SVMC celebrates 25 years, offers continuing education events

Church of the Brethren Newsline
January 26, 2018

The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2018. “To commemorate this milestone, we will be sharing devotions on the 25th day of each month,” said an announcement. The first devotion is written by the center’s executive director Donna Rhodes.

In related news, SVMC is publicizing several upcoming continuing education events. These are designed for ordained Church of the Brethren ministers, but non-Brethren clergy and interested laypersons are also welcome to attend. For more information, and to register for any of the events listed below, go to www.etown.edu/programs/svmc/continuing-education.aspx . Print the registration form and mail it to SVMC to complete the registration. A listing of upcoming events is found below.

25th anniversary devotion

The first of the SVMC 25th anniversary devotions, titled “One Seed at a Time,” refers to scripture texts from Colossians 1:10 and Proverbs 9:9, which reads: “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.”

Rhodes’ devotion begins, “As child growing up on a dairy farm, I learned a lot about seed time and harvest, the rhythm of the seasons, and ongoing work. One of my favorite activities as a small child was riding on the tractor with my dad as he worked in the fields: the soil was tilled, the seeds planted carefully, and the harvest gathered. I learned about the rhythm of planting, growing, harvesting, and the stewardship of the earth as I continued to grow and join in the work of the farm. The seeds for Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center were planted in the early 1990s as persons recognized the need for regionally-based ministry training. The vision was nurtured as conversations were held, feasibility studied, and partners invited. The seeds grew as districts and Bethany Theological Seminary joined the partnership….”

More about the anniversary and a link to the full text of this devotion are at www.etown.edu/programs/svmc/25Years.aspx .

Upcoming continuing education events

“Science, Theology, and the Church Today: Ministry with Youth and Young Adults” is offered on Saturday, March 24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College in the Susquehanna Room. Presenter is Russell Haitch, professor of Christian Education at Bethany Theological Seminary.

“The Imaginative Church: Embracing and Empowering Creativity and the Arts” is offered on Saturday, April 14, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at Mt. Wilson Church of the Brethren in Lebanon, Pa. Presenter is Dave Weiss, a Church of the Brethren artist and ordained minister.

“Memory Care: Igniting the Inner Light” is offered on Monday, May 7, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at at Cross Keys-The Brethren Community, New Oxford, Pa. Presenter is Jennifer Holcomb, director of Memory Care at the Brethren Home Community.

“Pastoral Crisis Intervention: Where to Start and What to Say” is offered in two sessions, the first on March 2, and the second on Sept. 10. Registration is handled by Dale Leverknight.

“Gospel of Peace” is offered on Nov. 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. Presenter is Daniel Ulrich, Wieand Professor of New Testament Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary.

Cost is $60, which includes a light breakfast, lunch, and .6 continuing education credit.

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