In this issue: Updates on recent kidnappings and violence in Nigeria, Ash Wednesday, job openings, One Great Hour of Sharing, March Messenger features composer Perry Huffaker, BVS love stories, church events for peace in Ukraine, and much more.
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board will meet March 11-13 at the denomination’s General Offices in Elgin, Ill., in person and via Zoom. Business will be led by chair Carl Fike, assisted by chair-elect Colin Scott and general secretary David Steele.
Lisa Crouch, associate director of Children’s Disaster Services, a program within Brethren Disaster Ministries, has offered some helps and hints for talking with children about the situation in Ukraine.
Quinter (Kan.) Church of the Brethren pastor Keith Funk has shared updates this week on the situation in Chernigov, Ukraine, received from pastor Alexander Zazhytko of the Chernigov Brethren. The two pastors are in daily communication.
The new special edition of A Guide for Biblical Studies in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Committee on the Uniform Series is just one of the Spring specials from Brethren Press. The Church of the Brethren publishing house is offering special discount prices on children’s Bible storybooks, through March, and free downloadable children’s resources to accompany the illustrated storybook Maria’s Kit of Comfort. Also now available is the most recent Covenant Bible Study titled The Circle of Paul.
The Church of the Brethren’s Atlantic Southeast District has announced that the interim district executive position previously held solely by Victoria (Vicki) Ehret has been changed to a District Team consisting of six directors.
Ventures in Christian Discipleship at McPherson (Kan.) College is offering courses in March and May. The March offering will be “From Tragedy to Community” online March 31, starting at 9 p.m. (Eastern time), presented by Andrew Sampson, pastor at Modesto (Calif.) Church of the Brethren. The May offering will be “Spirituality on the Screen” online May 2, at 7 p.m. (Eastern time), presented by Walt Wiltschek, district executive minister for the Church of the Brethren’s Illinois and Wisconsin District and a member of the editorial team for Messenger magazine.
As we begin this new year, it is with great joy that Middlebury (Ind.) Church of the Brethren’s Little Lites Daycare Ministry celebrates receiving a “Build, Learn, Grow Stabilization” grant from Indiana’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. The grant was made possible by funding that the state of Indiana received from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. Little Lites received $134,300–the amount of three months’ estimated expenses.
Prominent speaker, activist, and best-selling author Shane Claiborne is the keynote speaker for the March 26-27 “Seeking First the Kingdom” spiritual renewal event at Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. The event focuses on the theme “Living Simply in a Complex World.”
We are excited to celebrate 120 years as Glendora Church of the Brethren. This congregation was established in 1902.