{"id":5939,"date":"2017-02-11T19:43:11","date_gmt":"2017-02-11T19:43:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.brethren.org\/news\/?p=5939"},"modified":"2018-10-03T19:49:06","modified_gmt":"2018-10-03T19:49:06","slug":"brethren-bits-for-feb-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2017\/brethren-bits-for-feb-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren bits for Feb. 11, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Church of the Brethren Newsline
\nFebruary\u00a011,\u00a02017<\/b><\/p>\n

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\u201cLiving up to our church name: Prince of Peace!\u201d commented Gail Erisman Valeta in a Facebook post sharing this church sign at Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in Littleton, Colo. Photo by Gail Erisman Valeta.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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—\u00a0Emma Jean Woodard has resigned as associate district executive minister for Virlina District.<\/strong>\u00a0Her resignation is effective May 22. She has been a member of the district staff for over 17 years, said the district newsletter. She served first as an interim in the position, from Jan. 2000 until Oct. 2001, when she became the associate district executive. Previously she served as an interim pastor and as a church secretary. \u201cShe has been a faithful servant of Christ and the church,\u201d said the district announcement.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Trent Turner was hired on Jan. 23 as warehouse assistant for the Material Resources<\/strong>\u00a0program at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The Church of the Brethren Material Resources staff warehouse, process, and ship disaster relief and other material aid on behalf of a number of ecumenical partners. Turner began his work in the warehouse as a contract employee in April last year.<\/p>\n

— Bethany Theological Seminary, the seminary of the Church of the Brethren, announces an opening<\/strong>for the full-time position of administrative assistant for Institutional Advancement, with an immediate starting date. This is an opportunity for a person with strengths in caring for details and supporting colleagues in the mission of the Institutional Advancement Department. Responsibilities include overseeing gift receipting, serving as data manager for the department\u2019s portion of the Salesforce data management system, and coordinating logistics for department travel. Eligible applicants will hold a minimum of a bachelor\u2019s degree. Affinity with the values and mission of the seminary is required. Experience in gift receipting and handling confidential materials is preferred. Applicants will be personable, able to be self-directed, manage a complex workload with attention to details, able to quickly respond to phone and e-mail requests from donors. Experience with Salesforce is preferred; proficiency with Microsoft Office is required. A complete job description is available at\u00a0https:\/\/bethanyseminary.edu<\/a>\u00a0. Application review will begin Feb. 15 and will continue until an appointment is made. To apply send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to\u00a0advancement@bethanyseminary.edu<\/a>\u00a0, Attention: Mark Lancaster, Bethany Theological Seminary, 615 National Road West, Richmond, IN 47374. 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

— Camp Pine Lake is seeking a camp director.<\/strong>\u00a0The Church of the Brethren camp borders Pine Lake State Park near Eldora, Iowa. An enthusiastic, multi-talented individual is sought to serve in a position that includes working with the camp board, general operation of the camp (including office and business management, personnel management, maintenance, etc.), district\/public relations, and other responsibilities. In addition to hosting Church of the Brethren camps and events, Camp Pine Lake\u2019s facilities are available for rental by other church groups, families, and individuals. Qualifications include strong hospitality, administrative, accounting, and clerical skills; enthusiasm for the mission of Camp Pine Lake; leadership skills; a spirit of cooperation; and a desire to promote the ministries provided to the Northern Plains District through outdoor experiences. The camp director should be a committed Christian who supports the principles of the Church of the Brethren. A college degree is preferred, along with experience in Christian camping leadership, public relations, promotional activities, and communications. The board is open to including other property management or programming duties in the position for the right candidate. Health benefits are not included but a salary, on-site housing (in the form of a separate dwelling), and utilities are provided. For more information visit\u00a0www.camppinelake.com\/employmentopportunities.html<\/a>\u00a0. Apply by sending a cover letter and resume to\u00a0camppinelake@heartofiowa.net<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

— \u201cNew Orleans East was hit by one of several tornadoes in Louisiana Tuesday morning,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0reported David Young, a Church of the Brethren member and founder of Capstone Community Gardens and Orchards in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, La. \u201cThe actual touch down was about five miles (as the crow flies) from our Capstone sites. We have some wind-blown things but nothing serious. It was a blessing that there were no fatalities,\u201d he said via Facebook message. Young reported that about 20 people from the area hit by the tornado were transported to hospitals with non life-threatening injuries, and about 60 houses and buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed, with some 3,200 without power as of Thursday, Feb. 9. \u201cThe Red Cross has opened\u00a0 an emergency shelter in anticipation of serving 400 people and the area is being\u00a0 guarded for looting by the National Guard,\u201d he wrote. \u201cThe support form the community has been good with many offering sheltering for those displaced. There is much to be restored but the people of this city have shown their resilience in the past and with God\u2019s blessings will come back from this disaster also.\u201d Capstone is a recipient of Global Food Initiative grants and is a partner in the denomination\u2019s Going to the Garden initiative.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lillian Daniel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

—\u00a0The Church of the Brethren Ministers\u2019 Association has announced dates and leadership<\/strong>\u00a0for the pre-Annual Conference continuing education event in Grand Rapids, Mich. Dates are June 27-28. Keynote presenter Lillian Daniel is author of \u201cTired of Apologizing for a Church I Don\u2019t Belong to: Spirituality Without Stereotypes, Religion Without Ranting,\u201d and has taught preaching at a number of schools, including Chicago Theological Seminary, the University of Chicago Divinity School, and her alma mater, Yale Divinity School. Participants will receive a free copy of her most recent book. Three keynote sessions will be offered: Session 1: Four Types of Nones (Tuesday, June 27, 6-9 p.m.); Session 2: Spirituality Without Stereotypes (Wednesday, June 28, 9-11:45 a.m.); Session 3: Religion Without Ranting (Wednesday, June 28, 1-3:45 p.m.). This continuing education event is for all licensed, commissioned, and ordained ministers in the Church of the Brethren. Advance registration fees are $85 per person or $135 per couple, with a price for first-timers of $45 and a price of $50 for current seminary students and students in EFSM and TRIM. Registration fees go up at the door. Find out more and register at\u00a0www.brethren.org\/ministryoffice\/sustaining.html<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Global Mission and Service worker Grace Mishler is part of a professional team<\/strong>\u00a0developing an outreach ministry to help track 6,000 Vietnamese families with children who need eye care treatment, reports the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Global Mission office. \u201cPray for their efforts in researching and educating about diagnoses, treatment options, and aftercare follow-up,\u201d said a prayer concern earlier this week. \u201cA significant problem is retinal detachment in premature babies, a condition which can lead to blindness. Doctors lack capacity and equipment to adequately treat the large numbers of cases, and poor, rural families have difficulty accessing the treatment that is available. Pray for these families and for improved eye care services in Vietnam.\u201d<\/p>\n

— Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT) is providing a webinar on \u201cThe Ins and Outs of Long-Term Care.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0The webinar will be offered twice on April 6, at 10 a.m. and at 7 p.m. Each session will include 30 minutes of presentation followed by time for questions. The event will be led by Randy Yoder, independent agent for BBT and a long-term care specialist. \u201cAccording to the US Department of Health and Human Services 70 percent of people age 65 or more will sometime in their life need care for 90 days or longer,\u201d said an announcement. \u201cThat means whether you are young or old, the odds are high that there will be a time sooner or later when you will need long-term care. With the Baby Boomers coming into retirement age, the need for long-term care facilities is rising, pushing up the cost of such care. Are you prepared for this?\u201d The webinar will introduce and explain long-term care insurance and answer the questions, What is it? Who needs it? What are the options? And what are the basic costs? Contact Randy Yoder at 847-849-0205 or\u00a0ryoder@cobbt.org<\/a>\u00a0for questions about the webinar or a consultation by phone, a personal visit, or a group presentation for congregations. For more information go to
\nwww.cobbt.org\/sites\/default\/files\/pdfs\/Insurance%20pdfs\/LTCI%20Webinar%20for%20website.pdf<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0On Earth Peace is offering a Racial Justice Organizer Clinic each month.<\/strong>\u00a0The February clinic is planned for Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. (Eastern time). Sign up at\u00a0http:\/\/bit.ly\/FebOEPRJClinic<\/a>\u00a0. \u201cJoin us for our monthly racial justice organizer clinic–a time to talk about and receive support for what you are doing or what you would like to do to work for racial justice in your community and congregation,\u201d said an invitation from On Earth Peace\u2019s congregational peace and justice organizer Bryan Hanger. For more information contact\u00a0organizing@onearthpeace.org<\/a>\u00a0or 540-798-9325.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Bush Creek Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0in Monrovia, Md., is hosting the Mid-Atlantic District’s Disaster Relief Auction dinner on April 8 at 6 p.m. \u201cCome an enjoy an evening of good food and great fun,\u201d said an invitation from the district.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0has received a commendation from WSLS Channel 10, which reports, \u201cRecycling pays off for a church in Floyd. Parishioners at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren collected more than 500 pounds of plastic refuse as part of a recycling program with Trex, a company which manufactures wood-alternative decking products. The refuse includes everything from grocery bags to bread bags, cereal and dry cleaning bags, as well as newspaper sleeves, food storage bags, and produce bags.\u201d Read the news article about this church\u2019s effort to care for creation at\u00a0http:\/\/wsls.com\/2017\/02\/07\/floyd-church-recycles-plastic-bags-for-composite-bench<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0\u201cMany people say they want to change the world,<\/strong>\u00a0yet few will make an effort to inspire change. But one local group has decided to do what they can to make things better in the community,\u201d reported The Record Herald. A group of women at Waynesboro (Va.) Church of the Brethren have started a Women\u2019s Ministry to reach people in the community to help those in need. The group has evolved from a women’s fellowship ministry. \u201cThe group organized last month and is already up and running with a paint night on Saturday to benefit Jamie Stevens, a Waynesboro mother battling cancer,\u201d reported the newspaper. Find the article at\u00a0www.therecordherald.com\/news\/20170209\/women-change-world-one-month-at-time<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0West Charleston Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0in Tipp City, Ohio, is hosting a performance of \u201cListening for Grace,\u201d a new play by Ted and Co. The performance takes place on Sunday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. The play \u201cuses Ted Schwartz\u2019s distinctive humor to give voice to our fears and hopes when a faith community engages in questions around sexuality and same-gender relationships,\u201d said an announcement in the Southern Ohio District newsletter. \u201cThe main character in the play is challenged by many different viewpoints and experiences. Those interested may stay after the presentation for a half hour of facilitated conversation in small groups. All perspectives will be welcome and respected,\u201d said the announcement. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.<\/p>\n

— \u201cDid you hear about that time when even Jesus changed his mind?<\/strong>\u00a0Have you thought about inaction to injustice as complicity? Do you consider what people are hearing when they look at your life?\u201d asks an announcement of the latest Dunker Punks podcasts. Episodes tackle these big questions: Episode 22 features Josh Brockway and Jarrod McKenna talking about continuing the story of the New Testament by embodying the character of our faith; Episode 23 features Sarah Ullom-Minnich telling about a 23-year-old battle for environmental justice in Ecuador; Episode 24 includes a theological chat between Dana Cassell and Lauree Hersch Meyer exploring Matthew 15. Find these episodes and more on the Dunker Punks Podcast show page at arlingtoncob.org\/dpp .<\/p>\n

— Nancy Fitzgerald, pastor at Arlington (Va.) Church of the Brethren,<\/strong>\u00a0has been interviewed by \u201cBrethren Voices\u201d for the show\u2019s February program. Brethren Voices is a community television show produced by Portland (Ore.) Peace Church of the Brethren. Host Brent Carlson met with Fitzgerald to learn of the ways that her congregation is \u201cgoing beyond the walls\u201d to reach out to the local community. Social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat, as well as podcasts are some of the tools that are used in their witness. \u201cThe new technology is probably no more difficult than the first telephone,\u201d Fitzgerald says. \u201cDo we use the telephone or do we keep walking next door? Do we use the car or keep using the horse just because we have one? God has given humankind the brains to develop so many things. Why wouldn\u2019t we want to communicate even better and faster and more cleverer?\u201d Contact Ed Groff,\u00a0groffprod1@msn.com<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Greenville (Ohio) Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0is hosting a sewing bee to make bags for Church World Service school kits. \u201cThere is a great demand in the US and internationally for Church World Service school kits,\u201d said an announcement. The event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 25, starting at 9 a.m. Bring a sewing machine, an extension cord, and a sack lunch. For more information, call 937-336-2442.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren<\/strong>\u00a0is hosting a Youth Peace Retreat for students in grades 6-12 on the weekend of March 17-18. Leaders will include Andy Murray, 2016 Annual Conference moderator; Musa Mambula of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria; and On Earth Peace facilitators. Registration is due by March 12.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0\u201cWildfire in Our Very Souls\u201d is the topic for the Roundtable<\/strong>\u00a0regional youth conference on March 31-April 2 at Bridgewater (Va.) College. Presenters include Chelsea and Tyler Goss as the the featured speakers, and Mutual Kumquat giving a concert on Friday night. Roundtable is for senior high students and their advisors. The registration deadline is March 17. More information is at\u00a0http:\/\/iycroundtable.wix.com\/iycbc<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

— McPherson (Kan.) College is hosting a Regional Youth Conference<\/strong>\u00a0on Feb. 24-26. Eric Landrum is the featured speaker, with the music group Mutual Kumquat. The theme is \u201cOneness and Strength: Bound Together in Unity.\u201d Registration is at\u00a0www.mcpherson.edu\/ryc<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Elizabethtown (Pa.) College School of Continuing and Professional Studies<\/strong>\u00a0(SCPS) and Lancaster (Pa.) Theological Seminary are partnering to offer an exclusive accelerated admission process, according to a release from the college. Elizabethtown College is related to the Church of the Brethren and Lancaster Theological Seminary is affiliated with the United Church of Christ. The accelerated admissions process is \u201cfor students who are interested in pursuing a Master of Divinity but do not have a bachelor\u2019s degree, which is required for graduate studies,\u201d the release said. \u201cUnder the agreement, students who complete one of the eight SCPS accelerated bachelor degree programs will qualify for an exclusive accelerated admission process into the Master of Divinity program at Lancaster Seminary. The accelerated admission process is designed for adult students who are working full-time and need educational options and schedules that fit into their busy lives. Some SCPS classes will be held on-site at Lancaster Seminary, other classes will be held at SCPS locations in Lancaster, Elizabethtown, York, and Harrisburg, and some will be either fully online or in a blended format that combines online learning with classroom education.\u201d Find our more about Elizabethtown College\u2019s School of Continuing and Professional Studies at\u00a0\u00a0www.etowndegrees.com<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

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An interfaith march was held at the University of La Verne, Calif., on Feb. 3. Rudy Amaya, a member of the Church of the Brethren\u2019s Young Adult Steering Committee, reported on the march with a Facebook post and photos. ABC Channel 7 news covered the event, find a video report at http:\/\/abc7.com\/religion\/students-interfaith-community-in-la-verne-protest-travel-ban\/1736927 . Photo by Rudy Amaya.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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— \u201cDuring Lent, a \u2018carbon fast\u2019 can honor God\u2019s creation,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0suggests a story shared by the World Council of Churches (WCC). \u201cThe Church of South India (CSI), Green Anglicans, and other groups are sharing creative ways to observe a \u2018carbon fast\u2019 during the Lenten season,\u201d the WCC reports. \u201cA carbon fast challenges people to examine their daily actions and reflect on how they impact the environment. The carbon fast campaigns are designed so that, over Lent, people can take small steps to reduce carbon dioxide output with the hope of helping the environment and bringing the world one step closer to a sustainable existence.\u201d The WCC story quoted a letter from the moderator of the Church of South India, Thomas K. Oommen, urging churches all over the world to engage in a carbon fast. \u201cIn India, we are aware of climate change because of our warmer temperatures, swings between floods and droughts, and rising sea levels,\u201d Oommen wrote. \u201cWarmer temperatures and rising sea levels are undesirable because they will have negative impacts on agriculture, fishing, community developments, plants and animals that are important to our ecosystems, and the protection of our coastline.\u201d The Green Anglicans (the Anglican Church of Southern Africa\u2019s Environmental Network) has produced a Lenten calendar with daily reflections and actions one can take to observe a carbon fast during Lent. Activities associated with carbon fasting also may help support the WCC\u2019s Lenten campaign \u201cSeven Weeks for Water,\u201d offered by the Ecumenical Water Network. Find \u201cSeven Weeks for Water\u201d theological reflections and resources at\u00a0www.oikoumene.org\/en\/press-centre\/events\/seven-weeks-for-water<\/a>\u00a0. Find carbon fasting ideas and resources at\u00a0www.greenanglicans.org\/carbon-fast-lent-2015<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0Bread for the World has announced its 2017 Offering of Letters<\/strong>campaign on the theme, \u201cDoing Our Part to End Hunger.\u201d The annual campaign is designed to help individuals and churches urge Congress to make funding decisions \u201cthat put us on track to end hunger by 2030,\u201d said the announcement. \u201cWe have made substantial progress against hunger and poverty in recent decades. So we know that it is possible to further reduce and perhaps virtually end hunger when we all do our part, including government.\u201d Printed Offering of Letters kits will be available in March and can be ordered from the online \u201cstore\u201d at\u00a0http:\/\/bread.org<\/a>\u00a0. The website currently offers the following resources in English (Spanish materials are coming soon): a biblical reflection on the importance of meeting people\u2019s most basic need to be physically nourished; an in-depth explanation of what participants will be asking of Congress and why; and a sample letter to get started.<\/p>\n

—\u00a0More than 500 evangelical Christian pastors and leaders<\/strong>\u00a0representing every state in the US have signed on to a letter expressing concerns over the dramatic reduction in refugee resettlement included within a presidential executive order. The letter said, in part: \u201cWe live in a dangerous world and affirm the crucial role of government in protecting us from harm and in setting the terms on refugee admissions. However, compassion and security can coexist, as they have for decades. While we are eager to welcome persecuted Christians, we also welcome vulnerable Muslims and people of other faiths or no faith at all. This executive order dramatically reduces the overall number of refugees allowed this year, robbing families of hope and a future.\u201d Published as a full page ad in \u201cThe Washington Post,\u201d the letter was affirmed by \u201cmany of the most prominent evangelical leaders in the country including authors Tim and Kathy Keller, Senior Pastor Bill Hybels and author Lynne Hybels, and Northland Church Senior Pastor Joel Hunter. Various other evangelical denominational leaders, authors, seminary presidents, and ministry leaders–among them National Association of Evangelicals President Leith Anderson, New York Times bestselling author Ann Voskamp, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Daniel Akin, and Open Doors USA President and CEO David Curry\u2014also affirmed the letter,\u201d said a release from World Relief, a global Christian humanitarian aid organization that coordinated the letter. World Relief has posted the letter and list of signers and invites others to add their name to the letter at\u00a0www.worldrelief.org\/refugee-letter<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n

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Paula Stover Wivell (at right) with her Air Race Classic Team. Photo by Chris Rose.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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– Paula Stover Wivell, a member at Union Bridge (Md.) Church of the Brethren<\/strong>, has been accepted to participate in the all women Air Race Classic. \u201cThis year it departs from Frederick MD and ends in Santa Fe NM,\u201d she reported via Facebook. \u201cKathy, Luz and I work together and we are so excited for this opportunity. Can\u2019t wait to check this off of my bucket list! We have a lot of work to do to prepare for June, but we have a ton of support.\u201d Chris Rose took this photo of the team, with Wivell at right.<\/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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this issue: Emma Jean Woodard resigns from Virlina District and other personnel and job announcements, Capstone founder reports from New Orleans after tornado, Ministers\u2019 Association pre-Conference event features Lillian Daniel, mission worker in Vietnam aids children who need eye care, BBT offers webinar on long-term care, and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":5942,"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-5939","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\/5939","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=5939"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5944,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5939\/revisions\/5944"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5939"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=5939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}