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2008 Church Education Sunday resources
This Sunday, February 3, is set aside as Church Education Sunday. This year’s theme is “We are witnesses.” Following is a link to the Mennonite Education Association (MEA) website with more information and also a bulletin insert and additional worship resources. The resources focus on lectionary texts, speak of MEA and congregational members as witnesses to the power of Mennonite education in helping shape the church, and invite all to participate in Mennonite education. More information can be found at this site:
http://www.mennoniteeducation.org/MEAPortal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=178

Third Thursday Pastors’ Breakfast
The February breakfast will be held on Thursday, February 21 from 8 – 10 a.m. at the Mennonite Conference Center. This breakfast will be hosted by the Faith and Life Advisory Council. The subject will be “Leadership and Authority: How do we claim it?” Come for a conversation on claiming and exercising authority as pastors and leaders in our congregations. In preparation for the event please read the following article from the most recent edition of Growing Leaders, “A Nervous Embrace…Cultivating Leadership and Authority.” This article can be found on the mosaicmennonites.org website under the “Publications” tab. Please register for this event by Wednesday, February 16, by contacting Jessica Walter, jwalter@mosaicmennonites.org.

Pastors’ Family Retreat
This weekend is geared for spending quality time with your family, and for receiving spiritual nurture. Spruce Lake Retreat hosts Pastors’ Family Retreat, April 11 – 13. Take a break for playing and praying together. You’ll be led by speaker Duane Beck and worship leader Mark Beazley. For more information and reservations, visit www.sprucelake.org or call
800-822-7505.

Eastern Mennonite Seminary class set to begin January 29
Conversations in Contemporary Anabaptist Theology and Ethics, 3 credits
(can be used as a Gateway course)
This course will be held at Dock Woods Community in Lansdale, PA on Tuesdays,
6:30-9:30 p.m., January 29 through May 6, taught by Steve Kriss.
Focus on the tensions and possibilities for Anabaptist theology in the 20th and 21st Century.
Join with other emerging and experienced leaders to discuss and consider how we encounter God and how we act in the watching world.

Reading includes J. Denny Weaver, John Howard Yoder, H.S. Bender, Greg Boyd. Registration limited to 15. Can be audited as well and is eligible for scholarship from the Area Conference Leadership Fund. For more information, visit www.emu.edu/lancaster/seminary

Cultivate Connecting Communities: A Learning Community
As communities in Jesus Christ, Franconia Mennonite Conference and Eastern District Conference are sponsoring this eight session learning community designed to help congregations strengthen their identity, grow in awareness of their congregational culture, improve effectiveness, find joy in their work, and find ways to grow inwardly and outwardly.

These sessions will take place on Monday evenings from February 11 – April 14 at Plains Mennonite Church. For details and registration information, visit the following link:
http://www.mosaicmennonites.org/index.php?P=165. Please register by February 5
at jwalter@mosaicmennonites.org or 215-723-5513.

Third Thursday Pastors’ Breakfast
The February breakfast will be held on Thursday, February 21 from 8 – 10 a.m. at the Mennonite Conference Center. This breakfast will be hosted by the Faith and Life Advisory Council. The subject will be “Leadership and Authority: How do we claim it?” Come for a conversation on claiming and exercising authority as pastors and leaders in our congregations. Please register for this event by Wednesday, February 16, by contacting Jessica Walter, jwalter@mosaicmennonites.org.

Pastors’ Day at Christopher Dock
Christopher Dock Mennonite High School invites all pastors and youth pastors to attend Pastors’ Day on Wednesday, March 5. Senior high youth leaders have appreciated attending as they are able; pastors may pass on this invitation to sponsors at their prerogative. More information will be forthcoming, but now is the time to add this opportunity to your schedule. Hunter Hess, pastor at Zion Mennonite Church, will be the Spiritual Life Emphasis speaker during that week at Dock.

Pastors’ Family Retreat
This weekend is geared for spending quality time with your family, and for receiving spiritual nurture. Spruce Lake Retreat hosts Pastors’ Family Retreat, April 11 – 13. Take a break for playing and praying together. You’ll be led by speaker Duane Beck and worship leader Mark Beazley. For more information and reservations, visit www.sprucelake.org or call
800-822-7505.

Eastern Mennonite Seminary class set to begin January 29
Conversations in Contemporary Anabaptist Theology and Ethics, 3 credits
(can be used as a Gateway course)
This course will be held at Dock Woods Community in Lansdale, PA on Tuesdays,
6:30-9:30 p.m., January 29 through May 6, taught by Steve Kriss.
Focus on the tensions and possibilities for Anabaptist theology in the 20th and 21st Century.
Join with other emerging and experienced leaders to discuss and consider how we encounter God and how we act in the watching world.

Reading includes J. Denny Weaver, John Howard Yoder, H.S. Bender, Greg Boyd. Registration limited to 15. Can be audited as well and is eligible for scholarship from the Area Conference Leadership Fund. For more information, www.emu.edu/lancaster/seminary

Cultivate Connecting Communities: A Learning Community
As communities in Jesus Christ, Franconia Mennonite Conference and Eastern District Conference are sponsoring this eight session learning community designed to help congregations strengthen their identity, grow in awareness of their congregational culture, improve effectiveness, find joy in their work, and find ways to grow inwardly and outwardly.

These sessions will take place on Monday evenings from February 11 – April 14 at Plains Mennonite Church. For details and registration information, visit the following link:
http://www.mosaicmennonites.org/index.php?P=165

Third Thursday Pastors’ Breakfasts
Beginning in January, Third Thursday Pastors’ Breakfasts will be held monthly at the Mennonite Conference Center. January’s meeting will be led by Randy Nyce from Mennonite Mutual Aid on Thursday, January 17, 2008, from 8 – 10 a.m.

The Meaning and Practice of Servant Leadership Seminar
Atlantic Coast and Lancaster Mennonite Conferences invite leaders of Franconia Conference to join them for a seminar designed especially for pastors and CEOs and managers of Conference Related Ministries. The event will be held on Friday, February 22, 8:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., at Garden Spot Village in New Holland, PA. Registration before 1/14/08 is $60; after 1/14/08 it is $65. The day will include presentations as well as table discussion.

This year’s speaker will be Larry Spears from the Greenleaf Center for Servant-Leadership. Spears served as President and CEO of The Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership since 1990 until April 2007, when he was named Senior Fellow and President Emeritus. He has published over 300 articles, essays and book reviews, has been interviewed by numerous publications, and appeared on NBC’s Dateline.

For a brochure with more information and registration form for this event, go to the Lancaster Conference web site: http://www.lancasterconference.org/. Click on menu bar on the left side of the screen, click on:
Calendar/Events
Resource Packet
December 2007 (center of screen)
The Meaning & Practice of Servant Leadership

Teamwork and Managing Anxiety Workshop
A workshop for congregational committees and leadership groups will be held on Saturday, January 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at West Swamp Mennonite Church in Quakertown, PA. The theme of the workshop will be, “Teamwork and Managing Anxiety” led by Dan Graber. Please register for this event by Saturday, January 5, 2008, by contacting Jessica Walter at jwalter@mosaicmennonites.org. For more information, visit http://www.mosaicmennonites.org/index.php?P=162.

Third Thursday Pastors’ Breakfasts
Beginning in January, Third Thursday Pastors’ Breakfasts will be held monthly at the Mennonite Conference Center. January’s meeting will be led by Randy Nyce from Mennonite Mutual Aid on Thursday, January 17, 2008, from 8 – 10 a.m.

Reminder
The Mennonite Conference Center will be closed from Monday, December 24 through Tuesday, January 1. There will be not be any Bulletin Announcements or Notes to Pastors sent next week. Merry Christmas!

Teamwork and Managing Anxiety Workshop
A workshop for congregational committees and leadership groups will be held on Saturday, January 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at West Swamp Mennonite Church in Quakertown, PA. The theme of the workshop will be, “Teamwork and Managing Anxiety” led by Dan Graber. Please register for this event by January 5, 2008, by contacting Jessica Walter at jwalter@mosaicmennonites.org. For more information, visit http://www.mosaicmennonites.org/index.php?P=162.

Third Thursday Pastors’ Breakfasts
Beginning in January, Third Thursday Pastors’ Breakfasts will be held monthly at the Mennonite Conference Center. January’s meeting will be led by Randy Nyce from Mennonite Mutual Aid on January 17, 2008, from 8 – 10 a.m.

12/20/07