Church of the Brethren Newsline
Nov. 16, 2009
A new “REGNUH: Turning Hunger Around” collection has been announced by the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Crisis Fund, “for donors who wish to focus their response on tangible aspects of development.”
The collection features five items that help the world’s small-holder farm families achieve healthy and productive lives:
— $15 purchases a jerry can (water jug) to carry and store water in Myanmar.
— $25 buys two dozen cashew saplings to replenish orchards in Honduras.
— $40 provides one bag of high quality seed to rice farmers in North Korea.
— $100 supports a microcredit loan for a small business in the Dominican Republic.
— $500 helps construct a deep and safe village well in water-stressed Niger.
The designated gifts will be combined with the contributions of others to reach as many small farm families as possible, GFCF manager Howard Royer reported in a recent newsletter.
Descriptive information on each of the five projects is available. REGNUH notecards may be obtained to inform recipients of alternative gifts given in their name at holidays or on special occasions. Contact Global Food Crisis Fund, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; hroyer@brethren.org or 800-323-8039 ext. 264.
Emergency Disaster Fund gives grants
In related news, recent grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) have been given for humanitarian assistance in Pakistan, and for health care in southern Sudan.
An allocation of $40,000 responds to a Church World Service (CWS) appeal for assistance in Pakistan, where the grant will assist in providing basic needs of displaced families and mobile health services, as well as establishing and staffing schools for children, vocational training for adults, and special programs for women.
A grant of $7,500 responds to an appeal from IMA World Health to fund health care in southern Sudan. It follows up on a previous allocation of $10,000 provided in Sept. 2007. IMA received initial funding from a special Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) to develop basic health services in the Jonglei and Upper Nile States of southern Sudan. Additional funding from MDTF has been withheld for unclear reasons, and this grant will continue to support IMA’s work in Sudan while efforts are made to restore the MDTF funding.
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. For more Church of the Brethren news and features, subscribe to “Messenger” magazine; call 800-323-8039 ext. 247.
Brethren in the News
“Religion in Brief: Minister accepts interim position,” Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, Pa. (Nov. 13, 2009). In its “Religion in Brief” column, the Johnstown newspaper reports on the appointment of Gary N. Mosorjak as interim pastor at Hooversville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, and the District Conference of the Western Pennsylvania District of the Church of the Brethren. The event was held on Oct. 24 at the Fred M. Rogers Center on the campus of St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. http://www.tribune-democrat.com/features/
local_story_317125041.html
Obituary: Curtis H. Massie, News Leader, Staunton, Va. (Nov. 14, 2009). Curtis Hayes Massie, 81, passed away on Nov. 12 at Envoy of Staunton, Va. He was a member of Forest Chapel Church of the Brethren in Crimora, Va. He was a former employee of Waynesboro General Electric plant and retired from the Waynesboro DuPont Co. after 21 years of service. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Patsy Lyons Massie. http://www.newsleader.com/article/
20091114/OBITUARIES/911140307
Obituary: Perry J. Huffer, News Leader, Staunton, Va. (Nov. 13, 2009). Perry Jones Huffer, 83, died on Nov. 13 at his home. He was a member of Elk Run Church of the Brethren in Churchville, Va., but had been attending Staunton (Va.) Church of the Brethren. He had served many years on the church board as financial secretary and on the board of trustees for the Elk Run Church. In his professional career in plumbing and heating he had worked for J.W. McGavick Plumbing and Heating, Riddlebarger Brothers, and the city of Staunton as plumbing and heating inspector, and had started the P.J. Huffer Plumbing and Heating business. His wife, Catherine Bell Baber, died in 1999. http://www.newsleader.com/article/
20091113/OBITUARIES/911130340
“Brethren Village opens Welcome Center, Courtyards,” Lancaster (Pa.) Intelligencer Journal (Nov. 9, 2009). Brethren Village has thrown open the doors to 120 new, private rooms in a cozy, home-like environment. The Church of the Brethren retirement community held the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the two new features of its residential campus on Sunday, Nov. 8. Craig Smith, district executive for the Atlantic Northeast Church of the Brethren, was the keynote speaker. http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/244756
“Funeral set for officer who had H1N1 flu,” Dayton (Ohio) Daily News (Nov. 8, 2009). Eaton (Ohio) Church of the Brethren is hosting the visitation and funeral for Preble County Sheriff’s Capt. Michael Thornsberry, who died Nov. 6, apparently from H1N1 flu virus and complications, including pneumonia. He was 38 years old and a 15-year veteran of the sheriff’s office. The funeral will be held Nov. 12, at 1 p.m. at the church in Eaton. Thornsberry is survived by his wife, Michelle, daughters Faith and Allie, and granddaughter Jenna. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/
funeral-set-for-officer-who-had-h1n1-flu-391841.html
Obituary: Donna Louise Kuhn, Mansfield (Ohio) News Journal (Nov. 8, 2009). Donna Louise Kuhn, 82, died on Nov. 6. She was a member of Richland (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, where she had served as deacon and board member. She was also a board member of Church World Service and volunteered with Hospice of North Central Ohio. An avid quilter and crocheter, she won many awards. She was preceded in death by her first husband, George McKean; and her second husband, Robert F. Kuhn. Http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/
20091108/OBITUARIES/911080337
“The Church Lady’s gift,” CantonRep.com, Canton, Ohio (Nov. 7, 2009). Church of the Brethren member Marjorie Petry’s heart, faith and principles forever will lie on her mostly pristine homestead. In life, she devoted herself to God. In death, she wanted to spread the word, with a gift. Upon her death, she donated her property valued at some $500,000 to Haven of Rest Ministries offering religious-centered assistance and shelter to the homeless and poor. http://www.cantonrep.com/communities/
jackson/x1972895665/-The-Church-Lady
“Triad Area Closer To Being National Historic District,” WFMY News 2, North Carolina (Nov. 6, 2009). A rural area comprising about 2,300 acres in southwest central Forsyth County, N.C., with ties to Hope Moravian Church and Fraternity Church of the Brethren is one step closer to becoming a national historic rural district. The North Carolina National Register Advisory Committee agreed Oct. 8 to put the historic rural district application for the Hope-Fraternity area on the North Carolina Study List, a step toward National Register recognition. http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/
article.aspx?storyid=132775&catid=57
“Brethren Village Announces Change in Board,” Central Pennsylvania Business Journal (Nov. 4, 2009). Brethren Village Retirement Community announced the appointment of new members to its Board of Directors, including F. Barry Shaw of Elizabethtown, Pa.; Douglas F. Deihm of Lancaster, Pa.; and Alan R. Over, also of Lancaster. http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/
view_release.asp?aID=3310
“Lower Deer Creek Church raises the turkey,” Carroll County (Ind.) Comet (Nov. 4, 2009). Members of the Lower Deer Creek Church of the Brethren have been having fun with a food collection project called “Raise the turkey, hide the pastor.” The idea was to collect a pile of food for the Carroll County Food Pantry in front of the pulpit, and stack it so high that it would eventually hide pastor Guy Studebaker. http://www.carrollcountycomet.com/news/
2009-11-04/Front_Page/Lower_Deer_Creek_Church
_raises_the_turkey.html