Learning Ministries Day 2024

A. Conversation with the Keynoter (both sessions)

Someone once asked Gabriel Marcel, “How did you come to know God?” The French philosopher responded, “ I came to know God by loving someone in whom God dwelt.” How will others see God in you? Does your life attract others to the Light of the World? We will explore practices that have opened hearts to the Presence God for centuries, hearts that then reflect that Presence in the world.

B. Wholesome Attitudes Toward Other Religions (morning session only) Is it possible to confess our Christian faith and also affirm the value of other faith traditions? We will explore ways to have positive, "wholesome," attitudes toward other religious traditions even as we remain faithful to our Christian faith. We will pay special attention to Christian attitudes toward Judaism, including looking at New Testament materials that have been used to support anti-Jewish attitudes and considering different ways of interpreting those passages in Scripture.

Presenter: The Rev. Dr. Roger E. Timm is a retired ELCA pastor. In 1970 he received an M.Div. degree from Concordia Seminary and an M.A. in philosophy from Washington University, both in St. Louis. Timm completed his Ph.D. in religious studies in a joint program with Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University in New York in 1975. Ordained in April 1971, he has served in both parishes and campus ministry settings. During the 1980's Timm was assistant chaplain and assistant professor of religion at Muhlenberg College. After his retirement in 2011 he and his wife, Marilyn, moved to Emmaus in 2013. Since then he has served on the Faith Formation Resources Ministry Team and has led several Learning Ministry Day workshops. Timm has also taught several courses for the Institute for Learning in Retirement, located at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, dealing with faith and science as well as ethics, justice, and technology.

C. Aromatherapy (both sessions)

Let your senses be stimulated! This workshop will be hands on....making sugar scrubs and bath salts as we talk about oils and their benefits for a healthy mind and body.

Presenter: Tina Johns is a member of Prince of Peace Johnsonville where she serves as an assisting minister, church council secretary, worship & music chair, along with many other hats. She is also a current member of the Faith Formation Resources Ministry Team.

D. Faith Formation IN Worship (both sessions)

This workshop seeks to provide purposeful and practical strategies to address the reality that it is harder for families to spend an entire Sunday morning at church, which is one of the challenges facing Faith Formation ministries today. Attending either church or Sunday School—but not both—is common. Providing Faith Formation as part of weekly worship can help balance one side of that equation inviting both children and adults to learn in the actual worship service. (Please note: this workshop is not about running worship and Sunday School concurrently, which will be mentioned in passing, but is beyond the scope of this workshop.)

Presenter: The Rev. Scott Paradise (he/him) is on the roster of Pennsylvania’s Lower Susquehanna Synod. He serves as the pastor of Millcreek Lutheran Church in Newmanstown, which is a rural community in Lebanon County, but just over the line from Berks County. In his 23 years as a pastor, he has found many ways to enhance the participation of all ages in worship. Although currently not in our synod, he continues to serve on the Faith Formation Ministry Team.

E. Let’s Move 2 (morning session only)

Experience the joy of exercise in this workshop. Please come prepared to discuss and move. You will learn and experience all the vital components of a quality exercise program. You will learn the joint by joint approach to fitness which will help you continue to be active for a long time. We will also work on moving our focus from training muscles to training movement. You will also discover that exercise can be fun and that it will impact your physical, spiritual, emotional, and social well- being and can improve your quality of life.

Presenter: Tammy Strunk, a Fitness Coordinator at Luther Crest Senior Living Community. She has a B.S. in Exercise Science from Temple University, is certified by the Athletics & Fitness Assoc of America, is an American Red Cross certified First Aid/CPR/AED instructor and has worked in wellness/fitness industry for over 30 years.

G. Social Justice and Environmental Ethics (afternoon session only)

In today's world one aspect of "social well being" is paying attention to social justice and environmental ethics. We will explore several perspectives on social justice and environmental ethics and then discuss how they apply to some current examples of environmental issues that raise questions of justice and ethics.

Presenters: Cheryl Statham and The Rev. Roger Timm, Cheryl Statham is a member of the Faith Formation Resource Ministry Team, and an active member of Trinity, Bangor. Currently retired, she is enjoying her time gardening, bird watching, cooking and reading. Pastor Timm’s bio is above.

H. Portico Wellness Wheel (morning session only)

The Wellness Wheel is more than just a business logo; it has much to teach us about how to live a well-balanced life. Participants will be led through all of the sections of the wheel and how all of these sections are important to their lives.

Presenter: Pastor Tara Lynn is the Portico Regional Representative for regions 7 and 8, as well as an expert fasnacht maker. Pastor Lynn is a native of Lancaster County, whose early career was spent working in social service agencies. She attended seminary in Columbus, Ohio, at Trinity Lutheran Seminary and was ordained in 2010.

Every day there are billions of people around the world crying out for help, in one form or another. In our own congregations that number is quite a bit smaller, yet the cries come. Do we hear? Are we listening? Do we know how to respond? Are we afraid to respond? Some cries are obvious. The person in need of prayer during a time of illness or someone suffering a tragedy. These are easy to spot and respond to. What about the teenager coping with abuse, or the individual fighting addiction. Or what about the seemingly silent cries of a brother or sister contemplating suicide. These and other questions are critical if we are to love and serve our neighbors as ourselves.

Presenter: The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Sassaman was born and raised in Berks County and earned his M.Div. from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He has served in his current call at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Mertztown, Pa for the last 17 years. While his doctoral focus was on the intersection of Faith and Biodiversity Science, he has been involved in Emergency Medical Services for nearly 20 years. He teaches historical and environmental theology at Alvernia University and offers lectures on the topics of Opioid Abuse, Suicide Prevention, and is a AHA Certified CPR instructor.

This workshop will explore ways that congregations can impact new people by providing radical hospitality around breaking bread together. Learn about “dinner church” and the pay-what-you-can café model for reaching neighbors with the love of God.

Presenter: The Rev. Mary Wolfe is recently retired from Hope Lutheran Church in Reading, and was the Mission Developer of Hope’s Table, a worshipping community that gathers weekly around dinner for scripture, prayer and Holy Communion. She is also the founder of Café Esperanza, a pay-what-you-can café. Pastor Mary lives in Reiffton with her spouse, Michael.

“Begin with the end in mind” – author Stephen Covey offered this concept as the second of his “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” in his classic advice book of the same name. For Lutherans, the promise of Holy Baptism bestows on us God’s mercy and grace to face our fears and envision life-giving, death-defying ends and futures with courage, imagination and joy. Explore with Bishop deForest the deep well of health and healing that our baptisms grant us, in daily remembrance and spiritual practice.

Presenter: Bishop deForest serves as Bishop for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA, holding the office since January 2021. He served in congregations in Mahoning Valley, PA and East Berks County, PA as well as in the Denver Colorado area. Prior to his ordination in 2011, he received a Masters of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA. His a Masters of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA. His earlier professional career was in corporate communication and events. He has two grown children and his wife, Rev. Dr. Allison deForest is the Kraft Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at United Lutheran Seminary.

Do our communities know us by our buildings or by our presence? How do we witness in our public life to the love of God in Christ? Join Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania as we explore how to be public church for the sake of the world God loves. Advocacy is one way of loving our neighbor. We’ll look at where we as members of NEPA Synod are already answering the call to serve, and how we can take what we learn there to answer our baptismal call to “strive for justice and peace in all the earth”. We’ll brainstorm some ideas for God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday.

Presenter: Tracey DePasquale is the Director of the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania (LAMPa), which is the state public policy office of the ELCA in PA. It is a partnership of Pennsylvania’s seven synods, seminary, social ministry organizations and congregations. She also serves as a consultant to the ELCA task force developing the Social Statement on Civic Life and Faith.

M. Your Legacy: Family, Church and Charity (both Sessions)

Learn how you can develop a strategy to help leave a legacy for the people and causes you care about. Gain confidence in knowing your generosity will spread. No products will be sold. (led by Thrivent Financial Advisors)

Presenter: Thrivent Five Pillars Group based in Southern Berks County. The team includes Financial Advisors Mark Dobroskey, an Exeter Township native and member of Reformation Lutheran Church; Brian Hamm, a native of Oley and now residing in Collegeville and is a member of St. Eleanor Church in Collegeville; and Matthew Robb of Oley who is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Boyertown.

N. Creative Ways to Serve Your Community with Thrivent Generosity Programs (Both sessions)

Learn how Thrivent’s various Generosity and Educational Programs can support your community outreach. (led by Thrivent Engagement Leader)