Annual Conference 2005 - Monday Daily Snapshot Page

Mid-day rain put a damper on many people's lunch plans, but this picnic still continued.
Photo by Regina Roberts

QUOTES OF THE DAY
“To paraphrase William Barclay, ‘We who would travel far must travel light.’” – Sandy Bosserman, executive minister of Missouri and Arkansas District, preaching for Monday’s worship service

“For Brethren, all of life is a sacrament.” – Dale Brown, in an interview with Bob Neff about his new book "Another Way of Believing: A Brethren Theology," at the Brethren Press breakfast

OVERVIEW OF THE DAY
Brethren athletes began the Fourth of July holiday with the Brethren Benefit Trust Fitness Challenge, a five-kilometer race for runners and walkers of all ages. Other breakfast-time events included the Brethren Press Breakfast, the Chaplains’ Breakfast, and study groups.

Business sessions focused on elections, new business items on a Brethren Medical Plan Resolution and “General Board Revisions to Polity,” and Living Peace Church reports. Other reports were received from the General Board, On Earth Peace, and the committee working on TOGETHER: Conversations on Being the Church. International representatives were introduced.

Lunch events included the Denominational Deacon Luncheon, the Brethren Journal Association Luncheon, the Womaen’s Caucus Luncheon, the Brethren Revival Fellowship Luncheon, and the Brethren in Business Luncheon. Dinner events included the Cross Cultural Dinner and the Global Ministries Dinner.

Evening worship featured Sandy Bosserman preaching, with Thomas Dowdy as worship leader.

Insight sessions dealt with a number of topics including “Mission Challenges in the Dominican Republic,” a preview of the Gather ’Round Sunday school curriculum, and “The Challenge of Providing Quality Care That is Uncompensated” at Brethren retirement centers.

Children, youth, and young adults went on field trips, and young adults went to fireworks at Peoria Riverfront Park.

Small groups that met at various times included mutual help and networking groups, Bible studies, the youth pastors, and the Mutual Aid Association’s annual members’ meeting.

An ice cream social closed out activities for the day.

On Monday night during worship, the congregation was encouraged to symbolically cast off the entanglements keeping them from a full life in Christ.
Photo by Regina Roberts

A REPORT FROM MONDAY EVENING WORSHIP
If ever a biblical couple personify the tension that all Brethren struggle with, it is Mary and Martha. Jesus may take Mary’s side, with its emphasis on the spiritual, but most Brethren are secretly Marthas, intent on getting dinner on the table for themselves and the rest of the world.

Last year, worship leader Thomas Dowdy and preacher Sandy Bosserman pranced across the stage in Charleston, W.Va., in the costumes of a cow and a mouse. This year they led the congregation through a time of prayer, reflection, rejection of that which is not needful, and return to Jesus and the full gospel. The service was highlighted by Pachelbel’s “Fugue,” played by Marilyn Sexton Mason.

Bosserman, executive minister of Missouri and Arkansas District, described the scene from scripture. “We do not know the details of Mary’s work ethic,” she said, “but we do know that what caught her eye on that day was, well, Jesus.”

Reminding the congregation of the need for both getting dinner on the table and attending to the Living Word, she said, “At the meeting of duty and devotion the devil is invited.” That devil lies in the divisions that define and separate Brethren.

When “Martha’s focus shifted from her soup to her sibling,” Bosserman said that, “the preconceived notions and the judgments fly. There’s but one way to show hospitality.” Speaking for Martha she said, “I’m overworked and underappreciated. Here I am, shouldering the whole load and bearing my cross, and nobody even notices.”

Martha was focusing on distraction and details while Mary was traveling light.

Bosserman called a church of Marthas to travel light and focus, with Mary, on Jesus. Just as family arguments are settled in love and not by a vote, she reminded the Brethren to come together as family and not as constituencies seeking victory over relationship. By returning to our baptismal vows, proclaiming Jesus as God’s Son and Savior, casting off encumbrances, and pledging loyalty to the church, then all will be well Bosserman promised.

The message was lighthearted but serious, drawing forth meaning from the scripture and amply peppered with concrete examples from real life. It evoked both laughter and thoughtful nods from the congregation.

At the end of the service, moderator Jim Hardenbrook stepped to the pulpit and asked for an up or down vote to follow Jesus. The congregation renewed their baptismal vows with fervor. Reminding everyone of the wisdom of our Brethren ancestors, Hardenbrook asked all to “Count well the cost.”

Conference-goers offer a gift of life when donating blood.
Photo by Regina Roberts

BLOOD DRIVE SETS GOAL
The Blood Drive set a goal of receiving 200 units during this Annual Conference. That means one of every 20 Conference-goers needs to donate, said Lerry Fogle in his morning announcements. Fogle serves as the executive director of the Conference.

RESULTS OF THE BRETHREN BENEFIT TRUST FITNESS CHALLENGE
A total of 175 Annual Conference attendees were among the 651 participants in the 5K run and walk hosted jointly by the Peoria Jaycees and Brethren Benefit Trust. This was the first time the BBT run/walk was held in conjunction with a larger race. Because of that, Brethren statistics are still being tabulated from out of the larger group. Congratulations to Courtland Howard, who came in 26th overall with a time of 19:27; Reba Beery who came in first among women in her age group with a time of 28:38; and Don Shankster, who had the best overall time for a walker of 33:49. In his first race ever, 4 year old Seth Spire finished with a time of 1:01:11.

Members of the 2005 Annual Conference news team, a ministry of the General Board, contributed to this report: Regina Roberts, Jesse Reid, Hannah Edwards, and Sarah Kovacs, photographers; Kathleen Campanella, Karen Garrett, Jill Kline, Frank Ramirez, Frances Townsend, Sarah Leatherman Young, and Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, writers; Amy Heckert, technical support; Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford and Becky Ullom, editors.

219th Annual Conference Peoria, Illinois July 2-6, 2005