Home-To-Home 529 S. Church Street Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Phone: 336-722-6171 FAX: 336-723-5085 email: [email protected] www.homemoravian.org Home Moravian Church Fulfilling Christ's call to love God, live in community, and serve our neighbor. June/July 2017 From the Rising of the Sun I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. –Ps. 59:16b I actually remember my first “breakfast out.” It was my senior year in high school. To celebrate a friend’s birthday, I talked some folks into meeting at a diner for breakfast before school. I still remember how grown- up I felt, stirring cream and sugar into my coffee at the Ham ’n’ Egger. I also remember how great I felt arriving at school, already several cups of coffee into my day as other students sleepily filed into the building. I felt like I had gotten the jump on everything and everybody—and I had shared great conversation with my friends besides. 1 I still love breakfast out. I love starting my day in the company of friends. That’s why, a couple of months ago, I issued a standing invitation to members and friends of Home Church: Let’s meet early Wednesday morning for breakfast! Now, with a reasonable number of Wednesdays and a possibly injudicious number of biscuits behind us, the breakfast has become a regular part of some folks’ week. Why not make it part of yours? It begins at 7:00 as cars pull into the lot at the Omega House on Peters Creek Parkway (across the street from Mr. Barbecue/Miss Fried Chicken!). As we gather in the back room, I enjoy introducing members who have attended Home Church for years and never met. We peruse the menu as the waitress pours cup after cup of coffee. After ordering, we take some time to read the Daily Text, pray, and ask God’s blessing on the meal. Sometimes the Daily Text inspires reflection on scripture; other times, the conversation simply wanders the terrain of our lives. Weekly attendance is certainly not required, so every week the cast of characters changes. Each Wednesday seems to bring a new face to the table and new topics to the conversation. So far the group has embraced ages 8 to 80, but there is always room for more at either end! If you are interested in meeting other members of Home Church; if you enjoy table fellowship; if you just think you’d like an early or extra cup of coffee—join us at the Omega House next Wednesday at 7 AM! “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised” (Ps. 113: 3). Might as well get started in the morning with your friends at Home Church! Home Church Day at Laurel Ridge Sunday, June 11, 2017 - 11:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. Come spend the day on the mountain with Home Church family and friends. The day will begin at 11:00 a.m. and include a worship service, potluck, kickball game, and free time where you can fish, canoe, wander the trails, or just take a nap in the sun. To end the day, we’ll enjoy some ice cream! So, bring a fishing pole and a covered dish and we will see you on Sunday, June 11. Please RSVP by calling the church office at 336-722-6171 or by placing the slip below in the offering plate. Transportation is available; let the office know when registering. Tear off - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Name ___________________________________________ Number of family / friends attending _________ _____ Yes, I/we would like transportation to and from Laurel Ridge. _____ My contribution to the potluck will be a covered dish. Laurel Ridge Children’s Fishing Trip and Hot Dog Roast - June 10 at 1:00 pm All children’s groups are invited to drive up for the afternoon and fish at the summer camp lake. Summer camp tours will be offered. The swimming area will be open 1-4pm. The summer staff will prepare the campfires for any group bringing hotdogs and fixings for an early evening supper. Since HMC’s day at LR is the following day, we’ve been offered special overnight accommodations for any families wanting to participate in Saturday’s activities, stay overnight, and then join the HMC family for their day on the mountain. Overnight accommodations are available as follows: 2 Cabin Accommodations $12.00/person Higgins Accommodations $55.00/room If you’re interested in staying overnight, please call the Laurel Ridge office directly to make reservations. Office (336) 359-2951. Senior Friends will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 12 noon on June 15th for a pot luck Many thanks to all of those who luncheon and a program featuring the Cantabile Jubilee Dulcimer Players. These dulcimers are helped at Samaritan Inn during Home the smaller kind and rest on the lap, in contrast to Church’s nights May 23 and 30. They the Hammer Dulcimers we heard some months included Gil Frank, Don Frey, Melissa ago. Rosebrock, Mike Mickey, Ann Radford, Elizabeth and Rick Sides, Nat Watson and Jim Yarbrough. Join us for breakfast! - Early risers, breakfast lovers, coffee drinkers, Home Churchers: Join us for a new fellowship initiative! Each Wednesday at 7:00 AM, all Home Church members and friends are invited to share breakfast at the Omega House (corner of Peters Creek Parkway and Link Rd). Come when you can (weekly attendance is not required!) to enjoy casual conversation, table fellowship, and a reading of the Daily Text. See you there! Elders Report The Board of Elders met on Monday, May 1, at 7 PM. Nat Watson led the board in devotions. REPORTS: C.E. Committee: Margaret Norris reported that the committee held a reception for C.E. volunteers the previous day. During this summer’s VBS the children will be visiting and helping out Provincial agencies including Sunnyside Ministries, the Moravian Music Foundation, the Unity Women’s Desk, the Moravian Archives, and more. The RCC member churches are invited to attend. VBS will be held from July 31 through August 4 for ages four years old through fifth grade. Music and Worship Committee: Tony Disher agreed to fill the Elders spot on the committee vacated by Dot Fishel. Mission and Evangelism: Pastor Tobiassen reported that the Refugee Welcoming Dinner on April 22 was a successful, well-attended, and enjoyable event. Many Home Church people attended and helped with the dinner, and there were refugee guests from many countries, including Syria, Cuba, and the Congo. Hal Garrison offered costumed interpretation in the sanctuary, and several Home Church youth assisted with child care. The idea for the dinner had been presented to the Board by Mark Wright. Stewardship: Gail Morris reported that Time and Talent cards can be filled out on paper or online. Commitment Sunday will be October 22, 2017. There is a small Task Force comparing the option of using an outside provider vs. in-house for online giving. Live, Love, Serve moments will continue during worship. Church Family Life: Ashley Sanders reported that Home Church Day at Laurel Ridge will be June 11, 2017. Laurel Ridge will be hosting a “Fishing Trip” the day before so families will have the option of staying over that evening, either at Higgins Lodge or summer camp. Pledge Report: Pastor Tobiassen reported that the amount pledged so far is slightly down from 2016 but is close to the amount projected in the budget for 2017. 3 ACTIONS: Elders signed up to greet worshippers at the doors of the sanctuary after the service on Communion Sundays. The board approved the following candidates for confirmation on June 4: Camden Sear, Sam Graham, Caroline Hoyle, Christopher Stirewalt. The board approved the use of the building for a CROP walk luncheon in October. DISCUSSIONS: The board discussed a request for associate membership, and the Building Use Policy under review by the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Church members have requested written guidelines in place regarding convicted sex offenders and worship attendance. Pastor Tobiassen distributed a sample policy provided by Church Law and Tax Report for the Board’s perusal. A Task Force is working on guidelines. The board discussed how the Nominating Committee for synod delegates had been assembled and whether or not there were any prohibitions against committee members or spouses of the members being nominated. Pastor Tobiassen answered that she had chosen the members of the committee to include two elders, two trustees, and two at-large members and that she had chosen them with an eye to diversity of opinion. She noted that the committee member who is also a nominee did not nominate himself but was nominated by the rest of the committee. Pastor Tobiassen circulated acknowledgement letters from agencies who received outreach money from Home Church. Afterwards, the board joined in prayer for the congregation. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM. Trustees Report The Trustees met on Monday, May 8th. John Elster opened the meeting with devotions and prayer. 4 After approval of the April minutes and the agenda, Elaine Peddycord, Chair, called on various members for reports to the Board. The Expenses and Revenues were reviewed by Kathy Barnes. Our good cash position at the moment will allow us to go ahead and make the 2nd quarter outreach payments to local agencies. The pledge report shows a total of 401 pledges for an amount of $887,934.00 which is still $13,600 below last year. A significant decrease in the number and $ amount of resident pledges was discussed and will be reviewed in detail by the Financial Secretary and Kathy before next month's meeting.