Pastors Memo October 2012 Shenandoah District Office, Church of the Brethren P.O. Box 67 Weyers Cave VA 24486-0067 Fax: 1-540-234-8333 Tel: 1-540-234-8555 or 1-888-308-8555 Email: districtoffice@shencob.org 1 In Our Pastoral Family We rejoice with: The Moscow Church of the Brethren where the new pastor, Darren Howdyshell, was installed during worship on Sunday, Aug. 19. The Luray Church of the Brethren whose new pastor, Rebecca Harding, began her service to the congregation on Sept. 1 and was officially installed during worship on Sept. 9. The Bethel/Mayland Church of the Brethren where Jim Eberly has accepted the call as pulpit supply as of Aug. 12. The Summit Church of the Brethren where John W. Glick has accepted the call as interim pastor as of Sept. 1. Beverly Funkhouser who will be licensed to the Christian ministry during the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Columbia Furnace Church of the Brethren near Edinburg, Va. Roger Sager who will be licensed to the Christian ministry during the 11 a.m. worship on Sunday, Oct. 7, at Mt. View Church of the Brethren near Mathias, W.Va. Pulpit Vacancies Full-Time: Harrisonburg First, Mt. Bethel, Summit, Valley Pike and Wakeman s Grove Associate. Part-Time: Cedar Grove (Ruckersville), Grottoes and Sunrise (possibly full-time). 2 In Our Prayers Remember in prayer the teams of volunteers from the Shenandoah District working at the Brethren Disaster Ministries project in Town Creek, Ala., the weeks of Sept. 30 and Oct. 21. Also, give thanks for the volunteers who responded with disaster child care following Hurricane Isaac in the Gulf states. 3 District Conference Nov. 2-3 The Shenandoah District Conference is scheduled Nov. 2 and 3 at Mill Creek Church of the Brethren. Centered on the theme Word. Truth. Faith., the conference will feature stories from throughout the District on how the discipline of reading through the Bible this year has impacted individuals, families, small study groups and congregations. A request for stories is posted on the District Web site, www.shencob.org, with a link for submitting your proposals. One story from 1
each of the five District sections will be included in the Friday evening worship, and others will be woven into the schedule throughout the weekend. Let us hear from you! Let your experience inspire others! Congregations: If you missed the Sept. 1 deadline for filing your Delegate Authorization Form for District Conference, please do it now! Another copy is attached. This is the information the District Office uses to mail conference booklets and registration forms later this month. Don t let your delegates miss out on timely receipt of the information they need to represent your congregation well at the conference. 4 International Day of Prayer for Peace The International Day of Prayer for Peace (now being known simply as Peace Day) is Sept. 21 with the theme Praying for Ceasefire. The On Earth Peace Assembly notes that our prayers can be not only for ceasefire between warring factions but also for ceasefire from domestic violence, bullying and any kind of hostile or violent behavior. Register to host an event at www.onearthpeace.org. The Staunton Church of the Brethren is sponsoring an observation of International Day of Prayer for Peace at 6:45 p.m. Sept. 21 at Gypsy Hill Park in Staunton. Music will be provided by Spiritheart Collective, by the Bella Voce Choir of Mary Baldwin College, and Bittersweet East. Guided prayers and times for silent prayer are included. The Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center will be open with prayer stations from 2-8 p.m. on Sept. 21; guided prayer services will be offered at 2 p.m. at the hilltop near the amphitheater entrance, at 4 p.m. at the Burkholder-Myers home and at 7 p.m. at the Whitmer schoolhouse. Montezuma Church of the Brethren will again host a Ring & Sing for Peace in observance of the International Day of Prayer for Peace (now being shortened to Peace Day). The service begins at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23, followed by a time of fellowship and light refreshments. The Montezuma Handbell Choir will participate along with music from other congregations and congregational singing. 5 Ministers To Welcome DEM The district s Pastoral Support Committee is hosting a brunch to welcome new District Executive Minister John Jantzi at 9 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Montezuma Hall west of Dayton. Invitations have been mailed to ministers. The reservation deadline is Thursday, Sept. 20. A copy of the invitation is attached. 6 New Ministers Group Forming The Shenandoah District Pastoral Support Committee invites ministers active, retired, licensed to a gathering at noon on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the Houff Center on the Bridgewater Retirement Community campus. Those attending will purchase their lunch at Stevens Café in the Houff Center and eat together in the Smith Room. The Committee envisions this group working together to build relationships across the district. There is no reservation deadline. The committee says, Just show up! 2
7 From Your Standing Committee Delegates: Many items were discussed and addressed at the 2012 Annual Conference in St. Louis in July. Details are available at http://www.brethren.org/news/conferences/ac2012/. Additionally, a document was prepared that addresses concerns shared during the District Leadership Team listening sessions held earlier this year. That document, entitled A Way Forward, can be found at http://www.brethren.org/news/2012/ac2012-onsite-news/a-way-forward.html. If any congregation has specific questions about items or would like to speak to a Standing Committee member about any Annual Conference business, please contact Henry Elsea, Millard Driver or George Bowers. 8 Disaster Ministries Update Jerry Ruff, disaster ministries coordinator, shares this update: Thanks to all the volunteers who, with just a day or two s notice, volunteered to go to Pulaski early in September. Because of a scheduling error, there were no volunteers for Pulaski from Sept. 3-7, but, with a few calls and some innovative scheduling, we were able to see that 15-plus workers showed up on the job during the week. Folks, this would not be possible without great support from everyone. So again, thanks! On Sept. 9 a group left for Town Creek, Ala., and others are scheduled on Sept. 30 and Oct. 21. Thanks again. For additional news concerning scheduling through Brethren Disaster Ministries for the rest of the year, go to www.brethren.org/bdm/. If you would like to get a group of six or more to go on project and your schedule can meet the dates listed below, please give me a call at 540-447-0306. In Pulaski, the dates for a week of service are Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 14 and Oct. 21. For Town Creek, Ala., the dates for week-long projects are Oct. 14, Nov. 4, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9. For Prattsville, N.Y., the week-long projects start Dec. 2 and Dec. 9. Thanks again for all your support and help! We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you on the job site. 9 Can You Help at Camp? Nils Martin, outdoor education and adventure coordinator at Brethren Woods, is offering an opportunity for volunteers to be involved in camp activities this fall. The camp sponsors Outdoor School for local schools and provides the curriculum for each group. If you can help for one day or more, let Nils know at adventure@brethrenwoods.org. Currently, these are the dates open and the number of helpers needed: Monday, Sept. 24: Lacey Spring, 1 st grade, three volunteers Friday, Oct. 5: Stuarts Draft, 4 th grade, four volunteers Monday, Oct. 15: Plains, 4 th grade, three volunteers Wednesday, Oct. 17: River Bend, 3 rd grade, three volunteers Friday, Oct. 26: Waterman, 3 rd grade, five volunteers 3
10 Attention: Senior Highs Block out Nov. 17 and 18 for an inter-district senior high event Loving Our Enemies REALLY!?! Sponsored by the Shenandoah District Pastors for Peace at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren, the weekend begins at noon on Saturday, Nov. 17, and continues through the morning of Sunday, Nov. 18 (and you can stay overnight). Bethany Seminary Professor Russell Haitch will lead the exploration of loving our enemies and Ted & Company will present a drama, I d Like to Buy an Enemy. Details and a registration form are included on the attached flier. The deadline to register is Oct. 31. Plan to be there! 11 Deacon Workshops The Church of the Brethren Deacon Ministry has scheduled workshops this fall, offering training for deacons in local congregations. Most of the workshops will offer a number of sessions on topics such as What are Deacons Supposed to Do Anyway? Beyond Casseroles: Offering Support Creatively, Deacons and Pastors: The Pastoral Care Team and more. The one-day events generally begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and opening worship at 9 a.m., and end by 3 p.m. The workshop closest to the Shenandoah District is Saturday, Oct. 20, at Antioch Church of the Brethren in Rocky Mount, Va. A registration form for the Antioch workshop is attached. 12 Coming Events Holy Work: Becoming a Beloved Community is the theme of the 2012 Progressive Brethren Gathering, Oct. 26-28, at La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren. This is the fifth year for the Gathering, which draws participants from across the country. It is sponsored by the Womaen s Caucus, Open Table Cooperative and the Brethren Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Interests. Online registration is available at: http://progressivebrethrengathering.eventbrite.com. A Biblical Imagination Conference with Michael Card, focusing on the Gospel of Mark, will be held Nov. 16-18 at Bonsack Baptist Church in Roanoke. A pastors appreciation luncheon is scheduled on Friday. Attached are a letter to pastors for the Friday luncheon and the registration form for the workshop and to order tickets for the concert. 13 Brethren Woods News Attached is a schedule of special events at Brethren Woods in the coming month. Be sure to share it with your congregation. 14 October Prayer Calendar The Prayer Calendar is attached for use in your congregation. Can you post it or include it in your newsletter? 4
15 September/October Calendars & Reminders Staff Calendar and Reminders Sept. 23 Brethren Woods Rock Climbing Day Sept. 23 Beverly Funkhouser licensing service, 10:30 a.m., Columbia Furnace CoB Sept. 26 Pastoral Placement Team, 10:30 a.m., District Office Sept. 29 VBMHC Harvest Day at CrossRoads Sept. 29 Pastoral Support Committee brunch at Montezuma Hall (by invitation) Oct. 2 Pastors for Peace, 1:30 p.m., Montezuma CoB Oct. 2 Gifts Discernment Team, 7 p.m., on-line Oct. 4 Program & Arrangements Committee, 7 p.m., Mill Creek CoB Oct. 7 Roger Sager licensing service, 11 a.m., Mt. View CoB Oct. 12-13 Father-Child Retreat at Brethren Woods Oct. 13 Fall Workday at Brethren Woods Oct. 15 Outdoor Ministries Team, 7 p.m., Brethren Woods Oct. 16 Pastoral Support Committee, Noon, Smith Room, Houff Community Center, BRC District Staff Meeting: 9:30 a.m. each Wednesday 5