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Holy Land Study Tour
Glenn Witmer, director for MennoJersusalem Bible Land Tours, has set aside a time slot for a tour group to be formed from the Franconia and Eastern District Mennonite Churches, October 2010. This study tour is especially designed for pastors, teachers and leadership, but is open to all interested persons. Informational documents have been distributed in the church conference mailboxes located in the Franconia Mennonite Conference center. The informational packet includes detailed daily itineraries, biographical information on Glenn Witmer and endorsements from previous tour members. A letter containing important dates and people to contact if you are interested in participating is also part of the packet.

Spiritual Guidance Training Offered
For the first time, Kairos: School of Spiritual Formation is offering a one year spiritual guidance training seminar for pastors and congregational leaders in the Souderton, PA area. Classes will begin on Wednesday, September 9, at the home of Jim & Beth Styer, 104 Cowpath Road, Telford, PA. The purpose of this seminar is to provide a contemplative context for pastors and church leaders to grow spiritually and to enhance their ministry in the practice of spiritual formation. This seminar encourages personal, spiritual growth, introduces spiritual guidance as a ministry of the congregation, and prepares the leaders to promote a ministry of spiritual formation and spiritual guidance in their congregation. Classes will be held once a month for 9 months. For a brochure, syllabus, or more information call 717-669-2957.

Gateway Course offered in Fall 2009
Anabaptist Mission and Peace is the next Gateway course being offered by Eastern Mennonite Seminary in collaboration with Mennonite Conferences in southeastern Pennsylvania. David W. Shenk, writer, mission leader and educator, will lead the course, exploring redemption and reconciliation as the heart of Anabaptist Mennonite mission. This course will be offered for two semester hours of graduate credit. Dates for the course are October 30 – 31, and December 11 – 12 at Conestoga Mennonite Church in Morgantown, PA. For more information and registration, visit www.emu.edu/lancaster/seminary/gateway.

Conference Center Hours During Columbus
The Mennonite Conference Center will be open for reduced hours from June 29 – July 3 due to the Mennonite Church USA Convention in Columbus. Office hours will be as follows:
Monday, June 29 – Thursday, July 2 : Open 9 a.m. – noon
Friday, July 3 : CLOSED for the Fourth of July

Abundant Life: Economic Justice for All Campaign
Mennonite Central Committee invites congregations to participate in its Abundant Life: Economic Justice for All Campaign. The campaign is focused on four areas of U.S. policy. During this time of economic crisis, please consider taking one or more of the following Sundays to pray, reflect and act for economic justice for all.

July 19, 2009 – And Many Were Healed: Health Care for All
October 25, 2009 – Proclaim Jubilee: A New Beginning
January 31, 2010 – Secure Dwelling Places: A Home for Everyone
April 25, 2010 Let Justice Roll Down: Trade for the Common Good

For additional information visit washington.mcc.org/life or call 202-544-6564.

Resources Available
There are numerous new copies of Maintaining the Right Fellowship by John Ruth and What Mennonites Believe by J.C. Wenger available at the Mennonite Conference Center. Feel free to stop by and pick up these free copies! They will be available at the conference center front desk until July 20.

Date Correction
“A Day Apart” for pastors and credentialed leaders of Franconia Conference will be held on Wednesday, September 9 instead of September 8 as listed in previous communications. Location and times remain the same. See Notes to Pastors dated June 11 for more information.

“A Day Apart” for Pastors
Pastors and credentialed leaders of Franconia Conference: You are invited to “A Day Apart” planned just for you by Franconia Conference on Wednesday, September 8 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Camp Men-O-Lan. The purpose of the day is to provide a space and time for you to come away and spend time with God in a beautiful, relaxed setting to be refreshed and restored. There will be opportunities for guided prayer, worship, being alone and being in a small group, as well as personal prayer ministry with a prayer team. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP by Wednesday, September 2 to Sheila Ruth at sruth.menolan@gmail.com or 215-679-5144.

Sharing Prayer Events
Pastors and Prayer Leaders of Franconia conference churches: Is your congregation planning a prayer event to which you could invite others? A prayer vigil, a concert of prayer, equipping in the area of personal and corporate prayer? Please pass this information along to Sandy Landes, Prayer Ministry Coordinator.

MMA invites Pastors to a Webinar
MMA invites you to Moving from Financial Survival to Missional Focus with author Diana Butler Bass and pastor Graham Standish on Wednesday, June 17 from 3 to 4 p.m. The webinar will take place at the MMA Office, 199 Telford Pike, Telford in the Basement Conference Room. For more information, contact Randy Nyce at 267-384-5350 or randy.nyce@mmapartners.org RSVP’s are helpful but not necessary. The webinar is co-sponsored by the Alban Institute and the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving and is part of the series Congregations and the Economic Crisis: Conversation. Perspective. Guidance.