Brethren bits: Job opening, Annual Conference, and more.

• The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center (SVMC) is seeking applicants for the position of executive director. Applicants should have a deep commitment to Jesus Christ and be a member of the Church of the Brethren. The executive director is reportable and accountable to the Governing Board of SVMC and collaborates with the dean of Bethany Theological Seminary regarding Bethany's graduate program offerings at SVMC. This is a part-time position. The SVMC office is located at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Resumes are accepted until June 15. Applications and inquiries should be sent to Dr. Robert W. Neff, The Village at Morrison's Cove, 429 S. Market St., Martinsburg PA 16662.
  
  
• Planning continues for the move of the Annual Conference Office to the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The move will take place the week of Aug. 21-25. The office will open for business in New Windsor on Monday, Aug. 28. Lerry Fogle, executive director of Annual Conference, reports that the address of the Annual Conference Office in New Windsor will be 500 Main Street, P. O. Box 720, New Windsor, MD, 21776-0720; 410-635-8740 (primary office number); 800-688-5186 (toll free); 410-635-8781 (executive director); fax 410-635-8742. All contact information will be published in the 2006 Church of the Brethren Yearbook.
  
  
• An action alert from the Brethren Witness/Washington Office this week calls Brethren to contact their congressional representatives regarding two current pieces of legislation: immigration legislation being debated by the Senate, and a budget resolution being worked on by the House Budget Committee. The alert listed significant issues in the immigration legislation including "the 11-12 million undocumented workers currently in the United States could apply for a work visa, after paying back taxes and a penalty; ...organizations and individuals providing humanitarian aid, such as food, clothing, shelter, and medical care, would be protected from prosecution; ...doubling of the number of Border Patrol agents over five years and expanding fencing, although only in Arizona." A bill passed by the Senate will have to be reconciled with the House's enforcement-only immigration bill, the alert said. About the budget resolution in the House, the alert said that "harmful cuts" are expected for federal budget items such as food aid for seniors, young children, and mothers; education for the disadvantaged; and subsidized child care. For more information and congressional contact information go to the Brethren Witness/Washington Office website www.brethren.org/genbd/WitnessWashOffice.html.
  
  
• The Brethren Witness/Washington Office is encouraging congregations to celebrate Earth Day 2006 on Sunday, April 19, or any Sunday near that date. Earth Day this year is Wednesday, April 22. "We are glad to introduce to Brethren congregations an excellent resource from the National Council of Churches (NCC) Eco-Justice Program," the office said. "We hope you will use this resource to celebrate our earth and to draw attention to our critical challenge of caring for God's creation." The NCC resource, "Through the Eye of a Hurricane: Rebuilding Just Communities," describes the devastation of the Gulf Coast region and issues of environmental justice and racism, toxic contamination, and consumer lifestyles. It provides background information, sermon notes, a bulletin insert, and study questions to plan a worship service dedicated to the Gulf Coast. Go to www.nccecojustice.org/Earth%20Day/index.html.
  
  
• Is your youth group looking for a great place to stop on the way back from National Youth Conference? Bethany Theological Seminary is offering TGIF (tours, games, information, and food) on July 29, from 2-9 p.m. Youth traveling home from NYC will be welcomed at Bethany's Richmond, Ind., campus. For more information or to let the seminary know that a youth group will attend, contact Kathy Royer at 756-983-1832 or royerka@bethanyseminary.edu.
  
  
• Youth from the central and plains states will be at McPherson (Kan.) College this weekend, March 31-April 2, for Regional Youth Conference on the theme "Come and See." Leadership includes the National Youth Conference coordinators Cindy Laprade, Beth Rhodes, and Emily Tyler as keynote speakers; and Seth Hendricks, a member of the band Mutual Kumquat, leading music. For more information contact 620-421-0742 ext. 1226 or replogles@mcpherson.edu.
  
  
• This year's theme for "Awakening Services" in the Roanoke and Botetourt areas of Virginia, in Virlina District, will be "Together: Envisioning the Body of Christ." The theme follows the Together: Being the Church conversations that have begun across the Church of the Brethren. The services will be held at Hollins Road Church of the Brethren in Roanoke each evening April 2-5, with the message brought by David K. Shumate, Virlina District executive. Bible studies on the same theme will be held by several other congregations.
  
  
• The spring tour of Bridgewater (Va.) College's 49-voice Concert Choir, 24-voice Chorale, and student-directed Handbell Choir include several stops at Church of the Brethren congregations and other Brethren venues. Upcoming concerts in Brethren venues are scheduled at Oakton (Va.) Church of the Brethren at 11 a.m. April 9; Elizabethtown (Pa.) Church of the Brethren at 7:30 p.m. April 21; Camp Swatara in Bethel, Pa., at 2 p.m. on April 22; Lebanon Valley Brethren Home in Palmyra, Pa., at 7:30 p.m. April 22; Annville (Pa.) Church of the Brethren at 10:15 a.m. April 23; and the Carter Center at Bridgewater College at 7:30 p.m. April 23. The choir and chorale are conducted by Jesse E. Hopkins, Edwin L. Turner distinguished professor of music at Bridgewater. For more see www.bridgewater.edu.
  
  
• CrossRoads, the Valley Brethren and Mennonite Heritage Center in Harrisonburg, Va., is sponsoring two events in April: an Open House for the Breneman-Turner Mill on April 15, 1-5 p.m.; and an annual Easter Sunrise Service on April 16, 6:30 a.m., on the CrossRoads hilltop. The 200-year-old mill, which will soon be on the National Historic Register, is the only remaining pre-Civil War mill in Rockingham County still fully equipped with grist mill equipment. The public is invited to hear plans to restore and preserve the mill at the open house, which also will feature tours. The Easter Sunrise Service will be held at 711 Garbers Church Rd., sponsored by Harrisonburg First Church of the Brethren and Weavers Mennonite Church. Bring a lawn chair. In case of rain go to Weavers Mennonite Church. For more information see www.vbmhc.org.
  
  
• A Greater Gift (SERRV) Shop at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., will hold its annual Seconds and Overstock Sale on March 30-April 8, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. The sale will be held in the SERRV warehouse. Textiles, pottery, jewelry, furniture and more are 75 percent off original prices. Artisans have received a fair trade wage before any merchandise is sold. No children are used in the production of food or craft items. For more information go to www.agreatergift.org.
  
  
• Valeria Fike, a Church of the Brethren member and librarian at College of DuPage Library in Glen Ellyn, Ill., is featured on the cover of "Library Journal" as the "Paraprofessional of the Year." A lead article about her work as supervisor of reference support and College and Career Information Center services is written by John N. Berry III. Fike holds a master's degree in theology from Bethany Theological Seminary and is an ordained minister.

Source: 3/29/2006 Newsline
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