An interfaith vigil held at the University of La Verne (ULV), a Church of the Brethren-related school in southern California, in collaboration with the Inland Valley Interfaith Network. The vigil was held after an anonymous threatening letter was received at the Islamic Center of Claremont, Calif., one of several such hate letters that have been sent to mosques and Islamic centers.
Brethren Bits for December 3, 2016
In this issue: Remembering Ferne Baldwin and Barbara McFadden, On Earth Peace internship opportunities, update of the Manual of Organization and Polity, Healthy Boundaries 101 webcast, registration opens for Christian Citizenship Seminar 2017, distributions of food in Haiti, and much more news by, for, and about Brethren.
Newsline for December 3, 2016
NEWS
1) Annual Conference moderator shares Bible study for December
2) EDF grants are directed to aid refugees from Syria, Burundi
3) Global Food Initiative supports agricultural work in Haiti, garden projects in US
4) Brethren complete Nigeria workcamp
5) Interfaith vigil at University of La Verne responds to hate letter
RESOURCES
6) Brethren Press carries new study resources for Advent, Winter quarter
7) Brethren bits
Global Food Initiative Supports Agricultural Work in Haiti, Garden Projects in US
The Global Food Initiative of the Church of the Brethren is giving grants to support agricultural work in Haiti and garden projects in the United States. Other grants will help carry out program evaluations in a number of African nations.
Brethren Complete Nigeria Workcamp
With blue and yellow t-shirts marking the occasion, a group of Brethren from the United States joined Nigerian counterparts in a workcamp with the motto, “Come Let Us Rebuild.” The workcamp was sponsored by the Brethren Evangelical Support Trust (BEST) and Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). Nine American Brethren led by Global Mission and Service executive director Jay Wittmeyer traveled to Nigeria for a two-week church construction project from Nov. 7-18.
EDF Grants are Directed to Aid Refugees from Syria, Burundi
Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to aid Syrian and other refugees sheltering in Lebanon, and refugees from Burundi who have fled to Tanzania.
Brethren Press Carries New Study Resources for Advent, Winter Quarter
Several new study resources for the Advent season and the Winter curriculum quarter are now available from Brethren Press. The new resources include “Unwrapping the Gift of Advent” in the Vital Ministry Journey study series; the Winter quarter of the Shine curriculum exploring the life and ministry of Jesus as told in the Gospel of Matthew; a new Believers Church Bible Commentary on Philippians.
Workcamp Constructs Church for Displaced Nigerians
The first of a series of workcamps to rebuild churches has been taking place in Nigeria. The series is connected with the Nigeria Crisis Response, a joint effort of the Church of the Brethren and Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria). At this workcamp, a group of nine Brethren from several different congregations have helped construct a church for displaced Nigerians.
Newsline for November 18, 2016
NEWS
1) Christ the King Sunday letter calls the denomination to renewed discipleship
2) Leadership Team and CODE leaders express thanks for prayer support
3) Workcamp constructs church for displaced Nigerians
4) Office of Public Witness sponsors congressional briefing on Nigeria
5) EYN president urges churches to be strong in faith with endurance
6) On Earth Peace board holds fall meeting
UPCOMING EVENTS
7) Webinars to focus on urban and church planting ministries
RESOURCES
8) ‘The Disturbances’ tells of Christians saving lives during 1966 genocide in Nigeria
9) Brethren bits
EYN President Urges Churches to Be Strong in Faith with Endurance
Joel S. Billi, president of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), is calling on members to be strong with endurance in times of hardship. He said this in a sermon during the granting of church autonomy to the Lumba congregation on Sunday, Nov. 13. This is the sixth granting of church autonomy by the present EYN administration, and is to a church established from EYN’s LCC (Local Church Council) Mararaba church in the DCC [district of] Hildi.