National Older Adult Conference

Daily Updates	WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12 Well-known author and spiritual theology professor Marva Dawn urged Brethren to live in commitment to God's commandments during evening worship, a special presentation of Mutual Aid Association.  WEATHER: Partly sunny, high near 80 HIGHLIGHTS: Early-morning devotions and vegetation walk; continuation of Bob Neff series of Psalms studies; general session address by Paul Hoffman; more video tours and profiles; contined handcrafts, recreation, and interest groups; support-group meetings, evening worship celebration featuring author/theologian Marva Dawn; late-night Bethany alumni social, stargazing, and singing. TODAY'S QUOTE: "One of the hardest tasks in the Church of the Brethren is getting a group of people to stop talking ... and ready to go!"--NOAC co-coordinator Doreen Myers, calling for attention before making announcements. Former McPherson College president and Annual Conference moderator Paul Hoffman spoke on "Should Sistern and Brethren Wear Sneakers?" in Wednesday morning's general session. SESSIONS/WORSHIP: Marva Dawn, after lengthy flight delays in reaching North Carolina and using crutches due to a foot injury, delivered a soft and sweet but deep and powerful message in the evening worship celebration. Her sermon was titled "The Freedom of Being Bound." She wore a bright pink dress as a reminder that "God is tickled pink" with us, as God calls us friends and "the proof is in the cross." She said the greatest freedom we can have is in the disciplines of God's commandments, kept by Jesus. Our task is to stay, abide, and remain, she said. "We're branches on a vine. ... and if you don't stay stuck, you don't bear much fruit." Earlier in the day, Hoffman questioned how Brethren today display their identity. He concluded that wearing sneakers is, in fact, practical and OK, but Brethren should be distinctive in other ways. "Our identity could involve being generous givers rather than wearing a certain kind of shoes or a certain kind of coat." He also suggested emphasizing family, writing about our church histories, and being noncomformist "peculiar people." Neff's Bible study focused on Psalm 92, "A Hymn of Accountability." He said that "the hardest thing in the world to do is to relinquish." Yet we need to let go of our agendas and let God work. He said the nourishment is always there, citing the activity and generosity of John Baker at Juniata College right up to Baker's death at age 103. Larry Glick is teaming with David Sollenberger to provide video coverage of this year's NOAC, including "Fresh and Green" segments on active older Brethren. Glick is also serving as the roving reporter for often-humorous NOAC News segments during the week, shown before sessions. Video and audio tapes of the various major sessions are being made available for sale.
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Jane Taylor Greenfield of Elgin, Ill., shared "creative movement" during the scripture reading in Wednesday evening's worship. Some NOAC statistics shared by Association of Brethren Caregivers executive director Steve Mason this week: *Number of participants: About 1,040, from 30 states. *Brethren districts represented: 21 out of 23. Atlantic Northeast and Mid-Atlantic had the largest contingents. *Congregations represented: 236 (four congregations--Manchester, North Manchester, Ind.; Highland Avenue, Elgin, Ill.; Bridgewater, Va.; and Elizabethtown, Pa.--sent more than 25 people.) *The wild West: 120 people from west of the Mississippi are attending, including one from Hawaii. The Modesto, Calif., church sent 14 people and La Verne, Calif., sent 17. *More than half of those attending are from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Indiana. *Many hands went up for those attending their first NOAC. Mason also drew applause when he said that, unlike Annual Conference, no business would be conducted here!