A request for prayer for an upcoming election in Venezuela is shared by Roger Padilla Moreno, president of ASIGLEH (the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela), and Joel Peña of Alpha and Omega Church of the Brethren in Lancaster, Pa., who is a Global Mission country advisory team member. The election for the next president of Venezuela is scheduled for this coming Sunday, July 28, and the outcome is expected to have a significant impact on the direction of the country.
— The Church of the Brethren’s West Marva District seeks a district executive minister. This quarter-time position shall be a pastor to pastors, their families, and candidates for ministry; will be the executive officer of the West Marva District Board to facilitate district goals and priorities as agreed upon by the District Conference/Board; will give general oversight to the planning and implementation of district work; will serve as an advocate for policies and directives of Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. The position will require about 11 hours per week including evenings and weekends, envisioned as six hours every other Sunday and one eight-hour day on another day of the week. Travel is required both within and outside of the district. Qualifications include ordination as a minister and training, experience, and personal dedication to Christ and the church to guide, counsel, and encourage district and local church workers in the development of vital and well-balanced church programs. The district executive minister will work with churches in the areas of pastor/congregational relationships and development; will utilize the assistance of the district Administrative Assistant in fulfilling administrative functions; will see that the district is represented, when possible, in special ceremonies, ecumenical relationships, and cooperative programs, and in this regard the position retains the authority to delegate certain responsibilities to a person or team tasked with a supportive role to the district executive minister. Apply by sending a letter of interest and resume to Nancy Sollenberger Heishman, Director of Ministry, via email at officeofministry@brethren.org. Applicants are requested to contact three people to provide letters of reference. Upon receipt of a resume, a candidate profile will be sent that must be completed and returned before the application is considered complete. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
— Kids’ Food Basket has sent a thank you note to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference office for the support received through the Witness to the Host City during the recent meeting in Grand Rapids, Mich. Eric Schumann, donor relations coordinator, wrote: “I want to give you and those who attended your Annual Conference a huge thank you for the 1,627 lbs of food you donated to Kids’ Food Basket! The Church of the Brethren’s incredible generosity will help nourish thousands of West Michigan kids. When children have access to healthy food and nutrition education, they have the power to live their best lives and reach their full potential. Thank you and your church for making this possible!”
— “It’s orientation time!” said an announcement from Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS). “Unit 335 will be gathering for orientation at Camp Colorado! The summer unit will be meeting July 28-Aug. 5 in the Rockies, about an hour southwest of Denver. A total of 12 volunteers are expected to be part of the group, with 7 coming from across the US and 5 from BVS’ partner EIRENE in Germany. Five of the US members of the summer group will be traveling across the Atlantic for their projects, serving at two projects in Northern Ireland.” This fall, Unit 336 will hold orientation Sept. 17-25 at Camp Brethren Heights in Michigan. For information about to volunteer with BVS, go to www.brethrenvolunteerservice.org.
BVS also is encouraging you to encourage others to consider BVS by dropping them a postcard in the mail. “Personal recommendations are still the No. 1 reason why volunteers look at serving with BVS!” said the invitation. BVS is offering free postcards featuring a photo from Unit 334 on the front with text on the back saying, “Someone is sending you this postcard because they think you should become a volunteer with Brethren Volunteer Service.” The postcards also feature the BVS website address and have plenty of space to write a personal message. The postcards are free while supplies last, contact bvs@brethren.org.
— A new website for Shine Everywhere, the initiative for faith formation at home and at church from the Shine curriculum of Brethren Press and MennoMedia, has opened at https://shineeverywhere.com. “We are excited to invite you to visit our brand new, beautiful website, ShineEverywhere.com! We love the delightful illustrations by Elisa Chavarri and are eager to share them with you,” said an announcement. Shine Everywhere is described as “a community of churches and families who discover and practice the everywhere habits that grow faith in children.” An introduction to Shine Everywhere is on the “About” page of the website, as a PDF of a slide show summarizing what Shine Everywhere is about, resources you can use, and how to join. Under the “Join” tab are ways to participate in Shine Everywhere including signing up to receive news and updates, joining the Shine Everywhere Facebook group, doing a Leaders Listening Project with the parents of your congregation, and learning at-home practices. Resources for learning the “Six Practices that Grow Faith at Home” and how to use the “Follow the Peace Path” Shine card deck are under the “Practices” tab.
— Germantown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren is continuing its 300th anniversary celebrations with the dedication of a new plaque marking the three-century milestone this Sunday, July 28. Germantown, located in the Philadelphia area, is the Mother Church of the Brethren movement and the oldest continuously existing Brethren congregation. A worship celebration is planned for 11 a.m. The plaque dedication is planned for 2 p.m.
— Conestoga Church of the Brethren in Leola, Pa., is holding a 300th year celebration on Nov. 9-10, with a special event being planned for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, and a morning worship celebration beginning at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10. More information will be shared closer to the time of the event.
— “Calling all former members and friends of Faith Church of the Brethren in Batavia, Illinois! Is anyone interested in a reunion gathering?” said an announcement from former congregation member Cort Stevens. Contact him via email at cort@oldcarsstronghearts.com.
— A fundraiser concert honoring the late Donald Stroup is hosted by Onekama (Mich.) Church of the Brethren on Sunday, July 28, at 2 p.m. “Stroup’s wife Janet and Manistee resident Joy Smith will present music for piano and marimba and also poetry reflective of God’s work through nature,” said the Manistee News Advocate. Stroup, who died in 2015, was a school teacher and served at Camp Brethren Heights as nature director. Donations will be received to fund a new nature center at the camp in Stroup’s name. See www.manisteenews.com/news/article/fundraiser-concert-manistee-county-honor-late-19593684.php.
— “An Evening with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac” is the title of an upcoming in-person event, with the option of watching live via Facebook, co-sponsored by Churches for Middle East Peace and the Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East. The event will be held at Missio Dei Uptown Church in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. (central time). Munther Isaac, who holds a doctorate from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, is the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College in Palestine, director of the Christ at the Checkpoint conference, and a pastor of Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem in the West Bank. He is author of the book From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth: A Christ-Centered Biblical Theology of the Promised Land. He will speak on the situation of Christians in Palestine and about the war in Gaza. Register at www.facebook.com/events/1947441689052056. Watch live on the Missio Dei Uptown Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MDUptown.
— The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) has issued a “Statement on Political Violence and Trump Assassination Attempt” denouncing the attempt to assassinate former President Trump. “We are grateful that his life was spared, and we pray for the loved ones of Corey Comperatore, who died shielding his family from gunfire during the incident,” said the statement, in part. “We also pray for those who were injured during the melee and for the family of the shooter in the loss of their loved one. Tragically, we have been here before. Our nation should not be a welcoming space for political violence. Toxic polarization, hate rhetoric, and the demonization and denigration of those who hold different opinions is too prevalent on social media, in our families, our communities, and even in our churches. We call on all Americans to balance their political speech so that our passions do not become poisonous and violent.” The statement went on to note that “the combination of an efficient killing tool like the AR-15 with political polarization is uniquely disturbing” and called for common sense gun reform measures as well as work across the political spectrum to end polarization and violence.
— The NCC also recently issued a statement strongly decrying a Supreme Court ruling that criminalizes unhoused people. Citing Hebrews 13:16, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (NRSVue), the statement opposed the court’s decision in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson, “which allows for the enforcement of laws regulating camping on public property and has significant implications for homeless individuals across the nation.” The statement said, in part: “The Supreme Court’s ruling overturns a broadly agreed-upon precedent and represents a systemic failure to support those most in need. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, approximately 653,100 people in the U.S. experienced homelessness on a single night in 2023, a 12 percent increase from 2022. Further, Black Americans and other people of color are disproportionately affected. This growing crisis severely impacts the most vulnerable, leading to poor health, lack of safety, and limited access to education and employment opportunities.” The NCC president and general secretary Vashti Murphy McKenzie said in the release that the decision will “likely worsen the crisis due to the collateral consequences of having a criminal record. All this will continue to feed the mass incarceration of those who are poor and will disproportionately affect people of color who have been targeted by policies, including Jim Crow segregation, redlining, and various forms of housing discrimination that persist today.”
— Resources for congregations to participate in the Season of Creation, an annual worldwide Christian celebration of God’s creation from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4, are provided by Creation Justice Ministries in partnership with One Home, One Future, a coalition effort of US faith denominations and organizations for creation care and climate action by faith leaders.
“The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together,” said an announcement. “Throughout the month-long celebration, the world’s 2.2 billion Christians come together to care for our common home.” The Season of Creation was inaugurated by Orthodox Christian leaders in 1989, was extended into the ecumenical world with leadership from the World Council of Churches, and was placed on the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church in 2015. The season starts Sept. 1, the ecumenical Day of Prayer for Creation, and ends Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christians. Find out more at www.creationjustice.org/seasonofcreation.
A webinar to introduce the season and showcase efforts that churches and denominations are making to celebrate it will also highlight the Faith and Climate resource produced by the SALT Project as a possible guide throughout the season. The webinar is set for Thursday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. (Eastern time). Go to www.creationjustice.org/creationwebinar.html.
“A Season of Creation Celebration Guide: To Hope and Act with Creation” is free to download. It includes ideas for prayer including an ecumenical prayer service, ways to incorporate and reflect on this year’s theme and symbol, ways to participate in a joint advocacy initiative to support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty calling for a halt to new fossil fuel projects. More resources, including webinars and prayer services, sample promotional materials, and the official Season of Creation social media channels, are also available. Go to https://seasonofcreation.org/resources.
#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
- Intercultural Ministries offers webinars on ‘Understanding Bias,’ ‘Cultural Responsiveness,’ and ‘Being an Ally’
- Mission and Ministry Board extends general secretary’s term, recognizes Material Resources, approves 2026 budget parameter, among other business
- Deportation Defense Response offers new online giving option to support Church of the Brethren members, shares requests for prayer and praise
- Brethren Disaster Ministries shares domestic program survey
- Faith leaders condemn administration efforts to abandon historic US refugee program