Brethren bits: Remembrance, personnel, and more.

• Florence (Flossie) Miller Royer, a longtime mission worker with the Church of the Brethren, died Feb. 25 in Ft. Wayne, Ind. She and her husband, Ralph, served with the church in Niger and Nigeria for 35 years. Royer began her mission work in Nigeria 1951-55 as a nurse in the mission-run leprosarium. She received her nursing degree from the nursing school at Swedish Covenant Hospital. In 1957 the Royers returned to Nigeria where she continued to work as a nurse in hospitals and dispensaries and her husband worked as an educator. Royer also served as a houseparent at Hillcrest School in Jos, Nigeria, and was a leader in Girl's Brigade, a Christian organization for Nigerian girls similar to Girl Scouts. In 1976 the couple moved to Niger during a time of drought and famine to do community development work on behalf of the church. There in 1980 Flossie began a six-year term as a nurse in a Peace Corps medical unit while Ralph helped develop appropriate technology and then led the work of Church World Service in Niger. The Royers also served with Church World Service in Liberia. The Royers spoke three African languages--Margi, Bura, and Hausa--as well as French. Since 1987 the Royers have lived in Claypool, Ind., where they farmed and built an energy-efficient home. They have been active in Eel River Community Church of the Brethren, Silver Lake, Ind. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. March 4, at the church.
  
  
• Brethren Press and the Mennonite Publishing Network, which are jointly sponsoring the new Gather `Round Sunday school curriculum, have secured two additional staff for the project. Amy Gingerich of Washington, D.C., has begun as fulltime managing editor. She has a master of divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion and writing and editing experience with newspapers in Indiana and California. Terry Stutzman Mast of Lodi, Calif., has begun as half-time associate editor. Mast is a graduate of Bluffton College in Ohio, a degree in writing from Illinois State University, and background in writing, design, and editing for a variety of magazines and projects. Gingerich and Mast join Gather 'Round project director Anna Speicher on the curriculum staff.
  
  
• Mark Hartwig will begin March 28 as computer and programming specialist for the General Board in Elgin, Ill. His background includes positions as computer coordinator/trainer and Information Services manager. He also holds a master's degree in pastoral studies and is a spiritual director.
  
  
• Diane Graefen of East Dundee, Ill., has begun as Annual Conference registration coordinator, a temporary position through June 10. Her primary responsibilities are registration for delegates and non-delegates attending the Conference July 2-6 in Peoria, Ill.
  
  
• On Earth Peace, an agency of the Church of the Brethren with responsibility for peace and reconciliation ministries, seeks a program coordinator for Peacemaker Formation to work at its office at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The position plans and coordinates overall peace education program including retreats for youth and peace resource programs, interpretation, and cooperative projects. Qualifications are commitment to Christian peacemaking; experience with faith-based education; understanding of conflict resolution, justice issues, nonviolence, and the scriptural basis of peacemaking; ability to work independently and in a team; communication and computer skills and organizational ability; willingness to travel; familiarity with the Church of the Brethren; and a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. For position description see www.brethren.org/oepa/PeacemakerFormationCoordinator.html. The position is available Aug. 15. Review of applications begins April 30 until the position is filled. Send resume, letter of application, and contact information for three to four references to both On Earth Peace executive directors: Barbara Sayler, bsayler_oepa@brethren.org, 502-222-5886; and Bob Gross, bgross@igc.org, 260-982-7751. E-mail with attachments is the preferred form of application. If applying by post or fax send to: Search Committee, On Earth Peace, P.O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776-0188; fax 410-635-8707.
  
  
• The General Board seeks a part-time (15 hours per week) promotions specialist for "Messenger" magazine, location negotiable. The position is available spring of 2005, with funding available for two years. The promotions specialist will work with congregations and small groups to increase subscriptions to "Messenger." The ideal candidate has abilities in the areas of marketing or promotions and strong knowledge of the Church of the Brethren including familiarity with "Messenger"; is skilled in oral and written communication and is proficient in Word, Quark Xpress, other graphic design tools, and Internet use; and has a minimum of an associate's degree or equivalent, with a bachelor's degree preferred. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Mary Lou Garrison, Director of Human Resources, Church of the Brethren General Board, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. Application deadline is April 15.
  
  
• Today the General Board's Global Mission Partnerships hosted Church World Service regional director Janet Young and a delegation of eight church leaders from Argentina at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The group is visiting the US to observe church ministries responding to hunger, homelessness, and poverty. They visited Elgin's Interfaith Food Pantry and met with Elgin Cooperative Ministries, PADS (a cooperative organization of churches providing shelter to the homeless), and the Community Crisis Center. The delegation will spend about two weeks in Illinois and Nebraska and conclude the trip at the Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C.
  
  
• The Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., will host a by-invitation-only Anabaptist Consultation on Alternative Service March 4-5. The meeting will bring together more than 85 people from the historic peace churches--Church of the Brethren, Mennonites, Brethren in Christ, and Friends (Quakers)--and other peacemaking traditions to do contingency planning in case of a military draft, discuss increased military recruitment, and highlight the tradition of service. The Council of Moderators and Secretaries, a group of leaders from Anabaptist denominations, is sponsoring the consultation.
  
  
• Two more 2005 Level 1 Disaster Child Care Training Workshops have been announced, in addition to those listed in the Newsline of Feb. 2. The additional workshops for those interested in becoming child care volunteers following disasters will be held Sept. 16-17 at Oak Grove Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., and Nov. 11-12 at Brook Park (Ohio) Community Church of the Brethren. For more information call Helen Stonesifer at 800-451-4407 (option 5) or see www.disasterchildcare.org.
  
  
• Brochures and registration forms are available for the Retreat for Clergy Women Nov. 14-17, sponsored by the General Board's Ministry Office. The retreat in East Troy, Wis., is for licensed and ordained clergywomen in the Church of the Brethren. Leadership will be provided by Jan Richardson, an artist, writer, and ordained United Methodist minister. Registration is $175 before June 1, $200 before Aug. 1, with a discount for fulltime seminary or TRIM students. Contact Myrna Wheeler, 608 Santa Cruz Ct., San Dimas, CA 91773-3332.
  
  
• Members of Hope Church of the Brethren in Freeport, Mich., combined talents on Feb. 12 to produce a show called "Love Blooms on Hopeful Prairie," in the vein of Garrison Keillor's "Prairie Home Companion." James Kinsey, a member of the General Board's Congregational Life Teams, organized the show to celebrate the area served by the church, according to an article in the "Lakewood News." The show benefited Habitat for Humanity. Contact Kinsey for a copy of the script, which is available for use by anyone who is interested; e-mail jkinsey_gb@brethren.org
  
  
• Williamson Road Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Va., will host "Awakening 2005" on March 10-12. Bridgewater (Va.) College will provide leadership for the event with Robbie Miller, director of Religious Life and college chaplain, speaking Thursday evening; the college's Concert Choir, Chorale, and Bell Choir performing Friday to begin their spring concert season; and William Abshire, associate professor of Religion, bringing the message Saturday evening. The Thursday and Saturday services will begin with a hymn sing at 7 p.m., with the services and the Friday concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Child care will be provided and rides are available for residents of Friendship Manor. For more information call the church at 540-366-0291.
  
  
• Beatrice Biira of Uganda will be the featured speaker at a Heifer International information forum and fundraising banquet 6 p.m. March 14 at Mechanic Grove Church of the Brethren, Quarryville, Pa. Biira will explain how the gift of a goat helped her fulfill her lifelong dream of going to school. She is a freshman at Connecticut College. Cost is $135 for a table of eight. For more information e-mail wjb@paonline.com.
  
  
• Eighteen Brethren congregations met together for a service to benefit York (Pa.) Habitat for Humanity Feb. 27. The hymn and praise service was at First Church of the Brethren in York.
  
  
• Twenty two people gathered in Wonder Valley in the foothills below Sequoia National Park for a retreat for licensed ministers in Pacific South West District Feb. 5-6. The retreat was planned to offer encouragement, educational experiences, and opportunities for ministers to support each other, reported R. Jan Thompson. "Spouses were invited to attend so they could also learn to know others who are seeking to fulfill a call into some form of ministry," he said. Del Keeney, the General Board's executive director of Congregational Life Ministries, provided leadership, drawing upon his years of experience in the pastoral ministry. Planning Sunday morning worship as a group was a highlight of the weekend. Bryan Boyer, district executive, also led the group in a full love feast. For a few attendees, it was the first time to participate in feetwashing. Licensed ministers traveled as far as 740 miles because of the large geographic size of the district.
  
  
• Southern Pennsylvania District is holding its First Annual Missions Dinner at 6 p.m. March 5 at Chambersburg (Pa.) Church of the Brethren. The featured speaker is Irvin Heishman, General Board mission staff in the Dominican Republic. Cost is $10. An offering will be taken to support the denomination's work in the DR. For more information see www.cob-net.org/church/sopa_dinner.htm.
  
  
• Inspiration Hills Camp in Burbank, Ohio, is hosting "Cherry Lodge Get-Away: Peace Skills for the Family" March 11-12, with leadership from On Earth Peace and Northern Ohio District's Peace Task Team and district Peace/Conciliation worker Russ Veal. Overnight charge is $15 per person. For more information call 419-945-2327 or 330-484-1106, or e-mail djparker@bright.net or vealrev@aol.com.
  
  
• Bridgewater (Va.) College's 45-voice Concert Choir will perform at Brethren congregations during its spring tour: 7:30 p.m. March 11 at the Roanoke Valley Churches of the Brethren Awakening Service at Williamson Road Church of the Brethren; 7:30 p.m. March 12 at Antioch Church of the Brethren, Rocky Mount, Va.; 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 13, at Peters Creek Church of the Brethren, Roanoke; 3 p.m. March 13 at Charlottesville (Va.) Church of the Brethren; 7:30 p.m. March 13 at Waynesboro (Va.) Church of the Brethren; 7:30 p.m. April 1 at Somerset (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; 7:30 p.m. April 2 at Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; 10:40 a.m. Sunday April 3 at Waynesboro (Pa.) Church of the Brethren; and 11 a.m. Sunday April 10 at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren. Concerts will feature, in addition to the choir, the 23-voice Chorale and student-directed Handbell Choir. The choir and chorale are directed by Jesse E. Hopkins, the Edwin L. Turner Distinguished Professor of Music who was choir director for the 2004 Annual Conference. Repertory includes requiem movements from works by Brahms, Durufle, Faure, and Mozart, as well as works by contemporary composers.
  
  
• Church World Service (CWS) is working with WorldManna.org on an interfaith initiative to persuade the food industry to donate one percent of proceeds to hunger. Established in June 2004, WorldManna.org is an interfaith program initiated by SocialAction.com of Jewish Family & Life. Proceeds will go to international nonprofits. "By amassing the collective purchasing power of consumers, faith-based organizations are sending a clear message to food manufacturers to compel them to join us in the worldwide effort to alleviate and prevent world hunger," said CWS executive director John L. McCullough. Consumers visit www.worldmanna.org to sign a pledge indicating how much they spend on groceries each month. With this collective purchasing power, WorldManna.org hopes to persuade food companies to exchange one percent of profits for permission to put the WorldManna.org seal on their products, as a sign that the purchase directly fights hunger. WorldManna.org estimates that the 7,900 who have signed the pledge already represent a purchasing power of more than $1.3 million.

Source: 03/02/2005 Newsline
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