Communications
Ministry Resources March 16
This issue of Ministry Resources includes ecumenical conversations on "the Living Word" with the Philadelphia Liturgical Institute and opportunities for small church leaders from Princeton Seminary.
Bible Study Explores God's New Thing
Explore God’s promise of hope and renewal expressed by the Prophet Isaiah in a bible study based on Bishop Burkat’s presentation at last fall’s “God Is Doing Something New” conference events. This bible study, suitable for council retreats, small groups or ongoing bible study groups, will help you look at what central traditions need to be honored in your congregation as well as what “former things” might be clouding the view of what God is doing right now.
Helping Hands Day 2012
Helping Hands Day, our annual synod-wide day of service, fellowship, and worship, will be held on April 28th, 2012. This is an amazing event where young people in grades 6-12 and their adult leaders will worship, share, laugh, eat, work, sing, learn and serve God & our neighbors. This year’s theme is Hand in Hand. We are looking forward to providing an opportunity to youth from all over the synod to serve and get to know each other in the name of God.
Ministry Resources March 14
In this issue: Ecumenical Advocacy Days for Global Peace and Justice, Learning about Mental Illness, Preaching with Power, Webinars for Youth and Family Ministry leaders, Comcast Internet Essentials and more.
New Visions for Bear Creek Camp
After a visioning process that involved hundreds of Bear Creek Camp constituents, the camp's board has adopted a core purpose statement that reflects the renewed spirit at the camp: "Explore, Celebrate, and Grow in God's Creation." As a first step in effecting this change, BCC has retained Mark Ristine to serve as summer director to work with interim executive director Don Hayn on upgrading the 2012 summer program.
March Training for Disaster Volunteers
Are you interested in volunteering to help your neighbors recover from disaster-related difficulties? Then sign up for a 2-day UMCOR Disaster Case Management Training, March 9-10, at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus in Conshohocken. Cost is $15 including materials and lunches. There is room for 30 registrants, additional registrants will go on a wait list for a future event.
The Man With No Shoes
Most people know him as the man with no shoes. He lives on the street and plays the piano. Some of us know him as Raymond, the English name he shares because most of us can't pronounce his Chinese name. I have heard Raymond speak of Communist China, and there is something about living in an institution where he was forced to wear ill-fitting shoes that tortured his feet; but Raymond speaks to us through the piano, the instrument he learned to play by developing a mathematical system to translate the notes....
Furaha ya Krismasi!
"We would like to send our warmest wishes for a Joyous Christmas and Happy New Year to all of the congregations of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod and to the Bishop and staff," missionaries Tom and Susan MacPherson write in their Christmas message from Tanzania. "Our Christmas tree (pictured) is made of pine cones, tissue paper and construction paper."
LDR Mission Trip Opportunities
Lutheran Disaster Response volunteers are helping families and individuals recover from natural disasters both near and far. Teams from Advent Lutheran Church, Harleysville; St. John’s Lutheran Church, Sumneytown; St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Pennsburg and Trinity Lutheran Church, Lansdale have scheduled 2012 work team/mission team trips to Bloomsburg, PA, the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Joplin, MO. There are openings for adults 18 and over if people from your congregation would like to participate in one of these trips. The dates and locations are: January 8 to 13 to Bloomsburg, PA // February 11 to 18 to the MS Gulf Coast // March 10 to 17 to the MS Gulf Coast // April 14 to 21 to Joplin, MO
Purpose and Promise
"Christ is a purpose and a promise bigger than the troubles and trauma we encounter every day in our lives and our world," Bishop Claire S. Burkat writes in her Christmas message to the Synod. In all circumstances, but especially at Christmas, we can apply St. Paul's encouragement to express joy daily, pray as often as we breathe, and live in gratitude.
