Page 16 - Newsletter 2025 October - November

Page 16 Southern Pennsylvania District

Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center Continuing Education Offerings

Supporting Terminally-Ill Congregation Members – for Laypeople
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 • 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM • Zoom Only

Leader: Julie Guistwite
Fee: $20.00 per person for groups of 3 or more who are joining together as a group -- with one
Zoom link, or $25.00 per person if participating individually (not in a group)

Persons seek peace, hope, and meaningful personal/spiritual moments until death. Dedicated caregivers’ sup-
portive presence and ease in relating to congregational members at the end-of-life shapes the biopsychoso-
cialspiritual journey. Drawing on a trifold model of terminally-ill ministry and best practice methods in com-
munication, this interactive workshop explores strategies for supporting and empowering adult members of
the church community. This session is designed for laypeople. Pastors are encouraged to attend a similar
session on October 7.

Weakness Transformed in the Gospel of Matthew

Saturday, November 1, 2025 • 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM • Stone Church of the Brethren & Zoom
Leader: Dan Ulrich
Fee for In Person: $65.00 for .5 CEUs; $55.00 for no CEUs

Fee for Zoom: $45.00 for .5 CEUs; $35.00 for no CEUs

Paul was the apostle who heard Christ say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in
weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9); Paul was not alone, however, in teaching that God works through human weakness
in powerful ways. In this continuing-education workshop, we will find inspiration from the Gospel of Mat-
thew to minister faithfully in situations where we or our congregations feel weak. Visual and performative
arts will help us engage imaginatively with selected scriptures to deepen and strengthen discipleship. Since
the Revised Common Lectionary features Matthew in 2025-26, preachers may encounter ideas they can de-
velop into sermons for the coming year.