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The Ecumenical Vision...
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Dear Friends,
During the month of October you and I will have many opportunities to witness to our love of the living Christ and to express our commitment to the ecumenical vision of Caspar Schwenckfeld von Ossig.
Michael Kinnamon, professor of Lexington Theological Seminary said recently at a meeting of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches: "The ecumenical vision is not that Christians should learn to get along, but that we need each other, and are given each other, in order to be the church." Certainly in view of the recent terrorist attacks upon our nation, Christians need a clear understanding of the ecumenical vision expressed in our Lord's prayer recorded in John 17.
We don't just work together as a congregation. We also get to know each other better as we participate in the life of our fellowship of believers here at Central. When we participate, through prayer and caring for each other and share in the worship, study and mission of the Church, we discover in each other particular gifts that enrich the whole body of Christ. I invite you to become involved in the following activities during this month. Each of them express the ecumenical vision of Schwenckfeld and the Schwenkfelder movement throughout its history.
On October 7, World Wide Communion Sunday, Rev. Gallagher will lead us in communion with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His people everywhere. As Schwenkfelders we hold the communion service to be a most sacred event. It serves to prepare our minds and hearts to "remember Him until He comes again." It is true, as Schwenckfeld said, we can and should commune with our Lord every day through prayer, deeds of loving concern, study and service for others. However, on World Wide Communion Sunday we have a renewed sense of being in fellowship with all believers world wide, regardless of their particular style of observance.
The following Sunday, the Lord has led Dottie Heebner to be our speaker on Laity Sunday.
Here again, the ecumenical ideal is expressed through the non-ordained ministers of our church.
We thank God for what He has been doing in and through Dottie this year in particular and we thank Him for each and every one of our lay leaders in the Church universal. The Schwenkfelder Exile Society will meet at our new Library and Heritage Center the afternoon of Laity Sunday. This too expresses the ecumenical vision of our forefathers and foremothers for which we are truly grateful to God.
On October 21, we will participate in the dedication of several infants at our 10:30 AM service. These parents and infants give hope for the continuation of our ecumenical witness. That afternoon we have the opportunity to participate in the
26th Annual Schwenkfeldian School of Christ when Dr. Williams will address the subject, "Having the Mind of Christ."
The general conference ministers will lead small group discussions on the same topic. Again, having an understanding of the mind of Christ is essential to the ecumenical vision. Bible study and practical application of the message of the Bible is another essential of the ecumenical spirit. We are blessed with a variety of adult studies every Sunday morning as well as a strong Sunday School for children and youth, including our Christian Endeavor program on Sunday evenings.
I will begin a new mid-week Bethel Bible Study series beginning Thursday, October 11 from 7:30-9:00 PM.
Hope you can attend.
Finally, on the last Sunday of this month, we will observe All Saints Sunday when we pause to remember and thank God for the lives of our church members who died a physical death during the year. Remember Michael Kinnamon's words, "The ecumenical vision... we need each other and are given each other to be the Church."
Sincerely in His Service,
Dr. Jack R. Rothenberger Executive Minister