The Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church program of the Church of the Brethren Office of Ministry is offering a book study on Flourishing in Ministry: How to Cultivate Clergy Wellbeing by Matt Bloom. The online event is planned once a week from Jan. 4 to March 3, 2022, on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. (Eastern time). Continuing education units are available.
The deadline for nominations for the Annual Conference ballot has been extended until Jan. 1, 2022. The Church of the Brethren denomination and its agencies depend on leaders elected at Annual Conference from nominees proposed by the wider church. We need you!
Jen Jensen has been hired by the Church of the Brethren as the Thriving in Ministry program manager in the Office of Ministry, to start Dec. 13. Her work will include the Part‐time Pastor; Full‐time Church program.
Brethren Press’ Forerunners card game has me curious about the new faces that were added in the second edition. One of the new faces is a Northern Plains woman, Julia Gilbert (1844-1934).
The 2021 Advent devotional from Brethren Press, Do Not Be Afraid by Angela Finet, has broken previous sales records for the devotional booklets. More than 7,000 copies of the devotional have gone out so far this Advent season, including copies in regular and large print, and as digital downloads.
In 2020, MSS was held online due to the COVID pandemic. In 2021, as the pandemic continued and MSS applications declined further, the program took a sabbath rest. Facing a third summer of pandemic-affected program, as well as the long-term trends, 2022 will provide a chance to listen. Instead of moving ahead with the program or taking another sabbath, the future of the program will be intentionally considered.
The Nigeria Crisis Response budget for 2022 has been set at $183,000 after careful deliberation. Five years ago, we expected the Nigerian government would restore order in northeast Nigeria and families could return to their homes while the response supported their recovery. This led to planning to end the crisis response in 2021, but these plans had to be revised due to ongoing violence.
NEWS
1) Nigeria Crisis Response will continue into 2022
2) Brethren Benefit Trust announces online insurance portal and online application for church workers’ assistance, holds fall board meetings
3) Nigerian army confirms killing of brigadier general and soldiers in Askira Uba encounter
JESUS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: STORIES FROM CONGREGATIONS
4) Jesus Lounge Ministry starts in Atlantic Southeast District
5) Trunk or Treat brings Jesus into the neighborhood in Osceola
6) Crest Manor collects Christmas gifts
7) Brethren bits: Thanking God for you! Giving Tuesday, Doug Phillips is retiring after 39 years at Brethren Woods, job opening at Camp Swatara, Dec. 1 deadline for Annual Conference nominations, Program and Arrangements Committee, National Youth Conference sample registration, Global Mission fundraisers, Brethren Disaster Ministries seeks volunteers, more
In this issue: Thanking God for you! Giving Tuesday, Doug Phillips is retiring after 39 years at the helm of Brethren Woods, job opening at Camp Swatara, Dec. 1 is deadline for Annual Conference nominations, Program and Arrangements Committee meets, National Youth Conference sample registration, Global Mission fundraisers, Brethren Disaster Ministries seeks volunteers for last week’s shift of the year, and more.
Brethren Benefit Trust announces the opening of the Brethren Insurance Service’s online insurance portal for Open Enrollment 2022 as of Nov. 15. Also now online are Church Workers’ Assistance Plan applications. And the Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust Board is holding its fall meetings Nov. 17-20, via Zoom.
