In this issue: A special thank you to Drew Hart, personnel, volunteer opening, Easter sale of children’s Bible story books, the EYN minister’s conference, district events, ecumenical Lent emphases, and much more.
FaithX (formerly the Workcamp Ministry) has announced a March 15 opening date for registration for short-term summer service events in Tiers 1, 2, and 3. However, the Church of the Brethren program announced a decision that Tier 4 events will not be possible this summer and will not be offered at registration.
Children and families continue to face isolation, and challenges abound with the pandemic continuing. Mental health for all ages has been impacted on some level. As we approach the one‐year anniversary of “flattening the curve” to slow the virus down, some may be feeling like this will never end. So, how can we face this year with hope and a plan to keep our families moving in the right direction?
The Mission and Ministry Board of the Church of the Brethren has published interpretive documents for its new strategic plan. They include “A Vision Storyline” of the plan and a FAQ document, both in three languages–English, Spanish, and Haitian Kreyol. Find the documents at www.brethren.org/strategicplan.
Brethren Volunteer Service has welcomed four new volunteers who completed the 2021 Winter orientation as part of BVS Unit 328. The orientation was held as a virtual, online event because of pandemic restrictions on in-person gatherings.
“Peacebuilding When We’re So Divided” is the topic of next month’s Moderator’s Town Hall hosted by Paul Mundey, moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference. The online event on March 18 at 7 p.m. (Eastern time) will feature William H. Willimon.
The Council of District Executives (CODE) started off the new year with the first of their two annual meetings. As with so many events in the past 10 months, these meetings were moved to a virtual format.
An allocation of $37,850 from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) supports the coastal North Carolina rebuilding site of Brethren Disaster Ministries. The project in Pamlico County, N.C., is rebuilding and repairing homes affected by Hurricane Florence, which hit the area in September 2018. Partner agency Pamlico County Disaster Relief Coalition reports that around 200 families have not completely recovered, almost two and a half years later.
The Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA) has distributed its first grants for 2021. The fund gives grants to Church of the Brethren congregations and camps using money generated by the sale of the upper campus of the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
The Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Initiative (GFI) has announced its first two grants for 2021, supporting a pig project of the Church of the Brethren in Rwanda and a community garden of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Southport, N.C.
