Dear Church Family, As the Advent Season Is Upon Us, Let Us Remember the Words to the Old Carol
Dec em ber 2012 www.centralschwenkfelder.com Phone: (610) 584 -4480
Dear Church Family,
As the Advent season is upon us, let us remember the words to the old carol: “Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning, Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing! O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!”
This must have been on the hymn writer’s mind, a reflection of John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
May you and yours have a blessed Christmas, being reminded of all of the riches we have in Christ, our Lord.
From All of Us,
… General Conference Minutes 1782 – 1890
Around 1890 Dr. O.S. Kriebel, Howard W. Kriebel, and S. Agnes Schultz undertook the project to copy into a single volume all of the minutes of meetings that we today would call General Conferences of The Schwenkfelder Church. The hand written minutes of these meetings were kept in manuscript volumes. The Upper and Lower Districts each had a secretary who recorded the minutes when the meeting was held in his district. It appears that he then sent a copy to the secretary of the other district. It seems that after some 100 years of keeping these important church records that they may not have been in the best shape; perhaps there were no longer two complete sets—and so the project was born.
The original minutes were kept in German and the secretaries used the old fashion German handwriting, which was becoming difficult for those living in the 1890s to decipher. Although the copy team simply copied the German language of the minutes, they did use the modern handwriting style which we still use today. In fact, the first time the Minutes of the General Conference were kept in English was the fall Conference of 1895.
These minutes give us some interesting insights and history into the concerns of the Schwenkfelder Church at the very end of the eighteenth century and the entire nineteenth century. The date – 1782 – when these minutes began coincides with the beginning of the Society of the Schwenkfelders, the earliest name for the church. That organization had as its principles what was called the Grund Regeln or Basic Rules.
The rules called for an election of officers who were elected at the spring meeting. One of the important officers was Aufseher, literally “overseer.” These men were responsible for watching over their districts, insuring that members of the Society were conducting themselves in an appropriate Christian manner. If not, the member was confronted by these men and admonished to change his behavior. The delinquent was then reported at the General Conference. If he did not change his ways after multiple visits, the Aufseher recommended at the General Conference that the aberrant person’s name be stricken from the membership roll. The offences in which this occurred seem to have been attending worship at a non-Schwenkfelder church, drunkenness, and quarrelsomeness in connection to legal matters. If the person recognized his wrong doing, he was required to confess publically and perform penitence before he could be accepted into the church again.
The position of Teacher – today we would say minister or pastor – was filled at the General Conference as well. The method was to elect the minister by ballot and confer on him all the privileges and responsibilities of the office. It seems that the minister had to serve for some time as an assistant, before he could be elected as a regular minister. Once elected, ministers seem to have served for life without pay, but were excused from assessments placed on the members. In the meeting held on May 15, 1858, they were also given a bonus of having their doctor bills paid.
Shortly after the Revolutionary War questions were raised in General Conferences several times about introducing the sacraments into the worship service. In the late 1880s, after many committees, numerous reports, and long periods of inaction, communion was performed first in the Lower District and then in the Upper. Both districts were celebrating communion by 1895. Baptism stood side by side with communion in Caspar Schwenckfeld’s 1526 Stillstand (declaration of abstention). In 1823 the American Schwenkfelders made allowance for consecration of infants. In the late 1880’s baptism became a viable option along with communion. Specifics are not mention in the Minutes. It must be assumed that no American Schwenkfelder children or adults had been baptized. Certainly all members of the Society were given the opportunity to be baptized. New adult members could be baptized (if not already baptized) or affirm their obedience to the Society’s rules as stated in the Constitution . At this time baptism or consecration of infants was no doubt a parental choice.
Historically Schwenkfelders were always opposed to instrumental music in the worship service and, to a great extent, even instrumental music in the home. The final decree in this volume of Conference minutes, occurring at the meeting of May 24, 1890, is unprecedented. It permits any Schwenkfelder church that so desires to have an organ.
These actions approved by the Society of Schwenkfelders are just a miniscule number of all the interesting items of business and discussions recorded in the first 108 years of the General Conference Minutes.
Caspar’s Corner is provided monthly to The Schwenkelder Church by the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
GREETINGS FROM THE NETHERLANDS !!!
Dear Friends in Christ,
Merry Christmas from the Netherlands! We wish you the very best during this holiday season. As I write, I am picturing the church decorated, the special gatherings, and the special music of this advent season. They are very pleasant memories, and we miss these on the mission field. Yet, the Christian joy that we all celebrate is still the same. God has not abandoned us, which would have been the right response for our sin. Instead, he sent his Son to save us and adopt us as his children (Gal 4:1-7). How great is this joy, and it crosses national and continental boundaries! It is the true Joy of the World! My December will begin in a very different way from yours. I will be in Romania again to teach in Oradea, Romania from 1-7 December. I have been asked to return to teach the book of Galatians at the Eastern European Bible College (website: http://www.cbee.ro/ )
If you are picturing Romania, Oradea is in the northwest corner of the country and is just over the border of Hungary. I will fly to Budapest, Hungary and then be driven 3 hours east into Romania. Oradea is a pretty Eastern European city. It has many churches, and the surrounding towns are also filled with Christian believers. Many call this area the Bible Belt of Romania.
I am asking for your special prayers for this. Stamina and safe travels is the first prayer request. I am expecting to lecture for 6 hours a day for 5 days and preach in their chapel once or twice. On the Sunday, I expect to preach about 45 minutes in 2 different churches. When I return, then there will be the completion of the semester.
Secondly, pray that the time with the students will be effective. Romania has very few students trained with the same amount of education that our pastors have. Yet, they serve a very vibrant and growing Romanian church with a great number of needs.
Thirdly, pray for the ongoing relationship between Tyndale Theological Seminary and the Eastern European Bible College and Emmanuel University which are both in Oradea. Tyndale wishes to form relationships with these schools. I will be negotiating with their leaders while present. Both of these schools in Oradea, have sent students to Tyndale Theological Seminary in our time in the Netherlands and will likely send more.
Finally, upon returning from Romania, we will be finishing the semester at Tyndale. Please pray for the successful completion of the term, too. Our prayers are with you for a very joyous Christmas season!
With Christian Greetings, Drake, Andrea, Henry, Abby, and Samuel Williams
Mission agency address:
European Christian Mission P. O. Box 1006 Point Roberts, WA 98281
We are pleased to announce the Women’s Christian
Fellowship newly elected officers for 2013
President – Barbara Bucher Vice President – Amelia Stetler Recording Secretary – Wendy Kaminsky Corresponding Secretary – Marilyn Seipt Treasurer – Carol Fryling
Congratulations to all of them. Women’s Christian Fellowship is looking forward to a wonderful year in 2013 as we serve our Lord, grow in our faith and reach more women for Christ in all we do.
The CCC is ready for the winter season ahead of December is the month where we us when our gym is in high demand! Many who have rented space in the building heard about it njoy family and friends and through a church member or someone else who E had used the building. Thank you for keeping the Community Center in mind not only for the Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. needs of the church, but for your personal needs and those in the community that you have Each of us at the CCC would very contact with. Together we are working toward providing a safe and comfortable place for kids, Much like to wish you and yours teens, groups and families to celebrate, recreate and communicate! Blessings during this wonderful season, As always, if you have any questions or Ever mindful of the year that has passed, concerns about the Community Center or its usage, please feel free to contact me at the eady for the New Year ahead. Church Office at 610-584-4480. R
Merry Christmas! Juli Apple
Prayer for Church Life
Ask God to bless our congregation with a deep sense of gratefulness for Jesus Christ this Advent season.
Please pray for those who visit our church during Advent, that they might be drawn to Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Ask God to bless our services on Christmas Eve with the presence of the Holy Spirit and for the ministers as they preach God’s word.
Pray for the Christian witness of all believers in the North Penn area, as we celebrate the Christmas season.
Mission Prayers
Pray for the families that we have housed through our assistance with Interfaith Housing Alliance . Ask the Lord to find suitable accommodations for the people that stayed at our church in November and that God may continue to work in their lives.
Please pray for Pastor Mark Coburn who leads the Ida May Bible Church in Beattyville, Kentucky. This congregation seeks to make a difference among those living in the area through outreach and Bethany Christian School.
Pray for the children at Christ’s Home for children in Warminster. Ask the Lord to touch many children at this home during
this holiday season.
Please pray for Community Housing Services in Lansdale and this ministry with Ezra House, a home for homeless men in our area. Ask the Lord to bless their efforts as they continue to assist those in need of shelter & financial assistance.
December WIRED & CRAVE Meeting Dates : 2nd th 9
Crave Christmas Progressive Dinner Hobbit LockLock---- InInIn Saturday, December 14 th –15 th 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 a.m.
All teens in 9-12 th grades are invited to get together for an exciting night of great food, wild antics, games, singing and the Hobbit! We are going to be progressing only a short distance for dinner courses. However, this is a LOCK IN TOO! We will be starting out the night at Sally’s House’s place and getting picked up at the Central Community Center in the morning. The cost is a $5 - $10 wrapped gift for a Pollyanna type game we will be playing, and $13 for the Hobbit movie if you are staying for the Lock-In. Don’t miss out! Get into the spirit of the season! Please sign up on the youth board or contact Julian so we can plan how much food to make. In addition, you are welcome to join us even if you come late or have to leave early!
Wired and Crave Christmas Caroling Sunday, December 16 th 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Central Community Center
Wired and Crave will not be having our regularly scheduled meeting on the 16 th . Instead we are going to be meeting early to bring some love and cheer into the lives of shut-ins and those who are ill or hurt. We will be meeting for lunch at the community center, packing goodies and then heading out to sing Christmas Carols. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to bring joy to others at Christmas.
ENCOUNTER 2013 January 18 th – 20 th ATTENTION ALL CRAVE STUDENTS!
Sign-Ups for Encounter have started! Encounter is the trip that used to be held at Camp Joy El. Now it is held at Camp Hebron! The retreat was moved because the facilities are sweeter at Hebron and it’s a little closer. This is going to be an incredible event with games, free time, worship, and a message from youth worker Tim Hart. The theme for the weekend is Rated “R” Romans 12:1-2. The cost of $110 per person includes meals from Friday night to Sunday morning, lodging, transportation and love; they also have an indoor climbing wall.
Check out Camp Hebron at www.camphebron.org. Sign up on the Youth Board.
2012 Church Family News
Congratulations to :
KING – Ryan and Kelly, on the birth of their daughter, Kayden Paige, on Tuesday, October 9 th . HEEBNER – Josh & Laura, on the birth of their son, Andrew Wayne, on Saturday, October 6 th . KIPP – James and Amy (Siegfried), who were married on Saturday, November 3 rd . KRIEBEL – Kenneth & Janice, who celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on Monday, November 5 th . HELMS – John & Florence, who celebrated their 65 th wedding anniversary on Thursday, November 8 th . ALLEBACH – Newell & Ann, who celebrated their 55 th wedding anniversary on Friday, November 9 th . FISHER – John, who celebrated his 91 st birthday on Friday, November 9 th . SAYRE – Florence, who celebrated her 104 th birthday on Monday, November 12 th . KELLY – Jack & Carolyn, who celebrated their 50 th wedding anniversary on Saturday, November 10 th . CLAYTON – Harry & Helene, who celebrated their 59 th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, November 21 st .
Upcoming Event at the Peter Wentz Farmstead
Save the Date… 2100 Schultz Road, Worcester, PA 610-584-5104
www.peterwentzfarmsteadsociety.org
2013 Women’s Retreat Candlelight Tours Saturday, December 1 st Linck Hill Inn th th 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. March 15 –17 (Last tour begins at 7:30 p.m.)
The soft glow of candlelight will guide you throughout the decorated Farmstead for tours showcasing period music, seasonal decorations, holiday foodways, and a visit from Red Cross Update Belsnickel , a Pennsylvania German St. Nicholas in furs.
Our next blood drive is fast approaching. This All ages; $2 per person suggested donation one is an important one because it takes place during the holidays when blood is in short supply. Please keep us in mind as you are CENTRAL’S NEWSLETTER IS GOING DIGITAL! deciding on what gifts you can give this year. Your gift of blood is one of the most welcomed Since we are making the newsletter available via e-mail, you will no gifts of all. It could be the gift of life for longer find a copy of the monthly newsletter in your church mailbox. Rather, if you would like a hard copy, they will be available all someone. month long on the “bulletin tables” in the Narthex. If you would like to receive a digital copy of the newsletter, please call the church Date of the Drive: Thursday, December 27 th office to be put on the list.
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. STAY CURRENT WITH CHURCH NEWS AND UPDATES
On a special note, the Platelet Bus will be at If you are interested in receiving email updates to stay current with church on Thursday, January 3 rd . If you are church news and events just go to the church homepage and enter interested in donating platelets, please contact your name and email address at the bottom right under “Church News Sign-Up”. Barbara Rodenbough (610-489-9479).
Please help us celebrate Jane Anders retirement on December 31 st with a CARD SHOWER ! You can drop a card in Jane’s mailbox, mail to the church office or to her home at: P. O. Box 488, Skippack PA 19474-0488.
SUND AY MO RNING SCHEDULE 9:00 Traditional Worship 10:10 Sunday School 11:15 Informal Worship Dec ember 2012
SUNDAY 2 MONDAY 3 TUESDAY 4 WEDNESDAY 5 THURSDAY 6 FRIDAY 7 SATURDAY 8 1 st Sunday of Advent 9:15 Staff Meeting (ACR) 6:45 MOC Breakfast @ Mal’s (Rev. David preaches) 9:4 5 LAMPS (JR)
UNITED CHOIR CONCERTS 2:30 pm. & 7:30 pm. 5:00 Choir Rehearsals** 6:30 AWANA (CCC) 6:00 Dorian Choir (CCC) 6:30 Worship Band (SANC) 6:30 Adult Life Bible Study 6:30 Wired/Crave (AYS,CCC) 7:30 Chancel Bells (PP) 6:30 Deacons Social (CCC) (for location call P. Colvin) 6:45 Small Group, BILD (ACR) 8:15 Men’s Pickup B-ball (CCC) 7:30 North Pennsmen (FH) 6:45 Prayer Service (CHAP) 7:00 Women’s Retreat Mtg. (ACR) 7:00 1 st Friday Fun Night (CCC) 6:00 Cub Scouts Movie Night 6:45 Small Group (CCC) 8:15 The NEXUS (CCC) (PP)
2nd Sunday of Advent 9 10 11 9:45 LAMPS Brunch (FH) 12 13 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE 14 15 (Rev. David preaches) 7:30 – Lock-in pick up 11:15 “The Christmas Story 10:30 Schwenk. Ministerium (ACR) 5:00 Modified Choir Rehearsals: according to Luke” - IWS Chancel Choir, Bells & Brasswind Concert @ Peter Becker 2:00 Schwenkfelder Tea @ 6:30 AWANA (CCC) Peter Becker 6:30 Worship Band (SANC) 6:30 Adult Life Bible Study 6:00 Dorian Choir (CCC) 6:30 Celebration Brass (SANC) 7:00 Brd. of CE (ACR) (for location call P. Colvin) 5:00 CRAVE – Progressive 6:30 Wired & Crave (AYS, CCC) 7:30 Chancel Bells (PP) 7:30 Bethel Bible (BETH) 6:45 Prayer Service (CHAP) 7:00 Brass Concert, Rock Hill Dinner/Lock -in 6:45 Small Group, BILD (ACR) 8:15 Men’s Pickup B-ball (CCC) 7:30 North Pennsmen (FH) 8:15 The NEXUS (CCC) Mennonite
3rd Sunday of Advent 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 9;00 SERVICE of LESSONS & CAROLS 9:00 H. Days (FH) 9:00 H. Days (FH) 10:10 All Children SS (FH) 12:15 All-church caroling lunch (CCC), departure 1:30 pm. 2:00 Schwenkfelder Tea @ 2:00 Meadowood Worship 5:00 Choir Rehearsals** Meadowood Service, Rev. Bill 6:30 AWANA (CCC) 3:00 Memorial Service & reception, 6:30 Adult Life Bible Study Williams Funeral Home 6:30 Worship Band (SANC) (for location call P. Colvin) (SANC/FH) 7:30 Chancel Bells (PP) 7:30 Bethel Bible (BETH) 6:45 Prayer Service (CHAP) 7:00 Brass Concert, Dock 6:45 Small Group, BILD (ACR) 8:15 Men’s B-ball (CCC) 7:30 North Pennsmen (FH) 8:15 The NEXUS (CCC)
4 th Sunday of Advent 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 (Pastor David preaches) CHURCH & OFFICE CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES CLOSED 2:00 pm. 1:00 – 7:00 pm. 2:00 Schwenkfelder Tea @ 7:00 pm. BLOOD DRIVE (FH) Dock
3:00 Brass to Montgomery Mall 9:30 pm. No platelets No Choirs, Awana, Prayer Service or Nexus
(Rev. David preaches) 30 31 Departure Passion 2013 CD’s of the 9:00 a.m. worship service are available for a $1 donation; simply call the church office to order. Pastor David’s sermon manuscripts are now posted on a blog entitled “Central to
Life” found at www.davidmckinley.wordpress.com .
** WEDS. CHOIR SCHEDULE 5:00 – 5:45 Junior Bells (PP) 5:45 – 6:15 Cherubs (JUNIOR RM.) 5:45 – 6:30 Junior Choir (CHAP) 6:30 Celebration Brass (FH) 7:00 Brasswind (FH) 8:00 Chancel Choir (SANC) Non-Profit Organization The CENTRAL FOCUS U.S. Postage Paid Central Schwenkfelder Church Permit #465 Bulk Rate 2111 Valley Forge Road Lansdale, PA 19446 Lansdale, PA 19446 www.centralschwenkfelder.com Change Service Requested Ministerial Staff:
Rev. David W. McKinley, Senior Minister Rev. William D. Kalajainen, Associate Minister Julian A. Scavetti, Youth Pastor
The CENTRAL FOCUS is a monthly newsletter published for the members and friends of the Central Schwenkfelder Church.
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Perkiomen School – Orphan’s Court Ruling
st On November 1 , Executive Council learned of the Orphan’s Court ruling on the The Schwenkfelder Church’s Petition to overturn certain actions by the Pekiomen School.
Below is the Order retyped just as it was received with the emphasis as the Judge submitted it to us:
“And now this 25 th day of October 2012, the Motion for Partial Summary Judgment of the Perkiomen School is DENIED and the Motion for Partial Summary Judgment for the Schwenkfelder Church is GRANTED in part. The August 13, 2010 amended and restated Articles of Incorporation are hereby determined to be void due to the trustees’ failure to seek court approval for a fundamental change to the purpose of the corporation. The 2010 By- laws are also void. The trustees duly serving as of August 12, 2010 shall continue in office, until further order of the Court. The balance of the Schwenkfelder Church’s Motion is denied. This partial grant of summary judgment is without prejudice to a petition for approval of amendment and restatement by the Court.”
The question raised by Executive Council was: “Given the provisions of the Charter and By-Laws of the Perkiomen School … can the Board of Perkiomen School unilaterally strip away all the legal rights and authority of The Schwenkfelder Church?” The Judge has answered that question. The School cannot unilaterally strip away these rights and that authority.
Please pray for wisdom and guidance for your Executive Council as they continue to try to repair this fractured relationship.