On Sunday, Nov. 5, Church of the Brethren congregations around the country will celebrate the leadership of their junior high youth in worship. The National Junior High Sunday theme is “Worried and Distracted,” from the story of Jesus’ visit with Martha and Mary.
“Believing and Belonging: Exploring Membership and Baptism for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities” is the title of the second part of a webinar from Anabaptist Disabilities Network, set for Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. (Eastern time).
The November online offering from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College will be “Meet the Matriarchs,” to be presented by Bobbi Dykema. The course will be held on Zoom Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Central time). Continuing education credit is available.
Our next series of seasonal devotionals from Brethren Press are offered for Advent 2023 and Lent 2024. These paperback, pocket-sized books are suitable for individual use and for churches to give to their members: “All Things New” by Kevin Kessler (Advent 2023), “Through Thick and Thin” by Beth Sollenberger (Lent 2024)
The ecumenical organization Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), of which the Church of the Brethren is a member denomination, is offering a variety of resources for acting and praying for peace in Israel and Palestine, and for gaining a better understanding of the conflict there.
On Aug. 19, attendees of the Open Circle and Common Spirit congregations in the Church of the Brethren’s Northern Plains District came together to begin their joint Jesus in the Neighborhood project.
In mid-summer, due to distressing weather conditions, the prospect for the 30 acres of corn that make up the 2023 Polo Growing Project appeared bleak. But at harvest in mid-October, the results were no less than astonishing, the crop yielding an average of 247.5 bushels per acre. Net proceeds for the project stand at $45,500, a notch above last year’s near-record earnings of $45,000.
“Join us for this informational and instructive seminar!” said an invitation to the Clergy Tax Seminar 2024 sponsored by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry, and Bethany Theological Seminary.
On Oct. 28, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) deployed a team of five Critical Response Childcare volunteers to Lewiston, Maine, in partnership with the Red Cross. This deployment was made in response to the mass shootings at two locations in Lewiston in which 18 people were killed and 13 others were injured.
A decision to close Material Resources–a Church of the Brethren program that collects, processes, warehouses, and ships material relief aid–and a statement on “Seeking Peace in Israel and Palestine,” as well as a budget for 2024 topped the agenda of the Mission and Ministry Board’s Fall 2023 meetings on Oct. 20-22 at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill.
