The Reflector -- March 2011 -- Vol 8 Issue 3

From the Moderator, Lisa Fike

Preparations for District Conference 2011 have been underway since the close of District Conference 2010 by the Program and Arrangements Committee. We know that conference is going to be a bit different than recent conferences but the opportunities are immense. The following gives you just a taste of what is being planned for us.



Lake Williamson

To begin with we will be meeting at Lake Williamson Conference Center. Lake Williamson is located 4 miles from Carlinville, IL. (A bit of history here: In 2009 Program and Arrangements was issued a challenge to investigate the possibilities of having District Conference at a place other than a church. Many of the churches in our district cannot accommodate the number of participants that we have or have membership that would be unable to host this event. Lake Williamson was one of the few places that the committee determined as a possible location for our conference)

Lake Williamson provides numerous opportunities for us to do the work of the district and fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ. In addition to worship and business, recreational activities including; indoor swimming, volleyball, wally-ball, basketball, mini golf to name a few will be available. Lodging and meals will be included in registration fees. Lake Williamson has a website www.lakewilliamson.com.

Auction

This year in addition to the silent auction we will have a live auction which will include blanket-comforters from the churches, and some other large handmade items. Rick Koch; Dutchtown pastor and his wife Becky, will be in charge of the auctions and are available to answer your question. We are hoping that each church will provide at least one larger item and are looking for handmade items not flee market finds.

Please plan on attending this new, exciting and different District Conference at Lake Williamson.

Banners For District Conference

Moderator Lisa Fike and the Program and Arrangements Team are asking each fellowship/church to make a small banner using the conference theme “Joined with me and I with you” taken from John 15:5 ) Or you can use your church theme or logo. Banners should be finished size 12 inches wide by 15 inches long and should include a means of hanging. They can be made of any material and can be any color. Please include your church name in some manner. These banners will serve as our back drop as we worship and do business. At the close of conference banners will be re-distributed. Each church will receive the banner of a sister church and are encouraged to hold this sister congregation in your prayers throughout the next year.

We please ask that you send the banners to the District Office or give to one of the members of the Program and Arrangements Committee by September 15, 2011.

Thoughts From Kevin Kessler, District Executive

Following are responses to one of the five questions which were presented at District Conference last fall.

What do you currently see happening that excites you?

1. Growth in inner-city churches;
   
2. Planting new churches;
   
3. Open discussion at district meeting;
   
4. My church is scheduled for deacon training early 2011—excited about that;
   
5. Also, work in Rockford—great!;
   
6. I am very excited about what is happening in Rockford;
   
7. I am excited by what I see happening at Mt. Morris;
   
8. I am excited the LT and NCDT are working together to achieve a common purpose;
   
9. Direction of NCDB re-organization away from a few personal agendas and to be sub-group of LT.

I recently had the opportunity and privilege of attending a pastors’ gathering in the northwest region of our district. The meeting was opened by having each one present share briefly about an accomplishment in ministry that made them proud. I immediately wondered about the outcome of this exercise. We Brethren are a humble, reserved people who find it difficult to let our light shine in such open and brilliant ways. I was very pleased with all I heard. Every participant shared passionately about one or more accomplishments setting a wonderful tone and mood for the remainder of the gathering. I also recently created a document that I entitled “The Dilemma.” I purposed in this document to provide a snapshot of the dilemma we as the Illinois/Wisconsin District of the Church of the Brethren find ourselves in, both internally and externally. For example, internally I offered statistical information revealing the decline in membership and average worship attendance we have experienced over the past decade. Externally I pointed out that our focus on being a movement to proclaim the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit to those searching for ways of faith has diminished as we focus more intentionally on how to survive. Writing this piece was not intended to tack criticism upon the church but rather to indicate that this is where we are presently. If we have a low tire on the car it is better to know about it than to drive on it in such a condition and ruin it. I think it is important to know where we are as a church, or a district, so we can initiate efforts to incorporate practices that can help to turn around decline and diminishment. The reason for such initiatives is not just for the sake of turn around but rather for reaching the world with the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When I read the responses to the question above and listened to a group of pastors speak about proud moments in ministry, I witnessed ministry that is impacting the lives of many with the gospel and bringing about transformation, not just in the lives of people, but in the communities where these people live. I’m convinced that this kind of ministry response will change the direction of the dilemma in which the church finds itself. What’s at stake is not focusing on getting more people to join us. Rather, at stake is touching more lives with the gospel. Hugh Halter and Matt Smay in their book The Tangible Kingdom state, “Influence doesn’t happen by extracting ourselves from the world for the sake of our values, but by bringing our values into the culture.” As the church reaches out with our influential values, the potential increases for others to become involved. Growth is organic. We plant and water—touching lives; it is God who produces the growth.

What ministry are you involved in doing or part of that makes you proud, that you are passionate about? What ministry would excite you in which you could be involved? How might you offer your values to the culture around you to bring about transformation in the lives of people and your community? As ministry in these ways becomes our primary focus, the church, I believe, will rebound with renewed health and vitality, with increase and abundance, from the generosity and grace of God.

Needed in Nashville

In the spring of 2010 our eyes were glued to our T.V. sets as we followed the news about the oil spill in the gulf. Yet at the same time a story that got little press coverage was that of the flooding in Tennessee. On May 1st of that year 20 inches of rain fell across the state of Tennessee. In the Ashland City area, not far from Nashville, 578 households found themselves in need of assistance. On the week of February 20th - 26th, six guys from the Milledgeville congregation, better known as the Dutchtown Church, spent a week there doing what they could to help get a few of these families closer to getting back into their homes. They poured foundations, laid block, built walls and tore down other walls filled with mold. They insulated and hung sheetrock, painted homes and built a deck. They repaired shoddy work done by uncaring contractors and heard stories of how other contractors took there money and never showed up. They listened to stories of pain and sorrow of having lost everything. And they heard words of thanksgiving for us driving so far to help them out. If you would like to know more about our trip or the Disaster Relief work being carried on by our denomination please contact me. Rick Koch 815-225-7338 or e-mail @ revrick-dutchtown@jcwifi.com

Also our District is planning a trip to the same site for our District Youth in June. You can find that information on the District web-site. We need a couple of adults to go as well.

Disaster Relief Trips For Youth

When: June 19th – 25th

Where: Somewhere in Tennessee

Who Can Go: Youth 15 & up or 14 if a parent goes

Typical Housing: Bunk beds, Shared Bathrooms

Food: Breakfast and Dinner at the House, Lunch on the job site

What would we do: Painting, Cleaning, Minor Carpentry work, Depends on Job Skills

Why this Trip and not the planned Denominational Work Camps planned for July:
1. Cost 2. More time with District Youth

When do we need to know: April 1st

Contact: Rick Koch @ 815-499-3012 or e-mail revrick-dutchtown@jcwifi.com

2011 Spring District Youth Global Justice Retreat

March 18th – March 20th, 2011
Camp Emmaus, Mt. Morris, Illinois 61054

When: Registration will begin at 7 pm on Friday Night at Camp Emmaus. Retreat participants will be dismissed from Camp Sunday at 11:30 AM.

Who: Everyone currently in 9th through 12th grades during the 2010-2011 school year. Friends and advisors are welcome.

Where: Camp Emmaus 1-815-734-4268

Speaker: Rick Polhamus is a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) and has worked in the Middle East over the past 10 years. He has training and experience in violence reduction, conflict resolution and transformation, negotiation, and mediation.

Polhamus has lived and worked in many places with CPT including extended stays in South Dakota, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Palestine/Israel, and Iraq. He has served on CPT's steering committee and has been the CPT Representative to the World Council of Churches. He coordinated CPT-Iraq's “Adopt-A-Detainee' campaign dealing with abuses of Iraqi detainees. He has also worked with CPT's “Violence Is Not Child's Play” campaign and participated in many other CPT activities. In addition to being part of CPT in Palestine/Israel, he has led many international delegations that were exploring the issues of the conflict there.

Cost: $30 for youth – no charge for advisors. Make checks payable to “Illinois/Wisconsin District Youth”

Registration Deadline: March 11th, 2010

Registration forms can be downloaded from www.cobyouth.org Or contact Ralph Miner at rminer151@earthlink.net with questions.

From the Annual Conference Moderator: An outline of the Special Response process

The following column from Annual Conference moderator Robert Alley provides an outline of the Church of the Brethren’s Special Response process. This process was entered into when two business items related to human sexuality came to the 2009 Conference: “A Statement of Confession and Commitment” and “Query: Language on Same Sex Covenantal Relationships.” The two business items have put into motion a denominational process used specifically for addressing strongly controversial issues.

A Special Response Process 2009-2011:

Individuals and congregations have asked various questions regarding our current Special Response process. The officers of Annual Conference, in consultation with the Council of District Executives, have prepared the following outline to respond to those questions. Everyone should be attentive that while some parts of the process have been completed, some are still in process, and some will not be completed until the Standing Committee (of district representatives) and Annual Conference meet in Grand Rapids, Mich., June 29-July 6.

What will be completed before March 1, 2011?

• In 2009, the delegates of Annual Conference adopted “A Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues” (see 2009 Annual Conference Minutes, pp. 231-240).
  
  
• In 2009, the delegates of Annual Conference referred two items of business to this framework: “Query: Language on Same Sex Covenantal Relationships” (see 2009 minutes p. 241) and “A Statement of Confession and Commitment” (see 2009 minutes pp. 244-5).
  
  
• A Resource Committee, called by the 2009 Standing Committee, prepared eight Bible Studies and a list of recommended resources for congregations and individuals to study related to the two business items.
  
  
• The 2010 Annual Conference provided two hearings and one Insight Session related to the two business items.
  
  
• The 2010 Standing Committee engaged in a day-long training to lead hearings on the business items in the districts of the denomination.
  
  
• Standing Committee has held approximately 115 hearings in the districts since the 2010 Annual Conference, to receive input from individuals regarding the two items of business.
  
  
• A Forms Reception Committee, composed of three Standing Committee members, is receiving “Facilitator Report Forms” from each of the district hearings.
  
  
• Individuals unable to attend a district hearing may provide input to the Forms Reception Committee through a special e-mail option on the Annual Conference website.

What will happen after March 1 and before Annual Conference?

• The Forms Reception Committee will read and study the Facilitator Report Forms submitted by Standing Committee members from the district hearings, and the e-mail responses submitted by those unable to attend a hearing. Please note that since the purpose of the Special Response Process is to facilitate conversation, the Facilitator Report Forms from district hearings are weighted more heavily than individual correspondence received via postal mail, e-mail, or the Annual Conference sponsored e-mail link. Also, all input to the Forms Reception Committee is confidential information and will not be shared publicly.
  
  
• After reading and studying all the input from district hearings, letters, and individual e-mail responses, the Forms Reception Committee will prepare for Standing Committee a quantitative and qualitative report summarizing the input and noting common themes. They (the Forms Reception Committee) will not provide specific recommendations to Standing Committee.
  
  
• The officers of Annual Conference will provide copies of the report from the Forms Reception Committee to Standing Committee along with other information in preparation for their meeting in Grand Rapids prior to Annual Conference.

What will happen at Annual Conference?

• In Grand Rapids, Standing Committee will discuss the report from Forms Reception Committee and then prepare recommendations to answer the two business items “Query: Language on Same Sex Covenantal Relationships” and “A Statement of Confession and Commitment.” Please note that these are the two business items directly addressed by the Special Response process (see 2009 minutes, pp. 241 and 244-5).
  
  
• The 2011 Annual Conference delegates will receive the recommendations from Standing Committee and process them according to the outline in the 2009 Annual Conference Minutes: “A Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues” (see 2009 minutes, pp. 234-6 for details of the outline).

Robert E. Alley is moderator of the 2011 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren. For more information about the denomination’s Special Response process, and for background documents, go to www.cobannualconference.org and follow the link to “Special Response.”

Annual Conference Quilts

Many congregations have folks who continue the art of quilting. We have an opportunity to fulfill a request from our Annual Conference moderator as well as provide a contribution to our district. Moderator Robert Alley recently wrote each district requesting “a comforter… This should be a pieced and knotted comforter (not a stitched quilt). Please make it colorful.” It will be brought forth during one of the worship services at Annual Conference this year in Grand Rapids and be displayed as part of our worship/business space. We hope to have many congregations create comforters. One will be sent to Annual Conference; the others will be displayed and auctioned off at District Conference this November to benefit the District. Each comforter should fit a double or queen-sized bed and the dimensions should be 86 by 88 inches or 96 by 100 inches. Projects should be completed by June 15.

I hope you will discuss this with other creative people in your church and accept the invitation to participate. Please notify me of your intention to participate by March 15, and I will gladly make arrangements to get your gift to the appropriate location. Thank you for your consideration in the creative project.

Ed Garrison, Standing Committee Representative, Illinois/Wisconsin District egarrison207@comcast.net (815) 734-4565

Annual Conference ballot for 2011 is released

The ballot has been announced for the 2011 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren, to take place in Grand Rapids, Mich., on July 2-6. The Nominating Committee of the Standing Committee of district delegates developed a slate of candidates, and Standing Committee then voted to create the ballot that will be presented. Nominees are listed by position:

Annual Conference Moderator-Elect: Mary Cline Detrick of Harrisonburg, Va.; Carol Spicher Waggy of Goshen, Ind.

Annual Conference Program and Arrangements Committee: Thomas Dowdy of Long Beach, Calif.; Cindy Laprade Lattimer of Dansville, N.Y.

Pastoral Compensation and Benefits Advisory Committee: Herb High of Lancaster, Pa.; John R. Lahman of Peoria, Ariz.

Committee on Interchurch Relations: Torin Eikler of Morgantown, W.Va.; Wendy Matheny of Arlington, Va.

Mission and Ministry Board: Area 3 Karen Cassell of Roanoke, Va.; Becky Rhodes of Roanoke, Va. Area 4 -- Genelle Wine Bunte of Minneapolis, Minn.; Jerry Crouse of Warrensburg, Mo. Area 5 -- W. Keith Goering of Wilson, Idaho; Dylan Haro of Richmond, Ind.

Bethany Theological Seminary Trustee: Representing the laity -- D. Miller Davis of Westminster, Md.; Rex Miller of Milford, Ind. Representing the colleges -- Christina Bucher of Elizabethtown, Pa.; Jonathan Frye of McPherson, Kan.

Brethren Benefit Trust Board: Robert Jacobs of Spring Grove, Pa.; John Waggoner of Herndon, Va.

On Earth Peace Board: Melisa Grandison of McPherson, Kan.; Patricia Ronk of Roanoke, Va.

Deacon Training

Saturday, March 19, 2011
9:00AM – 3:00PM
(Registration begins at 8:30)

Freeport Church of the Brethren
777 West Pleasant Street
(Pleasant Street & West Avenue)
Freeport, Illinois 61032

Leadership: Donna Kline, Director of Denominational Deacon Ministries

Registration: Please submit the form below, along with payment. Cost is $15 per person.

Deadline: Monday, March 14, 2011

---

Freeport Church of the Brethren Deacon Training
Saturday, March 19, 2011

Person(s) registering: ________________________________

Telephone:______________________________________

Congregation: ___________________________________

Workshops:

☐ The Art of Listening
☐ Support in Times of Grief and Loss
☐ Deacons and Pastors: The Pastoral Care Team

Mail this form and your registration fee ($15 per person, which includes lunch) to:

Freeport Church of the Brethren
Attention: Wendy Boettner
777 West Pleasant Street
Freeport, Illinois 61032

Make checks payable to “Freeport Church of the Brethren”

Ministers desiring .5 CEU credits should also include a separate check in the amount of $10, payable to “Brethren Academy”.

Registration deadline: Monday, March 14, 2011

Jonathan Shively Addresses Peoria Retreat

Jonathan Shively, from the Elgin Office of the Church of the Brethren, brought not only his credentials as Executive Director of Congregational Life Ministries but his wonderful talent as an accomplished musician to speak at The Seekers Sunday School class retreat. The retreat takes place every year with interesting and innovative speakers. This year’s retreat was held at the Eagle Crest Camp of the Salvation Army.

Friday evening devotions, held after some vigorous table games, came from Leonard Matheny whose theme was “Your Favorite Hymn.” Each person was asked to tell of their favorite hymn and why they liked that particular song.

Saturday morning Jonathan showed a video of an experiment involving the virtuoso violinist, Joshua Bell.

It was arranged for Bell to play at an upscale stop on the Washington D.C. Metro line to see what reaction the people would have to a world famous musician playing in a public place. The evening before Bell had filled the Kennedy Center with people paying $100 a ticket many who probably would pass through this station.

As he began to play it was seven minutes before anybody even looked in his direction. Eventually someone threw a dollar bill at his feet but few stopped to listen. We were asked to try and explain why people would not recognize not only an accomplished musician but an internationally acclaimed piece of music he was playing.

After a wonderful lunch of soup and sandwiches and a lot of other stuff we reconvened. Jonathan had asked the group to bring something to the retreat that was creative and significant in our lives and then tell the group what it meant to you. What a beautiful, wonderful insight to our fellow seekers. Some brought pictures, paintings, neckerchief slides, poems, etc. things that had meaning in our lives. It was a special time in the Retreat.

Next year will be the 20th consecutive year that the Seekers have held a retreat. We will be looking for a special place and another dynamic speaker to celebrate this milestone.

Accessible Faith Grant Program

The Retirement Research Foundation announces the 2011 Accessible Faith Grant Program to enable houses of worship to make accessibility improvements to their facilities. The program is available to houses of worship in six metro Chicago counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, and McHenry. Since the program began eight years ago, the Foundation has awarded 114 grants to religious congregations totaling almost $2.5 million to make their facilities more accessible.

We will accept applications from March 1 through June 1, 2011. If you have questions or comments, please contact us at AFG2011@rrf.org. Thank you.

Donna Kline, Director, Deacon Ministries

News from Douglas Park

Herman Ware has been called to serve as the directing pastor at the Douglas Park Church of the Brethren. Pastor Ware will be working to build up the body of Christ in this community by holding weekly worship services, actively witnessing in the community, and continuing a feeding program whereby community residents in need and homeless persons can enjoy a hot meal.

Shirley Petracek has been called serve in the role of the Minister of Care. The responsibilities of this position include ministering to those in need, following up with newcomers, and assisting with administrative duties.

This ministry team with their new responsibilities seeks your prayerful support as they serve the people in and community in the Douglas Park area on the west side of Chicago.

Exciting Exchange in Rockford

Small congregations can do BIG things. Just ask the Rockford First Church of the Brethren. As a small congregation with minimal and declining financial resources, Rockford First wondered what to do with the beautiful facility where they worshiped each Sunday. Just maintaining the building would deplete their resources in a matter of a few months. One option, which was tried, was selling the property and moving into smaller facility. Because a potential buyer was unable to produce the funds to make the purchase, Rockford opted for another solution — gifting their facility to Rockford Community Church of the Brethren, the new church plant in the Rockford community led by church planters Samuel and Gretchen Sarpiya. Rockford Community was meeting in the facility for worship and providing help with maintenance and upkeep anyway. Conversations ensued leading to an agreement being reached for this gifting to become reality.

The responsibilities for property upkeep and maintenance will shift to Rockford Community. Rockford First will not have to move, either. They will continue to meet for worship in the building. Another group meets in the building for worship as well. These arrangements have helped to keep an existing property for Church of the Brethren purposes. Kudos to Rockford First and Rockford Community for working together to reach an agreement of significant importance for Church of the Brethren ministry to continue in the Rockford area and the IL/WI District.

District Conference Location for 2011

The District Program and Arrangements Committee is excited about promoting a new venue for District Conference this fall. November 4-6, 2011, our district conference will convene for the first time at the Lake Williamson Conference Center in Carlinville, IL. The facility contains motel-like accommodations, food service on site, ample space for meetings, breakout sessions, and silent auction, and many options for extracurricular activities (swimming, volleyball, basketball, walking, etc.), all for comparable prices of previous district conferences. Because the venue offers something for the whole family, the P&A Committee encourages families to attend. It is an opportunity for family interaction at a district event where "business" is the usual fare. Everything on site--food, meeting space, lodging--makes this an ideal place to hold a conference of our size. Watch for more information in the coming weeks about this exciting new conference venue and the opportunities this facility holds for more than just business as usual.

Witnessing Through the Media

The Springfield Church of the Brethren Witness Commission made arrangements with WUIS Radio to begin sponsorship and announcements on February 27. The announcements will occur during the show “Being”, public radio’s conversation about religion, meaning, ethics and ideas. Sponsorship announcements will also be interspersed throughout the broadcast week. Stay tuned!

In addition to radio sponsorship, advertising space within the Springfield weekly Illinois Times is also being developed. This medium was used regularly about two decades ago.

What messages about faith, church life, Brethren witness & outreach do we wish to share? Witness Commission members, Rebecca Lipscomb, Shirley Anderson, and Allen Krall, are interested in knowing who might like to help with developing some of our messages for local media.

Submitted by Kres Lipscomb, Pastor, Springfield CoB.

Harvest Happenings: Rockford 1st Church Gifts Building to Rockford Community Church

You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. For your generosity to them will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you.
—2 Corinthians 9:13-14

During a congregational meeting of Rockford 1st
Church on February 6th 2011, a motion passed to gift the Rockford 1st Church building to Rockford Community Church.

At district conference in 2008, Rockford 1st Church Pastor Kathleen Brinkmeier made the announcement that their congregation would like to invite church planter Samuel Sarpiya to come to Rockford to start a new church with the offer of sharing space in their building. Pastor’s Samuel and Gretchen Sarpiya accepted the offer as a leading from God and moved to the Rockford Community in February of 2009.

They began praying for and meeting with individuals in the Rockford community and eventually formed a prayer group that met in one of their homes. The group grew and soon decided that it was time to move from simply a Friday night prayer meeting to including a time of worship and fellowship on Sunday mornings.

Rockford 1st Church willingly received them and the group began worshiping in the Rockford 1st Church building. Since that time the Rockford Community Church group has grown.

Rockford 1st Church had been considering the sale of their building due to dwindling resources and the cost of maintaining the building which was becoming increasingly difficult for the small church to handle. Several attempts to sell the building had failed to produce a buyer for the building.

A suggestion was made that Rockford 1st Church congregation consider gifting the building to the growing Rockford Community Church group. This solution keeps the building in the Church of the Brethren denomination, provides an excellent resource where Rockford Community Church can continue to grow and flourish, and Rockford 1st Church is able to continue to meet in the building without the struggles of maintenance and upkeep that were draining the older, smaller Rockford 1st congregation. It’s kind of like passing along the family farm to the next generation.

Rockford 1st Church has provided a wonderful example in opening their hearts and arms to a new church growing in their midst. May the Lord prosper you and keep you, may He make His face to shine upon you and make you great. May God be gracious to you and give you peace.

Harvest Happenings: What is Missional - A Short Answer

“Jesus told us to go into all the world and be his ambassadors, but many churches today have inadvertently changed the “go and be” command to a “come and see” appeal. We have grown attached to buildings, programs, staff and a wide variety of goods and services designed to attract and entertain people.

“Missional is a helpful term used to describe what happens when you “ and I replace the “come to us” invitations with a “go to them” life. A life where “the way of Jesus” informs and radically transforms our existence to one wholly focused on sacrificially living for him and others and where we adopt a missionary stance in relation to our culture. It speaks of the very nature of the Jesus follower. —Rick Meigs

Harvest Happenings: A Vision for Aurora

Frances Baxter will be sharing her vision for ministry during a dinner hosted by New Church Development on March 19th at the Neighborhood Church of the Brethren in Montgomery. If you are interested in meeting Frances and hearing her vision for starting a new church of the Brethren in Aurora, please contact Lynda DeVore at 630-554-1458 or by email at Lynda@ncdb.org to secure your place for the dinner. Donations toward the ministry will be accepted.

Postcard from Camp Emmanuel

Important Dates:
Work Camp April 16, Saturday,
Work Day April 16-22 Work Week

We know that spring is just around the corner when daffodils send up hopeful, green shoots. With spring comes the opportunity to help spruce up Camp Emmanuel for the camping season.

Work day begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 16th.
We’ll be cleaning the buildings, picking up the grounds and beginning the rebuilding of the suspension and land bridges. Work Week continues through Friday, April 22nd. Please come for any part of this regeneration project you can. Let us know which day(s) you’re coming by e-mail at campemmanuel.cob@gmail.com or by telephone 309-328-2291. Come and enjoy Jim and Clareen Dunn’s (and Ruth’s) cooking, as well as the fellowship of working together.

Seventh Annual Fish Fry — Mark Your Calendars
September 24th 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Food! Fun! Prizes! In 2010, 114 people enjoyed the delicious food and family-friendly fun.
Fee: $0.00 Donations accepted.

Feeding God’s Lambs?
In the past few years volunteers have stepped up to serve as cooks for the Brethren camps. This practice helps Camp Emmanuel operate “in the black.” Again this season the Board is asking for volunteers. Brethren Camps still in need of cooks are:

Young Adult Camp—May 13-15
Youth Camp—June 5-11
Pre-Junior Camp—July 8-9
Junior Camp—July 10-16
Family Camp—September 2-4

During their service time, cooks lodge in the relative luxury of either White Oaks Cabin (private shower and restroom, less walking, fridge, and pedestal fan) or in the camp house basement, (private shower and restroom, T.V., king-size bed and pedestal fan.)

To answer the call to this ministry: e-mail: campemmanuel.cob@gmail.com or telephone 309-329-2291 to work out the particulars.

See you at camp! Mike & Ruth Siburt, Managers

Exploring Your Call Returns to Bethany

It was during Exploring Your Call that I first seriously considered ministry as a vocation. I also felt a deep connection to the denomination through the friends I made.
—Dylan Haro, San Diego, Calif, First-year Bethany student

With the encouragement of Dylan and five other current Bethany students, Bethany is reviving Exploring Your Call. Held June 17-27, 2011, at Bethany, EYC will provide the opportunity for young people who are entering their junior or senior year of high school to explore faith and vocation through courses, congregational involvement, community service, personal and spiritual enrichment, and recreation. First offered from 2001-2005, EYC sparked participants interest in doing advanced biblical and theological work and gave them a lively introduction to the work of pastoral ministry.

All expenses for EYC are covered through a generous grant from Barnabas Ltd., excluding transportation to and from Richmond, Indiana. More information and a registration application can be found at www.bethanyseminary.edu/eyc For additional information, e-mail eyc@bethanyseminary.edu or call 800-287-8822.

Let your youth know about this great opportunity!

Welcome Pastor David Roe to Oakley Brick Church

There is a new pastor at the Oakley Brick Church of the Brethren. Pastor David Roe has accepted the position to serve the Oakley Brick Church of the Brethren congregation. Please welcome him and family to our District.

Pastor Roe’s address is P.O. Box 57, Cerro Gordo, IL. 61818 or you can e-mail a welcome to zungaroroe@hotmail.com.

Oak Grove Visits Creation Museum

Members of the Oak Grove Church of the Brethren traveled to the Creation Museum near the Cincinnati Airport in Petersburg, KY on January 17th. It was great! Twenty one folks from the Church made the trip and the Lord blessed all with a great time of fellowship and encouragement. The Museum presented the truth of God's Word. It also reinforced what the Church has been learning in the past several years. Praise to the Lord.

This article submitted by Pastor Charles Buegel serving Oak Grove Church of the Brethren.

Pinecrest Job Opportunity

Pinecrest Community, a continuing care retirement community, is seeking a highly motivated individual as our Director of Development. This individual is responsible to plan, develop and maintain a comprehensive fundraising program on behalf of Pinecrest Community, through grants, bequests, trusts, donations to enhance Pinecrest’s mission. The Director coordinates and leads the efforts of our current Capital Fundraising Campaign and supervises the Annual Giving Manager. Demonstrated success in activities to coordinate, attract and close major gift funding support including face-to-face solicitation of gifts. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge of marketing strategies and techniques, knowledge of long range planning process, highly developed interpersonal skills, and be an organized and professional representative of Pinecrest. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree. A minimum of four years experience including knowledge of Annual Giving, Capital Campaign, Foundation/Corporate solicitations, Deferred Giving.

Please submit application to Victoria Marshall, Pinecrest Community, 414 South Wesley Avenue, Mt. Morris, IL 61054.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

MARCH

 3-6 - Way of Christ - Men's Weekend
 6 - One Great Hour of Sharing
 9 - Ash Wednesday
10-13 - Way of Christ - Women's Weekend
12 - Camp Emmanuel Board Meeting
13 - Daylight Savings Time Begins
18-20 - Spring District Youth Global Justice Retreat @ Camp Emmaus
19 - Deacon Training @ Freeport
19 - Community Outreach Workshop with Duane Grady @ Canton
26 - Program & Arrangements Comm. @ Carlinville
26 - Ministerial Leadership Dev. Team Meeting

APRIL

 2 - Gift Discernment & Call Comm. Meeting
 9 - Leadership Team
16 - Program & Arrangements
16 - Camp Emmanuel Work Day
16-22 - Camp Emmanuel Spring Work Day/Week
17 - Palm Sunday
19 - Passover
22 - Good Friday
24 - Easter

MAY

 1 - National Youth Sunday
 5 - National Day of Prayer
 7 - Camp Emmanuel CIT Workshop
 8 - Mother’s Day
13-15 Camp Emmanuel Young Adult Camp
14 - Leadership Team
27-30 - Emmaus Family Camp
30 - Memorial Day

JUNE

 3-5 -  Camp Emmanuel Women's Camp
 5-11 - Camp Emmanuel Sr Hi Youth Camp
12-18 - Camp Emmanuel Jr Hi Camp
17 - National Jr High Conference @ Elizabethtown College
19 - Father’s Day
21 - First Day of Summer
24-26 - Camp Emmaus CIT Training
25-26 - Camp Emmaus Elementary I Camp

JULY

 2–6 - Annual Conference @ Grand Rapids, MI
 8-9 - Camp Emmanuel Pre-Junior Camp
10-16 - Camp Emmanuel Junior Camp
10-16 - Camp Emmaus Sr Hi Youth Camp
17-23 - Camp Emmaus Jr Hi Youth Camp
23 - Leadership Team
24-29 - Camp Emmaus Elementary III Camp

AUGUST

 2-5 - Camp Emmaus Elementary II Camp
 5-7 - Camp Emmaus Women's Camp
12-14 - Camp Emmanuel Men's Camp
14 - Camp Emmanuel Board Meeting
20 - Program & Arrangements

SEPTEMBER

 2–5 - Camp Emmanuel Family Camp
 2-5 - Camp Emmaus Family Camp
 5 - Labor Day
 5 - NOAC, Lake Junaluska
11 - Grandparent’s Day
17 - Leadership Team
21 - International Day of Peace
29 - Rosh Hashanah

OCTOBER

 2 - World Communion Sunday
 8 - Yom Kippur
 8 - Program & Arrangements
10 - Columbus Day
15 - Leadership Team
22 - Camp Emmanuel Fall Work Day

NOVEMBER

 4–6 - District Conference, Lake Williamson
 6 - Daylight Savings Time Ends
12 - Camp Emmanuel Board Meeting
18-19 - Leadership Team Retreat
24 - Thanksgiving
27 - First Sunday of Advent

DECEMBER

21 - Hanukkah
25 - Christmas
26 - Kwanzaa