- The Gather 'Round curriculum project has hired Karen McKeever, of Elgin, Ill., for an interim, part-time position as administrative assistant. She will work out of an office at Brethren Press several half-days a week until mid-February, when the curriculum is launched at a major training event. McKeever is a writer and a home-schooler of her two children, and attends Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren. Gather 'Round is a joint publishing project of Brethren Press and the Mennonite Publishing Network. The curriculum will be used beginning fall 2006.
- National donor pins will be available from the Association of Brethren Caregivers (ABC) to help congregations talk about National Donor Sabbath, which will be celebrated Nov. 13. According to statistics for 2004 from the US Department of Health and Human Services, more than 87,000 men, women, and children nationwide were waiting for organ transplants, and some 17 patients die each day while waiting for a transplant. Congregations are urged to honor the observance through worship, prayer, or by wearing donation pins as way to call attention to the need for organ and tissue donation. Worship resources are available at www.brethren-caregivers.org. Congregations can receive up to 25 donor pins--call ABC at 800-323-8039.
- Several Brethren and other groups will meet at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., over the next week. The General Board will meet Oct. 15-17, with a professional growth event following on Oct. 18. A Brethren Academy class, "Leaders, Boards, and Brethren," will meet in conjunction with the General Board meeting. Other groups to be at the General Offices in the next several days include the World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence National Committee, the Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee, the General Board's Stewardship of Property Committee, the Cross-Cultural Steering Committee, and the Rural/Small Church Committee. In addition, the Kurtz Organ will receive a citation from the Organ Historical Society in an evening event and concert Oct. 16 in the chapel at the General Offices. The organ is part of the collection of the Brethren Historical Library and Archives.
- The Annual Conference Anniversary Committee thanks all who have submitted musical compositions for the anniversary celebration in 2008. Submissions are now being reviewed. The committee is still seeking drama as well as worship resources for use during the anniversary year, based on the 2008 Tricentennial theme "Surrendered to God, Transformed in Christ, Empowered by the Spirit." Dramatic writings can be full-length dramas, skits, monologues, and vignettes for adults, children, and/or youth. Worship resources can include calls to worship, prayers, litanies, responsive readings, offertory statements, children's stories, benedictions, worship centers (description and/or drawing), power point presentations, and interpretive movements. All submissions, due Dec. 31, become the property of the Anniversary Committee for use in tricentennial activities and should be sent to the Annual Conference Office, 1451 Dundee Ave, Elgin, IL 60120. The name, address, and phone number of the author should not appear on submissions but should be included on a separate page.
- Mill Creek Church of the Brethren in Port Republic, Va., celebrates its 165th Renewal and Homecoming on Oct. 22-23. Events include finger food and renewal 6 p.m. Saturday, morning worship 10 a.m. Sunday, a fellowship meal following, and a historical review at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon. For more information call 540-289-5084.
- Dranesville Church of the Brethren in Herndon, Va., celebrates its 100th anniversary on Oct. 16. Worship begins at 11 a.m. A lunch will follow, and an afternoon service of sharing and remembrance at 2-3:30 p.m. For more information contact 703-430-7872 or dcoboffice@aol.com.
- Richmond (Ind.) Church of the Brethren will dedicate a new location and recent renovations with an open house on Sunday, Oct. 23. Now located at 1 S.W. 17th Street in Richmond, the congregation will begin celebrations during the 10:30 a.m. worship service with Annual Conference moderator Ronald Beachley preaching. The open house is from 2-5 p.m. with the dedication service beginning at 3 p.m. District executive Allen Kahler will preside. Contact the congregation at 765-966-1930.
- Western Pennsylvania District holds its district conference Oct. 22 at Pasquerilla Conference Center in Johnstown, Pa. Christopher A. Forry will moderate.
- Hundreds of alumni are expected at Manchester College's 81st annual homecoming Oct. 14-15. "Alumni will get a chance to tour the Science Center for the first time," said Gary Montel, director of the 14,000-member Manchester College Alumni Association. Alumni also will find the traditional football game--the Spartans meet Mount St. Joseph at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 15--and homecoming ceremonies, a golf tournament, a production from the Theatre of the Absurd, breakfast with President Jo Young Switzer at 8:30 a.m. in the College Union on Oct. 15, an alumni baseball game, the Manchester cross-country invitational, and special programs for the classes of 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, and 1995. Choir and band alumni will perform with students for a joint concert. Manchester students have an entire week of activities highlighted by powder-puff football Oct. 12 at 8 p.m., and a bonfire and band concert at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 14. A Homecoming Reception begins at 5 p.m. Oct. 14 in Wine Recital Hall. For a complete homecoming schedule visit www.manchester.edu or call 888-257-2586.
- Jonathan Reed, professor religion at the University of La Verne, Calif., served as senior historical consultant to the "Science of the Bible" series on the National Geographic Channel, according to a recent release from the university. The 10-part series utilizes modern technology and research to explore a wide range of topics including the "Da Vinci Code" and the Shroud of Turin. The first in the series, "Birth of Jesus," aired on Sept. 14; the next in the series, "Jesus the Healer," airs Oct. 24 at 10 p.m. Eastern time. Reed is co-author of "Excavating Jesus" and "In Search of Paul" and an authority of first-century Palestine archeology. He currently is lead archaeologist at Sepphoris, the ancient capital of Galilee.
- The Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center, of Cross Roads, is sponsoring a Harvest Day on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 711 Garbers Church Rd. In Harrisonburg, Va. The event will include activities for children, hayrides, shelling and grinding corn, music, stories of faith and conscience, spinners and quilters, and apple pressing, as well as the making of molasses from sorghum syrup. Entrance fee is $8 per carload. For more information call 540-438-1275.
top
No comments:
Post a Comment