Covenant to Olomouc An Exploratory Journey OLOMOUC Oh

Covenant to Olomouc An Exploratory Journey OLOMOUC “ Oh – Low – Moats ”

Covenant-Olomouc Partnership – A Short History - 1981 - First Pres, Annapolis Md Annapolis – Letohrad Partnership Established -

Covenant-Olomouc Partnership – A Short History - 1981 - First Pres, Annapolis Md Annapolis – Letohrad Partnership Established - 2007 - PCUSA /ECCB desire to expand Partnerships -

Covenant-Olomouc Partnership – A Short History - 1981 - First Pres, Annapolis Md Annapolis – Letohrad Partnership Established - 2007 - PCUSA /ECCB desire to expand Partnerships - spring 2008 - Call for Congregations interested in exploring a partnership

Covenant-Olomouc Partnership – A Short History - 1981 - First Pres, Annapolis Md Annapolis – Letohrad Partnership Established - 2007 - PCUSA /ECCB desire to expand Partnerships - spring 2008 - Call for Congregations interested in exploring a partnership “As it emerges from the communist era, the ECCB church is exploring what it means to be faithful in a highly secular society in a rapid pace of change. The Czech church is seeking partners in its journey. ”

Covenant-Olomouc Partnership – A Short History - 1981 - First Pres, Annapolis Md Annapolis – Letohrad Partnership Established - 2007 - PCUSA /ECCB desire to expand Partnerships - spring 2008 - Call for Congregations interested in exploring a partnership “As it emerges from the communist era, the ECCB church is exploring what it means to be faithful in a highly secular society in a rapid pace of change. The Czech church is seeking partners in its journey. ” - Spring 2008 - Covenant application and congregational profile submitted

Covenant-Olomouc Partnership – A Short History - 1981 - First Pres, Annapolis Md Annapolis – Letohrad Partnership Established - 2007 - PCUSA /ECCB desire to expand Partnerships - spring 2008 - Call for Congregations interested in exploring a partnership Covenant application and profile submitted October 14 -24, 2008 – Czech Partnership Conference 8 US and 8 Czech congregations “matched” Covenant – Olomouc

Covenant-Olomouc Partnership – A Short History - 1981 - First Pres, Annapolis Md Annapolis – Letohrad Partnership Established - 2007 - PCUSA /ECCB desire to expand Partnerships - spring 2008 - Call for Congregations interested in exploring a partnership Covenant application and profile submitted “October 14 -24, 2008 – Czech Partnership Conference 8 US and 8 Czech congregations “matched” -December 2008 – Covenant Session approved partnership with ECCB church in Olomouc -Janurary 2009 - Covenant session received report and presentation

Theological Principles: Called as Partners in Christ’s Service Partnerships are an expression of the love of God, the unity of the Body of Christ and the hope of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. A partnership across denominational, cultural and national lines provides a witness to the unity of the church of Jesus Christ and an expression of hope within a fractured world. Partners -explore the wonderful diversity of the church, and -assume a status of equality before God (thereby reject patriarchal and patronizing structures prevalent within the history of the church)

PCUSA Principles for Faithful Partnerships (2003 General Assembly) 1. Shared Grace and Thanksgiving 2. Mutuality and Interdependence 3. Recognition and Respect 4. Open dialogue and Transparency 5. Sharing of Resources

Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren (ECCB) In what is now the Czech Republic, the ECCB church has existed continually since 1781; older roots in the Ultraquist Hussite Chruch (1431 -1620) and Unity of Brethren aka Moravian Church (1457 -1620) ECCB - member of the World Council of chruches ECCB and PCUSA are “first cousins”. John Hus (1372 -1415), religious leader, reformer, philospher, at Charles University, influenced by John Wycliffe. Excommunicated from Roman Catholic church, condemned and burned at the stake in 1415. Hus was a key contributor to the Protestant movement; influence on Martin Luther, John Calvin John Hus Day – July 6

ECCB and the Czech Republic ECCB 114, 445 members 263 congregations 14 Presbyteries 251 pastors (56 women)

ECCB and the Czech Republic ECCB 114, 445 members 263 congregations 14 Presbyteries 251 pastors (56 women) Czech Republic Roman Catholic 26. 85 % ECCB 1. 1 % No church affiliation 59 Undetermined 8. 8 % %

Days 1 -4 Conference in Prague Hus House, with other PCUSA churches, reps from some ECCB churches, Synodal Council, Diakonia, worship in historic church, new church, tours Days 4 -7 Visit to Partner church congregation Days 8 -10 Conference group reconvenes in Janske Lazne and Prague

The Congregation to Congregation Conference – ECCB Pension, Prague Magda

Olomouc - Population ~100, 000 2 -3 hrs. from Prague Home of Palacky University http: www. upol. cz/en established 1573 20, 000 students

P O O

Jakub Pavel Ruml

Olomouc Welcome reception at church, overnight and breakfast in host homes, all other meals in homes of different members, short visits in other homes, tour of city, visit to Evangelical conservatory, visit to studio of painter, Dvorak concert in historic cathedral, worship, reception with congregation, countryside tour, Bouzov castle, met with church volunteer staff, visit to Mental Health day care, talk with

Jana Rumlova

Saturday Tour of Olomouc with Jan, Christina, and David Jan Christina

Olomouc

Downtown Olomouc, near ECCB church

Jana Vraj

Ladislav Maliva

Greetings From Covenant

Greetings and Gifts from Covenant

Time With the Children

Marta Palaty Otto Patlaty

Bartusek family Eva Jan Tomas Jan

Noemi Batlova Daniel

n Visit to Mental Health Center Ivana Visit to Mental Health Day Care Center (associated with Diakonia)

Jan Ivana Noemi Jana Saying Goodbye to our Friends in Olomouc – Ivana, Jana, Ana, and Jan

From Olomouc to Janske Lazne, worship, reunite with the conference group, American Culture night ! ! ! Music, fun, recap, planning back to Prague Final Dinner with the conference group

What’s Next ? - Visit / Host? - Share Worship? - Pentecost? - Advent devotionals? - Web connections/email, Facebook? - Language lessons? - Montreat-Youth? - Go South? And. . - - Music? - Children? - Holidays (Jan Hus Day) ? - Study/Discuss Topics of Interest (Immigration? )