The 2016 Lenten devotional from Brethren Press is written by Chris Bowman and titled, “Let Us Also Go: Devotions for Ash Wednesday Through Easter.” Brethren Press publishes a Lenten and Advent devotional each year, in a pocket-sized format suitable for individual use and for congregations to supply to their members.
Brethren Funds Distribute $77,958, Brethren Disaster Ministries Starts New Project in West Virginia
A total of $77,958 has been distributed in recent grants from two funds of the Church of the Brethren, the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) and the Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF). The grants provide funding for the completion of a Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding project in New Jersey and the start up of a new rebuilding project in West Virginia, as well as a rabbit project in Haiti and assessment of GFCF-sponsored projects in the Africa Great Lakes region.
Church of the Brethren Among 500 Groups Signing Letter in Support of Syrian Refugees
The Church of the Brethren, through action of general secretary Stanley J. Noffsinger and the Office of Public Witness, has signed on to a letter to the US Senate in support of Syrian refugees. The letter also expresses opposition to a piece of legislation being sent to the Senate by the House of Representatives, the “American Security Against Foreign Enemies” (SAFE) Act of 2015 (H.R. 4038).
Newsline for January 15, 2016
1) Brethren funds distribute $77,958, Brethren Disaster Ministries starts new project in West Virginia
2) Church of the Brethren among 500 groups signing letter in support of Syrian refugees
3) Manchester University reaches $1.5 million goal for endowed Peace Studies professorship
RESOURCES:4) ‘Let Us Also Go’ is theme for 2016 Lenten devotional from Brethren Press
5) Brethren bits
MMB Announces Conclusion of Noffsinger’s Service, Appointment of Interim General Secretary
The Mission and Ministry Board of the Church of the Brethren has reached agreement with Stanley J. Noffsinger that he will conclude his service as general secretary on Friday, Feb. 12.
CDS Volunteers Work in Oregon over Holidays, Deploy to Area Flooded by Mississippi
Volunteers from Children’s Disaster Services (CDS), a program of the Church of the Brethren and its Brethren Disaster Ministries, were deployed to a Red Cross shelter in Oregon City, Ore., after an apartment building was evacuated. The evacuation was carried out because of concerns about landslides in the aftermath of strong storms on the Pacific coast.
Sustaining Ministerial Excellence Advanced Seminar Brings Together Cohort of Camp Leaders
The first retreat for the SMEAS (Sustaining Ministerial Excellence Advanced Seminar) Camp Leaders Cohort took place Nov. 19-21, 2015, at Shepherd’s Spring Outdoor Ministry and Retreat Center in Mid-Atlantic District. Participants had completed their annual Outdoor Ministries Association Retreat and stayed onsite for this new continuing education program.
Brethren Bits for January 8, 2016
In this issue: Correction, remembering Makanlal Mangaldas Gameti, updates on district leadership, Brethren Benefit Trust seeks member services representative for Employee Benefits among other job openings including searches for executives in Atlantic Southeast and Missouri/Arkansas Districts, BVS director monitors situation for women conscientious objectors after military opens combat to women, Ministry Summer Service applications are due, registration opens for National Young Adult Conference, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
Preachers Are Announced for Annual Conference 2016
The line-up of preachers for the 2016 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren has been announced. The Annual Conference takes place at the Koury Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel in Greensboro, N.C., on June 29-July 3. Registration opens online on Feb. 17 for both delegates and nondelegates. The Conference theme is “Carry the Light” (John 1:1-5).
Newsline for January 8, 2016
1) Preachers are announced for Annual Conference 2016
2) CDS volunteers work in Oregon over holidays, deploy to area flooded by Mississippi
3) Global Mission and Service worker honored in Vietnam
4) Vietnam blind school holds training with slogan ‘Understanding Eliminates Darkness’
5) WCC leaders express concern over situation on the Korean peninsula
6) Update is available for Church of the Brethren ‘Manual of Organization and Polity’
7) Sustaining Ministerial Excellence Advanced Seminar brings together cohort of camp leaders
8) Don Knieriem resigns as database administrator for Church of the Brethren
9) Registration opens for church planting event in May
10) Brethren Academy announces upcoming courses
11) ‘Heart of Anabaptism’ webinars continue in 2016
12) Brethren bits