{"id":25796,"date":"2025-08-14T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-14T03:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=25796"},"modified":"2025-08-15T22:26:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T22:26:02","slug":"brethren-bits-83","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2025\/brethren-bits-83\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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— Two presentations by Drew Hart<\/strong> of the faculty of Messiah College and a member at Harrisburg (Pa.) First Church of the Brethren, are scheduled in the Roanoke Valley of Virginia in late September. Hart is author of Who Will Be a Witness?<\/em> and other books about church and race. On Sept. 26, he will be speaking at Roanoke College on the topic of \u201cGo and Do Likewise: Reparations, Loving Your Black Neighbor, and the Work of Healing the Wounds of Antiblackness.\u201d This event is sponsored by Central Church of the Brethren, Virlina Racial Advocacy Team, and the Roanoke Reparations Group. On Sept. 27, Dr. Hart will be speaking at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren on the topic \u201cThe Things that Make for Peace\u201d: Racial Justice and the Pathway to Beloved Community.\u201d Said an announcement from Virlina District: \u201cThis program is in concert with the denomination\u2019s Standing with People of Color program and is sponsored by Central Church of the Brethren, Virlina Racial Advocacy Team, and Oak Grove Church of the Brethren.<\/p>\n\n\n

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— On Sept. 11-13, the event \u201cChurch at the Crossroads\u201d<\/strong> will gather people from across the country under the auspices of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). Join CMEP for \u201ca national gathering of Christians who recognize that the church stands at a defining moment\u2013Jesus is urgently calling us back to the narrow way of the cross,\u201d said an announcement. \u201cAs violence escalates in Israel and Palestine, and some in the Church use Scripture to justify war, occupation, or silence, we must ask: Have we traded the gospel of peace for the false promises of security and comfort? Rooted in Scripture and led by Palestinian Christian leaders, including CMEP executive director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon\u2014alongside pastors and peacemakers from across North America\u2014this conference invites American Christians to engage in honest reckoning, prophetic reflection, and faithful action. Through worship, prayer, teaching, and fellowship, we are called to repentance, renewal, and courageous discipleship. This is a space to confront harmful theologies, rediscover the gospel of the Kingdom, and stand with all who seek justice in the land.\u201d Learn more and register at https:\/\/cmep.org\/cmep-events\/church-at-the-crossroads<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Juniata College is celebrating 150 years<\/strong> since its founding as a Church of the Brethren-related institution. <\/em>

Located in Huntingdon, Pa., an article about the college\u2019s history has been published by the <\/em>Huntingdon Daily News at www.huntingdondailynews.com\/news\/local\/college-celebrates-150-years\/article_0b232953-6052-4392-84ba-2306d48b0776.html<\/a>. <\/em>

The year-long celebration will feature a series of events including this year\u2019s opening convocation on Aug. 25, art exhibits, concerts, TEDx talks, the 116th Bailey Oratorical, and a culminating celebration next April. <\/em>

The college also is collecting photos as part of the celebration, via its Facebook page. \u201cSnap a photo of your favorite spot on campus and tag us\u2014we\u2019ll be sharing your shots all year long!\u201d said an invitation. Go to www.facebook.com\/juniata<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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— The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting Christians worldwide to celebrate the Season of Creation,<\/strong> which runs from Sept. 1 through Oct. 4. This year\u2019s theme is \u201cPeace with Creation.\u201d In a WCC release, Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, moderator of the organization\u2019s central committee, \u201creflected that climate change needs a response that reaches not only our minds, but also our hearts and souls, so we can change our lifestyles and our vision of the good life. \u2018The Bible calls it metanoia,\u2019 he said. \u2018If it is true that the modern ecological crisis has deep spiritual roots, it is of enormous importance when all the big Christian traditions on this globe unite in responding to it.\u2019 The Season of Creation is such a response, added Bedford-Strohm. \u2018And the global Decade for Climate Justice Action that the WCC has just launched at its central committee meeting in Johannesburg will give a further push to our ecological commitment,\u2019 he said.\u201d The biblical text for Season of Creation 2025 is Isaiah 32:14-18, in which Isaiah pictures the desolated creation without peace because of the lack of justice and the broken relationship between God and humankind. The symbol for Season of Creation 2025 is the Garden of Peace, characterized by a dove carrying an olive branch, bringing life back to the Garden of Peace. For more information and resources go to https:\/\/oikoumene.org\/events\/season-of-creation-2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center<\/strong> is offering a series of relevant and engaging continuing education events for both clergy and interested laity. While credentialed clergy can earn continuing education units, these topics will also benefit lay participants. \u201cWe encourage you to share these events with others, as everyone is welcome to register,\u201d said the announcement. To register, go to <\/em>https:\/\/www.etown.edu\/programs\/svmc\/index.aspx<\/a>, scan the QR codex below, email KarenHodges@SVMCcob.org<\/a>, or call 717-361-1450.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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

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