Notes to Pastors

GPS 2012:  Pastors Initiatives over breakfast regarding Christ-Centered Mennonite Education, Tuesday, January 9, 8-10 a.m. at the Mennonite Conference Center in Souderton

 Come to brainstorm as part of the unfolding GPS 2012, a plan of the three schools: Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, Penn View Christian School, and Quakertown Christian School along with both Eastern District and Franconia conferences.  This initiative reflects part of the presentation offered at Conference Assembly in November and intersects with Franconia Mennonite Conference’s mission of Equipping Leaders to Empower Others to Embrace God’s Mission.  This is part of the essential efforts of leadership transformation toward nurturing and making disciples of Jesus Christ from cradle to grave.  This time will be led by Christina Drouin, Executive Director of the Center for Strategic Planning from Boca Raton, FL.  who  has been leading the three schools, FMC, and EDC in this shared process.

To register for the breakfast, please email office@mosaicmennonites.org or call
215-723-5513, ext. 110.  A contribution of $5 will be invited for the cost of the breakfast.  Please register by Wednesday, January 3.

This week at www.mosaicmennonites.org:

• Check out blogs from David P. Landis and Gay Brunt Miller
• And, news from Philadelphia youth who are packing the peace of Christ for the city.

Pastor’s Appreciation Breakfast
For those who registered, remember the Pastor’s Appreciation Breakfast on Tuesday, December 5, at Philadelphia Mennonite High School.  A bus will be leaving from the Mennonite Conference Center in Souderton at 7:15 a.m. and from Towamencin Mennonite Church in Kulpsville at 7:45 a.m.

 

This week at www.mosaicmennonites.org:
 

• See new blog entries from Phil Bergey and James Lapp
• What’s going on with MDS in our region
• Also, please check the directory information for your congregation.  Respond to this email if you need to make any changes.

Pastor Appreciation Breakfast – Tuesday, December 5 at Philadelphia Mennonite High School  A Pastor Appreciation Breakfast for pastors and chaplains, and spouses of Eastern District Conference, Franconia Mennonite Conference, and Kingdom Builders (Philadelphia) is set for Tuesday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Philadelphia Mennonite High School (PMHS).  A full breakfast will be provided and a short program will follow. 

Arrangements are being made for a bus to pick-up at the Mennonite Conference Center at 7:15 a.m. and at Towamencin Mennonite Church at 7:45 a.m.  When you RSVP, please make note if you wish to travel on the bus, and from which stop. 

It is extremely important that you RSVP by Monday, November 27.  Please note how many persons will be attending, and if you wish to travel on the bus.  To register, call the Mennonite Conference Center at 215-723-5513, ext. 110, or email office@mosaicmennonites.org. 

Women in Ministry and Women Pastors, 

Two meetings have been scheduled for the next months at the Mennonite Conference Center. Beth Yoder will lead us in a special celebration of Advent on Wednesday, December 13, from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.   Do not bring your sack lunch because Cheryl Martin will be bringing food.  We will also have a regular meeting on January 31, 2007, from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  If you would like your name added to my e-mail list, please e-mail Dawn Nelson at ruthnelson@netcarrier.com.   

 

The DVD is in the mail!
Thanks to quick turnaround from Jay Delp, the Conference Assembly highlights DVD will be in the mail today. Consider using it this Sunday in your congregation. We are sending this to you by priority mail in order that it may be shared with the congregation before the busyness of the Advent season. Please consider a number of ways in which you may be able to utilize the DVD in your setting:

• Consider viewing as part of the Sunday morning worship with a brief report from a conference delegate.
• Offer a one-time Sunday school class that provides information about Conference Assembly as an equipping opportunity for those in your congregation.
• Use in small groups for viewing of how each member is a part of the ongoing effort through both your congregation and Franconia Conference toward Equipping Leaders to Empower Others to Embrace God’s Mission.
• Would you like a conference staff member to accompany the viewing of the video? Please contact us at the conference office to explore this possibility. Though we can’t likely respond as quickly as this Sunday, we’d likely be available over the upcoming weeks.

A joint production of Design For Ministryâ„¢ and Ken Medema Music I Have Called You Friends is a collection of vibrant, sing-able and contemporary offering songs for soloist, choir and congregation developed by singer/songwriter Ken Medema. Mark L. Vincent, Lead Partner of Design For Ministryâ„¢ and a noted stewardship educator, provides theological background for the act of the offering and a host of offering resources. Together, the two authors develop four worship services, small group studies and bulletin inserts that invite a congregation to think about giving in response to friendship with Jesus.

EMS Announces Spring and Summer Courses
Eastern Mennonite Seminary is pleased to announce the distance learning courses for Spring and Summer 2007. The available courses are listed below. Anabaptism Today and Pastoral Care will be offered in the spring and Ethics and Non-Violence will be offered in the summer. The primary purpose for this program is to broaden access to ministerial training by offering courses for persons at a distance from Mennonite seminaries and conference-operated centers. Course offerings will meet typical requirements of a graduate theological education degree and range across the fields of Bible, history, theology and practice of ministry. These particular course offerings allow students to test their interest in ministry studies and encourage them to enroll in the on-campus program. A part-time application must be submitted before registering for a course. An online application is available. The part-time application qualifies a student take up to four courses. As additional work is considered, another application process is required.

The courses available are:
Anabaptism Today: Learning with Yoder and Hauerwas
Pastoral Care
Ethics and Nonviolence: Sermon on the MountFor course descriptions and more information, go to http://www.emu.edu/seminary.

For course descriptions and more information, go to .

In the midst of staffing changes, Noel Santiago, executive minister announced the following realignments for conference ministry responsibilities, effective immediately.

Walter Sawatzky has been named as an associate conference minister on a contractual basis serving with Line Lexington, Plains, Rockhill, Souderton, Vietnamese Gospel congregations.

Steve Kriss, Director of Communication and Leadership Cultivation, will serve as primary liaison with Lakeview, Mennonite Bible and New Life (Athens, PA) congregations as well as an emerging faith community in the Poconos that has its roots in the former Spruce Lake Fellowship. Kriss will continue to serve as primary contact with Philadelphia Praise Center.

Noel Santiago will now serve as conference minister with Partner in Ministry congregation, New Hope Fellowship in Alexandria, Virginia. He will continue to serve the congregations of the Berks-Montgomery area, the Lehigh Valley as well as Nueva Vida Norristown New Life and Perkasie congregations.

These appointments emphasize the conference’s commitment to congregations and relationships. These shifts, though to some degree temporary, represent commitments to serve with congregations in ways that uphold Anabaptist and missional convictions while new conference ministry models are explored.

Conference Assembly digital
Conference Assembly DVDs will arrive to all congregations via Priority Mail next week, in time for use in worship on November 19 as a digital production from Jay Delp. Please plan to use in your worship services or for discussion. Also watch www.mosaicmennonites.org for downloads and updates.

MEA Announcement
Mennonite Education Agency’s Youth Census is coming to you soon.  Please take time to complete the forms or have someone from you congregation do so.  If you have not received the Youth Census forms or wish to receive them electronically, contact MEA toll free at 866-866-2872, or email youthcensus@mennoniteeducation.org.  The information your congregation provides strengthens the church for the future by keeping youth and young adults of all ages in touch with the various ministries of our church and our schools.  Thank you for taking the time and effort to respond!