By Kim Gingerich and Tim Sheaffer
What does an afternoon of no business session, plus service opportunities, equal at this year’s Annual Conference? Jubilee Service Projects! The Annual Conference Programs and Arrangements committee has set aside the afternoon of Friday, July 1 as a time for Conference-goers to participate in a Jubilee Afternoon.
The 2016 Annual Conference takes place in Greensboro, N.C., on June 29-July 3, at the Koury Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel.
“Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13) is the familiar tagline and theme scripture for Brethren Disaster Ministries. Historically, one of the things the Church of the Brethren is known for is service. The Jubilee Service Projects at Annual Conference 2016 will be an opportunity for Brethren to give back to the host city of Greensboro, N.C.
There are several different service projects scheduled from 1-4 p.m. on July 1 in Greensboro:
— a community prayer walk
— Random Act of Kindness activity, handing out water bottles at the Four Seasons Town Centre
— serving at the nearby Habitat Restore
— sorting and organizing food at the Greensboro Urban Ministry Food Pantry
— gardening with clients at Peace Haven Farm, a facility serving people with developmental or other disabilities
— building a fence at the Caldcleugh Organic Outreach Garden
— entertaining children at Shalom Christian Community Church Camp
Three of the service projects are contingent on having a commitment of at least four volunteers prior to June 1. Others have a volunteer limit. Conference-goers are encouraged to sign up soon for service projects in order to get their first choice.
Those who already have registered for Annual Conference but have not yet indicated interest in a service project may participate by contacting kgingerich897@gmail.com . Those who have not yet registered for Annual Conference are encouraged to sign up for a service project during the registration process that is online at www.brethren.org/ac . All service project volunteers will receive more information via e-mail.
Join us as we seek to serve the community of Greensboro in love.
— Kim Gingerich and Tim Sheaffer are the 2016 Annual Conference service project coordinators. Find out more about Annual Conference 2016 at www.brethren.org/ac .