Brethren bits: Remembrances, job openings, and more.

• Brethren joined the nation in celebrating the legacy of Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Ala., bus launched the civil rights movement. She died Oct. 24 at age 92. "I feel like Rosa Parks demonstrated for Americans what it means to stand up on the inside while it may appear like you're sitting down on the outside," said Annual Conference moderator-elect Belita Mitchell. "The impact of Parks' decision still affects the black community," Mitchell said, adding that her action was "a testament to what one person's courage and commitment can do." The National Council of Churches (NCC) also celebrated the life and legacy of Parks in a statement released yesterday. "She was a heroine in our midst--one who taught our nation about courage and determination," the NCC said. "Although her physical life has ended, her work lives on even as we continue to fight for justice and equality in this nation."
  
  
• Former General Board missionary Joy (Elaine) Cullen Fasnacht passed away Oct. 21 at age 90. She and her husband, Everett, served in western India during various terms in each decade between 1940 and 1970. She was born in Beatrice, Neb., in 1915, but was a resident of Sebring, Fla., for the past several years. Her husband of over 50 years preceded her in death. She is survived by sons Robert Paul and Dean Merrill, daughters-in-law Ellen Jenks and Lorene Fasnacht, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. The family will receive friends at Morris Funeral Home in Sebring on Oct. 30, between 2-4 p.m., followed by a funeral at Sebring Church of the Brethren chapel at 10 a.m. Oct. 31. A memorial fund has been created to accept donations to the Rural Service Center in Ankleshwar, India, care of the General Board.
  
  
• Two job openings have been announced at Camp Brethren Heights, Rodney, Mich., for a camp director and a camp maintenance director. The camp director will serve in a year-round position as part-time administrator. A newly renovated residence, utilities, and health insurance assistance are provided. The current director is leaving by the end of 2005. The camp maintenance director will fill a full-time position for the camping season, May through September. A wide variety of knowledge and skills are important to these positions, as is a love of God's creation, people, and Christian camping. Submit a letter of intent to Barry Barto, Camp Personnel, c/o Michigan District Office, P.O. Box 47, Kaleva, MI 49645; or e-mail bbarto@manistee.org; or call 231-362-2456. Applicants will be contacted concerning additional information to submit.
  
  
• The next Fellowship of Brethren Homes Forum will take place in April 2006 at the Cedars in McPherson, Kan. The focus will be on "Person-Centered Care," featuring the Cedar House Project. Wally Landes, pastor of Palmyra (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, will speak on "Piety and the Church of the Brethren." The 2006 forum was originally scheduled to be at Brethren Hillcrest Homes in La Verne, Calif.
  
  
• Bakersfield (Calif.) Community Church of the Brethren celebrated "three quarters of a century serving God" on Oct. 23 with an anniversary celebration, potluck, and afternoon program led by Pacific Southwest District executive minister Bryan Boyer.
  
  
• Empire (Calif.) Church of the Brethren will celebrate 100 years on Nov. 20. For more information contact the church at 209-522-4371.
  
  
• When Palmyra (Pa.) Church of the Brethren gathered for Love Feast on Sunday, Oct. 2, they did things a little differently. At the recommendation of the pastoral staff, the deacons voted to alter the order of service at the point of the Agape Meal, reported pastor Wally Landes. Instead of eating the traditional meal, the congregation fasted for World Communion Sunday. Where the brothers and sisters would have eaten together, the pastors shared scriptural meditations on prayer and fasting focusing on Luke's account of the Last Supper--"where it is not clear whether Jesus ate with the 12 or himself fasted in preparation for his death," Landes said. The hymn "Brothers and Sisters of Mine Are the Hungry" was sung with its pledge, "and I shall not feast 'til the hungry are fed." Members were asked to bring non-perishable food items to help stock the congregation food bank that assists dozens of area families.
  
  
• Topeka Church of the Brethren has returned to its original name, Rochester Community Church of the Brethren to re-emphasize community connections. The church is located on Rochester Road in Topeka, Kan.
  
  
• Two districts will hold their conferences over the Nov. 4-6 weekend: Illinois and Wisconsin District will meet Nov. 4-6 at Springfield (Ill.) Church of the Brethren with Pat Rittle as moderator; Shenandoah District will meet Nov. 4-5 at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren with Peter Leddy as moderator.
  
  
• Pinecrest Community, a Church of the Brethren retirement center in Mount Morris, Ill., will hold its Holiday Bazaar on Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. "We've been inviting hand-crafters to set up booths and sell their one-of-a-kind items for 13 years," said activities director Janell Miller. A tradition at the bazaar are fresh, hot cinnamon rolls, baked throughout the day, according to a press release. A barbeque lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a bake sale will be held along with a special raffle item of 48-inch hand-painted wooden carolers. All proceeds go toward resident's activities throughout the year.
  
  
• Leffler Chapel and Performance Center at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College will host a concert by Minas, a Brazilian ensemble performing samba and bassa nova music, on Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. On Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. the Ying Quartet will perform Beethoven's String Quartet Cycle. For more information call 717-361-1410.
  
  
• Bridgewater (Va.) College has announced upcoming events including an Ethics Bowl Final on Nov. 1 at 9:30 a.m. in Cole Hall, sponsored by the Virginia Foundation of Independent Colleges; and a W. Harold Row Endowed Lecture on Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. on the subject of "Seeds of Peace," at the Carter Center. The speaker will be Barbara Gottschalk. For more information call 540-828-5486.
  
  
• Dr. Leon Kintaudi, director of the SANRU Program in the Democratic Republic of Congo connected with Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA), has been named by TIME magazine as one of its global health heroes to be recognized at the TIME Magazine Global Health Summit on Nov. 1 in New York. The Church of the Brethren is a contributing denomination to IMA, which is headquartered at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md.
  
  
• The 2,000th American death in Iraq marks a "tragic milestone," said general secretary Bob Edgar of the National Council of Churches (NCC) in a statement on Oct. 25. Expressing support for military personnel as individuals he called on American Christians to engage in prayer and reflection, to pray for the families of those in the military in Iraq, for national leaders, and for an end to the war. "Speaking frankly, this milestone is also a cause for anger," he said. "It's hard today to set aside the reality that the administration started this war despite the earnest protests of church leaders and millions of persons of faith.... We must take these burdens to God," Edgar added. "It's time to bring this tragic chapter of American history to a close. Like Vietnam, the light at the end of this tunnel is a warning of more death, not a promise of victory." An NCC Resource packet, "Praying for Peace," can be downloaded at www.ncccusa.org/Prayers.html.

Source: 10/26/2005 Newsline
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