Chicago (Ill.) First Church of the Brethren prayerfully took the pledge to join the Apartheid Free Communities network. Chicago First Church is the 400th organization to join under the sponsorship of American Friends Service Committee and the first Church of the Brethren congregation to join.
Church of the Brethren Newsline
Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team invites congregations to plan gun violence vigils in December
The Church of the Brethren Gun Violence Prevention Action Team would like to invite your congregation to remember gun violence victims who have passed away in 2024 by hosting a vigil or service in December as part of the Newtown Action Alliance’s 2024 Nationwide Vigils to #EndGunViolence initiative.
Brethren bits
In this issue: Remembering Gerald Pence, dates and location for next National Youth Conference, prayer concern for the Community of Faith and Haitians in the Dominican Republic, leadership opening in West Marva District, closing date for L.E.A.D. Conference registration, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
Church of the Brethren aid and relief response continues following Hurricanes Helene and Milton
The Church of the Brethren’s aid and relief response following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton continues on the denominational, district, and congregational levels. Here are some updates
Opportunities for facilitator training for ‘7 Prompts’ conversations are offered
This month the Standing with People of Color Committee will offer two opportunities for facilitator training for those interested in leading “7 Prompts” conversations in their communities and congregations.
Lititz Church of the Brethren hosts gun violence prevention event
On International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren erected a Memorial to the Lost. This memorial displayed more than 90 t-shirts, each marked with the name, date of death, and age at death of a person killed by gun homicide in Lancaster County, Pa.
Freeport Church gains media attention for its ongoing witness against gun violence
Freeport (Ill.) Church of the Brethren held a peace gathering in September as part of its ongoing witness against gun violence. Families who have lost loved ones to violence attended the event, which received coverage from the local ABC television news.
Brethren Volunteer Service seeks applicants for youth ministry placements
The Church of the Brethren has ministries that seek to support youth and provide space for them to experience spiritual growth, become advocates for peace and justice, be in community with one another, and serve as the hands and feet of Jesus. Two of these ministries–FaithX and Youth and Young Adult Ministries–seek individuals who are interested in volunteering with youth and young adult programing for a year through Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS).
Walk with me and work with me! National Junior High Sunday 2024 resources are online
Are you ready to support the junior high youth in your congregation in planning and leading worship for National Junior High Sunday? Many congregations will observe National Junior High Sunday on Nov. 3, but encouraging junior high youth to step into worship leadership is more important than the particular Sunday. Work it into your congregation’s worship schedule sometime this fall.
EYN program in Maiduguri, Nigeria, aids flood survivors
On Sept. 10, Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, Nigeria, and its surrounding areas were hit by a devastating flood, leaving thousands of people in dire need of immediate assistance. The disaster, caused by the overflow and breach of the Alau Dam in the neighboring Konduga Local Government Area (LGA), has affected an estimated 1,020,340 individuals across four LGAs: Maiduguri, Jere, Mafa, and Konduga.
