Friday, December 9, 2016

On the Second Sunday, Come to the Cinema

Copyright restrictions prevent us from publicizing the name of the movie we'll be showing and discussing at 
2nd Sunday Cinema on 
December 11 from 6 - 9 p.m.,
but feel free to guess the title of a recent release starring Jennifer Gardner as the mother of a critically ill child. A heart-warming, faith-first kind of movie, this little miracle of a film is appropriate for all audiences. 

Shown on the Big Screen at Schoenbrunn Community Moravian Church, the movie will provide the catalyst for a faith-based discussion to follow. Refreshments (probably Christmas cookies!) will be available. Folding chairs are provided, but feel free to bring a lawn chair of your own if you'll be more comfortable.

2nd Sunday Cinema is part of the Shared Ministry Opportunities offered among the 6 Moravian congregations in Tuscarawas County. All are welcomed! Check back for more events in 2017.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

The Putz: A Christmas Tradition at Sharon Moravian Church

Sharon Moravian Church Putz Showings

December 9 from   7 to 9
December 10 from 7 to 9
December 11 from 2 to 4
December 16 from 7 to 9
December 17 from 7 to 9
December 18 from 2 to 4
December 22 from 7 to 9
December 23 from 7 to 9
December 26 from 7 to 9
December 29 from 7 to 9
December 30 from 7 to 9

The story of Jesus' birth is told through the music, lights and figurines of The Putz, an elaborate scene constructed to share the Good News of Christmas. A Moravian custom stretching back to the 18th century, the term "putz" comes from the German word "putzen," meaning "to decorate."
Sharon Moravian Church carries on The Putz tradition and invites you to one or several free showings of its 2016 presentations.









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Friday, November 25, 2016

Advent Communion: A Holy Pause

All-Ohio Moravian
Advent Communion

Sunday Evening, November 27
Sharon Moravian Church
6:00 p.m.

Take a deep breath--a holy breath--as the Advent season begins. 
Worship God.
Find inspiration.
Enjoy the music of a combined vocal choir and the brass ensemble B5.
Spiritually prepare to welcome the living Christ at Christmas.


Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Spiritual Splatter Adds Seasonal Painting Events


Sheila Davis has added two extra sessions to her tremendously popular "Spiritual Splatter" painting series. "Spiritual Splatter" is a charming way to exercise creativity! She says, "Come and paint with me...we'll get in the Spirit of Christmas!"

For either of these late additions to the Shared Ministry Opportunities calendar, please sign up on the "Spiritual Splatter" event page on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/events/805209929618935/, or contact Pastor Chris Johnson at moravianpastorchris@gmail.com or 484-894-9077.

Thank God For Snow Snowman

Friday, November 25
6 - 8 p.m.
Fry's Valley Moravian Church
594 Fry's Valley Road SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663


Sheila says, "If you're exhausted from Black Friday shopping and need to unwind and relax, or if you just want a break from the leftovers, come out and paint with me. Session is $25 for an 11 X 14 canvas. Paint and brushes are supplied. Refreshments, too. Feel free to tweak him and make him work with your holiday decor."



Christmas Tree

Wednesday, November 30
6 - 8 p.m.
Fry's Valley Moravian Church


"Let's end the month with a Christmas Tree for your holiday decorating or gift-giving. We'll do this on an      11 X 14 canvas with sponges and brushes...very easy to create. Cost for this session is $25...refreshments and Christmas music provided. All are welcome!"








Wednesday, November 16, 2016

All Creatures Great and Small

For anyone who loves fur babies, the upcoming session on Pet First Aid could be invaluable. 
Dr. Jonathan Angel, DVM, will alert you to household hazards that could put your pets at risk and help you know what to do in emergency situations. He'll teach you what should and shouldn't be kept in a pet first aid kit, how to treat basic illnesses and injuries at home, and how to know when it's time to call the vet.


PET FIRST AID
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Fry's Valley Moravian Church 
594 Fry's Valley Road, just off OH-416 between Tuscarawas and US-36

A member of the Fry's Valley congregation, 
Dr. Jonathan serves on the staff of the Sugarcreek Veterinary Clinic, and also cares for his own menagerie of farm and household critters.


Saturday, November 12, 2016

Next Up in "Mondays with the Ministers". . . Faith Fit

Another Shared Ministry Opportunity is about to begin. For years, Pastor Darrell Johnson has been practicing the principles explained in Kenneth H. Cooper's book, Faith-Based Fitness: The Medical Program That Uses Spiritual Motivation to Achieve Maximum Health and Add Years to Your Life. He is eager to share his learnings!

Throughout the next 4 weeks, Pastor Darrell will offer sessions of faith-building, a little exercise, a healthy snack, and plenty of challenge and encouragement!

Monday Evenings, 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Gnadenhutten Moravian Church/
Ground Level Chapel
November 14
November 21
November 28
                                                        December 5
                                
There is no cost to attend. Registration is helpful, but not required.To register for any Shared Ministry Opportunities, please contact Sigrid Miller, Registrar.

Call: 740-254-4232
Text: 330-663-1558
Email: snookchuck1@gmail.com
Mail:  PO Box 643, Gnadenhutten, OH 44629                             




Friday, November 11, 2016

Second Sunday Cinema

Join us for Second Sunday Cinema this coming Sunday evening, November 13, from 6-9 p.m. We will meet downstairs at Schoenbrunn Community Moravian Church where we will turn our attention to The Big Screen and watch a movie together. Afterwards, we'll talk about the themes of faith and spirituality the film introduces.

Licensing restrictions prevent us from publicizing titles, but we can tell you that Sunday night's selection is from 2014 and features Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy in "a heart-affecting cinematic parable about the saints among us who enable us to come alive in new ways." It is rated PG-13 and tackles mature themes.

Snacks will be available for the cost of  your donation. Folding chairs are
provided, but feel free to bring your own lawn chair or chaise lounge if it will add to your comfort.

Bring a friend or 2 or 10! Second Sunday Cinema is part of the Shared Ministry Opportunities being offered cooperatively through the Moravian Churches of Tuscarawas County. All are welcomed. For further information, please speak with your congregation's OMMC representative, or call The Rev. Christine Johnson at 484-894-9077.


Friday, October 21, 2016

Family Fitness: Movin' & Groovin Together

Wouldn't it be great if moms and dads and kids and friends and neighbors could just leap around and dance with abandon? It might be exercise, but it would be so much fun, nobody would notice! That's what Darcie Apple has is mind for the upcoming Saturday morning sessions of Family Fitness: Movin' & Groovin' Together, part of our Ohio Moravian Churches' Shared Ministry Opportunities.

The fun begins TOMORROW, OCTOBER 22 at 10:00 a.m. at Sharon Moravian Church (on the edge of Tusky). Everyone is encouraged to join in 45 minutes of friendly, spirited movement followed by a healthy snack. And we'll offer the same format on OCTOBER 29 and NOVEMBER 5, too!

No cost. Walk-ins welcomed.

Darcie Apple is an elementary school physical education teacher in the Claymont School District and mother to 4 exuberant children.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Praying for Peace on September 11

Join us for a simple prayer service as we solemnly remember and purposefully move forward.

Schoenbrunn Community Moravian Church
Sunday Evening, September 11
6:00 p.m.

Pastors Rebecca Sisley, Darrell Johnson and Christine Johnson will guide the service of scripture reading, singing and praying.



Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Fresh Air, Grilled Chicken and Cars Galore


Fry's Valley Moravian Church will host its
20th annual
Cruise-In the Country
Car Show & Chicken BBQ
this coming Saturday,
August 20, 2016

Vehicle registration will begin at 2:30 p.m. ($8) with trophies being awarded at 6:00 p.m. We'll give out dash plaques to the first 75 registrants and trophies to the Top 25. We'll also give out gas cards and plenty of door prizes.

Come to display your vehicle or just to take in the sights. "By Request" DJ Service will provide musical entertainment throughout the afternoon, and the Stillwater Korn Kids 4-H Club will be there generously handing out Whits' Ice Cream!

From 4-7 p.m., dinner will be served! Enjoy delicious barbecued chicken prepared on the premises along with other country specialties--baked beans, macaroni salad, and homemade desserts. A roll and a beverage round out each meal. $9/adults; $5/children.
                                                                             
Fry's Valley Moravian Church is located at 594 Fry's Valley Road SW, New Philadelphia (near SR 36 and SR  416).


Photo credits: Michael Johnson

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Make It Your Mission to Visit the Mission Festival

It's been a purposeful summer for our Moravian brothers and sisters who have engaged in hands-on mission experiences from The Big Apple to a small village, from a central HUB to Central America, and from a loading zone to outside the comfort zone. Now that they're back home and have reflected on how and where they witnessed God at work in the world, they'd like to tell you about it!

Join us tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, August 14) 
as we gather for a Mission Festival beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Sharon Moravian Church (an air conditioned and accessible facility). Come hear stories of travel and fellowship, service and inspiration! We'll worship together, have time to converse, and even share some light refreshments. 

The Mission Festival is being coordinated through the Ohio Moravian Ministries Commission (OMMC). Please come!

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Work, Play & Pizza

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right. Galatians 6:9
Watchword for the Week of July 3, 2016 from 
The Moravian Daily Texts


Yesterday on their mission adventure, The Twenty learned that patience, persistence and pliability are great qualities...and in the end, pizza rules.

When one of their intended mission work sites could not accommodate them yesterday, The Twenty found themselves spontaneously pursuing other service options. Pastors Mike and Tracy worked diligently to come up with alternatives, some of which kept work crews close to Great Kills Moravian Church, and another which sent a group over the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to Brooklyn where Lutheran Social Services handed out paint brushes.

After offering their labor, the reunited group headed to the beach for an afternoon of sunshine, shelling and splashing around. And finally, to conclude the day, the hungry missionaries made their way to an authentic New York pizzeria where they sampled 13 different pies and left with 32 extra slices for midnight snacking!


Today, The Twenty will be hoofing their way to the train station which will take them to the Staten Island Ferry which will take them to Manhattan where they will take the subway to Moravian Open Door where they will spend much of the day in service.

Later in the day, they will be visiting the 9/11 Memorial.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

That Post Where Pastor John Wears a Funny Hat

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right. Galatians 6:9
Watchword for the Week of July 3, 2016 from 
The Moravian Daily Texts

It's the middle. The middle of the week. The middle of the summer. The middle of the NYC Mission Trip. Isn't the middle of anything the hardest time to sustain enthusiasm? The newness of a situation might have worn off, but the end is not yet in sight. The middle is where a thought like Galatians 6:9 comes in quite handy. Let us not grow weary in doing what is right.

Good humor is one way to beat the middle. 

Keeping at it diligently is another.














While we pray for and cheer on our Mission Team--The Twenty--to make it over the hump without too much of a slump, maybe we should consider some of our own mission commitments closer to home. One thing all of the T-County Moravian Churches share in is a food delivery service in conjunction with the Greater Dover-New Philadelphia Food Pantry. We take turns making sure that those who cannot physically make it to the Food Pantry to obtain needed groceries do not go without. It is a ministry of deep compassion, and many recipients have come to depend on this weekly accommodation. 

In the beginning, we jumped in with both feet and a lot of vigor. Volunteers were plentiful and passionate. But now that the program has been around for awhile, we've lost a little bit of our verve. Here in the middle, maybe we have succumbed to weariness in doing what is right. Is it time to push through that wall of human nature and collectively recommit to this task our churches have been called to? 

Interested? Speak with the OMMC representative or the pastor in your local Ohio Moravian congregation? Or contact me via moravianpastorchris@gmail.com and I'll help you get connected. 

As we offer prayers for The Twenty today, let's also pray for ourselves. As someone once said, "Either you are a missionary, or you need one."




Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Live from New York, It's...Tuesday Morning

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right. Galatians 6:9
Watchword for the Week of July 3, 2016 from 
The Moravian Daily Texts

The T-County Mission Team continues in service today on Staten Island, one of the 5 boroughs that comprise New York City. Did you know that there are 4 Moravian Churches on Staten Island, and 10 throughout all of the boroughs? Today's adventure will take our missionaries to the New Dorp Moravian Church where they will engage in behind-the-scenes work at a tremendous clothing distribution ministry. Pray for The Twenty to keep up their curiosity about the new environment they find themselves in, and their openness to the new people they encounter. Pray for them to be aware of God's presence in the midst of their experience. Pray for them to find delight in doing what's right.

Here are a few of yesterday's mission moments...

Before setting out to explore The Big City, our missionaries took a crash course in
 familiarizing themselves with their potentially-overwhelming surroundings.
Among the first requirements for adventuring in New York is knowing how to
navigate the city streets and where to find the train stations.


The team spent several hours sprucing up the
Community Garden at Castleton Hill Moravian Church.
According to one team member,
"They had a lot of lettuce" ready to be shared with their neighbors.




Monday, July 4, 2016

The Weekly Watchword Sets a Great Goal: Do Right!

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right. Galatians 6:9
Watchword for the Week of July 3, 2016 from 
The Moravian Daily Texts

The folks might be a little weary after yesterday’s journey and a night of sleeping on cots in a church basement, but the T-County Moravian Mission Team is ready to get up, get going, and do what’s right!


The Team arrived late last evening at the Great Kills Moravian Church on Staten Island, New York City and will be using that church as a home base during their week-long mission adventure. After breakfast this morning, they’ll take a short jaunt to Castleton Hills Moravian Church where they will lend a hand in tending a community garden. Later in the day, they’ll learn about what it means to be in mission, and about the particular places they’ll be serving this week. (Guiding them through the orientation process will be familiar friends: The Revs. Michael and Tracy Poole-Pryor.)




On this Independence Day, they’ll finish the evening in All-American style at a minor leagues ballpark watching the Staten Island Yankees and taking in the magnificent NYC fireworks display.

And tomorrow, even though they may be weary from an exciting but late night, and from another round of sleeping on cots in a church basement, they’ll roll up their sleeves for some serious service.

I hope you will not grow weary in praying for this particular batch of missionaries this week. Pray for them in their exuberance. Pray for them in their exhaustion. Pray for them to be patient with one another as they learn and grow together. Pray for their safety as they travel around New York in vans and by ferry boats and via subway trains. And certainly, pray for them to have meaningful encounters with God, with one another, and with the people they seek to serve.

Team Members
Fry's Valley Moravian Church
Gina Green
Jase Green

Gnadenhutten (John Heckewelder Memorial) Moravian Church
Mitchell Giffen
Jayden Stearns
Jeff Stearns
Darrell Johnson

Sharon Moravian Church
Lynn Reichman

Schoenbrunn Community Moravian Church
Alicia Miller
Doug Miller
Jim Karcher

First Moravian Church of Dover
Nate Grimes
Sarah Sears
Matt Stephens
Alex Swarzentruber
Sam Paden
Libby Paden
Delaney O'Brien
Emily Burrell
Sydney Numbers


Photos: Courtesy of Lynn Reichman


NOTE: Brown Bags & Big Ideas will NOT be meeting today, July 4. Tuscora Park will be filled up with picnicing families, so we will not have access to a pavilion. We'll be back next Monday, July 11, noon until 1:30 p.m.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Synod Delegates Talk About Their Mission Experiences

"I was hungry and you gave me food, 
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, 
I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 
 I was naked and you gave me clothing,
 I was sick and you took care of me, 
I was in prison and you visited me." ~ Jesus

The 2016 Synod of the Eastern District was anything but a sit-still-and-listen sort of event. With its focus grounded firmly in Jesus' words from Matthew 25, The Synod sent all of its delegates into the world for a full day of serving those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, lacking in basic necessities, sick and incarcerated. In so many cases, the experiences were moving and transforming. Here are just a couple of clips of Ohio Moravians telling about what happened last Thursday. Jill Westbrook (Sharon) talks about her time helping residents of a no-frills nursing home "go shopping" for the things that make their lives a little bit more comfortable.Sue Henriksen (Dover) discusses the day she spend serving in a soup kitchen. And Seth Angel (Fry's Valley) talks about touring a prison facility and spending time with some of the incarcerated men.

If you attend Brown Bags & Big Ideas today (noon-1:30 p.m. at Tuscora Park), I suspect you'll have a chance to debrief these and other memorable Synod experiences.












Thursday, June 23, 2016

Eastern District Synod--Not Your Ordinary Kind of Meeting



Can you tell what's happening in this picture?


This is the plenary session during the first night of the Eastern District Synod. If you've ever been to a Synod or other convention-type gathering, you know that a plenary session is a meeting of the full group where presentations are made and business gets conducted. Usually during a plenary session, participants sit at tables, their agendas and important documents stacked before them, their attention directed toward the leadership personnel seated on the dais and speaking from the lecturn. 

But not this time.

This time the entire company of Synod processed from its usual meeting space to a gymnasium set up as a makeshift factory. There, each of us was handed a plastic apron and a hairnet. We were directed to work stations where we were assigned very specific tasks:
  • Open the plastic bag, insert a vitamin/flavoring packet
  • Hold the plastic bag beneath the large, yellow funnel
  • Precisely measure and dump one of 4 ingredients into the yellow funnel: soy flour, dried beans, dried vegetables or rice
  • Remove plastic bag and pass it to the weigh station for quality control
  • Seal and stack the bags
  • Pack into cardboard cartons for shipping

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

And what was the result? During our one-hour session, we packaged 32,000 servings of high protein meals destined to feed desperately hungry people in Haiti. 32,000!

Best. Meeting. Ever.









Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Eastern District Synod is Underway

Folks from all 7 of our Ohio congregations traveled to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania yesterday to participate in the Synod of the Moravian Church, Eastern District.I met up with some of them during breakfast this morning.

left to right: Carolyn McCoy (Gnadenhutten Moravian Church), Adelia Hobart (Dover) and Sue Henriksen (Dover).

Lynn Reichman (Sharon), Darrell Johnson (Gnadenhutten), Seth Angel (Fry's Valley), and Bob Geiger (Gnadenhutten).

Becky Canfield (Schoenbrunn)  and Denny Rohn (Schoenbrunn).

Synod officially opened in the afternoon with spirited worship introducing the theme of the whole event: "To Us, To Us This Task Is Given..." After greetings and introductions, we were quickly immersed in sensitivity training surrounding how to/how NOT to go about approaching mission and service opportunities.  Before long, we were being steeped in the challenge of doing mission! Stay tuned. We'll tell you all about what it was like to pack 32,000 meals for people in need....


Monday, June 20, 2016

Happy First Day of Summer! Celebrate by Registering for Camp!

For a week's worth of fun and a lifetime of special memories, Moravian Church Camps offer all that and more. Children, youth and young adults discover opportunities to draw close to God in natural settings, grow in spirit through worship and study, develop strong relationships with peers and mentors, and find joy through laughter and singing. For full details and registration materials for both Tar Hollow and Camp Bethany, visit http://midstatesmoraviancamps.webs.com/,
or check with your church's office. Sign up soon!



Tar Hollow
For those who have completed 7th grade - age 21

July 17-23, 2016
(Staff Day, July 16)

Camp Bethany
For those who have completed grades 2-6

August 1-5
(Staff Day, July 31)




Friday, June 17, 2016

Live On Stage...


Paul Green's Trumpet in the Land begins its season tonight and runs all summer long. Trumpet brings to life on stage a significant chapter in the history of Moravian Missions as well as in the development of Ohio and the expanding United States.  It offers a message of peace, unity and hopefulness that is as timely today as it was in 1772.

If you'd like to attend the outdoor historical drama but would prefer to not pay the premium admission price, here's great news.

TONIGHT, June 17, all residents of Tuscarawas County are eligible to see the show for $5 per person. Just show proof of residency to activate your discount!  The show gets underway at 8:30 p.m. at the production's amphitheater in New Philadelphia, near Buckeye Career Center and Kent State University, Tusc Campus.

TOMORROW NIGHT, June 18, all Moravian Church members and friends are eligible for special savings. Students in grades 6-12 may attend free of charge through a grant from the Ohio Moravian Ministries Commission. And all others may receive a voucher in order to purchase $10 tickets (regular price: $20). To obtain your free or reduced price tickets, look for me at the amphitheater at 8:00 p.m. I'll be near the box office, clipboard in hand.

To find out more about the show (as well as other shows being offered this summer), please go to
http://www.trumpetintheland.com/


Wednesday, June 15, 2016

KID-A-PALOOZA Kicks Off


Looking for something to enchant your children on a summer's day? KID-A-PALOOZA might be just the thing!

TOMORROW, June 16, Sharon Moravian Church will host the first of 3 sessions. Children in grades 2-6 are invited for a morning filled with fun, games, lessons, crafts... and lunch! Gather at 9:00 a.m. and stay until Noon.

Please pre-register by phone at 740-922-5507 or 740-922-6328, or register when you arrive.

Other KID-A-PALOOZA sessions are scheduled for July 21 and August 18.

Sharon Moravian Church is located on Moravian Church Road just outside of the Village of Tuscarawas. Look for the very tall steeple!

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Moravian History EXTRAVAGANZA





UPDATE: Due to low registration, we are sorry to announce that the Moravian History Extravaganza will not be offered on June 18. However, the evening performance of Trumpet in the Land will still be offered FREE for youth in grades 6-12, and at a discounted rate for everyone else. To receive your free and/or discounted ticket vouchers, look for Chris Johnson at the Trumpet Amphitheater Box Office between 8:00 and 8:15 p.m. Saturday night. She'll have a clipboard in hand and will look forward to attending the show with you!

This Saturday, 
June 18
join us on a tour through 
Moravian History!
All young people in Grade 6-12 (including those who have just graduated from high school) are invited to meet up with the group at the entrance to 
Historic Schoenbrunn Village at 
2:00 p.m. We'll remain until closing time at 5:00 p.m.

We'll travel on foot to
Schoenbrunn Community Moravian Church 
where we'll have dinner together followed by a session on our early roots in Europe. Ministry Intern Joe Compton will introduce us to Prague, Chalice Rocks, Herrnhut and other significant sites he visited during last summer's Moravian Youth Convo. 

And finally, we'll travel up the hill to attend the evening performance of 
Trumpet in the Land.
The drama begins at 
8:30 p.m.

All admission costs for the youth will be covered by the Ohio Moravian Ministries Commission (OMMC). Participants may wish to bring their own money for snacks or gift shop purchases.

Please reserve your spot by notifying your pastor or Pastor Chris Johnson (484-894-9077) no later than noon on Friday, June 17. We must know who is coming in order to make transportation and dining arrangements!


BUT WAIT! What if you would like to attend the performance of Trumpet in the Land, but you’re not in the targeted age bracket? Please join us at a discounted rate! Meet us at the Trumpet amphitheater between 8:00 and 8:15 p.m. to get a voucher that allows you to purchase $10 tickets (regularly $20).














Praying for Peace in the Park


Yesterday's session of Brown Bags & Big Ideas seemed especially meaningful as we shared in conversation and prayer. With so much on our minds and hearts in the wake of the violence in Orlando, our noontime discussion group took on a more serious tone than would be typical, but that seemed an appropriate response. Powerfully, we utilized the "Peace and Justice" liturgy from the Moravian Book of Worship to shape our prayers.

We talked earnestly about ways in which our churches could/should be more effective when it comes to influencing our broken world and urging one another always toward the better impulses modeled for us by your selfless Savior.

With sincere honesty, we acknowledged that our congregations are not as impactful as they may have been in the past. With energy, we raised up ideas for how we might find renewed strength for effective ministry.

We will continue the conversation each Monday throughout the summer. Join in as you're able between noon and 1:30 p.m. at Tuscora Park. (We try to meet in the shelter closest to the train-themed playground.)


By the way...

You may sign up to have new blog posts sent directly to your email inbox. Look on the left hand side of the page and scroll down to the box that says "FOLLOW BY EMAIL." Put in your address and hit the submit button. It's that simple!



Sunday, June 12, 2016

Meet Us in the Park


Brown Bags & Big Ideas 

meets each Monday afternoon from noon until 1:30 p.m. under a picnic pavilion in Tuscora Park, and all are welcomed! Join in conversation with gathered Moravians to talk about what's going on in our churches, what could  be going on in our churches, and what God is calling us to in our communities. Bring a lunch along, or purchase something to eat from the park's concession stand.

As a special treat, the Reichmans will be bringing fruit to share tomorrow, June 13. (Thanks for your generosity!)

And that reminds me..."The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things." (Galatians 5:22-23) 

Friday, June 10, 2016

It's Strawberry Festival Time!


Schoenbrunn Community 
Moravian Church's

Annual Strawberry Festival

will get underway tomorrow,

June 11, from 4-7 p.m.


Enjoy sandwiches, baked beans, macaroni salad, drinks, and, OF COURSE, STRAWBERRIES. Get 'em with shortcake or get 'em with ice cream. It's all good, and it's all for a terrific price: your donation.

The church is located at 2200 E. High Avenue in New Philadelphia.

Meet Our Summer Ministry Intern & Hang Out With Him This Sunday

Greetings all! I am Joe Compton, and I am serving as a student Ministry Intern for the Tuscarawas County Moravian Churches this summer. I am a member of the Dover First Moravian Congregation and will be a sophomore at The Ohio State University this fall semester.

Over my 19 years of being a Moravian in the Tuscarawas Valley, I have been a part of the many program opportunities the churches have to offer, some of which include being an active camper and counselor at Camp Bethany, Epworth, and Tar Hollow.  I was also an active member of the charity Sole Purpose, which raises funds to buy shoes for youth in the local Tuscarawas area.

At Ohio State I partake in a few performing arts groups on campus including the Ohio State University Men’s Glee Club and also Off the Lake Productions, a student run musical theatre group.


This summer as part of my Internship I have put together a hand full of countywide youth and family events that are aimed towards a fun environment that I'll tell you about over the next few days. For starters....

Youth Service Project + Fun Times at Funday's
On June 12th, youth in the area are invited to a service event at The Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County in which an afternoon of good CLEAN fun will take place as we help them clean up the theatre by pulling some weeds in the garden and helping organize their large collection of paints.                                                                                     After the work is done, everyone will be taken to Funday’s for a free root beer. Participants can purchase dinner at their own expanse. The event will be Sunday the 12th from 3-5pm and the theatre’s address can be found online at http://www.thelittletheatreonline.org/



Monday, June 6, 2016

Brown Bags & Big Ideas Resumes for the Summer

It's been awhile...but this BLOG is back, and we hope to fill up its pages with helpful information about what's going on in the Ohio Moravian Church World. So let's begin with something happening TODAY.

Brown Bag & Big Ideas

Today and Every Summer Monday
Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia                Noon - 1:30 p.m.


Pack up your lunch, bring it to the park, and join us for some free-flowing conversation about the things that matter to us. Some days we talk about what's happening in our congregations, some days we discuss what's happening in the world. Ideally, we figure out connections and challenges, and look for positive ways to live as people of faith in the midst of it all. We have no set agenda, so bring your ideas along with your lunch! (And if you come lunchless, you may visit the concession stand to purchase eats.)

Come for the entire time, or pop in and out as needed. Look for us under the shelter of a picnic pavilion. We try to stake out a space near the permanent buildings and playgrounds. We hope you'll join us today and/or any Summer Monday.