{"id":5194,"date":"2018-07-14T17:30:07","date_gmt":"2018-07-14T17:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.brethren.org\/news\/?p=5194"},"modified":"2018-09-29T17:34:34","modified_gmt":"2018-09-29T17:34:34","slug":"brethren-bits-for-july-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2018\/brethren-bits-for-july-14\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits for July 14, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

Church of the Brethren Newsline
\nJuly\u00a014,\u00a02018<\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"
Nigerian church leaders visited the General Offices in Elgin, Ill., earlier this week, during a time of rest and relaxation following their participation in Annual Conference. Shown from left: EYN liaison officer Markus Gamache and his wife, Janada Markus, and EYN president Joel Billi and his wife, Salamatu. Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

—\u00a0Remembrance: Shenandoah District is lifting up prayers<\/strong>\u00a0following the death of Richard Harrison (Richi) Yowell, moderator of the 2018 district conference, a member of the district\u2019s Shalom Team, and pastor of Mt. Olivet Church of the Brethren. \u201cBrother Richi had been missing for several days before his body was located Saturday afternoon, July 7,\u201d said a message from the district. \u201cHe was 48 years old. Pray for peace and comfort for his wife, Christal, and their children…. Pray for the Mt. Olivet congregation as it confronts the reality of the sudden loss of their shepherd. Pray for Shenandoah District leaders as they reach out with love and friendship to all who have been touched by this tragedy to help them move ahead in faith.\u201d A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, July 20, at 10 a.m. at the Broadway (Va.) High School auditorium. Memorial gifts are received for Camp Brethren Woods.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Sherri Crowe has accepted the position of client manager<\/strong>\u00a0for the Brethren Foundation, Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT), working at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. She will begin her duties on Aug. 6. She has worked as an investment advisor associate for more than eight years and has other relevant background to make her well-suited to this position, holding several designations and licenses including CRPC, APMA, Series 7 and 66, and Illinois Insurance. She and her family live in South Elgin and are members of Christ Community Church in St. Charles, Ill.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Everett Teetor has been hired as accounting assistant<\/strong>\u00a0for Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT), as of July 23, serving at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. He has been serving BBT as an intern in the finance department since June 5, 2017. BBT is forecasting additional major transitions to internal\/external operations that will directly affect the finance staffing, and so the intern role has been made into a regular full-time hourly position. Teetor graduated in 2017 from Beloit (Wis.) College with a degree in business economics and relevant course work in areas of finance and accounting. He is a member of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Staffing changes have been announced by Brethren Woods<\/strong>, a camp and outdoor ministry center near Keezletown, Va.
\nKatie and Tim Heishman, program co-directors<\/strong>\u00a0for three years, have accepted a call to co-pastor Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Ohio. Both are ordained ministers and 2018 graduates of Bethany Theological Seminary. They will make the transition to Ohio in mid-September.
\nAndrew Wenger, the camp\u2019s maintenance director<\/strong>\u00a0for three years, will leave at the end of October to join his father\u2019s handyman business.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Among staffing changes at Camp Bethel<\/strong>\u00a0near Fincastle, Va.:
\nBeth Heaton, guest services coordinator<\/strong>, is moving to Charlottesville, Va., as of July 1, joining her husband, Gary, who has been appointed senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Charlottesville. \u201cSince 2012, she has diligently served Camp Bethel guests with efficiency and extraordinary attention to detail. She also joyfully led \u2018Nature Time with Beth\u2019 for thousands of summer campers,\u201d said an announcement. Send appreciative notes to Beth Heaton, 564 Bethel Road, Fincastle, VA 24090 or\u00a0CampBethelOffice@gmail.com<\/a>\u00a0.
\nWesley Shrader is serving as interim food services coordinator<\/strong>\u00a0at Camp Bethel. He served on the summer staff from 2010-2015 and on the summer kitchen staff in 2013. He is a 2013 graduate of Johnson & Wales University’s culinary program in Charlotte, N.C., and most recently was banquets supervisor at Hotel Roanoke from 2014-2018.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Bethany Theological Seminary seeks an executive director of institutional advancement.<\/strong>\u00a0As a senior administrator and primary fundraiser, this person will lead the seminary\u2019s development efforts with creative and proven strategic approaches that will successfully position the seminary for the future as well as cultivate and deepen relationships with alumni, supporters, and friends in the Church of the Brethren. The new executive director of institutional advancement will join the seminary at a time of growth and innovation as the seminary expands program, institutes new initiatives for residential and distance learners, and continues to raise its profile in the Church of the Brethren and larger ecumenical community. Responsibilities include supervising institutional advancement staff and overseeing department operations; developing and implementing annual, major, and planned gift securement strategies; overseeing maintenance of donor records; overseeing communications including marketing, publications, and alumni relations; representing Bethany at conferences and in congregations, speaking and providing leadership as opportunities arise; envisioning new goals and methods for institutional advancement. A full position description is at\u00a0www.bethanyseminary.edu\/about\/employment<\/a>\u00a0. Review of applications begins July 30 and will continue until an appointment is made. Send a letter of interest, a resume, and contact information for three references to Rev. Dr. Jeff Carter, President, Bethany Theological Seminary, 615 National Road West, Richmond, IN 47374-4019, or\u00a0president@bethanyseminary.edu<\/a>\u00a0. For more information about Bethany visit\u00a0www.bethanyseminary.edu<\/a>\u00a0. Bethany Theological Seminary\u2019s policy prohibits discrimination in employment opportunities or practices with regard to race, gender, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or religion.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Camp Bethel seeks a guest services and marketing coordinator<\/strong>\u00a0to serve at the camp and outdoor ministry center near Fincastle, Va. Camp Bethel is accepting online applications for this full-time, year-round position. The application form and complete information are at\u00a0www.CampBethelVirginia.org\/jobs<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"\"
Camp Swatara’s entrance in the 1940s and in the 2000s, in these side by side photographs celebrating the camp’s history. Photos courtesy of Camp Swatara.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

—\u00a0Camp Swatara in Bethel, Pa., is celebrating its 75th anniversary<\/strong>\u00a0in 2018 with the theme \u201cTell the Story–75 Years at the Base of Blue Mountain.\u201d An anniversary celebration weekend is scheduled for Aug. 3-5, with the major events happening on Saturday, Aug. 4. Friday will feature \u201cA Day in the Life of Camp\u201d with morning classes, afternoon recreation options, and family-style meals for all ages. Saturday, Aug. 4, will be the main celebration day including a ticketed pancake breakfast in the family campground, a variety of morning activity options, food trucks\/stands and decade dinner reunions for lunch, an afternoon program featuring speakers, songs, skits, staff panels, and more from throughout camp\u2019s history, ticketed supper\/dinner meals, and evening campfires. Sunday, Aug. 5, will conclude the weekend with worship in the family campground. Advanced registration is strongly encouraged. Day registration is free. Meal tickets can be purchased in advance with limited quantities available onsite. Weekend lodging and weekend packages including lodging and meals are available. Find out more and register online at\u00a0www.campswatara.org<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Camp Bethel is announcing two upcoming events in August:<\/strong>
\nThe Camp Bethel Benefit Gold Tournament and Banquet<\/strong>\u00a0takes place Aug. 22. Golfers and sponsors are needed for the tournament held at Botetourt Golf Club in Virginia. Tee off time is 12:45 p.m. The cost of $70 per person includes green fees, cart, and dinner at the camp near Fincastle, Va.. Go to\u00a0www.CampBethelVirginia.org\/golf<\/a>\u00a0.
\nThe Camp Bethel PEP 5k run\/walk<\/strong>\u00a0is Aug. 25. An announcement described it as \u201cour newest fundraiser for \u2018the PEPPIEST gang around!\u2019\u201d The $32.50 entry fee includes a race t-shirt, pre- and-post-race snacks, fully stocked water\/aid stations, prizes, and fun. Registration is from 7-7:45 a.m., with an 8 a.m. start. Sponsor packages are available. For more information go to\u00a0www.CampBethelVirginia.org\/5K<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Pinecrest Community in Mt. Morris, Ill., will host a daylong celebration of its 125th anniversary<\/strong>\u00a0on Saturday, Aug. 11, beginning at 10 a.m. Events include addresses at the Pinecrest Grove Community Center by Illinois and Wisconsin District executive Kevin Kessler and Leading Age Illinois president Karen Messer, a pulled-pork luncheon, music performances throughout the day, children’s activities including bounce houses, a petting zoo, and crafts, and an ice cream social at the gazebo beside Pinecrest Village. \u201cThis celebration is our way of thanking you for supporting the ministry of Pinecrest through the years,\u201d said CEO Ferol Labash.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Knobley Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0children and youth presented some special donation boxes to local libraries recently. The church is located in New Creek, W.Va. The small wood and glass houses were presented to four county libraries during a meeting of the Mineral County Commission, reports the \u201cMineral Daily News Tribune.\u201d Find the story and a photo at\u00a0www.newstribune.info\/news\/20180629\/libraries-grateful-to-community<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Indian Creek Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0in Harleysville, Pa., dedicated its new Peace Pole on Sunday, June 24. \u201cLord, make us instruments of your peace,\u201d the congregation sang, as reported in an online piece from \u201cThe Reporter\u201d newspaper. \u201cMove us to light flames of fire against the darkness of war, and to build bridges across the chasms of hate,\u201d they said in a responsive prayer. \u201cThis is a completion that merits celebration, but it really is a beginning,\u201d pastor Mark Baliles told the paper. Find the article and photos at\u00a0www.thereporteronline.com\/article\/RO\/20180626\/NEWS\/180629872<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\"\"
Members of the staff of the Office of Peacebuilding and Policy show off the office’s new logo emblazoned on t-shirts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

—\u00a0On the latest episode of the Dunker Punks Podcast<\/strong>, Dana Cassell interviews members of Umstead Park United Church of Christ of Raleigh, N.C., who are providing sanctuary for an undocumented immigrant with an active deportation order. The Dunker Punks Podcast is an audio show created by more than a dozen Brethren young adults across the country. Listen at\u00a0http:\/\/bit.ly\/DPP_Episode61<\/a>\u00a0or subscribe on iTunes at\u00a0http:\/\/bit.ly\/DPP_iTunes<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting participation in the World Week of Peace in Palestine and Israel<\/strong>\u00a0on Sept. 16-23. This year\u2019s theme is \u201cYouth and Children: Raising Hope and Making Change.\u201d Held the third week of September each year, the World Week of Peace unites Christian witness in peaceful actions around the world to promote a just peace in Palestine and Israel. \u201cWe remind world leaders, as well as the public, about a sad, unsolved–and in some ways forgotten–situation, which benefits neither Israelis nor Palestinians,\u201d wrote WCC general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit. \u201cYouth and children are the ones who suffer the most in conflicts and under occupation. Today, too many children in Palestinian territories grow up in fear, poverty and hopelessness, caused by more than 50 years of occupation. Too many youngsters lack access to proper education and can\u2019t find decent work.\u201d During this week, which includes the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, organizations, congregations, and people of faith are encouraged to bear a common witness by participating in worship services, educational events, and acts of support in favor of a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Susan Baumel,<\/strong>\u00a0who attends Arlington (Va.) Church of the Brethren and is founder and executive producer of Voyage\u00ae Productions, has been involved in the creation of a new ongoing program for PBS television stations titled\u00a0\u201cPlayback Social Entrepreneurs\u00ae.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0A release described the program as \u201cthe first broadcast television program of its kind, focused entirely on issues of socially responsible business.\u201d The show also is aligned with the United Nation\u2019s Sustainable Development Goals. The premiere episode that has been released this month includes segments on healthcare, ride-sharing and wheelchair accessibility problems faced by the disabled–especially seniors, and a separately trademarked segment \u201cPlayer Power\u00ae\u201d profiling Hollywood producer and social entrepreneur Jeff Skoll. Find out more and see clips of the first episode at\u00a0www.voyageproductions.org<\/a>\u00a0or go to\u00a0www.playbacktv.org<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Rebecca Brazaitis,<\/strong>\u00a0a sophomore at Morgantown (W.Va.) High School, and Morgantown Church of the Brethren made it into the news earlier this week after Brazaitis brought the\u00a0\u201cNever Again\u201d movement<\/strong>\u00a0to her hometown. On July 11, West Virginia Public Broadcasting published a report on her efforts against gun violence including organizing a town hall panel at the Church of the Brethren in Morgantown in April. \u201cPanelists included Morgantown student, Emma Gray, the Monongalia County Schools Extended Day director, Julia Hamilton, and local police officer, Sergeant Dave Wilfong,\u201d the report said. \u201cThey discussed issues related to guns and school safety.\u201d The report added, \u201cBrazaitis\u00a0 passionately wants to change gun laws and school safety from the ground up, starting in her own neighborhood.\u201d Read the full article at\u00a0www.wvpublic.org\/post\/how-one-morgantown-student-brought-neveragain-movement-wva#stream\/0<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Roy Pfaltzgraff Jr.<\/strong>\u00a0of Haxtun, Colo., has been interviewed by the \u201cHolyoke Enterprise,\u201d in an article published online. Pfaltzgraff, who grew up in Nigeria as the son of Church of the Brethren mission workers, told the story of how he learned agricultural practices upon his return to the United States by working on a cross-country harvesting crew in the 1960s. Read the interview at\u00a0www.holyokeenterprise.com\/ag-business\/harvest-brings-back-memories-pfaltzgraff<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Jeffrey Clouser<\/strong>, director of music ministries at Palmyra (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, has written an article for the UCC Musicians Association journal \u201cWorship, Music, and Ministry\u201d titled\u00a0\u201cCapable Leadership for the Church\u2019s Music Ministry.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0He addresses the role of a director of music in a congregation, and the ways that skilled people who fill such a role may enhance the church\u2019s mission, values, and theology. At Palmyra, Clouser facilitates the choral, handbell, and praise team programs, participates in planning worship, and organizes special musical events. He is in the Master\u2019s of Church Music degree program at Trinity Lutheran Seminary at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. \u201cThe mission of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren is to invite, welcome, nurture, disciple, equip, empower, and inspire all persons to live and to serve in the way of Jesus,\u201d he writes. \u201cI can\u2019t think of a better way to do this than through leading the church\u2019s song.\u201d<\/p>\n

—\u00a0An interview with one of the authors of the new book, \u201cSeptember Mourn:<\/strong>\u00a0The Dunker church of Antietam Battlefield,\u201d has been published by \u201cThe Herald Mail.\u201d\u00a0Alann Schmidt<\/strong>\u00a0speaks about how he and co-author\u00a0Terry Barkley,<\/strong>\u00a0former archivist at the Brethren Historical Library and Archives of the Church of the Brethren, came to write a book about the small church building around which the battle swirled–one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Schmidt is a pastor and a former park ranger at Antietam National Battlefield. Find the interview at\u00a0www.heraldmailmedia.com\/life\/pa-author-shines-a-light-on-dunker-church-of-antietam\/article_9c90327e-b06c-5db1-95f5-c3748782c554.html<\/a>\u00a0. The book may be purchased through Brethren Press, call 800-441-3712.<\/p>\n

Go to\u00a0www.brethren.org\/Newsline<\/a>\u00a0to subscribe to the Church of the Brethren Newsline free e-mail news service and receive church news every week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this issue: Remembrance, personnel notes, job openings, Camp Swatara\u2019s 75th anniversary, Pinecrest Community\u2019s 125th anniversary, Indian Creek\u2019s new Peace Pole, World Week of Peace in Palestine and Israel, \u201cPlayback Social Entrepreneurs\u00ae,\u201d Brethren author new book \u201cSeptember Mourn: The Dunker church of Antietam Battlefield,\u201d and more news by, for, and about Brethren.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5196,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[],"class_list":["post-5194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5194"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5194\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5198,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5194\/revisions\/5198"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5194"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=5194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}