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Reminder of Upcoming LEADership Assemblies
Pastors, congregational leadership chairs, leadership teams and stewardship facilitators or treasurers in all congregations are encouraged to attend one of the following LEADership Assemblies:

Tuesday, April 21, 7 – 9 p.m. at Perkasie Mennonite Church
Monday, April 27, 7 – 9 p.m. at Nueva Vida Norristown New Life
Thursday, April 30, 7 – 9 p.m. at Spring Mount Mennonite Church
Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. – noon at Steel City Mennonite Church
Date and location in Vermont to be announced

These gatherings will roll out details for LEAD (Leading, Equipping and Discipling), a new direction and platform for missional oversight. The meetings will focus on the LEAD oversight model and are not related to the Corinthian Plan (healthcare access for pastors).

Sharing Prayer Requests
Pastors are invited to submit a prayer request for your congregation to Sandy Landes, Prayer Coordinator. Your prayer request will be shared with congregations in Franconia Conference via our weekly bulletin announcements. Let’s pray for each other and encourage one another. Ephesians 4:16 says “Under Christ’s direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

April Pastors’ and Leaders’ Breakfast
On Thursday, April 16 from 8 – 10 a.m. pastors and leaders can gather to learn about Practical Approaches to Engaging and Training Congregational Leaders. Franconia Conference’s School for Leadership Formation has invited pastoral and lay leaders from Souderton Mennonite Church and Church of the Overcomer (Trainer, PA) to present practical approaches that both congregations are using to call out and train leaders from among the pews. Ertell Whigham, Director of Congregational Resourcing and Equipping, will lead the morning’s conversation. The breakfast will be held at the Mennonite Conference Center in Souderton.  A $5 donation will be requested to help cover the cost of the meal.

Save the Date!
Mark the dates for Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship at Hesston College! This year’s series entitled Learning the Bible in Lifegiving Ways: History, Hooks, and Heilsgeschichte is scheduled for October 30 to November 1. Join Marion Bontrager, Michele Hershberger, and special guest Ted Swartz (Ted and Company!) as they teach, laugh, and lead participants through Biblical Literature (Bib. Lit.) as taught at Hesston College. Discover how the Bible’s stories are connected to each other, and how God has worked in history to “solve the sin problem.” Watch for more details to come!

April Pastors’ and Leaders’ Breakfast
On Thursday, April 16 from 8 – 10 a.m. pastors and leaders can gather to learn about Practical Approaches to Engaging and Training Congregational Leaders. Franconia Conference’s School for Leadership Formation has invited pastoral and lay leaders from Souderton Mennonite Church and Church of the Overcomer (Trainer, PA) to present practical approaches that both congregations are using to call out and train leaders from among the pews. Ertell Whigham, Director of Congregational Resourcing and Equipping, will lead the morning’s conversation. The breakfast will be held at the Mennonite Conference Center in Souderton. A $5 donation will be requested to help cover the cost of the meal.

Pastors, lay ministers and chaplains are invited to the Pastoral Care to Seniors Seminar at Dock Woods Community on Wednesday, April 22 from 8:00 – 11:45 a.m. in the Fisher Auditorium. Drs. Carol and G. Peter Schreck will speak on “Aging Well: Recognizing Losses and Opportunities On the Last Stage of Life’s Journey.” The Schrecks are both practicing therapists and teach at Palmer Theological Seminary. They bring a family systems perspective to the topic of senior ministry. The seminar is FREE to those who pre-register by April 17. For more information or to RSVP contact Chaplain Merlin Hedrick at Dock Woods Community at 215-368-4438.

Reminder of Upcoming LEADership Assemblies
Tuesday, April 21, 7 – 9 p.m. at Perkasie Mennonite Church
Monday, April 27, 7 – 9 p.m. at Nueva Vida Norristown New Life
Thursday, April 30, 7 – 9 p.m. at Spring Mount Mennonite Church
Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. – noon at Steel City Mennonite Church
Date and location in Vermont to be announced

The upcoming spring gatherings will roll out details for LEAD (Leading, Equipping and Discipling), a new direction and platform for missional oversight. The gatherings are intended for pastors, congregational leadership chairs, leadership teams and stewardship facilitators or treasurers in all congregations. LEAD follows the Equipping posture for congregational leadership and aims to cultivate healthy and growing Anabaptist congregations.