Two Borno and Adamawa communities were attacked in northeastern Nigeria in late December, as prayers were intensifying for the release of Andrawus Indawa, coordinator of Pastoral Enhancement Ministry for Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria).
Church of the Brethren
Newsline for Jan. 7, 2022
NEWS
1) Church of the Brethren Yearbook for 2021 includes 2020 statistical information for the denomination
2) Church of the Brethren funds close out year with final grants for 2021
3) Exercising caution during this surge / Actuar con precaución durante este aumento repentino
4) Three brothers killed in two communities attacked in northeastern Nigeria, Nigerian church mourns loss of EYN president’s father
PERSONNEL
5) ‘Bill’s service at OEP’: An On Earth Peace release marking the end of Bill Scheurer’s term in leadership
6) Lauren Bukszar to join Church of the Brethren IT team
UPCOMING EVENTS
7) FaithX registration for summer 2022 events opens next week
8) ‘Pathways for Effective Leadership’ course is offered by SVMC
JESUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: STORIES FROM CONGREGATIONS
9) Midland Church opens its doors as a warming shelter after blizzard
10) Helping Hands Benevolence Fund to the rescue
11) Beaver Creek Church aids family following house fire
12) Brethren bits: Remembering Steven Van Houten and Larry Ditmars, Global Mission helps fund a Christmas party in Uganda, the next BHLA Facebook Live event offers a “part 2” on the Brethren Service Committee, and more
Brethren bits for Jan. 7, 2022
In this issue: Remembering Steven Van Houten and Larry Ditmars, Global Mission helps fund a Christmas party in Uganda, the next BHLA Facebook Live event offers a “part 2” on the Brethren Service Committee, and more news by, for, and about Brethren.
‘Pathways for Effective Leadership’ course is offered by SVMC
The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is offering the TRIM (Training in Ministry) course “Pathways for Effective Leadership, Part 1,” with Randy Yoder as the instructor. This is scheduled as an intensive course to be held online over two weekends, March 25‐26 and April 29‐30.
Newsline for Dec. 18, 2021
NEWS
1) Together let us be Jesus in the neighborhood
2) Brethren Disaster Ministries consults with districts following tornados and storms in central US, Children’s Disaster Services sends team to Missouri
3) Yearbook survey reveals worship habits during pandemic
4) District team emerges from felt need to confront the evil of racial injustice
5) A light on the hill at Pegi Church: Unexpected encounters in Nigeria
PERSONNEL
6) Sherry Chastain resigns from Children’s Disaster Services staff
JESUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: STORIES FROM CONGREGATIONS
7) Reading in the neighborhood
8) Northview Church begins holding Service Sundays
FEATURE
9) ‘Moderator Musings’ for December 2021: It has come to my attention
10) Brethren bits: Remembering Arden Ball, Messenger Radio episode on “Advent Waiting,” book study sponsored by Part-time Pastor, Full-time Church, letter calls for COVID-19 vaccine TRIPS Waiver, next year’s Youth Roundtable, release of Haiti hostages, more
Brethren bits for Dec. 18, 2021
In this issue: Remembering Arden Ball, Messenger Radio episode on “Advent Waiting,” book study sponsored by Part-time Pastor, Full-time Church, letter from 115 faith organizations calls for COVID-19 vaccine TRIPS Waiver, next year’s Youth Roundtable, release of Haiti hostages, and more
Together let us be Jesus in the neighborhood
Together, we concluded a four-year process of discernment earlier this year as the Annual Conference delegates virtually affirmed the compelling vision. Our Jesus in the neighborhood vision statement is now our Church of the Brethren vision.
Brethren Disaster Ministries consults with districts following tornados and storms in central US, Children’s Disaster Services sends team to Missouri
A devastating outbreak of 59 confirmed tornados occurred overnight on Dec. 10 to 11 in the central US, followed by powerful storms on Dec. 15. District Disaster Response Coordinators (DDCs) from the affected Church of the Brethren districts–Illinois and Wisconsin, Missouri and Arkansas, Northern Plains, Southern Ohio and Kentucky, and Western Plains–report little to no damage in the communities with Church of the Brethren congregations.
Yearbook survey reveals worship habits during pandemic
Earlier this year, the Church of the Brethren Yearbook Office conducted a survey asking congregational leaders to weigh in on their worship habits during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 300 Church of the Brethren congregations participated in the survey, representing more than a third of the close to 900 total number of congregations in the denomination.
District team emerges from felt need to confront the evil of racial injustice
We in the Southern Ohio and Kentucky District have always strived to be intentional about addressing the concerns in our society. For instance, during a Missional Renewal Team meeting shortly after George Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020, the conversation centered on that tragedy and the epidemic of violence against people of color, along with the systemic racial injustice in our country triggering this violence.