Produce For Peace

(This post, and the first four photos, were submitted by Kathleen Thompson.)

One of the families from the Ellisforde Church had an abundant harvest and decided a clever way to use some of the gourds and winter squashes would be to make a peace sign on the front lawn of the church since the church faces busy Highway 97.  Another person thought it would be a good project for the youth.

The peace sign is a reminder to passersby that the Church of the Brethren has a long history of pursuing peace. Yet, God's vision of a peaceful and just world is still one we must call into being with each step we take. The Church of the Brethren's peace conviction is firmly rooted in the New Testament through Jesus’ teaching to “love our enemies” (Matt. 5:44, Luke 6:27) and Paul’s admonition that Christians “if possible, be at peace with all men” and strive to “overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:18, 21).

Brethren strive to do their utmost to preserve peace, and to appease the anger and malice of others. Although we are not answerable to the conduct of others, we are answerable for our conduct toward them. This extends to everything connected with strife, whether it is in the home, at school, at work, at church, in the local community nationally or internationally.

Practically speaking, avoiding strife means not provoking others to controversy or prolonging it when it occurs; not speaking against another person or dealing unfairly with another person in business.

Not only do Brethren strive to live in peace with others, they seek after peace, pursue it, and cultivate it. On Earth Peace is an agency of the Church of the Brethren empowering people to discern the things that make for peace. Its Mission Statement is:

On Earth Peace answers Jesus Christ's call for peace and justice through its ministries; builds thriving families, congregations, and communities; and provides the skills, support, and spiritual foundation to face violence with active nonviolence.

The Ellisforde and Whitestone congregations invite our brothers and sisters in the Okanogan valley to join us in pursuing peace.

How to Pack a Shoe Box

It's a Christmas tradition of Samaritan's Purse and the Whitestone congregation: Operation Christmas Child, which sends gift boxes to children around the world.

On Sunday, November 11, the folks at Whitestone gathered all their goodies and began packing.

So how do you pack a "shoe box?" You put in some toys--maybe some cars and trucks, or dolls and stuffed animals, or yo-yo's and harmonicas; add some school supplies--maybe some tablets; and pens, pencils and erasers; some crayons or markers; and a coloring book or two. Add some hygiene items like combs and brushes, toothpaste and tooth brushes, and a washcloth. Then, for good measure, pack some hard candy, and a T-shirt or cap or pair of socks, and maybe a flashlight, or a watch. You can even add a note to the child who will receive your box, and a picture of yourself to put a human face on it.

Oh yes, and don't forget the love. Lots of love. The Whitestone folks packed up 32 boxes this year. That's a lot of love.

Photos by Sally Hylton

Building a Better World, One House At a Time

One of the ongoing missions of our congregations is the Okanogan County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Both congregations give financial support, and we are pleased to have four persons serving on the board: Sally Campbell, from Ellisforde; and Arlene Johnson, Shirley Devereaux, and Pat Liley, from Whitestone.

Habitat's vision is "a world where everyone has a decent place to live," and that's our vision, too. We're glad for the dedicated people in this county lending their dollars and muscle to make it happen here, too.

A big thank you to Shirley for sending these photos of a recent workday at the newest homesite in Omak. For more information about Habitat for Humanity and their work of providing low cost housing for families around the globe, click HERE.

Arlene Johnson

Shirley Devereaux

Brethren Respond to Hurricane Sandy

Children assemble hygiene kits at the New Windsor Center.

The Church of the Brethren has responded to the need after Hurricane Sandy. Go to this link, New Windsor Center and Church World Service, to learn what the Brethren and Church World Service are doing together.

Children at a Children's Disaster Services site.

Go to this link, Children's Disaster Services, to learn how the special needs of children are being met in the wake of the disaster.

For full details on the Brethren response, and for the latest news of the denomination, go to Brethren Newsline.

Pre-Christmas Auction: Thank You, WEwomen!

Each year at the beginning of November, WEwomen holds its Pre-Christmas Auction. WEwomen is the women's group of the Whitestone and Ellisforde congregations, and it is a model of how two congregations can cooperate in a common mission.

The mission of WEwomen is to reach out to provide support to people in need in the church, in the community, and around the world. From funeral dinners to providing medical assistance in Africa, these women change lives. The auction is the primary means of raising funds for their work. So throughout the year they are quilting, crocheting, embroidering, making crafts and jewelry, and preserving fruit. In the final week before the event they are baking pies and breads and making granola and candies. And when we arrive it's all laid out before us.

Ben Hylton is the auctioneer, and Sally Hylton keeps him on track as he works his way through the many items. Betty Holmes welcomes the crowd and reports on how the WEwomen funds have been used over the past year.

And then it begins. Ben has many assistants to help him display the various items. The bidding gets lively and there is much laughter along with the serious business of planning your strategy for getting the items you want, or bidding up your neighbor or relative. It's a lot of fun.

Over in the corner are the women who keep track of who buys what, and who happily receive the checks and cash when the items are all sold.

Waiting over on the counter is an amazing variety of pies.

And when the bidding is over it's time to get the ice cream out of the freezer and have a piece--or two--and talk over the events of the evening, and catch up on how the neighbors are doing.

When all is said and done, all the hard work and dedication has been transformed into money that will continue to support the work and mission of WEwomen. Last year WEwomen donated to the Nursing Home for Christmas gifts, supported an RN on a medical mission to Africa, helped Mission Aviation continue their work in providing medical assistance to Africa, gave to the local Food Bank, provided funeral dinners, and made contributions to a variety of persons in the community for everything from shoes to gas money for medical emergencies.

The auction this year raised almost $2,000. Maybe your life will be touched by that money in the coming year as the women put it to work in continuing the work of Jesus. Thank you, WEwomen, for all you do!