Winter 2023 Newsletter

A note from the bishop's desk

One of the greatest gifts of belonging to a denominational church family is the constant reminder that we are part of a larger whole. With that sense of belonging comes the realization that we are far more effective together than any of us as individual people or churches could be alone.

It has been such a joy to be able to visit and preach in many of our Susquehanna churches over the course of the past year. There is nothing like the opportunity to worship together!

During these Sunday visits, we have been talking about how we praise God with the story of our lives, and I have been inviting our congregations to participate in an all-conference project that we will be displaying at this year's Annual Meeting in April. There are a few of our churches and pastors, however, that have not yet shared in this cooperative effort, and we don't want you to miss out.

In order to take part in our Susquehanna display of praise, we need you to do two simple tasks:

Take a picture of your hands with your cell phone - just your hands, in whatever form you want (take a look at the header to see a few samples). You may need to enlist the help of your spouse or friend because taking a picture of your own hands can be somewhat tricky!
Text that picture to our office number: (717) 638-8415

If you can do that in the next week, that would be wonderful. That way, you will be sure to find your hands in our collaborative display of praise at this year's Annual Meeting.

We are so grateful for the part that each of you play in God's work across our conference, and we are looking forward to celebrating together at our Annual Meeting. You will find more details about this year's Annual Meeting below, and we encourage you to join with us now in praying that God will use this event to encourage and strengthen us anew so that we will continue to effectively advance Christ's kingdom here in the Susquehanna Conference.

Blessings,

Bishop Heather

Meet our new Administrative Assistant!

We are thrilled to welcome Kathy Bennett to our Susquehanna team as our new administrative assistant. Kathy lives in Dillsburg and attends the Dillsburg BIC Church.

Kathy comes to us with a wealth of experience in office and team roles. She loves her family and loves serving at her local church. Outside her church, she also enjoys volunteering at local ministries and leading a mental health support group.

If Kathy has some time to herself, she loves cooking, history and sewing. Some of her fun favorites include any meal that includes seafood, songs by Matthew West and Zach Williams (among others!), vacations in

Maine, and her Maltese-Poodle therapy dog named Merlin.

Please note: the Susquehanna office email and phone number will remain the same, as listed at the bottom of this email.

The Bennett Family

Upcoming Spring Events

We have quite a few exciting events and new opportunities coming this spring. If you are a lead pastor, please remember that all of the following are part of your work agreement: Annual Meeting, Ministry Development Days, and Pastor Clusters. These are important connections for us to continue developing a better sense of community and collaboration as we work together to bring the Good News to more and more in each of our communities.

If you are a staff pastor or ministry leader, we would love to have you join us for our short-term Connect & Grow Cohorts, Annual Meeting, and Ministry Development Days. Here are a few of the next events which will be hosted by the Susquehanna Conference...

Our 2023 Susquehanna Conference Annual Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 15 at Pathway Community Church in York, PA.

Registration, breakfast, and display tables will open at 8:15 a.m. with the meeting beginning at 9:00 a.m. We will plan to end our time together with lunch around 1:00 p.m.

Many of you have been asking if there is a way that we could incorporate additional time for prayer and fellowship during Annual Meeting. So, we are going to try something new this year. On Friday evening, April 14, we will be hosting an evening of Worship, Prayer, and Fellowship, also at Pathway. Your attendance is not required at this event, but we would encourage you to participate and to bring delegates and other church members (particularly your prayer warriors) with you. The evening service will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Over the course of history, God’s moving through the Holy Spirit in response to the praise and prayers of His people has led to victory and transformation again and again. In that sense of hopeful expectation, we are looking forward to this Friday evening time together as well as our Annual Meeting business on Saturday. We also hope that this addition will make the weekend a more valuable time together – especially for those of you who will be traveling 3-4 hours to join us.

If you will be staying overnight and need assistance with accommodations, please feel free to reach out to the Susquehanna Conference Office. We ask that you register all pastors, staff, and delegates by Friday, March 24, so that we can have agendas to you by the first of April.

Please register no later than Friday, March 24.

Click here to register.

This spring, we will be hosting our second round of short-term cohorts, aimed at helping conference leaders connect and grow further in ministry skills, leadership, and personal health. These are open to anyone in the conference, but are designed particularly with staff pastors and local ministry leaders in mind. Cohorts run on a 3-month cycle, meeting twice a month (6 sessions total) and are mainly discussion-based gatherings.

The next Connect & Grow Cohorts will begin in March, and the following two options are being offered:

Main Connection Group:

Children's & Youth Workers

Meeting Times:

In-Person the 2nd & 4th Weds. each month from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

@ Dillsburg BIC

Online the 1st and 3rd Mon. each month from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Description:

Many of you have been asking for a context to connect with other people who are serving in Family Ministries and experiencing similar joys and challenges. This will be a discussion-based group around different topics. Some of the topics we will be addressing:

Church Volunteers - How do you find them and keep them?
Discipleship in the Era of Inconsistent Church Attendance
LGBT+ Questions
Intergenerational Ministry - What kind of spaces are we creating for this?

If there are other topics you wish to add to this list, you will have the opportunity to share those ideas for the group to pursue together!

Cost: Free

Main Connection Group:

Pastors and Ministry Leaders

Meeting Times:

In-Person the 1st and 3rd Mon. each month from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. at McBIC

Online the 1st and 3rd Weds. each month from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Description:

We are living in challenging and uncertain times in which leaders need support and encouragement to help

them learn to navigate the world we are in. Leaders too often focus on external things to the neglect of their own souls. Authors Winfield Blevins and Mark Dunwoody wrote "Healthy Rhythms for Leaders" primarily to help Christian leaders care for their souls in today’s chaotic and uncertain world.

Together, with other pastors and ministry leaders of the Susquehanna Conference, you will explore and apply principles that will allow you to take your leadership to a more impactful place as you lead from a deeper well of personal wholeness. These sessions will include book discussion, personal reflection, and identifying and developing tools for ministry.

Cost: $10.00 for book purchase

Other Upcoming Events

February

Carlisle Pastors' Cluster

Wednesday, February 22nd at 8:00 am

Location: Panera, Carlisle

Liderazgo y Estructura en la Iglesia Hermanos en Cristo (HECUS)

Feb. 23-24 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Feb. 25 from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location: La Roca HEC, Roanoke

You can register here.

March

York Pastors' Cluster

Wednesday, March 15 @ 9:00 am

Location: Hanover BIC

Susquehanna Conf. BOD Meeting

Wednesday, March 8th at 9:00 a.m.

Location: Pathway Community Church

April

Northern Pastors' Cluster

Thursday, April 6th at 8:30 am

Location: Country Pride, Milesburg

Susquehanna Conf. Annual Meeting

Friday, April 14th at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 15th at 9:00 a.m.

Location: Pathway Community Church

You can register here.

May

York Pastors' Cluster

Wednesday, May 10 @ 9:00 am

Location: TBD

Ministry Development Day with the Atlantic Conference

Saturday, May 6

Location: Harrisburg BIC

Carlisle Pastors' Cluster

Wednesday, May 31st at 8:00 am

Location: Panera, Carlisle

June

Susquehanna Conf. BOD Meeting

Wednesday, June 14 at 9:00 a.m.

Location: TBD

Theology of Salvation Core Course

June 12-14 from 8:30 am- 4:00 pm

Location: Roxbury Camp, Orrstown, PA

You can register here.

Leadership and Structure within the Brethren in Christ Church

June 19-21 from 8:30 am- 4:00 pm

Location: Manor Church, Lancaster, PA

You can register here.

July

Brethren in Christ History and Values

July 10-14 from 7:00 - 9:30 pm

Location: Zoom

You can register here.

August

Theology of the Church

August 14-16 from 8:30 am- 4:00 pm

Location: Mechanicsburg BIC Church

You can register here.

East Coast Wesleyan Holiness Connection Pastors' Day

Thursday, August 31 from 9:00 - 2:00

Location: Hershey Church of the Nazarene

September

Las Raíces Historia y Valores de los Hermanos en Cristo

September 22-23 and September 29-30

Fridays 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.

Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

You can register here.

Something to celebrate!

Many of you have been praying for Pastor Fernando Bedon since he had been hospitalized for Covid in 2021. Not only is Fernando back in the pulpit preaching again, but he is now walking with a prosthetic leg and driving with his newly-outfitted car. Thank you for the many ways that you have blessed the Bedon family with your prayers and support.

We are praying with the Bedons that their son Andres and his family will soon have their documents to come to the States to help Fernando and Magaly with ministry. Praise the Lord and keep on praying!

Susquehanna Conference of the Brethren in Christ US

431 Grantham Road

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Phone 717-461-2230

Email bicsusquehanna@bicus.org