The Pomona Fellowship and Cristo Scion congregations of the Church of the Brethren partnered with the City of Pomona, Calif., to clean up the town on May 9. Who could know what this day would hold even with all the explanations given ahead of time? It became everything and more than we thought it would be.
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CDS Volunteers Serve Children and Families Affected by Tornadoes in Oklahoma
Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) set up a children’s center in a Multi Agency Resource Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., this past weekend, in response to the tornadoes and floods in the area. CDS is a part of Brethren Disaster Ministries.
Newsline for May 20, 2015
1) Church of the Brethren general secretary attends EYN Annual Conference. 2) EYN Church of the Brethren General Church Council (Majalisa) issues communique. 3) Commencement celebrated at Bethany Theological Seminary. 4) CDS volunteers serve children and families affected by tornados in Oklahoma. 5) Churches partner to support trash day in Pomona. 6) Special speakers, unique events, continuing education opportunities, family fun highlight Annual Conference 2015. 7) General Secretary’s Luncheon in 2015 continues a focus on higher education. 8) BVS announces Partners in Service Awards for 2015. 9) Mountain Meadows Song and Story Fest is hosted by Camp Wilbur Stover in Idaho. 10) Message of the presidents of the World Council of Churches at Pentecost 2015. 11) Re: Targeted lethal drones program. 12) #SendItBack on International Conscientious Objectors Day: Michael Himlie’s example. 13) Brethren bits.
Mountain Meadows Song and Story Fest Is Hosted by Camp Wilbur Stover in Idaho
The 2015 Mountain Meadows Song and Story Fest on the theme, “Moving in Time With…” is planned for July 26-Aug. 1 at Camp Wilbur Stover, New Meadows, Idaho. Song and Story Fest is an annual intergenerational family camp featuring Brethren musicians and storytellers, co-sponsored by On Earth Peace. This is the 19th summer in a row for Song and Story Fest.
NCC Annual Gathering Marks New Ecumenical Focus on Interfaith Peacemaking, Mass Incarceration
The National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) held its second annual Christian Unity Gathering on May 7-9 near Washington, D.C. The gathering focused on interfaith peacemaking and mass incarceration, and related topics including Christian responses to police brutality. Some 200 people attended, including leaders from a wide spectrum of Christian traditions.
Intercultural Retreat Brings a Rainbow of Humanity Together to Say ‘Amen!’
Two of the organizers of the 2015 Intercultural Retreat held in early May in Harrisburg, Pa., write their impressions of the gathering: “All God’s People Say Amen” was the rousing theme for an inspiring weekend intercultural retreat at Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren where Belita Mitchell serves as lead pastor. Almost 150 people from 9 districts of the Church of the Brethren gathered to participate in this three-day event….”
Alaska Project Receives Going to Garden Grant to Support ‘Far North’ Gardening
A unique gardening project in Alaska is one of the sites receiving grants through the Going to the Garden initiative of the Church of the Brethren Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) and Office of Public Witness. “I was just floored by what they are doing,” commented GFCF manager Jeff Boshart. The Alaska effort is a personal mission of Bill and Penny Gay and an outreach project of their congregation at Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren in Decatur, Ind.
Christian Citizenship Seminar 2015 Takes on the Topic of Immigration
Two of the senior high youth who participated in this year’s Christian Citizenship Seminar–Jenna Walmer and Corrie Osborne–report on the event and its impact: “On April 18, Church of the Brethren youth gathered in New York City at the start of Christian Citizenship Seminar (CCS), a conference that allows youth to explore the connections between a specific topic and our faith. This year the topic was immigration. The seminar culminates with congressional visits in Washington, D.C. Throughout the seminar, we discussed the importance of our faith’s connection with citizenship and how immigration impacts our lives. It is a busy week filled with learning, fun, and spiritual growth….”
Newsline for May 13, 2015
1) The Armenian genocide is commemorated at the Washington National Cathedral. 2) Armenian Genocide sparked 100 years of Brethren response to disaster and conflict. 3) ‘I have decided to stay with my orphans’: Remembering Brethren work during the genocide. 4) NCC annual gathering marks new ecumenical focus on interfaith peacemaking, mass incarceration. 5) Brethren Disaster Ministries directs $70,000 to joint response in Nepal, among other grants. 6) Intercultural Retreat brings a rainbow of humanity together to say ‘Amen!’ 7) Christian Citizenship Seminar 2015 takes on the topic of immigration. 8) Second Haitian Peace Seminar is held in Miami. 9) Church of the Brethren general secretary to receive honorary degree from Manchester. 10) Alaska project receives Going to Garden grant to support ‘far north’ gardening. 11) Mount Morris Church celebrates immigrant member Isabelle Krol. 12) Brethren bits.
Second Haitian Peace Seminar Is Held in Miami
From Friday evening April 24, until noon Sunday, April 26, the Second Haitian Peace Seminar was held at l’Eglise des Freres Church of the Brethren in Miami, Fla. During the three-day conference 100 attendees registered. Of these registrants 22 were youth. Registrants represented five Haitian churches in Florida and a Church of the Brethren in Haiti.