Volume 15 Issue 1
WINTER 2015
Newsletter of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Women of the ELCA
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4 Spring Retreat on April 11, 2015- Turn Your Faith into Action
“The Lord has prepared good works for us to do.”-Ephesians 2:10.
We will meet at The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Nativity (Nativity Lutheran Church, Reading) at 1501 N. 13th Street, Reading, in the Fern Noll Room up the hill on Amity Street. Our keynote speaker is Board Member Anissa Canova. She has been trained in “Today’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality”. Anissa lives in the NEPA Synod and is active at Grace Lutheran Church and in her community. She is a graduate of Lackawanna College in Scranton, PA. The ELCA social statement: ”Freed in Christ: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture” offers reflection on the church’s commitment to undo racism and move toward reconciliation, healing, and embracing all people. We are called as a church to embrace each person and to confront unjust treatment, inequalities, exclusion, and violence. Anissa will give ideas on how to be a catalyst and bridge builder. Her program will include 1) a definition of racism, 2) how it exists, 3) how we are culturally conditioned to accept this as the norm, and 4) how it is not God’s will that God’s people be so divided.
Our workshop leader is Pastor Eileen M. Smith LeVan, who is currently serving at Nativity Lutheran Church, Reading. She is the daughter of Lutheran missionaries who served in Liberia. She was a Navy corpsman and a R.N. She is a graduate of Cedar Crest College in Allentown and of the Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem. She is on the NEPA Synod’s task force for World Hunger. She is an advocate for hunger, poverty, and immigration through Advocacy Ministry in PA (LAMPa) and Bread for the World. Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. David Beckman is the president. He has stated that they will work for a good reorganization of the nation’s child nutrition programs, for reforms to correct injustices in the criminal system that lead to more poverty, and for tax credits for low-wage workers. Pastor LeVan’s presentation begins with a question. Since there are many people and organizations concerned about hunger, does our Christian faith make a difference in the way we respond to it? Participants are asked to identify their Congressional member and their office address and to bring that information with them to the retreat on April 11.
We are collecting in-kind non-perishable foods for the Reading Area Food Pantries.
Our service project is LWR Personal Care Kits. These include one dark bath towel, two 4 oz. bath soap bars, one fingernail clipper with metal file or a separate metal nail file, one wide-toothed comb, and one toothbrush in its wrapper or in a self-sealed envelope. Money can be donated for purchasing toothpaste and shipping.
The designated offering will be divided between Bread for the World and The Lutheran Immigration/
Refugee Service.
The cost is $10.00. We hope you can come. See you there!
We have quite a few hungry people and refugees in our synod. Our prayers do many miracles. God bless you for sending them out to our fellow humans. Wendy Moll, Pat Reitnauer, and Anissa Canova 5
MISSION DISCIPLESHIP
SPRING 2015 REPORT
The Mission Discipleship Team is responsible for providing information and supporting the programs and functions within the nine cluster units of the NEPA Synod of the Women of the ELCA.
The spring cluster meetings will be held between April 20—May 4, 2015. The Topic will be Immigration, and is entitled “The Other Side of Chosen”. Cluster contacts will be asked to report at these meetings. The Special Offering will be going to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) this year.
Respectfully submitted,
Hildegard Kurt
Mission Discipleship
2015 SPRING CLUSTER MEETINGS
Cluster
Bethlehem/Easton
Schuylkill
Lehigh
Northern Lehigh
East Berks West Berks
Date
4/20
4/25
4/25
4/21
4/20
5/4
Location
Arndt’s / Easton
Friedens / Hegins
St. Timothy’s/Allentown
St. John’s / Nazareth
St. Joseph Hills Church
Bern / Leesport
Time
5-8 pm 9-12 pm
9-12 pm
6:30 pm
6:15-9 pm
Reminder!
The Annual Conference of President’s in Chicago will be held on February 19-20, 2015.
Please remember to pray for Marilyn as she travels to and from Chicago and that the Lord is with all the Presidents as they work to forward the work of Women of the ELCA.
6 Spring Retreat – April 11, 2015
Turn Your Faith into Action
The Lord has prepared good works for us to do –Ephesians 2:10 Location: Nativity Lutheran Church 610-374-3230 1501 N. 13th St, Reading, PA 19604
Registration deadline: March 23, 2015 Time: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Synodical board meeting follows the event
Name________________________________________________________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________________________________________
Phone Number ________________________Email___________________________________________________
US Congressional Representative_________________________________________________________________
Home church and Cluster ______________________________________________________________________
Cost: $10.00 (includes breakfast & lunch) Make check payable to NEPA Women of the ELCA
Keynote Speaker: Anissa Canova presenting “Today’s Dream, Tomorrow’s Reality”
Workshop leader – Pastor Eileen Smith LeVan on the initiatives of Bread for the World
Service Project: Personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief
Items needed:
Dark bath towel
(2)- 4 oz. bath soap bars
(1) fingernail clipper with file – otherwise separate metal file also
(1) wide-toothed comb
(1) toothbrush in wrapper or self-sealed envelope Designated Offerings: –1/2 to Bread for the World 1/2 to Lutheran Immigration/Refugee Service In Kind - Offering to benefit the Reading Area Food Pantries – Nonperishable items
Scholarships are available:
Send registration form with check to:
Contact: Marilyn Mazsa
Pat Reitnauer
610-820-9361
2678 W. Phila., Ave
Oley, PA 19547
[email protected]
[email protected]
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CLUSTER LEADERS
BETHLEHEM/EASTON
Coordinator: Linda Rice 43 Gordon Drive
Easton PA 18045
610-258-8748
[email protected]
HAZLETON/LEHIGHTON
Coordinator
Vacant
Secretary: Kathleen Mathews
52 Oak Drive
Easton PA 18042-7014
610-252-6341
[email protected]
Secretary
Mary Ann Hazel
495 Briar St
Palmerton PA 18071
610-851-6490
[email protected]
Recorder: Donna Duckworth
2890 Green Pond Rd
Easton PA 18045
610-258-4611
[email protected] Recorder
Kathy Heller
632 Center Ave
Jim Thorpe PA 18229
570-325-2282
EAST BERKS
Coordinator
Diane Mc Elwee
547 Fancy Hill Road
Boyertown PA 19512-8181
610-367-1635
[email protected]
8 LEHIGH
Coordinator
Patty Spencer
7767 Cross Creek Road
Breinigsville PA 18031
610-530-1706
[email protected]
Secretary
Patricia Reitnauer
2678 W Philadelphia Ave
Oley PA 19547
610-689-5153
[email protected]
Secretary
Joyce Eisenhard 2619 Schoeneck Rd
Macungie PA 18062-9692
610-966-0353
[email protected]
Lehigh/St Paul, Trexlertown
Recorder
Minerva Hoppes
334 South View Rd
Fleetwood PA 19522
610-451-7352
[email protected]
Recorder
vacant
CLUSTER LEADERS cont’d
NORTHERN LEHIGH VALLEY
Coordinator
Kathy Walter
7685 Weisenberg Church Road
New Tripoli PA 18066
610-298-2652
[email protected]
SCHUYLKILL
Coordinator
Donna Wallace
2234 Walnut St
Ashland PA 17921
570-875-2872
[email protected]
Secretary
Brenda Uhler
436 Nolf Road
Nazareth PA 18064
610-759-1037
Secretary
Leslie Oxenrider
300 E Colliery Ave
Tower Tower PA 17980-1112
570-617-9035
Recorder
Charlotte McFarland
2206 Hokendauqua Ave.
Northampton, PA 18067
610-262-0964
Recorder
Cheryl Kephart
423 Roosevelt Dr
New Boston, PA 17948
570-617-3995
[email protected]
Pocono
Coordinator
Vacant
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
no information available
Secretary
Anissa Canova
594 Main St Gouldsboro PA 18424-8800
[email protected]
Coordinator
Linda Wickert
609 Elmer Circle
Reading, PA 19605-9120
484-671-2579
[email protected]
Recorder
Priscilla Unger
RR 2 Box 2051 Gouldsboro PA 18424
570-842-2449
[email protected]
West Berks
Secretary
Thelma Bright
436 Big Spring Rd
Robesonia, PA 19551
610-693-5934
[email protected]
Recorder
Gladys Rentschler
1326 Linden St
Reading PA 19604
610-372-3778
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BOARD MEMBERS OF THE NEPA SYNOD
President Marilyn Mazsa (13-15)
1616 W Fairmont St
Allentown PA 18102 610-820-9361 [email protected]
Lehigh/St. Timothy, Allentown
Vice President Pat Reitnauer (14-16)
2678 W Philadelphia Ave
Oley PA 19547
610-689-5153
[email protected]
East Berks/Friedens, Oley
Secretary
Kathleen Mathews (14-16)
52 Oak Drive
Easton PA 18042-7014
610-252-6341
[email protected]
Bethlehem-Easton/St. John’s, Williams Twp.
Mission: Stewardship
Brenda Benner (13-15)
124 S Second St
Lehighton PA 18235-2033
[email protected] Hazleton-Lehighton/Trinity, Lehighton
Mentor: Hazelton/Lehighton
Joyce Wallace (14-16)
56 Gordon Drive
Easton PA 18042
610-330-9113
[email protected]
Northern Lehigh/St. John’s, Naz.
2017 Triennial Promoter
Mentor: No Lehigh Valley Cluster
Joyce Eisenhard (14-16)
2619 Schoeneck Rd
Macungie PA 18062-9692
610-966-0353
[email protected]
Lehigh/St. Paul, Trexlertown
Mentor: Lehigh Cluster
Treasurer Suzan Andrews (13-15)
4530 Virginia Drive
Bethlehem PA 18017
610-866-2459
[email protected]
Northern Lehigh/St John’s, Nazareth
Mission: Justice
Wendy Moll (14-16)
1422 North 14th St
Reading PA 19604
610-374-8082
[email protected]
West Berks/Nativity, Reading
Mentor: West Berks
Anissa Cornova (13-15)
594 Main St
Gouldsboro PA 18424-8800
[email protected]
Mentor: Pocono
Mission: Discipleship
Hildegard Kurt (13-15)
2 Glasgow Way
Easton PA 18045
[email protected]
Bethlehem-Easton/Hope, Tatamy
Mentor: Bethlehem/Easton
Lois Steward (13-15)
3831 Park Ave
PO Box59
Neffs PA 18065
610-767-5808
[email protected]
Mentor: Schuylkill
Diane Mc Elwee (13-15)
547 Fancy Hill Road
Boyertown PA 19512-8181
610-367-1635
[email protected]
East Berks/St John’s Boyertown
Gathering Coordinator &
Mentor: East Berks
Flame Editor
Kathleen Mathews 52 Oak Drive
Easton, PA 18042-7014
610-252-6341
[email protected]
10 Northeastern PA Synod
2354 Grove Rd
Allentown PA 18109-3044
610-395-6891
1-800-638-3522 Ext 2730
[email protected]
CWO President
Patti Austin
8765 West Higgins Road
Chicago IL 60631-4189
1-800-638-3522
COMING EVENTS IN 2015
February 19—22 Conference of Synodical Presidents
February 22
Bold Women’s Day
April 11
Spring Day of Renewal at Nativity, Reading & Board Meeting
April 17—19
Region 7 Gathering at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, CT
April 20—May 4 Spring Cluster Meetings May 29—30
NEPA Synod Assembly at Santander Arena, Reading
June 13
26th Convention at Friedens, Oley
June 27 Transition meeting – Grace, Gouldsboro
September 21—October 5
Fall Cluster Meetings
October 16—18
Fall Fun Event at Tuscarora Retreat Center
October 24
2016 Cluster Planning Meeting followed by Fall Board Meeting
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OFF BOARD/SPECIAL COMMITTEES – 2014-2015
Archives Committee - Current President
Current Secretary
Finance Committee -
Diane McElwee – Chair
Susan Andrews – Current Treasurer
Pat Reitnauer - Current VP
Anissa Canova
Judy Hilberg
Network Communicator – Newsletter Editor - Region 7 Planning Team
Scholarship Committee
Facebook Page – Jenn Andrews/Marilyn Mazsa
Update website – Chris Andrews
Kathleen Mathews
Diane McElwee
Priscilla Unger – chair
Joyce Wallace
2017 Triennial Promoter Joyce Wallace
Lois Steward
Unit Assessment coordinator Current secretary
Dream Team (Anti racism)
Anissa Canova 2015 Fall Fun Event!
Tuscarora Retreat Center
October 16—18, 2015
$133.00/person includes 4 meals
Friday night buffet $11.00 from 6—7:30 pm
More information in the Spring Issue!
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