By Alexandra Toms “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion” (Psalm 137:1, NIV). This year, 2019, marks the 400-year anniversary of the first enslaved African persons being brought to North America. In 1619, a ship carrying the first group of enslaved people from Africa arrived on the shores of
The fall 2019 unit of Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) has completed orientation and its 13 volunteers have begun their work at project sites across the United States, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. Members of BVS Unit 324, their home congregations or hometowns, and their projects sites follow: Emily Bowdle of Denton (Md.) Church of
The 2020 budget for denominational ministries was a key item at fall meetings of the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board on Oct. 17-21 at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Meetings were led by chair Patrick Starkey, assisted by chair-elect Carl Fike and general secretary David Steele. The board approved a total
— The Church of the Brethren seeks a manager for the Office of Global Mission and Service, to fill a fulltime salaried position at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill. This position is responsible for administrative processes assigned by the executive director for areas including Global Mission, Brethren Volunteer Service, and Global Food Initiative. Major responsibilities
“We are so excited to bring you the locations for workcamps summer 2020!” said an announcement from the Church of the Brethren Workcamp Ministry. The announcement urged Brethren of all ages to “explore the possibilities of service.” “Voices for Peace” (Romans 15:1-6) is the theme. In a new venture, Rwanda is the location for an
— Annual Conference seeks nominations for open positions on the ballot in 2020. “You can help shape the future of the church!” said an announcement. “Each member of the Church of the Brethren is invited to recommend possible nominees for the 2020 Annual Conference ballot. As you pray about this, who comes to mind? Whom will the
The logo for the 2020 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren has been released, accompanying the theme “God’s Adventurous Future.” Next year’s Conference will take place on July 1-5 in Grand Rapids, Mich., with moderator Paul Mundey presiding. The moderator will be sharing a quarterly pastoral letter on the Conference theme under the
By Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, with contributions from Peggy Reiff Miller The 75th anniversary of Heifer International was celebrated Oct. 5, in Castañer, P.R., hosted by Puerto Rico District of the Church of the Brethren, the Castañer congregation, and Castañer Hospital. (For photos of the celebration and other views of Puerto Rico go to www.bluemelon.com/churchofthebrethren/puertoricohostsheifers75thanniversary .) Puerto Rico was
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16). NEWS 1) Anabaptist groups send joint letter to National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service2) Children’s Disaster Services sends
— Remembrance: Leon Miller, a former longterm Brethren Press employee, passed away on Sept. 12 after a long illness. He worked in “pre-press” for almost 30 years, from 1957 to 1986, when the printing presses were located at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. For many years after retirement he and his
