Brethren bits: Note, remembrance, and much more.

• In a note to the Dec. 31, 2004, Newsline report, "Historic Brethren pipe organ receives citation," the Harttman pipe organ referred to in the story is known to Brethren as the Kurtz organ. Henry Kurtz, editor of the first Brethren periodical "The Gospel Visitor," owned the organ and probably brought it with him from Germany, reported General Board archivist Ken Shaffer. The organ is known to the Organ Historical Society by the name of its maker, Johan Christoph Harttman.
  
  
• Bernard N. King, 98, a former district executive and Brethren college minister, died Jan. 2 at Hanover (Pa.) Hospital. King served as district executive of Middle District, based in Huntingdon, Pa., from 1961-67. He was college minister at McPherson (Kan.) College 1938-44 and at Bridgewater (Va.) College 1957-61. Born in Denton, Md., he attended Blue Ridge College in New Windsor, Md., and was a graduate of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa.; Bethany Biblical Seminary in Chicago, Ill.; and the School of Theology, Boston University. He was ordained to the ministry at Stone Church of the Brethren in Huntingdon in 1931, and promoted to eldership at McPherson, Kan., in 1940. His pastorates included churches in Maryland, Illinois, Massachusetts, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania. King was very active in First Church of the Brethren in York, Pa., where he lived after his "second" retirement after a first retirement in Florida. He also was active in the faith community of the Brethren Home Community in New Oxford, Pa. He wrote his memoirs in a book, "A Dunker Boy Becomes Ecumenical," in 1996. A memorial service will be held at the Nicarry Meeting House at the Brethren Home Community on Saturday, Jan. 8, at 11 a.m.
  
  
• Emily Tyler of McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren has been named as the third coordinator for the National Youth Conference (NYC) 2006. As a Brethren Volunteer Service worker, she will serve with Beth Rhodes and Cindy Laprade to give coordination to the youth conference. More than 4,500 youth and advisors are expected to attend. NYC will be held in Fort Collins, Colo., July 22-27, 2006. Tyler is a 2003 graduate of McPherson College and has spent the past year teaching elementary music in Wichita, Kan. She also appeared as an instrumentalist in the Church of the Brethren Christmas Eve service aired on CBS, playing the flute. She will begin in the position on June 1.
  
  
• On Dec. 1, 2004, Marcia Smith began work as director of Alumni Development and Events Coordination for McPherson (Kan.) College. A McPherson native, Smith graduated from McPherson College with a B.S. in Business Administration. She is an active volunteer for USD 418 and the Mennonite Relief Sale effort. Her position incorporates working with the community and alumni to strengthen ties with the college and providing leadership for college and community events on campus. Church relations also play a major role in her responsibilities, as she will work with the campus ministries team and churches across the country. "Because of McPherson College's historical ties to the church it is important to have someone to coordinate efforts that reach out to congregations," said Shawn Flory-Replogle, campus pastor and co-pastor of McPherson Church of the Brethren. "We are excited to have Marcia working with us on such an important constituency." For more information call 800-365-7402 or e-mail info@mcpherson.edu.
  
  
• The deadline is approaching for those interested in applying to be on this summer's Youth Peace Travel Team. Every summer the General Board's Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office and Brethren/Witness Washington Office, the Outdoor Ministries Association, Brethren Volunteer Service, and On Earth Peace sponsor a team of high school youth and college-aged young adults to travel to Church of the Brethren camps to present peace education. Four people ages 18-22 will be selected for the 2005 team's eight-week journey. A stipend is available to team members. Deadline for applications is Feb. 4. Contact the Brethren Witness/Washington Office for applications at 800-785-3246.
  
  
• Church World Service, a faith-based international humanitarian aid organization, seeks a deputy director for Program, based in New York, N.Y. This senior program management position supervises five program directors and overseas program representatives and is responsible for helping to maintain positive working relationships with local partners in 80 countries and colleagues at 36 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican communions. The successful candidate will have over 15 years of increasingly responsible program management experience, success in ecumenical environments, and experience in developing and managing government grants. Skills in facilitating group interactions and working with cross-program teams is important, as well as communications and interpersonal skills. Job description is located on the Church World Service, Human Resources, Job Opportunities website at www.churchworldservice.org. Send resume and cover letter to Church World Service, Inc., Attention: Karen de Lopez, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515; fax 574-266-0087; e-mail cwshr@churchworldservice.org. Deadline is Jan. 31.
  
  
• "Nourishing the Soul" is the theme for an upcoming Church of the Brethren Clergy Women's Retreat to be held Nov. 14-17 at Timber-Lee Christian Center in East Troy, Wis. Jan Richardson will be the keynote speaker. A brochure with registration information will be available in February. Cost including registration, room, and board is $175 for those registered by June 1 and $200 by August 1. Fulltime seminary and TRIM students can attend for $100 if registered by June 1 and $125 by August 1. For more information contact the General Board's Ministry Office at 937-274-0872.
  
  
• Peace Church of the Brethren will celebrate its 100th year of service to the Portland, Ore., community during the weekend of Feb. 25-27. "All friends of the Peace Church family are invited to attend and celebrate with us," read a note from Patrick Fiegenbaum, the congregation's clerk. Guests will include all living former pastors of the congregation, as well as past and present congregants. The celebration will feature a panel of former pastors on how their tenures at the church influenced their lives and careers. Current pastor Kerby Lauderdale will also participate. The celebration will culminate with worship led by Andrew Murray, who served at Peace Church in the 1970s. Murray is professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and Religion at Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., and director of the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. Contact Peace Church of the Brethren, 12727 SE Market St., Portland OR 97233; 503-254-6380; e-mail peacecob@3dwave.com; or see www.peacecob.org.
  
  
• Bear Run Church of the Brethren in Mill Run, Pa., contributed $410 to a local "Give-a-Christmas" drive in Uniontown, Pa. The drive headed by "Sparkle," an animated Christmas star mascot, aimed to raise $35,000 for the work of the Salvation Army. "Dear Sparkle," read a letter from the congregation. "Enclosed please find our donation from the Bear Run Church of the Brethren to help make Christmas a little more merrier for some families. May God bless."
  
  
• Jeff Sweigart, his wife, Lisa, and many other volunteers from Cocalico-area churches, prepared a Thanksgiving feast for more than 450 people at the Pioneer Fire Hall in Lancaster County, Pa. Sweigart and family attend East Cocalico Church of the Brethren in Reamstown, Pa. "We notified 32 churches and got responses from 18," Sweigart told the "Intelligencer Journal." He added that his family is familiar with organizing such events. "My wife's parents, Carol and Barry Haller, started the one in Denver," Sweigart said. "It's a way to give back to the community." The dinner included turkey, potato filling, brown gravy, pepper cabbage, sliced green beans, and cranberry dressing, as well as six tables of pies, whipped cream, cherry cobbler, spice rolls, and German chocolate cake. Karen Zimmerman of Ephrata Church of the Brethren organized deliveries of food for those who could not come to the hall.
  
  
• Forty people from Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren in Hagerstown, Md., took part in a walkathon on the Washington Mall Nov. 20, raising $2,000 for the Brethren Nutrition Program in Washington, D.C. The 17th annual Help the Homeless Walkathon found more than 20,000 people participating. The five-kilometer event sponsored by Fannie Mae Foundation and other organizations raised money for Washington area groups that serve the homeless. Last year the walkathon raised $6.5 million. The "Washington Post" included mention of the church's participation in its article on the walkathon.
  
  
• The Forum for Religious Studies at Bridgewater (Va.) College has published "At the Crossroads: An Historic Peace Church in the 21st Century," a CD of reflections by scholars who met in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, and on the eve of the US invasion of Iraq, to consider the state of the peace movement in the Church of the Brethren. Reflections by Jeff Bach, Christina Bucher, David Eller, Earle Fike Jr., David Metzler, Celia Cook-Huffman, Roya Stern, and Timothy McElwee are included. The CD is edited by Steve Longenecker and Carol Scheppard. Order for $5 plus tax and $1.40 in shipping and handling from Forum for Religious Studies, Box 20, Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, VA 22812. Make checks payable to Bridgewater College. For more information e-mail slongene@bridgewater.edu.
  
  
• John L. Heatwole of Bridgewater, Va., author of "The Burning" and a noted sculptor and woodcarver, will address the annual meeting of the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center Board of Directors on Feb. 4 at 6 p.m., at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. Heatwole will speak on the theme, "The Everyday Lives of Our ancestors," and the Valley Table Singers will provide music. The board and staff of the CrossRoads Center will reflect on the accomplishments of 2004 and plans for 2005, which include opening the center to visitors this spring. The public is invited to attend the dinner meeting for $12.50 per person. Deadline for reservations is Jan. 28, e-mail info@vbmhc.org.
  
  
• CBS has confirmed a Jan. 12 airdate for "60 Minutes" to feature Heifer International and the story of Beatrice Biira, a young Ugandan woman whose life was transformed when her family got a dairy goat. Airtime is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. The goat, named Mugisa (or "Luck" in the Okonzo language), produced milk for the family to drink and sell. For the first time the family could afford to send Beatrice to school. Today she is a freshman on full scholarship at Connecticut College, majoring in international studies. Beatrice is also the subject of the best-selling children's book, "Beatrice's Goat," by Page McBrier and illustrated by Lori Lohstoeter. CBS correspondent Bob Simon accompanied Beatrice on a trip back to her home in Urganda. "60 Minutes" also filmed a ceremonial "Passing on the Gift," in which villagers who have received goats from Heifer International give offspring to others in need in their community. Heifer International was begun as a Church of the Brethren program by Brethren leader Dan West. Heifer International currently supports projects in 50 countries that create sustainable small-scale farm enterprises to improve nutrition and supplement income. For more information about Heifer International call 800-696-1918 or see www.heifer.org.
  
  
• The National Council of Church's Eco-Justice Program seeks art, poems, and prayers for use on Earth Day Sunday. This year, Earth Day falls on April 22 and Earth Sunday falls on April 24. This year's theme is oceans and seas. The resources for use on Earth Sunday will feature art, poems, and prayers contributed by people of faith in an Earth Day Contest. "The Church of the Brethren has long been part of the National Council of Churches and urges Brethren to participate in this contest by submitting your entries by January 15," reported the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office. Submit entries by e-mail to Cassandra Carmichael at Cassandra@toad.net or mail to Eco-Justice Programs, National Council of Churches, 110 Maryland Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20002. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office would like to receive copies of any Brethren submissions. E-mail washington_office_gb@brethren.org or mail to 337 North Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003.
  
  
• The General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office is calling the attention of students grades 9-12 to the 2004-05 National Peace Essay Contest of the US Institute of Peace. "As members of the Church of the Brethren we are called to advocate Christ's message of harmony and reconciliation," the office said. "This contest provides an excellent opportunity for youth to explore means of coming to international peace and conflict resolution." The essay topic for the competition is "Transitions to Democracy," and will require students to analyze two countries' attempts at such a process. Winners at the state level will receive a college scholarship of $1,000 and can compete for the national award of a $10,000 scholarship. All state winners receive an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the week-long awards program in June. Visit www.usip.org/npec to register, receive a National Peace Essay guidebook, and view the question for this year's contest. Contest deadline is Feb. 2.
  
  
• "Sourcebook 2005," a publication of the Stained Glass Association of America (SGAA), will be available free to any church, institution, or architect beginning Feb. 1. The "Sourcebook" was created for architects, churches, and others who commission, maintain, or work with stained glass. The book features information about types of stained glass, selecting and working with stained glass craftspeople, stained glass repair and restoration, and the programs and membership of the SGAA. Full-color pages of portfolio advertising by accredited members of the SGAA also are included. To order call 800-438-9581, e-mail sourcebook@stainedglass.org, or see www.stainedglass.org.

Source: 01/07/2005 Newsline