Thursday, May 01, 2008
DE PONDERINGS
Each week I receive an email article from The Alban Institute. This week the article was Pastoral Sabbath Rest written by Judith A. Schwanz. As I read through the article, it became apparent that it could pertain to more than just clergy. The information is pertinent to everyone.
I’d like to share some highlights from the article to help us think about our need for Sabbath rest. I’ll be the first to admit that I need to make this information applicable in my life. It isn’t easy backing away from unfinished work for a break and to receive renewal, but the One who we follow, Jesus, did so. If Jesus was intentional about rest, maybe we should be, too.
Schwanz begins by writing: “The word holy means set aside for a special purpose or withdrawn from common employment and dedicated to God. To set aside a day for a special purpose suggests a break in weekly patterns. To withdraw from common employment means that Sabbath should be an uncommon day in many dimensions.”
Sabbath is...
Sabbath brings...
May Sabbath rest be pervasive in our lives!
I’d like to share some highlights from the article to help us think about our need for Sabbath rest. I’ll be the first to admit that I need to make this information applicable in my life. It isn’t easy backing away from unfinished work for a break and to receive renewal, but the One who we follow, Jesus, did so. If Jesus was intentional about rest, maybe we should be, too.
Schwanz begins by writing: “The word holy means set aside for a special purpose or withdrawn from common employment and dedicated to God. To set aside a day for a special purpose suggests a break in weekly patterns. To withdraw from common employment means that Sabbath should be an uncommon day in many dimensions.”
Sabbath is...
- ...a break from routine, a change of pace. Change what you normally do. Don’t answer email or the cell phone. Stay home instead of traveling. Get out of the office.
- ...a break from expectations and productivity. Unproductive time is not wasted time. Read a book for pleasure. Sleep late. Putter around in the garden. Do something that is a source of refreshment.
- ...a break from competition. Lay aside for a day the pressure to be number one. Choose not to engage in competitive activities.
- ...a break from consumerism. Take a simplicity break. Refrain from acquiring things for a day. Appreciate what you do have and refrain from grasping for more.
- ...a break from being in control. Let someone else handle some of your responsibilities for a day. A lot of people may depend on us, but they really can get along without us for one day. REALLY, they can.
Sabbath brings...
- ...social and relational renewal. Spend more time with family, with friends. Be intentional and develop Sabbath rituals that include those with whom you are in relationship.
- ...spiritual renewal. Sabbath provides extended time to practice spiritual disciplines, i.e., Bible reading, prayer, solitude, meditation, etc. Include a deliberate time of worship, focusing your full attention on God in awe and reverence.
- ...physical renewal. This is a great time to catch up on sleep of which you’ve been depriving yourself.
- It’s also a great time to play catch with the kids or take a relaxing, meditative walk.
- ...a sign of weakness. It is part of a rhythm of life. God practiced Sabbath in the beginning. Jesus practiced it in his day.
- ...simply a day off. A day off conjures images of chores and doing what needs to be done, substituting the pressures of one place for another. Sabbath implies a deliberately restful day for refreshment and restoration.
May Sabbath rest be pervasive in our lives!
CAMP EMMAUS WOMEN'S CAMP
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28
What: Women’s Camp (Camp Emmaus) on August 8,9,10.
Cost: Registration is only $12.00 and camp cost for the weekend is $60.oo a total of$72.oo for the weekend. Were else can you go for the weekend for this price. Find someone else to go with you in your church to attend camp with and split the cost of gas!!
Send to:
Saturday night Vespers (30 min.), people who play instruments, and someone who can give a walking tour of the grounds.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call! 630\530-9262 or email: kelly@dkwhitehead.com
Matthew 11:28
What: Women’s Camp (Camp Emmaus) on August 8,9,10.
Cost: Registration is only $12.00 and camp cost for the weekend is $60.oo a total of$72.oo for the weekend. Were else can you go for the weekend for this price. Find someone else to go with you in your church to attend camp with and split the cost of gas!!
Send to:
Kelly WhiteheadWe are in need of the following help:
109 N. Harvard Ave.
Villa Park, IL 60181
Saturday night Vespers (30 min.), people who play instruments, and someone who can give a walking tour of the grounds.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call! 630\530-9262 or email: kelly@dkwhitehead.com
REMINDER!
The IL/WI District Office MOVED from Lombard to Canton
The new address is:
The new address is:
269 E. Chestnut St.The email address remains the same, kevink.iwdcob@sbcglobal.net.
Canton, IL 61520
New phone (and fax) number: 309-649-6008
ANNUAL CONFERENCE AIRLINE DISCOUNT CODE CORRECTION
The Annual Conference Office has announced a correction to the Annual Conference airline discount code. The group meeting discount code for airline travel to the Conference in Richmond, Va., was listed incorrectly in the Information Packet. The meeting discount code that should be supplied to United Airlines is 577RP. Those who are flying to the Conference and have not yet made reservations are invited to consider booking with United, the official airline of Annual Conference 2008, by calling 800-521-4041. The code has been changed and is shown correctly on the Annual Conference website, on the Information Packet pages.
--COB Newsline
--COB Newsline
SABBATICAL DAY AT BETHANY
Bethany Theological Seminary will observe a "Sabbatical Day" on May 8. All employees will participate and the offices in Richmond, Ind., will be closed. The sabbatical day was approved by the Bethany Board of Trustees. "Bethany's 2007-08 academic year has been overly filled with institutional transitions, faculty searches, core testimonies discussions, the Inaugural Forum, plus all the regular tasks associated with an educational institution," said president Ruthann Knechel Johansen. "This sabbatical day is intended to open space for rest, prayer or meditation, examination of conscience, and reflection on personal and institutional values and priorities."
--COB Newsline
--COB Newsline
Greetings
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings!
On Sunday morning, July 13, Church of the Brethren Moderator Jim Beckwith and Brethren Church Moderator Tom Schiefer will place water from the Eder River and Wissahickon Creek (where the first baptisms in Germantown were held) into a worship center of flowing waters. We invite you to participate in this time by bringing a sample of the baptismal waters from the congregations in your district.
Brother Jim has expressed his desire to celebrate “the faithfulness of all who have become parts of the Body of Christ through baptism into the Brethren Movement since 1708.” Your water will be offered in Sunday morning’s processional as a “symbol of faithfulness of the Brethren in your area.” Both denominations will have each district identified as a processional of representatives moves forward and pours its vial into the flowing worship center. One way to gather this sample would be to have water brought together from the baptismal sites of your district's congregations. Then a small sample of those accumulated waters could be taken to represent all the baptismal sites in your district.
We believe this can be done fairly easily in a small, tightly closed vial brought to Annual Conference in checked baggage. A second invitation is being extended for you to bring a foot washing basin, to be used in the Wednesday morning worship service. These basins will be used to as a symbol of commitment to our faith as we move forward from celebrating this 300th anniversary. Please let me know if you are able to bring a basin as well as participate in the Sunday morning processional. A time of instruction for your district’s representative will be needed prior to these services, and further information will follow.
Blessings to you all as we continue to surrender to God, be transformed in Christ, and empowered by the Spirit in this anniversary year and always.
Peace,
Kristi A. Kellerman
2008 worship service coordinator
kristi.kellerman@gmail.com
cc: Jim Beckwith, Tom Schiefer, Lerry Fogle
Greetings!
On Sunday morning, July 13, Church of the Brethren Moderator Jim Beckwith and Brethren Church Moderator Tom Schiefer will place water from the Eder River and Wissahickon Creek (where the first baptisms in Germantown were held) into a worship center of flowing waters. We invite you to participate in this time by bringing a sample of the baptismal waters from the congregations in your district.
Brother Jim has expressed his desire to celebrate “the faithfulness of all who have become parts of the Body of Christ through baptism into the Brethren Movement since 1708.” Your water will be offered in Sunday morning’s processional as a “symbol of faithfulness of the Brethren in your area.” Both denominations will have each district identified as a processional of representatives moves forward and pours its vial into the flowing worship center. One way to gather this sample would be to have water brought together from the baptismal sites of your district's congregations. Then a small sample of those accumulated waters could be taken to represent all the baptismal sites in your district.
We believe this can be done fairly easily in a small, tightly closed vial brought to Annual Conference in checked baggage. A second invitation is being extended for you to bring a foot washing basin, to be used in the Wednesday morning worship service. These basins will be used to as a symbol of commitment to our faith as we move forward from celebrating this 300th anniversary. Please let me know if you are able to bring a basin as well as participate in the Sunday morning processional. A time of instruction for your district’s representative will be needed prior to these services, and further information will follow.
Blessings to you all as we continue to surrender to God, be transformed in Christ, and empowered by the Spirit in this anniversary year and always.
Peace,
Kristi A. Kellerman
2008 worship service coordinator
kristi.kellerman@gmail.com
cc: Jim Beckwith, Tom Schiefer, Lerry Fogle
BUS TO ANNUAL CONFERENCE
A Way for the Trip & Fellowship
Dixon-Meyers Trailways is providing coach service to AC in Richmond, VA.
The trip will be a straight-through, 16 hour pilgrimage each way with the bus departing Annual Conference after the closing worship service (at a time yet to be determined). The itinerary for the trip to Richmond is as follows:
The cost for this trip with its blessing of free fellowship is $125 per person with the bus at full capacity.
To reserved your seat, send (ASAP!) a check or money order marked AC Bus, your name, address, telephone number and email (if applicable) to:
Dixon-Meyers Trailways is providing coach service to AC in Richmond, VA.
The trip will be a straight-through, 16 hour pilgrimage each way with the bus departing Annual Conference after the closing worship service (at a time yet to be determined). The itinerary for the trip to Richmond is as follows:
- Mt. Morris, IL, Church of the Brethren July 11, 9 pm central time
- Freeport, IL, Wal-Mart Super-center (west side of the parking lot). This is just south of Freeport on Highway 26. July 11, 9:45 pm central time
- Warsaw, IN, place to be determined, July 12, 2 am central time/ 3 am eastern time
- Columbus, IN, place to be determined, July 12, 6:15 am central time/ 7:15 am eastern time
The cost for this trip with its blessing of free fellowship is $125 per person with the bus at full capacity.
To reserved your seat, send (ASAP!) a check or money order marked AC Bus, your name, address, telephone number and email (if applicable) to:
IL-WI District Office COBIf you have any questions call or (preferably) email Alan McLearn-Montz at 815-599-0909 or bajamm@netscape.com.
269 E. Chestnut St.
Canton, IL 61520
EXTENDED APPLICATION DATE FOR BBT PRESIDENT’S POSITION
An extended application date has been announced by the search committee of Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT), which is seeking applicants for the position of president. The application date has been extended to May 16. BBT's offices are located at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill. The primary services of BBT are the administration of the Pension Plan and the Brethren Foundation. The president serves as chief executive officer for BBT, including all its corporate entities (Brethren Benefit Trust, Brethren Benefit Trust, Inc., and Brethren Foundation, Inc.). The president will oversee the administration and operations of BBT by leading, administering, managing, and inspiring the staff, modeling servant leadership. The president will guide BBT in its service to the Church of the Brethren by developing and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with individuals and organizations which are affiliated with or share the values of the Church of the Brethren. The full position description can be found at www.brethrenbenefittrust.org. Church of the Brethren membership is preferred. The president will be expected to live in the Elgin area. Applicants are requested to send a current resume, cover letter, and three references via e-mail to Ralph McFadden, Search Committee Consultant, Hikermac@sbcglobal.net. Hard copies, if necessary, may be sent to 352 Shiloh Ct., Elgin, IL 60120. The Search Committee also is inviting nominations. Send the names of people who should be called to consider the position to any member of the Search Committee or to Ralph McFadden. The Search Committee is composed of Eunice Culp, chair; Harry Rhodes, BBT Board chair; Janice Bratton, BBT Board vice chair; Donna Forbes Steiner, BBT Board member; and Fred Bernhard, former longterm BBT Board member.
--COB Newsline
--COB Newsline
LIVING PEACE CHURCH STORIES NEEDED
On Earth Peace is calling for Living Peace Church Stories to share at the 2008 Annual Conference. "We look for stories of how individuals and congregations are living out the calling to be living peace churches," said an announcement. "These stories will be reported from the Conference floor microphones after On Earth Peace gives its agency report." Contact Annie Clark, coordinator of the Ministry of Reconciliation, at annie.clark@verizon.net.
--COB Newsline
--COB Newsline
REID RESIGNS AS ACADEMIC DEAN AT BETHANY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Stephen Breck Reid, academic dean at Bethany Theological Seminary, has accepted a position as professor of Hebrew Bible at George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Waco, Texas, beginning Aug. 1. He has served in his current position at Bethany Seminary since 2003.
As academic dean, Reid led the work of the seminary's teaching faculty and the administration of the Brethren Journal Association. He gave oversight to partnerships with the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center and the Church of the Brethren General Board to offer graduate and undergraduate ministry training opportunities through offsite courses and the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership.
He also facilitated much of the process of a 10-year accreditation review with the Association of Theological Schools and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, completed in 2006.
Reid graduated from Bethany in 1976 and earned a Ph.D. from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., in 1981. He was professor of Old Testament Studies at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary prior to joining the Bethany faculty. He also served as an adjunct professor at Bethany for many years, and was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1990-98.
"It is with deep regret that I accept the resignation of Stephen Breck Reid," said Bethany president Ruthann Knechel Johansen. "As academic dean, Steve has served the Bethany faculty, the students, and the denomination eminently through his passion for preaching and teaching, particularly the Hebrew language and Hebrew Bible, his devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and his commitment to the Church of the Brethren. To the faculty he has been both a fine mentor for creative teaching and a strong supporter of faculty members' scholarly research and publication. He has been a prophetic voice in the denomination."
--COB Newsline
As academic dean, Reid led the work of the seminary's teaching faculty and the administration of the Brethren Journal Association. He gave oversight to partnerships with the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center and the Church of the Brethren General Board to offer graduate and undergraduate ministry training opportunities through offsite courses and the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership.
He also facilitated much of the process of a 10-year accreditation review with the Association of Theological Schools and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, completed in 2006.
Reid graduated from Bethany in 1976 and earned a Ph.D. from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., in 1981. He was professor of Old Testament Studies at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary prior to joining the Bethany faculty. He also served as an adjunct professor at Bethany for many years, and was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1990-98.
"It is with deep regret that I accept the resignation of Stephen Breck Reid," said Bethany president Ruthann Knechel Johansen. "As academic dean, Steve has served the Bethany faculty, the students, and the denomination eminently through his passion for preaching and teaching, particularly the Hebrew language and Hebrew Bible, his devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and his commitment to the Church of the Brethren. To the faculty he has been both a fine mentor for creative teaching and a strong supporter of faculty members' scholarly research and publication. He has been a prophetic voice in the denomination."
--COB Newsline
WAY OF CHRIST WEEKENDS
Upcoming Fall weekends.
- October 23 - 26: Men's Weekend #14
- October 30 - Nov 2: Women's Weekend #14
JIM LEVYA VOLUNTEERS AT LANCASTER AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN LANCASTER, PA
Elgin, IL (Feb. 2008)—Jim Leyva of Lombard, IL, has recently undertaken a Church of the Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) assignment with Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity in Lancaster, PA.
Lancaster Area Habitat is a non-denominational Christian housing ministry whose mission is to help low- to moderate-income families purchase their first home. The organization renovates old houses and builds new ones, then sells them at no profit and mortgages them at no interest to families with income too low to qualify for conventional mortgages or FHA loans. Habitat for Humanity is a partnership building program, not a give-away. Homeowners must volunteer 500 hours of work into their own homes as well as other Habitat homes. Jim will help coordinate and manage volunteers and work with other volunteers on current projects.
After completing his high school diploma and time in the workforce, Jim chose to explore his options through BVS. Jim’s poetic and creative spirit will be an asset to his new community and service position. In his own words, “Service is a way to make my faith whole.” Jim is a member of the York Center Church of the Brethren in Lombard, IL. Jim can be reached through the BVS office at 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120.
Lancaster Area Habitat is a non-denominational Christian housing ministry whose mission is to help low- to moderate-income families purchase their first home. The organization renovates old houses and builds new ones, then sells them at no profit and mortgages them at no interest to families with income too low to qualify for conventional mortgages or FHA loans. Habitat for Humanity is a partnership building program, not a give-away. Homeowners must volunteer 500 hours of work into their own homes as well as other Habitat homes. Jim will help coordinate and manage volunteers and work with other volunteers on current projects.
After completing his high school diploma and time in the workforce, Jim chose to explore his options through BVS. Jim’s poetic and creative spirit will be an asset to his new community and service position. In his own words, “Service is a way to make my faith whole.” Jim is a member of the York Center Church of the Brethren in Lombard, IL. Jim can be reached through the BVS office at 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, IL 60120.
BRETHREN VOLUNTEER SERVICE
Before I go through the things I've learned, the people I've met, or the reasons that Brethren Volunteer Service was the best interlude between high school and college for me, let me begin with a warning: BVS is different. Taking a year off is different. Doing anything but college after high school will get you a few double takes. My advice: roll with it. It's worth it.
On to the stories. Orientation Unit #277 was one of the largest to date, coming in with 31 volunteers. We started out Peace Valley, MO and finished up in Kansas City, MO. Though I had doubts about such a large group bonding in just three weeks, we were a tight-knit group by day three. We had being together constantly going for us in that one--nineteen females all sleeping in one room makes for some pretty quick friendships. (The guys had more rooms, but they were smaller.) As a group, we talked about simple living and culture clashes, met some fantastic people, had the chance to participate in the Arkansas/Missouri District Conference, ate some incredible food on a minimal budget...we had a blast and learned a lot. We recently had our mid-year retreat, and though we'd only been together for less than a month and had then been apart for more than five, it was like getting together with family. Going out into the world for God's service with a cloud of believers is a powerful experience.
I'm doing my ten months of service (shortened for college in the fall) at CooperRiis, a healing farm community in western North Carolina. CooperRiis is a residential facility for the mentally ill and those in emotional distress, currently at capacity with 36 residents. We have a rotational staff numbering in the sixties, including therapists, nurses, psychiatrists, lodge advisors, Life Skills managers, a maintenance crew, a housekeeping crew, and a kitchen crew. I started in the kitchen the first Monday I arrived, and I've been there ever since. It's an organic, fresh food kitchen, meaning that most of our food is organically grown without pesticides, and that we make almost everything fresh--especially our bread, which is deliciously fresh-baked every week. I work a kind of funny schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, with a twelve hour day on Fridays. We're all jumbled so that no one misses the weekend entirely, but also so that every meal and day is covered. As Kitchen Support Staff, I do everything from chopping vegetables to mopping floors to working with residents. The residents are in the kitchen for a Life Skills program every weekday for about six hours, learning the skills needed to cook and clean and be a part of a team. For as much work as we do and as complicated as some of our meals have been, we have a lot of fun. As a crew, we gave each other cowboy names (mine was Cash) and then had a Cowboy Night cookout.
Even after six months, or maybe especially after six months, I keep finding that there are many things I don't know, both about the kitchen and about the community. I've gotten ahold of names and schedules, but as an ever-changing community, there's always something more to learn. I've widened my knowledge of psychology and working with people--it's amazing how just a week of being here is worth more than a text book--and I've learned things about myself I might not have found otherwise. For instance, I have the ability to get up before sunrise to do the breakfast shift. I've also rediscovered my haphazard sewing abilities, which has been exciting. But more than that, I've met some amazing people, and though this is nothing against the staff, they've mostly been residents. As a volunteer, since I don't know the formal diagnoses of any of the residents unless they decide to tell me, I've had the opportunity to get to know people on a reasonably normal level (though I will admit my knowledge of everyone's idiosyncrasies around food occasionally colors my view of them). It's refreshing to meet people who, when put up against daily hardships just getting out of bed, keep coming back and trying again. Though we all have our trying days, our pervading theme is hope.
Though "taking off a year" was a strange idea, coming to a therapeutic healing farm as an an eighteen-year-old fresh out of high school may have been more revolutionary. The reactions from staff were mainly of surprise, though new residents continue to ask who I am--am I a resident? What lodge do I live in? Why do I work such strange hours? Perhaps because of this, it's been a wonderfully difficult and rewarding year. As a year between schools, it's been a chance for me to slow down and focus on things besides schoolwork, but also to get some real world and job experience. With a planned double major in English and Psychology, this couldn't have been a better place for me this year.
Additionally, lastly, I've always had an emotional need for community. Between the local Brethren church, the groups of lodge advisors that hang out as support for each other, the family I live with, and the larger community of CooperRiis, I've certainly not found it lacking here. CooperRiis has fulfilled something deep within me. Service has always made a space in my heart for others, and this year, it's happily content.
Submitted by Cassidy McFadden
On to the stories. Orientation Unit #277 was one of the largest to date, coming in with 31 volunteers. We started out Peace Valley, MO and finished up in Kansas City, MO. Though I had doubts about such a large group bonding in just three weeks, we were a tight-knit group by day three. We had being together constantly going for us in that one--nineteen females all sleeping in one room makes for some pretty quick friendships. (The guys had more rooms, but they were smaller.) As a group, we talked about simple living and culture clashes, met some fantastic people, had the chance to participate in the Arkansas/Missouri District Conference, ate some incredible food on a minimal budget...we had a blast and learned a lot. We recently had our mid-year retreat, and though we'd only been together for less than a month and had then been apart for more than five, it was like getting together with family. Going out into the world for God's service with a cloud of believers is a powerful experience.
I'm doing my ten months of service (shortened for college in the fall) at CooperRiis, a healing farm community in western North Carolina. CooperRiis is a residential facility for the mentally ill and those in emotional distress, currently at capacity with 36 residents. We have a rotational staff numbering in the sixties, including therapists, nurses, psychiatrists, lodge advisors, Life Skills managers, a maintenance crew, a housekeeping crew, and a kitchen crew. I started in the kitchen the first Monday I arrived, and I've been there ever since. It's an organic, fresh food kitchen, meaning that most of our food is organically grown without pesticides, and that we make almost everything fresh--especially our bread, which is deliciously fresh-baked every week. I work a kind of funny schedule: Tuesday through Saturday, with a twelve hour day on Fridays. We're all jumbled so that no one misses the weekend entirely, but also so that every meal and day is covered. As Kitchen Support Staff, I do everything from chopping vegetables to mopping floors to working with residents. The residents are in the kitchen for a Life Skills program every weekday for about six hours, learning the skills needed to cook and clean and be a part of a team. For as much work as we do and as complicated as some of our meals have been, we have a lot of fun. As a crew, we gave each other cowboy names (mine was Cash) and then had a Cowboy Night cookout.
Even after six months, or maybe especially after six months, I keep finding that there are many things I don't know, both about the kitchen and about the community. I've gotten ahold of names and schedules, but as an ever-changing community, there's always something more to learn. I've widened my knowledge of psychology and working with people--it's amazing how just a week of being here is worth more than a text book--and I've learned things about myself I might not have found otherwise. For instance, I have the ability to get up before sunrise to do the breakfast shift. I've also rediscovered my haphazard sewing abilities, which has been exciting. But more than that, I've met some amazing people, and though this is nothing against the staff, they've mostly been residents. As a volunteer, since I don't know the formal diagnoses of any of the residents unless they decide to tell me, I've had the opportunity to get to know people on a reasonably normal level (though I will admit my knowledge of everyone's idiosyncrasies around food occasionally colors my view of them). It's refreshing to meet people who, when put up against daily hardships just getting out of bed, keep coming back and trying again. Though we all have our trying days, our pervading theme is hope.
Though "taking off a year" was a strange idea, coming to a therapeutic healing farm as an an eighteen-year-old fresh out of high school may have been more revolutionary. The reactions from staff were mainly of surprise, though new residents continue to ask who I am--am I a resident? What lodge do I live in? Why do I work such strange hours? Perhaps because of this, it's been a wonderfully difficult and rewarding year. As a year between schools, it's been a chance for me to slow down and focus on things besides schoolwork, but also to get some real world and job experience. With a planned double major in English and Psychology, this couldn't have been a better place for me this year.
Additionally, lastly, I've always had an emotional need for community. Between the local Brethren church, the groups of lodge advisors that hang out as support for each other, the family I live with, and the larger community of CooperRiis, I've certainly not found it lacking here. CooperRiis has fulfilled something deep within me. Service has always made a space in my heart for others, and this year, it's happily content.
Submitted by Cassidy McFadden
FROM YOUR NEWSLETTER STAFF
We need to hear from you!!! The District needs have stories from our congregations shared. What do you have to share???!!!??? We try to get the newsletter out the last weekend of each month if we have information to share. We didn’t last weekend. Please share with the Sisters and Brothers of the District what is going to happen, what did happen, or how God is at work in your congregation. Send stories, pictures or both.
We are also asking if you receive the newsletter by e-mail or regular mail, please make copies or forward the email on for all in your congregation. We ask that you make several copies and place them where they can be picked up. When they run out, make a few more. If you get this by US mail and would like it by e-mail (you get it faster and it saves the postage), just send us your e-mail address. We would like to have at least one email address for each congregation.
There are several ways you can get things in the District newsletter: e-mail to editors Gil (crosbygm@juno.com) or Leonard (mathelw@gmail.com), e-mail the District office (kevink.iwdcob@sbcglobal.net), US mail to District Office (269 E. Chestnut St. Canton, IL 61520) or the First Church of the Brethren of Peoria (4714 N. Sheridan Rd. Peoria, IL 61614).
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!
We are also asking if you receive the newsletter by e-mail or regular mail, please make copies or forward the email on for all in your congregation. We ask that you make several copies and place them where they can be picked up. When they run out, make a few more. If you get this by US mail and would like it by e-mail (you get it faster and it saves the postage), just send us your e-mail address. We would like to have at least one email address for each congregation.
There are several ways you can get things in the District newsletter: e-mail to editors Gil (crosbygm@juno.com) or Leonard (mathelw@gmail.com), e-mail the District office (kevink.iwdcob@sbcglobal.net), US mail to District Office (269 E. Chestnut St. Canton, IL 61520) or the First Church of the Brethren of Peoria (4714 N. Sheridan Rd. Peoria, IL 61614).
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!!!!!
2008 District Calendar
| May | |
| 1 | National Day of Prayer |
| 1 | Ascension Day |
| 4 | National Youth Sunday |
| 5 | Cinco de Mayo |
| 6 | Cross Cultural Planning meeting, N. IN. District Office |
| 11 | Pentecost |
| 11 | Mother's Day |
| 11 or 18 | New Heart... New Spirit 300th Anniversary/Pentecost Emphasis Offering |
| 15-17 | Church Planting Conferecne, Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, IN |
| 17 | District Work Day at Pleasant Hill Village from 9am - 3pm |
| 18 | Health Promotion Sunday |
| 22 | Pleasant Hill Village Board Meeting |
| 17-25 | District Executive on vacation |
| 26 | Memorial Day |
| 31 | Ministerial Leadership Development Team; Mendota, IL |
| June | |
| 7 | District Leadership Team, West Branch |
| 14 | District Deacons, Peoria |
| 15 | Father's Day |
| 23 | Pleasant Hill Village Board Meeting |
| 23-26 | TRIM/EFSM Orientation, Bethany Theological Seminary, Richmond, IN |
| July | |
| 4 | Independence Day |
| 10 - 12 | Council of Dist. Executive's Summer meeting, Richmond, VA |
| 12 - 16 | Annual Conference, Richmond, VA |
| 26 | District Leadership Team, Springfield |
| 28 | Pleasant Hill Village Board Meeting |
| August | |
| 2 | District Program and Arrangements Committee, Peoria |
| 3 | 300th Anniversary Celebration Sunday |
| 3 | 300th Anniversay Celebration in Schwarzenau, Germany |
| 11 - 15 | National Young Adult Conference, Estes Park, CO |
| September | |
| 1 | Labor Day |
| 1st-5th | National Older Adult Conference, Lake Junaluska, NC |
| 6 | District Leadership Team, Neighborhood |
| 14 | Bethany Sunday |
| October | Disabilities Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness Month |
| 5 | World Communion Sunday |
| 12 | World Mission Offering Emphasis |
| 13 | Columbus Day |
| 16 | World Food Day |
| 16 | National Boss Day |
| 16 - 24 | Peace With Justice Week |
| 18 - 20 | General Board Meetings, Elgin |
| 18 | District Leadership Team, Yellow Creek |
| 19 | National Children's Sabbath |
