The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference office is co-sponsoring an online workshop with Womaen’s Caucus titled “From Nomination to Election,” on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. (Eastern time).
The United Nations General Assembly, held Sept. 21-15 in New York, on day two commemorated the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA), which was adopted in 2001 at the world conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa. The trans-Atlantic slave trade, apartheid, and colonialism were recognized as sources of much modern-day racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.
As we gathered for NYAC 2021, our theme of “Unfolding Grace” is one that brought awareness to the ways God works through these hard times. In the next few days, we explored the steps in which we can identify how grace is unfolding in each of our lives.
National Young Adult Conference 2021–it was virtual, it was graceful, it was…ON FIRE! Allow me to explain.
Beth Sollenberger has announced her retirement as district executive minister of South Central Indiana District. She has served in leadership of the district for nearly 11 years, beginning on Feb. 1, 2011. She will conclude her ministry on Dec. 31.
Scott Douglas has announced his retirement as of Jan. 31, 2022, as Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) director of Relationships and Growth (formally Client Relations). His last working day will be Jan. 27, 2022.
In this issue: Material Resources donations and shipments, Information Coffee Hour for prospective BVSers, EYN Women’s Ministry aids widows, On Earth Peace offers online book club, Missouri and Arkansas District celebrates its 30th anniversary, Peace Day events at Timbercrest, and more news by, for, and about Brethren
NEWS
1) United Nations General Assembly commemorates calls for the elimination of racism
REFLECTIONS ON NATIONAL YOUNG ADULT CONFERENCE 2021
2) The idea of ‘unfolding grace’ brought awareness to the ways God works in these hard times
3) Unfolding grace digitally
4) WE. ARE. HERE.
PERSONNEL
5) Beth Sollenberger retires from leadership of South Central Indiana District
6) Scott Douglas retires from Brethren Benefit Trust
UPCOMING EVENTS
7) Annual Conference office and Womaen’s Caucus co-sponsor webinar ‘From Nomination to Election’
JESUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: STORIES FROM CONGREGATIONS
8) Westminster Church offers webinar on ‘Racism and the Christian Response’
9) Cabool Church offers workshop on ‘Who Will Be a Witness?’
10) Lafayette Church celebrates 75th anniversary
11) Brethren bits: Material Resources donations and shipments, Information Coffee Hour for prospective BVSers, EYN Women’s Ministry aids widows, Missouri and Arkansas District celebrates its 30th anniversary, Peace Day events at Timbercrest, and more
NEWS
1) Mission and Ministry Board approves grant for new collaboration to aid Afghanistan evacuees
2) CDS volunteers help welcome Afghan children and families evacuated to the US
3) Disaster grant supports home rebuilding by Congolese Brethren following eruption of Nyiragongo volcano
4) Global Food Initiative grants go to Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Honduras, New Orleans
5) Haitians at the border: A Brethren response
6) National Council of Churches laments the treatment of Haitians at the US border
7) Manchester to name building in honor of first Black students
PERSONNEL
8) Lee-Lani Wright to serve, Debbie Roberts to retire from Pacific Northwest District executive team
UPCOMING EVENTS
9) National Youth Conference 2022 registration opens Dec. 1
10) Annual Clergy Tax Seminar is scheduled for Jan. 29 as an online event
11) Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center announces upcoming continuing education events
RESOURCES
12) Brethren Press’s Advent devotional for 2021, Hoosier Prophet, Maria’s Kit of Comfort among new resources for Brethren
JESUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: STORIES FROM CONGREGATIONS
13) Franklin Grove Church collaborates with Dixon congregation to celebrate the International Day of Peace
14) Ephrata Church encourages families to host block parties
15) Mountville Church provides ‘re-leaf’ and school kits
16) West Goshen Church honors retiring pastor’s ministry
17) First Chicago holds Zoom conversations with BVSers
FEATURE
18) Brethren and the National Farm Worker Ministry: 50 years of service
19) Brethren bits: Correction, building the Gisenyi Church in Rwanda, personnel, jobs, advocacy against military support for Saudi Arabia, Brethren in Spain contribute to volcano fund, and district, camp, and college news
A new joint Church of the Brethren and Church World Service (CWS) effort supporting the resettlement of Afghan evacuees in the US has received support from the Mission and Ministry Board and a grant of $52,000 from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF).