Page 15 - 2026 August-September Newsletter

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*Congregational Ministry to Members Navigating Divorce Experiences
September 9, 2026 • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Rescheduled from June 3) Zoom • Led by Dr.
Julie Guistwite. An interactive session on strengthening divorce ministry through three
research-informed approaches that nurture belonging, healing, hope, and spiritual meaning.
Participants will practice applying these approaches through dialogue and scenario-based
discussion.

*Caring for Congregational Members with Chronic Health Conditions
October 6, 2026 • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Zoom • Led by Julie Guistwite. An interactive
workshop on supporting congregants living with chronic illness. Learn evidence-informed
strategies that foster meaning, purpose, connection, and spiritual well-being, with practical
skill-building through discussion and vignette analysis.

*Supporting Congregational Members with Chronic Health Conditions (Specifically for
lay leaders; no CEUs available)
October 29, 2026 • 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Zoom • Led by Julie Guistwite. An interactive
workshop on compassionate ministry with congregants living with chronic illness. Learn best
practices from Idler’s “doing” and “being” framework and build practical skills—through
discussion and vignette analysis—for offering presence, nurturing connection, and supporting
spiritual growth amid ongoing disruption.

*Community Gifts – Discerning the Spirit Together
October 31, 2026 • 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM, Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren (No Zoom
available, light lunch included). Led by Josh Brockway & Stan Dueck. The New Testament
writers described the gifts of the Spirit as grace given to followers of Jesus for the ministry of
the church. In this workshop, participants will explore scriptures outlining the gifts of the
Spirit, practice discernment together, and engage a new denominational resource for gifts
discernment. Light lunch will be provided.

Building and Empowering Lay Leadership (BELL) is a new program to strengthen lay leaders,
offered by the Germantown Church of the Brethren. BELL is offering the following two
sessions, both held at the Germantown Church of the Brethren from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
Registration includes a light lunch. Please note that SVMC is handling only the registration
and CEUs; for information about BELL, contact Richard Kyerematen by texting 215-906-
3128, or Jeff Bach by emailing bachja58@gmail.com.
1) Introduction to Bible and Biblical Interpretation, led Dr. Stephen Breck Reid on
October 3, 2026
2) Introduction to Theology, led by Rev. Dr. Drew G. I. Hart on December 5, 2026