Today at NOAC

Overview of the Day:
On Thursday, Sept. 10, an early morning “Hike for Haiti” gathered some 175 NOAC participants for a walk around Lake Junaluska, to raise funds for the Church of the Brethren mission in Haiti and theological education there. Morning Bible study led by Bob Neff preceded a keynote session with Mike McKeever, who gave a presentation on “Wisdom on the Road” with stories from the gospel of Luke and contemporary film, sponsored by Resource Partners. A service project to complete and pack kits for those affected by disasters–hygiene and school kits and clean-up buckets–headed an afternoon of recreation, interest groups, craft workshops, and other activities. Ever-popular Church of the Brethren singers Andy and Terry Murray gave a concert in the evening, sponsored by MAX (Mutual Aid eXchange). To close the day, it was Bethany Seminary’s turn to host an alumni gathering and ice cream social.

NOAC Bits and Pieces

Final registration number: 928

“Hike for Haiti” results: Approximately 175 walkers have raised more than $3,130 for theological education of Brethren ministers in Haiti.

“Share to Shear,” the NOAC News fundraiser: $720 raised by the shaving of Chris Stover Brown’s beard

Service project record: A NOAC record was set today for the collection of Church World Service kits for disaster relief.  A total of 1,299 kits were boxed up to be taken in the back of a pick-up truck to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. There they will be processed, warehoused, and shipped by the Church of the Brethren’s Material Resources program on behalf of a number of ecumenical partners. The total included 4 clean-up buckets, 535 personal hygiene kits, and 760 kits of school supplies.

NOAC Story of the Day

This afternoon a special interest group led by David and Maria Huber, two older adult Brethren Volunteer Service workers, told the old and new story of the Church of the Brethren mission in Lybrook, a Navajo community in New Mexico.

The Lybrook Mission was started by the Church of the Brethren in 1952. Since then it has done significant work including sharing the Gospel, helping to combat alcoholism, providing education and medical care, and meeting other needs.

With a greater government role in education and health care in recent years, the mission is turning its focus to community development, and a group of families from Western Plains District have taken responsibility for the life and work of the new Lybrook Community Ministries.

The group is renovating campus buildings at Lybrook, and is seeking another family to live and volunteer there. The group also encourages Brethren to “visit Lybrook to see for yourself.”

A new brochure says, “Renew your previous connections or build new ones. Spend time. Do a retreat. Explore the abundant beautiful (natural) resources of the area. Help with an upcoming work project.”

Contact Dave and Maria Huber, Resident Directors, Lybrook Community Ministries, HCR 17 Box 1100, Cuba, NM 87013; 575-568-9110; lybrookmission@gmail.com .

Question of the Day
What will the NOAC News Crew do in 2011?

Ruthann Knechel Johansen,
Richmond, Ind.
“It will be something simple enough that even a NOAC News member can do it.”

Dean Kagarise,
Milford, Ind.
“It will involve outer space. They will ride a light beam to NOAC from Mars.”

Elizabeth Irle,
Warrensburg, Mo.
“Oh my! Something very clever and creative.”

Ferne Baldwin,
N. Manchester, Ind.
“I hope they do the same. I can’t imagine how they continue to do such crazy things that make me laugh.”

Robert E. Alley,
Bridgewater, Va.
“They need to do something out on the Rose Path. I wonder if they will end up in the lake again, or maybe get lost in the labyrinth.”

Interviews & photos
by Frank Ramirez