- Remembrance: James "Jim" E. Renz, 94, died May 19
at Pinecrest retirement community in Mt. Morris, Ill. He was a former
director of social welfare for the Church of the Brethren, and founder
of the Renz Addiction Counseling Center in Elgin, Ill., which now serves
thousands of people through treatment and prevention programs. The
“Daily Herald” newspaper notes that when Renz started the center 52
years ago it was a one-man operation in a small office on the second
floor of a downtown building. It was Renz’ hard work and dedication as a
Church of the Brethren pastor with a lifelong commitment to service,
that propelled the center to become one of the largest nonprofits that
serve northern Kane and western Cook Counties of Illinois, said the
newspaper. Renz was a pastor in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois before he
moved to Elgin to serve on the denominational staff in 1952. Read the
full article at www.dailyherald.com/article/20130529/news/705299653 . A memorial service will be held at Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren in Elgin on Sunday afternoon, June 2.
- Remembrance: D. Eugene Lichty, 92, died May 20 at
McPherson (Kan.) Hospital. He was a former director of development for
McPherson College, and served as a board member of On Earth Peace. He
was born April 14, 1921, in Waterloo, Iowa, son of Ray W. and Elizabeth
McRoberts Lichty. He married Eloise Marie McKnight on Aug. 20, 1944, in
Quinter, Kan. He was a graduate of McPherson College and Bethany
Theological Seminary in Chicago, and was a Church of the Brethren
pastor. He is survived by his wife; daughters Jean (Francis) Hendricks
of Abilene, Kan., and Marilyn (Rob) Rosenow of Tigard, Ore.; sons Dan
(Lynne) of McPherson, Kent (Lori) of Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Lyle (Ilona)
of Mount Vernon; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A memorial
service was held at McPherson Church of the Brethren. Memorial gifts are
received to McPherson Church of the Brethren or to On Earth Peace.
- A group of nine Manchester University graduates
are planning to join Brethren Volunteer Service this year, to take part
in either the summer or fall units: Carson McFadden, Traci Doi, Whitnee
Kibler Hidalgo, Stephanie Barras, Dylan Ford, Craig Morphew, Turner
Ritchie, Andrew Kurtz, and Jess Rinehart.
- Jennifer Quijano, coordinator of SeBAH-CoB,
reports that Spanish-speaking ministry students in Atlantic Northeast
and Pacific Southwest Districts have completed the third course in the
program, “Anabaptist History and Theology.” SeBAH-CoB (Seminario Biblico
Anabautista Hispano) is a Brethren Academy partnership with the
Mennonite Education Agency to provide a Spanish language ministry
training program for the Church of the Brethren. The denomination-wide
certificate-level program parallels the Academy Certified Training
System programs available to English-speaking students. “This course
took a deeper look at Anabaptist roots, role models, rituals, and
theology. The students are now anticipating the fourth course in the
program, ‘Theology of Pastoral Ministry,’ which will begin in early
May,” Quijano reported in an academy newsletter. A SeBAH cohort from
Atlantic Southeast District also is hard at work completing their first
course, “Understanding the Bible,” and are beginning in-depth studies of
Jonah and Ruth. “It is a joy to work with all the students around the
denomination,” Quijano wrote. “With continuing prayers and support, we
look forward to the ministries our sisters and brothers are preparing
for.” Atlantic Northeast has 13 students in SeBAH-CoB, Pacific Southwest
has six, and two Puerto Rican students in Atlantic Southeast are
participating.
- An orientation on Aug. 1-4 will welcome new
Training in Ministry (TRIM) and Education for Shared Ministry (EFSM)
students to the Brethren Academy for Ministry Training on the campus of
Bethany Seminary in Richmond, Ind. “If you know someone who is
considering TRIM or EFSM, please be in touch with the Brethren Academy
office for information,” said an announcement. Registration deadline is
June 15. A ministry training partnership of the Church of the Brethren
and Bethany Seminary, the Brethren Academy may be contacted at academy@brethren.org or go to www.bethanyseminary.edu/academy .
- Ministry Summer Service participants begin
orientation Friday at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in
Elgin, Ill. The group will be hosted by the Ministry Office and Youth
and Young Adult Ministry. Interns include Todd Eastis, Heather Gentry,
Lucas Kauffman, Andrea Keller, Amanda McLearn-Montz, and Peyton Miller.
Mentors include Gieta Gresh, Cindy Laprade Lattimer, Carol Lindquist,
Dennis Lohr, David Miller, and Marie Benner Rhoades. Leading the
orientation are associate general secretary Mary Jo Flory-Steury and
Youth and Young Adult director Becky Ullom Naugle, along with Dana
Cassell, Jim Chinworth, Mark Flory-Steury, Tracy Primozich, and Christy
Waltersdorff. Said Naugle, “Remember us in your prayers as we prepare
these young adults to spend a summer discerning their call to ministry!”
- Young adults are invited to apply to serve on the
denomination’s Young Adult Steering Committee. “Are you interested in
helping to shape the programs and ministries available to young adults
in the Church of the Brethren? Do you know another young adult who would
be interested?” said an invitation from Becky Ullom Naugle, director of
Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Applications are due June 30. Download
the application from www.brethren.org/yya/resources.html .
- This year's Song and Story Fest, an annual family
camp co-sponsored by On Earth Peace, will be July 21-27 at Camp
Myrtlewood in Bridge, Ore. The theme is "Between Sky and Sea" (Isaiah
55). The intergenerational gathering will feature Brethren musicians and
storytellers. For more information, visit www.onearthpeace.org/faith-legacy/song-story-fest .
- Manchester Church of the Brethren in N.
Manchester, Ind., will explore the challenges faced by Ekklesiyar
Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) at a
Coffee House at 6:30 p.m. on June 9. The church also announced a June 16
special offering for EYN.
- Black Rock Church of the Brethren in Glenville,
Pa., continued its 275th anniversary celebration with a May 4 Spring
Fair. Said a report from the church: “The event was blessed with a
beautiful clear day and culminated in a release of 75 butterflies to
honor and remember loved ones.” Contact 717-637-6170 or blackrockcob@comcast.net or go to www.blackrockchurch.org .
- Another Voice at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren
is holding four weeks of "Dialogue on Gun Violence" including a special
panel discussion at 6 p.m. June 2. The panel includes Rockingham County
Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst, Circuit Court Judge James Lane,
Lolly Miller whose daughter was injured in the Virginia Tech shooting,
and Bridgewater Police Chief Joe Simmons.
- Shenandoah District has issued preliminary results
of its 21st Annual Disaster Ministries Auction. Net proceeds are
estimated at $180,000. Some 1,060 people were served an oyster-ham
dinner, 270 people enjoyed made-to-order omelets and 157 opted for
pancakes at the breakfast, and a lunch served 146 in addition to a la
carte food items that were available. The event supported Brethren
Disaster Ministries.
- Shenandoah District also thanks kit-makers who
brought Church World Service disaster relief kits to a Kit Depot at the
district office. The depot collected CWS kits, clean-up buckets, and
quilts to be processed and warehoused at the Brethren Service Center in
New Windsor, Md. “The grand totals are gratifying,” the newsletter said:
75 baby kits, 1,303 hygiene kits, 576 school kits, 54 emergency
clean-up buckets and, from Lutheran World Relief, 392 quilts.
- Virlina District has begun an Oklahoma Tornado Fund
to aid those affected by the powerful tornados that hit the state in
mid-May, including the devastated town of Moore. The fund will support a
response by Brethren Disaster Ministries. “We will undoubtedly be
sending disaster teams from Virlina for the follow up rebuilding,” said
the district newsletter.
- “Peace Gives Life!!!” (Proverbs 14:30) is the theme
for the Western Plains District peace retreat for youth and young
adults on Aug. 9-11 at Camp Mt. Hermon, Tonganoxie, Kan. It will be
facilitated by On Earth Peace. Cost per person is $65. Download the Camp
Mt. Hermon registration form and health form from www.campmthermon.org
and send along with a copy of health insurance card and payment by July
26 to Joanna Smith, 18190 W. 1300 Rd., Welda, KS 66091; 785-448-4436; cafemojo@hotmail.com .
- The Brethren Home Community
in Windber, Pa., received a Lee Initiatives grant in a ceremony at the
Johnstown Holiday Inn on April 30. The retirement community was awarded
$8,442 for adjustable electric beds in the nursing wing. Social Services
Director Emily Reckner was responsible for authoring the grant, and
Jerry Baxter awarded the check to Home Administrator Edie Scaletta at
the ceremony. The community also received $3,000 in donations for
laptops for charting throughout the facility, through a “Getting
Connected” computer campaign. Contact Donna Locher, Finance Director,
277 Hoffman Ave., Windber, PA 15963.
- A nonprofit organization created by a Manchester University business class
has raised $15,356 and visibility about the growing number of homeless
children, according to a release. The class company, H2.0 Drinkware,
sold 1,121 water bottles to benefit Project Night Night, a national
nonprofit that annually provides 25,000 night-time care packages for
homeless children. Four area shelters for the homeless selected by the
class will receive the care packages: Huntington House, Vincent Village,
the Rescue Mission, and Interfaith Hospitality Network in Fort Wayne.
- A World Council of Churches conference calls for prayer and action
to support Christian presence in the Middle East. The conference May
21-25 in Lebanon included more than 100 church leaders and
representatives of ecumenical organizations. The statement called
churches to “continue to be being involved in the building of democratic
civil societies, based on the rule of law, social justice, and respect
for human rights, including religious freedom.... This is another time
for such action, for a new vision of Christian cooperation in the
region, for recommitment to Christian Muslim engagement, for engagement
with Jewish partners also working for peace and justice, expressing our
Christian vocations by working together to express mutual support and
solidarity.” See www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/public-witness-addressing-power-affirming-peace/middle-east-peace/statement-on-christian-presence-and-witness-in-the-middle-east .
Source: 5/30/2013 Newsline
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