{"id":23513,"date":"2024-03-29T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-29T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=23513"},"modified":"2024-03-29T23:16:49","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T23:16:49","slug":"brethren-bits-38","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2024\/brethren-bits-38\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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— Two facilitator trainings for the \u201c7 Prompts\u201d conversation initiative <\/strong>of the Standing with People of Color Committee of Annual Conference are offered in April. The committee is asking the entire Church of the Brethren to engage in the initiative over the next year, using seven discussion prompts that were developed along with the \u201cBELOVED\u201d model to invite participants to look within themselves and reflect on their own experiences and perspectives. \u201cIt is our prayer that these conversations, across the denomination, can help foster broad engagement and create a path toward faithful and passionate Brethren involvement in racism and racial justice in our times,\u201d said an announcement. The online facilitator trainings are scheduled for April 2 at 6:30-8:30 p.m. (Eastern time) and April 6 at 1-3 p.m. (Eastern time). Register at www.onearthpeace.org\/2024_01_11_swpoc_7_prompts_facilitator_training<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— The Sounds of the Mountains Storytelling Festival <\/strong>is at Camp Bethel in Fincastle, Va., on April 12-13. The 2024 story teller line-up includes Motoko, recipient of the National Storytelling Network\u2019s 2017 Circle of Excellence Award; Antonio Rocha, originally from Brazil, an award winning internationally acclaimed storyteller; Bil Lepp, a five time champion of the West Virginia Liars\u2019 Contest, and Kevin Kling, a playwright and storyteller best known for his commentaries on National Public Radio\u2019s All Things Considered. Musical guests are the Common Ground Bluegrass Band. Purchase tickets at www.soundsofthemountains.org\/tickets.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cDon\u2019t wait–there are only a few days left to register for a FaithX service trip this summer!\u201d<\/strong> said a reminder from the Church of the Brethren program offering short-term service trips. \u201cIf you are still considering signing up for FaithX, there is no better time than now! Registration closes this Monday, April 1.\u201d<\/strong> Service trips that still have available spots are a junior high trip to Roanoke, Va., on June 19-23; a junior and senior high trip to South Bend, Ind., on June 18-23; a junior and senior high trip to Winston-Salem, N.C., on July 28-Aug. 2; a senior high trip to Camp Koinonia in Cle Elum, Wash., on June 8-14; a senior high trip to North Fort Myers, Fla., on July 14-20; a trip for adults to Ecuador on June 1-10; and the We Are Able trip to Elgin, Ill., on June 24-27. Find the registration form at www.brethren.org\/faithx<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— A seventh annual Neurodiversity Symposium at the University of La Verne <\/strong>(Calif.) will address \u201cEquity in Gifted Education and Neurodiversity\u201d on April 20 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Pacific time) at the Sara and Michael Abraham Campus Center. Lunch will be provided. Sponsored by the school\u2019s LaFetra College of Education, in collaboration with the Center for Learning and Innovation and the Center for Neurodiversity, Learning, and Wellness, the symposium \u201caims to address inequitable issues in gifted education and provide actionable strategies for creating inclusive and sustainable services,\u201d said a release. \u201cThree keynote speakers will join the event and are each experts in gifted education. These individuals include gifted program coordinator Dina Brulles, senior research scientist Jack Naglieri, and former executive director of the Herberger Young Scholars Academy Kimberly Lansdowne. Together, they discovered that 1.2 million non-white gifted students who were previously unidentified as gifted students. They each have dedicated time, education, and experience to identifying historically marginalized gifted students to create a more equitable program for all.\u201d Find the full release at https:\/\/laverne.edu\/news\/2024\/03\/19\/neurodiversity-symposium-2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mikah Overman at the Song & Story Fest (photo courtesy of Ed Groff)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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— Mikah Overman shares “We Are All Australian” in the April episode of the Brethren Voices<\/strong> show for community television. Overman, a 14-year-old from Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren, was a baby at his first Song & Story Fest. Years ago, he \u201cbecame interested in the song, \u2018We Are All Australian,\u2019 which was written by Bruce Woodley of an Australian group, the Seekers and Dobe Newton of the Bushwackers,\u201d said an announcement of the episode from producer Ed Groff. \u201cThe song discusses some of the history of Australia and its many cultures. Looking at some of the patriotic songs of the United States, Mikah discovered that the many cultures in our country really are not mentioned in our songs. Suggesting this topic to the 2023 Song & Story Fest planning committee led to Mikah\u2019s leading a workshop,\u201d Groff wrote. \u201cWhat needs to change about American patriotism and national identity? Group participants created a song for the United States.\u201d This episode is hosted by Seth Spire, a Brethren Volunteer Service worker. Find it on YouTube at www.youtube.com\/brethrenvoices<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— The Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center in Harrisonburg, Va., invites all to an outdoor worship service on Easter Sunday morning, <\/strong>on a hilltop overlooking the Shenandoah Valley. The service starting at 6:30 a.m. will feature Daniel House giving a meditation, Lori Friesen as worship leader, and special music by a flute ensemble from Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. An offering will support the Heritage Center. Dress warmly and bring a lawn chair for seating. See https:\/\/brethrenmennoniteheritage.org\/sunrise<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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— Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) tomorrow for an Easter Vigil<\/strong> live from Palestine: Saturday, March 30, 3 p.m. (Eastern time). This special live Easter service takes place on Zoom with leadership from Munther Isaac of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, and involvement by Bethlehem Bible College, Christ at the Checkpoint, Freedom Road, Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimages, Global Emersion, Kairos Palestine, Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East, Red Letter Christians, and Telos. Register at www.fosna.org\/lent2024\/sabeel-online-easter-service-with-rev-munther-isaac<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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— Churches in South Sudan are appealing for humanitarian assistance<\/strong> \u201camid fears that the consequences of climate change, macro-economic shocks, and the war in Sudan could sink the country further into the worst humanitarian crisis since independence,\u201d said a release from the World Council of Churches (WCC). \u201cA large part of the population continues to live on relief aid or are in need of it, due to a combination of factors–including insecurity and inter-ethnic violence. More than four million people are displaced, with over two million being internally displaced and 2.2 million being refugees in the neighbouring countries,\u201d the release said, in part. It noted that \u201cthe country\u2019s churches have been reaching millions of citizens with peace building messages and activities, which advocate for healing, forgiveness, reconciliation and give hope to the communities.\u201d The release included comments from James Oyet Latansio, general secretary of the South Sudan Council of Churches; Thomas Tut Puot Mut, moderator of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church; and Catholic bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Yambio-Tombura Diocese. Read the full release at www.oikoumene.org\/news\/churches-in-south-sudan-appeal-for-support-during-worsening-humanitarian-crisis<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— “Peggy\u2019s War” is a debut novel by Karl Rhodes,<\/strong> great-great-grandson of Margaret \u201cPeggy\u201d Rhodes, telling her story as a Brethren woman living under the Confederacy during the Civil War. \u201cKnown as a fiercely loyal Unionist living in the Shenandoah Valley, an area that strongly supports the Confederacy, Peggy conceals draft dodgers and deserters in a secret cellar under her bedroom floor, all while caring for her dying husband and five children,\u201d said an article from the Northern Virginia Daily newspaper. Rhodes \u201cstumbled upon this ancestral story\u201d first as a child. More recently, he \u201cfound himself reading a six-volume historical set of books titled \u2018Unionists and the Civil War Experience in the Shenandoah Valley\u2019 researched and compiled by David Rodes and Norman Wenger and edited by Emmert Bittinger.\u201d He learned the stories of Mennonites and Brethren of the time, including women like Peggy Rhodes. Find an extensive article about the author and how he came to write the book, at www.nvdaily.com\/nvdaily\/peggys-war-tells-story-of-union-sympathizer-during-civil-war\/article_728965f7-82c1-5fd7-b214-c26684981c18.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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