Minute For Mission

"That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” —2 Corinthians 5:19-20
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Minute for Mission  Issue 13 September 17, 2013   Church of the Brethren in Spain : Una Luz en las Naciones - a light to the nations. Photo by Carolyn Fitzkee. Annual Conference recognizes Church of the Brethren in Spain Following approval by the Mission and Ministry Board in March, the delegate body of this year’s Annual Conference, held June 29 July 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina, voted to officially recognize the new Church of the Brethren in Spain. This recognition connects the Spanish congregations as part of the global Church of the Brethren community. Read more here. Haitian Church of the Brethren holds its first annual conference L'Eglise des Freres Haitiens (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti) held its first annual conference August 12-14 at the Brethren Ministry Center in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti. Highlights of the conference included unanimous acceptance of the constitution of the church as well as an ordination ceremony for six new pastors. Learn more about the conference. Choir from the Marin congregation sings during the ordination service. Photo by Jeff Boshart. Please lift up in prayer Carl and Roxane Hill as they return to Nigeria for another semester of teaching. Prayers for health and wisdom as they resume work at Kulp Bible College near Mubi, Nigeria after sharing their stories to brothers and sisters across the United States. Learn more about the Hills' US tour at http://carlroxanehill.wordpress.com. Kendra Johnson begins as manager of Global Mission and Service office On September 3, Kendra Johnson began work as manager in the office of Global Mission and Service for the Church of the Brethren, based at the denomination's General Offices in Elgin, Illinois. Kendra recently completed her term as a Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) worker, serving as orientation assistant and staff volunteer in the BVS office. She began volunteering at the General Offices on January 16, 2012, after completing a term of service in BVS at the German Branch of Peace Brigades International in Hamburg. She also has been a youth care worker at Jugendhilfe Collstede in Westerstede, Germany, and served on a team of international volunteers rebuilding Palestinian homes with the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. She is a 2008 graduate of Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, international studies, and German. Please contact Kendra for any resources or assistance she can provide in helping your congregation and district stay connected with Global Mission and Service! Position opening with Children’s Disaster Services The Church of the Brethren is seeking an individual to fill a full-time salaried position of associate director of Children’s Disaster Services (CDS). The associate director is part of the Global Mission and Service team and reports to the director of Brethren Disaster Ministries. Get the full position description and application information. Service opportunity Volunteers are still needed to serve with Brethren Disaster Ministries projects in New York and New Jersey this fall. See the schedule of open slots here.
"Minute for Mission" is published by Global Mission and Service, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 ext. 362;www.brethren.org/partners © Church of the Brethren

Newsline, September 13, 2013

Newsline The Church of the Brethren e-mail news service

Sept. 13, 2013 NEWS 1) Brethren respond to Syria crisis, participate in fasting and prayer, prepare $100,000 grant for 2) Workcamp ministry closes out successful 2013 season, announces theme for 2014. 3) Haitian Church of the Brethren holds its first annual conference. 4) Haiti Medical Project grows and develops, with help from individuals, churches, and denomination. NEWS FROM NOAC 5) Round up report from National Older Adult Conference 2013. 6) Feeders? A Deacon Ministry reflection on NOAC 2013. UPCOMING EVENT 7) Brethren Revival Fellowship to gather for 2013 General Meeting. 8) Brethren bits: Remembrance, prayer for Colorado, job opening in CDS, new registration deadline, concern from northeast Nigeria, church anniversary in Kentucky, and much more. Read the full text of this Newsline in one document at www.brethren.org/news/2013/newsline-for-sept-13-2013.html ******************************************** Quote of the week: “We have had 170 responses so far. It is not too late for people to contact the President and their senators and reps!” -- Jan Fischer Bachman, web producer for the Church of the Brethren, reporting on the response to an Action Alert on Syria posted by the Office of Public Witness. The alert offers a sample letter for Brethren to help say “no US military action in Syria.” The letter reads, in part, “As a member of the Church of the Brethren and your constituent, I urge you to oppose US military action in Syria and support intensified diplomatic efforts that will produce a negotiated political settlement. Military strikes will do nothing but further destabilize an already volatile situation. The US government itself has recognized that there is no solution to the crisis other than a political one. Instead of pursuing military strikes and arming parties to the conflict, we urge the United States to intensify diplomatic efforts to stop the bloodshed, before Syria is destroyed and the region further destabilized. On top of this, the United States must increase its humanitarian assistance to help the almost 2 million Syrians, of which 1 million are children that have been forced to flee their country as a result of this conflict....” Find the online form at https://secure2.convio.net/cob/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=251 . ******************************************** 1) Brethren respond to Syria crisis, participate in fasting and prayer, prepare $100,000 grant for refugee needs Church of the Brethren leaders, congregations, schools, participants at National Older Adult Conference, and other individual members of the church have been responding to the crisis in Syria in a variety of ways, including participating in fasting and prayer for peace. In the latest from denominational staff, Brethren Disaster Ministries is preparing a grant of $100,000 from the church’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) in support of the needs of Syrian refugees, with the numbers of refugees anticipated to increase with the increasing severity of the conflict. The grant will go to ecumenical partner agency ACT Alliance. Also, general secretary Stanley J. Noffsinger has written a letter to President Obama from the office of the general secretary of the Church of the Brethren. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/brethren-respond-to-syria.html 2) Workcamp ministry closes out successful 2013 season, announces theme for 2014. The Church of the Brethren workcamp ministry closed out a successful summer season in 2013, holding 23 workcamps at a variety of sites across the nation for Brethren junior and senior high youth and adults. The ministry also has announced a theme and theme scripture for next year’s workcamps, to be held in summer 2014. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/workcamp-ministry-reports.html 3) Haitian Church of the Brethren holds its first annual conference. The first official Annual Conference of Eglise des Freres Haitiens (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti) was held from Aug. 12-14 in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti, at the Brethren Ministry Center campus. Approximately 60 delegates represented more than 20 churches and preaching points. The conference concluded with a special ordination ceremony for six pastors. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/first-annual-conference-of-haitian-church-of-the-brethren.html 4) Haiti Medical Project grows and develops, with help from individuals, churches, and denomination. Nancy Young provided the report below on efforts at McPherson (Kan.) Church of the Brethren to help grow the Haiti Medical Project--but McPherson is just one of the congregations, groups, and individuals across the country who, along with the Church of the Brethren Global Mission and Service department, are helping make the project a success. The endowment fund for the project recently attained the key level of $100,000, and the project also has a new website. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/haiti-medical-project-grows-1.html NEWS FROM NOAC 5) Round up report from National Older Adult Conference 2013. National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) 2013 concluded last Friday, Sept. 6, after a week of world class speakers, concerts, dramas, and shows, envigorating worship, and energizing opportunities for recreation and fellowship. Held at Lake Junaluska in North Carolina, the conference was attended by some 800 people, and organized by the denomination’s Older Adult Ministry and Congregational Life Ministries. Here is a round-up report of the week: Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2013/noac-2013/round-up-report-from-noac-2013.html 6) Feeders? A Deacon Ministry reflection on NOAC 2013. I just returned from our denomination's National Older Adult (50+) Conference (NOAC), at which the collective wisdom was palpable. This year a new banner, "Sages Through the Ages," was introduced, onto which the name of each year's oldest attendee will be added during the NOAC gathering. What a terrific reminder of the importance of this group's lifelong contributions to the life and spirit of the church! Read this reflection from the Deacon Ministry newsletter at http://support.brethren.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=24001.0 . UPCOMING EVENTS 7) Brethren Revival Fellowship to gather for 2013 General Meeting. The Brethren Revival Fellowship (BRF) General Meeting will be held Saturday, Sept. 14, beginning at 10 a.m. at New Fairview Church of the Brethren, located some three miles south of York, Pa. The all-day program will consider “Pressing Toward the Goal: A Positive Witness for Christ.” Among the speakers will be Walter Heisey, Jordan Keller, Ken Leininger, and Craig Alan Myers. A report of Annual Conference and approval of BRF Committee members will occur as well. Read the full release from the BRF at www.brfwitness.org/?p=3105 8) Brethren bits. In this issue: remembering Norman Yeater, praying for those affected by flooding in Colorado, seeking an associate director for Children’s Disaster Services, extending the registration deadline for the intercultural event in Virlina District, sharing a concern from northeast Nigeria, celebrating a church anniversary in Kentucky, and much much more. Read this week’s Brethren bits at www.brethren.org/news/2013/brethren-bits-for-sept-13.html Contributors to this issue of Newsline include Kim Ebersole, Eddie Edmonds, Kendra Flory, Mary Kay Heatwole, Gimbiya Kettering, Donna Kline, Jeri S. Kornegay, Dale Minnich, Frank Ramirez, Jonathan Shively, Jenna Stacy, Emily Tyler, Jay Wittmeyer, Nancy Young, 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. 19.

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September 11, 2013   Sharing in the gospel Click here. CONTENTS Hold hope Opening prayer Assurance Jonathan Shively speaking on the last day of National Older Adult Conference 2013. Guest speaker Edward L. Wheeler, president emeritus of Christian Theological Seminary and an ordained minister of the Baptist World Alliance.   Sharing laughter during worship at NOAC. Photos by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford.  Hold hope Adapted from a reflection on National Older Adult Conference by Jonathan Shively As Rich Mouw suggested, perhaps NOAC is best appreciated as a work of art—seen through the lens of love. As Christians, our narrative is shaped by the reconciling, healing love of God extended to us through Jesus Christ. How does our story tell of this love? There are many memories to hold onto from our time at NOAC, experiences to write into our story: the fellowship, beautiful melodies and harmonies, and breaking of bread, the pulsing of life, the exercise of our minds, the shaping of our souls in prayer, and the laughter of sacred space and the tears of holy wellsprings. However, our text for the week, Isaiah 58, reminds us to treat what we know and have seen with humility and reverence. Diana Butler Bass suggests that to remember too fondly in a manner that limits our hope for the future is only nostalgia—the deadly condition of giving up on the possibility that God will do a new thing in our life and in this world. The loss of hope means that we have given up on the promises of healing for ourselves, our communities, God’s church, and the world. But this week we have given testimony to a belief and participated in a confidence that God still has the power and the purposefulness to loose the chains, untie the ropes, set the oppressed free, extend compassion, overcome the forces of this earth, confront evil with its own destructive purposes, heal the sick, and comfort the broken-hearted. To hold hope is to recognize the healing that springs forth, to be warmed by the light that shines out. To hold hope is to know that (as Dr. Ed Wheeler said) “We are God’s children, and we are loved, and we are sent out into the world because God needs us to love it back.” To hold hope is, as Ted Swartz encouraged us, to reach out, to grab hands, and to hold on. It was a blessing to be together at NOAC, to celebrate it as a sabbath period, to rest and be blessed, ready to return to our ordinary lives hallowed, consecrated to the work of hope, refreshed in the Lord, renewed of body, mind, and spirit, fountain heads where healing springs forth. Read this reflection in its entirety atwww.brethren.org/noac . Support Older Adult Ministriesof the Church of the Brethren by giving to Congregational Life Ministries at www.brethren.org/give . Forward to a friend Back to top View the Mission Offering video. Opening prayer God of joy and abundance Source of hope and strength Author of peace and justice Open our hearts to you and to each other Open our eyes and ears to your ongoing story Open our lives to our neighbors near and far Inspire us with your living word Empower us with your wisdom Connect us with your mission Your new creation of abundance and shalom For all people to share Amen —This prayer is one of several worship resources written by Matt McKimmy for the Church of the Brethren Mission Offering. Read them all at www.brethren.org/missionoffering . Roofing together at a Brethren Disaster Ministries project in Haiti.  Photo by Brethren Disaster Ministries. Giving is central to the Christian life and it takes many forms.Photo by Mandy Garcia.  View the promotional video for the 2014 National Youth Conference.Video by Dave Sollenberger. AssuranceBy Josh Brockway Sixteen years ago I was standing on a roof in the sweltering August sun. As a soon-to-be-senior in high school, I was earning money for college, thanks to a member of my congregation who had offered me the roofing job. It paid well, it was outdoors, and it involved power tools—a young man's dream. On top of that, I later learned that the job was a true gift of love. I didn't know it at the time, but my mentor had devised a plan that would allow him to change lives, do work he enjoyed, and teach a young man new skills. He charged each of our customers a standard rate of labor and paid me part of that income. What I didn't know was that he used the rest to create a scholarship for me and the other youth in our congregation. In several of his letters, the apostle Paul praised the generosity of the Macedonian churches. These communities sent gifts to church leaders in Jerusalem, even though they likely had never met. They knew there would be no financial "return on investment," yet they gave with assurance that the Spirit at work in their community was the same one connecting them to sisters and brothers far away. They gave with confidence that that same Spirit would use their gifts to make a difference, despite the distance. Such generosity was much like the kind I received on the roof that summer, where I learned a lot more than how to keep a row of shingles straight. My mentor taught me that giving is central to the Christian life, and that it takes many forms: knowledge, wisdom, time, and money. My life was changed by his generosity. Years later, I am still blessed by seeing lives changed thanks to gifts of love. The Spirit works through all kinds of ministries that you support, including those that encourage young people in their faith journeys. Ministry Summer Service, Christian Citizenship Seminar, National Youth Conference, Young Adult Ministries, workcamps, and many others are possible only because of your generosity. So when you give, may you do so with the same confidence as the Macedonians and as my mentor, with assurance that your gifts of love will reach farther than you can imagine. Josh Brockway is director of Spiritual Life and Discipleship. To support all of the life changing ministries of the Church of the Brethren visitwww.brethren.org/give. Forward to a friend Back to top www.brethren.org/deacons “Jesus offers us the gift of transformation every day; truly, every moment of every day we have a chance for do-overs, chances to make amends, to get better at doing the right thing the first time around. Today, right now, think about one of those things you’ve been meaning to do, something that might help another feel Jesus' comfort and peace, and just do it.” —Donna Kline in last month's Deacon Update. 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's 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 September 25, 2013.

Deacon Update

DEACON UPDATE

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Feeders?

September 2013

I just returned from our denomination's National Older Adult (50+) conference (NOAC), at which the collective wisdom was palpable. This year a new banner, "Sages Through the Ages," was introduced, onto which the name of each year's oldest attendee will be added during the NOAC gathering. What a terrific reminder of the importance of this group's lifelong contributions to the life and spirit of the church!

Something else new happened at NOAC this year. In addition to the 800+ "regular" attendees, a group of young adults were present as well. They were there mainly as helpers and workshop leaders, but their collective enthusiasm for the work of the church and love of our denomination was just as obvious and infectious as that of their elders. The interactions between young and old were inspiring, including the challenge given to the older attendees to encourage the youth in their congregations, their families, their communities, to attend the NOAC "feeder conference", also known as NYC (National Youth Conference).

Not surprisingly, a number of people at NOAC are deacons, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing so many folks I’ve met during a workshop. With the young adult presence I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if our deacon bodies developed "feeders" for our ministry, mentoring and encouraging younger people in the ministry of pastoral care. What would that look like?

We might start by simply looking around. Who are the young (or middle-age) adults in your faith community you could see as deacons? Take a minute to mention to them that you see gifts that would lend themselves nicely to deacon ministry. Plant the seed. Help them understand what deacon ministry is all about in your faith community. Help them understand what deacon ministry is not—to dissuade them from thoughts that they might not be "good enough" to be a deacon. Talk to your deacon sisters and brothers about inviting others to retreats or training events so they might begin to consider a call to caregiving.

Isn't this what discipleship is all about?

"…so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." —2 Timothy 3:17

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

Intercultural Ministries of the Church of the Brethren: Continuing the work of Jesus...TOGETHER!

	Intercultural Ministries of the Church of the Brethren
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Greetings! Maybe we have met in years past at the Intercultural Gathering and Celebration. Or maybe at Annual Conference—maybe even at the Intercultural Luncheon or an insight session about diversity. Or maybe you are new to Intercultural Ministries and excited to find ways to meet others who are passionate about embracing diversity. No matter your experience or background, we are excited to welcome you to The Great Multitude Symposium: When: October 25-27 2013 Where: Skelton Retreat Center, Wirtz, Virgina Why: Because we are called to continue the work of Jesus peacefully, simply and...TOGETHER! With a lecture on COB intercultural history, a panel about the Hispanic church, hands-on training sessions, a bilingual worship concert, and CEUs (up to 1.1!) for pastors —there really is something for everyone at this gathering. By attending this event you will be joining the on-going dialogue about being in an intercultural denomination, living in multicultural communities, and what Jesus teaches us about how to live with and love all our neighbors. Click here to register The Intercultural Ministries Advisory Committee warmly welcomes you to The Great Symposium. (l-r) Robert Jackson, Gilbert Romero, Barbara Daté, Gimbiya Kettering (coordinator), and Dennis Webb. (Not pictured: Thomas Dowdy.) Please help us spread the word! Forward this e-mail to others in your congregation, ecumenical circles, or community who you think would be interested. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me. In Peace, Gimbiya Kettering and the Intercultural Ministries Advisory Committee This event is being co-sponsored by the Virlina District and Intercultural Ministries and co-hosted by the Roanoke First Church of the Brethren.
	Contact: Gimbiya Kettering gkettering@brethren.org 847-429-4387 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120