Congratulations to our Franconia Conference seminary graduates this year. Our conference had five individuals graduate from Eastern Mennonite Seminary … also see a list of Franconia Conference undergrads who made the Deans List at EMU this year. read more
Philadelphia partnership sings a new song
On Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Philadelphia Mennonite High School, twenty musicians exercised their creative talents at the Sing a New Song workshop. Kingdom Builders Anabaptist Network of Greater Philadelphia (KB) organized the event, and James Krabill of the Mennonite Mission Network provided leadership.
Krabill engaged participants with an interactive style of teaching as he reviewed the Biblical roots of worship and the shift from “place-centered worship” (Jerusalem) in the Old Testament to “person-centered worship” (Jesus) in the New Testament. He then led the group in reflections on Biblical texts related to Pentecost. read more
Mystery woman sets tone for ministry at Spruce Lake
Al Detweiler took the call.
A woman said she had something to bring them. “I hope it’s a big check!” he joked with his wife, Kass, as he put down the phone. Al was one of the first pastors in Franconia Mennonite Conference to serve full time. Money was tight. The young couple also oversaw Allentown Mennonite’s children’s camping program. read more
Conference Board announces new appointment
Franconia Conference Board members took action to appoint Klaudia Smucker as a new member of the Conference Board at the April 22 board meeting.
Smucker serves as pastor of Bally Mennonite Church, a role she assumed in 2010. She came to Franconia with extensive pastoral and conference leadership experience in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. “We are thankful that Klaudia has chosen to use her considerable experience and wisdom on behalf of Franconia Conference,” said Conference Moderator and Board Chair John Goshow. read more
Beauty for Brokenness: Women’s Ministry
The Women’s Committee of Eastern District & Franconia Conferences is planning a morning apart for women in June with a focus on wholeness and healing.
In March of last year, 130 women attended the Sister Care Seminar held by Mennonite Women USA at Souderton Mennonite Church. Attendees were enthusiastic about the teaching on caring for self and others and asked for continuing opportunities to explore these topics and to encourage one another on the local level. read more
Conferences lunch with CRM leaders
Franconia and Eastern District Conferences’ leadership met with Conference Related Ministry leaders on Wednesday, April 24, to fellowship, build relationships, and further clarify the partnership that these ministries have with both conferences. read more
Seeking peace and pursuing it with Conference youth
What happens when a youth group from a 274-year-old congregation (Methacton) meets with the youth from a community outreach that is just about a year old (Arise)? What happens when you then pile those youth in a couple of vans and drive two hours to a cabin where they will be cooped up for a couple of days? What happens when you add to this mix three 50-something-year-old leaders who want to connect with these kids and have a serious discussion about being peacemakers? You get a weekend when all of us learned a lot about each other and probably a little more about ourselves, a weekend when we all learned that we can have a lot of fun together. read more
Reaching out across cultures in Souderton
When Wendy Wong came to the United States from Hong Kong 22 years ago, she was befriended by a Chinese woman who worked with Wendy’s husband Kim.
Fast forward to March 2011 when Wendy met Peter, a Chinese exchange student staying with Martin and Rebecca Reeser. “I wanted to provide a community for Peter and other Chinese students in the area, just as Kim’s coworker did for me,” Wendy said. She arranged to take Peter to a Chinese church in Bluebell. The Chinese church connected Wendy with other host families in the area and the International Chinese Student Outreach began to take shape. read more
God is already near: an adventure with the Fire Marshal
This is a story about a recent requirement on Bethany Birches Camp by the office of the Vermont State Fire Marshal.
I remember it well… standing in the basement and looking out one of the windows; feeling both angst and joy. The angst was related to discovering a problem for which the solution was unknown to me. The joy was related to sensing that God was near and that an adventure lies ahead. read more
Rockhill Comm. merges with Community Home Services
Sellersville, PA – The Boards of Directors of Rockhill Mennonite Community and Community Home Services are delighted to announce a new strategic partnership. Rockhill Mennonite Community is a continuing care retirement community with a long history of providing residential care in Sellersville. Community Home Services of Souderton, established in 1995, is a licensed Home Care provider. Both organizations are Conference Related Ministries of Franconia Conference and are non-profit and faith based, with a like minded vision to provide seniors in this area with quality and compassionate care in a variety of settings. read more
