“The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” -Leviticus 19:34 NKJV
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#LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship
Judge denies preliminary injunction in sensitive locations lawsuit
A US District Court judge has denied a preliminary injunction motion in Mennonite USA v. DHS, the sensitive locations lawsuit in which the Church of the Brethren is one of 27 plaintiffs.

Brethren bits
In this issue: Remembering Tootie Long, Elsie Koehn, and Brian Roten; New & Renew is cancelled with regrets; registration opens May 1 for National Older Adult Conference; Brethren Disaster Ministries Hurricane Helene short-term project seeks volunteers; worship resources for National Youth Sunday on May 4; prayer requests for Haiti and Uganda; EYN holds its annual Majalisa; Donna Rhodes is celebrated; and much, much more.

‘Sensitive Locations, Sacred Spaces’ nationwide prayer vigil supports lawsuit to protect sanctuaries
An interfaith prayer vigil on the evening of Thursday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern time) held both in-person at National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., (5 Thomas Circle NW) and online via live-stream will support a court hearing in the sensitive locations lawsuit.

Intercultural Ministries offers online prayer request page
The Church of the Brethren Intercultural Ministries is offering a special webpage for prayer requests to be shared from across the country and denomination. With the mission statement, “We are called to enrich and strengthen the Church of the Brethren by our unity as people across cultures, modeling for the larger church the blessings of being one as God’s people,” the opportunity to request prayer is offered in three languages: English, Haitian Creole, and Spanish.
Thursday, Jan. 16, is declared a day of prayer and fasting for the Church of the Brethren, at the request of Atlantic Southeast District
The Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board has declared Thursday, Jan. 16, a day of prayer and fasting for the denomination, at the request of the board of the church’s Atlantic Southeast District. The declaration invites all Church of the Brethren congregations, projects, fellowships, the board, and the denominational staff to participate.
Pacific Southwest District requests prayer for Conexion Pasadena congregation affected by fire
Pacific Southwest District executive minister Russ Matteson today (Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025) shared the following prayer request for the Conexion Pasadena congregation of the Church of the Brethren, which has been directly affected by the Eaton fire in the Los Angeles area, as well as other church members and congregations across the area.

Mission and Ministry Board approves 2025 budget for denominational ministries, affirms day of prayer and fasting for immigrants
The Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board held a special Zoom meeting Dec. 5 to act on a proposal for the 2025 budget for denominational ministries. Two items were acted on: The board approved the 2025 budget proposal brought by general secretary David Steele and treasurer Ed Woolf and recommended by the Executive Committee. The board supported a request from the board of Atlantic Southeast District for a day of prayer and fasting for immigrants.
General secretary calls for prayer, reaches out to those affected by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath
A call for prayer for those affected by Hurricane Helene and its aftermath–with special thought for the hardest-hit areas of northwest Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia–has been made by Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele.
General secretary extends care to Haitian migrants and Springfield, calls for cessation of violence in this volatile time
Church of the Brethren general secretary David Steele is extending care for Haitian migrants and the community of Springfield, Ohio, and is calling for a cessation of verbal and physical violence in this volatile period of time in our country. The statement follows in English, Haitian Creole, and French (translation into Spanish will be made available soon)