Friday, August 26, 2005
Caring Ministries Assembly explores 'Peace Beyond Our Fears.'
More than 200 Brethren caregivers focused on "Peace Beyond Our Fears" at the Caring Ministries Assembly Aug. 11-13 at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren. The theme was explored through speakers, preachers, and workshops.
"Conference attendees thanked us for this event because of the spirit of healing and peace that they experienced," said Kathy Reid, executive director for the Association of Brethren Caregivers, the Church of the Brethren agency that sponsors the conference biennially.
In the opening worship service, a visual prelude showing images of fear while organist John Barr performed Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings." Worship leader Del Keeney led a confession of fears that incorporated readings and responses based on Psalm 23:1-6. Robert Wicks, professor of pastoral care at Baltimore's Loyola College, gave the message focused on the need for caregivers to have perspective about the problems and difficulties facing them and the people for whom they care. Perspective comes from "the source of all of this, God, scripture, prayer life," and without these things caregivers lose perspective, he said.
Wicks carried the theme into a morning plenary session about the three pieces of spiritual life, which he named as presence to others, presence to self, and presence to God. "One of the greatest things (caregivers) can offer others is the circle of grace formed by love and freedom," he said. "We offer this space to others where they can rest their burdens, their questions, their anger, their doubts, their anxieties."
Jayne Seminare Docherty, of the STAR Center at Eastern Mennonite University, provided a plenary presentation on the dynamics that individuals and groups experience as a result of trauma and being victimized. She described how trauma victims experience physical and emotional cycles such as physical reactions to trauma, feelings of loss, grief, anger, helplessness, and a need for justice. She explained how individuals and groups must experience these stages as part of a journey toward healing. People of faith can be harmed if they focus too quickly on God's reassurance to "be not afraid," without acknowledging what really happened and working through these stages, Docherty said.
Louise Baldwin Rieman, co-pastor of Northview Church of the Brethren in Indianapolis, preached on the Acts 27 story of Paul's journey as a prisoner to Rome to appeal his case before the emperor. When Paul's ship met with terrible storms followed by days of dormant seas, he broke bread and encouraged the passengers and sailors to eat and keep up their courage. "It's truly easier to have courage when you have a mission, a purpose, a passion," Rieman said. She wondered who will have Paul-like courage to go to "our Rome" to protest the Iraq war, speak out for the victims of an unjust health-care system, and work for tolerance for those who are different.
Stephen Reid, academic dean and professor of Old Testament Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., explored fear and courage through Isaiah 41:8-16 and 43:1-7 in morning Bible studies. He described how these words of affirmation and encouragement from God, written in 700-500 B.C., continue as words of encouragement to the present church to appreciate its roots but also embrace the living God who calls us to change and welcome others.
The assembly's closing worship featured a sermon from Andrew Murray, founder and director of Juniata College's Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. Murray preached a message of peace despite fear, a message he believes Brethren don't hear enough from church leaders or the pulpit.
More than 20 workshops covered a range of topics, led by several denominational agencies. Topics included peacemaking, older adult ministry, healthy communication, dealing with conflict, mental health, and healthy lifestyles. Tracks were offered for deacons and chaplains. Each day, attendees entered into a period of silence and could rest, walk the grounds, meditate, or do Tai Chi. Massage and spiritual direction were offered as well.
Photographs from the event can be viewed at www.brethren-caregivers.org.
Source: 8/26/2005 Newsline
top
More than 200 Brethren caregivers focused on "Peace Beyond Our Fears" at the Caring Ministries Assembly Aug. 11-13 at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren. The theme was explored through speakers, preachers, and workshops.
"Conference attendees thanked us for this event because of the spirit of healing and peace that they experienced," said Kathy Reid, executive director for the Association of Brethren Caregivers, the Church of the Brethren agency that sponsors the conference biennially.
In the opening worship service, a visual prelude showing images of fear while organist John Barr performed Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings." Worship leader Del Keeney led a confession of fears that incorporated readings and responses based on Psalm 23:1-6. Robert Wicks, professor of pastoral care at Baltimore's Loyola College, gave the message focused on the need for caregivers to have perspective about the problems and difficulties facing them and the people for whom they care. Perspective comes from "the source of all of this, God, scripture, prayer life," and without these things caregivers lose perspective, he said.
Wicks carried the theme into a morning plenary session about the three pieces of spiritual life, which he named as presence to others, presence to self, and presence to God. "One of the greatest things (caregivers) can offer others is the circle of grace formed by love and freedom," he said. "We offer this space to others where they can rest their burdens, their questions, their anger, their doubts, their anxieties."
Jayne Seminare Docherty, of the STAR Center at Eastern Mennonite University, provided a plenary presentation on the dynamics that individuals and groups experience as a result of trauma and being victimized. She described how trauma victims experience physical and emotional cycles such as physical reactions to trauma, feelings of loss, grief, anger, helplessness, and a need for justice. She explained how individuals and groups must experience these stages as part of a journey toward healing. People of faith can be harmed if they focus too quickly on God's reassurance to "be not afraid," without acknowledging what really happened and working through these stages, Docherty said.
Louise Baldwin Rieman, co-pastor of Northview Church of the Brethren in Indianapolis, preached on the Acts 27 story of Paul's journey as a prisoner to Rome to appeal his case before the emperor. When Paul's ship met with terrible storms followed by days of dormant seas, he broke bread and encouraged the passengers and sailors to eat and keep up their courage. "It's truly easier to have courage when you have a mission, a purpose, a passion," Rieman said. She wondered who will have Paul-like courage to go to "our Rome" to protest the Iraq war, speak out for the victims of an unjust health-care system, and work for tolerance for those who are different.
Stephen Reid, academic dean and professor of Old Testament Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Ind., explored fear and courage through Isaiah 41:8-16 and 43:1-7 in morning Bible studies. He described how these words of affirmation and encouragement from God, written in 700-500 B.C., continue as words of encouragement to the present church to appreciate its roots but also embrace the living God who calls us to change and welcome others.
The assembly's closing worship featured a sermon from Andrew Murray, founder and director of Juniata College's Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. Murray preached a message of peace despite fear, a message he believes Brethren don't hear enough from church leaders or the pulpit.
More than 20 workshops covered a range of topics, led by several denominational agencies. Topics included peacemaking, older adult ministry, healthy communication, dealing with conflict, mental health, and healthy lifestyles. Tracks were offered for deacons and chaplains. Each day, attendees entered into a period of silence and could rest, walk the grounds, meditate, or do Tai Chi. Massage and spiritual direction were offered as well.
Photographs from the event can be viewed at www.brethren-caregivers.org.
Source: 8/26/2005 Newsline
top
Assembly offers 'a different level of community.'
By Ruth Aukerman
I had never been to a Caring Ministries Assembly before. I might have missed this one as well had it not been for a Training in Ministry (TRIM) class that was offered in connection with it. I am so glad that I went. This conference was the best Brethren gathering in a long time for me. I cannot remember an Annual Conference, district meeting, TRIM experience, or any other recent spiritual event that has touched the core of my being as has this Caring Ministries Assembly.
Maybe the most important reason was the theme, "Peace Beyond Our Fears." The hymn, "Healer of Our Every Ill," with its prayer, "give us peace beyond our fear and hope beyond our sorrow," was one of our favorites at the time when my husband, Dale, was dying from lung cancer. So when in the assembly's Bible studies, lectures, and sermons fears and anxieties were identified and then held up to the grace of God, this was very personal for me. Even big, global fears like the tsunami, terrorism, and 9/11 can be seen in a new light and from a new perspective. Out of the pain and the sub-basement of my soul still needs to come much more gratitude for the life God has given me and is living through me.
The presenters and ministers of the word seemed to know my life, but I found out that I was not alone in my fears. Next to me sat sisters and brothers who also were afraid of failure, isolation, or our economic and political tomorrow, let alone the tomorrow of our dwindling, marginalized denomination. Many of them I knew by name but most were strangers. They came from a wide spectrum of theological and political persuasions.
It was not the kind of conference where one is already of one mind, where speakers preach to the choir. No, if we were to identify the demons that were binding us we might each have different names for them, but I think we all came with the deep question: "Is God still with us? How long is Christ sleeping while the storm rages outside our little boat?" That for me was a different level of community--a community of those who know that they need to be freed from fear.
The bread we broke together assured us that God still is Immanuel, spreading a table in the presence of our personal, communal, or political enemies. We, the "worm" of the Church of the Brethren, are beloved by God.
Because of that we can and must return to our heritage of peacemaking and peace witness. We as caregivers must call our people away from the spiral of fear that paralyzes and is subservient to the principalities and powers of the prevailing culture. Through ever-consistent prayer we must again be a living peace church, all the more now, all the more even in the valley....
At a time when many pastors are afraid to speak truth to power and when whole communities--and even Christian congregations--give in to irrational fears, it simply was good to be reminded of who we are and whose we are. I am so very thankful for this unapologetically Brethren conference, and to all who prayed and worked so hard to make it happen.
For me it was a 'kairos' event. God's timing is perfect.
--Ruth Aukerman is a licensed Church of the Brethren minister from Union Bridge, Md.
Source: 8/26/2005 Newsline
top
By Ruth Aukerman
I had never been to a Caring Ministries Assembly before. I might have missed this one as well had it not been for a Training in Ministry (TRIM) class that was offered in connection with it. I am so glad that I went. This conference was the best Brethren gathering in a long time for me. I cannot remember an Annual Conference, district meeting, TRIM experience, or any other recent spiritual event that has touched the core of my being as has this Caring Ministries Assembly.
Maybe the most important reason was the theme, "Peace Beyond Our Fears." The hymn, "Healer of Our Every Ill," with its prayer, "give us peace beyond our fear and hope beyond our sorrow," was one of our favorites at the time when my husband, Dale, was dying from lung cancer. So when in the assembly's Bible studies, lectures, and sermons fears and anxieties were identified and then held up to the grace of God, this was very personal for me. Even big, global fears like the tsunami, terrorism, and 9/11 can be seen in a new light and from a new perspective. Out of the pain and the sub-basement of my soul still needs to come much more gratitude for the life God has given me and is living through me.
The presenters and ministers of the word seemed to know my life, but I found out that I was not alone in my fears. Next to me sat sisters and brothers who also were afraid of failure, isolation, or our economic and political tomorrow, let alone the tomorrow of our dwindling, marginalized denomination. Many of them I knew by name but most were strangers. They came from a wide spectrum of theological and political persuasions.
It was not the kind of conference where one is already of one mind, where speakers preach to the choir. No, if we were to identify the demons that were binding us we might each have different names for them, but I think we all came with the deep question: "Is God still with us? How long is Christ sleeping while the storm rages outside our little boat?" That for me was a different level of community--a community of those who know that they need to be freed from fear.
The bread we broke together assured us that God still is Immanuel, spreading a table in the presence of our personal, communal, or political enemies. We, the "worm" of the Church of the Brethren, are beloved by God.
Because of that we can and must return to our heritage of peacemaking and peace witness. We as caregivers must call our people away from the spiral of fear that paralyzes and is subservient to the principalities and powers of the prevailing culture. Through ever-consistent prayer we must again be a living peace church, all the more now, all the more even in the valley....
At a time when many pastors are afraid to speak truth to power and when whole communities--and even Christian congregations--give in to irrational fears, it simply was good to be reminded of who we are and whose we are. I am so very thankful for this unapologetically Brethren conference, and to all who prayed and worked so hard to make it happen.
For me it was a 'kairos' event. God's timing is perfect.
--Ruth Aukerman is a licensed Church of the Brethren minister from Union Bridge, Md.
Source: 8/26/2005 Newsline
top
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