Notes to Pastors

Teaching on Intercession
Pastors: A unique opportunity is available for intercessors and those interested in learning more about intercession. Beginning Sunday, February 13, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Franconia Mennonite Conference Center, Noel Santiago, will share teaching on this important gift in the life of the church. You are encouraged to tap a few people in your congregation to attend this teaching which will be continued on March 13 and April 3, both Sunday evenings. You are also encouraged to consider attending yourselves for greater understanding and a blessing.

Pastors’ and Leaders’ Breakfast with the Moderators: Pastors and Conference Related Ministry leaders are invited to attend a breakfast at the Mennonite Conference Center, Thursday, February 17, from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. Moderator John Goshow and Assistant Moderator Miriam Book welcome you to a time of conversation about the board’s recent decisions and appointment of Ertell Whigham as Executive Minister of Franconia Mennonite Conference. Bring your questions and counsel for a time of open conversation about the changes and future direction.

Teaching on Intercession
Pastors: A unique opportunity is available for intercessors and those interested in learning more about intercession. Beginning Sunday, February 13, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Franconia Mennonite Conference Center, Noel Santiago, will share teaching on this important gift in the life of the church. You are encouraged to tap a few people in your congregation to attend this teaching which will be continued on March 13 and April 3, both Sunday evenings. You are also encouraged to consider attending yourselves for greater understanding and a blessing. Contact Sandy Landes, Prayer Ministry Coordinator, for more information.

Lunch with Conrad Kanagy
You are invited to lunch and conversation with Conrad Kanagy, Tuesday, February 15, 11:45 a.m. at Biblical Seminary, 200 N. Main Street, Hatfield, PA. Dr. Kanagy has just completed a global survey of Anabaptists in Asia, Africa and Latin American and would like to share this information with pastors in our area who might be interested. Lunch is free. Registration is required. Contact Biblical Seminary at 215-368-5000 x158 or bbarkley@biblical.edu to sign up.

Damascus Road Anti-Racism Analysis Training
One of the core values that Franconia Mennonite Conference and the Mennonite Church USA has committed to, is becoming a multi-cultural church. One tool available to congregations on this quest is the Damascus Road Anti-Racism Analysis Training. It offers an in-depth analysis of how power and identity shape us as a people and as a church. It opens a whole new way of understanding the Kingdom of God in the Anabaptist perspective.

The 11th Annual Damascus Road Anti-Racism Analysis Training is Friday – Sunday, February 25 – 27, at Philadelphia Mennonite High School. Will you come, with leaders of your congregation and our conference, to lay a new foundation and understanding for the transformation that God has for us? More information and registration details can be found at www.FranconiaConference.org (under the Resources tab).

“Watershed” – Church Planter Training, January 22 & 23
Watershed weekend of training, for church planters, participants in church plants and other church leaders who seek to share an authentic witness of the Gospel of Christ in the local community. Friday, January 21, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. session title: “Exploring the Environment – Incarnational Missionary Communities”. Saturday, January 22, 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. session title: “Embracing Missional Theology – Community: Clear Centers, Fuzzy Edges”. Saturday, January 22, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. session title: “Generating New Church Behaviors/Behaviours –Living Discipleships. Christ Fellowship and Ripple Ministries, both in Allentown, and affiliated with Eastern District and Franconia Conferences are sponsoring this event. The event will be held at Christ Fellowship, 1213 Chew Street, Allentown.
Cost for Watershed Allentown is underwritten by Eastern District Conference and facilitated by Jeff Wright, Urban Expression North America consultant and EDC Church Planting Coach/Consultant. Saturday lunch will be on your own, somewhere in the city! Registration is encouraged, but not required. Please contact Jeff Wright at urban.anabaptist@gmail.com or call 888-777-4842.

“Anabaptist History and Theology”
Eastern Mennonite Seminary offers “Anabaptist History and Theology” beginning January 31. This survey course will acquaint students with the almost 500-year sweep of Anabaptist/Mennonite history, experience and theological reflection since 1525. This story of a movement and faith communities will be viewed against the background of the spiritual, social, geographical and cultural dimensions of the times. The course will be structured toward the ultimate goal of better understanding the relevance of Anabaptist history and theology for the contemporary life of the church in local and global contexts. Instructors are Steve H. Kriss and John L. Ruth. The class will be held at the Historic Germantown Mennonite Meetinghouse, weekly on Monday evenings, 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., January 31, – May 2. Registration: www.emu.edu/lancaster/seminary/registration/ . For more information contact Mark R. Wenger (wengermr@emu.edu) or Julie Siegfried. (julie.siegfried@emu.edu). Or call 717-397-5190.

1/20/11

Pastors and Leaders Breakfast Podcasts
Plans are underway for another excellent series of Pastors’ and Leaders’ Breakfasts coming up later this winter and spring. Hopefully we’ll be able to announce the dates and topics very soon. In the meantime, podcasts of three presentations and conversations from the fall are available to listen to via download at: www.audio.mosaicmennonites.org. They include:

• September 29 – A Place to Call Home: Our New Immigrant Neighbors
• October 21 – Celebrating Shared Leadership Across Gender Lines
• November 4 – The Naked Anabaptist

We invite you to make use of these resources … whether you were unable to attend or want to hear it again!

Bulletin Board Space
The Care & Share Thrift Shoppes welcomes announcements for your church event to hang on the 7 different bulletin boards throughout the organization. 7 copies of your announcement, no larger than 8 ½ x 11”, can be dropped off at the office above the Clothing Shoppe. Questions – 215-723-0315

Bulletin Insert
Use this link to access a Bulletin Insert for an upcoming Worship Training Event to be held at Swamp Mennonite Church on Saturday, February 19.

Third Way Media
Third Way Media has been producing the Shaping Families radio program (sharing interviews on tough family issues; offering faith-based hope) since January, 2010. It has been airing on WBYN-AM, Allentown and WCHR, Philadelphia. Airtime fees were covered through a grant to Third Way Media (from Odyssey Networks). WCHR and WBYN-AM have offered free air time through January in the hope that sponsors can yet be identified so that the program can remain on the air on these stations during 2011. Cost is $50/program. Sponsors can put a 30-second tag at the end of each program.

In order to assist Third Way Media in keeping Shaping Families on the air, WBYN and WCHR will provide an additional three promotional spots for the program on Thursday, Friday and Saturday each week. These spots will be 30 seconds in total length – five seconds for Shaping Families, and 25 seconds for your business. If your business or congregation would like to support a positive message encouraging families in your community, while advertising your services, one time a month (or more) please consider sponsoring Shaping Families. Call 800-999-3534 or email SheriH@ThirdWayMedia.org.

Save the dates!

Are you an intercessor? Do you want to learn more about intercession? Teaching and learning about this important gift in the life of the church is planned for three Sundays eves in 2011, Sunday, February 13, March 13 and April 3, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the Franconia Conference Center. Noel Santiago, conference minister will be teaching on the topic of Hearing God’s voice and the practice of intercession. Questions, contact Sandy Landes, prayer ministry coordinator.

Worship Leading Seminar

Could your Sunday morning use a fresh spark? Then save the date for a free worship leading seminar on February 19, 10:00 – 3:00 p.m. Swamp Mennonite in Quakertown. Pastors, song leaders, worship leaders, or Sunday School teachers will all benefit from workshops on prayer, Scripture reading, storytelling, writing liturgy, and creative congregational involvement. For more information or to register, contact Worship Minister, Emily Ralph. Please register by February 1 (a love offering will be received to cover the cost of lunch).

Gateway Course
Bible Survey & Anabaptist Hermeneutics. This course introduces students to the historical and literary sweep of the Bible as a record of God’s Salvation story. Students will examine various genre of biblical literature, understand different hermeneutical approaches, and formulate a defensible personal biblical hermeneutic. Dennis Edwards, Ph.D., Pastor of Peace Fellowship Church, and Bible teacher from Washington D.C. is the instructor. The course will be held at Conestoga Mennonite Church, Morgantown, PA, February 25 & 26 March 25 & 26. Visit www.emu.edu/lancaster/seminary/gateway or complete information.

HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST
The Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office is inviting submissions for our 12th annual high school essay contest. This year’s grand prize is $500 with three regional winners each receiving $100. Students can choose to write on immigration, Israel-Palestine or U.S. military spending, and all essays must be submitted by December 17, 2010. The contest is open to Mennonite, Brethren in Christ and other Anabaptist youth of high school age, and to all youth who attend Mennonite high schools.

BEHIND THE CAMOUFLAGE: A Primer on Military Enlistment for Youth Pastors, Mentors and Counselors
A new resource, written by Titus Peachey, is available tackling the topic of Conscientious Objection from an ecumenical viewpoint. Mennonite Central Committee currently has no plans make printed copies at this time but the document can be found at http://co.mcc.org/us/co/. The following excerpt helps describe the pastor’s role in this situation: “As a pastor or youth mentor, you are in a unique position to help young people evaluate military recruitment messages. You may be able to ask questions or probe motivations without all the baggage of a parent or immediate family member. You can help the young person take a step back from the pressure of peers or the positive spin of a recruiter, and give her a space to think about the long-term implications of enlistment.”