"Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus," based on Hebrews 12:1-4, is the theme for Annual Conference in Peoria, Ill., July 2-6, 2005. The Program and Arrangements Committee and Worship Committee met in Elgin, Ill., Aug. 26-27 and Sept. 26-28 respectively, to choose preachers, worship leaders, Bible study leaders, and themes and scriptures.
"The Church has always been in need of a call to remember Jesus," moderator Jim Hardenbrook wrote about the theme. "The book of Hebrews calls a group of Christians to reconsider Jesus. In the midst of their persecution and questions the writer asks them to take another look at Jesus; to consider him. I'm convinced such an exercise would be good for us."
Rosanna Eller McFadden, professional calligrapher and a member of the committee, designed the logo using the theme words. "I wanted Jesus to be central to this logo," she said. "I chose light as the symbol which illustrates where we should fix our eyes.... Our Christian lives depend on being able to see the Light in the darkness. But this is not just any light, and it is not just for Christians; it breaks the bounds of darkness and goes out into the world in the form of the cross."
Hardenbrook will preach Saturday with moderator-elect Ron Beachley leading worship. Galen Hackman, pastor of Ephrata (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, will preach Sunday with Frances Townsend, pastor of Onekama (Mich.) Church of the Brethren, as worship leader. Sandy Bosserman, executive of Missouri and Arkansas District, will preach Monday with worship leader Thomas Dowdy Jr., pastor of Imperial Heights Church of the Brethren, Los Angeles, Calif. Gerald and Rebecca Crouse, on the pastoral team at New Beginnings Church of the Brethren, Warrensburg, Mo., will lead worship Tuesday with the preacher to be announced. Chris Douglas, the General Board's director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, will speak Wednesday with a worship team of Matt Guynn, On Earth Peace program coordinator for Peace Witness; Cindy Laprade and Beth Rhodes, coordinators of youth and young adult workcamps; and Nate Polzin, licensed minister from Mount Pleasant, Mich.
McFadden will serve as worship coordinator. Beth and Keith Hollenberg, a pastor at First Church of the Brethren, York, Pa., will coordinate music with Marilyn Mason as organist, Rich Brode on the piano/keyboard, and Joan Fyock Norris directing the choir. Bible study leaders will be Bob Neff, Old Testament scholar; Ruben DeOleo, director of Hispanic Ministry for Atlantic Northeast District; Levi Ziegler, ordained minister from Manheim, Pa.; and Pearl Rohrer, Bethany Theological Seminary student. Debbie Eisenbise, pastor of Skyridge Church of the Brethren, Kalamazoo, Mich., will lead theological studies.
The Program and Arrangements Committee includes the moderator, moderator-elect, McFadden, Judy Epps, Joanna Wave Willoughby, secretary Fred Swartz, treasurer Judy Keyser, and Lerry Fogle, executive director. The Worship Committee comprises the Program and Arrangements Committee plus music coordinators and choir director. For more information and to view the logo, see the Annual Conference web pages at www.brethren.org.
Source: 10/15/2004 Newsline
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