The Moravian Magazine • November 2013

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In this issue: Ideas for 21st Century Choir System Stories Behind the Songs Unity Heritage Tour And more!

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On the cover: The Brethren’s House, built in 1748, housed the single men of the Bethlehem community.

Photo by Mike Riess

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In this issue: Ideas for 21st Century Choir System Stories Behind the Songs Unity Heritage Tour And more!

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

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Moravian Unity 5 Committee focuses on worldwide matters at meeting in Bethlehem 13 Tracing Moravian roots on the Unity Youth Heritage Tour 2013 21st Century Moravians 6 Learning from our past: Ideas for a 21st-century choir system Synod 2014 10 Gathering prepares delegates for 2014 Synod Board of World Mission 17 Board seeks God’s direction in Mission during fall retreat and meeting

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In Our Congregations 19 Daggett Moravian “saddles up” for Cowboy Church celebration Moravian Education 21 Moravian Theological Seminary’s CROSSROADS program prepares lay leaders for congregational service Moravian Music 22 Hearing the stories behind the songs

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.

November 2013

In Our Communities 24 What one man can do by following the Lord In Every Issue 4 Ponderings 26 Official Provincial Elders’ News 28 Obituary: The Rev. Leon H. Matthias 29 Statistics of the Moravian Church, Northern & Southern Provinces

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PONDERINGS

Steeping myself in Moravian theology and history Since joining the staff of the IBOC, I’ve been fascinated (and some-

times confused) by the history and theology of the Moravian Church.

Whether it’s the Ancient Unity, the work of Comenius, the church of Zinzendorf’s time or the modern-day Unitas Fratrum, I’m still trying to get my arms around what it means to be Moravian.

Fortunately, I have access to historians, theologians, professors and archivists who can help guide my discovery. Within ten minute’s walk of my office, I have the Northern Province Archives, the Moravian Theological Seminary and historic Bethlehem—a good place to be to work on this journey.

This fall, I took advantage of an opportunity to learn more about the roots of Moravian theology at the Seminary in a class taught by Dr. Craig Atwood. Throughout the class, I’ve been struck by those “ahHa!” moments that demonstrate how the core essentials of today’s church were envisioned hundreds of years ago.

Learning this theological history also helped pique my interest in an article by Lanie Yaswinski, the former assistant archivist for the Northern Province. Previously shared in conferences and in The Hinge (the publication of the Center for Moravian Studies), I found Lanie’s work on looking to our 18th-century Moravian brothers and sisters to envision a 21st-century choir system to be a very interesting proposition—and one that readers of The Moravian Magazine may find challenging and inspiring.

And I’m not alone. In this issue, we also feature a story of young Moravians visiting the European birthplace of the Moravian Church as part of the 2013 Unity Youth Heritage Tour. While there, they walked in the footsteps of the founders of our church.

I hope you enjoy this issue of The Moravian. In the meantime, I have some reading to do for my next class…

Peace, 4

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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 Knouse, Paul Peucker Chair Adam Pristas Jane Burcaw Richard Sides Jane Carmichael Valerie Wagner Lance Fox Jill Westbrook 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: pubs@mcnp.org www.moravian.org Contents © 2013, Interprovincial Board of Communications, Moravian Church in North America.

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The Moravian

MORAVIAN UNITY

Committee focuses on worldwide matters at meeting in Bethlehem Members of the Unity Executive Committee met in Bethlehem, Pa., in September to pray for and conduct business on behalf of the Unity Board of the Worldwide Moravian Church. The three days of meetings focused on matters that pertain to the Unity provinces, mission provinces and mission areas around the Moravian world.

During our meeting in September, we received reports from the Unity Commission on Theology, the Unity Mission and Development Board and the work of the Unity Business Administrator. We addressed concerns raised by tensions in Eastern Tanzania, Honduras and Alaska. We discussed matters that may be brought before the Unity Board meeting in 2014.

Two developments of the past several years have significantly impacted how the UEC does its work. The 2009 Unity Synod authorized the hiring of a Unity Business Administrator to organize and coordinate the work of the Unity. The Rev. Dr. Jørgen Bøytler has brought a tremendous amount of communication and coordination with all provinces of the Unity.

The other significant development is email and the capacity to scan documents. Whereas weeks would often pass between an event and the communication of that event, now members of the Unity Executive Committee learn of it within hours. This allows the UEC to spend less meeting time on sharing information and more on developing solutions to address situations.

The Unity Executive Committee includes one representative of each of the four regions of the Unity. Br. Robert Hopcroft represents the European Region and serves as President of the Unity Board. Br. Nosigwe Buya represents the African Region and serves as Vice-President of the Board. Br. Cortroy Jarvis represents the Caribbean Region; Sr. Betsy Miller represents the American Region. Each representative is elected by his or her region at the Unity Board meeting. Br. Jorgen Boytler, Unity Business Administrator, lives in Denmark. ■ Betsy Miller is president of the Northern Province Provincial Elders’ Conference and a member of the Unity Executive Committee. Below: Cortroy Jarvis, Jørgen Bøytler, Robert Hopcroft, Nosigwe Buya and Betsy Miller.

21ST CENTURY MORAVIANS

Learning from Our Past: Ideas for a 21st-Century Choir System Lanie Yaswinski is the former assistant archivist at the Moravian Archives in Bethlehem, Pa. This article is a result of research comparing modern church practices with those of 18th-century Moravians presented at workshops for the Eastern District’s “Heart of Ministry” conferences in 2009 and 2011.

A longer version of this article appeared in the Summer 2012 issue of The Hinge.

In 2011 I was asked by our District President,

Dave Bennett, to consider what a modern Moravian choir system might look like. The result is a proposal for a new choir system that is really dependent on the revival of the small-group prayer bands that delivered pastoral care to all church members through highly active lay leadership.

As assistant archivist I was privileged to investigate our church’s history on a daily basis.

What I found most fascinating was how 18thcentury Moravians “did” church in the past.

Eighteenth-century Moravians were highly effective Christians; historian Hans-Walter Erbe likened them to an evangelistic “volcano.”

Successful modern churches often employ

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techniques used by 18th-century Moravians, especially in terms of lay leadership and pastoral care.

The renewed Moravian Church evolved as part of the Pietist movement that stressed the development of one’s personal relationship to Christ. Our current church continues to stress this. However do they offer consistent opportunities for members to articulate their spirituality, the state of their souls, and specifically their personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

Our church has many positive aspects: sound theology, rich liturgies and music, etc., but what’s missing is a system of ongoing spiritual care for all members or many opportunities for members to articulate their spirituality.

Today many of us are timid expressing our feelings about Jesus. This is in stark contrast to the 18th-century church. Members verbally expressed their relationships with Christ in weekly prayer bands and during monthly self-examinations known as “speakings” with their choir leaders in preparation for communion, as well as through correspondence, art, hymn writing, and composing a spiritual The Moravian

memoir, or Lebenslauf, which would be read at their funerals.

Through a highly developed system of pastoral care provided through the prayer bands and choir system, Moravians of old were kept on their spiritual “tippy toes” through constant spiritual self-examination, which ensured individual spiritual growth as well as congregational vitality.

Church structure and leadership By examining 18th-century structure and leadership—and comparing the difference with our modern church—we gain a better understanding of how prayer bands and the choir system served church members of the time. Our modern church essentially operates as a “top down” ministry. Jesus serves as our Chief Elder. Trustees and Elders act like advisory boards. The minister is often the only person in the congregation directly responsible for ministry and spiritual care of members. Many church members today believe that the minster is the only one in the church “qualified” to minister to others.

In terms of spiritual enrichment, participation in Sunday school, prayer and/or fellowship groups is not required and only a small percentage participates. The result is a congregation comprised of perhaps hundreds of people with vastly differing spiritual needs and experiences—all shepherded by one person (the minister).

The minister simply cannot meet the spiritual needs of every single member, and consequently individual pastoral care from the minister is often limited to those in crisis, or sick and shut-in. They are the only ones who get a time of personal introspection with a spiritual counselor, who will also (continued on next page) November 2013

WHAT WAS THE “CHOIR SYSTEM” “Choir” simply means group, not necessarily a singing group. The “choir system” was developed in the early days of Herrnhut when the unmarried men and later the unmarried women set up communal housekeeping. Eventually the whole community was divided according to gender, age, and marital status. Every Moravian community had large choir houses for the Single Brothers and Single Sisters. Often there was a house for the Widows as well. Frequently children were educated in choir houses that functioned as boarding schools. Each choir was largely self-governing, but the choir leaders were chosen by the church’s elders.

Devotions and instructions for living were established for each choir so that every person could grow into the likeness of his or her Savior. In the 18th century women wore colored ribbons to indicate their choir. This is no longer used in the Moravian Church in America, except in some congregations’ “God’s Acre,” where men and women are buried in separate sections.

From the Center for Moravian Studies

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(continued from previous page)

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The photos accompanying this story are of the choir houses in historic Bethlehem. Moravian communities of the 18th-century had these large choir houses for the Single Bothers and Single Sisters.

try to address their physical and emotional needs, pray with them and perhaps offer communion.

The highly-evolved system of lay leadership formed through the “bottom up” ministry provided by prayer bands and choirs in the 18th-century church made this type of regular pastoral care possible. This system of leadership functioned in stark contrast to the “top down” model of today.

Although Jesus Christ was established as Chief Elder and Trustees functioned much the same way as in today’s church, Elders played a very different role in church life. They served not as a general advisory board, but instead as a group comprised of lay spiritual mentors known as the choir helpers, each one responsible for the pastoral care of everyone in their choir.

The 18th-century church divided membership into choirs according to age, gender and marital status; each choir had a leader that cared for the spiritual welfare of the group.

The choir helpers served as acolytes: lay leaders officially recognized and anointed by the church to be responsible for a specific ministry. Eighteenth-century Moravians believed strongly that everyone was endowed with spiritual gifts, and these gifts should all work together in the name of Christ.

Furthermore, each choir was divided into smaller prayer bands of 5-10 people ensuring that each member of the congregation “had the goal to confer in mutual sincerity about all things of life and faith in order to encourage each other to follow the Lord.” Prayer band activities were restricted to those that provided spiritual enrichment only: prayer, singing, reading scripture, and heartfelt conversation, The Moravian

in an atmosphere that was above all honest, humble and without pretense. Prayer bands were always conducted among groups of peers as peer grouping naturally provided an authentic space, where people of like circumstances could comfortably open their hearts to each other.

Proposal for a 21st-century choir system How can the church deliver quality pastoral care to all members in a way that is palatable to our modern sensibilities? Based on this research into 18-century choirs, here are some suggestions to consider: • Acknowledge that the spiritual care and growth of our members must be our first priority in maintaining congregational vitality, and commit to ensuring that there is an opportunity available for individual and small group pastoral care for each man, woman and child in every congregation.

• Rather than depending on the minister to provide pastoral care for everyone, acknowledge the spiritual gifts in our own congregations and empower lay leadership to engage in prayer and spiritual conversations with others.

• Like the 18th-century choir system, a modern choir system would encompass smaller prayer groups (or “bands”) composed of 5-10 people led by a peer lay leader. This pastoral care should be delivered by peers in an “authentic space”—one that is honest and entirely without pretense so that people can completely bare their souls. What defines a “peer” group these days? Natural divisions in our congregations—perhaps according to gender, age, those with or without children/spouses, geographic divisions according to neighNovember 2013

borhood, or simply natural groups of friends.

• A new choir system should serve as a strictly spiritual activity that is purely reflective and non-judgmental. Meetings should only involve prayer, devotions, personal witness, and perhaps singing; no work, learning, committees, or fundraising involved.

• The prayer bands should encourage conversation using spiritual vocabulary, so that members can practice articulating their spirituality and noting spiritual growth.

• In the 18th century prayer bands met at least once a week for about an hour. Band leaders were encouraged to keep sessions brief and focused on spiritual matters. In recalling the old Moravian concept of acting as spiritual “yeast,” these small groups of people would grow in their spirituality and serve as the leaven to invigorate the rest of the congregation.

Ed. Note: To read more about the idea of a 21st-century choir system, check out Lanie’s complete piece and the commentary from others presented in The Hinge, available at www.moravianstudies.org. ■ Lanie Yaswinski

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SYNOD 2014

Gathering prepares delegates for 2014 Synod While the 2014 Synod may be six months away, Southern Province leaders and Synod delegates met in Winston-Salem to prepare for the upcoming event.

Delegates from across the province joined together at New Philadelphia Moravian Church on Saturday, Sept. 28 to review the purposes of Synod, the workings of the event and what it means to be a delegate to this important part of Moravian Church polity. The Southern Province Synod, whose theme is “Jesus Still Lead On,” is set for April 3-6, 2014 at the Blue Ridge Center in Black Rock, N.C. The Provincial Synod According to the Constitution of the Moravian Church in America, Southern Province, the Provincial Synod has the supreme legislative power of the Province in all things not committed to the Unity Synod. (Unity Synod is the ruling body of the Unitas Fratrum, the worldwide Moravian Church).

Provincial Synods examine and oversee the affairs of the Province and its congregations.

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At Synods, the church legislates in regard to constitution, worship and congregational life of the Province; provides vision, direction and expectations for Provincial mission and ministry; elects the Provincial Elder’s Conference and its president; elects representatives to interprovincial agencies, boards and other agencies; elects bishops (when appropriate); elects delegates to Unity Synod; acts as the final court of appeal to hear and redress grievances; and more.

Discerning a vision As part of the 2014 Synod, delegates will be working to discern a vision for the Province.

Working in small teams called “Pilgrimage Groups,” delegates will focus on the Southern Province’s Characteristics for a Healthy Congregation. These include cooperation, growth, leadership, ministry, mission, relationship with Christ (both personally and corporately), stewardship and worship. Three groups will address each characteristic, for a total of 24 groups.

The Moravian

The September Pre-Synod Meeting for the Southern Province brought together delegates for worship, discussion and preparation for the 2014 Synod, to be held in April.

While at Synod, the groups will consider where and how the Chief Elder has been and is leading us, using the “lens” of the assigned characteristic. The groups will consider where the church has been, where it is now, where God is calling the church, and what we agree on for our future.

Following each one of these discerning sessions, the three groups assigned to each characteristic will come together in a Characteristic Group to share insights and agree on proposals to bring to the entire Synod related to the assigned characteristic.

Coming into the meeting, delegates did not know which area they would be focused on.

Pilgrimage Groups were assigned characteristics to work on by lot during the September gathering.

The Delegates The delegates to the 2014 Southern Province Synod were chosen from their congregations.

However, a delegate is not a “representative” of the congregation; he or she is not someone who is instructed to vote a certain way on legislation and elections by the congregation or its leadership. Instead, delegates are called out of the congregation because of the character of their Christian living and the depth of maturity of their relationship with Christ and with their brothers and sisters in the congregation and Province.

Delegates are expected to pray before and during Synod for God’s leading and direction for the Province. In preparation for Synod, they are expected to understand the process of Synod, read and reflect on reports from boards and agencies of the church and (continued on next page) November 2013

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(continued from previous page) become knowledgeable about nominees for various elected offices and boards.

Once at Synod, delegates are expected to take an active part in Synod itself, including worship, group sessions, elections and consideration of resolutions. As importantly, delegates will share and help implement the results of Synod throughout the Province.

Getting Ready The September 28 event was designed to provide this and more information to the delegates to Synod. Throughout the day, Provincial leaders discussed how Synod works and what delegates should expect for 2014.

As it is with Synod, worship was a key component of this meeting. At the open and close of the Pre-Synod Meeting, attendees gathered for worship, music and contemplation, with words from Southern Province pastors and bishops.

And the delegate Pilgrimage Groups had an opportunity to meet with their fellow delegates and discuss what they’ll be working on at Synod. The groups are mixed by location, lay/clergy and demographics to provide a good diversity of thought and knowledge.

In the months leading up to Synod, the Synod Planning Committee is distributing devotions for delegates and their congregations.

These devotions provide prayer and insight in preparation for the work of Synod.

More to come In future issues of The Moravian, we’ll share additional information about preparations for the 2014 Southern Province Synod, along with articles about the upcoming 2014 Northern Province Synod, scheduled for June 1923, 2014 in Bethlehem, Pa. ■

The Moravian

MORAVIAN UNITY

Tracing Moravian roots on the Unity Youth Heritage Tour 2013 In August, a group of young Moravians from the Northern and Southern Provinces joined counterparts from across the Moravian Unity for the 2013 Unity Youth Heritage Tour.

The Tour, which traced the roots of the Ancient Unity and renewed Moravian Church in Europe, offered an opportunity to visit the cradle of the Moravian Church.

We asked those who attended to share their perspective and insights into the meaning of this opportunity to them.

Jenna Nodine & Andrew Craver Southern Province Representatives Having the opportunity to take off two weeks and come together in fellowship with other Moravians at the birthplace of our denomination is not something that most of our sisters and brothers get to do in today’s world. Busy adult lives, travel expenses and the logistics of organizing a trip at this scale are realistic and often impassible barriers.

The Youth Heritage Tour was a chance for young adults across several provinces (British European, European Continental, East and West Indies, Jamaica, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa, USA Southern and USA Northern) to discover their Moravian roots. The November 2013

Unity organized the Youth Heritage Tour, a 14-day conference from August 10-24, 2013, to show young adults exactly from where, and from whom, Moravians come.

We began the first week in Herrnhut, Germany. The second half of our tour consisted of visits to Dresden, Kunvald and the beautiful city of Prague in the Czech Republic, historic Ebersdorf and Herrnhag (Germany), the close-knit community of Zeist in The Netherlands and the modern congregations of Amsterdam.

“Mission Possible” was the theme. Through a great deal of discussion, devotions, and tours, our diverse group of 28 walked (continued on next page) 13

(continued from previous page) through the same fields, trails and rooms that our Moravian ancestors wandered. The Youth Heritage Tour fell at a special time in the historical records of Moravians, and it was an eye-opening experience to celebrate the renewal of the Moravian church in the same sanctuary as those present in Berthelsdorf on August 13, 1727.

Unifying qualities of the ancient Unitas Fratrum presented themselves throughout the tour as we recognized the likenesses between things as simple as the classic white uniformity of European sanctuaries and as powerful

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as sharing the Daily Text in our diverse native tongues. We also embraced the variety in our congregations and provinces. It was a celebration to learn about the cultures that Moravians all over the world come from.

By the end of our short time together, it is safe to say that we were all aware of our mission as young adult Moravians to function as a model of Christianity. This serves a combination of both a uniform belief system as well as a flexibility to mesh into different cultures.

The time we all shared together in work, play, and travel reflects the successes of the Moravian church today. It continues to grow out of a deep heritage that reshaped the history of the Christian Church.

Dan Miller Northern Province Representative The Youth Heritage Tour of 2013 is an event that I will continue to value. I am drawing from my experiences there to better understand some of our Moravian traditions that I come across on a regular basis in the Northern Province. I cherish the international relationships I made with the other people on this trip and I have no doubt that in time,

The Moravian

these relationships will be renewed as we continue to work as brothers and sisters of the Unitas Fratrum.

Throughout our travels in Germany, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, some of my favorite moments occurred in Herrnhut, Germany. To stand in God’s Acre, in Zinzendorf’s workroom, at Zinzendorf’s table (where the Daily Text are created each year), and to have communion at the same church and on the same date (August 13th) as our brothers and sisters did in 1727, committing themselves to a renewed church, was indescribable and extremely inspiring to me.

Thank you to those people of the Northern Province for sponsoring me on this trip and for your thoughts and prayers. I hope that opportunities like the Youth Heritage Tour continue so that other young Moravians may have the same kind of experiences.

District holds their Youth Rally each year; one of the highlights of the Rally is for churches to compete in a Quiz Bowl. For that competition, youth study Moravian history and a book of the Bible, so it was exciting for me to actually visit some of the places I studied when I represented my church. I spent the night in Count Zinzendorf’s castle, visited the Chalice Rocks and Kunvald, learned the history of the Daily Texts, saw the statue of John Hus in the square in Prague (my home church in Brooklyn is named for him), visited the Bethlehem chapel where John Hus preached, celebrated the August 13 renewal with Holy Communion in Herrnhut, and worshiped in differ(continued on next page)

Alexandria Boyce Northern Province Representative It was an honor to be one of the youth selected to represent the Northern Province on the Moravian Heritage Tour to Germany, Prague and the Netherlands. It was educational and a wonderful experience, one I will never forget.

The Moravian Youth Council of the Eastern November 2013

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Greg Behrend Unity Youth Steering Committee Representative The Unity Youth Heritage Tour was an excellent experience not only to learn about the Moravian history but also to meet members of the tour who gathered from all over the world. For me there was a deep connection to my roots, especially in Herrnhut. I felt that the things I have been taught in today’s Moravian church are still very similar to what was taught in the early 1700’s. (continued from previous page) ent Moravian churches in different languages (not understanding the language sometimes but enjoying the experience).

The whole tour made a great impact on my life and made me view things differently. One of my favorite sites we visited was the Moravian forest which had many sculptures, including one with the different praying hand positions representing diversity. We all pray differently and in different positions but at the end of the day we are all praying to one God and that is important. God is the head, we are all different, but we come together to do his work.

I could go on and on about this trip but words cannot explain the wonderful feeling I got from being on this tour. I met Moravians from different countries; we had open panel discussions that allowed us to compare our worship experience. We learned how our worship varies in different cultures but in all cultures one thing remains the same, our love for music, so we had an opportunity to learn and teach new songs from our different backgrounds during our daily devotion.

New bonds were created and it was sad when the tour ended but I was happy to be a part of this experience and I will share my experiences with youth of the Province.

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We all have many differences including our different languages but we all still experience and worship God in the similar ways as I do here in the United States.

This tour has helped me better understand where our Church came from and how we have been a part of God’s plan. Our church is built on love and we experienced that from the 26 other Moravians on this trip all of whom live in different cultures of this world.

We all have many differences including our different languages but we all still experience and worship God the similar ways as we do here in the United States.

This tour was filled with young Moravians who have experienced and been a part of wonderful ministries all over the world.

Many of these young adults have given much of their time and effort in their young lives and because of this tour will now be able to educate their friends, families and churches with a better understanding of the history of the Moravian church and how the Moravian Church is serving people in other parts of the world in 2013. ■ The Moravian

BOARD OF WORLD MISSION

Board seeks God’s direction in Mission during fall retreat and meeting The Board of World Mission in North Amer-

ica (BWM) met from October 3-5, 2013 at the Christian Springs Retreat Center in Bethlehem, Pa. for a strategic planning session, followed by a business meeting.

The session began with a presentation by Rev. Dr. Craig Atwood, Moravian Theological Seminary, regarding early Moravian missions under Zinzendorf. He corrected a common misunderstanding saying that Moravians were not the first Protestant missionaries. However they were the first mission church where missions became central to the identity of the church, and were the first to embrace a truly global vision, sending people all over the world in a relatively short period of time. The early Moravians also were not afraid to fail and had to close a variety of mission sites for many different reasons.

We on the BWM continue to affirm missions as the central identity of our church—sharing Christ in Word and deed. However, how we live out that call may be different given the many changes in our world today.

Consultant Barry Frey from the Samaritan

November 2013

Counseling Center led our board through our strategic planning session. Two primary initiatives emerged in our work: 1) reaching (continued on next page) The Rev. Judy Ganz is Executive Director of the North American Board of World Mission. Above: Board Member Becky Frey discusses the future of Moravian missions; below, Loren Jendro, Betsy Miller and Jill Kolodziej offer their thoughts.

(continued from previous page) out to congregations and equipping others in mission; and 2) identifying opportunities and needs for mission.

What is interesting is that this direction to work more closely with our congregations parallels suggestions that came out of our survey of clergy at the interprovincial clergy conference this past spring. Top priorities for those who responded to the survey included relationshipbuilding, mission programming and education, ongoing communication about mission opportunities and leadership development. It is hoped that we can realign staff to be more accessible to congregations, as well as prepare our board members to be better resources to congregations in their regions, as together we seek discernment for God’s direction in how we share the Good News both locally and globally. We will be reevaluating how we best support volunteers in mission, including work crews, disaster relief and short-term missions.

The BWM continues to partner with our traditional provinces: Costa Rica, Guyana, Honduras, Labrador, Nicaragua and W. Tanzania. We are committed to decreasing the block grants to each of these areas by 10

percent per year, with the hope of walking with them more intentionally in leadership development, stewardship training, and mission outreach. As we learn of new opportunities for partnership we will let congregations know of them (please look for our updated Second Mile Project list on the website www. moravianmission.org.) We also are guiding the new mission areas of Cuba, Peru and Sierra Leone and are excited about the chance to walk with them as they develop the structure for their churches and reach out in new ways to share God’s love with others.

In the midst of our strategic planning, someone came forth with the phrase: “The Board of World Mission is a place where we put people, passion, gifts, needs and Jesus together and we’re ready to deal with whatever happens.” One never knows what God will do when we offer all that we are in service and mission—much like the early Moravians did when all of life went to support the mission of the church. I think that could be a mantra for all of us. I look forward to walking more intentionally with our congregations to do just that—seeing what God will make of our willingness to offer ourselves and seek where God would have us serve! ■

Sam Grey, David Guthrie and Judy Ganz at the Board of World Mission retreat.

IN OUR CONGREGATIONS

Daggett Moravian “saddles up” for Cowboy Church celebration “Get along little doggie” isn’t something you hear very often in church. But when the Daggett Moravian Congregation gathered on September 8 for their third annual “Cowboy Church” observance, it’s certain that visions of the Way Out West were on member’s minds.

With attendance three times the normal, folks gathered in their western attire for a western lifestyle worship experience. The community was invited to join with members in a relaxed atmosphere.

As worshipers arrived, they were greeted by the area’s Round Up Rodeo Queen, Brianna Hess, on horseback. The day began with a complimentary chuckwagon breakfast of eggs, biscuits and gravy, bacon, beans, coffee and juice, prepared outdoors over open flames behind his authentic chuckwagon by The Rev. Gary Straughn serves as pastor for the Daggett Moravian congregation.

Above: Roy Berto (right) and Larry and Cheryl Pepin lead worship on Cowboy Church Sunday; at right: Taking the offering, “cowboy style.”

November 2013

area farmer, John Boyd. John is a small area farmer who still uses a team of horses in his work. He recently began a new business known as “Cowboy U.P. Chuckwagon Catering Company,” described as the “best home scratch cooking anywhere.”

Worship, as it has been each year for this special occasion, was prepared and led by dedicated lay member and often-time lay preacher, Roy Berto. The Country Classics (continued on next page)

(continued from previous page) (Larry and Cheryl Pepin), a western entertainment couple known throughout the Upper Peninsula, presented special music and led the congregation in singing some country favorites.

Using the lectionary scriptures of the day, Pastor Gary Straughan reminded worshipers that whether one is a cowboy or a corporate executive and whether transported by horseback or BMW, the call from God to today’s followers of Christ is the same as given to Moses and his people and the same as that given by Jesus himself—namely, that the world would be able to see Jesus in all that we are and say and do. In presenting the message, Roy Berto made the case that, following the six days of creation and the seventh day of rest, the “rest of the story” was that, on the eighth day, God created the farmer and the cowboy, both of whom provide the “stuff of life.”

About Daggett The community of Daggett is located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, approximately 90 miles north of Green Bay, Wis., and was once a thriving town with stores, banks, churches, and schools but today is only a small spot on the highway map between Menominee and Escanaba, Mich., with the Moravian Church at its core. The Moravian congregation in Daggett was established by Moravians from across the bay in Door County, Wis., who had been advised of the availability of land at “bargain basement” prices in the untamed areas of the Upper Peninsula. Although the lumber industry was attractive to many others who settled in the area, it appears that the former Moravians from Sturgeon Bay were attracted to the possibility of land development and farming. The congregation was 20

established on September 10, 1911, and observed its 102nd anniversary this year.

Daggett is in the middle of what is known as the “mid-county” of Menominee and the area has seen corporate farming replace the many family farms that once dotted the landscape. The lumber industry is no longer seeing the vibrancy it once enjoyed.

Many residents commute to work places in Menominee or Escanaba.

The Moravian church has certainly been influenced by the area’s history. At one time there were three or more handbell choirs, a Sunday morning attendance that often hit three figures, and full time pastoral leadership. In spite of this decline, the congregation still has an impact on the community and, together with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in nearby Stephenson, provides the only inclusive and mainline Protestant witness in the area, a witness that is needed to provide an alternative to the many independent congregations in the area that preach an exclusionary and separatist Christianity. The one remaining handbell choir is still legendary throughout the county. Dedicated to their church, the average 30 individuals in worship on a Sunday morning represent almost 75 percent of the total membership. ■ Pastor Gary Straughn preaches on Cowboy Church Sunday.

MORAVIAN EDUCATION

Moravian Theological Seminary’s CROSSROADS program prepares lay leaders for congregational service When the Rev. Cynthia Geyer left College Hill Moravian Church to assume the new role of Eastern District Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, the congregation was faced with what to do to keep programs moving, fill the pulpit every other Sunday and assist Rev. David Geyer. Mostly they needed some time and space in order to sort out a long-term staffing plan.

They turned to CROSSROADS, the Lay Leadership Program at Moravian Theological Seminary, for assistance. They asked Dr. Jill Peters, CROSSROADS director, for a lay staff recommendation. Based on that recommendation, they interviewed Linda Pensyl Rapp, a 2012 CROSSROADS graduate and member of First Moravian, Easton, Pa. After interviewing her they determined that she fit the bill exactly having helped her congregation through an interim period, preaching regularly, leading adult discipleship and was experienced in many aspects of church leadership.

Linda was installed Sunday, September 22 as their part-time Interim Pastoral and Pro-

gramming Assistant. Linda’s experiences in CROSSROADS uniquely qualified her for this position. She has taken courses in Preaching, Teaching, Discipleship and Contextual Outreach to name a few. We congratulate her and College Hill on this exciting venture.

For more information about the CROSSROADS program go to www.moravian seminary.edu/crossroads or contact Jill Peters at jpeters@moravian.edu. The purpose of CROSSROADS is to train lay leaders in local congregations. ■ Linda Pensyl Rapp

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November 2013

21

MORAVIAN MUSIC

Hearing the stories behind the songs “Bliss Beyond Compare” Hymn 47 The Rt. Rev. Samuel J. Gray—tune I have always enjoyed singing the “hymns of the day” as printed in the Moravian Daily Texts as part of my morning devotional time. In 2011, I was going through some difficult situations in my personal life and was “blessed” one morning to discover that the hymn I would be singing was “Bliss Beyond

In July, the Moravian Music Foundation and

Interprovincial Board of Communication introduced Sing to the Lord A New Song: A New Moravian Songbook. This new songbook contains 80 brand new songs, written by and for Moravians, as a celebration of the vivacity and diversity of music in the modern Moravian Church in America.

As part of the submission process, songwriters were asked to share what led them to create these new works. In this and future issues of The Moravian, we share some of those stories to inspire others to try a new song, or put their hand to creating their own new works.

A quick note: The initial printing of Sing to the Lord… sold out in less than four months.

A second printing is on the way and should be available by Thanksgiving.

To learn more about the new songbook, visit www.moravian.org. Copies are available from the IBOC or Moravian Music Foundation for $10 each.

22

Sam Gray

The Moravian

Compare.” I read through the words first and realized that a different tune was going through my mind. So, I sang the words to that tune! As I sang, I felt that the verse “Jesus is my joy, therefore blessed am I” really needed to be the climax or finale of the hymn, so I took the liberty of changing the order of the verses so that the hymn would end with a reminder of the joy we share in Jesus. Unlike other songs or hymns that I have written, I can say that this tune seemed to simply be inside of me and I just sang it without having to do any of the work of composing. I truly believe this was a gift from God in a moment when I needed it most. I’m thankful to God for that and hope that others can be blessed by it as well.

“The Manger in My Heart” Hymn 37 The Rev. Rick Beck The story behind this song dates back to our ministry at Bruderheim Moravian. There were a few men in the church who loved to sing and called themselves “The Boys.” By the time we arrived, the group consisted of myself, Amon Kottke and Bruce Fraunfeldt.

We were planning to sing for the Canadian District Advent concert that included George Hamilton IV as guest performer. We wanted something fresh to offer but were unable to find the right piece.

After practice one night, I sat down with my guitar and began writing a song based on a story I wrote and preached during seminary.

I finished the song in a matter of hours and it was well-received at the concert. The fourth verse of “Manger in My Heart, ” which goes “With children gone she lived alone, her age was well advanced/and even though her bones were slow, her eyes would skip and dance./I saw her on the street one day with November 2013

Rick Beck

young and old alike/inviting all to celebrate the Savior born that night” reflects the main character of the story. The theme and title of the story and song are the same. It has become a Christmas favorite for my family and many others.

“This Food” Hymn 71 David Melby-Gibbons This hymn was inspired by our weekly “Open Table” dinner at the Moravian Church of Downey. The food comes from a local grocery store and has reached its “sell by” date.

This free weekly meal is put together by volunteers who come early to help set the table and cook. While eating at Open Table, you can often hear people say, “This is so good!”

You may also hear people confess, “I don’t (continued on page 34) 23

IN OUR COMMUNITIES

What one man can do by following the Lord

On May 19, 2013, Scot Fortescue began a

360 mile charity run that would span from the Blue Ridge Mountains at the Tennessee state line, to end at the flatlands of the eastern coast at Emerald Isle, N.C. three months later.

The Fishladder Run evolved from an idea that popped into Scot’s head to give back to the community that had blessed his fish business for 22 years in Winston-Salem, N.C. After being unsure of whether this was something he should try or not, he asked God to let him know if the idea come from Him. For weeks God sent little answers, such as giving him his favorite verse in the Bible from a fishbowl at the YMCA. It was Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” I continued to encourage him to listen to what God was telling him. Scot decided to follow God’s direction to commit to the run and make the Scholarship Fund at Sunnyside Ministry in Winston-Salem the recipient of

24

all donations. The scholarship would be in memory of his father, William Fortescue.

In short, the run started May 19 at the Tennessee state line on NC Highway 321, and ended August 17 at Emerald Isle, running in stages over the course of 21 runs. Scot’s first two runs were marathons through the Blue Ridge Mountains on consecutive Sundays. He ran a total of approximately 78 hours, averaging over 17 miles per run over the course of the 21 runs. He completed two other marathon distance runs during the three months of his run. Not bad for a 47 year old man.

Many people helped Scot along the way.

My boys, Kristian and Davin, and I spent many Sundays driving to meet Scot every 4-6 miles to provide water, Gatorade, food, headphones, fresh shirts, etc. Other family members helped him along his way, as did community members, and one nice young gentleman he met after one run was kind enough to give him a ride back to his car.

Along the way he met up with many advenThe Moravian

tures and challenges, including traffic, hot weather, and one attacking pit bull. The most challenging was a broken bone in his left foot, which occurred within 70 miles of his end destination. But, hardheaded, Scot ran through pain to complete the run over the next 3 weeks. “I was too close to stop, and a doctor told me ‘off the record’ that I couldn’t damage it any further’”.

On August 17, 2013, Scot completed the last 22 miles of his run to Emerald Isle beach, running across the sand to the ocean with his and my children in tow for the last leg of the run. The next day, he and I were married, along with our “Brady Bunch”—Lee, Sarah, Kristian and Davin, in Salter Path, NC. Sunnyside Ministry provides four-year scholarships of $800 per semester to high school seniors living or going to school in their service area of Winston-Salem. The scholarship also includes a laptop computer.

Scot has raised enough to fund one scholarship as well as the cost of the computer, but has not reached his goal of $20,000. Sunny-

side is still accepting donations in support of Scot’s effort. Donations can be made through the websites www.fishladderrun.com or www.sunnysideministry.org or by mailing a check to: Sunnyside Ministry of the Moravian Church, 319 Haled Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27127. ■ Thanks to Cindy Fortescue for this article and photos and Sunnyside Ministry for sharing it with us. Photos above and left: Scot Fortescue during his cross-Carolina run for Sunnyside.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

November 2013

25

OFFICIAL PROVINCIAL ELDERS’ NEWS Prayer Watch The Moravian Church has experienced spiritual renewal and strength through a covenant of prayer. In 1727, the church in Herrnhut, Germany, covenanted for an “Hourly Intercession” which continued for one hundred years with a great blessing to the entire Moravian Church.

The Unity Prayer Watch established in 1957 (the quincentenary of the Unitas Fratrum) has continued to bless us. The 1988 Unity Synod affirmed the importance of this experience for the worldwide Moravian Church.

Under the schedule adopted by the 2009 Unity Synod, December 1-31 is assigned to the Northern Province and January 1-18 to the Southern Province. Each Provincial Board will supply assignment of specific dates to individual congregations, with suggestions for prayer topics.

Prayer Day for the Bible Society, November 24, 2013 On Sunday, November 24, we will join with churches of many other denominations in emphasizing the importance of the Bible. Our church is part of the American and Canadian Bible Societies, which do much to publish and distribute the Word of God. World AIDS Day, December 1, 2013 The Synods of 2006 resolved to recognize World AIDS Day on December 1 and proclaim it as a day of commemoration and prayer by our Moravian churches. Congregations are encouraged to schedule an AIDS Awareness Day and to find a way to support an AIDS ministry focusing on areas of education, prevention and ministering to caregivers, orphans and those living with HIV. 26

NORTHERN PROVINCE Moravian Women’s Sunday, November 3, 2013 The first Sunday in November has been designated to especially recognize the work of the Moravian Women in local congregations throughout the Northern Province. Some congregations may choose a different Sunday for this observance if there are conflicts in scheduling.

Prayer Day for Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary November 24, 2013 On Sunday, November 24, congregations of the Northern Province are asked to remember in prayer all who share in the important work of Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary. Let us pray for the administration, the faculty and the students.

Uhrichsville, Ohio Brother William Rinderknecht has accepted an appointment to serve as part-time pastor for First Moravian Church, Uhrichsville, Ohio. Brother Rinderknecht will be installed November 3, 2013.

Specialized Ministry Sister Mary Bielke has accepted a call to specialized ministry as chaplain for Cedar Crest, Inc. in Janesville, Wis. She began her new work October 1, 2013.

The Moravian

Retirement Brother Douglas H. Kleintop requested and was granted permission to retire from the active call of the Moravian Church effective May 1, 2014.

Brother Kleintop was ordained a deacon of the Moravian Church May 25, 1975 and served the church in pastorates in Ohio (Schoenbrunn), Alberta (Edmonton), and Pennsylvania (College Hill and Palmer Township). He also served as President of the Canadian District Executive Board from April 1982 to December 1983. He will continue to serve the church as a bishop of the Moravian Unity, having been consecrated to that office October 13, 2002.

The church is grateful for his thirty-nine years of faithful service.

active ministry as of November 3, 2013. Steve was ordained at First Moravian Church, North Carolina in 1976 and has provided more than 37 years of pastoral leadership at the Clemmons, Boca Raton and Little Church on the Lane congregations.

The Rev. Dr. Steve Craver, pastor at Rural Hall, has requested and been granted permission by the PEC to retire from active ministry as of December 31, 2013. Steve was ordained at Friedberg Moravian Church in 1977 and has provided more than 36 years of pastoral leadership at the Trinity, Mayodan, Friedland and Rural Hall congregations.

David Guthrie Provincial Elders’ Conference

Elizabeth D. Miller Provincial Elders’ Conference

SOUTHERN PROVINCE Retirements The Rev. Dr. Truman Dunn, pastor at Messiah Moravian, has requested and been granted permission by the PEC to retire from active ministry as of October 20, 2013. Truman was ordained in 1974 into the United Methodist Church and later received into the ordained ministry of the Moravian Church in 1986. In the past 27 years, Truman has faithfully served as pastor of the Kernersville, Rural Hall and Messiah congregations.

The Rev. Steve Wilson, pastor at Little Church on the Lane, has requested and been granted permission by the PEC to retire from November 2013

Moravian Cookies Moravian Stars ...all things Moravian www.moraviancookies.com or call 336.748.1667 27

OBITUARY

The Rev. Leon H. Matthias Brother

Leon H. Matthias died at Silver Spring, Maryland, September 23, 2013, at the age of 66 years.

Born December 8, 1946 in Antigua he was the son of George and Ethel Matthias. Brother Matthias received degrees from United Theological College of the West Indies, the Presbyterian School of Christian Education and Catholic University of America. He was ordained a Deacon in the Moravian ministry August 24, 1975 and consecrated a Presbyter August 18, 1981.

He was united in marriage to Mabel Yvonne Hall August 28, 1976 in Montego Bay, Jamai-

ca. They served in the Eastern West Indies Province from 1975-2002. In the Northern Province they served congregations in New York - Grace Queens (2002-2006) and Tremont Terrace (2006-2011). He entered into retirement January 1, 2012.

His wife, Mabel; sons, Lennox, Leon and Lucien; and four grandchildren survive Brother Matthias.

A memorial service was held October 5, 2013 at United Moravian Church in New York City with the Rev. Dr. Errol Connor officiating. ■

Help us grant

Larger Life

to Moravian ministries.

The Larger Life Foundation is a permanent endowment fund with its income providing “larger life” to the ministries of the Moravian Church Northern Province since 1920.

In the last 10 years alone, the Foundation has distributed more than $5 million to ministries and churches for initiatives like ministerial training and congregational capital improvements.

The Foundation relies exclusively on gifts from people like you to make a difference. To learn more about giving and our loan and grant opportunities, visit largerlifefoundation.org or MORAVIAN CHURCH NORTHERN PROVINCE call 610.867.7566, ext. 17.

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Granting Larger Life to Moravian Ministries

28

The Moravian

Statistics of the Moravian Church, Northern & Southern Provinces CF = Confirmed Communicants T = Total

AVG = Average Worship Attendance * = No membership statistics received for 2012

The Northern Province • Statistics December 31, 2012 Eastern District

CONGREGATION

CF

T

AVG

DIST. OF COLUMBIA Washington, Faith

126

152

92

MARYLAND New Carrollton, Trinity Thurmont, Graceham Upper Marlboro, St. Paul’s

111 319 139

161 374 183

61 112 78

Tammie L. Rinker Sue Koenig William T. Andrews

NEW JERSEY Cinnaminson, Palmyra Egg Harbor City Riverside, First Union, Battle Hill*

119 271 195 39

150 337 246 56

55 76 52 33

Andrew Kilps Bruce Weaknecht Richard L. Bruckart Vacant

NEW YORK Bronx, Tremont Terrace Brooklyn, Fellowship Brooklyn, John Hus New York City, First New York City, United Queens, Grace Staten Island, Castleton Hill

141 57 303 92 433 163 165

173 102 378 108 655 281 232

89 51 268 59 211 138 71

Staten Island, Great Kills Staten Island, New Dorp Staten Island, Vanderbilt Ave.

107 235 74

148 286 100

45 100 58

Vacant Wellesley Ferguson Michael E. Johnson Charles C. Harewood Nigel Powell Earl Goulbourne Andrew Meckstroth M. Lynnette Delbridge Margaret Wellert Duane E. Ullrich Wellesley Ferguson

OHIO Dover, First Dublin, Redeemer Gnadenhutten, Heckewelder Lewis Center, The Promise New Phila., Fry’s Valley New Phila., Schoenbrunn Tuscarawas, Sharon Uhrichsville, First

488 66 256 35 74 107 306 112

576 76 291 40 85 128 360 135

220 40 107 33 39 66 108 52

John B. Wallace Jay Petrella Darrell F. Johnson Darryl C. Bell Christine Johnson Tracy A. Pryor Vacant Vacant

ONTARIO Toronto, New Dawn

122

158

120

Rowan Simmons

PENNSYLVANIA Allentown, Calvary Bethlehem, Advent Bethlehem, Central

177 299 824

204 352 979

81 119 370

Bethlehem, College Hill Bethlehem, East Hills

259 506

290 638

91 148

M. Blair Couch Laura Gordon Janel R. Rice C. Hopeton Clennon David C. Geyer Derek A. French

November 2013

PASTOR Bevon White

29

Bethlehem, Edgeboro Bethlehem, West Side Canadensis Coopersburg, MorningStar Easton, First Easton, Palmer Township

315 136 39 145 164 571

397 151 45 167 210 706

142 54 26 49 62 200

Emmaus Hellertown, Mountainview Lancaster Lebanon Lititz

482 135 124 112 666

553 154 134 152 790

115 36 60 54 260

Nazareth Nazareth, Schoeneck Newfoundland Philadelphia, Redeemer Reading York, Covenant York, First

379 415 88 77 79 128 110

477 488 117 84 116 143 127

130 191 45 44 42 80 58

10,885

13,445

4,891

TOTALS

J. Christian Giesler Margaret Hassler Gregg C. Schafer Lance E. Fox Patricia D. Honszer Douglas H. Kleintop Melissa L. Johnson Kevin J. Henning Jodie Lean Harney Dean Easton Lloyd Gooden Dean R. Jurgen Mark V. Breland Jeffrey D. Gehris, Sr. Terry L. Folk Gregg C. Schafer John Fritts Ronald Rice Jeffrey Coppage Sayward E. Lippincott

Western District CALIFORNIA Banning, Morongo Downey

85 111

150 149

43 41

ILLINOIS West Salem

229

274

100

Jason O. Andersen

INDIANA Hope

368

496

162

F. Jeffrey Van Orden

MICHIGAN Daggett Unionville Westland, Grace*

40 220 55

40 272 79

28 84 46

Gary Straughan Trina C. Holmberg Vacant

MINNESOTA Altura, Our Savior’s Chaska Maple Grove, Christ’s Com. Northfield, Main Street St. Charles, Berea Victoria, Lake Auburn Waconia

105 122 97 30 84 94 301

129 141 124 32 113 101 363

71 80 61 21 48 58 96

David W. Sobek Michael Eder Jennifer Moran Vacant Franklin Jones Brian R. Dixon Amy Gohdes-Luhman

NORTH DAKOTA Davenport, Canaan Durbin, Goshen Fargo, Shepherd of the Prairie Leonard, Bethel

143 120 65 81

186 155 80 96

48 37 37 26

Beth Rohn-Habhegger Reid Lauderman Eric D. Renner Reid Lauderman

30

Vicki Jens Page Christie Melby-Gibbons

The Moravian

WISCONSIN Appleton, Freedom* Cambridge, London DeForest, Christian Faith Ephraim Green Bay, West Side Lake Mills Madison, Glenwood Madison, Lakeview Pittsville, Veedum Rudolph Sister Bay Sturgeon Bay Watertown, Ebenezer Watertown Wisconsin Rapids, Kellner Wisconsin Rapids, Saratoga Wisconsin Rapids TOTALS

173 90 121 132 243 565 77 141 51 24 129 526 174 234 36 86 240

213 109 150 134 316 647 95 148 61 31 139 614 205 310 37 107 280

63 39 54 74 84 167 38 45 30 19 60 165 83 91 19 34 86

5,392

6,576

2,238

Sandra Crase Jane Follmer Zekoff Kurt S. Liebenow Dawn E. Volpe Marian Boyle Bruce J. Nelson Katie Van Der Linden Staci Marrese-Wheeler Wanda Veldman Christine Stack Kerry D. Krauss Matthew R. Knapp Jane R. Wegner Barbara A. Berg Christine Stack Vacant Mary Lou Plummer

Canadian District ALBERTA Bruderheim Calgary, Christ Calgary, Good Shepherd

132 112 135

155 194 167

57 79 73

Edmonton Edmonton, Millwoods Edmonton, Rio Terrace Sherwood Park, Good News

91 121 108 38

110 130 143 48

45 80 51 27

38

43

24

775

990

436

S. Edmonton, Heimtal TOTALS

Vacant Stephen A. Gohdes Richard Beck Wendy Beck Rebecca Craver Joshua R. Viste Carol Vogler Ian D. Edwards Eileen Edwards Matthew J. Gillard

Northern Province Recapitulation Eastern District Western District Canadian District

CF 10,885 5,392 775

T 13,445 6,576 990

AVG 4,891 2,238 436

Total Province 2012 Total Province 2011

17,052 17,199

21,011 21,271

7,565 7,676

-147

-260

-111

Increase/Decrease *Not Available for 2012

November 2013

31

The Southern Province• Statistics December 31, 2012 CONGREGATION FLORIDA Longwood, Rolling Hills Miami, King of Kings* New Hope* Prince of Peace West Palm Beach, Palm Beach* GEORGIA Stone Mountain, First Church NORTH CAROLINA Advance, Macedonia Bethania Charlotte, Little Church on the Lane Peace Clemmons Durham, Christ the King Eden, Leaksville Greensboro, First Church Huntersville, New Beginnings Kernersville, Good Shepherd Kernersville King Lewisville, Unity Lexington, Enterprise Mayodan Mount Airy, Grace Newton, New Hope Oak Ridge, Moravia Raleigh Rural Hall Mizpah Rural Hall Walnut Cove, Fulp Wilmington, Covenant Winston-Salem, Advent Ardmore Bethabara Bethesda Calvary Christ Fairview 32

CF

T

AVG

PASTOR

85

98

67

56 75 432

97 83 635

55 54 274

26

41

34

Frank Barker, Interim

113

120

50

Stephen Weisz, Interim

216 283

262 298

139 108

R. Jeff Carter Russell May, Interim

245 139 496 137 89 203 142

297 166 566 223 94 258 184

120 75 225 164 48 92 75

R. Stephen Wilson James L. Doss Q. Ray Burke Francis P. Venable Robert E. Peterson John R. Rainey Christopher C. Thore

54 425 326 193 58 127 355 80 116 443

63 604 405 215 63 154 407 100 127 522

38 206 194 97 32 63 147 53 71 181

Judy M. Knopf Ray Mims, Interim Cornelius B. Routh Stuart N. Zimmerman Wayne Byerly, Interim Zachary Dease Anthony E. Hayworth Betty Helms Russell Williams Craig S. Troutman

149 246 132 111

170 282 157 132

67 131 88 41

Vacant Steve E. Craver Daniel K. Nelson Rachel Connelly, Interim

283 190 94 24 329 262 288

329 214 115 24 410 311 313

145 101 59 17 157 118 155

Timothy G. Sapp Jonathan E. Boling Jeffrey Jones Richard G. Spaugh Lane A. Sapp David A. Marcus, Jr. C. Scott Venable III

Wilma E. Israel Gregorio Moody Vacant Joseph E. Nicholas

The Moravian

Friedberg Friedland

886 422

1026 490

392 210

Fries Memorial

134

154

75

Home

1,248

1,529

289

Hope Hopewell Immanuel New Eden Konnoak Hills Messiah New Philadelphia

125 174 82 223 138 1,100

153 206 86 240 158 1,274

77 66 49 107 82 438

179 477 85 66 42 203 319

215 551 94 82 55 226 396

105 222 44 40 25 130 183

James C. Newsome Carol A. Foltz David H. Merritt Joseph L. Moore Kelly H. Moore Richard L. Sides Virginia Tobiassen Andrew Heil Walter Bishop Cheryl Cottingham John D. Rights Truman L. Dunn Worth N. Green John G. Rights Matthew W. Allen Vacant James Demby Robert Peak Alphonso Gaydon, Interim John P. Jackman Donald W. Griffin

70

84

65

Chuck Harmon, Acolyte

47 60

69 76

65 51

Gary Easter, Acolyte Charles W. Fishel

Oak Grove Olivet Pine Chapel Providence St. Philips Trinity Union Cross VIRGINIA Ararat, Willow Hill* Cana, Crooked Oak* Mt. Bethel

Southern Province Recapitulation Total Dec. 31, 2012 Dec. 31, 2011 Increase/Decrease

CF 13,102 13,061

T 15,703 15,650

AVG 6,456 6,668

+41

+53

-212

*Not Available for 2012

Statistical Summary of the Sunday Church Schools December 31, 2012 Northern Province: Eastern District Western District Canadian District Totals: Northern Province: Southern Province: Grand Total November 2013

Pupils

Staff

Totals

1,998 1,124 154

443 185 38

2,441 1,309 192

3,276 3,653 6,929

666 665 1,331

3,942 4,318 8,260 33

David Melby-Gibbons

Hearing the stories (continued from page 23)

really come for the food—I come for the fellowship.” Open Table has brought together homeless people, local neighbors, millionaires, meat-eaters, vegetarians and folks from a range of cultural backgrounds and social outlooks. The conversation is often full of laughter, sometimes serious and typically quite gritty. Open Table is an extension of the Sunday morning table of Holy Communion.

(Or maybe it is the Communion table.) This meal has sustained us through some difficult moments as a community. We marvel at how there is always enough food, and that very often there are plates and storage containers full of leftovers! ■ 34

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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Arthur Spaugh Sunnyside Ministry Volunteer and Moravian Ministries Foundation Founding Trustee

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The Moravian Common Fund combines professional investment management with a commitment to our common faith — and that’s a great way to work together.

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Salemtowne residents - Bill & Carol McElveen

Energize Your Lifestyle Salemtowne is a non-profit continuing care retirement community that reflects the Moravian values of respect for the individual, hospitality, life-long learning and a love of the arts.

At Salemtowne, a maintenance free lifestyle provides you the extra time to devote to your interests.

We invite you to visit Salemtowne and discover a community where your passions can thrive.

Visit salemtowne.org or call (336) 767-8130