Moravian Magazine • June 2011

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Moravians in the United Kingdom Adamson Innovation Forum Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Daily Texts …and more!

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On the cover: The Fairfield Congregation in Droylsden, England is part of the British Province of the Moravian Church. Photo courtesy of Margery Sutcliffe.

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Moravians in the United Kingdom Adamson Innovation Forum Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Daily Texts

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…and more!

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Christ and him crucified remain our confession of faith

Adamson Forum

In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, love

Moravians In the United Kingdom

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Moravians gather to discuss congregational giving

The Moravian Church from a British perspective — four Moravians from the British Province share their Moravian stories

In Our Congregations 5 16

Storm takes West Salem’s steeple; congregation vows to rebuild Building a gateway to God’s Acre in Raleigh’s historic heart

Ecumenical Partners Member, Associated Church Press

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A Chrism Mass makes full-communion history

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Bishop Couch joins ecumenical partners for bishop’s installation

Board of World Mission 12

Judy Ganz named executive director, Board of World Mission

Moravian History 14

Archives hosts Moravian Women Exhibit

Visit our website at <http://www.moravian.org>. 28 Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Moravian Daily Texts Letters to the editor, address In Every Issue corrections, and other correspondence may be 4 Ponderings: What a difference a year makes! e-mailed to the magazine at 32 Official Provincial Elders’ News <pubs@mcnp.org>.

June 2011

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(ISSN 1041-0961 USPS 362600) June 2011, Vol. 42, No. 5

PONDERINGS

Publications Agreement No. 40036408 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Express Messenger International, PO Box 25058, London, Ontario N6C6A8, email: <emi@exmessenger.com> Official Journal, The Moravian Church in North America, Northern and Southern Provinces

What a difference a year makes!

Published monthly, except bimonthly January-February and July-August issues, by the Interprovincial Board of Communication, 1021 Center St., Bethlehem, PA 18018.

Make checks payable in U.S. funds to The Moravian.

May 10th will always be a red-letter day in my book. No, it’s not a church holiday, nor does it have any monumental historic significance.

May 10 was the day in 2010 that I joined the Interprovincial Board of Communication — and it’s amazing the difference a year makes!

In just 12 months, I’ve taken a crash course in “Moravian.” I saw two Synods, a bishop’s consecration and the flowering of new ecumenical partnerships. I experienced my first Moravian College Vespers, my first Moravian Christmas celebration, and my first Maundy Thursday readings service. A Moravian Star from Germany lit my front porch this Christmas.

August 13th has taken on a new significance beyond the celebration of my daughter’s and father-in-law’s birthdays. I now use words like “Herrnhut” and “Zinzendorf” and “Lovefeast.” I pick up my copy of the Moravian Daily Texts, well, daily.

This year I heard my first Moravian trombone choir, learned to sing Grace and found that I can play Moravian hymns on guitar. I’ve acquired a taste for Lovefeast buns, sugar cake and chicken pies. And after many years of not giving Sunday mornings much thought, I attend services as often as I can.

Slowly but surely, I’m feeling like a Moravian. Much of what I’ve experienced over the past 12 months was foreign to me a year ago.

The people I meet, the work I do, the places I go, the things I read and the worship I experience all add to the sense that joining the IBOC was more than just taking on a new job — it’s like finding a road back to Jesus.

Thanks to everyone who have made my Moravian journey a positive one. It’s an honor to be in this role and to count myself part of the Moravian Church in America.

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Mike Riess, Editor

Subscription rates: $15.00 per year, U.S.A. & Canada; $18.00 per year, all other countries.

Individual copies available for $3.00 each.

The Moravian is sent to the families of the Moravian Church as a privilege of membership. Periodicals postage paid at Bethlehem, PA. Circulation: 17,800 Postmaster please send address changes to The Moravian, PO Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245.

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

Michael Riess, Editor Deb Swanson, Advertising Coordinator Interprovincial Board of Communication Paul Knouse, Paul Peucker Chair Adam Pristas Jane Burcaw Richard Sides Jane Carmichael Valerie Wagner Lance Fox Jill Westbrook Gary Kniskern 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: <pubs@mcnp.org> <www.moravian.org> Contents © 2011, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in North America.

All rights reserved

The Moravian

IN OUR CONGREGATIONS

Storm takes West Salem’s steeple; congregation vows to rebuild The storm that passed through the West Salem, Ill. area on the night of Tuesday, April 19, 2011 changed the face of the West Salem Moravian Church — literally. Due to straightline winds, two-thirds of the steeple was blown off the church.

We are so thankful that no one in the area was physically hurt. A few days after the storm we learned that a local family took shelter in the basement when the steeple came down.

We were blessed again on Wednesday morning when members of the congregation showed up to begin the clean-up and patching-up process. As the steeple came down it hit the east roof of the sanctuary putting a hole where the base hit as well as damage where the top of the spire hit. A dozen rafters sustained quite a bit of damage before the steeple came to rest on the lawn and part of the street alongside the church. The section that remains in place is where the 2 bells reWest Salem Moravian Church before…

…and after being struck by a storm in April that toppled its steeple.

side, one from the German Moravian and one from the former English Moravian Church when they merged in 1915. By mid-afternoon a man lift was delivered and work on patching the roof began. At 7 p.m. members of the congregation gathered in the sanctuary for Holy Week readings.

After an emergency ‘steeple meeting’ that Saturday night, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to replace the steeple. As we start down the long road ahead of us we would like to thank all of our fellow Moravians for their kind thoughts, prayers and stories of when they were last in the West Salem Moravian Church. ■ Bettina Swartzbaugh is president of the Board of Trustees at West Salem Moravian Church in West Salem, Illinois.

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ECUMENICAL PARTNERS

A Chrism Mass makes full-communion history In a historic event for three denominations, leaders of the Episcopal, Lutheran and Moravian churches participated in the celebration of an Episcopal Chrism Mass following the renewal of ordination vows by clergy in the Diocese of Bethlehem, Pa. The service at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity on April 14 was the first occasion in the United States for regional leaders to share in common worship since the accord

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between Episcopalians and Moravians was made official in February. Both Moravians and Episcopalians have had a full-communion agreement with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) for 10 years.

Bishop Paul Marshall of the Diocese of Bethlehem invited Bishop Samuel Zeiser of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA and the Rev. David Bennett, president of the Eastern District of the Moravian Church Northern Province to join with him in celebrating a Chrism Mass with about 100 active and retired diocesan clergy and a large contingent of lay people. The three also distributed communion bread and wine to members of the congregation.

The Chrism Mass gets its name from the consecration of oils to be used in the Episcopal diocese throughout the year at celebrations of holy baptism and when clergy minister to the sick. The service in Bethlehem included the blessing and consecration by the bishop of the oils for holy chrism. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When we as Moravian clergy gather to reThe Moravian

new our ordination vows through our Cup of Covenant, it is an intimate time of both prayer and kinship,” said Dave Bennett. “Therefore, when I was invited to not only attend the Chrism Mass of our Episcopal sisters and brothers and their renewal of ordination vows, but also share in the celebration of the Eucharist, I was humbled by this terrific gift of grace and hospitality. It is hard to express how much something like this means when you see our Full Communion relationship manifested fully through both sacrament and human embrace.

I was truly welcomed as family.

Other occasions to build relationships are in the works. The Eastern District Moravian Clergy Retreat in May will include three Episcopal clergy. Likewise, the Episcopal clergy retreat in September will include three Moravian and three Lutheran pastors. And in March, five Southern Province Moravian bishops led a Moravian communion service during the Episcopal House of Bishop’s retreat at the Kanuga Center in Hendersonville, N.C. “I found it profoundly moving, as a Moravian, to be served the bread by Bishop Jack Croneberger, and the wine by Bishop Zeiser of the ELCA,” said Kat Lehman, communications director for the Diocese of Bethlehem and wife of the Rev. Derek French of East Hills Moravian Church in Bethlehem. “I think all who attended were equally moved [by the ecumenical participation].” ■ Thanks to Jerry Hames, editor of Episcopal Journal, for this story. Photo above, left: Lutheran Bishop Samuel Zeiser of the Northeastern Pa. Synod, Episcopal Assistant Bishop John P. Cronenberger, Diocesan Bishop Paul V. Marshall and the Rev. David Bennett, president, Eastern District, Moravian Church in North America. Photos by Kat Lehman.

June 2011

Photo courtesy of Diocese of Western N.Y.

BISHOP COUCH JOINS ECUMENICAL PARTNERS FOR BISHOP’S INSTALLATION The Rt. Rev. Blair Couch of the Northern Province joined bishops and clergy from both the Episcopal and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America denominations for the installation and seating of the Rt. Rev. R. William Franklin as Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Western New York.

On April 30, Bishop Franklin, 64, was ordained and consecrated as the diocese’s 11th bishop in a two-hour service that drew about 950 local, national and international, ecumenical, interfaith and other guests to the Center for the Arts at the New York State University at Buffalo North Campus in Amherst. Bishop Couch of the Moravian Church and Bishop Marie Jerge of the Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA also participated. In the photo above, Bishop Couch adds her mark to Bishop Franklin’s installation documents.

ADAMSON FORUM

Moravians gather to discuss congregational giving Representatives from more than 40 Moravian congregations gathered in Chaska, Minnesota in April to gain new perspectives and ideas about a subject thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not easy to talk about â&#x20AC;&#x201D; congregational giving. When those representatives went home, they took with them tools and strategies to help make positive changes Participants review a mission and ministry budget from New Philadelphia Moravian Church at the Adamson Innovation Forum.

in their congregationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; financial health.

The first Adamson Innovation Forum, sponsored by the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America (MMFA), sought to help congregations move forward in expanding and strengthening their ministry by introducing new strategies and insights involving budgeting and stewardship.

This gathering of Moravian clergy, board members and lay leaders was made possible thanks to the generosity of Mina M. Adamson of Riverside, N.J. (see sidebar on page 11).

Using funds given by Adamson, the MMFA was able to invite a greater number of participants to the conference than would have been possible otherwise. The MMFA offered to pay travel and conference expenses for up to 40 Moravian congregations and ministries to attend.

Understanding broader issues Through informative lectures, small-group work and sharing of best practices, participants gained a greater understanding of The Moravian

some of the broader issues facing budgeting and fundraising efforts while learning new strategies for managing congregation and ministry finances.

Speaking at the event was the Rev. Dr. William Enright, executive director of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University and former senior pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis. Dr. Enright and the Lake Institute bring a wealth of knowledge and real-life experiences about the issues local congregations and leaders face in dealing with stewardship, budgeting and congregational health.

Citing studies by the Center of Philanthropy and other organizations, Dr. Enright highlighted some facts about the status of religious giving. According to Enright, people of faith are generous givers. Of those who attend church on a regular basis, more than 91 percent give to chartitable causes. Those churchgoers are also more likely to give to secular causes than non-church attendees; give much more in annual charitable gifts; and volunteer more often.

Today, religious giving represents about a third of all charitable giving in the U.S., which is by far the largest type of charitable giving. According to Dr. Enright’s data, the combined donations to education, gifts to grant-making foundations and human services organizations — the next three largest types of giving — are less than religious giving.

But religious and congregational giving is waning. In nearly every denomination over the past 15-20 years, the percentage of income given to religious organizations has dropped. The percentJune 2011

age of funds given to religious organizations in 1985-89 was more than 55 percent. Today, it’s about 36 percent. Additionally, according to the Urban Institue, there was a 163.5 percent increase in the number of registered religious organizations from 1995-2010.

According to Dr. Enright, in the world of religious giving, with increasing competition for “The Almighty’s Dollar,” religion’s declining share of giving and donors being increasingly selective, congregations need to do a better job making their case and the church as a whole must dare to change its dialogue on money.

Through his lectures, Dr. Enright offered a variety of ways to think about congregational (continued on next page) The Rev. Dr. William Enright of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, discusses congregational giving during the Adamson Forum. All photos by Mike Riess

(continued from previous page) giving and fundraising and provided additional insights on the topic. Over the course of the forum, he also spoke on other aspects of religious giving, donor sensitivities and the basic precepts of generosity. Knowing donors, being in communication with them, understanding how and why people give, and working hard at telling the story of a congregation’s work all represent important ways to strengthen church giving.

In closing, Dr. Enright offered a list of institutional perquisites for good fundraising that can apply to congregations, ministries and other non-profit ventures.

These include a keen sense of vision about your desired future; a definitive plan to turn your vision into reality; engaged leadership who share the vision and advocates who can speak on your behalf; strong relationships with prospective donors and advocates; a compelling case

MMFA President Paul McLaughlin addresses the Adamson Innovation Forum

Jean Williams (left) and Judith Graham of Tremont Terrace Moravian Church in Bronx, N.Y. work together on a mission and ministry budget.

as to why people will want to support your mission; excellent communications; a commitment to best practices in professional fundraising; and transparency and accountability in decision-making and finances.

Mission and ministry budgeting To help address some of the overwhelming issues facing church fundrasing today, the Forum introduced attendees to an innovative form of budgeting and planning called the “mission and ministry” budget.

In mission and ministry budgeting, the emphasis is on transforming a church or agency’s line item budget into a living document that describes the essential work and priorities of the congregation or ministry. It creates an innovative tool for educating members and generating greater support for the mission and ministries of a church.

During the event, the Rev. Dave Marcus, associate pastor at New Philadelphia Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., outlined the core of the mission and ministry budget process: “When developing and presenting this type of budget, honor this giving principle: The Moravian

Givers don’t give money to the church; they give through the church to touch the lives of other people.”

According to Dave, a mission and ministry budget is a descriptive account of a how a congregation uses its financial resources to carry out its mission and ministry. Presenting church budgets that illustrate the work that the church is doing — and where the money is going — is a major step to helping congre-

gants understand how their contributions are being used to further the mission and ministry of the church.

“The process gives meaning and purpose to the mission and ministry of the church,” says Dave. “It helps illustrate that ‘we are in this together’ and that the purpose of our giving is more than paying bills and funding (continued on page 34)

In 2010, The Moravian Ministries Foundation in America established the Mina M. Adamson Innovation Fund. The Fund was created as the result of a bequest from Mina Adamson, formerly of Riverside, N.J. and a member of First Moravian Church, also in Riverside. Miss Adamson generously remembered her church in her estate plan as well.

Miss Adamson’s bequest to the Foundation was an unexpected gift. While the Foundation is in the business of helping Moravians create and make planned gifts to the ministries of their choosing, it does not engage in fund raising to support its work. Nevertheless, of her own accord, Miss Adamson recognized and appreciated the role and work of the Foundation and wanted to do something to aid, expand and enhance its ministry to the Moravian Church.

After prayerful consideration, the Trustees of the Foundation have decided to use the Adamson Innovation Fund as an investment in the common good, which will focus on helping local churches and agencies in four key areas: • Developing more effective stewardship programs • Planning and executing more effective capital campaigns • facilitating and implementing planned giving programs; and • being prudent investors and effective managers of the assets that have been entrusted to their organizations.

In summary, the Mina M. Adamson Innovation Fund will be used by the Foundation as an investment in the common good, targeted at strengthening the resource needs of churches and agencies in both Provinces of the Moravian Church in North America.

To learn more, feel free to contact the Moravian Ministries Foundation at 888.722.7923.

BOARD OF WORLD MISSION

Judy Ganz named executive director, Board of World Mission The Rev. Judith Ganz, currently pastor of Edmonton Moravian Church in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has accepted the call to serve as executive director of the Board of World Mission of the Moravian Church in America. She will transition into her new position beginning June 13 by working remotely and begin on-site leadership in the Board of World Mission office in Bethlehem on August 1.

In this new role, Judy will lead the Board of World Mission in its worldwide efforts on behalf of the Northern Province, Southern Province and Alaskan Province of the Moravian Church. With the Board, Judy will develop vision, strategy and action for the mission activities of the church in its historic and

vital partnerships with Moravian Churches in Alaska, Costa Rica, Eastern West Indies, Guyana, Honduras, Labrador, Nicaragua, and Tanzania. In addition, Judy will guide the work of the Board as it encourages congregations throughout North America to more fully participate in God’s mission locally as well as globally. She will represent the Northern and Southern Provinces in matters pertaining to the worldwide Moravian Unity.

“I continue to be humbled by the opportunity that I have been given to serve the wider church through the Board of World Mission,” says Judy. “I am grateful for the tremendous staff and board that are already in place, as well as the vision that has evolved through the work of their previous executive director, Will Sibert. The efforts of Bob Sawyer as interim executive director have also been very effective in bringing staff and board to a place where we can now move ahead to plan strategically for the work that God has given us.

I continue to be humbled by the opportunity that I have been given to serve the wider church through the Board of World Mission…

Judy will provide leadership with the current staff of the BWM, including Sam Gray, director of intercultural ministries; Lisa Mixon, director of people in mission; Mark Ebert, director of volunteer resources; Jill Kolodziej, The Moravian

…the transformative grace of God in my life that allows me to trust God’s intention for good in this world and God’s active work toward bringing that about.” assistant director of the Antioch Project; and Sheila Beaman, administrative assistant.

Judy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the executive director role.

“My experience serving more than five years in Nicaragua and spending 12 years as the Western District representative to the Board of World Mission has given me a foundation from which to draw as I assume this role. I also began the HIV/AIDS work of BWM that is currently under Likewise Ministries. In addition my work as a nurse practitioner prior to entering seminary helped to build leadership skills, especially in the times that I served as manager for my clinic. Perhaps most im-

portant, though, is my own experience of the transformative grace of God in my life that allows me to trust God’s intention for good in this world and God’s active work toward bringing that about.”

Judy served as a lay pastor for Christian Faith Moravian Church in DeForest, Wis., and as a student pastor at Emmaus Moravian Church, Emmaus, Pa. She was ordained as a deacon in the Moravian Church on Aug. 24, 2008 after receiving a call to serve the Edmonton Moravian Church in Canada, where she has served since October 2008. (continued on page 33)

BOARD OF WORLD MISSION THANKS BOB SAWYER FOR INTERIM SERVICE You can either move forward, stand still or fall back. During the past year, the Board of World Mission has been moving forward. Last April, when faced with the resignation of our Executive Director, the BWM faced the possibility of either being stuck standing still or even falling behind. But through his service as our interim Executive Director, the Rev. Dr. Bob Sawyer allowed the mission and ministry World Mission to keep moving forward. of tthe he BBoard oard oa rd ooff W Bob served as the Interim Executive Director from May 2010 through April this time he helped the BWM move forward on solid Apri Ap rill 2011.

2011 20 11. During D ground. Among Amon many other tasks, Bob strengthened our relationships with ourr partner ou partrtne tnerr provinces, provided guidance and structure for the BWM staff and mission servants, led the search process for a new Executive Director, worked andd wo rkkedd with w the Antioch Project, Likewise AIDS ministry and Moravian Volunteer Resources Resour to make certain we all had what we needed to continue our work sending wo rkk off se ndi ding people out to serve.

On behalf beh ehaa of the directors and staff of the Board of World Mission, thank you, Bob, for your leadership, service, compassion, and dedication to the the mission misisss and ministry of the Moravian Church in North America and throughout the world. th Rev. Joe Moore, Chair of the Board of World Mission and Co-Pastor of First Moravian Church of Georgia.

Photo of Bob by Tom Haupert.

MORAVIAN HISTORY

Archives Hosts Moravian Women Exhibit

development of the choir system and the first female ordinations in the 18th century, the exhibit examines the impact of Moravian women in church, schools, mission and community from 1730-1930.

With the help of volunteers and donations from 30 individuals, church groups and corporations, Lanie developed the exhibit using

A history of women in the Moravian Church is colorfully illustrated in a new exhibit at the Northern Province Moravian Church Archives in Bethlehem, Pa. The Archives’ 2011 exhibit, “Moravian Women” opened on Friends’ Day, March 20 and will be on display through Dec. 22.

“Women played a substantial role in the development of the Moravian Church and the settlement of Bethlehem in the mid 1700s,” explains Lanie Graf, assistant archives, who developed the exhibit. “Beginning with the 14

The Moravian

primary documentation stored at the Archives.

Visual highlights include female portraits, ornamental needlework, artwork and penmanship from the collections of the Moravian Female Seminary and Moravian Academy.

On display are women’s diaries from the era, artwork of many different types, a display of “Herrnhut paper,” and more pieces chronicling the life of Moravian women.

The exhibit can be viewed during the Archives’ regular hours, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Evening or weekend appointments can be arranged in advance for special groups. A great idea for Sunday schools, confirmation classes or women’s groups!

Those who cannot travel can view a “virtual exhibit” on the Archives’ website, which will include images, panel text and transcriptions and translations of documents used in the exhibit.

In conjunction with the exhibit, the Archives’ is holding an essay contest in which contestants are asked to describe “a Moravian woman that has inspired you” in 1000 words or less. This is a great chance to honor a special Moravian woman in your life! All entries will be evaluated anonymously by a panel of judges. Entries can be forwarded to Lanie Graf, Moravian Archives, 41 West Locust St., Bethlehem, PA 18018 or email <lanie@moravianchurcharchives.org> until August 31. Winning entries will be posted on our website and read at a special archives’ reception, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at 7 p.m. All are invited! ■

VINTAGE TO VOGUE FASHION SHOW SUPPORTS NEPALI MORAVIAN OUTREACH MINISTRY On March 26 several area Moravian Churches in Bethlehem held a fashion show and high tea at Moravian Village in Bethlehem, Pa. Presenting to a sell out crowd of 200, the show featured vintage fashion from the 1920’s to the 80’s and period music played by Rebecca Owens, organist at Central Moravian Church.

Proceeds from the show will benefit Moravian churches in Nepal and will be used with Revs.

Vani and Shanti Pradhan for their house fellowships, training of leaders and also for an educational outreach. For more on the Nepali Outreach, see the Jan./Feb. 2011 of the Moravian.

Lanie Graf is assistant archivist at the Moravian Archives for the Northern Province. At left, selected pieces from the Moravian Women exhibit at the Northern Province Moravian Archives.

Photos by Mike Riess.

June 2011

Photos by Myra Jones.

IN OUR CONGREGATIONS

Building a gateway to God’s Acre in Raleigh’s historic heart When

the triumphant final words of Raleigh Moravian Church’s Easter Dawn service rang out this year, they echoed for the first time from the carved stone of a beautiful gateway arch.

More than ten years in the making, the arch creates a striking entrance into Raleigh’s God’s Acre, nestled in Historic Oakwood Cemetery in downtown Raleigh.

Raleigh Moravian, founded in 1953, does

At left: The new gateway arch at in Raleigh, N.C.’s Oakwood Cemetery welcomes visitors to Raleigh Moravian’s God’s Acre. At right, Easter morning celebrants enter through the arch.

not have a God’s Acre at the church. With few exceptions, Raleigh bans cemeteries within the city limits. For years, Raleigh Moravian celebrated Easter Dawn in the churchyard and occasionally in public parks. The idea for God’s Acre grew from a “dreaming” process begun after the Rev. Dr. Craig Troutman became pastor in 1985. In 1989, the church asked member Keith Kapp to chair the committee charged with finding a site.

They found it within Historic Oakwood Cemetery, a Raleigh landmark with graves dating back almost 140 years. Among many monuments are those of seven governors, five United States Senators, eight Supreme Court Chief Justices of North Carolina, four Civil War generals, two Secretaries of the US Navy and numerous mayors.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery invited Raleigh Moravian to hold Easter Dawn services there beginning in 1992 and in 1996 completed negotiations for a God’s Acre in the middle of the graveyard. With help from many Moravians — including the cemetery fund of the United

Churches of Staten Island — the quiet witness of God’s Acre came to North Carolina’s capital.

However, a God’s Acre needs a gateway.

Brother Kapp and his fellow God’s Acre trust(continued on next page) Chancy Kapp is a member of Raleigh Moravian Church in Raleigh, N.C. Photo below: A panorama of the Easter Dawn service celebrated at Raieigh Moravian’s God’s Acre. Photos by David Cherveny, member, Raleigh Moravian.

Photo caption

Raleigh Moravian’s band plays during the Easter Dawn service

(continued from previous page) ees, Jane Norris and Hubert Fort and treasurer Tom Norris, began to plan one consistent with Moravian tradition and to the quality of monuments in Historic Oakwood Cemetery.

Dedicated April 10, 2011, the arch is built of Pennsylvania sandstone quarried in the The new gateway arch features Moravian-themed carvings and symbols

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1920s. The arch was designed by church member and architect Craig Leonard and stone mason Ben Shepherd to include symbols significant to Moravians. Among them interlocking circles representing the Trinity; carvings of sheets of papyrus that refer to the church’s early translation of the Bible, and vines representing the “hidden seed” and reflowering of the worldwide church. Identical “soldier stones” support the arch, emphasizing the “Unitas Fratrum.” Scriptures adorn the top — “I know that my Redeemer lives” on the side through which the congregation enters, and “I am the Resurrection and the Life” facing the graves.

Six days after the dedication, a devastating tornado heavily damaged the cemetery; God’s Acre, however, escaped, and cemetery staff worked long hours to secure the grounds in time for Easter.

For Easter Dawn, worshippers gathered on a nearby hilltop to begin the service, in sight of massive uprooted oaks. They then quietly followed Reverend Troutman and Associate Pastor Suzanne Parker Miller down winding paths to the accompaniment of antiphonal chorales from Raleigh’s Moravian’s band.

As generations of the faithful followed him for the first time through the arch into God’s Acre, Reverend Troutman experienced “a holy moment.”

“On Easter morning, we speak of the Church on earth and the Church Triumphant in heaven,” he said. “As the congregation walked through the arch, my attention was drawn to the sacredness of this moment. Before me the congregation embodied the living hope that exists within the Church both now and forever. When we sang the beloved ‘Sing Hallelujah,’ I sensed that we were a part of ‘all eternity.’” ■ The Moravian

MORAVIANS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM

The Moravian Church from a British perspective While The Moravian magazine focuses mainly on the Moravian Church in North America, it’s important to recognize that we are part of a worldwide church. In fact, the Northern and Southern Provinces represent only about five percent of Moravians around the globe.

In this issue, we hear from four Moravians from the British Province, a very small but dedicated Province of the worldwide Moravian Unity. With 31 congregations and 2,000 members, the Moravian Church in England, Wales and Northern Ireland continue many of the traditions — and face many of the same challenges — long held by Moravians around the globe.

In preparing this article, we asked each contributor a series of questions on subjects like what brought them to the Moravian Church; what it is like being a Moravian in the UK; some of the challenges seen in congregations and with the denomination as a whole; and uniquely “British” Moravian traditions.

Judith Ashton, editor of The Messenger, the monthly publication of the Moravian Church in the British Province, helped assemble this article. She also provided her thoughts on being a member of Brockweir Moravian Church on the Welsh/English border. We also hear from Claudette Anthony from Hornsey Moravian Church in London; Margery Sutcliffe from the Fairfield Congregation in Droylsden, near Manchester; and Helen McVeigh from University Road Moravian Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

For more information about the British Province, headquartered in London, visit <www. moravian.org.uk>. ■

Judith Ashton Brockweir Moravian Church Brockweir, England

As a young teenager I was looking for meaning in life, searching for God and despite attending other denominations the Moravian Church was the first church that really made me feel at home. I liked the simplicity of the Church hierarchy and the fact that we are regarded as brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Moravian Church in the past placed great emphasis on mission and I think it still does. When we meet Moravians of other nationalities we have a shared past and a common purpose.

I remain a Moravian partly because of the reasons outlined above and of course because of the fellowship we share. I was also fortunate in that the first Moravian minister I encountered was Br. Tom McQuillan, a really inspirational man who made me realize that anything is possible if we place ourselves in God’s hands. His influence has remained with me over the years and probably explains why I remain in the Church.

Being a Moravian in the UK feels like be20

ing part of a large extended family. On the few occasions I have moved away from the Moravian Church because of my husband’s work, there was definitely something missing from my church life. When I visited Herrnhut a few years ago, I had a distinct sense of returning home. I am conscious of being in a minority group but because we are the only church in the village of Brockweir it is not really an issue. We have many visitors to the church and we do our best to explain the history of the Moravian Church. We also have excellent relations with other denominations in the wider community. Nationwide the Moravian Church is not very well known outside church circles as we are rather too good at ‘hiding our light under a bushel.’

One of the main challenges we face, even living in a village, is that people don’t always have time to investigate their spiritual lives.

We lead such busy lives that we don’t always make time for God. It’s difficult trying to attract people to church when there are other and perhaps more exciting things that they can do with their families and friends.

I think the village has goodwill towards us but it doesn’t always translate into attending services. We need to inspire people by example. Our church is always open for prayer and in this way provides a refuge for those who wouldn’t necessarily wish to attend services but wish to spend time with God. One of the major problems with the denomination is declining membership and the aging profile of members. It gets progressively harder to keep individual churches open as the “labourers” become fewer in number and church revenue declines. This is especially difficult when buildings are aging and require more maintenance. We must learn to adapt The Moravian

to changing circumstances as the Moravian Church has done in the past. It is a challenging time but can also be a time of new possibilities and opportunities, if we are prepared to be open to change. I strongly believe that as one door closes, another one opens.

It’s difficult to think of any uniquely British traditions. Some congregations occasionally wear traditional Moravian clothing during Lovefeast and Communion but this is becoming rarer and rarer.

The Christingle was taken by Moravians all over the world: in Britain the Christingle consists of an orange representing the world, with a lighted candle to represent Christ, the Light of the World. The candle is surrounded by nuts, raisins and sweets. These represent the created order over which Christ is King, and for God’s bounty and goodness to us in providing the fruits of the earth. A ruff of red paper forms a frill at the base of the candle to remind us of the Passion of Christ.

The seal and motto of the Moravian Church will be familiar to Moravians in the U.S. and will probably be the first item that a visitor would see on entering a Moravian church.

The ‘Hosanna’ anthem is sung during Advent and on Palm Sunday, as well as at large gatherings such as a District Rally or Synod. The Moravian Star also appears in church on the first Sunday in Advent. In Holy Week we gather each evening to read from Passion Week and Eastertide which is similar to Reading for Holy Week in the U.S. Our burial grounds are known as God’s Acre and the burial stones are flat and of a uniform size bearing a simple inscription.

Our church in Brockweir sits by the River Wye, on the Welsh/English border in a quaint village. We are a very small congregation with June 2011

19 members. We have one member who is under 20 and all ages upwards to 90 but the majority are in the 40-60 range. Because we are the only church offering regular public worship in Brockweir, we invite all Christians in the local community to play as full a part as they are able (allowing for any continued commitments to their own denomination) in the life and fellowship of the congregation.

We have a Book Group which attracts a good number from the village and is led by our minister Br. Thom Stapleton. Each month we organize a Soup Lunch and this is a very successful form of outreach as it attracts villagers and tourists who are passing by. It was formed principally to allow older villagers to meet together — as they can often be isolated — but it attracts all ages and all the money raised goes to different charities.

We have participated in Youth Work in the past and are hoping to again in the near future. In the week before Christmas we hold a Nativity Walk where we journey around the village with Joseph and Mary as they travel to Bethlehem and the stable where Jesus was born, reading Scripture and singing hymns as we go. This is also very popular with villagers.

We believe in serving the community and try to give 10 percent of our income to other charities. We also try to have good ecumenical relations with other denominations and allow groups to use our facilities for lectures and day retreats. We invite those of all Christian traditions, and those having no particular denominational affiliation, to worship and to share in Holy Communion with us, and to share in the ministry and mission of the Church in this area. We endeavour to share the good news and reflect Christ’s light in the world in this very small corner of the British Province. ■ 21

Claudette Anthony Hornsey Moravian Church London

I first started to attend the Moravian church in Hornsey, north London, on a regular basis about 18 years ago. I had previously been a member of the Church of England before eventually making the decision to leave that denomination. My mother had been raised a Moravian in the Caribbean but didn’t attend the church here in her early years in London purely because of distance. We would often visit on special occasions though.

A few months after leaving the Anglican Church, I found myself being drawn to the Hornsey Moravian church. By this time I had a car, so the distance was no longer a problem for my mother and me. I particularly liked the Moravian style of worship, the doctrine and the fellowship of the church and I quickly felt at home there.

I enjoy Moravian traditions such as Christingle* services and Lovefeast. Over the last few decades, Christingle services have become widespread in other denominations in Britain due to the Children’s Society adopting 22

the practice from the Moravians. A few years after becoming an official member of the church, I took on the role of Moravian Messenger correspondent and last year became the Christian Aid coordinator.

Although the Moravian church has a long history in the UK, I find that it is not so well known by the British public. I usually have to give a brief outline of its background whenever I speak to people about my church.

Our church was built in 1908 for those Moravians who had moved to the Hornsey area and were having to travel back to their “mother congregation” in Fetter Lane in central London. At that time, the congregation was made up of the indigenous British population. Today, however, only a small minority of the congregation actually comes from the local community. During the 1950’s and 60’s, there was an influx of Moravians arriving from the Caribbean to the church and over the years, the number of local members has sadly been in decline. Nevertheless, we have made numerous attempts to encourage local people to come to our church but we find this to be quite a challenge as there are so many other churches in Hornsey, i.e. Church of England, Catholic, etc.

We endeavour to keep the Moravian spirit alive by adhering to our traditions whilst simultaneously moving with the times.

Our congregation is considered to be fairly large amongst the Moravian congregations in the UK with an average Sunday attendance of 120 people. It is predominantly made up of people from a Caribbean background but The Moravian

we also have a few members from parts of Asia and Africa and our minister, Rev Joachim Kreusel, is from Germany! We have employed various means of outreach â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Alpha courses (a course on the basics of Christian faith), special Sunday services, concerts, garden parties, etc. Our main aim is to evangelise to those who do not know the Lord and do not attend a church at all whether they be friends, work colleagues or strangers from all ethnic backgrounds.

Another challenge for us is finding ways to attract young people between the ages of 16 and 30 years old. This age group is underrepresented in our church. However, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe this is something that is unique to our church or even to our denomination.

Once a month, we have an all-age service when the children remain in the church for the whole service instead of leaving for Sunday school just before the sermon. The children and young people are encouraged to participate in summer camp and youth weekends in order to meet with other young Moravians from around the province.

We all meet for Sunday morning worship and have communion on the first Sunday of the month. There is an evening service at church on the third Sunday and on the second Sunday at the home of two of our members. A number of house groups meet regularly on weekdays for Bible studies and

discussions about church life and other diverse topics. Fellowship day takes place once a year which is a great way for all the churches in the province to come together for worship, activities and fellowship. These events give a real boost to the Moravian spirit of togetherness in the UK. Our vision at the Hornsey Moravian church is to see a revival in the church community and to see spiritual and numerical growth in our congregation. We endeavour to keep the Moravian spirit alive by adhering to our traditions whilst simultaneously moving with the times. We installed a multi-media system in our centenary year of 2008 in order to bring our services into the 21st century. The music is often quite lively with the use of drums and tambourines accompanying the organ or keyboard on some of the modern hymns. We have a choir of around 18 members who have performed in concerts at home and abroad.

Our services have always been quite heavily influenced by Caribbean traditions and practices which is to be expected when one considers the ethnic make-up of the congregation. This all makes for a warm and rich worship service.

Over the last four years, the church building has undergone a great deal of renovation.

We hope to prolong the fabric of the building for future generations to enjoy for at least another 100 years! â&#x2013;

Margery Sutcliffe Fairfield Congregation Droylsden, England

My mother had started to attend services at Fairfield as a newlywed and continued her membership throughout her life. My journey thus started at birth; my first trip out with mum when I was just a few days old was for my Baptism. Fairfield is in a lovely setting and is very popular for weddings and Baptisms.

As a three-year-old, I started to attend Sunday School, which had a regular attendance in excess of a hundred children between the ages of 3 and 16. The Sunday School is still active and now meets in the college building in the settlement, thus named as it used to be the Theology College for Moravian ministers in our province. Indeed if you have had visiting ministers from the UK born prior to about 1930, there is a strong likelihood that they studied here at Fairfield.

So although our Sunday School still meets weekly, attendance is now in the region of 35 — an indicator of what is happening to church attendance throughout the UK. As I left Sunday School as a scholar I started as a 24

teacher, this was and still is a popular way of recruiting young minds and enthusiasm into our Sunday School.

I married here at Fairfield and had two boys, who both attended Sunday School. Indeed many of our present children have a parent who also attended and want their children to share the feeling of love and belonging that is still nurtured therein.

While I have for many years lived away from Fairfield, I still drive the ten miles to services and cannot imagine worshipping regularly anywhere else. Ten miles in England means that I drive past numerous churches to get to Fairfield; we are a densely populated area even by British standards! Fairfield is my spiritual home and the members an extension of my blood family. They care about me and mine precisely because we are “family.”

This is one thing that has not changed in my 50-plus years here.

After all these years I still meet local people who have never heard of Moravians. We are such a small group in the UK. We try to open our door to all comers whenever we can find an opportunity; each September we celebrate a heritage weekend in the UK and we at Fairfield join the celebrations with guided tours round the settlement and open the church and college buildings and our new little museum. We have lots of members around to welcome visitors and talk about our life and worship.

The most difficult thing seems to be to get people to accept that church has a lot to offer. People seem to have so much to entertain and stimulate them that they don’t perceive the church as offering them anything new, rather they see it as something outdated that would make even more demands on their The Moravian

busy lives. We also try to have an ecumenical approach, but again as all Christian churches locally seem to have dwindling congregations those that are active find their time in more and more demand.

After all these years I still meet local people who have never heard of Moravians.

We are such a small group in the UK. We try to open our door to all comers whenever we can find an opportunity…

In Fairfield the demographics of the congregation have probably only changed slightly in my time. The geographical area is still mostly white British although the average age has increased. We still have uniformed groups — Rainbows, Brownies, Girl Guides, and Beavers, Cubs and Scouts — but these are not run by the church and seem to becoming more distant from church life.

In our worship we try to offer something for everyone. We hold traditional Lovefeast and Communion services at 3 p.m. on the first

Sunday of each month. The service starts with everyone being served tea and biscuits which we consume whilst our minister gives us an update of things happening in the Moravian church at large. We then move on to take Holy Communion and always close by sharing the right hand of fellowship.

One Sunday each month at the 11 a.m. service we now have Café church. We hold this in the college building; as the children finish in Sunday school they can come straight into café church and hopefully bring their parents. It opens at 10:30 for drinks and biscuits, and is a very informal service that we hope is more comfortable for those not used to formal services. We are great tea drinkers, hand shakers and talkers! Services never clear quickly, after all what better time to catch up with the events of our brethren and sisters lives and get to know new faces.

My own sons are now grown up and like me are members of the Fairfield congregation. Though careers or family may take them from Fairfield in the future I know their hearts will always be Moravians. I worry though that with dwindling and ageing members there may be no Sunday school available for any children they may have, but we pray hard and work hard and put our trust for the future in the Lord. ■

Helen McVeigh University Road Moravian Church Belfast, Northern Ireland

I have been a member of University Road Moravian Church all my life. The congregation will celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2012. The church is located in the university area of Belfast, not far from the city centre.

Although we have an aging congregation of about 80 members, the young people are very active, within the congregation and in the Irish district.

University Road congregation meets on Sundays at 11 a.m. On the first Sunday in the month, the service is followed by Holy Communion. The second and third Sunday services are followed by tea, coffee and biscuits in the church hall. On fourth Sundays, the service is again followed by tea, coffee and biscuits, and donations are requested for a specific charity, chosen by the person/family providing refreshments. If there is a fifth Sunday in the month, this service takes the form of a Lovefeast.

My connection with the Moravian church and the University Road congregation be26

gan with my maternal great-grandfather. My grandfather and grandmother, and my mother and her two brothers attended regularly.

When I was growing up my mother brought me regularly to University Road and I feel a strong sense of loyalty to the church and the congregation. My mother continues to be a faithful member and I am very proud that my three-year-old daughter is the fifth generation of the Trimble-Gilmore-McVeigh family to attend University Road. I believe this is the case for many of the University Road congregation who have family connections going back several generations.

I am active within the church: I have been a member of the Church Committee since 1998 and was appointed congregation secretary in 2010. I help run the Parent and Toddlers Group (PAT) with Brother Andy and Sister Claire James, and I am the congregation’s correspondent to the Moravian Messenger, the British Province’s monthly magazine.

The congregation is extremely active in the local community. The church and hall were renovated in 2007, and the hall is used every day or evening either by ourselves or by another group. For example, Bible Study takes place on a Tuesday evening, and this is followed by the Art Club. PAT meets every Wednesday morning and has been a great success since it began in 2009. Groups which are not part of the church but use the facilities include Kung Fu classes twice a week; a German class also use the church hall; and “Nightreach,” a joint project with the nearby Fisherwick Presbyterian Church. It takes place twice a month on a Friday night providing hot drinks and a chat to those making their way home from the pubs and clubs in Belfast.

Both PAT and the Nightreach project have familiarised the Moravian Church to the local The Moravian

community. While not initiating new members, Nightreach has introduced the Moravian Church to those who would not normally give the church a second glance. The families who come to PAT include those from the local area and others who originate from India, the Solomon Islands, the Republic of Ireland, Mexico and China!

There are five Moravian congregations in Northern Ireland. Two are in Belfast and one is a Moravian settlement: Gracehill in County Antrim. Gracehill has its own minister, currently Rev. Jan Mullin. University Road shares its minister, Rev. Paul Holdsworth, with the Cliftonville congregation, and Kilwarlin and Balinderry congregations also share a minister, Rev. Patsy Holdsworth. The Moravian church is not generally well-known in Northern Ireland.

The most serious challenge I see within this congregation is that we are aging and need to encourage more young people into the church. Despite this, the district youth have recently organised successful fundraising concerts in our hall (with proceeds going to help the victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the Star Mountain Rehabilitation Centre). A youth weekend in the district takes place on a roughly annual basis and the church hall doubles as accommodation for participants. Within the British province, the challenge is to encourage people into the

*Christingle â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a popular tradition in the British Province stemming from the same Moravian tradition that introduced the use of beeswax candles during Christmas services. Oranges topped by lighted candles are distributed to the children.

Often, sweets and nuts are attached to oranges, along with a red ribbon. The orange symbolizes the round world, and the candle is the Christ childe, the light of the world come on this day. The Christingle tradition was kept alive in the British Moravian Church and has since become popular among many other denominations in the U.K. In the center photo below Naomi McVeigh receives her first Christingle. ministry. More of our ministers are reaching retirement and there are only five ministersin-training at present.

Christingle*, which I believe to be similar to the Candle Tea, is celebrated in University Road on the Sunday before Christmas. It is a very special service, and is my favourite service of the year. The children and young people take the service. The nativity is performed, and the meaning of the Christingle explained.

The service concludes with the distribution of Christingles to the congregation, and the singing by candlelight of Jesus Bids us Shine and Silent Night. (continued on page 35)

MORAVIAN HISTORY

Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Daily Texts

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and member of the German resistance against the Nazi regime during World War II. Throughout the Nazi era, Bonhoeffer stood in opposition to Hitler and his policies and was executed for his beliefs shortly before the end of the war.

Those who have read Eberhard Bethge’s biography of Bonhoeffer, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Man of Vision, Man of Courage (reissued in 2000 as Bonhoeffer: A Biography) or Bonhoeffer’s Letters and Papers from Prison (edited by Bethge and others) know of the strong influence the Daily Texts of the Moravian Church had on Bonhoeffer.

Bethge was among Bonhoeffer’s students at the seminary at Finkenwalde, Germany, 28

during the Nazi era of the 1930s and 1940s.

This was a seminary of the Confessing Church organized by Protestants seeking to resist efforts by the Nazi government to control the church. Bethge points out that Bonhoeffer’s mother in her youth had spent months at Herrnhut and had adopted the ideals of the Moravians with youthful enthusiasm. He also mentions that Maria Horn, the beloved family governess from 1906-1923, was a follower of the Moravians and, because of her “attractive and serene personality,” became practically a member of the family.

The Moravian influence upon Bonhoeffer is seen most clearly in his use of the Daily Texts. Whereas today the Daily Texts are often quickly read to start the day, and then put aside and forgotten, Bonhoeffer was in tune with their original intention, meditating upon their meaning for his life in its present circumstances.

At the seminary Bonhoeffer introduced his students to the practice of meditation on the Daily Texts. In later years he would sometimes call their attention to the texts, as in his Christmas letter of 1937, which consisted of his reflections on the texts from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Eve. On June 20, 1939, Bonhoeffer declined an offer of employment from the Federal Council of Churches in the U.S. Recording his meditation on the text for the day, 1 Peter 1:17, “If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile”: “Today’s Losung [watchword text] is The Moravian

terribly hard about God’s incorruptible judgment. He certainly sees how personal a matter today’s decision is, and how full of anxiety, however brave it may appear…. At the end of the day I can only ask that God may judge this day, and all the decisions, mercifully. It is in his hands now.” The following day, he writes, “Again today’s Losung has such hard words: ‘He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver’ (Mal. 3:3)…. He [God] knows what he is about, and in the end all our doings will be clear and pure.”

On the voyage back to Germany, Bonhoeffer wrote, “Since I have been on board, the inward disharmony about the future has ceased, and I can think without any reproaches about the shortened time in America.” He then refers to the text for the day, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Psalm 119:71), and adds, “One of my favorite passages from my favorite psalm.”

In April 1943, Bonhoeffer was arrested and imprisoned. He mentions the Daily Texts frequently in his writings from prison. John W. de Gruchy, editor of an English edition of Bonhoeffer’s Letters and Papers from Prison, comments that these texts helped him to discern meaning and purpose in what was happening around him as well as to him.

On August 24, 1943, for example, Bonhoeffer writes to his parents, “From my upper-story cell and the window, which is lowered completely during alarms, one sees the dreadful fireworks toward the south of the city very clearly, and without the slightest feeling of personal anxiety one becomes overwhelmingly conscious in such moments of the utter absurdity of my present situation of waiting inactively. Then early this morning the Moravian Daily Text moved me strangely: June 2011

‘And I will grant peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid’ (Lev. 26:6a).”

The following Christmas Eve he wrote to his friend Bethge and Bethge’s wife Renate, a niece of Bonhoeffer, “One of the greatest joys for me this Christmas was that even this year we could exchange the Daily Texts with each other. I had sometimes thought and hoped for this but no longer considered it to be possible. Now this book, which has been so important to me especially in these past months, will accompany us through the coming year as well, and when we read it in the morning, we will particularly think of one another.

Thank you so much!”

January 18, 1944, he wrote to Bethge, “The Daily Texts are a joy to me every day,” and on May 9 to the couple, “I know you will be thinking of me every morning when you read the Daily Texts, as I do of you, and I’m very glad that now you’ll be able to read from the Bible together again morning and evening.”

Later that month Bonhoeffer writes a series of meditations on the Daily Texts for Pentecost and the two days that follow that festival, sending these meditations to the Bethges.

On the 6th of June, D-Day, Bonhoeffer recorded that “the news did not come as a surprise to me, and yet things turn out differently from what we expect. The Daily Text and the interpretative verse [Ps. 38:5 [4]: ‘For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.’ Eph. 1:7: ‘In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through (continued on next page) The Rt. Rev. Dr. Graham H. Rights is a bishop in the Southern Province.

Illustration by Natalie Riess 29

(continued from previous page)

2012 DAILY TEXTS The 2012 edition of the Moravian Daily Texts are currently in production. Hymns and prayers written by Moravians from across North America have been added to the Bible verses selected in Herrnhut for this coming year.

For 2012, the Interprovincial Board of Communications will continue to offer several different editions of the Moravian Daily Texts, including paperback, hardcover, large print and the popular Daily Texts Journal (note: we will no longer be offering the flip calendar edition).

The IBOC will also be your North American source for the German and Spanish language versions of the Daily Texts.

To learn more, visit the IBOC online catalog at www.moravian.org/publications or call 1.800.732.0591, ext. 38. Some congregations combine their Daily Texts orders; check with your pastor. As in previous years, preorders for the 2012 Daily Texts received by July 31, 2011 will receive a discounted price. Additional information about preordering the 2012 Daily Texts will be distributed to IBOC customers in June.

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his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,’ call us to the center of the gospel — ‘redemption’ is the word around which everything turns.

In faith, during the coming weeks, and with great assurance to meet our common future, let us confidently commit your path and all our paths to God.” Listening to the radio in the sick bay July 21, 1944, Bonheoffer heard of the failed assassination attempt on Hitler the previous day.

He wrote, “To be sure, theological thoughts do preoccupy me incessantly, but then there are hours, too, when one is content with the ongoing processes of life and faith without reflecting on them. Then the Daily Texts simply make you happy, as I found especially to be the case with yesterday’s [Ps. 20:7: ‘Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God’; and Rom. 8:31: ‘If God is for us, who is against us?’] and today’s, [Ps. 23:1: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want’; and John 10:14: ‘I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.’] for example.”

Looking ahead to Bethge’s birthday on August 28, Bonhoeffer writes on the 14th, “The Daily Texts for the twenty-eighth are beautiful. When I think of you the morning of that day, I will hold fast to them. The question ‘Is the Lord’s hand…?’ Num. 11:23 [NRSV: ‘Is the Lord’s power limited?’] might bring to mind some unfulfilled wishes and hopes. But on the other hand, 2 Cor. 1:20 holds true: [‘For in him every one of God’s promises is a ‘Yes.’ For this reason it is through him that we say ‘Amen,’ to the glory of God.’] God does not fulfill all our wishes but does keep all his promises.”

A week later, he mentions the coming The Moravian

birthday and that he has looked again at these texts and meditated on them. “I think everything depends on the words ‘in Him.’ Everything we may with some good reason expect or beg of God is to be found in Jesus Christ.

What we imagine a God could and should do the God of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with all that. We must immerse ourselves again and again, for a long time and quite calmly, in Jesus’s life, his sayings, actions, suffering and dying in order to recognize what God promises and fulfills.”

In February 1945, Bonhoeffer was moved from imprisonment in Berlin to the Buchenwald concentration camp. In April he was again transferred, this time to Schönberg in the forests of Bavaria. There, on the Second Sunday of Easter, April 8, 1945, he led a service for his fellow prisoners, expounding on the Daily Texts for the day, Isaiah 53:5, “And with his stripes we are healed,” and 1 Peter

1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Shortly after the service was concluded, Bonhoeffer was taken from the room and moved to the concentration camp at Flossingbürg, where, on the following day, he was executed.

Today, Deitrich Bonhoeffer is remembered and commemorated as a theologian and martyr by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church. His life as a pastor and theologian who lived as he preached, stood up for his beliefs and died opposing the Nazi regime have inspired Christians around the world. And his use of the Daily Texts as an inspiration and comfort during his troubled time sheds another powerful light on the power and promise of the Moravian Daily Texts. ■

OFFICIAL PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ NEWS NORTHERN PROVINCE Outdoor Ministries Sunday, June 26, 2011 The 1994 Synod of the Moravian Church– Northern Province passed legislation regarding the observance of an Outdoor Ministries Sunday. The date for this observance has been established by the Provincial Elders’ Conference as the Sunday after Trinity Sunday, which falls on June 26 this year. Pastors are encouraged to use either of the liturgies provided in 1996 or 1997. The liturgies are available in the “Documents” section of the Northern Province website.

Thurmont, Maryland Sister Sue Koenig, who has been serving as pastor of Schoenbrunn Moravian Church, New Philadelphia, Ohio, has accepted the call to serve as pastor of Graceham Moravian Church, Thurmont, Maryland.

Sister Koenig will begin her new work June 6, 2011.

Retirement Brother Belfield A. Castello, who has been serving as pastor of First Moravian Church, Easton, Pennsylvania, requested and was granted permission to retire from the active call of the Moravian Church effective August 31, 2011.

Brother Castello was received into the ministry of the Moravian Church on February 24, 1985. He then served the church in pastorates at New Dawn Moravian Church, Toronto, Ontario and First Moravian Church, Easton, Pennsylvania.

The church is grateful for his 26 years of faithful service.

Elizabeth D. Miller Provincial Elders’ Conference

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 are available by contacting Siobhan Young at the Communication Office.

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The Moravian

SOUTHERN PROVINCE Sunday, June 26, 2011 has been designated as Prayer Day for Laurel Ridge Camp, Conference and Retreat Center in the Southern Province. At Laurel Ridge our experiences occur in an environment distinctly related to nature and creation as we learn to meet all of life’s relationships as children of God. Please be in prayer for all who help to discern and understand God’s will for the leaders, staff, volunteers, users and future promise of this very special place.

Judy Ganz (continued from page 13 ) “The decision to apply for the position of Executive Director of the Board of World Mission was not an easy one for me because I have grown to love the privilege of pastoring a congregation. I have also come to realize the crucial role of the local church in helping to define how we need to move into our future, including how we can share God’s love in new ways beyond our doors and to people who increasingly are resistant to the gospel.

“Yet I realized that the same question needs to be addressed at the level of the Board of World Mission. In the face of multiple changes within our societies, how are we to share Christ to the world? In particular it surfaced for me an issue that I have struggled with all of my adult life — how do we begin to share our wealth with others in ways that promote dignity and power rather than dependence and low self-esteem? The fact that I am offered the opportunity to address issues of the church about which I have been passionate for some time is both challenging and exciting to me.” ■ June 2011

MORAVIAN CAMPS

Camp Hope selects new center administrator The Board of Management of Hope Conference and Renewal Center selected Steve Sobczak as the new Center Administrator. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership from Unity College and brings 20-plus years of experience in the camp and outdoor education environment.

Prior to taking on his new role, Steve worked as a naturalist for the Morris County Park Commission in Chatham, N.J., teaching environmental education programs for children and adults. He has also served as an outdoor educator and camp director at YMCA camps in Utah and Connecticut.

Brother Sobczak shares, “Living and working in a camp setting has been my life for the better part of 16 years. My wife, Erin, and I met at camp, our love of education and the outdoors bringing us together. We have a beautiful 14 month old son, Dylan, and a 6-year-old black lab, Pele.

“This opportunity at Camp Hope is like coming home for us. We are looking forward to sharing our experience and love of camp with all who come through the gate.

Our dream is to see camp utilized to its full potential as a place where folks can come explore their faith in Christ, learn, relax, and rejuvenate in a beautiful outdoor setting. We are thankful for the opportunity to live and work in such a wonderful setting. Camp is our new backyard and we want to share it with all of you.” Steve began work at Camp Hope on Monday, May 2. ■ 33

Congregational giving (continued from page 11 ) the institution; instead it is doing the work of Christ.”

Adamson Forum participants worked in small teams to try their hand at developing a mission and ministry budget. Using a sample budget, the teams developed ways of telling the story of their fictional congregations and sharing their budgets in compelling new ways. On Sunday morning, each team presented their concept to the whole group — with very creative results.

In addition to the mission and ministry budgeting process, Dave also introduced a ministry called “Worship +2.” It encourages members to be faithful in their attendance of worship services, plus two (or more) other things: • find a place in our church where you are growing spiritually, through Sunday school, small group ministries and other fellowship groups; and • find a place within the church or community where you are empowered to serve others in some way. In doing so, members grow in their relationship with the church and with God. More information on “Worship + 2” is available from Dave or the Moravian Ministries Foundation.

Next Steps The Adamson Innovation Forum event itself is just the beginning. “If you take these processes and tools seriously, your church can and will make progress,” said Paul McLaughlin, president, Moravian Ministries Foundation to the participants. “It will take a lot of hard work, but you need to know you will not be alone when you return home.

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“We are committing resources to support your efforts when we conclude,” continued Paul. “We will use social media to help sustain the energy of our time together, including an online forum to post questions, share experiences and progress and post materials.

We’ve also established a Facebook page to share stories and stay connected.

“And we will continue our face-to-face contact and problem-solving. When the Moravian Ministries Foundation is coming to your area, we will call to see if there’s anything we can do to provide assistance and use online services to have one-on-one meetings with church groups,” said Paul.

“Don’t be bashful about calling us. We are here to be a resource to help you deal with these problems.”

More information about the Moravian Ministries Foundation in America can be found at <www.mmfa.info>. Videos and presentations from the Adamson Innovation Forum will be available in June on the MMFA website. ■ As part of the Adamson Forum, Chi-Chi Messick, vice president of the MMFA, presented “Simply Stewardship,” a comprehensive program that provides assistance in examining and evaluating congregational giving and promotes stewardship education. More information about “Simply Stewardship,” a fee-for-service program of Morning Star Campaign Services, will be featured in an upcoming issue of The Moravian.

Helen McVeigh (continued from page 27 ) Our congregation re-established the Lovefeast service through our contacts with our sister congregation, Home Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. A number of sisters from Home Church participated in the first formal congregation visit to University Road in 1995.

They brought with them Lovefeast trays, cloths and aprons, and their visit was concluded with a Lovefeast, the first at our church for many years. A return visit from University Road to Winston-Salem took place in 1998 during Holy Week and Easter. We were overjoyed to participate in the washing of the gravestones in God’s Acre, and to attend the Easter Sunrise service. While our own church does not celebrate a Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday, our neighbouring Moravian congregations do

so, and Balinderry, Kilwarlin and Gracehill have their own God’s Acre.

Despite our small membership in University Road, we keep the Moravian spirit alive in our worship every Sunday, our fellowship with one another after services and our outreach to the local community. Over the past year we have raised over £4,000 for work within our congregation, the Irish District, the British Province, and the wider Moravian church family. We also support local causes such as Churches’ Action on Poverty, and other local charities. Most recently, £1,500 was raised for a Christian Aid project in Burkina Faso.

As I write this, Easter is approaching, and as we look forward to celebrating the resurrection of our Lord, I send greetings from the Irish District to our Moravian brothers and sisters in the North American Province. ■

Postmaster please send address changes to: The Moravian, P.O. Box 1245, Bethlehem, PA 18016-1245

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