The Reflector -- March 2012 -- Vol 9 Issue 2

DE PONDERING by Kevin Kessler

I'm always elated when I find a nugget of profound wisdom in a book I'm reading. One of these gems jumped out at me in Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating by Norman Wirzba. This profundity from Wirzba certainly relates to the subject on which he writes, but it can also stand alone, out of context, which is the way it impacted me. The subject is Sabbath, and here is what he writes:

Scripture tells us that God blessed and hallowed the seventh day "because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation" (Genesis 2:3). God's rest has nothing to do with fatigue, as if God could become tired of creative work. Rather, it has to do with the intense joy and peace, the supreme delight and contentment that followed from God's life-giving work. When people think of Sabbath they tend to think in terms of exhaustion: rest is a break, the time to escape from the harried pace of life. For God, however, rest is best understood as God's complete entrance into life and as God's availability to and joy in the beauty and goodness that is there. Directly contrary to human restlessness, the constant, frantic searching and striving for a different place or a better community, God rests because there is no other place God would rather be. God rests because the place where God is is the place of God's love and concern and work, and there simply is no other place worth going to. Sabbath is not a reprieve from life but the putting to an end of the restlessness that prevents deep engagement with it.

Wirzba's words guided me to think about Lent, the season of the church year now upon us. Lent is a time when we are invited to be self-reflective, to examine our lives in relation to God and others. This opportunity allows us to consider a vast array of behaviors in which we engage to determine how well we are doing. To perform this practice thoroughly takes time. Therefore, carving out occasions to be exclusively contemplative seems beneficial. Provided, then, is an opportunity to rest from the constant restlessness which tends to consume our waking hours. In this manner, Lent becomes for us a Sabbath.

Lent is indeed an occasion for us to consider our less than attractive behaviors for which we seek forgiveness. As Sabbath, Lent is likewise an opportunity to consider the joy and beauty of our lives, to contemplate that which is good, acceptable, and right in the eyes of God, which our lives display. Pondering these attributes lets us rest in a place that is worth going to. Furthermore, tarrying in these thoughts for a season potentially helps us alter our lives to become more wholly immersed in attractive behaviors. Ultimately, we reach the point of being Sabbath people, ably living our lives in love and concern, where there is no better place to be.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

The statistics are shocking: in the US, a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds. The Department of Health and Human Services says 3.3 million child abuse reports and allegations were made involving an estimated 6 million children in 2009 alone. Christianity proclaims justice and hope for all who are victimized; the church is called to protect God’s children and restore hope to those who are abused.

Read the full story at www.brethren.org/childprotection/month.html  

Copied from News Service, Church of the Brethren

District Potluck

Camp Emmanuel News

Spring is in the air and a new camping season beckons. We hope to see many of you enjoying the peaceful beauty and good-natured fun at one or more of the Church of the Brethren camps in 2012. Opportunities to serve Jesus at Camp Emmanuel abound from cooking to cleaning to construction and repair, grounds pickup and boat maintenance.

Projects for Work Week include:

• Rebuild Spill Way Bridge 
• New door and deck on Elm Cabin 
• Build handicapped accessible fishing dock 
• Playground repaired or replaced 
• Repair men’s showers 
• Repair Cottonwood Electric 
• Cleaning cabins, chapel and porch and dining hall 
• Cutting firewood 
• Grounds maintenance 
• Paint four-square grid on basketball court 

Please also prayerfully consider serving as cook or assistant cook for one of the camps. Volunteer cooks and assistants save the camp thousands of dollars per season and are greatly appreciated. Also, new this year, (we hope) air conditioning in the camp kitchen. Woo Hoo!

Camps still needing cooks are: 

Assistant cook needed—Junior Camp: Dates June 17-23 (Jane Weiss—head cook)

Cooks & assistants needed for: Youth Camp—June 3-9; Pre-Junior-- July 13-15, Young Adults—August 3-5; Family Camp--August 31-September 3.

Any of these would make a great service project for any church group.

For further information please contact Ruth or Mike at 309-321-2291 or email at campemmanuel.cob@gmail.com

News from Emmaus and Honduran Mission

It was a hectic summer last year at Camp Emmaus with the restoration of the camp pool, which is still on-going. But with everything going on at Camp attention was also focused on the Honduran Mission 2012. The mission continues to be blessed by God’s grace and from people who provide financial support and prayers for the people of Honduras.

The January 2011 mission supported six Honduran families providing each family the opportunity to build an 18’ X 18’ block home. People worked five weeks getting sand and gravel from the river to make nearly 4,000 concrete blocks then moving them to the housing sites. Working together with the Hondurans construction was completed on six houses in seven days. Each house has a concrete floor, metal roof and an installed door and window. On the last day in Las Palmas a celebration was organized by the Hondurans who expressed their gratitude to God and the workers for the new, safe, healthy houses.

Over the past six years the Mission Teams have completed the repair to the clinic at San Juan Baptista, built 32 latrines in Los Ranchos, 11 water storage tanks and 34 block homes in Los Ranchos and Las Palmas.

In addition to the construction projects the Mission Teams have sewed diapers, dresses and shorts for babies and children, brought medical supplies to local nurses and clinics, provided school supplies, sent 360 tropical fruit tree seedlings, secured stoves and provided for electric power, shipped text books, provided a sewing machine for a seamstress in a rural village plus much more in financial, spiritual and other support for the people of Honduras.

A team was scheduled to go back to Las Palmas in January 2012 to build 6 more homes. Bill and Betty Hare ask for your prayers for the Honduran Mission and would accept any financial help anyone would care to make to keep mission alive and active. Contributions can be sent to: Bill Hare, P.O. Box 128, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Checks should be made payable to Honduras Mission Project. Bill and Betty are also available for presentations and can be contacted at (815) 734-4268.

Annual Conference Housing in St. Louis

A number of people have called the Annual Conference Office in recent days interested in making hotel reservations at downtown St. Louis hotels other than the three in the Annual Conference housing block (Renaissance Grand, Holiday Inn, and Hyatt). There are certainly many other hotels in the downtown area beyond the three that the Annual Conference Office signed contracts with five years ago. Some of them even have free breakfasts.

Some people have asked me: Why don’t you have any rooms there? My honest answer is: I don’t know why the decisions were made that were made five years ago. But what I do know is that the Executive Director at that time signed contracts for 977 hotel rooms on each of the four “peak” nights and that the Church of the Brethren has to pay for those rooms, whether anyone stays in them or not.

Paying for hotel rooms that no Brethren stay in could cost us thousands and thousands of dollars (like it did in 2009 at the San Diego conference). Ultimately, it will result in us having to have a two-tiered registration price: $105 (non-delegate) if you stay in the conference housing block or much higher if you choose to book outside of that block, risking that we will have to pay for unused rooms. A second reason for booking within the conference hotel block is that those three hotels pay the convention center, based on the number of hotel nights that we use, for a portion of the meeting space rental cost that we are charged by the convention center.

Grace and Peace,

Chris Douglas, Director of Conference Office,
Church of the Brethren, 847-742-5100 ext. 228

One Great Hour of Sharing Resources

One Great Hour of Sharing resources should have arrived! 

“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” 

2 Corinthians 9:8 

The theme for the 2012 One Great Hour of Sharing offering materials continues to be Sharing Brings Joy, and this year the focus is sharing joy with others.

The suggested offering date is Sunday, March 18.

Envelopes, bulletin inserts, and a poster should be in your mailbox, and in lieu of a printed leader’s guide this year, all such materials are available online at www.brethren.org/oghs. Children’s activities, sermon starts, orders of service, and many other ideas for creating a dynamic worship service are available at the click of your mouse.

If you would prefer a printed copy of these materials or if you have any questions, e-mail offerings@brethren.org or call Mandy Garcia at 847-742-5100 ext. 305.

‘Naked Anabaptist’ author Murray featured in upcoming webinar

A one-day workshop and webinar titled “Changing World, Future Church, Ancient Paths” will be led by Stuart Murray Williams and Juliet Kilpin on March 10, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Pacific), or 12-6 p.m. (central). The event will address the question, “What does it mean to follow Jesus in a changing culture, in which the Christian story is no longer familiar and the church is on the margins?” according to an announcement from Congregational Life Ministries staff Stan Dueck.

Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2012/naked-anabaptist-author-leads-workshop.html (copied from News Services, Church of the Brethren)

2012 National Young Adult Conference

Are you between the ages of 18 and 35? If so, then you are invited to the NYAC in Knoxville, TN. This event will be a chance for young adults to gather and create a loving community, have engaging conversations about our role in the denomination and also enjoy various speakers.

NYAC takes place on June 18 – 22, 2012 at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Our theme is “Humble, yet Bold: Being the Church,” based on Matt. 5: 13 – 18, “Being Salt for the Earth” and “A light for the world.”

Online registration begins Jan. 6 at 8 PM at www.brethtren.org/yac. The cost for the event will be $375 and includes housing, programming and meals. The Young Adult Steering Committee encourages congregations to offer NYA C scholarships in their 2012 budgets. NYAC gift certificates may be purchased by friends and families.

DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY to be part of the community that will be created during these five days in Knoxville. Join us on Facebook on “Young Adults of the Church of the Brethren.”

For more information call 800-323-8039 ext. 281 or E-mail NYAC2012@brethren.org.

Accessibility Grants Now Available

The Retirement Research Foundation is pleased to announce the 2012 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 nine years ago, the Foundation has awarded 129 grants to religious congregations totaling almost $2.8 million to make their facilities more accessible.

Please help us share information about the Accessible Faith Grant Program with leaders of houses of worship, disability rights advocates, and others who may know religious congregations that could benefit from this opportunity. Please announce the Accessible Faith Grant Program through print or electronic newsletters, listservs, or other means available to you. A copy of the flyer announcing the 2012 Accessible Faith Grant Program is attached. You may view it in full color, download and make copies of it. You will find a full description of the program, application form, and tips for completing the application in the Accessible Faith Grant Program section of our website at www.rrf.org.

We hope that you will help spread the word immediately to give congregations adequate time to submit an application. We will accept applications from March 1 through June 1, 2012. Thank you for helping us make others aware of the importance of accessibility improvements and the availability of funding for such efforts.

If you have questions or comments, or you wish to be removed from the Foundation’s mailing list, please contact us at AFG@rrf.org. Thank you.

Together, We Are Making a Difference

IL/WI District Church of the Brethren
269 E. Chestnut • Canton, IL 61520
Phone & Fax: 309-649-6008
 

District Executive: Kevin Kessler, kevink.iwdcob@sbcglobal.net
Administrative Assistant: Beth Carpentier, bethc.iwdcob@att.net

Feb. 7, 2012

Dear Pastor, Treasurer, Friend of the District:

Each quarter the district office sends out the Pledged to Actual Comparison report for two reasons. The first reason is practical. The report provides congregations with the opportunity to review their giving for the year. Are they on track with their pledge? Have funds been sent that are not recorded? Can a contribution be made or increased? It’s always helpful to review current giving.

The second reason for sending this report is to say, “Thank you!” Your contributions to the district budget ensure the continuation of district ministries. District leadership takes seriously the responsibility to prudently care for and utilize contributed funds. So, thank you for entrusting district leadership to act on your behalf to effectively use the resources you give.

Moreover, thank you for the dollars and cents you contribute that make possible the following:

• Mission and Mortar grants/loans allowing congregations to improve real property and/or revitalize ministries.
• A district office that serves as a central base for the district, receives questions and comments, assists in meeting and district conference preparations, acts as a conduit for resources, and...
• District staff who assist with pastoral placements, pastor/congregation evaluations, resource distribution, consultation on matters of the church, licensing/ordination/installation services, and...
• A district newsletter helping us stay connected with each other and providing relevant insights.
• District Deacons who provide assistance during times of conflict and produce the District Potluck giving us the opportunity to gather for worship, fellowship, and learning experiences.
• Sending a Standing Committee delegate to represent our district at Annual Conference.
• Supporting new church development.
• Supporting revitalization of existing congregations.
• Financially supporting persons in ministry training programs—Education For a Shared Ministry (EFSM), Training in Ministry (TRIM), and Bethany Theological Seminary.
• Securing mentors for ministers in training, supporting persons through the credentialing process, giving oversight to the credentialing process
• Investing in a visioning process; setting goals; building strategies.
• And more...

Together, we are making a difference!

Grace and peace,

Kevin Kessler
District Executive

2011 Pledged to Actual Comparison

Calendar of District Events

MARCH

2 - World Day of Prayer
10–12 - Mission and Ministry Board @ New Windsor
11 - Daylight Savings Time Begins
18 - One Great Hour of Sharing

APRIL

1 - Palm Sunday
6 - Good Friday
7 - First Day of Passover
8 - Easter
14 - Camp Emmanuel Spring Work Day
14-21 - Camp Emmanuel Spring Work Week
23–May 4 - BVS Older Adult Orientation
28 - District Pot Luck @ Peoria CoB

MAY

3 - National Day of Prayer
4-5 - Camp Emmanuel CIT Workshop
6 - National Youth Sunday
13 - Mother’s Day
17–19 - New Church Dev. Conf. @ Richmond, IN
25–28 - Camp Emmaus Memorial Day Family Camp
27 - Pentecost Sunday
28 - Memorial Day

JUNE

1-3 - Camp Emmanuel Women’s Retreat
3-9 - Camp Emmanuel Youth Camp
10-16 - Camp Emmanuel JrHi Camp
10–29 - BVS Summer Orientation
16–22 - National Young Adult Conf. @ Knoxville
17 - Father’s Day
17-23 - Camp Emmanuel Junior Camp

JULY

6–7 - Ministers Assoc. Pre-Conf. @ St. Louis, MO
7–11 - Annual Conference @ St. Louis, MO
7 - Mission & Ministry Board @ St. Louis, MO
13–15 - Camp Emmanuel Pre-Junior Camp
13–15 - Camp Emmaus Counselor-in-Training Event
14–15 - Camp Emmaus Elementary I Camp
17–20 - Camp Emmaus Elementary II Camp
22–28 - Camp Emmaus Senior High Camp

AUGUST

3–5 - Camp Emmanuel Young Adult Camp
July 29–August 4 - Camp Emmaus Junior High Camp
5–10 - Camp Emmaus Elementary III Camp
10–12 - Camp Emmaus Women's Camp
10–12 - Camp Emmanuel Men's Camp
20–30 - BVS/BRF Orientation @ New Windsor
Aug 31–Sept 3 - Camp Emmanuel Family Camp
Aug 31–Sept 3 - Camp Emmaus Labor Day Family Camp

SEPTEMBER

3 - Labor Day
16–Oct 5 - BVS Fall Orientation
17 - Rosh Hashanah
21 - International Day of Peace
26 - Yom Kippur
29 - Camp Emmanuel 7th Annual Fish Fry

OCTOBER

7 - World Communion Sunday
20 - Camp Emmanuel Fall Work Day
20–23 - Mission and Ministry Board @ Elgin, IL
28 - Reformation Sunday

NOVEMBER

4 - National Jr. High Sunday
4 - Daylight Savings Time Ends
16–18 - Mission Alive @ Lititz, PA
22 - Thanksgiving Day

DECEMBER

2 - First Sunday of Advent
9 - First Day of Chanukah/Hanukkah
25 - Christmas Day
31 - New Year’s Eve