Worship

Music Leadership

Marty Keeney

Music Coordinator

Stone Church of the Brethren

Matthew Fritz

Choir Director

Lancaster Church of the Brethren

David Hupp

Pianist

Manchester Church of the Brethren

Margaret Marsch

Organist

Lancaster Church of the Brethren

Jamie Nace

Children’s Choir Director

Stevens Hill Church of the Brethren

Worship Planning Team

(left to right) Andy Duffey, Antioch Church of the Brethren; Jim Chinworth, Manchester Church of the Brethren; Gail Heisel (chair), La Verne Church of the Brethren; Marty Keeney, Stone Church of the Brethren; Cristal Herrera, Iglesia Cristiana Nueva Vida.

2026 Offerings

1. Mission and Ministry Board – Core Ministry emphasis – Global Mission – Sunday
2. Annual Conference – To cover general – Monday
3. Witness to the Host City – ALIVE Community Outreach – Tuesday
4. Annual Conference – To undergird programming for children, youth, and young adults – Wednesday
5. Mission and Ministry Board – Core Ministry emphasis – Discipleship and Leadership Formation – Thursday

Sunday – Church of the Brethren CORE MINISTRIES
Core Ministry highlighted: Global Mission

Serving together in Mission

The Office of Global Mission of the Church of the Brethren seeks to integrate faith and service, challenge and equip Brethren to respond to human need, and grow the church of Jesus Christ around the world. This Core Ministry office supports 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 from the denominational vine. It’s priorities include supporting theological training for pastors, building of churches, holding in-person gatherings with the global Church of the Brethren communion, and discipling 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 through sharing the gospel, serving the poor, and speaking peace and unity in the face of violence and division.

Checks to be made out to “Church of the Brethren” or
Give online: www.brethren.org/give-ACSundayOffering

Monday – Annual Conference Operating Expenses

For more than 239 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 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
www.brethren.org/give-ACMondayOffering

Tuesday – Witness to the Host City: ALIVE Community Outreach

Alive Community Outreach is a faith-based organization with a mission to cultivate a community of nonviolence through relationships and education. They support families impacted by homicide and partner with schools to train high school students as peacemakers, building a culture of peace through violence prevention, restorative intervention, and survivor support. Rooted in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s philosophy of nonviolence, they maintain that violence is ultimately a symptom of deeper issues that must be addressed in order to bring about lasting change. For more information go to: https://alivefw.org

Checks to be made out to “ALIVE Community Outreach”
(CoB Witness to the Host City in the memo line) or
Give Online: www.brethren.org/give-ACTuesdayOffering
(please note CoB Witness to the Host City)

Wednesday – Annual Conference: Supporting 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. Your generosity 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 AC Children/Youth Programming in the memo line) or
Give Online: www.brethren.org/give-ACWednesdayOffering

Thursday – Church of the Brethren CORE MINISTRIES
Core Ministry highlighted: Discipleship and Leadership Formation

Discipleship and Leadership Formation empowers the Church of the Brethren to embody and articulate faith through relationships, resources, and events. Through initiatives like the L.E.A.D. Conference, National Youth Conference, National Older Adult Conference and new downloadable video curriculum for congregations, this arm of the church helps “develop a culture of calling and equipping disciples who are innovative, adaptable, and fearless.” Intercultural Ministries has been especially active this past year, helping the church respond to the crisis faced by our brothers and sisters from other countries. Through programs like Part-Time Pastor; Full-Time Church and work with the Council of District Executives, the Ministry Office supports district leaders and set-apart ministers for the challenges of ministry. Your generosity supports these vital ministries.

Checks to be made out to “Church of the Brethren” or
Give Online: www.brethren.org/give-ACThursdayOffering

Conference Hymns and Songs

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

YouTube apparently no longer shows the whole list, but when each song finishes, the next one will begin.

Spotify Playlist

Ushers Needed

Annual Conference 2026 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, will be convening soon! As usual many volunteers will be needed, and this year I am responsible for coordinating those who would like to volunteer with ushering during our worship services.

During worship we need volunteer ushers to help receive offerings and record attendance. While an important role in our worship services, ushering requires very little time and does not take away from participating in the rest of the worship service. You will be able to sign up when registering for Annual Conference and/or at the usher table when you arrive and check in for the conference.

The Fort Wayne location means that many more congregations than usual are within easy driving distance providing the unique opportunity to have the Sunday evening service ushered exclusively by local congregations, and the Tuesday service by graduates and current students of Manchester University. Therefore, early conformation of your participation is greatly appreciated.

Once you have registered for conference, please volunteer here to be an usher.

You can also reach out to me at angelafinet50@gmail.com and let me know your willingness to serve, your Congregation name, and your affiliation (if any) with Manchester University. Please use “AC usher” in the subject line. Feel free to contact me via text or phone call (717-916-4694). I look forward to seeing you there and facilitating our worship services together!

Peace be with you,
Angela Finet
Pastor, Mountville Church of the Brethren

Photo by Chris Brumbaugh-Cayford