“Youth pastor killed in crash on U.S. 127,” News Talk Radio WHIO, Dayton, Ohio (April 4, 2012) – The fatality in Tuesday morning’s crash on U.S. 127 at Hollansburg-Arcanum Road was the pastor of Student Ministries. Brian Delk of Castine Church of the Brethren was on his way to the church when the crash was reported west of Arcanum in Darke County at 10:40 a.m. For the full report go to www.newstalkradiowhio.com/news/news/youth-pastor-killed-us-127-darke-co/nMKL6/
“1 killed, several injured in Darke County crashes,” Dayton (Ohio) Daily News (April 4, 2012) – The fatal crash involving a local youth pastor punctuated a dangerous 24-hour period on Darke County roads between Tuesday and Wednesday. Two crashes were recorded Tuesday on U.S. 127. The first crash occurred at the Hollansburg-Arcanum Road intersection and resulted in the death of 52-year-old Brian Delk of New Madison. Delk served as pastor of student ministries at Castine Church of the Brethren. The full report is at www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/11-killed-several-injured-in-darke-county-crashes-1355220.html
“Veritas exhibit shows Jesus’ human side,” Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster, Pa. (April 4, 2012) – The Veritas Community, a Church of the Brethren new church plant, wants people to connect with the human side of Jesus. “We would say Jesus is both human and divine,” said Ryan Braught, who leads the community. “But we want to give people a chance to see that Jesus can really relate to our emotions, our humanity, because he experienced them on the way to the cross.” Veritas will present “Emotive: A Good Friday Art Show” from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. About nine artists will express betrayal, loneliness, abandonment, stress, pain, grief and sadness in about 15 pieces of art. Read more at http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/619104_Veritas-exhibit-shows-Jesus–human-side.html
“Champion church demonstrating true meaning of Holy Days,” Pittsburgh (Pa.) Tribune-Review (April 4, 2012) – A local church has come up with a unique way to observe the upcoming Holy Days and reinforce their true meaning. The County Line Church of the Brethren, on the corner of County Line Road and Route 711 South in Champion, will hold a live re-enactment of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ from 6 to 7 p.m. on Good Friday. Read more: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/dailycourier/s_789762.html#ixzz1rCdFOnZw
“Fugate volunteers at The Palms,” News Sun, Sebring, Fla. (April 4, 2012) – Damon Fugate of Ludlow Falls, Ohio, has recently undertaken a Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) assignment with The Palms Retirement Community in Sebring. The Palms of Sebring is a Continuing Care Retirement Community related to the Church of the Brethren. Find the story at www.newssun.com/business/032512-Palms
“Hannah Watkins is Soroptimist student,” Daily American, Somerset, Pa. (April 4, 2012) – Soroptimist club chose Hannah Elizabeth Watkins of Somerset Church of the Brethren, from Berlin Brothersvalley High School, as its senior for the month. Watkins is the daughter of John and Vickie Watkins of Berlin and is enrolled in the academic course. Her school activities include Leo club, Mountaineers in Motion, FFA, Teens for Greens and basketball statistician. She was secretary of the Leo club and vice president of Teens for Greens. She received honors for various academic artistic and equestrian awards through high school. See www.dailyamerican.com/lifestyle/home_family/da-ot-hannah-watkins-is-soroptimist-student-20120405,0,5343599.story
“Disaster workshop coming to Center Church,” Canton (Ohio) Repository (April 2, 2012) – Children’s Disaster Services will host a volunteer workshop April 27-28 at Center Church of the Brethren. CDS is a Church of the Brethren Disaster Ministry that trains volunteers from many faith communities who wish to provide a calm, safe and reassuring presence in the midst of the chaos that follows disaster by setting up and operating special child care centers in disaster locations. Read the news at www.cantonrep.com/community/x760615793/Disaster-workshop-coming-to-Center-Church
Obituary: William Wilson “Bill” Bane Jr., News-Tribune, Keyser, W.Va. (April 2, 2012) – William Wilson “Bill” Bane, Jr., 93, of Burlington, W.Va., died March 31. He was a member of the Church of the Brethren since 1931 and was active at the Harness Run congregation and the West Marva District. He married Velma V. (Johnson) Bane in 1947 and she preceded him in death. He was a graduate of Bridgewater (Va.) College and an elementary school teacher, retiring in 1981 from the Mineral County School System. He had been the principal of the former Antioch School. He enjoyed farming his entire life. The obituary is at www.newstribune.info/obituaries/x760615976/William-Wilson-Bill-Bane-Jr
“Reverend who lost money has criminal past: Did prison time for bilking banks,” Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette (April 1, 2012) – A Fort Wayne man accused of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars of other groups’ money is a convicted felon who spent years in federal prison for bank fraud, the newspaper reports. Steven E. Clapp contacted the Religious Institute, a non-profit group in Connecticut, and Many Voices, a non-profit in Washington, D.C., to tell them the non-profit he had run since 1996, The Christian Community Inc., was broke and the money Christian Community had been holding on the groups’ behalf was gone. (Clapp has attended Lincolnshire Church of the Brethren in Fort Wayne and his books on church vitality and Christian hospitality have been sold through Brethren Press. The newspaper report is incorrect in stating that he is an ordained minister.) Read the extensive report from the newspaper at www.journalgazette.net/article/20120401/LOCAL10/304019948/1002/LOCAL and at
“Sarah Righter Major – a woman who dared to preach,” News Works, WHYY NBC 10 (March 29, 2012) – This column is a look back at a Germantown (Pa.) woman who defied religious conventions in the 1800s. Writer Alaina Mabaso’s ancestor was the first woman preacher in the Church of the Brethren: “There’s a story I like about a woman who was born in Germantown in 1808. She was a member of the Church of the Brethren, a Christian sect founded 300 years ago in Germany that has deep roots in northwest Philadelphia. In the custom of her faith, she dressed in dark, plain clothes and wore a black bonnet to church. As the sermon began, she would untie the strings, take the bonnet off, and hand it to her husband. She was the one giving the sermon….” See www.newsworks.org/index.php/component/flexicontent/item/36031-profile-of-sarah-righter-major–
“Did you hear?: Students at St. Andrew School helped music teacher Janet Smedley celebrate 80th birthday,” Record-Herald, Waynesboro, Pa. (March 23, 2012) – Students at St. Andrew School helped music teacher Janet Smedley celebrate her 80th birthday March 6. Mrs. Smedley, who is retiring at the end of the school year, had planned secretly to treat the students to an Italian ice treat, according to Principal Pat McDonald, who told the newspaper: “What she did not know was that the students were going to surprise her with cards, songs and many well wishes.” Mrs. Smedley, who is the organist at the Church of the Brethren in Waynesboro, has been involved in music and music education her entire adult life. Go to www.therecordherald.com/news/x1231832253/Did-you-hear-Students-at-St-Andrew-School-helped-music-teacher-Janet-Smedley-celebrate-80th-birthday
“Union Bridge church offers college scholarship,” Gazette, Gaithersburg, Md. (March 22, 2012) – Union Bridge Church of the Brethren is accepting applications for the Joanne Grossnickle Scholarship. The scholarship, to be awarded in July, is given to students who attended Linganore, Walkersville, or Francis Scott Key high schools and have a connection to the church. Find out more at www.gazette.net/article/20120322/NEWS/703229939/1146/union-bridge-church-offers-college-scholarship&template=gazette