{"id":24526,"date":"2024-10-17T06:36:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T06:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=24526"},"modified":"2024-10-18T18:52:39","modified_gmt":"2024-10-18T18:52:39","slug":"brethren-bits-55","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2024\/brethren-bits-55\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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— A prayer request from Igreja da Irmandade (the Church of the Brethren in Brazil) <\/strong>has been received from church leader Marcos Inhauser for the health of his wife, Suely Inhauser, who has been diagnosed with a motor neuron disease that has already compromised her ability to walk, talk, and swallow. Despite reporting that \u201cit is a degenerative, irreversible, and incurable disease,\u201d his email to the Global Mission office expressed the couple\u2019s strong faith, beginning with the scripture text from Psalm 32:7, \u201cYou are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suely Inhauser is receiving therapy including for speech, neurological, and motor functions, and is taking a series of medicines which are \u201cvery expensive,\u201d he reported. Marcos Inhauser himself has been undergoing radiation therapy following a diagnosis of skin cancer. The couple have been together for almost 52 years, and for many of those years have been co-leaders of the Church of the Brethren mission in Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are living what the Sermon on the Mount teaches: \u2018one day at a time; each day brings its own evil,\u2019\u201d he wrote. \u201cOne thing that has helped us in this journey through vicissitudes is the Church, pastoral care, and the renovation of the property we bought.\u201d The church in Brazil is anticipating being able to inaugurate the new church property in a few weeks, after having had problems with the company hired to do the renovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His email also shared concern about the state of Christianity in Brazil in general, with many pastors of other traditions having become heavily involved in politics, in the prosperity gospel, and in taking financial advantage of their followers. \u201cI have more than 50 years of work dedicated to churches,\u201d he concluded. \u201cI feel lost in the face of the things I see, hear, and are told. Furthermore, I am sure that the Christocentric message should guide the ministry, and I do not give up on this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To send messages of prayer, support, and encouragement to the Inhausers and to the Brazilian church<\/strong> in this difficult time personally and in their nation, contact the Global Mission office at cdavenport@brethren.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Eder Financial is seeking a full-time operations manager, <\/strong>products and services to serve the organization\u2019s customers. It requires weekly visits to the office in Elgin, Ill., but most work can be done remotely. This position requires a person who enjoys working in a team environment with attention to detail, excellent written and oral communication skills, and critical thinking skills. The ideal candidate is a customer-focused, adaptable problem solver, who will complete operational tasks (e.g., clerical, telephone coverage, invoice processing, compliance agreements) in support of operational projects for the Products and Services department with a focus on daily deadlines for certain tasks. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume\u2019, and three references to Tammy Chudy at tchudy@eder.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eder Financial is seeking a full-time bookkeeper for its finance department. <\/strong>It requires monthly visits to the office in Elgin, Ill., but most work can be done remotely. This position requires a person who enjoys working in a team environment with strong critical thinking and data analysis skills, and holds at least a two-year associate degree in accounting, finance, or equivalent work experience. The bookkeeper will manage all aspects of day-to-day bookkeeping and accounting processes including but not limited to: A\/P, A\/R, journal entries, and bank reconciliations in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The ideal candidate will assist with monthly and quarterly financial reports, support the annual budget process, and act as a key interface with banks and be responsible for cash management. Working knowledge of Excel is a must. Knowledge of accounting software such as Great Plains or NetSuite is a plus. To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume\u2019, and three references to Tammy Chudy at tchudy@eder.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cLast chance to save!\u201d <\/strong>said an announcement from Brethren Press, that the discounted pre-publication pricing on the Anabaptist Community Bible has been extended through Sunday, Oct. 20. Order from www.brethrenpress.com<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cMeet Rev. Meghan Larissa Good, the 2025 clergywomen\u2019s retreat speaker,<\/strong> and hear her enthusiasm about joining Brethren sisters in ministry on February 10-13 in Winter Park, Fla.,\u201d said an invitation from Nancy Sollenberger Heishman, director of the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Ministry Office. Good introduces herself and speaks about the theme and scripture focus for the retreat in a video posted at www.brethren.org\/ministryoffice<\/a> and at https:\/\/youtu.be\/Y3vyrMNtJJE<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cTis the season! (for nominating leaders in the Church of the Brethren),\u201d<\/strong> says an announcement of the next \u201cNominations Party\u201d held by the Womaen\u2019s Caucus. \u201cWhether you’ve been elected to a denominational leadership position, or have no idea how to even nominate someone, join us on Zoom for an informative, active session,\u201d said the invitation. The event is online on Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. (Eastern time). The announcement noted the open positions that will be on the ballot at Annual Conference 2025: Annual Conference moderator-elect, a member of the Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee, Mission and Ministry Board members from Area 1 (including the districts of Atlantic Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Middle Pennsylvania, Southern Pennsylvania, Western Pennsylvania) and Area 4 (including the districts of Missouri-Arkansas, Northern Plains, Southern Plains, Western Plains), the lay member of the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee, the five members of the Review and Evaluation Committee that is named every decade to carry out a review and evaluation process for the Church of the Brethren denomination. Find out more about making nominations at www.brethren.org\/ac\/nominations<\/a>. Find out more about the \u201cNominations Party\u201d at www.facebook.com\/events\/1047367570358347<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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— The Brethren Heritage Center in Brookville, Ohio, is holding an Open House on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1-4 p.m. <\/strong>The center is an educational museum, library, archive of books, records, artifacts, commemorative items, and quilts that tell the story of all Brethren groups who trace their origin to the 1708 baptisms in Schwarzenau, Germany, that started the Brethren movement. \u201cThe center also has resources to assist in genealogy research,\u201d said the announcement. \u201cHome school groups are encouraged to come and visit to learn of Anabaptist and Pietist origins.\u201d The Open House will feature guided tours, Appalachian Dulcimer Gospel music under a tent in the rear parking lot, and snacks. Find out more at www.brethrenhc.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Brethren Volunteer Service<\/strong> is inviting help to share Christmas greetings with volunteers this holiday season. Email bvs@brethren.org<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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— \u201cNorthern Gaza is being erased–global leaders must act now\u201d<\/strong> is the title of a joint statement released Oct. 15 by Churches for Middle East Peace (a partner organization to the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Office of Peacebuilding and Policy) and signed by 38 international humanitarian and faith-based organizations ranging from Christian Aid to Oxfam to Islamic Relief and Muslim Aid, among many more. \u201cThe Israeli forces\u2019 assault on Gaza has escalated to a horrifying level of atrocity,\u201d the statement said, in part. \u201cNorthern Gaza is being wiped off the map. Under the guise of \u201cevacuation,\u201d Israeli forces have ordered the forced displacement of an estimated 400,000 Palestinians trapped in northern Gaza, including Gaza City. This is not an evacuation\u2014this is forced displacement under gunfire. Since 1 October, no food has been allowed into the area, and civilians are being starved and bombed in their homes and their tents. Hospitals, already overwhelmed, are being ordered to evacuate. They are running out of fuel and essential supplies, while doctors and nurses battle to save lives with what little they have left. The wounded flood in – children, older people, victims of Israeli airstrikes – but with no resources to treat them\u2026. The world cannot continue to stand by as the Israeli government commits these atrocities. Global leaders have both a legal and moral duty to act now.\u201d The statement went on to demand \u201can immediate ceasefire and an end to Israel\u2019s illegal occupation\u201d as well as action by global leaders \u201cin line with the UN General Assembly Resolution on the ICJ Advisory Opinion,\u201d and a halt to the \u201ctransfer of all weapons, parts, and ammunition that could be used to commit further violations of international humanitarian law.\u201d Find the Oct. 15 statement in full at https:\/\/cmep.org\/press-news\/public-statements-letters\/?_years=2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Also from Churches for Middle East Peace, a five-part mini-series of webinars titled \u201cHolding on in the Dark: Palestinians Pursuing Justice Under Occupation\u201d<\/strong> will feature stories from several notable Palestinian Christian court cases \u201ccurrently making their way through the challenges, injustices, and frustrations of the legal system under occupation,\u201d said an announcement.\u201d The series will hear from the families and loved ones of Palestinian youth in detention, families whose lands are at risk of annexation, experts on the Israeli government\u2019s use of legal proceedings, and CMEP staff and board members. \u201cEach week, will also include action-steps for how Americans can support and advocate for Palestinians in the US,\u201d the announcement said. Learn more and register. The series began Oct. 15 with an overview from Jessica Montell, executive director of the Israeli human rights organization HaMoked and longtime human-rights activist and expert. On Oct. 21, the series continues with a spotlight on Al-Makhrour, a valley where for the past several months, the people have been subjected to increased violence, including the forced seizure of the Kisiya family\u2019s land and the establishment of an illegal settler outpost. The webinar on Oct. 28 will feature the story of Layan Nasir, who was detained on April 7, \u201cwhen around 20 Israeli soldiers hammered on the door of her parents’ house in the West Bank town of Birzeit near Ramallah, before her mother, Lulu Aranki Nasir, opened it. Then on the 15th of April, Israeli intelligence placed Layan in administrative detention for four months without charges.\u201d The Nov. 7 episode will tell Shady Khoury\u2019s story, with his mother Rania Khoury recounting \u201cthe heartbreaking story of her son, Shadi’s, arrest. At the age of 16, Shadi was arrested in the early hours of the morning, beaten, and detained for 45 days, all for the crime of “lynching a car”.\u201d To register and find out more, go to https:\/\/cmep.org\/events\/fall-mini-series-holding-on-in-the-dark-palestinians-pursuing-justice-under-occupation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A one-minute video titled \u201cFrom Despair to Hope\u201d<\/strong> has been released by the World Council of Churches (WCC) to \u201chighlight how our financial choices can help combat desertification and create a sustainable future for our children,\u201d said a release. The video is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Arabic. A call to action on climate change and responsible banking, the video highlights desertification around the Mediterranean Sea as part of a project to develop educational advocacy materials providing concrete examples of how everyone can contribute to halting the climate crisis. Churches are encouraged to use the video in Sunday school and small groups sessions to initiate discussion and action. \u201cIt is an educational resource that aims to increase tangible hope for children\u2019s futures. We invite and encourage all churches and partners to use and to share it!\u201d said the release. Find the full release and links to the video in various languages at https:\/\/oikoumene.org\/news\/from-despair-to-hope-a-call-to-action-on-climate-change-and-responsible-banking<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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— Resources are now available for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025,<\/strong> in seven languages–English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Arabic–provided through the World Council of Churches (WCC). This special commemoration is set for Jan. 18-25, 2025. The year 2025 marks the 1,700th anniversary of the first Christian Ecumenical Council, held in Nicaea, near Constantinople, in 325 AD. \u201cThis commemoration provides a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the common faith of Christians, as expressed in the creed formulated during this council,\u201d said an announcement. \u201cThe Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 offers an invitation to draw on this shared heritage and to enter more deeply into the faith that unites all Christians.\u201d The guiding biblical text comes from John 11:17-27, inspiring the theme, \u201cDo you believe this?\u201d (v. 26), from the dialogue between Jesus and Martha. The resources were prepared by the brothers and sisters of the monastic community of Bose in northern Italy. The resources are jointly published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the WCC. Congregations are invited to translate the text and adapt it for their own use. Go to https:\/\/oikoumene.org\/resources\/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— An ecumenical training and service opportunity for young adults has been announced by the World Council of Churches. <\/strong>The WCC invites young people ages 18-30 from around the world to apply for the 2025 Stewards Programme. The event is scheduled for June 14-26, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa, including a four-day training and ecumenical experience for the young adult group followed by service at the WCC\u2019s Central Committee meeting. Participants will represent a diverse and dynamic community of young Christians from different backgrounds, churches, and regions who will bring their faith, experiences, and vision to create an enriching ecumenical experience of fellowship and collaboration. The event will be conducted in English. \u201cThe programme is designed to equip young people with the tools to carry forward their ecumenical insights into their local churches and communities, fostering unity and action worldwide,\u201d said the announcement. \u201cThe Stewards\u2019 Programme is more than a time of service\u2014it is a response to Christ\u2019s call to be co-workers in the ministry of reconciliation and peace-making. Young people are encouraged to bring their unique gifts, perspectives, and faith stories to this gathering, with the hope of returning to their home communities as ambassadors of the ecumenical vision: a world moved by Christ\u2019s love, on a Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity.\u201d The deadline for applications is Nov. 30, 2024. Find out more and download the application form at www.oikoumene.org\/resources\/documents\/stewards-programme-application-form-2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

— An invitation to participate in a research study on the impact of music on understandings of peace, service, and Brethren identity<\/strong> has been received from a master\u2019s degree student at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. All who are interested are invited to consider participating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is the invitation letter:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy name is Rachel Bucher Swank (Church of the Brethren ordained minister, Atlantic Northeast District) and I am currently a Master of Music Education student at Elizabethtown College. I am requesting your participation in my final research study titled: \u201cKeep on Passing On: A Reception History.\u201d This project examines how pivotal songs from the body of work composed by a well-known Church of the Brethren folk duo have impacted and framed your understanding of peace, service, and Brethren identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy research questions are:
1) How were six selected songs constructed, received, and interpreted within a Brethren context?
2) How did affected audiences construct and frame understandings of peace, service, and Brethren identity through these songs?
3) How did the historical and cultural context impact song construction, meaning, and reception?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cParticipation is completely voluntary and you may withdraw from the study at any time. The study is completely anonymous, therefore, it does not require you to provide your name or any other identifying information. If you would be willing to participate in this study, please contact me via email (bucherswankr@etown.edu<\/a>) or phone: (717) 673-4909. Thank you for your consideration in participating in this study.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#MissionAndMinistryBoard #StrategicPlan #RacialJustice #LoveOurNeighbors #Discipleship #NewTestamentGiving<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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