1) Church of the Brethren workcamps repair church buildings, homes in Puerto Rico
2) Brenda Reish concludes employment at Bethany Seminary
3) South Central Indiana District goes above and beyond in collection for Nigeria, Haiti
4) Illinois and Wisconsin District Conference proclaims good news
5) West Marva District adopts resolution on same-sex marriage.
6) President of EYN meets with Nigeria’s vice president
7) Brethren bits
In this issue: Remembering Julie Mader Hostetter, job opening at CPT, Belita Mitchell and Nancy Sollenberger Heishman experience a Sankofa Journey, UN representative queries the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Nigeria situation, Brethren Academy offers the next Clergy Tax Seminar, variety of news from congregations, CWS Action Alert on the termination of Temporary Protected Status designation for Haiti, and more.
South Central Indiana District has raised $28,800 to support the Church of the Brethren’s work in Nigeria and in Haiti, in a special district-wide project. The concept for the special giving emphasis started last fall at the district board’s annual retreat, when board member Brad Yoder suggested raising money to build wells in Haiti.
A resolution on same-sex marriage was approved by West Marva District at its district conference held Sept. 16 at Moorefield (W.Va.) Church of the Brethren. The resolution was adopted by a simple majority, with two dissenting votes.
Church of the Brethren volunteers have done repairs to church buildings and homes in Puerto Rico this month. The church buildings receiving repair are connected with Segunda Iglesia Cristo Misionera (Caimito Church of the Brethren) and some nearby homes. Two groups of volunteers, totaling seven people, assisted with the project which received support from Brethren Disaster Ministries.
Joel S. Billi, president of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) visited Nigerian Vice President Yomi Osinbanjo on Nov. 16, at the Presidential Villa in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja.
The Illinois and Wisconsin District Conference on Nov. 3-4 was held at York Center Church of the Brethren in Lombard, Ill., on the theme, “Don’t Be Afraid, I Bring You Good News” based on Luke 2:10. The conference was capably led by moderator Allegra Hess, a member of the York Center congregation.
Young adults are invited to attend Young Adult Conference 2018. YAC will be held at Camp Brethren Woods (near Keezletown, Va.) on May 25-27, and is planned specifically to enrich the faith journeys of those aged 18-35. This year’s theme is “Teach with Your Life,” based on 1 Timothy 4:11-16.
This year’s Advent devotional booklet published by Brethren Press is titled “The Magnificent Story” and written by James H. Lehman. The Brethren Press devotional series is published twice a year, in anticipation of the Advent and Lenten seasons. The pocket sized paperback booklet is suitable for individual devotions as well as for congregations to give to their members, and costs $3.50 for regular print, or $6.95 for large print.
NEWS
1) Brethren staff take part in Churches for Middle East Peace delegation meeting with Palestinian president
2) Food distributions in Nigeria continue during ‘lean period’
3) Soybean Value Chain initiative advances in Nigeria
PERSONNEL
4) Debbie Eisenbise concludes work with Congregational Life Ministries
UPCOMING EVENTS
5) Young Adult Conference 2018 will ‘Teach with Your Life’
6) Sixth Brethren World Assembly is set for August in Indiana
RESOURCES
7) ‘The Magnificent Story’ is the 2017 Advent devotional from Brethren Press
8) Brethren bits: Remembrances, personnel, jobs, NYC speakers, Congressional Briefing on Nigeria, BVS Christmas card list, PowerHouse regional youth conference, and more
