Brethren bits: Personnel, Hurricane Earl, BVS, International Day of Prayer for Peace, more.

• The New Windsor (Md.) Conference Center is thanking Dave Holl for his work as a first-time volunteer host in Zigler Hall in July and August. The conference center also welcomes volunteer hosts Roy and Verda Martin of Waynesboro, Pa., who have spent the past three years in Brethren Volunteer Service, working as houseparents at a project in Lewiston, Maine.
  
  
• Children's Disaster Services prepared to respond to Hurricane Earl last week, as the storm moved toward the east coast of the United States. The program had 70 volunteers on call, reported CDS associate director Judy Bezon, but the storm weakened and a response by CDS was not needed. The work done to line up such a large group of volunteers is not lost, however, Bezon said. "We have information about the availability of volunteers through mid October--for other hurricanes that may develop."
  
  
• Officers of the Church of the Brethren Ministers' Association met Aug. 18-19 for their annual face-to-face planning meeting. In addition to administrative matters, the officers reviewed evaluations from the 2010 Pre-Conference Continuing Education Event and worked on plans for the upcoming event to precede the 2011 Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Mich., on July 1-2. The theme will be "Breaking Down Walls: Pursuing the Vision of Becoming Multi-Cultural Congregations" and will feature the leadership of Darla Kay Deardorff and Bob Hunter. "Be watching for more details and registration information in the coming months," said a notice from vice chair Chris Zepp of Bridgewater, Va. The 2010-11 association officers also include chair Sue Richard of Lima, Ohio; second vice chair Dave Kerkove of Adel, Iowa; secretary Joel Kline of Elgin, Ill.; and treasurer Rebecca House of Union Bridge, Md.
  
  
• A prayer circle on Sept. 3 at the church's General Offices offered a blessing for the 15 Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) workers attending a retreat, and for Robert and Linda Shank (shown at left above), church staff preparing to travel to North Korea to teach in a new university there. Global Mission Partnerships executive director Jay Wittmeyer led the time of prayer.
  
  
• The BVS Europe retreat took place Aug. 8-14 in Berlin, Germany. BVS volunteers who are working in projects across Europe took part. Kristin Flory is coordinator for Brethren Service Europe.
  
  
• BVS holds its fall orientation on Sept. 26-Oct. 15 in Oregon at Camp Myrtlewood in Myrtle Point and in Portland. This will be the 291st BVS unit and will consist of 33 volunteers. The last time BVS trained such a large orientation group was in the fall of 2007. The unit will spend three weeks exploring project possibilities and topics of community building, peace and social justice, faith sharing, diversity training, and more. They will have the opportunity for several work days, in both rural and urban communities. Friends, BVS alumni, and supporters are welcomed to a potluck with the unit at 6 p.m. on Oct. 11 at Portland Peace Church of the Brethren. For more information contact the BVS office at 800-323-8039.
  
  
• On Earth Peace is offering a new resource for the International Day of Prayer for Peace. The family liturgy titled "Passing of the Pieces" is written by Chris Riley, a fifth-grade teacher from Luray (Va.) Church of the Brethren. For a copy contact Michael Colvin, coordinator of the International Day of Prayer for Peace Campaign, at mcolvin@onearthpeace.org or 626-802-5900.
  
  
• A Ministry of Reconciliation Matthew 18 Workshop is hosted by Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren in Littleton, Colo., on Sept 17-18. Registration is $25 for individuals or $100 for groups of five or more from the same congregation. Lunch and childcare are included. Pre-register by Sept. 12 by calling 303-797-1536 or princeofpeacecob@gmail.com. Scholarships and housing are available.
  
  
• Buena Vista (Va.) Stone Church of the Brethren celebrates its "102nd Birthday" with a Revive Us Again Homecoming on Sept. 19.
  
  
• An open house for Homer Kerr's 100th birthday was planned for Sept. 5 at English River Church of the Brethren in South English, Iowa.
  
  
• First Church of the Brethren in Brooklyn, N.Y., hosted three workcamps this summer including one of the denomination's junior high workcamps. "So far 91 youth and their advisors have experienced the urban environment and being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ," reported pastor Jonathan Bream.
  
  
  
  
• The Handbell Choir and congregation at Montezuma Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Va., are hosting a third annual "Ring and Sing for Peace" on Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m. The event brings together Brethren, Friends, and Mennonite congregations.
  
  
• Mutual Kumquat will give a benefit concert at Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren on Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. A free-will offering will be taken for the "Back to School--Burma" campaign of New Community Project..
  
  
• Upcoming district conferences: Southern Pennsylvania District meets on Sept. 17-18 at Black Rock Church of the Brethren in Glenville, Pa., on the theme, "The Command... Love God, Love Others, Love Well!" (1 John 4:7-8 and Mark 12:29-31); Eli Mast serves as moderator. Oregon and Washington District Conference is Sept. 17-19 at Camp Myrtlewood in Oregon, on the theme "Sacred Space," with David Radcliff as guest speaker. The Northern Indiana District Conference is Sept. 17-18 at Camp Alexander Mark in Milford, Ind.
  
  
• Virlina District's Peace Affairs Committee is sponsoring an International Day of Prayer for Peace Service on Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. at Roanoke (Va.) Oak Grove Church of the Brethren. Walter F. Sullivan, Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, will be the guest speaker.
  
  
• A picnic and fundraiser will be held at the John Kline Homestead in Broadway, Va., on Sept. 12, beginning at 4 p.m. The event is part of an effort to preserve the historic home of Elder John Kline, a leader of the Brethren during the Civil War. Interpretive tours will be offered, along with music by the Bridgewater Round Hill Recorders and a hymn sing. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket. There is a minimum donation of $10 for adults and $5 for children 10 and under. Reservations are requested, contact Linville Creek Church of the Brethren at 540-896-5001. An e-mail from pastor Paul Roth reports that, "As of yesterday's accounting, we have raised over $358,500 toward our goal of $425,000 to purchase the John Kline Homestead. This means we need less than $66,500 to go!"
  
  
• Bridgewater (Va.) College is experiencing record enrollment, according to a release from the school. "This year 552 new students enrolled at Bridgewater, making it the largest incoming freshman class in the college's 130-year history. Total enrollment now stands at 1,690 students, up 6 percent from 2009," the release said. To accommodate the growth, two new village-style residences were added to housing. Stone Village, an environmentally friendly concept constructed as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver project, houses 32 students. The college plans to add up to three more residences in Stone Village by next year.
  
  
• Plans for the 2010 "Powerhouse" regional youth conference at Manchester College in N. Manchester, Ind., are in high gear. The conference on Nov. 13-14 will have the theme "Hidden Treasure" (Prov. 2:1-5). Keynote leaders are Angie Lahman Yoder and Dave Sollenberger, with a concert by Mutual Kumquat. Cost for the weekend, including three meals, is just $40. Details and downloadable registration forms can be found at www.manchester.edu/powerhouse. Print copies were sent to district offices and youth leaders in early September.
  
  
• Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa., is holding a Brethren Senior Overnight and Open House on Oct. 10-11. Activities will include meeting current Brethren students, a campus tour, a session with faculty, and information about admissions and Brethren life on campus. Register at www.juniata.edu/visit or call 814-641-3422 or 814-641-3361.
  
  
• The University of La Verne's Abraham Campus Center is the first building in the city of La Verne, Calif., to earn LEED Certification from the US Green Building Council at the silver level.
  
  
• A film version of "Amish Grace"--based on the book "Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy" by Church of the Brethren author Donald B. Kraybill along with Steven M. Nolt, and David L. Weaver-Zercher--will be available on DVD on Sept. 14, from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. The highest rated movie ever to premiere on Lifetime, according to a release, it chronicles the community of Nickel Mines, Pa., where a gunman senselessly took the lives of five girls in a schoolhouse shooting before taking his own life in Oct. 2006. The movie is directed by Gregg Champion.
  
  
• The Heeding God's Call movement against gun violence is to receive a human rights award from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, the city agency that enforces civil rights laws and deals with inter-group conflict and neighborhood disputes. The award will be presented Sept. 16. Heeding God's Call movement began in early 2009 at a Historic Peace Churches conference held in Philadelphia.

Source: 9/9/2010 Newsline