Newsline, August 23, 2013

Newsline The Church of the Brethren e-mail news service

Aug. 23, 2013 "Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions" (Joel 2:28b, CEV). NEWS 1) God of life, lead us to justice and peace: An interview with leaders of the World Council of Churches. 2) Christian ecumenical organizations call attention to Egypt. 3) Southern Ohio District launches Vital Ministry Journey. 4) The 301st unit of Brethren Volunteer Service begins work. 5) Camp Emmaus auction raises $1,000-plus for camp scholarships. UPCOMING EVENTS 6) 43rd annual Dunker Church Service planned at Antietam battlefield. 7) Churches plan creative events for Peace Day 2013. 8) World Council of Churches calls members to observe day of prayer for peace. FEATURES     9) The Time Is Now: An Annual Conference statement from the summer of 1963. 10) Brethren bits: Correction, “I have a dream” commemoration in Chicago, church anniversaries, TRIM graduates, Erik Estrada to be at Living Stone Church, and much more. Read the full text of this Newsline in one document at www.brethren.org/news/2013/newsline-for-aug-23-2013.html ******************************************** Quote of the week: “I have a dream today….” Martin Luther King Jr. in his Aug. 28, 1963, speech during the March on Washington. Among the many 50th anniversary events planned over the next week in Washington, D.C.: -- 50th Anniversary March on Washington Realize the Dream March and Rally on Saturday, Aug. 24, starting at 8 a.m. at the Lincoln Memorial and proceeding to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial -- Global Freedom Festival on Aug. 24 from 2-6 p.m. hosted by the King Center and the National Park Service -- A special service at the Washington National Cathedral on Sunday, Aug. 25, starting at 10:10 a.m. featuring audio excerpts of King’s sermon “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” delivered at the Cathedral in March 1968 -- An Interfaith Service at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on Aug. 28 from 9-10:30 a.m. hosted by the King Center and the Coalition for Jobs, Justice, and Freedom (National Council of Negro Women, SCLC, National Urban League, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation, National Action Network, National Council of Churches, Children’s Defense Fund) -- Let Freedom Ring, a commemorative call to action and closing ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday, Aug. 28, from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. led by President Obama and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter ( http://officialmlkdream50.com/august-28 ) -- A Let Freedom Ring Commemoration Bell Ringing in Washington, across the nation, and around the world at 3 p.m. on Aug. 28, (to take part, register your bell ringing at www.eventbrite.com/event/7705309789 ) A helpful listing of many of these 50th anniversary events is on the United Church of Christ website at www.ucc.org/justice/racism/march-on-washington . ******************************************** 1) God of life, lead us to justice and peace: An interview with leaders of the World Council of Churches. World Council of Churches staff Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary, and Natasha Klukach, program executive for church and ecumenical relations, were hosted by the Church of the Brethren for three days in mid-August. Their visit came as the WCC prepares for its 2013 assembly, a worldwide gathering of Christians that takes place every seven years and is considered the most significant time when Christians get together. During their time in Illinois, the WCC leaders met with Brethren communicators. General secretary Stan Noffsinger also sat in on the conversation. Here is an excerpt of the interview. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/god-of-life-lead-us-to-justice-and-peace.html 2) Christian ecumenical organizations call attention to Egypt. The World Council of Churches, Christian Churches Together in the USA, and Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem have issued statements in the last few days calling attention to the crisis of political unrest and violence in Egypt. A WCC release highlights statements by general secretary Olav Fykse Tveit, who said in part, “Protection of all human life and sacred sites is a common responsibility of both Christians and Muslims.” CCT’s pastoral letter, signed by the presidents of its five faith “families” including Brethren Press publisher Wendy McFadden as president of the historic Protestant family, said in part, “As followers of the Prince of Peace, we mourn from afar the loss of lives and pray that peace be restored.” The statement by church leaders in Jerusalem said in part, “We strongly condemn these acts of vandalism carried out by some extremists, and call upon all parties to stop violence and killing and to work towards national unity, without which Egypt will risk a civil war.” The three documents follow in full. Read the complete texts of the three statements at www.brethren.org/news/2013/christian-ecumenical-statements-on-egypt.html 3) Southern Ohio District launches Vital Ministry Journey. Seventy-five people representing 23 congregations attended Southern Ohio District's launch event of Vital Ministry Journey (VMJ) on Saturday, Aug. 10. The event was held at Happy Corner Church of the Brethren. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/s-ohio-district-launches-vital-ministry-journey.html 4) The 301st unit of Brethren Volunteer Service begins work. The volunteers in Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) Unit 301 completed their orientation on July 16-Aug. 3 at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md. The members of the unit, home congregations or home towns, and project placements follow. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/301st-unit-of-bvs.html 5) Camp Emmaus auction raises $1,000-plus for camp scholarships. Bidding on artwork, T-shirts, jewelry, bracelets, and other items, the youth and staff at this year’s senior high camp at Camp Emmaus in Mount Morris, Ill., raised more than $1,000 for camper scholarships. An auction has become an annual tradition at the camp, starting about seven years ago. Proceeds each year go to aid a different charitable cause. Read the full release from Camp Emmaus at www.campemmaus.org 6) 43rd annual Dunker Church Service planned at Antietam battlefield. The 43rd annual worship service in the restored Dunker Church at the Antietam National Battlefield, a Civil War battlefield in Sharpsburg, Md., will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 3 p.m. The service will be similar to an 1862 Dunker worship service, with Gene Hagenberger preaching on "Words Around Antietam." Scripture texts will be James 1:19 and 26, and 3:1-12. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/43rd-annual-dunker-church-service-at-antietam.html 7) Churches plan creative events for Peace Day 2013. Sept. 21 is international Peace Day, and On Earth Peace and the Church of the Brethren Office of Public Witness are teaming up to invite congregations to plan Peace Day events on this year’s theme “Who Will You Make Peace With?” Here are some creative examples of what congregations around the globe are planning. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/churches-plan-creative-events-for-peace-day.html 8) World Council of Churches calls members to observe day of prayer for peace. The World Council of Churches is calling its member churches to observe the International Day of Prayer for Peace on Sept. 21. This year parishes and individuals are invited to pray using the theme of the WCC Assembly, “God of Life, Lead Us to Justice and Peace.” The assembly takes place in Busan, Republic of Korea, Oct. 30-Nov. 8. Read the full WCC release at www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/churches-to-observe-international-day-of-prayer-for-peace 9) The Time Is Now: An Annual Conference statement from the summer of 1963. The following statement was adopted by the 1963 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, which met in Champaign-Urbana, Ill., that June. The statement is reprinted here as published in the "Gospel Messenger" magazine of July 20, 1963, pp. 11 and 13: “The time is now to heal our racial brokenness....” Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/the-time-is-now-annual-conference-1963.html 10) Brethren bits. In this issue: a correction, “I have a dream” commemoration held at First Church Chicago, church anniversaries, new TRIM graduates, Erik Estrada to appear at an event at Living Stone Church of the Brethren, and much much more. Read the full Brethren bits at www.brethren.org/news/2013/brethren-bits-for-aug-23.html Contributors to this issue of Newsline include Eddie Edmonds, Tom Fralin, Ed Groff, Larry Heisey, Kendra Johnson, Wendy McFadden, David Radcliff, 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 Sept. 5.