Thursday, December 01, 2022

CONGREGATIONAL/LOCAL NEWS

The new project in Madison, Wis., is taking shape! The group, which has named itself “Madtown Brethren,” after a nickname for the city, held its first official worship and fellowship gathering at the home of Ken & Diane Weaver on Dec. 4. It plans to meet the first Sunday of each month (but Jan. 8 due to the holiday) for a time of worship and sharing using a house church model, with service projects and additional events scheduled at other times. Our prayers are with them as this exciting new venture begins.

The Stanley congregation in west-central Wisconsin has voted to close. It had not been holding regular worship services for several years. The congregation has accepted a bid on its building from a local buyer and is working toward finalizing the sale.

Yellow Creek Church of the Brethren (Pearl City), one of the oldest congregations in the district, will celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2023. Plans for specific events are under way. Happy anniversary, Yellow Creek!

The Rockford Community fellowship, facing significant maintenance and repair needs to its large facility, sold the building and 3.5 acres of land to another area church on Nov. 3. Rockford plans for now to continue as a virtual church with occasional ‘house church’-type meetings.

Franklin Grove, another of the district’s oldest congregations, voted in October to cease regular worship services at the end of 2022, and to formally close sometime next year. A closing service will likely be scheduled for next summer or fall.

Do you have congregational news: celebrations, milestones, “Jesus in the Neighborhood” stories or other things to share with our district family? Please send those to the district office: andreag.iwdcob@gmail.com.