Several of the member communities of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes have sent thank you notes expressing gratitude for a large grant of $500,000 given by the Church of the Brethren’s Health Education and Research Fund. The grant was given to defray expenses of the retirement communities related to the pandemic, and several communities shared information about how the money is being used.
Older Adults
Many complex new challenges face our senior living communities
By David Lawrenz Operating a senior living community is challenging under normal circumstances. Staffing, regulations, reimbursement, uncompensated care, occupancy, public relations, natural calamities, and more offer an unlimited source of challenges and threats on a regular basis. Now, one can only try to imagine the challenges in this unprecedented time–the constant, ever-changing, seemingly insurmountable challenges

Brethren bits for April 25, 2020
New videos: — Paul Mundey, moderator of the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, has posted a video Easter message. The message frames the COVID-19 crisis in the hope of Easter/Eastertide, in a video filmed at the historic Dunkard Church on the Antietam Battlefield, Sharpsburg, Md. The video titled “God’s Glad Surprise” can be viewed at https://youtu.be/5Eim7SZyeCw . — “Spend
Brethren bits for April 18, 2020
— Discipleship Ministries staff have shared a prayer request for the Church of the Brethren-related retirement communities. “We ask that the church be in prayer for the 21 retirement communities that are part of the Fellowship of Brethren Homes,” said Joshua Brockway, co-coordinator of Discipleship Ministries. “Please pray for the administrators as they steward their resources

NOAC planning team announces theme for 2021 gathering of older adults
The planning team for the 2021 National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) has announced the theme for the gathering, the list of preachers, and two of the keynote speakers. The team, which held meetings this week at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., includes (from left) Paula Ziegler Ulrich, Karen Dillon, Christy

NOAC by the numbers
686 total registration includes participants, staff, and volunteers. $26,702.19 was the total of offerings that were taken up during the five worship services, to benefit the work of the Church of the Brethren denomination:$2,452 on Monday evening,$4,113.25 on Tuesday evening,$6,351.55 on Wednesday evening,$8,736.39 on Thursday evening, and$5,049 on Friday morning. $5,960 was raised by the 120-some walkers

Today at NOAC – Friday, Sept. 6, 2019
“Go to the sisters and brothers and tell them, ‘I’m ascending to my Abba and to your Abba, my God and your God!” (John 20:17, “The Inclusive Bible”). Quotes of the day “I hope you’re not the same as you were when you got here.” — Christy Waltersdorff, NOAC 2019 coordinator, in her closing comments

Fundraising walk around Lake Junaluska benefits Twa education in Africa
By Frank Ramirez and Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford “Advertising signs that con you Into thinking you’re the one That can do what’s never been done That can win what’s never been won Meantime life outside goes on All around you” — Bob Dylan, “It’s Alright, Ma, I’m Only Bleeding” For the first time during the week at

Today at NOAC – Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019
“But Esau ran to meet him, threw his arms around his neck, kissed him, and they wept” (Genesis 33:4, Common English Bible). Quotes of the day “Any conversation can be a conversation with a messenger of God.” — Ken Medema, Christian musician, singer, and composer, who with actor Ted Swartz presented the morning’s keynote event. “Sometimes

Basilica of St. Lawrence offers a ‘glorious’ afternoon outing during NOAC
By Frank Ramirez I was raised Roman Catholic, and though now I consider myself dutifully Dunker, I have cordial relationship with the church of my childhood. Personally I’d take the Dunker meetinghouse at Antietam anytime, especially when the Word is on display in the form of the Mumma Bible, but I still find it glorious
