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Brethren Bits for October 19, 2013

Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board is holding its fall meeting this weekend at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Chair Becky Ball Miller (at center above) is leading the meeting that started yesterday and continues through Monday.

— Remembrance: Family physician and former missionary James E. Kipp of Newport, Pennsylvania, passed away on Oct. 7, after a 14-month battle with pancreatic cancer. A family physician with Norlanco Medical Associates in Elizabethtown, Pa., since 1975, Kipp took sabbatical leave for 14 months in 1980 and 1981 to volunteer as medical director for the Rural Health Program of the Church of the Brethren Mission in Nigeria. In the mid-1980s, he served as president of the Church of the Brethren Health and Welfare Association. A memorial will be held to celebrate his life on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Family Life Center in Newport, Pa. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until the service starts at 3 p.m. Memorial donations are received to Hospice of Central Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Sun Home Health and Hospice in Northumberland, and the American Cancer Society office in Harrisburg, Pa. The full obituary can be found at http://lancasteronline.com/obituaries/local/904273_James-E–Kipp–M-D-.html#ixzz2i0X7kmP4 .

— The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership seeks a half-time coordinator for the Training in Ministry (TRIM) and Education for Shared Ministry (EFSM) programs. Primary functions of the position are to administer two of the four educational tracks required for set-apart ministry in the Church of the Brethren; work with TRIM students and district coordinators, EFSM students, and supervising pastors; coordinate onsite and online learning options. Candidates should possess the following qualifications and abilities: five years of effective leadership in pastoral ministry; ordination and active membership in the Church of the Brethren; a master of divinity degree; a record of regular continuing education experiences; residence in Richmond, Ind., or the surrounding area preferred. Applications and a more complete job description are available from the executive assistant to the president of Bethany Theological Seminary and will be accepted until the position is filled. Send resumes to: Shaye Isaacs, Executive Assistant to the President, Bethany Theological Seminary, 615 National Road West; Richmond, IN 47374; or by e-mail to isaacsh@bethanyseminary.edu . The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is a ministry training partnership of Bethany Theological Seminary and the Church of the Brethren.

— The Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADNet) newsletter featured the Church of the Brethren’s Open Roof Award in its October “Connections” newsletter. Written by Donna Kline, director of the denomination’s Deacon Ministry, the article explains how the Church of the Brethren offers the award annually to congregations that have made efforts to ensure that all may worship, serve, be served, learn, and grow as valued members, and reviews the four churches in Pennsylvania and Indiana that received the award in 2013. Find the October “Connections” newsletter and a link to the article about the Open Roof Award at www.adnetonline.org/resources/newsletter .

— On Nov. 3, Sheldon (Iowa) Church of the Brethren celebrates its 125th anniversary. The congregation was begun on Nov. 3, 1888, with three families in attendance, said an announcement of the celebration. A Sunday morning worship celebration starts at 9:30 a.m., with cake, coffee, and punch served after the service. For those unable to attend in person, the church welcomes any special memories of time spent at the church. RSVP or send special memories by Oct. 27 to Sheldon Church of the Brethren, c/o Linda Adams, 712 6th St., Sheldon, IA 51201.

— Registration is due by Nov. 15 for the Shenandoah District Pastors for Peace conversation on “Why a Peace Church?” The seminar will be held Nov. 23 from 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m. at Bridgewater (Va.) College. Jeff Bach, Church of the Brethren historian and director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, will lead the conversation. The cost is $25 for ministers earning continuing education units, $20 for other interested adults, $10 for students. For more information go to http://origin.library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1110837621104-160/2013WhyAPeaceChurch.pdf .

— “Lybrook Community Ministries is active again!” announced a recent newsletter from Western Plains District. Jim and Kim Therrien of Independence Church of the Brethren in Kansas recently moved to New Mexico to serve the Lybrook community. Jim Therrien has begun work as director of Lybrook Community Ministries and pastor of Tók’ahookaadí Church of the Brethren. Kim Therrien is teaching at the school. The district requests, “Please keep Jim, Kim, and the entire Lybrook community in prayer.” Jim Therrien reported in the newsletter that “we have resumed Sunday morning worship services and have had some attendance. They had not had a service in over a year, so it will take a little time to get the word out. We have been posting flyers and contacted both the Nageezi and Counselor chapter houses. Kim has started the Monday evening craft and fellowship night and has had between four and seven ladies attending. We are started our Wednesday evening Bible study on September 25 and look forward to studying God’s word together. Kim has started the planning phase of opening a thrift store on the mission grounds utilizing the lower level of the bunkhouse.” The grand opening for the new effort at Lybrook is planned for Nov. 5. Contact the Therriens at lybrookmission@gmail.com or Lybrook Community Ministries, HCR 17, Box 110, Cuba, NM 87013.

— Western Plains District is holding a “Meet ’n Greet” for president Jeff Carter of Bethany Theological Seminary on Nov. 1 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Cedars Conference Center in McPherson, Kan. The reception with the new Bethany president is held in advance of the district’s popular annual Gathering in Salina, Kan., where Carter will be on the program, said a note from the district office.

— Western Pennsylvania District Conference will be held Oct. 19 at Camp Harmony, Hooversville, Pa. An offering of Church World Service Hygiene, School, Baby Kits, and Emergency Clean-up Buckets will be taken during the conference.

— On Nov. 2, Western Pennsylvania’s 8th Annual District Auction is held at Camp Harmony near Hooversville, Pa. The event is a benefit for district ministries. The auction begins at 9 a.m. Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:45 a.m. The day also includes a lunch, the sale of fresh baked pies, and more. Contact the district office at 814-479-2181 or 814-479-7058.

— Oct. 19 is the Camp Eder Fall Festival. Events take place 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the camp in Pennsylvania. The festival is free for all to attend. For more information see www.campeder.org/events-retreats/fall-festival .

— Part 2 of the current Spiritual Disciplines Folder from the Springs of Living Water initiative for church renewal is now available. “Called to Serve: Entrusted to Be Servant Leaders” is posted at www.churchrenewalservant.org . The folder includes a description of the theme and focused scriptures connecting the service of footwashing, tub, and towel with mission. A release notes that it is designed for use with the entire congregation to deepen understanding of the central call to serve Christ, and through that to be called into the role of a servant leader. Study questions are written by Vince Cable, pastor of Uniontown Church of the Brethren near Pittsburgh, Pa., and are suitable for individual use or for small group study. The folder is used in the advanced class of the Springs of Living Water Academy as pastors explore the meaning of servant leadership.

— In more news from the Spring of Living Water initiative, enrollment is open for the next class of the Springs of Living Water Academy. Intended for pastors, the class takes place via telephone conference calls. Participants work on the spiritual disciplines together, and members of their congregations walk alongside pastors who take the course. Pastors receive “shepherding” calls between each of 5 sessions spread over a 12-week period. The opening day for the next Springs of Living Water Academy course is Feb. 4. Continuing education units are available. For more information see www.churchrenewalservant.org or e-mail David Young at
davidyoung@churchrenewalservant.org .

— The John Kline Homestead in Broadway, Va., is hosting special dinners in November and December, according to an announcement. “Enjoy a home-style candlelight dinner in pre-Civil War house, 223 East Springbrook Road, Broadway, Nov. 15 and 16 and Dec. 20 and 21, 6 p.m.” said an invitation. “Learn about Virginia calvary raids, high inflation and fleeing war refugees which strained community life in the fall of 1863. Hear the struggles of the family in the John Kline home around a traditional meal.” Seats are $40 per plate; seating limited to 32. Call 540-896-5001 for reservations. Groups are welcome. Proceeds support the John Kline Homestead, the family home of Civil War-era Brethren elder and martyr for peace John Kline.

— For the last 10 years, the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice  Program has developed an ecumenical Earth Day Sunday Resource. In the program’s new capacity as Creation Justice Ministries, “we will continue this tradition and look forward to sharing the 2014 Earth Day Sunday Resource with you,” said an announcement. “While our resource is not complete, we are excited to reveal next year’s theme: Water, Holy Water.” The Earth Day Sunday Resource will be out at the beginning of 2014 and will include worship resources, activities, and educational information about the gift of water and its important role. For more information contact Creation Justice Ministries at info@creationjustice.org .

— The University of La Verne, Calif., is holding centennial celebrations for the composer Benjamin Britten. An article in the “Inland Valley Daily Bulletin” notes that ULV’s College of Arts and Sciences is using the to recognize Britten’s pacifist convictions and at the same time recognize the university’s roots in the pacifist Church of the Brethren. The centennial of Britten’s birth is Nov. 22. Provost Greg Dewey told the newspaper: “Since the University of La Verne was founded by and is historically affiliated with the Church of the Brethren, a pacifist denomination, the Britten events provide our community an opportunity to reflect on our origins and the contemporary revelancy and means of promoting peace in an often violent world. We look forward to the vigorous intellectual discussions that will arise because of these events.” Four Britten events at ULV start Oct. 17 with a panel discussion about conscientious objectors and the historic values of the university, held in the University Chapel at 4-5 p.m. with a reception following.  On. Oct. 22 a lecture by curator Susanne Slavick titled “Out of Rubble” starts at 4:40 p.m., program coordinated by Dion Johnson, director of university art galleries, with a reception following. On Oct. 27 the concert “Peace in the Heart of War” will feature Los Angeles Opera tenor Jonathan Mack, ULV Music Department associate and soprano Carol Stephenson, and pianist Grace Xia Zhao, ULV’s artist-in-residence; a donation of $20 is suggested for the 6 p.m. concert in Morgan Auditorium.A talk titled “Hot Spots: The Exile of Benjamin Britten” will be given by history professor Ken Marcus at 11 a.m. Oct. 24 in the President’s Dining Hall.

— Five former Bridgewater (Va.) College athletes have been selected for induction into the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame on Nov. 8, a release said. Inductees are: Glen Goad of Bristol, Va., former linebacker and one of the top football players at Bridgewater during the 1970s, who served as team captain and in 1973 was named the Eagles’ MVP; Andrew Agee of Roanoke, Va., who completed his four-year basketball playing career at Bridgewater as one of the top players in the program’s history ranking 13 on the Bridgewater all-time scoring list, and during his senior season was team captain; Shirley Brown Chenault of Broadway, Va., who played basketball and volleyball while at Bridgewater and was one of the top volleyball players in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, and at the time of her graduation ranked No. 1 on the Eagles’ all-time assists list; Todd Rush of Chevy Chase, Md., who finished his basketball career at Bridgewater as one of the top players in program history finishing his playing career with 1,784 points to rank No. 4 on the program’s all-time scoring list, and was a three-year team co-captain; and Melissa Baker Nice of Waynesboro, Va., who finished her career as one of the top performers in the women’s track and field program, qualifying for the NCAA championship five times and earning All-America honors twice during the 2001 season, who won a total of 23 Old Dominion Athletic Conference titles during her career–16 individual and 7 relay. Nice holds school records in the indoor 400, outdoor 400, outdoor 400 hurdles, and as a member of the outdoor 4×400 relay team, and she still holds the ODAC record in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:01.94. For the full release go to www.bridgewater.edu/news-and-media/releases/1413-five-sports-legends-enter-bc-athletic-hall-of-fame-nov-8 .

Photo courtesy of GWP
The Global Women’s Project Steering Committee visits Growing Ground in Indiana.

— “We don’t often get the chance to visit one of our partner projects, but last month, we did. And what a joy it was,” reports Tina Rieman of the Global Women’s Project Steering Committee in a release. The group held its fall meeting in North Manchester, Ind., and had an opportunity to connect with partner project Growing Grounds in Wabash, Ind. “I was particularly moved by the stories that the former inmates, Veronica, April, and Jennifer, shared with us,” Rieman wrote in her report. “They took life skills classes taught by Growing Grounds, and they received loans, rides, and abundant emotional support, both before and after their release from jail. I am keenly aware of how amazing each of these women is…for turning their lives around and accepting the helping hand that was offered to them.” Find her full report at http://globalwomensproject.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/fall-meeting-wrap-up-connecting-with-growing-grounds .

 

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