CONGREGATIONAL/LOCAL NEWS

The historic Kurtz organ will be played in a rare concert on Sunday, May 25, at 4 p.m. in the chapel at the Church of the Brethren General Offices at 1451 Dundee Ave. in Elgin. The small, hand-pumped pipe organ, which is part of the Brethren Historical Library and Archives (BHLA) collection, is more than 320 years old. This is a very rare public appearance of the organ, which in recent decades has been played in concert only a handful of times. The concert is part of the Great Elgin Pipe Organ Tour 2024-2025 organized and led by Jeff Neufeld, music director and organist at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Elgin, with support from guest musicians. To attend the May 25 concert, park in the rear lot of the General Offices and enter the building through the staff/kitchen entrance. For more information about the tour see https://fcc-elgin.org/organ-tour.

Mark Kuntz of Highland Avenue (Elgin), a cellist, was recognized with being the longest serving member of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra as the ESO celebrated its 75th anniversary season. The recognition published by the ESO noted that he “may very well hold the national record for longest continuous member of a single orchestra in the United States.” Kuntz is the only ESO musician to have performed with all five of the ESO’s music directors. “Barely a teenager in 1958, Mark joined the Elgin Civic Orchestra when the orchestra was comprised of music instructors, local musicians, community players and student musicians,” the recognition said. Read the full article at www.elginsymphony.org/eso-news/mark-kuntz-feature. 

Freeport will be hosting Annual Conference moderator Dava Hensley for a visit on Sunday, May 11, when Dava will be preaching and staying for conversation and a potluck meal. Anyone else from the district who would like to join them that day is welcome. On June 29, the congregation will hold its worship at Camp Emmaus at 11:30 a.m., followed by a potluck picnic. Area Church of the Brethren members are welcome to attend. For questions, contact Wendy Boettner at peaceandjoy.1954@gmail.com. And on Sept. 7, Freeport is celebrating its 105th anniversary as a congregation. Worship and reminiscing will be at 10 a.m., followed by lunch. RSVP to 815-232-1938. 

Freeport also has several boxes of choir music to give away, with 10-12 copies of numerous pieces. If interested, contact Linda Simler at lsimler1975@gmail.com. 

Girard Area Homes is seeking two Brethren members to serve on its seven-member board, overseeing the business of the senior low-income housing units. The board meets quarterly, and the winter meeting is via Zoom. If interested, contact Terry Link at 217-494-3850. 

Highland Avenue (Elgin) was one of five congregations to receive a denominational Brethren Faith in Action grant among the first disbursements in 2025. Highland Avenue is receiving $5,000 for its support to newcomers in need in the local community. During 2024, the church participated in a task force of a local ministerial group assembling “welcome kits” of bedding, kitchen, and bath supplies for families of newcomers. In 2025, with the help of this grant, additional families can benefit from welcome kits, weekly food pantry meal boxes, and hot meals. The program is in partnership with a number of local and area nonprofits. The purpose is to assess any special food needs for new families and to determine the support needed for them to eat nutritiously, with sensitivity to cultural meal preferences. The goal is to provide 100 welcome boxes, food, and hot meals over a 9-month period in 2025. (From “Newsline”) 

Naperville will be volunteering at Feed My Starving Children’s food ministry program the morning of Saturday, May 10. 

Peoria First is assembling snack packs for a local school on April 14 and also planned to send volunteers to the Midwest Food Bank on April 10. The congregation has been gathering an impressive array of food bank donations in its narthex (left) with a Can-a-Thon this past month. 

Virden held an after-worship Fifth Sunday Potluck on March 30. The congregation also continues to operation a Community Food Pantry that is open 2-3 p.m. each Tuesday. 

Creekside Church of the Brethren in Elkhart, Ind., will offer a one-person, one-night performance of “Laughter as a Place of Belonging” by actor/comedian Ted Swartz of Ted & Co. on Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m. Admission is FREE. Seating is limited, so plan to arrive early for a good seat. A free-will offering will be collected, going to Church Community Services.

Also in Indiana, Camp Mack (Milford, Ind.) will hold its centennial celebration on Aug. 10. Learn more at www.campmack.org/100.

Congregations are invited to apply for a Global Food Initiative (GFI) grant to support efforts to address domestic hunger and homelessness. In the past, GFI grants have supported congregation-based garden projects, soup kitchens, food pantries, and more. If you have an idea and would like to discuss it or apply for a grant, please contact GFI manager Jenn Hosler by email at jhosler@brethren.org. GFI grant application forms are provided on request, via email. 

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: iwdde@outlook.com.