Mid-Atlantic Convocation August 2008 Newsletter
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)
Engaging men is one of the overlooked challenges of the Church. In the current fog of sexual identity, workplace competition, and the lack of time for real friendship, men find themselves wandering. The typical local church has few places to genuinely connect with others, let alone talk about life as it really is. For that reason, Men's Ministry in the local church is more than a program. It's a place to find a friend, to be reminded of who you really are, and ultimately to see what a real man looks like by looking into the face of Jesus.
For the Church of the Good Samaritan there are several pillars to Men's Ministry.
First, we believe that men's groups are the core of what we do. We have about a dozen groups that meet throughout the week, usually in a variety of venues. They read either scripture or a book relating to the Christian faith, and then share personal concerns and pray. That simple format allows our guys to build relationships and support one another week in, week out.
Second, we provide hospitality for folks weekly at the church in a format we call Cafe Good Sam (our church is Church of the Good Samaritan). There teams of guys provide good quality coffee (from our Ugandan mission partners) and bagels to help slow people down in their Sunday rush.
Third, we try to be regularly involved in some kind of outreach. Sometimes it is support for housing rehab projects. Just recently we worked with another local Episcopal church to distribute food baskets in a blighted area of the inner city.
Fourth, we have an annual Fall Retreat (
see image to the right) that allows men to gather for a weekend together and soak up the teaching of a known leader. This year Archbishop Henry Orombi of Uganda will be our retreat leader, focusing on the theme of Courage. Our retreat is October 10-12, 2008, and men from outside the parish are welcome.
The Rev. Todd Cederberg
Associate Rector
Church of the Good Samaritan
Paoli, PA
(610) 644-4040, x 212
The Levites (see photo): Started in 2006, this group of men, under the leadership of Ben Ward (red shirt in the middle of
the group), meet to cook for various church functions. They have been preparing 6 Men's Breakfasts each year and several congregational meals throughout the year. This Fall, they will prepare three supper meals which will precede talks on Islam -vs- Christianity that will be open to the public. (Rev. Jeff Cerar is in front.)
The Fishermen: Started in late 2007 with about 5 men, has grown to a weekly meeting of 12-15 men. They study the Bible, and recently reviewed Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose Driven Life" weekly for three months. They meet in the church Rectory and currently are studying Bible tapes/DVDs by the well-known pastor and teacher, Dick Woodward of Virginia Beach and Williamsburg. Their name says it all: Their purpose is to bring more men to Christ.
They had a group of 13 men attend the ADV Men's Retreat in Shepherdstown, WV May 30-June 1st, 2008.
St. Matthew's Men's Ministries include small group Bible studies Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday, as well as TGIF, a large (40 or so) breakfast meeting for fellowship and Bible study on Fridays. Every Spring the men of the parish organize a retreat held on-site for a Friday evening and Saturday morning. This year's topic was "Reading and Studying Scripture". The Junior Warden, Vernon Plack, led the men on a quick overview of both testaments. In addition, each participant received the tools needed to make the Word your own: a softcover NIV Study Bible, the New Bible Dictionary, the New Bible One-Volume Commentary, a set of gospel golf balls, and a backpack to carry it all in!
In April, the men had a rafting trip. They went rafting on the Lehigh River in PA and had lots of fun. They enjoyed really good fellowship the entire day. They also have a men's breakfast about once every month or so. Earlier in the year the church organized a men's retreat down at Sandy Cove. One of the things that this church as seen is that men need the company of other men. Our Father in heaven wants to have a loving relationship with us. For some men that is not easy to do. They hope and pray through their men's ministry that they can help men to grow into a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father and be better husbands, better fathers, better men, better Christians.
(The Ministry Focus for September will be women's ministry and programs. Please submit information about your church's ministries and events that encourage women hreichert@acn-mac.org.)
No Man Left Behind by Morley, Delk, and Clemmer, is a highly recommend resource by MAC affiliate churches for any church wanting to disciple every man in their church.
This book offers instruction on how to:
-Shift your paradigm from a men's ministry to a ministry to all your men.
-Identify the unwritten "man code" that your church conveys to every guy who walks in the door.
-Ensure long-term success by recruiting allies who will work with you to make disciples.
-Develop a concrete, seamless process to help men who don't know Christ become passionate disciples.
The third annual training is part of a cooperative effort between the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh and the coach certification arm of the Titus Institute for Church Planting (TICP). The cost of the course is $45 for clergy, church staff, lay leaders and seminarians; a discounted $30–per-person rate is available for groups of three or more. Participation in Coaching 101 is not limited to those pursuing Coach Certification, although a maximum of 15 applicants will be accepted into the TICP’s Coach Certification program for an added cost. The Coach Certification process is licensed by CoachNet International Ministries, and encompasses additional study, field-work, assessment and engagement in a coach-mentor relationship. Coaching 101 is a pre-requisite for the certification program. You can download a registration form from the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s website:
http://www.pitanglican.org/. To learn more, email
bartling@pitanglican.org.
Faith Alive!
October 10-12, 2008
Church of the Ascension
Westminster, MD
October 17-19, 2008
St. Paul's Haymarket
Haymarket, VA
Affirming and energizing congregations for more than three decades, Faith Alive, has an extra-ordinary record of parish participation! More than 2,400 Episcopal and Anglican churches, as well as Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Catholic congregations, have held Faith Alive Weekends which bring adults, youth and children together in Christian community. Stories of faith bring fresh focus to how one's vows of baptism provide a formula for living a life pleasing to God. No teaching, no preaching, no church politics; simply faith-building worship and the sharing of answered prayers and similar experiences of God's love.
YouthQuake
Ridgecrest Conference Center
Asheville, NC
January 16-18, 2009
YouthQuake is an annual national youth event for orthodox Anglican youth, to be held January 16-18, 2009 at the Ridgecrest Conference Center, near Asheville, NC. ACTS 29 Ministries has been hosting this powerful event for middle and high school students for over 15 years.
ACTS 29 Ministries began in 1973 and describes itself as born of the charismatic movement, continuing today as a ministry committed to renewal and the power of the Holy Spirit. At YouthQuake, students will receive biblical teaching, engaging worship, lots of fun and powerful ministry times that truly change lives. All the information is on the ACTS 29 website:
http://www.a29.com/youth.
ACTS 29 Ministries works within all the orthodox expessions of Anglicanism in North America. Congregations attend YouthQuake from AMiA, Bolivia, Uganda, CANA and both Network Dioceses and Convocations. YouthQuake has attracted up to 1500 students in the past and ACTS 29 believes this gathering expresses the reality of the "common cause" and orthodox Anglicanism in North America.
March 27-29, 2009
Lutheridge Conference Center
Asheville, NC
We all want the young adults in our churches and ministries to be set on fire for MISSIONS, right? Then send them to re:mix! This conference will show young adults (age 14-30) what God is doing in the world and how they are called to take part in the GREAT COMMISSION.
At re:mix, you will be equipped to change the world for Jesus, by doing whatever he asks, wherever he asks, whenever he asks.
If your church is having an event, we would be happy to publish it, not only so that interested people might attend, but so that we can be praying for you. Send information to newsletter@acn-mac.org .
Feel free to forward this newsletter to members of your congregation.
We are all ministers of the Gospel.
Some of us just happen to be clergymen.
-Martin Luther
John Guernsey, Dean | George Beaven, Church Planting Director | Heather Adams, Executive Assistant | Heidi Reichert, Administrative Assistant
Mid-Atlantic Convocation | Anglican Network Communion
c/o All Saints' Church | 5290 Saratoga Lane
Woodbridge, Virginia 22193-3455
Tel: 703-670-0093
www.acn-mac.org