Southern Pennsylvania District Church of the Brethren

Give all your

worries

and

cares

to God,

for He cares

about you.

I Peter 5:7

A Message from our District Executive

Southern Pennsylvania District Church of the Brethren

Volume 39, Issue 4

Aug / Sept 2021

Emails started to come to my inbox asking if the message was from me. Apparently, I had been hacked and someone with a Samsung Galaxy phone had sent out messages on my account asking for help. The message instructed people to contact me and to send me $400 in gift cards. It was not me and I do not even own a Samsung Galaxy phone! I instantly sent an email to my pastors informing them and asking them to contact their church offices that it was a scam.

Hacking has become commonplace these days. We have heard of the hacking that is coming into our country and holding major corporations for ransom in the millions of dollars. Some of my DE colleagues have been scammed with messages that sound suspiciously like the one purported to have come from me.

One of our District pastors had a rather ominous email that threatened to download obscene pictures into their computer if they did not pay up. Fortunately, the police were contacted, and nothing has come from the threat. In a time when people are so eager to see the worst in others, actions like that which was threatened could easily ruin the life, reputation, and ministry of an innocent person.

The internet is a wonderful tool and social media has made it easy to contact long lost friends and distant family members. But its usage has a dark side. It seems that criminals are spending time exploiting the access to people’s lives to do nefarious things.

The Bible tells us to guard our hearts. In my way of thinking it is saying to be careful about what you expose yourself to. I think it also means to strive to fill your heart with things that are admirable, pure, and true.

We also need to guard our fingers when a keyboard is accessible to us. It is far too easy to take shots at someone or demean them when you can hide behind that keyboard. I have seen a lot of things on Facebook that are cruel in their depictions or descriptions of others. Also, some people share way too much information in their postings. Please Sisters and Brothers, recognize the limitations that a social media conversation has and be incredibly careful in what you say to and about others.

One of the downsides of the pandemic has been the isolation from others. While we were trying to be safe, we spent more time devouring media and social media, and some have become ensconced in what has been called “silos” or listening chambers.” They heard the same thing repeatedly and perhaps only heard negative things. Eventually this became their feelings and beliefs. It could be matter of personalities, politics, or even about our beloved denomination. It is difficult to counteract that effect and try to speak the truth in love.

continued on page 2

I N S I D E

T H I S

I S S U E :

New & Events

Throughout the

District

2-13

Giving Report 14

Training

Opportunities 15-22

Meeting & Event

Schedule 25

Annual Confer-

ence

Wrap Up

26-27

The District Office will be

CLOSED

September 6 for Labor Day

September 17-20 for District Conference

Southern Pennsylvania District

SO PA District COB

3375 Carlisle Rd, Ste A

Gardners, PA 17324

717-778-2264

Rev. Dr. William A. Waugh

District Executive

724-875-0958 cell

[email protected]

Office hours:

Mon, Thu, Fri 10-4

Carolyn Jones

Office Manager

SOPADistrict@

brethren.org

Office hours:

Mon-Thu 9-4

While we were blessed to be able to Zoom worship services, the isolation from the gathered church also contributed to the problem. We are created to be in fellowship and the Bible tells us to not “forsake the assembling together.” We need each other to help us find our way through this life. We have the need to correct and be corrected as we unite with Brothers and Sisters. It does not mean we all agree on every fine point of faith and practice, but we covenant together to be the Body of Christ.

So again, I do not need any gift cards from you! If you get a strange request from me, please contact the office first before sending me anything. I will ask for your prayers though and they cost you nothing but your time. And please, guard your hearts and your keyboards.

Bill

continued from page 1

Congregational Leadership Updates These congregations are currently in the pastoral (or additional staff) search process:

• Bermudian COB, Pastor • Hanover COB, vacancy as of 12/31/21, Pastor Gerry is

retiring • Mechanicsburg COB, vacancy as of 12/31/21, Pastor Del is

retiring • Tuscarora Fellowship

• York Second COB, Pastor


2021 SO PA District Conference

September 18

York First COB 2710 Kingston Road

York, PA

Note: Program and Arrangements Committee is planning for a one day, in-person District Conference on Saturday, September 18th at York First Church of the Brethren.

There will also be a Worship Service on Friday, September 17th at York First and virtually broadcasted. See pages 4 & 5 for brochure and schedule.

Jesus CALLS US TO FOLLOW HIM

Matthew 9:9

The District Office mail is no longer being forwarded,

please update your records to our new address.

SO PA District Office

3375 Carlisle Road Suite A

Gardners, PA 17324


2021 District Conference Brochure


2021 District Conference Brochure (continued)

Disaster Relief Projects Once again hammers are ringing

and saws are whirring on disaster relief

projects around the country. If your

congregation is getting into the action,

support is available through the District

Witness Commission.

• Up to $200 per person (up to ten

people) for Church of the

Brethren sponsored projects.

• Up to $100 per person (up to ten

people) for non-Brethren

projects.

The funds have come to us by a generous

donation from the Disaster Relief

Auction. If you

would like to know

more, call or email

Witness Commission

chair Chris Elliott at

717-262-3154 or

News from around the so pa district


Welcome to the SO PA District,

Jonathan Bream was recently installed as pastor of Shippensburg Church of the Brethren.

Meat Canning Update

In spite of the Meat Canning Project being cancelled for 2021, the Southern PA District and Mid-Atlantic District Meat Canning Committee was able to donate $20,000 to Brethren Disaster Ministries for purchasing meat product in Honduras. Two devastating hurricanes hammered the small Central American country during 2020. Through our partners in Honduras, relief will be arriving in a sustainable way that will benefit the local economy.

The committee was also able to purchase 500 cases of canned chicken from Christian Aid Ministries that was divided equally between our two districts. This was

distributed at the Jim Boyer farm in East Berlin on 4 June.

A big thank you to all the congregations and individuals who contributed funds toward the project. We believe the gifts were well stewarded! Thanks as well to the churches and organizations that have received the canned goods, as they distribute it to those in need.

Looking ahead to 2022, we hope and pray to have funds continuing to come into the District Office for a new start. Pray for volunteers, as well!

August 1st (Sunday) Gospel Concert with Lewis Leeper and Friends, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the West Shore Church of the Brethren, 6921 Wertzville Road, Enola PA 17025. For more information phone 717-795-8573 (church office) or 240-285-0038 (pastor's cell phone). Eric Meyers of WSCOB was one of the many volunteers at Camp Eder 7-10-21 to help repair recent storm damage. He reports: I got several photos. There were multiple

projects going on when I arrived at Camp Eder. There were people cutting wood using chainsaws, chipping of the branches and the younger guys on the roof of a pavilion. The pavilion sustained damage to one end taking out 2 roof trusses. The roof was being repaired and a metal roof was being installed over top of the shingle roof. I decided to jump in and work with the guys running the chipper and feed the cut tree branches. We chipped a ton of branches from 8:30 to lunch time about 12:30. Camp Eder is beautiful. Gospel Concert,Sunday August 29, 2021 at 11 AM, West Shore Church of the Brethren, followed by a BBQ sandwich and soup luncheon. Beth West Shore Church of the Brethren 6921 Wertzville Road Enola, PA 17025 phone: (717) 795-8573 Sunday School 10:00 Worship 11:00


Trail damage Work at Heckman Pavilion

On July 18th, the Rouzerville congregation welcomed 8 new members. The new members are Linda Barkdoll, Susan Graybill, Fred Hammond, Florence Hammond, Lloyd Heimer, Laura Smith, Silvia Swope, and Paul Swope. Donna Glunn will be welcomed into membership at a later date. A carry-in dinner followed the worship service.


Africa Great Lakes Update The Great Lakes region of Africa – which includes Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo – have experienced multiple challenges along with the many difficulties of everyday life. Recently, there has been a wave of COVID cases brought on by the Delta variant. There was a volcanic eruption in May in Congo near the city of Goma (along the Rwanda border). The volcano caused an earthquake and subsequent tremors,

bringing further damage to the region.

As each of these events has caused material loss and human suffering, Brethren Disaster Ministries has responded with assistance of food and other immediate needs. The local Brethren congregations are taking responsibility for distribution.

Is spite of the challenges, the church is moving forward. With support from our district and Southeastern district, the Goma congregation has purchased property to build a church structure on. To us the land looks rough and rocky, requiring a lot preparation – they don’t have access to bulldozers and excavators – but they are really excited to have this land. It will give them a place to build, getting out of the tin shack they presently borrow for worship and prayer.

The Rwanda Church of the Brethren recently opened a new fellowship in the city of Musanze, bringing the number of Rwandan congregations to five.

In Uganda, one of the Kampala congregations completed a new meetinghouse with financial assistance from Brethren World Mission, the Brethren Global Mission office and Southern PA District.

For more information about the Africa Great Lakes Church of the Brethren, call or text Chris Elliott at 717 262 3154 or email [email protected]. Donations may be sent to the Southern PA District Office. Please write AFRICA GREAT LAKES on the memo line.

mailto:[email protected]

2021 Giving Report

THANK YOU! June 2021

FOR SUPPORTING

THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT



Faith of Our Farmers is a podcast devoted to the faith side of agriculture. It

highlights farmers, agribusiness and ministry people as they share their

testimonies of how God is at work in everyday life. It is produced by Chris

Elliott (retired Knobsville pastor) and his brother-in-law Frank

Hartley. You can find it on Google and Apple podcasts, as well as Spotify

and other podcast apps.


Continued on Page 17


Continued from Page 16


Barb Lehigh, from the Upper Conewago congregation, continues to operate a small Christian bookstore, Daniel Lehigh’s Bookstore.

She is offering discounts to individuals, churches and pastors and will special order the books or curriculum that you need.

The store also features boxed cards and children’s books. Stop by to check it out.

The store is located at her home, 3206 Lake Meade Road, East Berlin, PA 17316

She does not currently have set hours of operation but if she’s home (and it’s not Sunday) she’s open.

Please contact Barb at 717-292-4362 to place an order or schedule a visit.

It’s best to call ahead. Thank you!

Daniel Lehigh’s

Bookstore

Laptops for Missions Did you recently upgrade to a new laptop computer? Do you have an unused one lying around with power supply? Dayton Unger of the Shippensburg congregation will refurbish and update older computers for use by missionaries, seminary students and pastors. Windows 7 or newer is preferred. You may contact him at 717 385 6271 (leave a message) or [email protected]. Your old laptop may find a new life in Latin America or Africa!

mailto:[email protected]


MEETING & EVENT SCHEDULE

Deadline for the next District Newsletter is September 15, 2021 Please email items to [email protected]

Disclaimer: Info in this newsletter is accurate as of the date of publication, please check with the author of each item if events are continuing as listed.

Southern Pennsylvania District Church of the Brethren

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