Worship Leadership and Offerings

Music Leadership

Seth Crissman

Music Coordinator

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Julie Richard

Choir Director

Finksburg, Maryland

Jocelyn Watkins

Pianist

East Peoria, Illinois

Robin Risser Mundey

Organist

Frederick, Maryland

Stephanie Rappatta

Children’s Choir Director

Elkhart, Indiana

Worship Planning Team

Founa Augustin Badet

Delray Beach, Florida

Calvin Park

Knoxville, Maryland

Amber Harris

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Offerings

Wednesday – Annual Conference Operating Expenses

For more than 235 years, Annual Conference has offered the intergenerational body of Christ known as the Church of the Brethren an opportunity to gather for worship and praise, for prayerful dialog and discernment, to learn and grow, to renew old friendships and build new relationships. Your generous gifts will help support the ministry of Annual Conference as it seeks to expand accessibility and fulfill its mission to unite, strengthen, and equip the Church of the Brethren to follow Jesus.

Checks to be made out to “Church of the Brethren Annual Conference” or
Give to Annual Conference online

Thursday – Witness to the Host City: Kids’ Food Basket and Sleep in Heavenly Peace

This year we are supporting two organizations committed to caring for the well-being of children in the Grand Rapids community. Kids’ Food Basket believes that food is a right, not a privilege and works to break down barriers that cause food insecurity and to ensure a hunger-free West Michigan for all. Their services include a Sack Supper program, community-driven farming, family food provision, and educational programming. Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) believes that a bed is a basic need that supports the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children. Across the U.S., too many boys and girls go without a bed – or even a pillow – to sleep on. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is dedicated to building, assembling, and delivering top-notch bunk beds to children and families in need so that all children have a safe, comfortable place to lay their heads.

Checks to be made out to “Church of the Brethren” (with Witness to the Host City in the memo line) or
Give to Kids’ Food Basket   Give to Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Friday – Church of the Brethren CORE MINISTRIES

Contributions to CORE MINISTRIES provides the means for the development of resources and materials, events and trainings, consulting, and support for equipping our pastors, congregations, youth and young adults to be the “hands and feet of Jesus” in their neighborhoods.

The core focus of Discipleship and Leadership Formation’s work is to “equip the whole people of God to make disciples of Jesus, form leaders, and transform communities.” Staff provide support for pastors, youth and young adults, and congregations by hosting events and providing coaches, collaborators, and consultants. Through dynamic speakers and highlighting various voices from across the denomination, events are developed that provide rich resources to train leadership, encourage church development and revitalization, and strive to meet the needs of our congregations and leaders. The work of this ministry area is dedicated to the commitment of “developing a culture of calling and equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.”

Checks to be made out to “Church of the Brethren” or
Give to Core Ministries online

Saturday – Annual Conference Programming for Children and Youth

One of the things that makes our denominational gathering unique is that it is an intergenerational event. Over the course of the years, the faith journeys of countless children and youth have been shaped by their experiences at Annual Conference: participating in age-appropriate faith-based activities, encountering denominational leadership, learning about denominational programs, building relationships with their peers, singing in the children’s choir, and worshipping with the gathered body. Our young people are a precious gift, and we want to encourage families to bring their children and youth to Annual Conference. We rely on volunteers to plan and lead the activities for our children and youth. We try to keep the fees for these activities as modest as possible. This offering will help offset the basic expenses of the volunteers who plan for months in advance and then spend their week leading and caring care for our children and youth at Annual Conference.

Checks to be made out to “Church of the Brethren Annual Conference” (with Children’s Activities in the memo line) or
Support programming for children and youth

Sunday – Church of the Brethren CORE MINISTRIES

Support for CORE MINISTRIES provides the means for the Global Mission office to provide support to our Global Communion partners and other international ministries that will further the Kingdom of God.

The Office of Global Mission seeks to integrate faith and service, challenge and equip Brethren to respond to human need, and grow the church of Jesus Christ throughout the world. The office works on the development of a global Church of the Brethren consisting of autonomous groups that witness to their broader communities while mutually encouraging one another as branches of the denominational vine. Priorities are to support theological training for pastors, the building of churches, in-person gathering with our global Church of the Brethren communion, and to disciple church leadership with integrity. In the face of natural disasters, violence, and antagonism towards the church, the Church of the Brethren is growing around the world, sharing the gospel, serving the poor, and speaking peace in the face of a violent world.

Checks to be made out to “Church of the Brethren” or
Give to Core Ministries online

Conference Hymns and Songs

Sheet music and lyrics of songs and hymns (PDF) for Annual Conference 2024.

Playlists

The following playlists contain most of the songs and hymns that will be used at Conference. You will need a (free) Spotify account to listen to the Spotify playlist.

YouTube Playlist

Spotify Playlist