Brethren bits.

Photo by Janis Pyle

Bishop emeritus Mano Rumalshah (right) in 2008 at the Mission Alive conference held in Bridgewater, Va. He is shown with Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger (left). Rumalshah's former parish, All Saints Church in Peshawar, was the target of a horrendous bombing last Sunday, Sept. 22.

• Shine: Living in God’s Light, a new Sunday school curriculum being developed by Brethren Press and MennoMedia, is accepting applications for writers for the following age groups: early childhood through junior youth. The writers will be working on products for the 2015–2016 curriculum year. Writers must attend a writers’ conference on Feb. 28-March 3, 2014, at Camp Mack in Milford, Ind. Writers’ expenses for meals and lodging at the conference and reasonable travel expenses will be covered. The application deadline is Dec. 31. For more information and an online application go to www.ShineCurriculum.com.

• September has been designated National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, based on the Let’s Move! initiative begun several years ago. “How might we tackle this problem peacefully, simply, together?” asks Donna Kline of Congregational Life Ministries staff. Resources for the Church of the Brethren commitment to this serious issue are available at www.brethren.org/letsmove.

• New Fairview Church of the Brethren in York, Pa., hosts the Fall Banquet for the Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry of Southern Pennsylvania District. The event on Oct. 5 starts at 4 p.m. with a Silent Auction. The meal begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. Contact the district office at 717-624-8636.

• The youth at Salem Church of the Brethren at Stephens City have received thanks from Shenandoah District for their “creative and generous support of our disaster response teams.” The youth raised $766 for disaster response by participating in the Route 11 Yard Crawl on Aug. 10, selling sandwiches, drinks, chips, and yard sale items. Also contributing money to disaster relief in the district was the first Family Fun Day on Aug. 24, which brought in about $2,500, said the district newsletter.

• Southern Ohio District has extended the registration deadline for an Outdoor Ministries Golf Outing on Oct. 5. The registration deadline has been extended to Sept. 30. The annual event is at Penn Terra Golf Course in  Lewisburg, Ohio, and offers fellowship, fun, a challenge, and a way to benefit the Southern Ohio District Outdoor Ministries summer camping program. After play, a meal will be served at Brookville Church of the Brethren. Cost is $70. Go to http://media1.razorplanet.com/share/511272-2452/resources/355330_golfoutingregistrationfillable.pdf for more information and a registration form.

• Idaho District Conference will be held Sept. 27-28 at Nampa (Idaho) Church of the Brethren.

• The John Kline Homestead holds its Donor Dinner on Oct. 4, at 6 p.m., at Linville Creek Church of the Brethren in Broadway, Va. The featured speaker will be Jeff Carter, president of Bethany Theological Seminary. Cost is $20. Reservations are due by Sept. 30. Contact 540-896-5001 or proth@eagles.bridgewater.edu .

• Following news of the bombing at All Saints Church in Peshawar, Pakistan, Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger shared his condolences. “It saddens us that acts of violence are perpetrated against any people, and especially where we have a relationship,” he said, remembering the participation of Peshawar bishop emeritus Mano Rumalshah at Mission Alive 2008 in Bridgewater, Va. The attack on the All Saints Church took place Sunday, Sept. 22, and according to “The New York Times” killed at least 78 people, including 34 women and 7 children. The attack was made as some 600 worshipers left the church following Sunday worship to receive free food being distributed on the lawn outside. Also sharing solidarity and concern was the Church of North India (CNI), which in a letter from general secretary Alwan Masih expressed “deep shock and concern at the terrible and inhumane act of bombing of innocent worshipers.... Church of North India deeply expresses its solidarity and concern with the victims and members of the bereaved families. We uphold the affected families in our prayers so that the Lord strengthen their faith as they journey through the time of umpteen trials and tribulations. We assure our continued prayers and support to all the Christian community of Pakistan.” The World Council of Churches characterized the bombing as the “single worst loss of life among Christians in Pakistan” in a letter from general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit, who said it was a “deliberate targeting of a vulnerable Christian community.” He called for an end to wanton violence and asked the government of Pakistan to protect all citizens from those bent on dividing the country and causing suffering.

Source: 9/26/2013 Newsline