Newsline, January 17, 2014

Newsline The Church of the Brethren e-mail news service

Jan. 17, 2014 "And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best" (Philippians 1:9-10a). NEWS 1) Joint representative for Syria to deliver urgent call from churches to Geneva 2 talks 2) Brethren Disaster Ministries staff to evaluate state of response to Typhoon Haiyan 3) COMS meeting brings together leaders of Anabaptist denominations UPCOMING EVENTS 4) Service Sunday 2014 will focus on serving God by serving all 5) Youth ministry webinar series continues with event on Jan. 21 FEATURE 6) Nigerian Brethren hold Christmas celebrations despite the threat of violence 7) Brethren bits: Heifer CEO visits Brethren in Puerto Rico, MLK Day celebrations and events, archival internship, opening for part-time project director at Bethany Seminary, BVS orientation, and more. Read the full text of this Newsline in one document at www.brethren.org/news/2014/newsline-for-jan-17-2014.html . ******************************************** Quote of the week: “Friendship matters.” -- Melissa Wiginton’s two-word explanation of the “big idea” she wanted women to carry away from the Clergy Women’s Retreat, where she was the speaker. Wiginton is vice president for Education Beyond the Walls at Austin (Texas) Seminary. The event at Serra Retreat Center in Malibu, Calif., on Jan. 13-16 gathered more than 40 Church of the Brethren clergy women from across the country. It included sessions led by Wiginton, morning and evening worship, afternoon trips to the beach and other recreation opportunities, time for sharing personal stories, entertainment, and fellowship. The Ministry Office sponsored the retreat and some scholarships were provided with help from Womaen’s Caucus and La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren. The planning team included associate general secretary Mary Jo Flory-Steury, Liz Bidgood-Enders, Dana Cassell, Dava Hensley, Wendy Noffsinger Erbaugh, Frances Townsend, and Barbara Wise Lewczak. A blog from the retreat is at http://blog.brethren.org . A photo album is atwww.bluemelon.com/churchofthebrethren/clergywomensretreat2014 . ******************************************** 1) Joint representative for Syria to deliver urgent call from churches to Geneva 2 talks With the Geneva 2 talks on Syria scheduled for Jan. 22, some 30 church leaders from Syria and around the world gathered a week ahead of time at the headquarters of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Geneva, Switzerland, and called for substantial action be taken at the talks to end the armed conflict. Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger was one of the American church leaders who participated. In a message to be delivered to Geneva 2 by Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations-Arab League joint representative for Syria, the group--which is convinced there is no military solution--said that there needed to be “immediate cessation of all armed confrontation and hostility within Syria,” thus ensuring that “all vulnerable communities in Syria and refugees in neighboring countries receive appropriate humanitarian assistance” and that “a comprehensive and inclusive process toward establishing a just peace and rebuilding Syria” should be developed. Read the full release from the World Council of Churches at www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/news/joint-representative-for-syria-to-deliver-urgent-call-from-churches-to-geneva-2-talks Read the Message to the Geneva 2 talks from the WCC Ecumenical Consultation on Syria at www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/wcc-programmes/public-witness-addressing-power-affirming-peace/middle-east-peace/statement-for-geneva-2-talks-on-syria 2) Brethren Disaster Ministries staff to evaluate state of response to Typhoon Haiyan Roy Winter, associate executive director of Brethren Disaster Ministries, will travel to the Philippines to evaluate the current state of the response to Typhoon Haiyan following the destruction and loss of life caused by the storm in November 2013. Brethren Disaster Ministries is planning a response that will focus Brethren resources on the areas of greatest need by partnering with organizations already active in the area. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2014/brethren-disaster-ministries-evaluating-response-to-typhoon.html 3) COMS meeting brings together leaders of Anabaptist denominations At the beginning of December 2013, leaders of a number of Anabaptist denominations gathered for the annual Council of Moderators and Secretaries meeting. Attending from the Church of the Brethren were general secretary Stanley J. Noffsinger and Annual Conference moderator Nancy Sollenberger Heishman. The gathering was hosted by the Conservative Mennonite Conference at its Rosedale International Center in Columbus, Ohio. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2014/coms-meeting-brings-leaders-together.html UPCOMING EVENTS 4) Service Sunday 2014 will focus on serving God by serving all The theme for the Church of the Brethren’s observance of Service Sunday 2014 is “Serving God by Serving All” inspired by John 12: 26, “If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me” (The Message version). The annual recognition of service is on the first Sunday in February. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2014/service-sunday-2014.html 5) Youth ministry webinar series continues with event on Jan. 21 “Call and Gifts Discernment,” is the third webinar of a series on ministry with youth and young adults. It will be offered on Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. central time (8 p.m. eastern). It will be led by Bekah Houff, Bethany Seminary’s coordinator of Outreach Programs for the Institute for Ministry with Youth and Young Adults. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2014/youth-ministry-webinar-series-continues.html FEATURE 6) Nigerian Brethren hold Christmas celebrations despite the threat of violence The Global Mission and Service office is sharing a letter from Samuel Dali, president of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN--the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), about the Christmas celebrations of the Nigerian Brethren that were held despite the constant threat of violence from the Boko Haram extremist Islamist sect. Excerpts from the letter follow below. The Global Mission and Service office expresses appreciation to Virlina District for its collection of relief for Nigerian Brethren, and appreciation to all those who contributed to an additional $15,000 for the EYN Compassion Fund through donations and gifts over the Christmas season. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2014/nigerian-brethren-hold-christmas-celebrations.html 7) Brethren bits In this issue: Heifer International president and CEO visits Brethren in Puerto Rico, MLK Day celebrations and events, archival internship opening at the BHLA, an opening for a part-time project director at Bethany Seminary, Brethren Volunteer Service orientation, and more. Read the full Brethren bits at www.brethren.org/news/2014/brethren-bits-jan-17.html Contributors to this issue of Newsline include Mark Beach, Deb Brehm, Mary Kay Heatwole, Don Knieriem, Nancy Miner, Harold A. Penner, Callie Surber, Becky Ullom Naugle, John Wall, Roy Winter, Jay Wittmeyer, 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 Jan. 24.

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