{"id":17817,"date":"2021-11-12T06:07:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-12T06:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=17817"},"modified":"2021-11-13T00:20:59","modified_gmt":"2021-11-13T00:20:59","slug":"brethren-bits-for-nov-12-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2021\/brethren-bits-for-nov-12-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits for Nov. 12, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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— Two additional members have been confirmed to the Stewardship of Property Committee<\/strong> recently created by the Church of the Brethren Mission and Ministry Board. The two new members of the committee are Miller Davis and Brian Messler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The Global Mission staff have shared prayers of praise and prayer requests for concerns<\/strong> in an email this week. Among them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prayers of praise included the \u201c100 new congregations in Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) since 2016, even in the face of challenges\u201d and the visit of EYN president Joel Billi to the Church of the Brethren in Rwanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concerns included a prayer request for a team from the United States that is traveling to the Dominican Republic this weekend to facilitate a meeting \u201cin hopes of reconciling a split in the church that has occurred in recent years, partly along ethnic lines.\u201d The team includes Global Mission co-executive director Eric Miller, Global Food Initiative manager Jeff Boshart, and three church leaders originally from the DR: Arelis and Alix Sable, who is associate pastor of Lancaster (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, and Eric Ramirez, a church planter in Atlantic Northeast District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— \u201cStart this Christmas tradition on December 1,\u201d<\/strong> said an invitation from Brethren Press. \u201cGet a copy of 25 Days to Jesus<\/em>, an Advent devotional for children, for the little ones in your family circle.\u201d Order by visiting www.brethrenpress.com<\/a>. Find a fun YouTube video about the book at https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7kjH_eJo6cA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— The story of the Brethren Service Commission<\/strong> is the focus of the next Facebook Live events from the Brethren Historical Library and Archives. A two-part series of online webinars begins next Tuesday, Nov. 16, at 10 a.m., detailing the beginning of the Brethren Service Commission that guided the Church of the Brethren\u2019s service ministries, its origins, and the individuals that championed its formation and success. Go to www.facebook.com\/events\/386574343108175<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Marie Benner-Rhoades has completed her service as co-chair of Christian Peacemaker Teams,<\/strong> as of the completion of CPT\u2019s bi-annual meetings on Oct. 16, 18, and 20. She will continue to serve on the steering committee as a representative of On Earth Peace, which is one of the sponsoring bodies for CPT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

— \u201cChildren as Peacebuilders: Equipping Resilient Leaders–Native American Rights\u201d<\/strong> is an online event offered by On Earth Peace at 12 noon (Eastern time) on Saturday, Nov. 20. Said an announcement: \u201cThe seminar will invite parents and educators from all around the US to talk about Native American rights in the US and equip them with the tools needed to raise awareness of this issue amongst children.\u201d The speaker is Georgia Esperanza Adams, of Myaamia (Miami) descent and married into the Mingo (Onkweonwe) community, who has worked on language revitalization efforts through Bowling Green State University to revive the Mingo language. She has run children\u2019s camps and language revitalization camps in northwest Ohio for the Mingo community over the years, in an effort to bring back a nearly extinct language and many cultural traditions. She is an activist for Native American sovereignty rights, and for the preservation and restoration of native habitats. Find out more at www.onearthpeace.org\/cap-native-american-rights<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Church of the Brethren Annual Conference office is calling for nominations<\/strong> for the ballot to come before the 2022 Conference. \u201cYou can help shape the future of the church! Each member of the Church of the Brethren is invited to recommend possible nominees,\u201d said announcements on Facebook for the various open positions on the ballot. For more information and to make a nomination go to www.brethren.org\/ac\/nominations<\/a>. Submit all nominations by Dec. 1. \u201cThe earlier, the better!\u201d said the announcements.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Photo by Glenn Riegel<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— The 2021 Virlina District Conference<\/strong> takes place this weekend, Nov. 12-13, in Roanoke, Va. The theme is \u201cWait on the Lord\u201d from Isaiah 40:31: \u201cBut they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall rise up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not grow weary; they shall walk and not faint.\u201d Friday night\u2019s featured speaker is Annual Conference moderator David Sollenberger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— Brethren Disaster Ministries is joining with Mid-Atlantic District <\/strong>to promote the district\u2019s 40th annual Disaster Response Auction this Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Shipley Arena at the Carroll County Agricultural Center in Westminster, Md. Auction proceeds support disaster relief and Brethren Disaster Ministries. Find out more at www.madcob.com\/disaster-response-auction<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— \u201cAlive in Christ\u201d (2 Corinthians 5:17) is the theme for the Roundtable<\/strong> regional youth conference to be held Feb. 25-27, 2022, at Bridgewater (Va.) College. The speaker will be Chris Michael.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The Brethren Retirement Community in Greenville, Ohio, is seeking volunteers, <\/strong>as the community \u201cis working to get back to more normal activity!\u201d said an announcement from Southern Ohio and Kentucky District. Volunteers must be vaccinated and willing to wear a mask\/face shield. Volunteer opportunities include pushing residents in wheelchairs to activities, therapy, the Beauty Shop, and Senior Fit exercise; serving as a clerk in the Gift Shop and in the This-n-That Shop; doing Christmas decorating; and assisting with activities. Contact 937-547-7682 or melinda.harter@bhrc.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— The National Council of Churches is reminding churches<\/strong> to share with families the deadline of Monday, Nov. 15, at 11:59 p.m. for non-filers to sign up for the Child Tax Credit. \u201cThe White House digital toolkit provides ways for faith groups to spread the word on how families with kids can get a monthly payment,\u201d said the NCC newsletter. \u201cLow-income families with children are eligible for this crucial tax relief even if they have not made enough money to be required to file taxes.\u201d Find the online toolkit at www.whitehouse.gov\/child-tax-credit\/toolkit<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— Religion News Service has published results of a study<\/strong> by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected churches in the US. The study surveyed 2,074 churches from 38 denominations, showing that \u201cthe pandemic has had a profound impact across the religious spectrum, and that some churches are faring better than others,\u201d according to scholar Scott Thumma. A few of the findings: 8 in 10 churches now provide hybrid services both in person and online; almost a quarter have \u201cmoderate to severe conflicts about pandemic restrictions\u201d; and \u201c67 percent of clergy said 2020 was the hardest year of their ministry.\u201d Perhaps most crucial: \u201cThe mode of delivery of worship services was a major factor in whether median attendance increased or fell. For example, the 15 percent of churches that met solely in person saw the steepest decline in attendance–15.7 percent. The 5 percent of congregations that offered only online worship had a decline of 7.3 percent. But the 80 percent of congregations offering hybrid worship experienced an overall growth of 4.5 percent.\u201d Find the article at https:\/\/religionnews.com\/2021\/11\/10\/amid-covid-19-most-churches-provide-hybrid-worship-half-stopped-picnics<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Dena Ross Jennings,<\/strong> former board chair of On Earth Peace and a physician and musician in Virginia, was one of those speaking and performing at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 6. The event titled \u201cMy Light, My Story: Inspiration Is Everywhere!\u201d was livestreamed from the Millennium Stage as part of a \u201cLivestream: Celebrating Culture and Lights: Diwali at the Kennedy Center\u201d series. The description of the event noted that \u201cmusician Dena Jennings used her Rangoli book as her Advent wreath and created music for it. Make a Rangoli Book of your own and take it home to remember that inspiration is everywhere!\u201d Go to www.kennedy-center.org\/whats-on\/millennium-stage\/2021\/november\/diwali-lights-6<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Find more Church of the Brethren news:<\/p>\n\n\n