{"id":7766,"date":"2014-02-01T00:00:51","date_gmt":"2014-02-01T00:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.brethren.org\/news\/?p=7766"},"modified":"2018-11-03T20:22:39","modified_gmt":"2018-11-03T20:22:39","slug":"brethren-bits-for-feb-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2014\/brethren-bits-for-feb-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Brethren Bits for Feb. 1, 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
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The Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., hosted a food collection drive for the City of Elgin on Martin Luther King Day. The denominational offices have provided warehouse space for the annual collection for several years. Shown below: a group of the youth who volunteered to sort and help distribute the food to local pantries and soup kitchens; and the group of leaders on hand to help out, including Church of the Brethren staff member Don Knieriem (second from right) who helped organize the\u00a0event. Photos are by Cat Gong<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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— Remembered: Walter (Walt) Dean Bowman<\/strong>(90), who died on Jan. 19 following a brief illness. He served the Church of the Brethren in a position overseeing camping and outdoor ministries in the 1970s and \u201980s. He was born Feb. 9, 1923, in Norwalk, Ohio, to Dean and Evelyn (Krieger) Bowman. He graduated from Manchester University (formerly Manchester College), where he met and married Frances Gibson, with whom he shared 45 years. After a summer pastorate, he entered Bethany Seminary in 1944 in Chicago then volunteered for relief work in postwar Italy. In 1948 he returned to Bethany, where he completed a master of divinity degree. For 20 years he served pastorates in Illinois, Ohio, and Kansas. In 1968, Southern Ohio District called him to lead its camping and Christian education ministries. He assumed responsibility for developing year-round programming for Camp Woodland Altars in Peebles, Ohio. Under his leadership, the camp grew to include summer camping, retreats, and outdoor education for public school groups. He represented the denomination in ecumenical ministries, including the Ohio Board of Ministry in Higher Education, which he chaired for three years, overseeing ecumenical ministry to students on all state university campuses. Beginning in 1975, he divided his time between the district and a position overseeing Church of the Brethren outdoor ministries. He developed a nationwide association of camp directors and program leaders to strengthen and unify programs in the denomination’s 33 camps. He served as the Brethren liaison to ecumenical groups working to develop programs and curriculum for outdoor ministries. He worked closely with the Council of District Executives, serving terms as chair and chairing the professional growth committee. In 1988, he took a sabbatical to study Spanish with Fran in Costa Rica, preparing to volunteer in El Salvador. This goal was never realized because of illness resulting in Fran’s death in 1989. In 1991, he married Barbara Fessenden. He is survived by his wife Barbara (Marino Fessenden) Bowman; children Wayne (Annie) of Brandon, MB; Phil (Cathy Koolis) of Sarasota, Fla.; Theresa (Jeff) Plotnick of Calgary, AB; Christine (Robert) Guth of Goshen, Ind.; Steven (Diane) of Cincinnati, Ohio; Christopher Fessenden of Toluca Lake, Calif.; David (Vanessa) Fessenden of Las Vegas, Nev.; Brian (Christine) Fessenden of Canoga Park, Calif.; and grandchildren. A memorial service was held Jan. 22 at Episcopal Church of St. Andrew and St. Charles in Granada Hills, Calif. Memorial gifts are received to Heifer International and Habitat for Humanity.<\/p>\n

— The World Council of Churches (WCC) is inviting young adults to apply now<\/strong> for the Stewards Program 2014. Young adult stewards will serve at the WCC Central Committee meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 26-July 10. \u201cI encourage Brethren young adults to apply to be a steward at the WCC,\u201d said Becky Ullom Naugle, director of the Church of the Brethren Youth and Young Adult Ministry. \u201cThis program offers exposure to ecumenism on international scale and allows for intercultural understanding and relationship building. The World Council of Churches and the stewards program is a visible affirmation that in Christ there are many gifts, but one Spirit.\u201d Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30. Before the meeting begins, stewards will follow an on-site ecumenical learning program, exposing them to the key issues of the worldwide ecumenical movement. During the meeting, stewards will assist in the areas of worship, floor management, documentation, communications, and other administrative and support tasks. Following the meeting, stewards will design ecumenical projects that they will implement in their churches and communities on their return home. Completed application forms are due to the WCC youth program no later than Feb. 21. More information and the downloadable application form are at www.oikoumene.org\/en\/press-centre\/news\/apply-now-stewards-programme-2014<\/a> .<\/p>\n

— Church of the Brethren denominational leaders met together<\/strong> in Inter-Agency Forum and Leadership Team meetings in Florida last week. Those involved included the Annual Conference moderator, moderator-elect, and secretary, and heads and board chairs of the Conference-related agencies Church of the Brethren, Brethren Benefit Trust, Bethany Theological Seminary, and On Earth Peace.<\/p>\n

— \u201cHere’s a tribute to our fearless BDM volunteers<\/strong> braving the \u2018polar vortex\u2019 in New Jersey,\u201d writes Brethren Disaster Ministries in a Facebook post. Lyrics by Felix Bernard are sung to the tune of \u201cWinter Wonderland\u201d:<\/p>\n

Hammers ring–are you listenin\u2019?
\nAs volunteers are a-whistlin\u2019.
\nThey face unafraid
\nThe snow God has made,
\nWorkin\u2019 in a winter wonderland.<\/p>\n

Volunteering makes you tired.
\nYour muscles ache and you perspire.
\nBut up North, you bet
\nIt\u2019s too cold to sweat.
\nWorkin\u2019 in a winter wonderland.<\/p>\n

Refrain:
\nVolunteer in frosty Toms River
\nAnd pretend that you\u2019re in New Orleans,
\nSoakin\u2019 up the rays and you won\u2019t shiver–
\nYou\u2019ll stay warm as long as you can dream.<\/p>\n

Gone away is the sadness
\nAs you spread joy and gladness,
\nSingin\u2019 songs of God\u2019s love
\nFrom Heaven above,
\nWorkin\u2019 in a Winter Wonderland!<\/p>\n

— A ceasefire agreement for South Sudan<\/strong> signed Jan. 23 has been applauded in a release from the ACT Alliance, an international partner organization for Brethren Disaster Ministries. South Sudan has faced a grave humanitarian crisis since a coup attempt sparked violence in December. More than half a million people were forced from their homes, with 86,000 fleeing to neighboring countries, the release said. South Sudan will continue to need international assistance for a long time to come, but ACT Alliance general secretary John Nduna said the ceasefire was an important first step. \u201cLeaders of both sides must now insist their forces lay down their weapons immediately and allow humanitarian organizations the chance to care for the wounded and those forced from their homes. We hold out hope that South Sudan can return to peace.\u201d The release anticipated ongoing efforts by ACT members, which includes the Church of the Brethren, as well as the All Africa Conference of Churches, the World Council of Churches, and South Sudan Council of Churches to support church-led peace and reconciliation efforts.<\/p>\n

— A YouTube video about the Shine curriculum<\/strong> jointly produced by Brethren Press and MennoMedia is at http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=o-s30ns5Ad0&feature=youtu.be<\/a> . The short video clip illustrating the statement from scripture, \u201cJesus said, \u2018You are the light of the world, let your light Shine,\u2019\u201d promotes the new Christian education curriculum that will be available starting this fall, following the last summer of its precursor curriculum Gather \u2019Round. The \u201cShine On\u201d storybook Bible for children will be available in March. For more information go to www.brethrenpress.com<\/a> .<\/p>\n

— The Souper Bowl of Caring<\/strong> has been one way youth groups help fight poverty and hunger in their communities on Super Bowl Sunday. The Youth and Young Adult Ministry office is encouraging participation by Brethren youth. Ideas for activities including taking up a collection in a soup pot on that day at church, asking for congregations to give money or food items for people in need. The youth groups give 100 percent of donations directly to the local hunger-relief charity of their choice. \u201cIn 2012, more than 10,000 groups collected more than $9.8 million in dollars and food for local hunger-relief charities. That’s a total of more than $90 million collected since the movement began in 1990!\u201d says the Souper Bowl website. Find more ideas, register a youth group to participate, and report results at www.souperbowl.org<\/a> .<\/p>\n

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— Paul Mundey, senior pastor at Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren,<\/strong> will lead the annual church development event in Shenandoah District. Cultivating for a Great Harvest will be March 1 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Mountain View Fellowship Church of the Brethren in McGaheysville, Va., on the theme, \u201cBehold, I Am About to Do a New Thing\u201d (Isaiah 43:19), with additional scripture text from 2 Corinthians 4:7: \u201cBut we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.\u201d Mundey has been senior pastor at 1,100-member Frederick Church of the Brethren for 17 years, and previously was director of Evangelism and Congregational Growth for the Church of the Brethren for 13 years. Find the registration brochure at http:\/\/origin.library.constantcontact.com\/download\/get\/file\/1110837621104-228\/Cultivating2014.pdf<\/a> .<\/p>\n

— A group from Goshen City (Ind.) Church of the Brethren<\/strong> is planning a 10-day trip in June to Bexbach, German, to help celebrate the 35th anniversary of Goshen\u2019s sister city relationship. The trip will include a boat ride down the Rhine River, and a three-day stay with a host family, at a cost of from $1,400-1,600. Contact allanjkauffman@gmail.com<\/a> .<\/p>\n

— Camp Mack\u2019s Annual Dinner is March 7,<\/strong> starting with hors d\u2019oeuvres at 6:15 p.m. Rex Miller, Camp Mack\u2019s executive director, will speak about the future of the new Becker Retreat Center at the site of the former Becker Lodge, which was destroyed in a fire, and the future vision for the camp. Cost is $25 for undesignated seating; or $300 and more for reserved tables for six through eight people. The camp\u2019s Growing from the Ashes Capital Campaign is raising funds to build Becker Retreat Center, and is $442,000 away from the amount needed to start the building process, said the announcement. For more information go to www.campmack.org<\/a> .<\/p>\n

— \u201cPlant seeds of FAITH in the lives of children, youth and young adults!\u201d<\/strong> said an invitation to the Sow the Seed Scholarship Banquet at Camp Bethel on March 6, starting at 6:30 p.m. The $50 cost and all donations from the evening fund “camperships” and summer camp ministries. RSVP by Feb. 27 to 540-992-2940 or campbetheloffice@gmail.com<\/a> .<\/p>\n

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— Pacific Southwest District has announced the theme<\/strong> and shared the logo for its 2014 District Conference led by moderator Erin Matteson on Nov. 7-9 at Hillcrest retirement community in La Verne, Calif. The theme, \u201cSpirit of God Moving,\u201d is inspired by Isaiah 43:18-19. Matteson is blogging and posting resources related to the theme at www.pswdcob.org\/spirit<\/a> including a bookmark and the following reflection:
\n\u201cGod enfolds all creation in the Spirit,
\ncradles and carries us,
\ninvites and challenges us to be part of a healing movement…
\nYearning for more justice, love, peace, and joy for God\u2019s world,
\nShe whispers and sings, swirls and swoons as she goes…
\nDance and play, serve and sing, with me, and one another and strangers, too.
\nTake up your shovel and pick, basin and towel, signs of protest, cups of cold water…
\nTill all creation be fresh and green again.
\nWholeness at hand, for all…
\nTrue salvation, come at last.\u201d<\/p>\n

— Bridgewater (Va.) College hosts three events Feb. 3-9 focusing on global hunger, Haiti, and food insecurity<\/strong> in the United States, according to an announcement. On Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m., Tony P. Hall, executive director of the Alliance to End Hunger, will speak on his global efforts to alleviate hunger and improve human rights conditions. Nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize, Hall has served as US Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture and as executive director of UNICEF. Jonathan Myerson Katz, the only full-time American news correspondent in Haiti when the Jan. 2010 earthquake struck, will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 4. His book, \u201cThe Big Truck that Went By: How the World Came to Save Haiti and Left Behind a Disaster,\u201d details the terror and devastation of the earthquake and the relief efforts that followed. On Feb. 9 at 3 p.m., the documentary “A Place at the Table” will be shown. The film examines hunger in America through the stories of three people struggling with food insecurity. All three events, sponsored by the Kline-Bowman Endowment for Creative Peacebuilding, will take place in Cole Hall and are open to the public at no charge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this issue: Remembering Walt Bowman, young adults invited to apply to be WCC stewards, song about BDM volunteers and the polar vortex, ceasefire in S. Sudan, Souper Bowl of Caring, Mundey headlines Cultivating for a Great Harvest, Pacific Southwest District celebrates \u2018Spirit of God Moving,\u2019 and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"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-7766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7766","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\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7766"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7766\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7772,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7766\/revisions\/7772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7766"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=7766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}