March 3, 2009
Church of the Brethren Newsline
This Wednesday’s worship service from Nicarry Chapel at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., will also be available for participants anywhere through a special webcast. David Shumate, moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, will preach for the chapel service on March 4, at 11:20 a.m. eastern time.
Shumate will preach on the Annual Conference theme for 2009, taken from 2 Corinthians: “The old has gone! The new has come! All this is from God!” Travis Poling will serve as worship leader.
“We welcome Brother David as he brings the message for us that we are God’s new creation transformed through Christ,” said an announcement from Bethany. “Released from the past we find God’s presence no longer guilt-provoking, frightening, and condemning; but dynamic, creative, and life-giving…. What an awesome wonder! What a humbling experience! Undeserved and unearned, reconciliation comes to us as the gift of God’s grace.”
To view the worship service live via the Internet, follow these instructions: Click this link http://esr-bts.na3.acrobat.com/bethanyworship to open the Web Meeting Login page. Choose “Enter as a Guest,” and enter first and last name and location (city and state). Then click [Enter Room].
Viewers may log in to the webcast at any time before the worship service starts. For questions about the webcast or technical assistance contact Enten Eller, Director of Electronic Communication for Bethany Seminary, at Enten@bethanyseminary.edu or 765-983-1831.
The Church of the Brethren Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services for the Church of the Brethren. Newsline stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. Contact cobnews@brethren.org to receive Newsline by e-mail or to submit news to the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. For more Church of the Brethren news and features, subscribe to “Messenger” magazine; call 800-323-8039 ext. 247.
Brethren in the News
“Center for homeless needed in Salisbury,” Bethany Beach (Del.) Wave (March 2, 2009). A letter to the editor from pastor Martin Hutchison of Community of Joy Church of the Brethren in Salisbury, Md. The letter advocates for a local resource center for the homeless and outlines the activities to serve the homeless by Community of Joy Church. http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20090302/OPINION03/903020337
Obituary: Connie Andes, McPherson (Kan.) Sentinel (March 2, 2009). Connie S. Andes, 66, a former executive staff member for the Church of the Brethren, died on March 2 at the Kansas City (Mo.) Hospice House. She served the Church of the Brethren General Board from July 1984 through August 1988 as an associate general secretary and executive of the General Service Commission. http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/obituaries/x1237131196/Connie-Andes
“Persons of the Week: Girls forgo birthday presents in favor of donations,” Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa. (March 1, 2009). Page Prebehalla of Moxham Church of the Brethren in Johnstown, Pa., was one of two junior high schoolers named by the newspaper as “persons of the week” for celebrating their birthdays together with a dance party to benefit children who need surgery through the International Association of Fire Fighters’ Burn Foundation. Her father is Johnstown fire Capt. Mike Prebehalla. http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_060232627.html?keyword=topstory
Obituary: Janis C. Moyer, News Leader, Staunton, Va. (Feb. 28, 2009). Janis “Deany” Cook Moyer, 75, died on Feb. 26. She was a member of Waynesboro (Va.) Church of the Brethren, where she was president of the Delphia Wright Circle and served on numerous committees. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, William D. “Bill” Moyer, on Dec. 16, 2008. http://www.newsleader.com/article/20090228/OBITUARIES/902280305
Obituary: Alice Snellman, Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune (Feb. 28, 2009). Alice (Richwine) Snellman, 92, died on Feb. 25 in Minot, N.D. Burial was at Grandview Church of the Brethren near Froid, Mont., where she was baptized in 1929. She taught school in Montana, Washington, and Arizona, and then worked as a medical technician in Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, and California. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090228/OBITUARIES/902280319
“Dr. Emmert Bittinger speaks at Young Center,” Etownian, Elizabethtown (Pa.) College (Feb. 26, 2009). Dr. Emmert Bittinger, a Church of the Brethren scholar, gave a lecture entitled “Crisis of Conscience: The Shenandoah Anabaptists During the Civil War,” linking the Civil War to the experiences of Anabaptists during that time, at the Young Center at Elizabethtown College on Feb. 26. Bittinger also donated his collection of rare books. http://www.etownian.com/article.php?id=1651
Obituary: Irene (Calhoun) Metzler, Altoona (Pa.) Mirror (Feb. 26, 2009). Irene (Calhoun) Metzler, 58, died on Feb. 24 at Altoona (Pa.) Hospital. She was a member of Clover Creek Church of the Brethren near Martinsburg, Pa., and served on the Ethics Committee for the Church of the Brethren’s Middle Pennsylvania District. She was a private practice psychologist. She is survived by her husband, Durban D. Metzler. http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/516482.html
“Penton to speak at County Line,” Ada (Ohio) Herald (Feb. 25, 2009). County Line Church of the Brethren in Harrod, Ohio, hosted guest speaker Joel Penton on March 1. Penton travels the nation bringing the Gospel of Christ to schools, churches, and gatherings of youth for the Central Ohio Fellowship for Christian Athletes. http://www.adaherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=101561&TM=57414.16
“Families share homefront hugs,” Cumberland (Md.) Times-News (Feb. 24, 2009). Mel and Catherine Menker, recent pastors at Oak Park Church of the Brethren in Oakland, Md., are among family of military who are interviewed for this article. The Menkers lead a locally organized Military Family Support Group in Garrett County, Md. http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_055232122.html
“Church’s Sewing Day helps those in need,” InsideNoVa.com (Feb. 19, 2009). For the past 51 years, Community Sewing Day at the Nokesville Church of the Brethren has been a place to meet new friends and spend time together while doing a project to help others. http://www.insidenova.com/isn/community/from_us/nokesville_bristow_brentsville/article/churchs_sewing
_day_helps_those_in_need/30361/
“Doughnuts reign in Franklin County on Fastnacht Day,” Chambersburg (Pa.) Public Opinion (Feb. 19, 2009). The Chambersburg paper highlights local traditions prior to Lent–including Greencastle Church of the Brethren, where members start making fastnacht donuts all night Monday before “Fastnacht Day” or the day before Ash Wednesday. Sales benefit the Women’s Fellowship. http://www.publicopiniononline.com/ci_11736363
“Wife of Slim Whitman dies at 84,” Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, Fla. (Feb. 18, 2009). Alma “Jerry” Crist Whitman, wife of “America’s Favorite Folksinger” Slim Whitman, died on Feb. 16 at the age of 84. She is survived by her husband. Her father, A.D. Crist, helped found Clay County Church of the Brethren in Middleburg, Fla. http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-02-18/story/wife_of_slim_whitman_dies_at_84
“Model of efficiency: Health-care oriented nonprofit recognized for worldwide services,” Carroll County (Md.) Times (Feb. 10, 2009). International nonprofit IMA Worldhealth, headquartered at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., has been listed by Forbes.com as one of the 20 most efficient large charities in America. http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2009/02/10/news/local_news/newsstory1.txt