On Saturday, Nov. 22, Jesus Lounge Ministry celebrated its first-ever Thanksgiving event at the Fairfield Inn in West Delray Beach, Fla. The worship service was conducted in English, Haitian Creole, Spanish, and French, accompanied by joyful music and interpretive dance, all to the theme of gratitude.
The Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board held a special meeting by Zoom on the evening of Nov. 24 to approve the 2026 budget for the denominational ministries.
Did you know that the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) grants can help churches address hunger in their communities? GFI grants can support church-based community gardens, nutrition education, cooking classes, food pantries, community meals, blessing boxes, and more.
Andy Hamilton, district executive minister of the Church of the Brethren’s Southeastern District, traveled to Palestine on Nov. 9-17 with a delegation from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).
Church World Service (CWS) has announced changes related to its kit program and collections, as the Material Resources program at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor closes by year’s end. Material Resources, the longterm Church of the Brethren program to collect, warehouse, and ship disaster relief and other material goods for CWS and other
On Nov. 20, I attended a congressional hearing on the redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern.” Coming from a different meeting, I arrived 10 minutes before the start. The room was so full that there was a line down the hallway. This was the most interest in Nigeria that I’ve witnessed on Capitol Hill since the abduction of the schoolgirls from Chibok more than 10 years ago. I am hopeful to see this much attention on Nigeria, but the focus of this attention on potential military action is troubling.
Hurricane Melissa was one of the strongest hurricanes to ever appear in the Caribbean Sea. It caused extensive damage in Haiti before making landfall in Jamaica on Oct. 27 as an extremely powerful and destructive Category 5 hurricane. Melissa passed over the island nation heading north to make landfall in Cuba on Oct. 29 as a weaker hurricane with sustained winds of 120 miles per hour.
“A Season of Peace: Caring for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit During the Holidays” is the topic for a webinar offered by the Church of the Brethren’s Intercultural Ministries on Dec. 16 at 12 noon (Eastern time).
In this issue: Remembering Ralph McFadden, special sales from Brethren Press, give the gift of Messenger this holiday season, a Thanksgiving playlist, new from Nigeria, job openings, congregational and ecumenical news, “What Comes after Starvation in Gaza?” and much more.
Greg Davidson Laszakovits will begin on Jan. 1, 2026, as interim district executive minister for the Church of the Brethren’s Northern Plains District. He lives in Elizabethtown, Pa., and will serve half-time in a hybrid working style that will involve traveling to the district as needed.