Prayers requested for church members and congregations affected by Perry school shooting in Iowa

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.

Berries, herbs, and fruit for the neighborhood

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.

Curious about the new Forerunners faces

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).

Disaster grants fund Brethren Disaster Ministries rebuilding project in Dayton, relief work in Honduras, the DRC, India, Iowa

Brethren Disaster Ministries staff have directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to Honduras, where relief work continues following last year’s Hurricanes Eta and Iota; to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the Brethren in Goma continue aid to those affected by the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo; to India, in support of the COVID-19 response of IMA World Health; and to Northern Plains District, which is helping organize rebuilding following the derecho that left a trail of destruction in Iowa last August.

Honduras

An additional allocation of $40,000 supports the Church World Service (CWS) rehabilitation program in Honduras for families affected by Hurricanes Eta and Iota. CWS has longterm partners in Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala that provided emergency relief programs and were supported by an initial EDF grant of $10,000. CWS has updated its response plan to include the rehabilitation of livelihoods and housing in Honduras. The goal of the program is to support 70 highly at-risk families in rebuilding their homes and livelihoods.

A grant of $30,000 for the Proyecto Aldea Global (PAG) response to the hurricanes was approved concurrently with this grant. All programing will be coordinated by and between CWS and PAG, a long-time partner of Brethren Disaster Ministries. In the past 10 years, support has been given through the shipping of canned meat and EDF grants for PAG’s relief work following various storms. After Hurricane Eta, PAG quickly organized a relief program that included providing 8,500 family food bags for a week of provision, used clothing, mattresses, health kits, blankets, shoes, and family hygiene kits. These items reached 50 communities before Hurricane Iota struck. The relief work has continued after Hurricane Iota, reaching more communities and providing medical aid in more remote regions.

Brethren Disaster Ministries directs grants to storm and hurricane relief in US, COVID-19 surge in Spain, port explosion in Beirut

Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to finance a new rebuilding project in North Carolina following Hurricane Florence, efforts by Peak Creek Church of the Brethren to aid families affected by an earthquake in North Carolina, and Northern Plains District clean-up after the “derecho” storms

Brethren bits for May 9, 2020

— Remembering the Kent State shooting, which occurred 50 years ago this week. Dean Kahler, a Church of the Brethren member, was shot in the back and paralyzed by National Guardsmen when he was a student at Kent State on May 4, 1970. His story is featured in an article by Craig Webb of the Akron

Newsline for November 22, 2006

“Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving….” — Psalm 147:7a NEWS 1) Association of Brethren Caregivers tours Advocate Bethany Hospital. 2) Disaster leadership training provides unique experience. 3) Counter-recruitment event challenges Anabaptists peace witness. 4) Mid-Atlantic District conference incorporates learning centers. 5) Brethren bits: Correction, remembrance, and much more. PERSONNEL 6) Jim Kinsey retires from Congregational

Newsline for August 30, 2006

“Ascribe power to God….” — Psalm 68:34a NEWS 1) ‘Proclaim the Power of God’ is theme for Annual Conference 2007. 2) El Tema de la Conferencia Anual de 2007 es ‘Proclamar el Poder de Dios.’ 3) Brethren Service Center committee holds first meeting. 4) Shipments of relief materials continue one year after Katrina. 5) ‘Being

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