information see www.cmep.org.

A network to “seek peace and pursue it” The PECs meeting jointly appointed Bob Sawyer as the Moravian representative to CMEP. The PECs also asked Bob to work “in cooperation with a network of individual members in both provinces who have an interest and are willing to serve as educators, communicators and advocates for peace in the Middle East.”

The PECs are now inviting people from both provinces to explore further how such a network might be formed to fulfill the intent.

There will be many possibilities, such as learning about and supporting constructive efforts to bring about a just peace in Israel-Palestine; identifying prayer concerns and committing to intercessory prayer; encouraging persons on pilgrimages to go to Star Mountain and meet with the “living stones”; and supporting government policy that promotes peace, justice and security in the region.

This will be a network to “seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14, 1 Peter 3:11).

Those interested in participating can register their interest at www.mcsp.org, under the “News/Info” tab (look for “Seek Peace and Pursue It”). ■ The Rev. Dr. Bob Sawyer is a retired Moravian Pastor and past president of the Southern Province Provincial Elders’ Conference 25

STUDYING MORAVIAN DOCTRINE

Moravian Covenant for Christian Living Part IV

In our January issue of The Moravian Maga-

zine, we introduced a new regular feature, “Studying Moravian Doctrine.” Following the outline established by Jesus Still Lead On, An Introduction to Moravian Belief , we will cover different aspects of two central documents outlining Moravian doctrine and belief each month. In 2015, we are working through the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living (MCCL); in 2016, we’ll cover the Ground of the Unity.

This month will cover the parts of the MCCL dealing with Love, Unity and Diversity and Settling Differences.

Thanks to Dr. Craig Atwood and the editors of Jesus Still Lead On (produced in 2005) for this material. If you are interested in obtaining the entirety of Jesus Still Lead On, please contact the IBOC or visit store.moravian.org.

The full text of the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living and the Ground of the Unity are available as a free download from www.moravian.org. Printed copies are available from the IBOC. Love Paragraph 13: Since disciples of Jesus are to be known by the love they have to one another (John 13:35), we will cherish Christian love as of prime importance.

Commentary: Originally this paragraph referred to “brotherly” love rather than “Christian” love, but the wording was changed to make it inclu-

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sive of “sisterly” love as well. The Bible verse quoted here comes from Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples in John. Disciples of Christ are to love each other as Christ has loved us. For many centuries, the church officially proclaimed that the essentials of our church included our response to God’s salvation through “faith, love and hope.” In other words, for Moravians, love is an “essential.”

In fact it is the most essential thing.

Questions: • What does “Christian love” mean to you?

How does it differ from other forms of love?

• Is Christian love the same as “brotherly” or “sisterly” love?

• What happens to a congregation or a denomination when Christians stop acting in love toward one another?

• Is there a connection between love and stewardship?

• What are concrete ways in which we express love?

• How do we express love even when we disagree about doctrine?

• Is it important that we allow our brothers and sisters to love us as we love them?

Unity and Diversity Paragraph 14: We will be eager to maintain the unity of the Church. Realizing that God has called us from many and varied backgrounds, we recognize the possibility of disagreements or differences. Often these differences enrich the The Moravian

Church, but sometimes they divide. We consider it to be our responsibility to demonstrate within the congregational life the unity and togetherness created by God who made us one. How well we accomplish this will be a witness to our community as to the validity of our faith.

Commentary: Some things are easier said than done and this may be one of them. However, the call to unity in the Moravian Church is a common thread that runs through all the earlier versions of the Brotherly Agreement. According to Moravian doctrine, unity is one of the signs that a church is really Christian. According to Acts, chapter 4, from the beginning, the Christian Church included people from many different cultures who spoke many different languages and observed many different customs. Being Christian does not erase our distinctiveness;

it may enhance it by giving us the grace and freedom to be who God created us to be.

One way of understanding the Moravian perspective is to imagine heaven as the perfect community. Who will you expect to see in heaven? Will it only be people who have the same skin color, economic status, language, accent, educational background, theology and gender as you? The Christian Church is called to reflect the heavenly vision on earth, but in the world we see that these same differences are the source of much hatred, conflict and bloodshed. Humans tend to hate what they do not understand and reject that which is different. The Moravian Church has seen the overcoming of barriers to be a particularly important part of its mission in the service of Christ. Therefore we have been tolerant of differences within our unity. (continued on next page)

Clergy and lay leaders bless Rhonda Robinson during her ordination in 2013.

May 2015

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(continued from previous page) Questions: • How do differences enrich the Christian community?

• What differences do you see among the people in your congregation?

• Does this ever cause divisions?

• Are there concrete ways in which we can work through our disagreements and come to a deeper appreciation for the differing gifts all of God’s children bring?

• How can we as a Church reconcile when conflict has divided us?

• Is there a danger in pursuing a false sense of unity that masks rather than confronts our differences?

Western District (continued from page 11)

Morris celebrated a half-century of service to Western District Moravians. Camp Mindyy, for kids in Minnesota who’ve completed grades 2–5, is held in Minnesota.

If you are past the age of attending camps there are lots of opportunities to still participate in the camping ministry. You can be a counselor, work in the kitchen, and if you have medical skills there is always a need for medical personnel on staff. Or maybe you have a special craft or skill that you would like to share with the campers.

Contact the Director of the individual camp or the Camping Committee and we’ll get you connected to the right camp; for more information, visit www.wdcamping.com.

For complete information on Western District 2015 camping, visit www.wdcamping. com! Don’t miss the fun of Moravian Summer Camps! ■ 28

Settling Differences Paragraph 15: We will endeavor to settle our differences with others in a Christian manner (Galatians 6:1), amicably and with mediation and, if at all possible, avoid resort to a court of law (Matthew 18:15–17).

Commentary: Many Moravians are surprised to find a statement about lawsuits in one of our doctrinal statements. It runs counter to the prevailing wisdom in American society where lawsuits are common. You might say that this provision in our Covenant is our version of “tort reform.” In general, our church has tried to live according to this rule, but there have been times when the courts were the only way to reach an agreement in particularly difficult cases. Lawsuits tend to sever relationships, but Moravians try to settle disputes in a way that does not lead to hurt feelings. We have also been suspicious of lawsuits that are intended to harm one person or enrich ourselves. Sacrificial love and the willingness to accept loss are part of the Moravian understanding of the Christian faith.

Questions: • Does this statement in the Covenant mean that Moravians should not be lawyers?

• Have you ever been tempted to sue someone? Did you want to do this out of love for the other person or out of anger?

• What would have happened if you had sued?

• What are other ways that we can settle our grievances without resorting to law courts?

• Are there any advantages in pursuing these paths?

Next issue: Worship and Holy Communion ■ The Moravian

TIME TRAVEL

Turning Back Pages: May 1965 The Moravian Magazine and its predeces -

sors have been bringing news and com mentary from around the Moravian world for more than 100 years. In its pages, you can read the story of our modern church.

In this issue, we look back 50 years to the May 1965 issue of the Moravian. (Note: the Moravian at that time was dedicated to the news of the Northern Province. The Southern Province publication was called the Wachovia Moravian. The two became one in 1970.)

The May 1965 issue of the Moravian introduced readers to a new program called “Home and Family Nurture.” The program was designed to “give the local congregation added resources for ministering to families and to provide families themselves with new resources for living and working together as Christians—and for ministering, in turn, to other families and to the community in which they live.”

The Rev. William Matz, then pastor at Sharon Moravian Church in Ohio, wrote an article about how his congregation put the program to use. As part of the church’s 150th anniversary, 22 families invited fellow Moravians, friends and neighbors to their homes to share in discussion and fellowship over the course of three weeks. Resources like a slideshow, booklets of family devotions, books and more were offered. And, of course, “a fresh supply of sugarcake and coffee was served at every gathering.”

Rev. Matz shared some of the immediate results: “…We have had a 20 percent increase in average Sunday worship attendance over May 2015

last year this time… numerous homes engaged in family devotions… and many of the congregation had a new look at the spiritual nurture of their family and the missionary nature of the church…”

The May 1965 issue also introduced a new series highlighting “The Varied Word of Ministry.” This series, penned by editor John Groenfeldt, looked into the many phases of the work of the ordained ministry.

And the issue previewed the upcoming Eastern and Western District Conferences to be held later that year. In an article on the Western District conference, Rev. Warren Sautebin highlighted the key issues facing the Western District at the time: the changing face of the rural population of the area; extending the church to new areas and a look at the congregational balance between a focus on upgrading facilities and a church’s “outreach and program of Christian nurture.”

For that year’s Conference, the Eastern District moved its event from Bethlehem to Staten Island. In the article about the upcoming conference, writer Rev. Edwin Sawyer wrote, “The shift from Bethlehem to New York… is symbolic of the emphasis to be placed on the work of the Eastern District in this decade, namely on the cities.” ■

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OBITUARY

The Rev. R. Donald Winters The Rev. R. Donald Winters entered the more immediate presence of our Lord on March 18, 2015 at his home. He was 67.

Don was born October 15, 1947 in Wilkes County to the late Glenn Samuel and Ruth Elizabeth Sidden Winters. He graduated high school in Wilkes County, later attended Winston-Salem Business College and earned a BAS Degree from Guilford College and a Master of Divinity from Moravian Theological Seminary in 1985. Prior to attending seminary, he was employed by the Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel newspapers. Don also served his country in the U.S. Army, being honorably discharged in 1971 and continuing in the U.S. Army Reserve Corps for twelve years.

Don was ordained a Deacon in the Moravian Church June 23, 1985 and became pastor at Olivet Moravian Church, Winston Salem, N.C. He later served the Fairview Moravian and Kernersville Moravian congregations, as well as on the Public Relations Commission, Interprovincial Board of Publications, the Board of Evangelism and Home Missions and the Board of Elders of Salem Congregation.

VISIT THE MORAVIAN MAGAZINE ON FACEBOOK! The Moravian Magazine is on Facebook!

Visit www.facebook.com/MoravianMagazine to learn more about what’s happening with the magazine, view current and back issues online and interact with The Moravian editorial staff.

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OFFICIAL PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ NEWS Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Due to declining membership and in accordance with ¶1019 of The Book of Order, Saratoga Moravian Church, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin closed on May 3, 2015 with a final service of worship and thanksgiving.

Elizabeth D. Miller Provincial Elders’ Conference

Don served as Chaplain of the Vienna and Mount Tabor Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Chaplain for the Kernersville Fire and Police Department, Chaplain for the East Bend Masonic Lodge and as instructor and counselor for local Boy Scout Troop number 919. He was also on the Board of Directors for the Special Children School in Winston Salem, N.C. Don is survived by his wife, Mary Winters; two daughters, Jennifer Winters Ratcliff (Michael) and R. Elizabeth Blackwell (Jeff); and three grandchildren, Holly Christine Blackwell, Jesse Hugh Blackwell and Rebekah Elizabeth Ratcliff.

A memorial service was held Saturday, March 21, at noon, at Olivet Moravian Church, Winston Salem, N.C. with the Rev. Matthew Allen officiating. Burial followed in God’s Acre, at Olivet. ■ Ad Policy for The Moravian — The Moravian accepts paid advertising that is consistent with the magazine’s objectives and editorial convictions as they are stated in the purpose and mission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication. Advertisements for activities, services and products of specific interest to members of the Moravian Church have priority. The Moravian does not accept purely editorial advertisements that advocate specific ideas or issues. Articles, columns and letters to the editor are the appropriate vehicles for the presentation of ideas and issues. The Interprovincial Board of Communication is responsible for the content and design of the magazine, including advertisements. Ad rates and specifications are available www.moravian.org.

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