Thursday Pastors’ Breakfast
The next Thursday Pastors’ Breakfast will be held at the Mennonite Conference Center on Thursday, June 19 from 8 – 10 a.m.Christina Alderfer, Administrator of the Agape Prayer Ministry School, will be speaking. The Agape Prayer Ministry provides an organized, thorough approach to healing based upon forgiveness. Come to learn more about this ministry resource for your congregation. This will be the last Pastors’ Breakfast until September. Please register for this event by June 13 by contacting Melissa Landis, mlandis@franconiaconference.org. For additional information, visit http://www.franconiaconference.org/index.php?P=173.
Ten high school students and 10 adults were involved in the mentoring program. Participants praised the program for the way it helped them learn and grow as individuals.
“Through this program I have grown spiritually, received guidance and gained a lifelong mentor and friend,” said Paige Quill of Philadelphia,
Pa. The mentoring pairs met twice a month for six months to talk about issues young people are facing.
“I think that we mentees are fortunate to have mentors in our lives, because where I’m from there is a lack of role models or positives figures
to look up to,” said Olin Johnson from Philadelphia.
“My mentor, Ms. Joanne, gives me advice that works. She challenges me to things that I wouldn’t normally do and she gives me things like books and
other things to help me,” said Shannon Hurley, also from Philadelphia. “The thing I love the most about Ms. Joanne is that she truly cares for
me, and I can see it show through the things she does and sacrifices for me.”
The youth spent time last summer at EMS studying with professors and then embarked on a 10-day cross-cultural trip to either Guatemala, Mexico, or
Trinidad. Upon returning home,they began meeting with their mentors to process the experience and to continue the learning process.
“The trip to Trinidad and the mentoring really helped me,” said Lauren Snowden from Chesapeake, Va. “I have become a stronger person without
being so aggressive, and I’m also more involved in school and other activities.”
The mentors helped the youth think about their future, understand themselves and grow spiritually.
“Getting to understand myself through my mentor Tasha is a great help,” said Bianca Nelson from Upper Darby, Pa. “Just knowing that ten years ago
she had a snappy attitude like mine and seeing how far she’s come with the shaping of Christ to help her.”
“The Bible is not just the Bible anymore, it is my companion,” she continued.
“Being mentored has shown me the hope of living for Christ, something I already knew, but was having a hard time accepting,” said Greg McFarland
of Philadelphia. “My mentor Minister Ruff came in my life at a crucial time and gave me new hope.”
The mentors said that they felt honored to be asked to share in the lives of these young people.
“Every aspect of mentoring Lauren has been delightful, from the preparation for our meetings, to the dialogue to the resulting bond that has
formed between us,” said Nicole Francisco from Hampton, Va. “I believe I have benefited from this program just as much as Lauren has.”
“I enjoyed being a part of Olin’s progress as he charts his course for the future,” said Wesley Proctor from Philadelphia.
LEAP365 is a year-long mentoring program for high school juniors and seniors. For more information, visit www.leap.emu.edu or call Director
Marvin Lorenzana at 540-432-4697.
Penn View Christian School would like to thank everyone for their generous support of the 47th Annual Country Fair and Auction. With the help of many volunteers, as well as the giving spirit of all those who attended, the gross receipts from this year’s event totaled over $160,000. Thank you for your support! These funds support the school’s programs which assist the students as they discover, define, and develop their God-given gifts.
Be sure to come and see all the action on Sunday, June 1 at the re-scheduled annual Couch Derby at Zion Mennonite Church. The races begin at 2 p.m. Twelve youth groups will be competing. Hope to see you at the races!
Seniors at Christopher Dock Mennonite High School will give their Senior Presentations on June 3 – 5. This gives seniors the opportunity to demonstrate their academic, spiritual, and lifestyle development as well as reflect on their high school experience and future plans. Check the Announcements/Senior Presentations 2008 at www.dockhs.org for the date, time, and location of seniors you’d like to hear and support.
Christopher Dock Mennonite High School will hold its 53rd annual baccalaureate and commencement services June 6 and 7. The baccalaureate service will be held Friday, June 6, 7:30 p.m. and the commencement exercises will take place Saturday, June 7, 6:00 p.m. Both services will be held in Clemens Center auditorium. Reverend Leonard Dow, 1982 alumnus and pastor at Oxford Circle Mennonite Church, will be the speaker at the commencement service.
Everyone is invited to a Strawberry Festival at Zion Mennonite Church on Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14. There will be a flea market and car show from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. On Saturday, fresh Lancaster strawberries and locally grown flowers will be sold. Come and enjoy the activities.
A summer training program entitled, “Reaching Hindus and Muslims” (RHM) will be held at Zion Mennonite Church, June 16 – 28 from 2 – 6 p.m. RHM is a two-week intensive summer training program that will prepare men and women to minister with Hindus and Muslims. The registration fee is $100. For more details, call Zion Mennonite Church at 215-723-3592, Victor L. Rampogu at 215-740-3288, or visit www.uccinternational.org.
Job Opportunity Christopher Dock Mennonite High School is accepting applications for a full-time teaching position: 80% Spanish, 20% ELL. Please send letter of interest, resume, and teacher application (available at www.dockhs.org) to Elaine A. Moyer, Principal, Christopher Dock Mennonite High School, 1000 Forty Foot Road, Lansdale, PA 19446.
Thank you for your prayer support of Mennonite education. The Mennonite Education Agency has posted new Prayers for Faith and Learning for the upcoming month of June. Visit the website at www.MennoniteEducation.org/PRAYERS.
Mennonite Central Committee >(MCC) is appealing for at least $200,000 to support relief and recovery work in Myanmar, also known as Burma. Funds will go to several organizations already in the country. Contributions should be designated “Myanmar (Burma) relief and recovery” and may be made online at www.mcc.org/donate or by sending to MCC, 21 South 12th Street, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501. MCC is also accepting contributions for relief following the China earthquake. Donations should be marked “China Emergency Assistance” and may be sent to the same address. More information can be found at www.mcc.org.
Karen’s Place, the coffee shop ministry of Doylestown Mennonite Church, will be open on Saturday, June 7 from 7:00 – 10:30 p.m. featuring the acoustic rock singer-songwriter Johnny J. Blair. This will be the 8th Annual Hawaiian Night with prizes, giveaways, and our “Best Dressed” Hawaiian Contest. There is no admission charge. For more information, please call the church office at 215-345-6377 or visit the website at www.karensplace.org.
Ted & Company TheaterWorks comes to town with a brand new show!Excellent Trouble, starring Ted Swartz and Ingrid De Sanctis will be performed at Plains Mennonite Church on Saturday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. The show explores the relationships between biblical pairs such as Jacob and Leah, Abraham and Sarah, Samson and Delilah, Mary and Jesus, and many more. All tickets are general admission. Tickets are $10; $5 for children 12 and under. To reserve tickets or for more information, call 215-565-2535 or email cgr1@comcast.net. Tickets are also available at the door.
All are invited to an International Tea Party at Ten Thousand Villages, Souderton on Monday, June 16 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Celebrate Three Cups of Tea. Experience the culture of tea service as it is done in Pakistan, West Africa, and Vietnam. There will be gifts, prizes, decorating ideas, great finger food, and at least “three cups of tea.” Tickets are $20. Seating is limited, so call now to reserve at
215-723-1221. In case of rain, a $20 gift card will be given.
The Annual Warehouse Tent Sale will be held at Ten Thousand Villages from Wednesday, June 18 through Saturday, June 21. Head to the big top of savings! Enjoy 50% discounts on discontinued and first quality overstock items from our warehouse. Discounts increase by the end of the sale, but come early for the best selection.
Job Opportunities
Penn View Christian School is seeking an enthusiastic part-time early childhood instructor for the 3’s and 4’s classes for the 2008-09 school year. Job requirements include a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and/or elementary education and the desire to teach young children in a Christian environment. Penn View offers a Christ-centered, academically excellent education for 615 students in early childhood through 8th grade. Please visit our website at www.pennview.org for general school information and a professional application. Please send your resume and completed application to Sandra Harrell, Director of Early Childhood, Penn View Christian School, 420 Godshall Road, Souderton, PA 18964; 215-723-1196. Email correspondence may be sent to sharrell@pennview.org.
Penn View is also seeking two enthusiastic full-time middle school (grades 6th – 8th) teachers for Science and Social Studies. Please send your resume and completed application to Stephen Schrag, Middle School Principal, Penn View Christian School, 420 Godshall Road, Souderton, PA 18964; 215-723-1196, emails may be sent to sschrag@pennview.org.
Christopher Dock Mennonite High School seeks applicants for an advancement assistant and public relations director. See www.dockhs.org for job descriptions and application procedures or contact Dock at 215-362-2675.
Read through the Bible and you will find countless stories of men and women relating to each other: David and Bathsheba, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Samson and Delilah. What really happened when Jacob awoke the morning after his wedding and found himself married to Leah, instead of Rachel? What did Abraham and Sarah say after being told they’d have a baby late in life?
“Excellent Trouble: Finding the Humor and Heart in Biblical Relationships” will be performed at Plains Mennonite Church in Hatfield, Pa. on June 14 at 7:30 p.m. The show, written and performed by Ted Swartz and Ingrid De Sanctis, connects us to a God who can and who longs to be part of our everyday relationships.
“Excellent Trouble” is written in the style of Ted & Lee, creators of “Fish-Eyes” and “Creation Chronicles,” which focus on the humor and heart of biblical stories. The material is colorful and surprising, from wit and wordplay to silliness, but always probing what God and humans do in relation to one another. Foundational to the work is the belief that with humor we can teach, heal and build community.
Ted Swartz lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. In 1987, he graduated from seminary and began a ministry that took him, not to a pulpit in a congregation, but to more than a quarter of a million people across the United States and into Canada, Kenya, Japan and beyond. For the past 15 years, Ted toured as part of Ted & Lee TheaterWorks. Since Lee’s death last May, Ted has been working with a variety of actors to continue the “Ted & Lee” tradition of using humor as a means to open the heart to courageously and honestly look at important things. Along with writing and acting, his loves include his wife, three sons and baseball. In that order.
Ingrid De Sanctis is a writer, director, actor and teacher and has worked with Ted for more than a decade. She has taught full time at Eastern Mennonite University and Clemson University, and also spent four years at Willow Creek Community Church as an associate director of drama. She recently served with Americorps, using theatre as a tool for empowerment. She is an adjunct instructor at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. De Sanctis has won writing grants creating edgy, challenging plays on issues of peace and justice.
Managing Holy Restlessness: Releasing young adults toward their dreams
How do we, as pastors, understand the younger generations in our congregations? How do we help them discern what to do with their lives? Come join a conversation led by Walter Sawatzky and Jessica Walter on Thursday, May 22 from 8 – 10 a.m. at the Mennonite Conference Center to explore how pastors can support young adults struggling to manage their holy restlessness. Please register for this Pastor’s Breakfast by May 18, by contacting Jessica Walter at jwalter@franconiaconference.org. A $5 donation is appreciated toward this hot breakfast.
The most recent issue of Peace and Justice News (PJN) on Immigration is now posted on the Peace and Justice Committee’s website at http://www.easterndistrict.org/pjn0805.pdf. PJN is published 3 or 4 times a year by the Eastern District and Franconia Mennonite Conference Peace and Justice Committee.
Perkasie Mennonite Church will host a special meeting of Committee for Peace Action (CFPA) open to the community on Tuesday, May 20 at 7:15 p.m. A local Muslim, a Jew, and a Christian who participated in an inter-faith tour to Israel and Palestine will share “Listening From the Heart,” a response to what they heard about creating peace there. The speakers are very excited about sharing this life-changing perspective.
Christian guitarist and songwriter Christopher Wright will be in concert at Spruce Lake Retreat on Sunday, May 25, at 7 p.m. The concert, open to the public, is part of Memorial Day Weekend events at Spruce Lake. The concert takes place in Lakeview Program Center. Tickets can be reserved for $5.00 in advance by calling 800-822-7505 or bought for $8.00 at the door. For more information and future concert information, visit www.sprucelake.org.
All are invited to a free outdoor movie night at Swamp Mennonite Church on Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m. The movie, “Facing the Giants” will be shown. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket to view this inspiring movie. Free refreshments will be provided. In case of inclement weather, the movie will be shown indoors. For directions or more information, visit www.swampmennonite.org.
Employment Opportunity
The Children’s Center at Dock Woods, operated by Salford Mennonite Child Care Centers, a ministry of Salford Mennonite Church is seeking a Director. Qualifications include an Early Childhood Education or related degree and teaching experience. Send resume to Musselmana@salfordmc.org or call Anna L. Musselman at 215-256-6421, ext. 116, for more information.
MMA, a national faith-based financial services organization, recently awarded Arlin D. Lapp its President’s Award at its national conference in South Bend, Ind. Lapp earned MMA’s highest honor in his role as Mennonite Foundation Eastern Regional Representative.
Based in Telford, Pa., Lapp has served MMA for 20 years, the majority of it with Mennonite Foundation.
The President’s Award was given by MMA President Larry Miller to recognize an individual who provides excellent and responsive service and gives members a unique and valuable experience with MMA. The award honors someone who represents “the face” of MMA and advances the vision of helping people integrate their finances with their faith.
“This was not something I was expecting and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this way,” Lapp said.
“Arlin has shown an outstanding ability to be the face of MMA,” Miller said. “His professional work and his everyday practice of using his talents to serve others is an inspiration to his colleagues, his community, and MMA as a whole.”
A graduate of Ursinus College, Lapp is married to Janet, a retired middle school guidance counselor. The couple has 4 children and 9 grandchildren.
MMA helps people integrate faith and finances through its expertise in insurance and financial services. Rooted in the Anabaptist faith tradition, MMA offers practical stewardship education and tools to individuals, congregations, and organizations. To learn more, visit www.MMA-online.org or call (800) 348-7468.
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“Excellent Trouble: Finding the Humor and Heart in Biblical Relationships” will be performed at 
