A number of grants have been made recently from Church of the Brethren denominational funds including the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) for disaster relief, the Global Food Initiative fund (GFI) for food security, and the Brethren Faith in Action fund (BFIA) to support congregational outreach projects.
Church of the Brethren Newsline
Brethren bits
In this issue: Remembering Bruce Holderreed, memorial service for Estella Horning, L.E.A.D. Third Thursday webinar with Paul Mundey, Global Mission prayers, congratulatory letter to new Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, and more
Brethren bits
In this issue: Remembering Carolee Ogburn, “Word Among Us” Advent devotional from Brethren Press, opportunities to connect with the Deportation Defense Response, Shine curriculum seeks a contract marketer, Brethren Disaster Ministries receives grant from UPS Foundation, and more.
Looking more forward than back, Rock Run Church celebrates 175 years
Herman Kauffman summed up his thoughts at the 175th anniversary celebration at Rock Run Church of the Brethren outside Goshen, Ind., by reciting an anonymous short poem about two passengers travelling westward in a covered wagon towards an unknown future: “One sat looking forward, And one sat looking back.”
Church of the Brethren Peace Conference is held in Tanzania
On Aug. 15-17, a Church of the Brethren Peace Conference in Mwanza, Tanzania, brought together church leaders as potters of hope, molding visions of amani (peace) and tumaini (hope) into forms that can serve their communities.
Hands of the King
Our church at Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship in Osceola, Ind., has many outreach programs that extend heartfelt help to our neighbors, such as our monthly Community Meals and the Paper and Hygiene Products Pantry. But we found as we prayed for these individuals, and as we got to know them and we built relationships, that there were greater and deeper needs in our neighborhood. We also found, as we attempted to assist, there were not any programs built into our ministries to specifically help people outside the church congregation. Our resources were focused on the body, but not those unconnected. So we began a new ministry, which we deemed “Hands of the King.”
Meadow Branch Church celebrates its 200th anniversary this November
Our 200th Anniversary Celebrations at Meadow Branch Church of the Brethren in Westminster, Md., are planned for Nov. 7-9. Paul Mundey and Bob Krouse, former Meadow Branch pastor, will be our guest speakers.
Mountville Church hosts memorial for those lost to gun violence in Lancaster County
On the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, Mountville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren hosted a candlelight peace vigil to lament the 100-plus lives lost to gun violence in Lancaster County, Pa.
A living legacy: The United Nations commemorates 80 years
The Living Legacy memorial event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on Friday, Sept. 19, was an evening highlighting 80 years of achievements, advances, failures, and assessment of where we are today, while setting a goal for a future UN contained in the Pact for the Future and the Sustainable Development Goals among others.
Deportation Defense Response Team provides an update
The Deportation Defense Response Team provides the following update on the numbers, first initials, and locations of Church of the Brethren immigrant congregants affected by detention or deportation. This information was updated on Sept. 19. The team continues to urge congregations to take up special offerings and fundraise within their communities to support the Legal and Mutual Aid Fund.