Marissa Witkovsky-Eldred and Virginia Rendler have accepted the positions of interim co-directors of Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS), starting Jan. 26.
Church of the Brethren Newsline
Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center offers workshop on Love Feast basics
“Love Feast: Past, Present, and Future” led by Denise Kettering-Lane will be held on Friday, March 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time) at Cross Keys Village in New Oxford, Pa. This free event sponsored by the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is in-person only. Continuing education credit is available for the fee of $10.
Brethren bits
— “Do you have a story to share with us?” The Church of the Brethren Deportation Defense Response Team is looking for stories of individuals in congregations who have been directly impacted by immigration enforcement and policy changes, and also for stories of people practicing “faith in motion” on behalf of immigrant neighbors and siblings
Church of the Brethren congregations offer remote worship opportunities
An updated listing of Church of the Brethren congregations offering online worship services
When life is chaotic and out of control, how do we stay strong in faith?
Weighing heavy on my heart is the violence and political unrest being experienced in Minnesota. Most of the activity is occurring in Minneapolis, but there is an ICE presence here in Rochester as well.
‘Imagine: Our Gifts Can Do More,’ a new matching gift campaign through March 31
At the heart of the Church of the Brethren is a deep trust in God’s promise to work powerfully through faithful people. Scripture reminds us that God can “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power at work within us”—bringing glory to God through the church, now and for generations to come (Ephesians 3:20–21, NIV).
Traci Rabenstein resigns as executive of Mission Advancement for the Church of the Brethren
Traci Rabenstein has resigned as executive director of Mission Advancement for the Church of the Brethren, effective April 3. She will complete more than nine years of employment with the denomination.
Court of Appeals will hear argument in sensitive location lawsuit on Feb. 5
On Thursday, Feb. 5, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington, D.C., will hear opening oral arguments in an appeal for injunctive relief in the “sensitive locations” lawsuit, “Mennonite Church USA et al., v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, et al.” The Church of the Brethren is a plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Traci Rabenstein to serve as Southern Pennsylvania District executive minister
The Southern Pennsylvania District of the Church of the Brethren has called Traci Rabenstein to serve as district executive minister starting April 6. She resides in Enola, Pa., from where she will serve in this fulltime role.
Brethren bits
In this issue: A new webpage offers resources for interim ministry, the Arlington congregation is among those to use the new hymn “Just Like Selma” during Black History Month, 2026 Blackwell Prize in Music goes to Church of the Brethren composer Shawn Kirchner, the next episode of Brethren Voices, and more
