The Reflector -- September 2014 -- Vol 11 Issue 7

Thoughts from the Moderator - Stan Rodabaugh

Is truth your bottom line?

If Jesus of Nazareth would like to share truth with you, would you want to know what he had to say to you?

If there is sin in your life that is disrupting your relationship with God the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and your friends and neighbors, would you want the Lord to show it to you? If the Lord would help you remove the sin from your life, would you be willing for Him to help?

If He wanted to teach you about your part in cooperating with removing the sin, would you want to learn what he has to teach you?

Do you want the “Mind of Christ”? (See 1 Cor. 2:16)

Do you want His thoughts to be your thoughts? Do you want to think about others and feel about others the way God the Father, the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit do?

Do you think it strange to believe that the living Lord Jesus wants to be involved in every moment of your life and that He is the best friend you will ever have?

In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If this is true, are you willing to know it? If it is truly true, do you want to know it?

In Colossians 1:15-20( NIV), Paul writes “He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” If this is true, are you willing to know this truth? If the Spirit of Christ witnesses to your spirit that this is true, are you willing to accept it?

Why am I asking questions like the ones above? Our theme for District Conference comes from John 15:1- 17. In verse 4 Jesus says “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain (abide) in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain (abide) in me.” I am asking these questions to help focus our attention on the importance of Abiding (remaining) in the “Vine” (Jesus). This is a very serious admonition from Jesus. Our intimate relationship with Jesus is not optional according to this text. Abiding in Jesus, his words abiding in us, our abiding in his love are not optional in our walk with him. This abiding in him is essential; according to Jesus it is a matter of life or death! Jesus says our fruitfulness - answered prayer/ joy/ loving each other - depends on our remaining in him and his words remaining in us. If we believe these words of Jesus are true, as we live together and witness to others, this relationship with Jesus, the Vine, will be our primary focus.

Is truth our bottom line?

Silent & Live Auctions 2014 District Conference to benefit District Ministries - Nov. 7 - 8

Last year at District Conference the themed baskets went over so well that we are going to do the same again this year! We are asking each church to provide a basket or two of goodies with a theme, such as kitchen, movie night and so on. We are also asking for baked goods for the Silent Auction. For the Live Auction we are asking people to provide nice Arts and Crafts items, such as woodworking, paintings, maybe pottery, and, of course, it would be nice to have a few quilts! We would like to have a dozen or so items in the Live Auction. If you would like to provide an item, please let me know ahead of time what you are planning to bring.

For more information please contact Rick Koch @ 815-499-3012 or at revrick-dutchtown@jcwifi.com

Prayer is requested as EYN temporarily closes Kulp Bible College in face of Boko Haram advance

Prayer is requested for the students and staff of Kulp Bible College (KBC), and the leadership of Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), as the decision has been made to temporarily close the college. Students will be leaving for other areas of the country, and headquarters staff also may be making ready to leave as Boko Haram forces advance to within 50 kilometers of the EYN headquarters.

KBC and the EYN headquarters are located in Kwarhi, near the city of Mubi in northeastern Nigeria. Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is forbidden,” is an insurgent Islamist group that has been carrying out terrorist type violence aimed at creating a “pure Islamic state.”

In related news, Brethren Disaster Ministries is directing $20,000 from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) for a joint response by the Church of the Brethren and EYN. This funding will begin a pilot project focused on building temporary care centers for displaced EYN families. (More about this grant will appear in the next regularly scheduled issue of Newsline on Aug. 9.)

reprinted from Newsline

Peace Day

2014 Theme: “Visions and Dreams of Building Peace” “Your young people will see visions, and your elders will dream dreams.” —Joel 2:28 | Acts 2:17

Church of the Brethren congregations are invited to include special prayers for peace as part of Sunday services, September 21. Will you join all those around the world whose hearts are broken and lives are shattered by violence, by praying and acting for peace that day? September 21 can be a time for your congregation to lift up your concerns about violence and brokenness, and to ask God for a vision about how you can respond. Some congregations also plan public events or prayer services to connect with the broader community. You can find stories from previous Peace Day events, along with online registration, prayer resources, half-page activity sheets, children’s peace mural kits, and more, online here: www.peacedaypray.org. Contact campaign staff with questions or ideas: peaceday@onearthpeace.org

Matt Guynn
Director of Nonviolent Social Change
On Earth Peace
E-mail: mguynn@onearthpeace.org Skype: matt.guynn
Twitter: @OEPNonviolence Tel: 503-465-4557
Mail: 12727 SE Market St, Portland, OR 97233 USA

Illinois/Wisconsin District Conference

REGISTRATION FORM INSTRUCTIONS

(Read Carefully)

NOVEMBER 7 & 8, 2014

HOSTED BY: HIGHLAND AVENUE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN

ELGIN, IL

1. Please complete this form for ALL members of your family attending District Conference (Your congregation will NOT do this for you). Complete appropriate forms, pay any fees and then return finished forms to the District office.
• Please register all children - junior high as no childcare/programs will be planned unless registration is received by Sept. 15th.
2. Delegate fees are included in the congregational assessment each church pays for District Conference. A letter indicating the assessment amount will be sent to your congregation's treasurer. You may assist by confirming with your church treasurer that appropriate fees have been paid. No fee is assessed for non-delegates.
3. It is important for all participants, delegates and non-delegates, to register for insurance purposes.
4. The only meal being offered this year is the Saturday noon meal which will be served in the church dining hall. Please mark if you will be buying the buffet and return the $10.00 fee per person with your registration. 

Check on www.iwdcob.org for registration forms and additional information.

Powerhouse regional youth conference to be at Camp Mack in mid-November

By Walt Wiltschek

The Powerhouse regional youth conference has reached its fifth anniversary! Powerhouse will return to Camp Mack near Milford, Ind., on Nov. 15-16, providing a weekend of worship, workshops, music, recreation, and more for senior high youth in the Midwest and their advisors.

Join in this action-packed and faith-filled weekend following on National Youth Conference. The theme this year is “Almost Christian: Seeking an Authentic Faith,” drawing on the book “Almost Christian” by Kenda Creasy Dean and other studies that have been done in this area.

Jonathan Shively, executive director of Congregational Life Ministries for the Church of the Brethren, is the keynote speaker for three worship times during the weekend. Seth Hendricks, pastor of Happy Corner Church of the Brethren in Dayton, Ohio, and a member of the band Mutual Kumquat, returns as music leader.

Opportunities also will be available to visit and tour the Manchester University campus in North Manchester, Ind., about 45-50 minutes from Camp Mack, before or after the conference, and perhaps as a workshop option on Saturday.

Groups coming from a distance and needing a place to stay in the area on Friday night may contact us and we can help make arrangements to stay at Manchester University or with congregations in the area.

Cost is $75 for youth, $65 for advisors (for extenuating circumstances, please contact us). Everyone will have a bed to sleep in. Participants should bring their own bedding and towels. The camp will be preparing the meals. All the forms needed to register and a host of other information is at www.manchester.edu/powerhouse. Please be in prayer for this event and encourage your youth and advisors to attend.

—Walt Wiltschek is director of Religious Life and Church Relations at Manchester University. For more about Manchester go to www.manchester.edu

Reprint from Church of the Brethren Newsline September 3, 2014

Peoria Church Assembles Student Snack Pacs

As the new school year gets under way hundreds of students face the weekend and holidays without enough to eat. The Peoria Church of the Brethren in conjunction with neighborhood Hines School assemble over 510 “Snack Pacs” to be distributed to children in K through 4th grades at the school Friday afternoons.

Last school year the Church assembled 2,214 “Snack Pacs” with 8,856 nutritious snacks to feed 550+ grade school children. The church follows the school’s peanut free/nut free policy in assembling the Pacs which include cereal bars, fruit rollups, oatmeal packets, applesauce cups, ramen noodles and crackers. The contents vary from time to time for variety. Other items that have been included in the “Snack Pacs” were beef sticks, box of raisins and microwave popcorn.

The school allows us to include a written note in the Pacs telling the students “Each snack pack is assembled with love and care for you.” We are also allowed to include our name and invitations to church events like Bible School, Church picnics, movies, and other events.

The “Snack Pac” program begins its second year at Peoria with help from the District of Illinois- Wisconsin who provided a grant from the “Missions and Motor” fund.

Response from the school and students has been heartwarming. We heard stories of the children sharing their food with siblings. One boy started his own snack pack program by sharing his food with a younger neighbor. Teachers and administrators felt encouraged and supported in their work and the children express joy in knowing that others in the community care about them. Those who organized and initiated this program at the church are Terry and Sue Grab and Jeanne Stachnik.

Join the Peoria Church in Mountain Mission

Every year the Peoria Church of the Brethren joins with some Methodist Churches to take clothing, furniture, tools, etc. to Eastern Kentucky Missions. We collect these items throughout the year and fill trucks, trailers, vans and cars with usable goods for people who live in one of the poorest sections of the country. The Peoria Church specializes in Baby care items like diapers, wipes, furniture, baby and toddler clothing, etc.. Then we drive together to Henderson Settlement and Red Bird Mission to deliver the much needed help.

This year we begin our trip on Thursday October 30th and return Sunday November 2nd. Information on accommodations and travel plans will be sent closer to the time of the trip.

If YOU or your CONGREGATION would like to joins us please call 309-682-3980 to be put on the e-mail information list. This is a great trip for retirees and young people. Expose your grandchildren to a Mission Experience, join Mountain Mission.

Calendar of District Events

September

1 - Labor Day
7 - Grandparent’s Day
8 - District Executive Sabbatical Ends
20 - 10th Annual Fish Fry, Camp Emmanuel
21 - Bethany Sunday
21 - Int’l Day of Peace
21 - Mission Offering Emphasis
22 - First Day of Autumn
27 - Adult Day of Camp, Camp Emmaus

October

Domestic Violence Awareness Month
4 - Ministerial Leadership Dev. Team - Peru

5 - World Communion Sunday
6 - Child Health Day
11 - District Leadership Team Meeting
12 - Laity Sunday
14-16 - Interim Ministers Trng. - Camp Mack, IN
16 - World Food Day
16-18 - Midwest DE's Gathering - Camp Mack, IN
16-24 - Peace with Justice Week
24 - World Disarmament Day
25 - Camp Closing, Camp Emmanuel
26 - Reformation Sunday

November

1 - All Saints Day
2 - National Jr. High Sunday
2 - Daylight Time Ends
7-8 - District Conference, Highland Ave., Elgin
7-9 - Fall District Youth Retreat, Highland Ave., Elgin
9 - Stewardship Sunday
15 - Leaf Raking/Hotdog Roast, Camp Emmaus
15-16 - Powerhouse Youth Conference, Camp Mack, IN
23 - Christ the King Sunday
27 - Thanksgiving
30 - First Sunday of Advent

December

1 - Aids Awareness Day
6 - Ministerial Leadership Dev. Team - Peru
10 - Human Rights Day
21 - First Day of Winter
24 - Christmas Eve
25 - Christmas Day
31 - New Year’s Eve