Christmas Caroling, 2013

eBrethren, December 18, 2013

eBrethren
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December 18, 2013 Merry Christmas! On behalf of volunteers near and far, all Mission and Ministry Board members, and Church of the Brethren staff in New Windsor, Elgin, and all around the country, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May you and yours be blessed with the peace and joy of Emmanuel this holiday season. Photo by Donna March Your gifts did amazing things in 2013... 717 congregations financially supported the Church of the Brethren. 799 NOAC attendees gave $1,670 to support the Youth Peace Travel Team. 128 volunteers served 256,000 hours at 61 Brethren Volunteer Service projects. Global Mission and Servicevolunteers maintained a Brethren presence in 11 different countries. 720 delegates and 2,480 others attended Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC. 388 deacons and other church leaders attended 15 workshops. 4 new members joined the Faith Forward Donor Circle. 50 Brethren attended the Great Multitude Symposium. 375 participants served at 23 workcamps. 509 individuals attended youth and young adult conferences. The Churches of the Brethren in Spain and Haiti held their first annual conferences as newly registered denominations. 17 District Conferences were attended by both Church of the Brethren staff and Mission and Ministry Board members. 18 student books, 15 teacher’s guides, 15 resource packs, 3 Talkabouts, 3 teacher’s CDs, and 1 music CD were produced byGather 'Round. 3 staff attended the World Council of Churches 10th Assembly in North Korea. 51 congregations participated in the Vital Ministry Journey, and 29 hosted congregational vitality workshops. 1 new offering for Pentecost was launched with a new offering series. 34 Brethren Volunteer Service volunteers served in 33 international projects, and 30 international students served in the US. 288 donors gave to the Church of the Brethren for the first time, and 136 gave for the first time in 5 years. "So the shepherds hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger" (Luke 2:16). Photo by Mandy Garcia Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford You are incredible Do you know how amazing you are? All of the Church of the Brethren ministries mentioned above are completely funded by donations from congregations and individuals like you. Your dedication is also what inspires dreams of our future. For example, imagine if 10 college students participated inMinistry Summer Service, 80 young adults attended Young Adult Conference, and 5,000 youth from every district gathered for National Youth Conference in 2014. Imagine if every Brethren congregation spent 60 days praying through the Vital Ministry Journey, and if each one was fully engaged in the diversity of their local communities. What would it be like if 20 young adults went to theworkcamp in Haiti next summer? And what if we had the capacity to place 100 new Brethren Volunteer Serviceworkers in 2014? Imagine placing 50 mission workers in 25 different countries. Imagine building churches in South Sudan, and agricultural development in Haiti. The good work done through your support and partnership with denominational ministries changes lives all over the world, and the possibilities for growth are endless. This church is blessed, and our God is good. If you are excited about the ministries of the Church of the Brethren, and if you’d like to see them expand in myriad ways in the coming months and years, make a gift today. And thank you! It’s truly a blessing to serve in ministry alongside sisters and brothers like you. From all of the staff, volunteers, and board members of the Church of the Brethren, have a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. Visit www.brethren.org/give to make a year-end, tax-deductible donation to Church of the Brethren ministries today. Forward to a friend Back to top As of December 1, generous individuals like you have given an amazing $613,279.73 to support Church of the Brethren core ministries. In the next two weeks our goal is to raise$136,720.27 more to meet our budget goal of $750,000, and we can do it! The year is almost over, so now is a perfect time to make a tax-deductible donation to help sustain life-changing Church of the Brethren ministries like the ones listed above, and so many others. Thank youfor your incredible service, prayer, dedication, and support. Thanks for reading!  Watch for our next issue on January 15, 2014.

Deacon Update, December 2013

DEACON UPDATE

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Things were a little sparse in the primary Sunday school class the weekend after Thanksgiving. Only two little girls were there, one of them a visitor. Elbow-deep in the glitter and glue of the construction paper Advent wreathes they were making, the visiting kindergartner smiled at the other and said, "Wanna make friends?"December 2013

In another congregation, I'm told, a couple had been regularly attending worship as well as the fellowship time that follows, and were dismayed that members of the congregation seemed to only be interested in talking to each other. Finally one Sunday another couple approached them, and a good conversation began. Within a few minutes, though, the couples realized that they were both visitors, neither of which had been welcomed by anyone from the congregation: there was no evidence that anyone there wanted to "make friends."

The second story isn’t at all unusual, and is in fact human nature — we gravitate to those with whom we are most comfortable. But isn't this just the opposite of what Jesus taught us? Are we not to seek out those who themselves are seeking the hope found in the good news of the Gospel story? Certainly when they seek us out the least we can do is welcome them!

Advent is a time when more visitors join our services than any other time of year. In the days of Advent remaining, consider offering the gift of friendship to those visiting your congregation whose faces aren't familiar to you. Think of people in your life who may not do well at "making friends" and invite them to a service. It may be the best gift you can give — to them and to yourself.

"Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers." ~~Romans 12:13

Director of Denominational Deacon Ministry
dkline@brethren.org
847-429-4306

Church of the Brethren | 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, Illinois 60120

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Global Food Crisis Fund

View this message as a webpage Greetings from Global Food Crisis Fund! Click to read, print and share our latest newsletter, with information on community gardening, animal raising in Honduras, crops in North Korea, and ministry with the Twa (pygmies) in Rwanda. As you look for last-minute gifts for Christmas, consider GFCF alternative giving options. Thank you for your continued support and interest in Global Food Crisis Fund! Jeff Boshart Manager, Global Food Crisis Fund and Emerging Global Mission Fund jboshart@brethren.org  Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter

Newsline, December 6, 1023

Newsline The Church of the Brethren e-mail news service

Dec. 6, 2013 "The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood" (John 1:14, The Message). NEWS 1) Royer Family Charitable Foundation offers major support to Haiti Medical Project 2) Brethren Disaster Ministries opens rebuilding site in New Jersey, Illinois tornado clean up 3) Ministry Office offers information on clergy housing ruling, BBT involved in appeal through the Church Alliance 4) Seminary receives Lilly Endowment grant to improve economic well-being of future ministers 5) Crop breeding success in North Korea 6) Powerhouse 2013 gathers youth from the midwest region UPCOMING EVENT 7) ‘Pioneering in a Global Context’ webinar set for Dec. 11 PERSONNEL 8) Gather ’Round staff complete employment with Brethren Press and MennoMedia 9) Michigan, Atlantic Southeast Districts announce staffing changes FEATURE 10) Reflecting on the anniversary of Newtown 11) Brethren bits: Remembering missionary Rolland Smith, NCC general secretary, Camp Mack retirement, Workcamp Ministry seeks assistant, Ministry Summer Service applications, live nativities, dinners at John Kline Homestead, and more. Find the full text of this Newsline in one document at www.brethren.org/news/2013/newsline-for-dec-6-2013.html ******************************************** Quotes of the week “We will remember Nelson Mandela for his forgiveness he extended to his enemies and the perpetrators of apartheid, a quality very rare among many world leaders today.”  --  Agnes Abuom, moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee, in a release remembering the life of South Africa’s first black president, and leader of the anti-apartheid struggle. Mandela died yesterday at the age of 95. “Leader: Today we light the first candle of Advent, the candle of peace. All: We pray for peace to surround our relatives and friends. We will pray for peace in God's house.” -- From a Gather ’Round student book for Middlers, a prayer for the first Sunday of Advent. Gather ’Round is a Christian education curriculum from Brethren Press and MennoMedia. Students were invited to participate in a candle lighting and reading to mark the start of Advent. “How about using these readings in your regular congregational worship as well, inviting a child from your Middler group to be the leader each week?” suggests the Roundabout newsletter. Find candle readings for the four Sundays of Advent in the November Roundabout at www.gatherround.org/roundabout.html . On the Gather ’Round Music CD are songs for Advent and Christmas performed by Mutual Kumquat. Listen to "Get Ready" and "Go Tell It on the Mountain" via the link for the December Roundabout at www.gatherround.org/roundabout.html . “Order your copy today, and sing along this Advent,” invites Gather ’Round. Order from Brethren Press at800-441-3712. ******************************************** ANNUAL CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT: Nominations are still needed for six offices to be elected at next summer’s Annual Conference: moderator-elect, Program and Arrangements Committee member, On Earth Peace Board member, Brethren Benefit Trust Board member, Bethany Seminary trustee representing colleges, Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee member representing district executives. The Nominating Committee meets in early January, and the deadline to make nominations has been extended to Jan. 2. The Nominating Committee does not consider a nomination unless the person who is nominated agrees and fills out the Nominee Information Form. Nomination forms are online. To make nominations, go to www.brethren.org/ac . Information about open positions is at www.brethren.org/ac/elected-positions . ******************************************** 1) Royer Family Charitable Foundation offers major support to Haiti Medical Project The Haiti Medical Project is receiving a major multi-year grant from the Royer Family Charitable Foundation that will enable a doubling of the number of communities in Haiti that are served by mobile clinics. The grant in addition will help the project purchase a truck and will contribute to an endowment fund. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/royer-family-charitable-foundation-grant-to-haiti-medical-project-1.html 2) Brethren Disaster Ministries opens rebuilding site in New Jersey, Illinois tornado clean up At the same time that Brethren Disaster Ministries is closing out project sites following Hurricane Irene in Schoharie and Binghamton, N.Y., the program is opening a new project site in Spotswood, N.J. In other disaster relief news, Illinois and Wisconsin District disaster coordinator Rick Koch has called for volunteers to help in the clean up of tornado destruction in Illinois. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/brethren-disaster-ministries-opens-new-site.html 3) Ministry Office offers information on clergy housing ruling, BBT involved in appeal through the Church Alliance On Nov. 22, a judge of the US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin ruled that the housing allowance that is made available to clergy by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is unconstitutional. The decision has no immediate impact because it is not yet effective, and the ruling is on hold until all appeals are exhausted. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/clergy-housing-allowance-court-ruling.html 4) Seminary receives Lilly Endowment grant to improve economic well-being of future ministers By Jenny Williams Bethany Theological Seminary has received a grant of $259,954 as part of Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Theological School Initiative to Address Economic Issues Facing Future Ministers. Bethany is one of 67 theological schools across the country to receive this funding. Read the release from Bethany Seminary at www.bethanyseminary.edu/news/LillyGrant 5) Crop breeding success in North Korea Global Mission and Service staff in North Korea, Robert Shank, reports important strides in the rice, soybean, and corn breeding research at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST), where he and his wife Linda are teaching. A new crop, barley, has been added to this work in 2014, and a Global Food Crisis Fund grant is helping expand the work to include small fruits. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/crop-breeding-success-in-n-korea.html 6) Powerhouse 2013 gathers youth from the midwest region By Walt Wiltschek More than 70 people took part in Powerhouse 2013, the Church of the Brethren Midwest regional youth conference, held at Camp Mack (Milford, Ind.) for the first time this year. It marked the fourth year for the event since it was restarted in a new fall format. Audrey and Tim Hollenberg-Duffey, third-year students at Bethany Theological Seminary, served as the main speakers. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/youth-powerhouse-2013.html UPCOMING EVENTS 7) ‘Pioneering in a Global Context’ webinar set for Dec. 11 “Pioneering in a Global Context,” a webinar co-sponsored by the Congregational Life Ministries of the Church of the Brethren, BMS World Mission, Bristol Baptist College, and Urban Expression U.K., takes place Dec. 11 at 2:3-4 p.m. (Eastern). Register at www.brethren.org/webcasts . Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/pioneering-in-a-global-context.html PERSONNEL 8) Gather ’Round staff complete employment with Brethren Press and MennoMedia Anna Speicher and Cyndi Fecher are completing their employment with Gather ’Round, the Christian education curriculum produced jointly by Brethren Press and MennoMedia. Gather ’Round is in its final year of production and will be available through the summer of 2014. The successor curriculum, Shine, will be available beginning next fall. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/gather-round-staff-complete-work.html 9) Michigan, Atlantic Southeast Districts announce staffing changes Nathan (Nate) Polzin has been called to serve as district executive minister for Michigan District, and Héctor Pérez-Borges has announced his plans to retire as associate executive for Atlantic Southeast District, in staffing changes for Church of the Brethren districts. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/michigan-atlantic-southeast.html FEATURE 10) Reflecting on the anniversary of Newtown By Bryan Hanger Dec. 14 marks the one-year anniversary of the deadly mass shooting that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn. As we take time to reflect on the anniversary of this terrible loss of life, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence has organized a letter signed by over 50 national religious leaders, including Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/reflecting-on-anniversary-of-newtown.html 11) Brethren bits In this issue: Remembering former missionary Rolland Smith, NCC hires general secretary/president, Leininger retires from Camp Mack, Workcamp Ministry seeks assistant coordinator for 2015, Ministry Summer Service applications, congregations host live nativities, candlelight dinners at the John Kline Homestead, and much much more. Read the full Brethren bits at www.brethren.org/news/2013/brethren-bits-for-dec-6.html Contributors to this issue of Newsline include Colleen M. Algeo, Jeff Boshart, Chris Douglas, Mary Jo Flory-Steury, Ed Groff, Rick Koch, Wendy McFadden, Becky Ullom Naugle, David McKellip, Dale Minnich, Paul Roth, Janine Schwab, Anna Speicher, David S. Young, Jane Yount, and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren. The next regularly scheduled issue of Newsline is planned for Dec. 13.

A Taste of the Sing-Along Messiah

On Sunday, December 1, the Ellisforde church hosted the annual "Sing-Along Messiah." Local musicians and amateur singers gathered together to sing through Handel's Messiah, just for the love of it.

eBrethren, December 4, 2013

eBrethren
Sharing inspirational stories of Brethren Stewards in action. Problems viewing this e-mail? View as a web page.
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December 4, 2013   Give a gift of food. Click here. CONTENTS One call, 5,000 answers Say yes to God www.brethren.org/nyc “Unity starts with the decision to come together and be together.” Colorado State University is the hosting location of National Youth Conference . Photos by Glenn Riegel View the 5,000 challenge video . Video by Church of the Brethren One call, 5,000 answers It all began with one sentence. The room went silent. We knew that God had spoken. We National Youth Conference coordinators were sitting around a table with the National Youth cabinet, praying and discussing what the theme should be for the 2014 NYC. We were talking about unity in the body of Christ, which would later become a central component of theconference theme. One of the cabinet members said, “We’ve inherited a divided church, but I want my generation to be different.” That one sentence gave word to what we were feeling and sent us in the right direction. In the months since that meeting, we have struggled to understand what unity in the body of Christ means. What does it look like and how do we get there? Fortunately, God has dropped a few clues along the journey. The first clue came in August when the cabinet joined us at Colorado State University (the venue for NYC) for our first on-site visit. We found out that CSU’s maximum capacity for summer conferences is 5,000. Soon afterward, we read the gospel story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people. That got us thinking… What if 5,000 youth came to NYC next summer and we ran out of beds for everyone? What a delightful problem! It might seem like a long shot, but if you had told anyone beforehand that Jesus was going to turn five loaves of bread and two fish into a feast for 5,000 people, they would have thought you were crazy! Often, where we see obstacles, Jesus sees opportunity. So can we double the typical attendance at NYC this year? Yes! We’re inviting every Brethren youth (and their friends) to come to NYC 2014 and join this journey of following Jesus together. Join the 5,000 Challenge today and find one youth to send to NYC 2014! Registration opensJanuary 3 at 7 p.m. (CST) at www.brethren.org/NYC . As a coordinating team, we haven’t completely figured out what unity looks like yet, but we do know that it starts with the decision to come together and be together. Brethren, of all people, know that is where we hear Christ’s call best. —Sarah Neher, Tim Heishman, and Katie Cummings are the 2014 National Youth Conference coordinators. E-mail them with any questions atcobyouth@brethren.org . Support all Church of the Brethren youth ministries at www.brethren.org/give . Forward to a friend Back to top Order your Advent devotional today atwww.brethrenpress.org . Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Say yes to GodAn Advent devotion by Tim Harvey “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). Harold (“Red”) and Gladys Royer were commissioned by the 1930 Annual Conference as missionaries to Nigeria. In that day, Conference attendees waved white handkerchiefs as a farewell and a blessing as departing missionaries were sent off from Annual Conference. The Royers’ journey to Nigeria meant many weeks of difficult travel by boat and land, to an uncertain welcome in a strange place. Customs, tradition, and language would all be new and unlike anything they had experienced in their lives. The Church of the Brethren has always understood Jesus’ call to discipleship as one of sacrifice. Remembering Jesus’ own sacrificial death, Brethren know that saying yes to Jesus may involve laying down our plans, our possessions, and even our life. Mary demonstrates a willingness to make a similar sacrifice when she says yes to God’s plan. Her entire future as a woman was connected to her ability to be married and have children. Becoming pregnant outside of marriage risked giving all of that away. And yet she knew, in spite of the unknown sacrifices to come, that answering God’s call would be a blessing. At this time of year when we focus on gifts and donations, we would do well to ask, “How much of myself am I willing to give to God?” Read this in full by ordering Good News of Great Joy atwww.brethrenpress.org . Forward to a friend Back to top www.brethren.org/clergywomen2014   Photo by Mary Jo Flory-Steury “I keep you in my heart. You are all my partners in God's grace” (Philippians 1:7 CEB). The 2014 Clergy Women’s Retreat will be January 13-16 in Malibu, Calif., and is open to all licensed and ordained women in the Church of the Brethren. Melissa Wiginton, vice president for Education Beyond the Walls at Austin Seminary, will be our keynote leader. Hope to see you there! Register today at www.brethren.org/clergywomen2014 . Requests for scholarships may be e-mailed to mjflorysteury@brethren.org with the subject line “Clergy Women’s Retreat Scholarship.” Do you have a story about how you and your congregation practice stewardship? E-mail it to mgarcia@brethren.org ! eBrethren: Stories of Brethren Stewards, is produced every other week by the Church of the Brethren donor communications team. Send feedback to mgarcia@brethren.org or call 847-742-5100 ext. 361. Thanks for reading!  Watch for our next issue on December 18, 2013.