Sunday, July 1

Stafford Frederick portrays Solomon during the morning worship.

WEATHER: Sunny, hot, and humid in the low 90s; a late afternoon thunderstorm blew through.

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS: The first full day of Annual Conference includes Sunday morning worship, the opening business session with the Brethren Ministries Live report, Messenger's 150th anniversary dinner, and a free ice cream social sponsored by Bethany Theological Seminary. Among other events were Bible studies, insight sessions, Brethren college alumni luncheons, and continuing age-group activities from early childhood to youth to single adults.

TODAY'S QUOTES: "The peace churches ... have not said that domination is wrong." – theologian Walter Wink, speaking on nonviolence at Messenger's 150th anniversary dinner.

"To worship our God without a willingness to sacrifice for God makes our faith a facade." – worship leader Linda Lambert, during the offering statement for the Sunday morning service.

WORSHIP: Energetic worship leadership, a variety of beautiful music, a moving message, and a crowd that nearly filled the 6,000 chairs in the convention center's main hall combined for a dynamic morning service. Instruments used included flute, violin, piano, and organ.

Sermon Text

Northern Ohio District executive Tom Zuercher spoke on "Let It Begin With Me," calling participants to personal responsibility when it comes to revival. He challenged everyone not to aim to be comfortable or settle for the path of least resistance but to help God accomplish "amazing" things in the church. "If we are going to be God's people, then let us BE God's people," he said. "If God is speaking to you, you need to respond. If we're going to have revival in the Church of the Brethren, then it has to start right here with you and me. How bad do you want it?"

At the end of his message, Zuercher invited people to go to prayer counselors/anointers stationed at four points in the auditorium. The counselors came from Northern Ohio and Mid-Atlantic districts.

BRETHREN MINISTRIES LIVE: What is on the outside is not what counts; it is "what is on the inside that matters," a mentor told a young boy during an interlude of this year's Brethren Ministries Live report. Sunday afternoon, through that report, Conferencegoers had the opportunity to learn more about what goes on inside the denomination.

The presentation included all five of the Annual Conference agencies: the Association of Brethren Caregivers, On Earth Peace Assembly, Brethren Benefit Trust, Bethany Theological Seminary, and the General Board. Highlights from the work of each agency were showcased during the lively multimedia report.

Pearl Rohrer of Richmond, Ind., receives a black ribbon as a reminder of death penalty victims outside the convention center.

Continuing with the Conference theme of revival and renewal, the presentation opened with a drama depicting a baptism in the river of life, which "flowed" throughout the worship hall in the form of long, blue rolls of cloth. Interspersed among skits, videos, and music, agency representatives told attendees about new and existing programs that sustain and nourish both the church and its work in the wider world.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers introduced its own version of the notorious "Brethren Name Game," a test of knowledge of ABC's programs, with a video focusing on deacon ministries.

On Earth Peace likened their past year to a tapestry, woven on-stage by several youth. It has been a year of change for the organization, but the goals of education, facilitation, and mediation both within and outside the church remain focused.

Brethren Benefit Trust highlighted programs that "enable people to continue the good work they do on behalf of the church," including the Clergy Consultation Service and pension plans that encourage socially responsible investments.

Bethany conveyed the need for pastoral leadership within the denomination and reported on programs to recruit and train new leaders. The inaugural Exploring Your Call retreat for high school juniors and seniors will be held at the seminary in July, and the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership continues to work with pastors and students.

Manchester College alumni line up to enjoy lunch together.

The General Board concluded the report, highlighting its work across the denomination, from support for smaller congregations, to a school in southern Sudan, to new church planting in Brazil.

Looking back at the past year, Brethren Ministries Live gave attendees a sampling of the many projects of the denomination and delivered a sense of anticipation and renewal that awaits in the future as the Church of the Brethren continues its work.

BRETHREN BY BUS: Outside the Baltimore Convention Center, buses lined up as hundreds of Brethren from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other nearby states took the opportunity to attend Annual Conference. All ages, from senior high youth to senior citizens, poured off buses for weekend worship services. With a large number of congregations within a few hours, it was also a chance to see friends and family attending Conference.

Piney Creek Church of the Brethren teamed up with the Meadow Branch Church of the Brethren to provide transportation for their members to attend the opening worship on Saturday night from nearby Carroll County, Md. Black Rock Church of the Brethren in Glenville, Pa., chartered a 45-passenger motor coach to transport members for Sunday morning worship. Members of York (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren came for the weekend in their church bus. Whether in a yellow school bus or a small executive coach, by arranging transportation congregations opened the door for many to be a part of the Baltimore Annual Conference.

NOTES: The Conference Journal noted the four members of Standing Committee newly appointed to the body's nominating committee as: Ludovic St. Fleur, Ann Eberly, Harold S. Moyer, and Ron McAdams. ... The (Baltimore) Sun newspaper carried a story about Annual Conference and the denomination on the front page of its Sunday "Maryland" section. ... Attendance at Saturday's opening worship was 4,159 – the highest in at least five years. ... The Bethany ice cream social had long lines of Brethren waiting for the frozen treats. Joseph Helfrich provided music for those waiting and eating, and afterwards gift certificates were awarded as door prizes to numerous lucky winners. ... The Brethren contemporary Christian praise band "Wake-Up Call" played at morning and evening youth activities.