The Third Annual Children`s Festival and Lovefeast

The Third Annual Children`s Festival and Lovefeast

Essentials
The BCM
Building, Connecting, & Mobilizing Moravians to live out our Faith!
Volume 9, Summer 2016
connect
build
Board of Cooperative Ministries
Moravian Church, Southern Province
500 South Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-722-8126
Moravianbcm.org
Facebook.com/MoravianBCM
@MoravianBCM
The Third Annual Children’s
Festival and Lovefeast
August 14, 2016
I
t is said if you do anything twice it becomes tradition. As August
approaches, so does the third annual Children’s Festival and
Lovefeast., held at various locations around Salem and Home Church
on August 14. This event can truly enrich the faith of young
Moravians. According to Peggy Dodson, a member of the
event’s planning team, “The children participate in traditions
and experience our unique community of faith. We value and
celebrate where they are in their young lives and spiritual
journeys and, most importantly, they learn that we are
witness to the joy of life in our Savior’s embrace.”
The Children’s Festival and Lovefeast is tied to the history of the
August 13 renewal of the Moravian Church in 1727. Following
the revival of adults at Berthelsdorf parish church, the children
experienced a spiritual renewal of their own in Herrnhut on August 17.
In 2013, Peggy Dodson presented her the idea to commemorate the
historical occasion to a newly-formed pronvincial Children and Family
Ministry Team. The annual festival includes children within the life of the
church and encourages their early spiritual growth. The event rotates
from church to church, in the order of each congregation’s founding date.
The host church’s regional conference (or RCC) assists with event
coordination.
continued on page 3
mobilize
Board of Cooperative
Ministries
Don Britt
Malissa Bumgarner
Elaine Cockerham
Peggy Dodson
John Foltz
Marsha Fowler
David Guthrie
LeaAnn Haynes
Criss Hiatt
Rhonda Hiatt
Hazel E. Hooker
Tanya Kimel
Aaron Linville
Catherine Long
Sabrina Maksi
Kelly Moore
Ella Shepherd
Chaz Snider
Shanda Trogden
Joyce Vance
Leibia Willis
Alfred Yorks
Leadership
Carol Foltz, Chair
Rachel Desmarais, Vice-chair
Michael Terry, Secretary
Staff
Ruth Cole Burcaw, Executive Director,
[email protected]
Beth Hayes, Director of Congregational
Ministries & Resources , [email protected]
The Rev. Doug Rights, Director
of Youth, College & Young Adult
Ministries, [email protected]
Heather Stevenson, Administrative
Assistant, [email protected]
Andrew David Cox, Communications
Project Manager, [email protected]
Mission
The Board of Cooperative
Ministries engages and
supports congregations and
RCCs in their ministries as
together we grow in faith, love
and hope, following Jesus in
serving the world.
Shanda A. Trogdin
BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
I’ve been Moravian all my life! I
grew up at Mayodan Moravian
and am now a member of
Moravia. I’m married to my
best friend Scott. We merged
our families together, with the
grace of God, 3 years ago and
have been so thankful for the
love our children have for each
other. New Year’s Eve 2014 our
youngest, Christopher picked a
movie for us to watch called
Camp. Since our whole family
has grown up with Laurel Ridge this seemed a great choice in movies.
Our lives were forever changed. The movie led Scott and I to train to
serve at Royal Family Kids Camp the following summer. Yes we missed
LR that summer but for God’s work only! RFKC led us to Seven
Homes, MAPP Classes and Fostering Orphans. I was a Guardian Ad
Litem for around 8 years, a Mentor for years before that. Cheer Coach,
Soccer Coach and Youth Group leader. I love kids! Our walk today is
through faith in Christ and His works being done through our serving
hearts and hands. Life is Good!
Favorite Hymn? Hosanna! Why? Because I know exactly when to
come in, when to wait, and never have to look at the hymnal. That one
and Morning Star of course! Great memories as a child on the steps of
Mayodan and Ms. Bonnie Connelly smiling and helping us along.
BCM and Me: I offered to serve as RCC lay person for Moravia,
which led me to accepting the BCM representative position on behalf of
our Dan Springs RCC. My first meeting was a retreat this February up
at Higgins Lodge. I was blown away at the resources BCM offers, the
support of the congregations present from the Southern Province, and
the level of dedication each member brings. All are eager to work! I
quickly joined in and as God has it all mapped out, started plugging for
Orphan Care. While this is nothing new to our congregations it may be
time to have a place where resources can be found, people to ask
questions of and testimonies of helping the widows and orphans can be
established. Watch for more to come out on this! November 13th is
Orphan Sunday, Worldwide!
connect
2
www.moravianbcm.org
Children’s Festival ontinued from page 1
Beth Hayes, Director of Congregational Ministries and
Resources at the Board of Cooperative Ministries (BCM),
reminisces: “the first festival was hosted at Bethabara
Moravian where we had tours of their Gemeinhaus,
walking tours of the historic area, storytelling, crafts,
games, music… all ending with a lovefeast in the
sanctuary.” The first Children’s Festival had nearly 200
participants representing 21 congregations. Beth Hayes
recalls, “The calling of people to the lovefeast by
simultaneously ringing the bell at Bethabara and the bell
in the Gemeinhaus was really moving.”
build
Almost 250 individuals from 27 congregations attended
the second Children’s Festival, held at Bethania Moravian
Church on August 16, 2015. Each event represents hours
of hard work by the planning team, whose members
change from year to year. “I am inspired by the energy,
engagement, creativity and ownership of the group
members… working with these people is a blessing, and
their dedication to this event is inspiring,” says Peggy
Dodson. This dedication and energy manifests itself each
year at the Festival as both children and adults share and
learn together in fun and fellowship.
Join us for the third annual Children’s Festival &
Lovefeast, August 14, 2016 at Salem Square and Home
Moravian Church. Activities begin at 2:00pm and include
storytelling, music, games, a photo booth, crafts, face
painting, puppets, St. Phillips Church, tours of provincial
buildings, and more! Church bells and a Moravian band
will call us to the lovefeast in Home Moravian’s sanctuary
at 4:45pm. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds of
Salem prior the event, which will be held rain or shine! For
questions about this event, please call Beth Hayes at 336722-8126.
Photos by David Holston
3
connect
build
Board of Cooperative Ministries
Moravian Church, Southern Province
500 South Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336-722-8126
Moravianbcm.org
Facebook.com/MoravianBCM
@MoravianBCM
Biblical
Interpretation
Video Series
When we think about what it means to
be Moravian today, we often think first
about Lovefeasts, Advent stars, and
delicious chicken pies. Of course, we
know that our Christian faith is about
much more than a few cherished traditions. For Moravians, Christianity
is grounded in the living experience of faith in Christ, active love for
others, and joyful hope. We believe that this living relationship with
Christ is born and nurtured in local faith communities, in relationship
with and in service to one another and the world. The wisdom of the
Scriptures and the faithful example of both the Ancient Unity and the
Renewed Church provide a way to understand our Christian
experience today. God creates; God redeems; God blesses. And we
respond in faith, in love, and in hope. These are the essentials!
Being the church in the twenty-first century calls us to new
challenges and demands greater commitment and understanding of
our faith and action. We should be, individually and together, always
living the essentials! Talented clergy and lay people are creating
strategies around the essentials that engage and inspire individuals,
leaders, small groups, congregations, regional conferences, and
provincial organizations. In collaboration with many, they will listen to
and learn from others, explore possibilities, and compile and develop
diverse resources to help Moravians live the essentials. One of the first
projects is a video series that describes how Moravians have used the
Scriptures to deepen our faith. What are the origins of this sacred book?
What have Moravians understood about the Bible over the course of
the church’s 550-year history? How can we as Moravians embrace the
important lessons of the Bible? How can it be most relevant to us today?
We hope that you will share this video series with your small
groups, Sunday school classes, confirmands, and others. We pray that
through these tools and practices God will create a more faithful and
resilient church, ready to face and engage the opportunities and
challenges of our world today.
4
www.moravianbcm.org
Meet BCM’s intern, Austin Craver, who will be working as videographer and
editor for the video series.
When did you become a Moravian? I’ve been involved with
the Moravian church since birth. I’ve attended multiple denominational churches growing up but the Moravian church has always felt like
the place I belong the most.
How are you involved with your congregation/what is your
church home? My church home is Hope Moravian in Clemmons. I
try and do as much as I can, whether it be getting involved with
lovefeast services, scripture readings, ushering, or going to Laurel
Ridge every summer.
Where do you go to college/major? I go to UNCG and my
major is Media Studies with a minor in English.
What are your passions/hobbies/interests? I am an unapologetic nerd. I watch a lot of films,
tv shows, anime, and I collect those flattened penny things you find at amusement parks and other
places.
What do you most appreciate about being Moravian? I appreciate the Moravian commit-
tment to inclusivity and neighborly fellowship. I also appreciate their committment to serving others
and making the world better even in the smallest of deeds (which can sometimes be the biggest!)
Who inspires you creatively? Two of my favorite filmmakers are Edgar Wright and Wes Ander-
son. They both have huge attention to framing and details. I try and take both of those things into account when making films (sometimes too much haha)
What do you hope to do beyond college? I would love to work in the film industry (in either
educational of entertainment media) or be able to teach it someday.
Interested in being a part of MLN? Find out more by
clicking “Leadership Development” under the “Build” tab
on MoravianBCM.org! Or visit http://bit.ly/MLN20162017
mobilize
5
The Rev. Tim Byerly
STAFF MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
What did you do previously? I am a Moravian
minister with 38 years of experience in five
congregations as well as interim positions in three
others. I’ve served on provincial boards and committees
and worked on mission trips and summer camps.
When did you become involved with BCM? What is
your role? I started in June, 2015 as a special project manager
Upcoming
Event
focused on the development of Living Faith. I’ve done this in
conjunction with the Director and with the Aging Well Team initially
and then with a design team that reviewed and guided this project.
What is Living Faith Small Group Ministry? How did it
start? Who does it serve? Living Faith is a model of
congregational life patterned in part after the bands of 18th century
Moravian settlements. It uses small group ministry dynamics found in
many churches in our culture.
Key components include: groups of 5 to 6 persons, an experienced
leader, personal devotional practices, weekly to bi-weekly gatherings, a
group covenant, study guides on spiritual growth and caring skills,
opportunities for outreach as a group, a way to share this experience
with others, and a way to incorporate this approach into existing
groups.
Living Faith is still in its start-up phase. Right now, we are looking for
people to serve in initial pilot groups. These groups would eventually
birth additional groups. It is designed for use in any congregation and
even groups which are not part of existing churches.
Being Mortal
FREE film screening
August 17, 6:30pm
Fries Memorial Moravian
hospicefoundation.org/Home/Being-Mortal-Project
Image credit: Tim Llewellyn / Used with
permission from HospiceFoundation.org
How can alternative ministries serve people in ways that
traditional ministries can’t? We have limited opportunities for
spiritual growth in our churches. Living Faith holds great potential to
address this need. Although it seems on the surface to be a novel and
alternative approach to congregational life, it is based on proven
methods and principles found in the Scriptures and in Moravian
history.
connect
6
Eco Mission RetreatConnecting God, Nature,
and People!
Two years ago our province’s Environmental
Stewardship Task Force was looking for a way to help
the youth of our province be more environmentally
focused. The Eco Mission Retreat at Laurel Ridge was
born! The task force wanted to make this retreat
affordable, and with the help of the Andre Fund (a fund
that can be used for events such as this) and other
donations the cost of attending was only $10 per person
for a weekend at Laurel Ridge.
The first Eco Mission Retreat was held in the
Spring of 2015. Several youth groups and youth leaders
attended, and they learned from environmental
workshops, did some hands on work around the camp,
and enjoyed some of the regular camp activities at Laurel
Ridge such as campfires, worship and a square dance.
In April of this year, more than 80 youth and
adults from 14 congregations gathered for the second
retreat. We learned more about our environment through
a Creation Walk, workshops, and a documentary on
global warming called Chasing Ice. The group took part
in hands-on projects from building bird houses to
curtailing stream erosion to working on the Laurel Ridge
Garden to spreading mulch on the camp’s Group
build
Photos and article by The Rev. Doug Rights
Interaction Course (GIC). Our group enjoyed hiking and
other outdoor activities, campfires, worship and just
hanging out with a great group of people.
Greg Keener, the convenor of the Environmental
Stewardship Task Force, says this about the recent retreat:
“Our second Eco Mission Weekend at Laurel Ridge was
really amazing. The work the kids did was important,
but for me, seeing these youth make a connection, some
for the first time, between caring for the Earth and their
faith was the most important thing that happened.”
Much thanks go to our Environmental Stewardship
Task Force for their months of planning this event. The
task force plans to offer future retreats which are much
more than youth retreats. They are opportunities for our
youth to realize and be challenged by God’s mission for
us to love and care for the world. The task force plans to
continue these retreats as times to make connections
between God, nature and people and to help make a
difference in the world!
The Environmental Stewardship Task Force is Charlotte
Disher, Scarlett Dowdy, Henry Fansler, Rick Gardin, David
Guthrie, Greg Keener, Samantha Kiley, Aaron Linville, Ron
Linville, Kim Pegram, Doug Rights, Rick Sides, with
programming help from Chelsea Blount of the New River
Conservancy, Ana Clara Melo of Forsyth Audubon, Joe
Mickey, and the staff of Laurel Ridge.
7
Event Highlights
BCM Board Retreat, Leadership Focus 2016,
Trinity Cross Walk
Photos by Andrew David Cox