Today’s Brethren bits offers a hymn correction, remembers Brethren historian Bill Willoughby and Camp Pine Lake leader Kirby Leland, shares personnel news, invites nominations for offices to be filled by election at the 2013 Annual Conference, announces a “One People…One King” special worship emphasis being planned for Sunday, Nov. 25, and notes a number of anniversaries, alongside much more news from across the denomination.
Outdoor Ministries Association Holds Annual Retreat
The Outdoor Ministries Association (OMA) holds its annual retreat Nov. 11-15 at Camp Harmony in Hooversville, Pa. The theme is “Move in Our Midst.”
Workcamp Dates and Locations Are Announced for 2013
The denomination’s Workcamp Ministry has announced dates and locations for next summer’s workcamps. Week-long workcamps are offered for junior and senior high youth, young adults, an intergenerational group, and youth and young adults living with disabilities and their adult assistants. This year workcamps are held at locations across the United States and Puerto Rico.
Newsline for Sept. 20, 2012
Stories in today’s Newsline include 1) Brethren Press, MennoMedia to develop Gather ’Round successor. 2) Gather ’Round receives support from a variety of Christians. 3) BVS-BRF orientation unit completes training. 4) Haiti Medical Project reports growth of its endowment fund. 5) Sixth Annual Family Peace Camp is held in Florida. 6) Outdoor Ministries Association holds annual retreat. 7) Unique deacon training to be offered at the Village at Morrisons Cove. 8) Program, presenters announced for next older adult conference. 9) Workcamp dates and locations are announced for 2013. 10) Brethren bits.
BVS-BRF Orientation Unit Completes Training
Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) unit 298, a unit held jointly with the Brethren Revival Fellowship (BRF), completed orientation on Aug. 19-28 at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
Gather ’Round Receives Support from a Variety of Christians
Now in its seventh year, the Gather ’Round curriculum for children and youth jointly published by Brethren Press and MennoMedia continues to attract attention from a variety of Christians beyond Brethren and Mennonites. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church has just signed on as an endorsing partner, and Gather ’Round recently received a strong endorsement from popular Christian author Brian McLaren.
Sixth Annual Family Peace Camp Is Held in Florida
About 35 campers came together on Labor Day weekend at Camp Ithiel in Gotha, Fla. Quakers, Catholics, and Brethren from six congregations met with Donald E. Miller of Richmond, Ind., to hear stories from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, where Christians face violent threats to human life.
Unique Deacon Training to Be Offered at the Village at Morrisons Cove
Worship, workshops, and fellowship are standard components of deacon training, but when staff from Middle Pennsylvania District asked about hosting a day of training at the Village at Morrisons Cove, they requested that the focus be on ministry specific to older adults.
Haiti Medical Project Reports Growth of Its Endowment Fund
The Haiti Medical Project has issued an update on efforts to raise an endowment fund to support Church of the Brethren medical clinics in Haiti, as the project approaches the one-year mark.
Brethren Press, Mennomedia to Develop Gather ’Round Successor
Brethren Press and MennoMedia are beginning work on a successor to the Gather ’Round Sunday school curriculum. The two publishing houses, working on behalf of the Church of the Brethren and the Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada, plan to continue their decades-long cooperative work to produce joint Christian education curriculum.