Brethren bits: Job openings, Cover the Uninsured, and more.

• The General Board seeks a fulltime coordinator for Congregational Life Team Area 3 to start this summer with preferable location in Virginia or West Virginia. Area 3 includes the districts of Atlantic Southeast, Shenandoah, Southeastern, Virlina, and West Marva. Responsibilities include coordination of the team; working collaboratively with district and board staff on congregational consultations, presentations, training, resource development, and referrals; and supporting the core values of the Church of the Brethren and the vision of the board. Qualifications include being well-grounded in Brethren heritage, theology, and polity; ability to work collaboratively; ability to assess congregational needs and consult with congregations; interpersonal skills and ability to work in a variety of settings and cultures; oral, written, and electronic communication skills; and five or more years of pastoral work or congregational resourcing experience. A Bachelor's, seminary, or Master's degree in a related field is preferred. A position description and application form are available. Submit a resume, letter of application, and request three references to send letters of recommendation by May 19 to the Office of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694; 800-323-8039 ext. 258; mgarrison_gb@brethren.org.
  
  
• Experienced freelance writers are sought for the Gather 'Round curriculum. The forthcoming (Fall 2006) curriculum is accepting applications from people interested in writing for the second curriculum year. The curriculum is being produced jointly by the Church of the Brethren, Mennonite Church Canada, and Mennonite Church USA. Curriculum units are designed for preschool, kindergarten to grade 2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8, youth grades 9-12, multiage (for children from grades K-6), and parent/caregiver. Writers must be able to attend a writers' conference Aug. 2-6, and be able to commit to a writing schedule averaging one session per week (includes teacher's guide, student resource, and classroom material). For an application packet contact Anna Speicher, project director, at the Church of the Brethren General Offices, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 ext. 209; gatherround@brethren.org. See www.gatherround.org for more information. Application deadline is May 27.
  
  
• May 1 is National Youth Sunday in the Church of the Brethren, on the theme, "Seeing God," from 1 John 4:12-13. On this Sunday, many congregational worship services across the country will be led by the senior high youth. Worship resources, a Bible study, and a children's story can be found at www.brethren.org.
  
  
• Young Adult Conference May 27-29 at Woodland Altars in Southern Ohio still has space available for young adults who wish to register. The Memorial Day weekend conference will be filled with fellowship, workshops, worship, singing, an outdoor campfire, an indoor coffeehouse, and more. For more information call Chris Douglas at 800-323-8039 ext. 297. Registration is available at www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/yac.htm.
  
  
• On behalf of the Church of the Brethren, the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) has signed on to the Cover the Uninsured Campaign, which focuses attention on the plight of nearly 45 million uninsured Americans. This marks the second year that ABC has joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation campaign that has organized a range of events to educate the public about the social injustice and compounding problems that the lack of health insurance brings to all Americans. ABC encourages congregations to participate in awareness-raising and educational events planned for their areas during the week of May 1-8. To find out more about events in your area, visit www.CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org. ABC has posted "A Call to Care for People Without Insurance" on its website at www.brethren.org/abc/.
  
  
• ABC has designated May as "Older Adult Month," encouraging Brethren to remember and celebrate the many ways lives and communities are enriched by the contributions of older adults. Resources include a bulletin insert, an activities suggestion list, a service of anointing for older adults, and a needs assessment for older adults in a congregation. See www.brethren.org/abc/.
  
  
• Bethany Theological Seminary will host a concert by organist Marilyn Sexton Mason, who served as organist and children's choir director for the Church of the Brethren Christmas Eve Service on CBS. The concert on Sunday May 1 at 3 p.m. in Nicarry Chapel will include works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Louis Vierne, and John Leavitt, and is sponsored by the Rosenberger Memorial Recital Series. For more information call 765-983-1823.
  
  
• Two California churches will celebrate their 100th anniversaries on Sunday, May 15: Cornerstone Community Church of the Brethren in Reedley, which is planning a special worship service, a lunch, and a Time for Memories (RSVP by May 1 to 559-638-3825; send pages for a "Book of Testimonies" to 18791 E. Livermore Ave., Reedley, CA 93654); and Pasadena Church of the Brethren, which is planning a program of remembrance in the afternoon, after worship and a lunch (send remembrances of the congregation to wvolwin@juno.com or call 909-392-3591).
  
  
• Jonathan Emmons, organist for the 2004 Annual Conference in Charleston, W.Va., and a student at Bridgewater (Va.) College, will present his senior organ recital at 3 p.m. Sunday May 1 at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. He will perform pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Frank Bridge, Charles Ives, and Johannes Brahms.
  
  
• Kreston Lipscomb, pastor of First Church of the Brethren in Springfield, Ill., was a leader in the dedication of the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. "A House United" was the theme for the Sunday afternoon service April 17 sponsored by the Greater Springfield Interfaith Association, which Lipscomb serves as president. Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich joined leaders from six faith traditions in the service including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Baha'i, Unitarian-Universalism, and Buddhism. The diversity represented the facility's ability to be a uniting force in the community, according to a release from the library, "as well as President Lincoln's own belief that our nation could not be a house divided."
  
  
• Greencastle (Pa.) Church of the Brethren will be one of several Franklin County churches to host a "clinic" as part of a quilt documentation project of the Chambersburg Quilt Guild. "This isn't just a group of ladies getting together to talk about quilts," Mim Huffman, president of the guild, told the "Waynesboro Record." "We're really delving into the county's history and learning stories about these quilts that help tell that history." The guild plans to publish a book with the information it gathers. Residents are invited to bring quilted items made before 1950 to the clinics, where they will be analyzed, photographed, and receive a documentation certificate. The clinic at the Greencastle church will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday April 1, 2006.
  
  
• The 24th Mid-Atlantic District Disaster Auction will be held May 7 at the Agricultural Center in Westminster, Md. The auction begins at 9 a.m. with general items, special items at 10 a.m., and a quilt auction at 12:30 p.m. Crafts, baked goods, and an assortment of food also will be available. Childcare will be provided 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
  
  
• A series of workshops titled "Imagine," focusing on revitalization of congregations in the Oregon and Washington District, will be held at Portland (Ore.) Peace Church of the Brethren on May 14, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and Wenatchee (Wash.) Brethren Baptist Church on May 15, 2-5 p.m. Leaders include the General Board's Congregational Life Team staff for Area 5--Carol Bowman, Jeff Glass, and Steve Gregory. Workshops include "Exploring Postmodern Culture and Ministry," "The Singing Congregation," "Reclaiming the Offering as Worship," and "Healthy Churches Naturally Grow... Naturally!" For more information call Steve Gregory at 509-662-3211 or Jeff Glass at 888-826-4951. A donation of $5 per person will be requested to cover costs.
  
  
• Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, Ind., holds its 80th Anniversary Worship on May 1 at 10:30 a.m. The speaker will be Jo Young Switzer, president of Manchester College. The restored Rose Window will be dedicated. Activities for all ages will follow a soup and sandwich luncheon, including displays of photos and memorabilia, opportunities to reminisce with others who may have attended camp during the same decade, a video of people sharing their Camp Mack stories and memories, a panel discussion by current and former camp executive directors, and children's crafts. An ice cream social will be held on top of Vesper Hill. The day will culminate with a 3 p.m. campfire, including kettle popcorn, and vespers at 3:30 p.m. For more information see www.campmack.org.
  
  
• Camp Eder in Fairfield, Pa., will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2010. The camp seeks stories and pictures for an anniversary book. (Pictures will not be returned--send copies only.) Along with submissions send your name, address, phone number, written permission from all people named in stories, and identification of all pictures. Send submissions to Camp Eder Anniversary Book, 914 Mt. Hope Rd., Fairfield, PA 17320; or e-mail campeder@campeder.org.
  
  
• A Grand Service of Rededication of Camp Bethel, located near Fincastle, Va., will be held Saturday, April 30, at 1:30 p.m. Annual Conference secretary Fred Swartz will speak on the theme, "A Place Apart, a Place of Transformation." Activities will include wagon rides, guided hikes, a gift shop, a historical tour, and a slide show. For more information call 540-992-2940 or e-mail camp.bethel@juno.com.
  
  
• Also at Camp Bethel, an anti-racism workshop will be held Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. "On Earth as in Heaven--Race Relations Then and Now" will be led by the Church of the Brethren Anti-Racism Team sponsored by Virlina District Peace Affairs and Urban Ministry Committees. The workshop will look back at the camp's attempt to integrate summer camping in 1944 and examine the present reality of racism. Registration is free, lunch costs $7. Register by calling Williamson Road Church of the Brethren at 540-366-0291.
  
  
• The Cedars, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in McPherson, Kan., has won the Clinical Care Award from the Kansas Association of Homes for the Aging. The Cedars was given the award for a risk management program of the past two years that has demonstrated improvement for residents in areas of weight, skin integrity, infections, pain, fall prevention, and restraints, the center reported in its newsletter. For more information see www.thecedars.org.
  
  
• Church of the Brethren members who are National Merit Scholarship Finalists this year include Anna Lisa Gross of North Manchester, Ind.; Nick Kauffman, a member of Goshen (Ind.) City Church of the Brethren; and Jonathan B. Keeney, a member of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin, Ill. Newsline readers are invited to send in the names of other Brethren students who are National Merit Scholarship Finalists this year.
  
  
• Churches worldwide commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide on April 24. The World Council of Churches (WCC) has invited its members to make that day a day of memory of the first genocide of the 20th century, in which one-and-a-half million Armenians were massacred in Turkey and another million were deported from their homeland. The WCC also stressed the need for Turkey to "deal with this dark part of its history," the WCC Central Committee said in its recommendation. The first major Church of the Brethren disaster relief effort was sparked by the genocide. "In the years from 1918-1921, the members of the Church of the Brethren contributed about $267,000 to relief of the Armenians, in the first such effort in the history of the church," according to "The Brethren Encyclopedia." Currently, through a Global Food Crisis Fund grant, the Church of the Brethren is providing housing, livestock, vocational training, and a social base for orphaned youth in Armenia.

Source: 04/27/2005 Newsline
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