Mission Society Directors met on January 20, 2015 for their first meeting of the New Year. Mallie Graham opened with devotions.

Transcription

1 O N W A R D The Newsletter of the Moravian Mission Society, Southern Province February 2015 Volume XXXV Issue 1 Musings from the Mission Society Mission Society Directors met on January 20, 2015 for their first meeting of the New Year. Mallie Graham opened with devotions. Encouraging news about work at the Moravian Seminary in Alaska was shared by Helen Gulledge. With the final offering total from the November Lovefeast reaching $6995, the Board approved disbursing twothirds of that amount to the 12 missionaries it helps support. Approval was also granted for the other one-third to be sent to the Board of World Mission to assist with leadership development in the three mission areas of Cuba, Peru, and Sierra Leone. Preliminary information was offered about the upcoming Mission Awareness Dinner, with the date being May 3, 2015 at New Philadelphia. A report was given concerning money approved for 20 churches involved in mission work during the year The amount of $16,600 was requested and granted to 78 individuals participating in trips within the U.S. or internationally, plus another 59 who attended mission camp at Laurel Ridge. So far this year, mission trip requests have been received from 3 people, all traveling abroad. It was explained that the ONWARD newsletter's new format begins with the next issue, intentionally trying to provide information from congregations, youth, RCCs, the Home Front and Around the World. The Pray Every Day page continues without change. Using final figures from 2014, the Board approved an amended and more accurate budget for the year A special farewell gathering on March first at Fairview was announced, an event to offer prayers and encouragement for Mohamed and Safie Braima, who return home to Sierra Leone on March 10. Board members engaged in a discussion about how to provide a provincial opportunity to hear from Rick Nelson (currently serving at the medical clinic in Ahuas, Honduras), when he is in Winston-Salem in April. The decision was to work toward arranging a presentation In This Issue followed by questions and answers on the afternoon of April 19. Donna Hurt, Mission Society President Safie and Mohammed In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love. Congregational Missions On the Home Front In Foreign Lands Youth in Action Missions of the RCC

2 A MISSIONAL ADVENT The members of Fries Memorial Moravian Church took a new approach to the Hope, Peace, Joy and Love of Advent in Hope: On the first Sunday of Advent, each family in the church was asked to bring a symbol of Hope to be used to decorate our sanctuary Christmas tree. We placed them on the tree as a part of our worship service. Peace: For the second Sunday of Advent, we brought gifts of peace (coats, gloves, blankets for the Overflow Homeless shelter; toiletries for Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministry; Christmas gifts for children of Project New Hope; food for Sunnyside Ministry; blankets for Project Linus) and placed them under the Christmas tree as an act of worship. Joy: We shared our joy on the third Sunday of Advent. At the conclusion of our worship service, one group went out and took our gifts to the Cherry Street Prison, another went to the Overflow Homeless Shelter, a third went around our neighborhood singing Christmas carols and inviting our neighbors to share our joy. We all returned to church for a lunch and a time to share our experiences of the day. Love: Our hope, peace, and joy came together with love on the fourth Sunday of Advent as we held our Children s Lovefeast and Candle Service. The youth and children of our congregation led us in worship as we celebrated the coming of Jesus Christ into our world. It was a blessing to be able to put our hope, peace, joy and love into action as we prepared for the arrival of our Lord and Savior. Rev Joe Moore, Pastor, Fries Memorial 2

3 ON THE HOME FRONT Candles All Aglow CANDLE TEA TOUCHES LIVES HERE AND ABROAD Each December for more than 85 years, the Women's Fellowship of Home Moravian Church has invited the community--family, friends, and strangers--to learn about and enjoy typical Moravian preparations for Advent and Christmas. "This event is so meaningful to us. It's the way we begin our Christmas season," said one woman, whose family has been attending Candle Tea for 60 years! Even long lines and several hours wait along the sidewalk in front of the Single Brothers House does not discourage those who come to the Tea year after year. Singing carols, watching as beeswax candles are made, viewing the putz with its concluding Nativity scene--these are the ways that the more than 10,000 guests--adults and students--learn how Moravians celebrate the coming of the Christ child. And while the Tea celebrates Advent and Christmas with the community, it also raises funds for missions, with more than $23,000 contributed to local and global benevolent organizations for the last two years. Contributions have supported the Kisanji Moravian Girls School, the Unity Women's Desk, Laurel Ridge, the Moravian Theological Seminary, Sunnyside Ministry, the Battered Women's Shelter, and many other helping organizations and agencies. Preparations for the Candle Tea are carried on throughout the year by the members and friends of the Home Moravian Women's Fellowship. We invite your prayers as we make the thousands of candles distributed during the Tea as symbols of Christ as the light of the world. Sarah Hunter, Chair, Candle Tea

4 Around The World Thiessens Face New Challenges in 2015 Thank you for your prayers and concern for my back situation. The trip to California to see the doctor in Bakersfield went well, and we now have a plan. They will insert a plastic cage (coming in through the side of my body - with cameras) between L3 and L4 vertebrae that will realign and separate them. They will then pin that to the bone with steel pins (coming in through tiny incisions in my back). The cage has two hollows that will have growth hormones packed in that should cause the bones to grow together through it, Anne, Philip and Robert eventually forming a solid fusion. I should only need to spend the night after in the hospital, and then walk out the next day. They call this "minimally invasive" - never the less, I will be on narcotic pain killers for at least two weeks. I can't lift "even a dinner plate" for a month after. I will need checkups every three months, but should be able to send x-rays taken here to the doctor. I will be going up for a pre-op appointment on Feb 9th and then have to wait till the 18th for the operation. Then I will hang out for two more weeks till a post-op exam on Mar 2nd. Anne will come up a week after me (on the 14 th ) and stay with me after that. Even though the x-ray shows a fairly misplaced spine, I only have pain while standing, walking, or working. If I sit down, it goes away. So I sit a lot. My shop is right beside the house and I have been doing small jobs that I can sit on a bucket to do (mostly). And writing here at the computer. And friends and people I've been mentoring come over for coffee, so it is working out. I won't drive over to Guerrero for a while, and I'll miss that. This morning Anne had her second opportunity to speak at a gathering of ladies. This is a group that our friend Vasti has pulled together, ladies that have little to do with organized church (some even opposed). The first time, before Christmas, went so well that they want to keep doing this. About twenty of them meet for breakfast and then Anne speaks on a relevant topic that leads into discussion. She and Vasti have around twenty topics lined up, but the ladies will be choosing the order. This is an outlet for Anne s teaching gifts that helps her as an introvert (today s topic was about Introverts!) make contact with women she wouldn t meet otherwise. Next weekend (Feb 6-8) we have another team meeting. New Fields Team now has another family - the Clarks. You can see a video about them on the MB Mission website ( They finally arrived last Thursday evening and are settling in well. We had arranged beforehand a furnished house so that they could hit the ground running on language learning and acculturation. They face some challenges that Anne and I didn t way back, since they have four children that will be attending the school where Anne teaches. Please pray for them to adjust quickly, to survive culture shock, and to build strong relationships with the people they meet during language learning (the antidote to culture shock). Thanks again for your love, prayers, and support Robert and Anne Lamberto and Gabriel 4

5 Youth in Action Oak Grove Youth Support Samaritan s Purse The Oak Grove youth fellowship group is called The King s Teens & Tweens. For several years there has been a Christmas In July Party/Lock- In. The congregation donated small gifts for Operation Christmas Child in June. In July, youth ages pre-school to high school gathered for pizza, Christmas treats, Christmas decorations, and Christmas music. Stories were told of children who came to know Jesus via OCC. The gift items were organized by Boy, Girl, or Either. Each participant selected a label, constructed a red and green box, and decided what age child they were packing for. Older children assisted younger ones. Their sincere care and love was obvious as they thoughtfully packed each box. Our pastor was there and we made sure that a hand was laid upon every box as we prayed for their recipients. It was a joyful parade as the boxes were carried through the church and upstairs to a storage room to await a blessing during a Sunday worship service months later. The King s Teens & Tweens gathered in the kitchen to fry sausage patties and be taught how to bake homemade biscuits, which they truly enjoyed! We then had popcorn and watched the movie, God s Not Dead. Everyone was sending text messages of God s Not Dead at 2:00 a.m. to everyone they knew before bedding down for the night. The next morning they sold their homemade sausage biscuits during a car wash to raise the money for shipping the OCC gifts. It was a good mission and good fellowship all around. Angie Renigar, Secretary, Oak Grove Moravian Church 5

6 YADKIN VIEW RCC PROMOTES MISSIONS YADKIN VIEW CHURCHES CLEMMONS MACEDONIA NEW HOPE NC NEW PHILADELPHIA UNITY Yadkin View RCC consists of New Hope, in Newton, Clemmons, Macedonia, New Philadelphia, and Unity Moravian Churches. Each time our group of churches do anything together there is a mission/ outreach component to it. On May 15, 2013 we held our first Yadkin View Music Festival at New Philadelphia at which an 86 member combined choir, 41 member band, 32 member hand bell choir, and 15 member children s choir led 386 fellow Moravians in worship. We took up an offering of $1, which went to the Mission Fund for Cuba. Yadkin View is having it s second Music Fest on April 26, 2015 at New Philadelphia at 3:00 at which a mission based offering will be taken again. Another upcoming event that will benefit the Unity Women s Desk Project of Birthing Kits for Honduras & Tanzania is The Yadkin View Women s Gathering. On March 7, 2015 women of the 5 churches and any others who wish to come, will meet at New Hope Moravian for Blooming Where You re Planted: Growing in Faith, Love & Hope. Using Spiritual Type to Deepen Your Relationship with God, Yourself and Others. The offering taken will be donated to the Unity Women s Desk. Something new on the horizon for us is that the Mission Committee of New Philadelphia has offered to take the lead in coordinating some hands on mission activities. We look forward to working together in the near future on projects such as Habitat. Malissa Bumgarner, Chair Yadkin View and Appointee to BCM 6

7 KONNOAK HILLS HOSTS MISSION BAZAAR The Konnoak Hills Moravian Adult Mission Team has sponsored a Bazaar for the past three years and is planning to sponsor one again on March 21, This has been a way for the team to raise money to fund short term mission trips. The team, made up of men and women and headed by Donald Ball, has been on several disaster response trips as well as a trip to build in Alaska. Their most recent trip was to Staten Island to repair hurricane damage. The bazaar allows the team to raise money for travel expenses. Vendors pay to use a table to display their wares. The number of tables is limited to twenty in order to leave room for shoppers. The items for sale include birdhouses, wooden items of many descriptions, metal art (lawn ornaments), jewelry, knitted items, homemade food items, books, art, Moravian items, needle craft, wreaths, candy, and cakes. Anyone interested in being a vendor should call the church at , and they will be sent an application. It is first come first served until the slots are filled. Each vendor is asked to contribute one item to be entered in a raffle. Shoppers may buy tickets and place them for items they are interested in. The drawings are at the end of the day. It is not necessary to be present to win. Breakfast and lunch food is also sold. Janet Doub, Bazaar Coordinator BOOKS FOR TANZANIA Inspired by a report by Andrew Craver and Jenna Nodine on their mission trip to Tanzania last summer, the Florence Ball Class of Konnoak Hills Moravian has been collecting books to send to Tanzania. A large number of many kinds of books have been colleted. They have also received donations to purchase Bibles printed bilingually for use there. These have been received and are ready to ship. During the month of January the books will be packed for the journey. 7

8 NC Council of Churches HOME CHURCH HOSTED BREAKFAST IN NOVEMBER 2014 Ten Things I Learned from the 2014 Clergy Breakfasts The past two months the NC Coalition for Justice for Immigrants has been busy with its annual clergy breakfast series. This year we hosted five events across the state, as far west as Black Mountain and to the east toward Greenville. In total, 87 clergy and congregational leaders participated. I had the pleasure of attending all of the events and wanted to share a few lessons that I learned (or was reminded of) along the way: 1) North Carolina is a big state and each community is different. As I spent weeks driving from city to city, I realized that North Carolina is really big. And in this large expanse of land, there is also a great diversity among communities. In relation to my work, this diversity is visible in the services available for immigrants. In many cities, such as Greensboro or Charlotte, there is a central hub of services such as a Centro Latino. However, in some communities where their immigrant population is practically invisible, there exists nothing of the sort. This was the case in Boone, where we heard from the Latino Health Program, which is working to reach out to immigrants who need medical services but who are difficult to locate. 2) While church budgets vary greatly, the work of the Holy Spirit is present in each church. I am always amazed at the variety of churches I visit working with the Council. This year, we were in large churches (with large budgets and many staff people) and also very small churches that don t have the staff to help organize events. This particularly stood out to me at Unidos Por Cristo UMC in Grimesland (a rural suburb of Greenville). The church was small and hadn t been renovated in a very long time; however, the pastor was clearly busy working in a variety of capacities there. He spoke during the Clergy Breakfast about being the first person that people in his community come to when they need help, and it was evident to me that, despite his small building, he was doing huge work in his community. 3) Talking about immigration is frustrating. The sentiment that I heard most often voiced in the Clergy Breakfasts was frustration. Clergy want to be involved in their communities and want to do something but aren t sure where to start. The truth is, it can be very difficult to build trust across racial lines, and our churches still remain segregated. This constantly makes me reevaluate our programs to try to find ways to make them more easily accessible. 4) Working together is the best way to accomplish change. A substantial part of the Clergy Breakfasts is devoted to networking. This is not in an effort to give presenters less time to talk, but rather because networking is just as important as the information that attendees receive. Involvement in any sort of social justice work can often be alienating, and more is accomplished when we work together. I feel as though a Clergy Breakfast has been a success when people exchange contact information so that they can continue these types of conversations. 5) Clergy love coffee.and bagels. Pretty self-explanatory. 6) Immigration is many-sided. This year we had a variety of presenters including health outreach workers, immigration attorneys, outreach coordinators from public schools, community organizers and Latino clergy. Each one talked about different ways that immigrants in their communities were affected by their status, from local situations in which parents are afraid to drive their children to school or to the hospital to global situations in which undocumented children and families are being held in detention facilities along the border. The presence of immigrants in our communities affects our own daily lives, which is evident if we just take the time to think about it. 8

9 7) Anti-immigrant sentiment is, unfortunately, alive and well, even in the church. I am always asked about the reception that I receive in churches. Overall, my interactions are positive; however, that is not always the case. This continues to be a divisive issue, and because the Clergy Breakfasts are an opportunity for pastors to express their concerns, some do express negative feelings about undocumented immigrants in their communities. While their anger and passion are understandable, we all need to have compassion and open hearts and minds when having difficult discussions (both within the church and outside of the church). While this type of anger saddens me, it reminds me that there is still work to be done. Prejudice, stereotypes, and exclusion continue to exist within our churches. 8) There is never enough time to cover everything. The main negative feedback that I received from the Clergy Breakfasts is that there is not enough time for discussion. This is partly because the presenters often have so much information to share, and partly because these types of discussions are so complex. Which leads me to my next point. 9) There is no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to immigration. There is always someone who will preface a question, saying, This is probably a stupid question, but. The reality is that there are no stupid questions. Immigration is a complex issue and often the answers are not simple. The best thing is being able to ask questions in a safe space where no one will be judged. 10) God is with us. John Wesley said it first, but honestly, I felt the work of the Holy Spirit moving in the Clergy Breakfasts. As I saw people having honest discussions, learning, questioning, reflecting, and working together, I knew that we are working for the Kingdom. And those are the times when I give thanks to have a job where I can facilitate these meetings, but also I give thanks that God shows up as well. Jennie Wilburn, Program Associate Jennie was born and raised in Savannah, GA. She moved to Texas for her undergraduate education at Rice University, during which time she studied in Mexico, Peru and Argentina and participated in service projects in Central America. After graduation she moved to Spain for a year to teach English. Jennie then came to North Carolina for a dual degree MDiv/ MSW graduate program at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill where her work focused on advocating for farmworkers and organizing churches for social justice. Recently graduated, Jennie is excited to use these skills in her role at the Council of Churches as she works to help improve conditions for immigrants and farmworkers in the state. Jennie lives in Durham and attends First Presbyterian Church. In her free time she enjoys dancing, distance running, traveling, walking her dog, and planning her upcoming wedding. Jennie can be reached at: jennie@ncchurches.org. 9

10 Violet Emma Stelter Befus May 14, 1921 Jan. 18, 2015 The beautiful life that started on the Canadian prairie, ended Sunday in the Carolina piedmont. Violet Emma Stelter Befus left this life Jan. 18, 2015 at Salemtowne Retirement Community in Winston Salem. Vi was born May 14, 1921 in Lamont, Alberta, Canada to Fred and Emma Stelter. The odyssey of her life would have her live in western Canada, Nicaragua, Central America, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. After becoming a Registered Nurse in Alberta, Canada, she married the late Rev. John Befus and joined him in his ministry in the jungles of Nicaragua. There the 21 yr. old wife and nurse became a teacher, organist, and a full partner in the work in Moravian missions. Soon she would demonstrate what was to become her signature life philosophy, "Bloom where you are planted." Vi and John served in the mountains of La Luz, the jungle river village of Bilwaskarma, and the coastal town of Puerto Cabezas during their 25 years in Nicaragua. While there Vi learned two new languages and somehow found the time to home-school her children, lead choirs, and Bible classes, organize the youth groups, and counsel young women, all the while learning to love this country, food, and culture as her own. Returning to Canada, she and Rev. Befus served congregations in Alberta and British Columbia before serving in Philadelphia and finally at Fries Memorial Moravian Church in Winston Salem, where she remained a member. In 2000 they moved to Salemtowne Retirement Community where she has lived and found ways to continue to "Bloom where she was planted." Here, her participation in ministry and worship and her cheerful contributions to fellow residents and staff are a lasting legacy. She is survived by three children Ruth and husband John Snyder of Charlotte, Gerry Befus and wife Debbie Allgood, and Tim Befus, all of Winston Salem. She has six grandchildren Rick Snyder, Randy Snyder, Greg Snyder, Eva Mullinax, Deanna Befus, Michelle Befus, as well as eight great grandchildren. Her contribution to and influence on their lives will be timeless. A graveside service will take place at God's Acre on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Salemtowne Retirement Community, Saal Auditorium, Saturday at 3:00 p.m., with chaplain Linda Browne presiding. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: The Salemtowne Endowment Fund for Financial Assistance, 190 Moravian Way Dr., Winston Salem, N.C or Changed Choices Inc., PO Box 78614, Charlotte, NC, or the King Moravian Church Music Fund, 234 West Dalton Rd. King, N.C

11 Pray Every Day February, Sunday - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Pray for Phil and Ashley Sineath. 2. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. Pray for R and B in the Sudan. 3. And when Jesus was baptized the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove alighting on him. Pray for the advisory board of the Unity Women s Desk. 4. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Pray for BWM Staff Sheila Beaman, Sam Gray, Jill Kolodziej, Kay Odegard, Justin Rabbach, and Judy Ganz, Executive Dir. 5. Be merciful to me oh God for in you my soul takes refuge. Pray for Annie B. Mission with Star Mountain in Palestine 6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Pray for those suffering persecution for their faith. 7. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. Pray for Glenna and George Tasedan in Labrador 8. Sunday. Great is our Lord and abundant in power. Pray for Ruth Snyder, Claire Wilson, and all others who are helping women to Change Choices. 9. Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God interceding for us. Pray for C & V and Family in campus ministry. 10. Has not God chose in the port in the world to be rich in faith and areas of the kingdom? Pray for Michael and Brenda Brent serving with Campus Crusade in Croatia. 11. Let us not lose heart in doing good. Pray for Michael, Cecilia, and Blessing Tesh in Kenya. 12. Know that the Lord is God. Pray for Ed Dehnert and Barb Weide, Alaska Bible Seminary. 13. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Pray for Ruth and George Goff, in Honduras. 14. Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Pray for Dusty & Christin Harrison ( Greek InterVarsity). 15. Sunday. Transfiguration of our Lord. We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as his servants. 16. As a shepherd looks after his flock, so I will look after my sheep. Pray for Brian & Heather Marx serving with MAF in Indonesia. 17.You were called that you might inherit a blessing. Pray for Steve & Ann Marx with MAF, Idaho. 18. Ash Wednesday. The Son of Man will be betrayed into human hands, killed, and the third day will be raised. Pray for Safiatu and Mohamed Braima returning to Sierra Leone in March. 19. You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Pray that the Ebola virus will be eradicated from western Africa. 20. Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Pray for church planters Rob and Anne Thiessen, Mexico. 21. God called us with a holy calling according to his purpose and grace. Pray for the Woo family in Asia. 22. Sunday. We walk by faith, not by sight. Pray for K & C serving in the Middle East. 23. Obey the voice of the Lord your God and you will be blessed in the city and in the country..pray for the Antioch Project and for Jill Kolodziej, Director. 24.Your sins are forgiven on account of his name. Pray for Dr. Louis and Susan Sutton with WEC (World Evangelization for Christ) in Singapore. 25. Aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands. Pray for Adopt-a- Village program supporting children in Tanzania. 26. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the Lord my God. Pray for the Provincial Elders Conferences. 27.Good and upright is the Lord. Pray for your ministers and teachers. 28.This is the love for God, to keep his commands. Pray for Bible translators.. 11

12 MEET HELEN GULLEDGE, PRAY EVERY DAY EDITOR I was blessed to have been born into a Christian family and grew up attending church where I was exposed to the truths of the Bible and learned the Bible stories that I remember today. I committed my life to Christ at Laurel Ridge at a Little Church on the Lane retreat. I fell in love with the Moravian Church and its mission history during an August thirteenth message of the early Moravian story of dedication and persistence as told by Rev. Herbert Weber. God called me to a life of mission service, and I have been sold out to Him and His Good News since that day. Jesus came to serve and to love and calls us to do the same. I have been serving in AK intermittently for about 30 years and have coordinated several teams to Bethel over the more recent years. I am a member of the Little Church on the Lane and the Board of Directors of the Mission Society of the Southern Province. Contact helengulledge1090@gmail.com to contribute to Pray Every Day Contact the Mission Society: sbeaman@mcsp.org ONWARD 500 S. Church St. Winston-Salem, NC ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 12