This is an update from Open Circle Church of the Brethren in Burnsville, Minn., following the Jan. 30 article titled “Open Circle Congregation Mobilizes to Support Minneapolis and Surrounding Communities”
Since President Trump initiated his federal immigration crackdown, sending thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Minnesota, the communities that Open Circle Church of the Brethren supports have been in crisis.
Weighing heavy on my heart is the violence and political unrest being experienced in Minnesota. Most of the activity is occurring in Minneapolis, but there is an ICE presence here in Rochester as well.
Greg Davidson Laszakovits will begin on Jan. 1, 2026, as interim district executive minister for the Church of the Brethren’s Northern Plains District. He lives in Elizabethtown, Pa., and will serve half-time in a hybrid working style that will involve traveling to the district as needed.
The Northern Plains District of the Church of the Brethren, which includes the state of Minnesota in its area, joined in a statement of grief from the Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC) following the shooting of children from Annunciation Catholic School on Aug. 27.
Tim Button-Harrison has announced his retirement from leadership of the Church of the Brethren’s Northern Plains District. At the Feb. 7-8 meeting of the district board, it was announced that he will retire on Dec. 31, 2025, after having served the district for more than 19 years.
A little over two years ago, I brought a food bank project to the church board at Fairview Church of the Brethren in Unionville, Iowa. I had no idea how long God would help fulfill the need here. I also felt that when the money was out and I had no funding, that would be God saying that we have served our purpose.
Northern Plains District of the Church of the Brethren is requesting prayer in the wake of the shooting at Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday morning, Jan. 4. At least two members of the district worked at the school or on the campus that the high school shares with Perry Middle School, and they have survived the shooting unharmed physically. Other district members teach at the elementary level in the Perry school district or have worked in the district in various capacities. Other families in the district have children in the Perry schools or are related to students.
On Aug. 19, attendees of the Open Circle and Common Spirit congregations in the Church of the Brethren’s Northern Plains District came together to begin their joint Jesus in the Neighborhood project.
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).
