Breaking the Bread of Life

An old hymn starts like this:

     "Break thou the bread of life, Dear Lord, to me,

     As thou didst break the loaves beside the sea...."

It goes on to explain what "the bread of life" is:

     "Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me,

     thy holy Word the truth that saveth me..."

We get hungry for that bread of life, and for the Word of truth, and so we regularly sit down together for Bible Study. Winter or Summer, Spring or Fall, any Wednesday or Thursday evening will find us gathered in someone's home with our Bibles open.

We begin with sharing and prayer. Sometimes the deep needs of persons in our congregations or in the community mean that we spend almost all our time together in sharing and prayer. Usually, though, we have plenty of time for a good taste of the bread of life.

Right now the Wednesday study is feasting on Hebrews, and the Thursday study on Romans. We take turns reading a passage out loud, listening to a variety of translations, and then join in a lively discussion.

Those discussions are wide-ranging, and every voice is heard and valued. There is no one "expert" presuming to tell the rest of us exactly what a passage means.

No, it's more exciting than that. We mix all our knowledge and insights and ideas together, and the Spirit takes that mixture--it's his recipe!--and leavens and kneads it, and we find God's truth rising in our midst like a fresh loaf of bread. Sometimes we're surprised; sometimes we're in awe; but we're always fed, and fed well.

You are warmly invited to join the feast. If you would like more information, please email Pastor Jim at jim.ya.al@gmail.com.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

At least once a year, many Christians become aware of the great diversity of ways of adoring God. Hearts are touched, and people realize that their neighbours' ways are not so strange.  

The event that touches off this special experience is something called the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Traditionally celebrated between 18-25 January (in the northern hemisphere) or at Pentecost (in the southern hemisphere), the Week of Prayer enters into congregations and parishes all over the world.

2013 Theme: Micah 6:6-8

6

⁶“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? ⁷Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” ⁸He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

The following Prayers of Intercession are from the 2013 worship materials prepared by the Student Christian Movement of India. They reference the Dalit people of India who, under the caste system, are considered the "untouchables." Many Dalit Christians have suffered persecution for their faith in a Jesus who frees them from the prison of the caste system.

Prayers of Intercession

L: Walking in conversation, let us recognise all the efforts of the ecumenical
movement towards the realisation of the unity willed by Christ for the
Church.
A: Send your Spirit to strengthen our resolve and deepen our conversations 
to realise Jesus’ prayer in us.
L: Walking with the broken body of Christ, we are painfully aware that we
are still unable to join in the breaking of bread together. Hasten the day
when we can realise the fullness of fellowship at the Lord’s table.
A: Inflame in our hearts the desire to overcome all that divides us so that we 
can see one Christ in our brokenness.
L: Walking towards freedom, let us remember along with Dalit communities
other people facing similar kinds of discriminations and may the unity of the
Churches be a sign of hope in situations of injustice.
A: Strengthen our churches’ commitment to create spaces in our society and 
communities, to enable them to live in dignity and freedom. Allow us to be 
transformed by their gifts and presence.
L: Walking as children of earth, we realise that we are pilgrims in the
wonderful gift of creation given to us. Let us respect the earth as your
creation and make us sensitive to the care of it.
A: Let your Spirit renew creation and make us attentive to the suffering of 
the landless people who are often the bearers of a tradition of prudent care 
of the earth and its resources.
L: Walking as friends of Jesus, let us accompany marginalised communities
all over the world that Jesus chooses to identify with in overcoming
centuries of shame to find freedom and dignity. Let us befriend those friends
of Christ, like the Dalit Christians, who are often persecuted for choosing
Christ and rejecting caste.
A: Enlarge and deepen our fellowship and friendship with you and with 
each other so that we will remain faithful and truthful to your calling.
L: Walking beyond barriers, let us build communities of unity and equality.
A: Grant us courage so that we can overcome cultures and structures that 
hinder us from recognising the presence of God in each other.
L: Walking in solidarity with women like Sarah and other victims of
discrimination and injustice, let us be shaken out of our apathy.
A: Encircle us with your love, as we affirm the image of God in each person 
we encounter. Enable us to do justice by breaking through social structures 
of inequality.
L: Walking in celebration, we come to see that the unity we share within our
communities is a profound witness to the gospel of faith and hope. As we
celebrate that unity, let us also rejoice in our rich diversities that reflect the
life of the Trinity.
A: May we celebrate the wonderful diversity in human life, born from the 
struggles for dignity and survival amid oppression, and see in it a sign of 
your abiding faithfulness to your people.
In Christ’s name we raise all these prayers, O God. Amen.

Pray. Pray for Christian unity starting right here in the Okanogan Valley.

Don't Forget Our Young People

There are some excellent opportunities for youth and young adults being offered by the Church of the Brethren in 2013 and beyond. Take a moment to explore these links, and then think whether you know some young people who might be looking for just these kinds of experiences. Forward this page to them, and encourage them to consider whether they might want to take advantage of any of these opportunities. My guess is that if we have some young people eager to participate in these events, our congregations would be more than willing to do what we can to help make it happen. Let's make sure we don't forget our young people.

Youth/Young Adult 

Ministry

Do you want to hang out with people your age who have similar values?
Would you like to connect with God?
Do you want to deepen your faith?
Do you have questions about the church or faith?

Welcome!

National Junior High Conference (NJHC) brings together junior high youth and advisors for a faith formation experience.

Workcamps are a way to express your faith through action.

Christian Citizenship Seminar (CCS) provides high school aged students the chance to explore the relationship between faith and a particular political issue.

National Youth Conference (NYC) gathers high school aged youth and advisors from across the country for a week long worship and fellowship extravaganza Brethren style!

Young Adult Conference (YAC) offers people ages 18 - 35 the chance to worship and fellowship for a weekend at Camp Pine Lake in Eldora, Iowa.

Ministry Summer Service (MSS) is a leadership development program for college students in the Church of the Brethren who spend 10 weeks of summer working in the church (local congregation, district office, camp, or national program).

The Youth Peace Travel Team (YPTT) gives young adults the opportunity to teach youth about peace at Church of the Brethren camps.

What Is Doctors Without Borders?

The Coins of Compassion offering at Ellisforde in January will go to Doctors Without Borders. As you think about what you can give--spare change from purse or pocket, or some bills, or maybe even a check--take some time to learn more about this extraordinary humanitarian organization.

 Peru 2007, © David Levene

For a start, this is from their website:

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971.

Today, MSF provides independent, impartial assistance in more than 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. MSF provides independent, impartial assistance to those most in need. MSF also reserves the right to speak out to bring attention to neglected crises, challenge inadequacies or abuse of the aid system, and to advocate for improved medical treatments and protocols.

In 1999, MSF received the Nobel Peace Prize.

You can also view this video:

And you can find out much more by visiting the Doctors Without Borders website. Just click HERE.

Then just imagine what your donation can help accomplish. Please give generously, and may we always remember what Jesus said: "Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40, NRSV)

Sudan 2008 © Anne Yzebe/MS