All parents and youth leaders are invited to “Healthy Balance – Hope, Dreams & Wings” on Wednesday, April 7, 7 – 8:30 p.m. at Blooming Glen Mennonite Church. This free seminar will feature a keynote address by Marlene Frankenfield, Campus Pastor at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School & Conference Youth Minister, and Mary Benner, Pastor of Children & Youth at Souderton Mennonite Church. This will be followed by Breakout Seminars led by local youth pastors on current issues facing parents of and youth leaders working with jr/sr high students. For more information and details on the breakout seminars, contact Blooming Glen Mennonite Church at 215-257-3431 or visit www.bgmc.net. The conference is sponsored by Blooming Glen Mennonite Church, Deep Run East Mennonite Church, Franconia Mennonite Church, Rockhill Mennonite Church, Salford Mennonite Church, Souderton Mennonite Church, Zion Mennonite Church & Franconia Mennonite Conference.
Pastors, please share this unique opportunity with your congregation and consider joining others in prayer for the conference and the church in this region. All are invited to set aside time for prayer and fasting for the work of Franconia Conference on Friday, April 9, 7p.m. – 12 a.m. at the Franconia Mennonite Conference Center, 569 Yoder Road, Harleysville. “What is the work God has for us and what does God want?” Our prayers will focus on seeking God on behalf of the assessment process and the greater work God is doing among us. Come and go as you are able. There will be times of worship, guided prayer led by pastors, corporate and personal prayer, as well as opportunities to seek God in silence and listening prayer. For more information, contact Sandy Landes, Prayer coordinator.
Pastors, lay ministers and chaplains are invited to the “Pastoral Care to Seniors Seminar” at Dock Woods Community on Tuesday April 27, 8:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. in the Fisher Auditorium. Dr. Marcus Smucker will speak on, “Spirituality and Aging: Finding Hope and Meaning in the Later Years”. Dr. Smucker is Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theology at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and is currently adjunct professor at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. He has taught Christian spirituality, spiritual direction, pastoral care and counseling. The seminar is FREE to those who pre-register by April 21. For more information or to RSVP, contact Chaplain Merlin Hedrick at Dock Woods Community. E-mail: mhedrick@dockwoods.com or call 215.368.4438. Directions and additional seminar information are available by visiting www.dockwoods.com
The Conference Board has named a review steering team to guide the work of consultant LaVern Yutzy as the Conference moves toward a hopeful future in the midst of struggle and turbulence. The task force invites your feedback directly by email to the below questions to feedback@franconiaconferenc.org
• How have recent events within Franconia Conference affected you?
• What questions should be asked as we assess the current situation and the future of the Conference?
• What changes should be considered for the Conference?
• What should the review committee know?
• What gives you hope about Franconia Conference as we move toward fulfilling the vision of equipping leaders to empower others to embrace God’s mission?
Postcards will be sent to congregations with the same questions. The committee asks that pastors encourage delegates and members to respond by email or by mailing the postcard back by April 24, 2010. The task force covets your prayers as we find our way together, trusting that God intends a hopeful future for us together. Task force members include
• Donella Clemans, Perkasie Mennonite Church
• Gerry Clemmer, senior pastor, Souderton Mennonite Church
• Randy Heacock, pastor, Doylestown Mennonite Church
• Jim Laverty, pastor of equipping and discipling, Souderton Mennonite Church
• Karen Moyer, Rocky Ridge Mennonite Church
The steering committee is seeking a sixth member. To suggest a sixth member, email your nominations to feedback@mosaicmennonites.org by April 6 for consideration.
If you’d like to speak with LaVern personally call Melissa or Carla at the Conference Center to schedule a time. He’ll be scheduling further one on one conversations on April 8 and a second date later in the month.
4/1/10
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.