Deacon Update, April 2014

DEACON UPDATE Problems viewing this e-mail? View as Web page (use CTRL+ for larger print) View older issues Connect to deacon website All Good Gifts April 2014 Some years ago I was involved in some behind-the-scenes work for an ecumenical conference. As the attendees began to arrive there seemed to be a shortage of staff at the registration table, so I offered my services. The person in charge was grateful for my help, briefly told me what to do, and rushed off to attend to other tasks. Within moments, though, she ran back to where I was checking off names and handing out nametags, pulled me aside, and asked about my spiritual gifts. Not really understanding the point of the question, I told her the results of the last assessment in which I’d participated, and she sighed with relief. "Good," she said, "I was worried that working the registration table might not be one of your gifts." At the time I thought this was a pretty extreme interpretation of spiritual gifts discernment, and most days I still do. But most days I also think that we don't call out gifts in each other nearly as well as we should, grateful if we can simply fill slots in our various ministries. I understand that with diminishing numbers in many of our faith communities we may not feel we have the "luxury" of calling out gifts; I know of at least one congregation where members take turns as deacons—there simply aren't enough folks to fulfill that role otherwise. This spring I've been asked to talk about caregiving in ways other than my traditional "four functions of deacons" talk. I just completed a webinar on deaconing in small congregations, and in a few weeks I'll be presenting at the Church Planting Conference; in both my focus is less on a traditional deacon ministry, and more on the concept of a "culture of care," calling out the caregiving gifts not just of those who may—or may not—serve as part of a traditional deacon body, but of the whole congregation. What might that look like? Perhaps Mabel would agree to send all of the birthday cards for the congregation. Karen might be willing to oversee all of the food preparation, everything from Love Feast and potlucks to organizing food for the week after the Miller's baby is born. Joe might take on the task of coordinating rides for doctor visits for those who aren’t able to drive themselves. Mabel, Karen and Joe may not be called to deacon ministry—or perhaps their congregation doesn't have deacons—but they have gifts of service, hospitality, and encouragement, and they are passionate about using those gifts in caring ways. As deacons, one of OUR responsibilities is to see that everyone in our congregation has the opportunity to discern their gifts and find ways to use them to serve the community. A more involved community; more people being served. What a gift! Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17). Donna Kline Director of Denominational Deacon Ministry dkline@brethren.org 847-429-4306

eBrethren, April 24, 2014

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April 24, 2014 Your gifts do great things! Click here. CONTENTS Coming home Calling: Received in baptism “When we allow...” Young Adult Conference: “A worshipful weekend with fellow young adults.” “The conversations and worship connect everyone on a meaningful level.”Photos by Kelsey Murray Register for Young Adult Conference atwww.brethren.org/yac . Coming homeby Rachel Witkovsky What is YAC, and why can’t young adults of the Church of the Brethren stop talking about it? “I love YAC,” said Eric Landram with a twinkle in his eye. “At first, you think it’s a conference celebrating the animal. But you quickly learn that it’s actually a worshipful weekend with fellow young adults in the Church of the Brethren." This year’s Young Adult Conference is May 23-25 at Camp Brethren Woods in Keezletown, Va. The theme is “Coming Home: For I know the plans I have for you,” which comes from Jeremiah 29:11-13. Eric Landram, Bethany Clark, and Jessica Strawderman have been busy planning worship, and Heather Houff Landram and Laura Whitman are preparing for YAC with other members of the Young Adult Steering Committee. When asked why they love YAC, Heather said that she enjoys “seeing young adults use their gifts and talents to glorify God.” Laura added that it’s “a bunch of great Brethren people all in one place, talking about things that matter.” Bryan Hanger, Brethren Volunteer Service worker, shared that “YAC is great because you get to meet and share with other young folks who care deeply about their faith and want to find creative ways to live it out. The time together is short, but the conversations and worship connect everyone on a meaningful level.” In addition to the “wonderful fellowship, meaningful worship services, singing, and insightful workshops,” Tim Stauffer of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren, said that, “carpooling makes a great road trip and adds to the experience as a whole.” Jacob Crouse, member of the 2013 Youth Peace Travel Team, took Tim’s advice and hitched a ride with him on the way home last year. “When I needed inspiration, time to learn, socialize, and worship with my peers, and just a Brethren-ly fantastic break from routine,” Jacob said, “I found it at YAC." Register for YAC at www.brethren.org/yac . Rachel Witkovsky is director of Young Adult Ministries for Palmyra (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.  Forward to a friend Back to top www.brethren.org/pentecost Calling: Received in baptism “So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added” (Acts 2:41). The Holy Spirit is moving in powerful ways. The Pentecost Offering is a special opportunity to support denominational ministries of the Church of the Brethren. Suggested date is June 8. www.brethren.org/pentecost Forward to a friend Back to top www.brethren.org/messenger  “When we allow ourselves to be open and vulnerable to those who are hurt or marginalized in our society, the power of love makes it possible to bridge the barriers of fear and hostility, and to see that we are brothers and sisters. This love gives us a hunger and thirst for righteousness and compels us to act for justice and reconciliation.” —Peggy Faw Gish in “Risks and rewards of waging peace" in the most recent issue ofMessenger magazine  . See something you like?  Share eBrethren with your friends!   Watch for our next issue on May 8, 2014. Do you have a story about how you and your congregation practice stewardship? E-mail it to ebrethren@brethren.org ! eBrethren: Stories of Brethren Stewards, is produced every other week by the Church of the Brethren donor communications team.
Please add "cobweb@brethren.org" to your address book or safelist to ensure our e-mail reaches your inbox. eBrethren is published by Church of the Brethren Communications, 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, Illinois 60120. Church of the Brethren is a non-profit religious and educational organization recognized by the Federal and State governments. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. © 2014 Church of the Brethren.

Annual Conference App!

Church of the Brethren Annual Conference View this message as a webpage

New! Annual Conference App We are very excited to announce the new Annual Conference App. With the 2014 Annual Conference App, you can: Plan your conference with a custom schedule Set schedule reminders, so you'll never miss an event Get updates when there are schedule changes Navigate the conference with maps of the Greater Columbus Convention Center Find your way to local attractions with the area map View profiles of speakers, presenters, and exhibitors Stay informed with news and Twitter updates Join us at the 2014 Annual Conference July 2-6 in Columbus, Ohio—and download this app to enhance your experience! 2014 Annual Conference Sunday! Join congregations and individuals from around the country as we worship together as one virtual church on Annual Conference Sunday – July 6, 2014. All congregations are invited to come together in celebration during the Sunday morning worship service at Annual Conference by sharing in the worship webcast. You can broadcast the service live to your church and worship with thousands of other Brethren! Click the webcasting link on the Annual Conference homepage or click here for additional information and instructions. You can join in at any time or restart the broadcast from the beginning. You can also comment and chat online with the webcast coordinator. A bulletin will be available to download and print from the Annual Conference webpage. Business Sessions and Worship Services on the Web All Annual Conference business sessions and worship services will be streamed over the internet. The schedule for all web broadcasts is a follows (all times are Eastern Time): Wednesday, July 2Opening Worship, 6:50 – 8:30 PM Thursday, July 3Bible Study and Morning Business Session, 8:30 – 11:30 AM Afternoon Business Session, 1:55 – 4:30 PM Evening Worship, 6:50 – 8:30 PM         Friday, July 4Bible Study and Morning Business Session, 8:30 – 11:30 AM   Afternoon Business Session, 1:55 – 4:30 PM     Evening Worship, 6:50 – 8:30 PM         Saturday, July 5Morning Worship, 8:30 – 10:00 AM   Morning Business Session, 10:15 – 11:30 AM   Afternoon Business Session, 1:55 – 4:30 PM     Sunday, July 6 – Annual Conference SundayClosing Worship, 8:30 – 10:30 AM       Click the webcasting link on the Annual Conference homepage or click here for additional information and instructions. Coming next week: Exciting things to do in Columbus!

Church of the Brethren Annual Conference | 1451 Dundee Ave. | Elgin, IL 60120 Chris Douglas, Conference Director | cdouglas@brethren.org | 800-323-8039, ext. 364 or 847-429-4364 Jon Kobel, Conference Assistant | jkobel@brethren.org | 800-323-8039, ext. 365 or 847-429-4365 Debbie Noffsinger, Registration Coordinator | dnoffsinger@brethren.org | 800-323-8039, ext. 366 or 847-429-4366

NEWSLINE, April 22, 2014

Newsline The Church of the Brethren e-mail news service

April 22, 2014 “For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come” (Song of Solomon 2:11-12a). NEWS 1) Presidential inauguration highlights Bethany Seminary trustee meeting 2) Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust supports Church Alliance filing of Amicus Brief in clergy housing exclusion case 3) Global Food Crisis Fund to assist Fisherfolk’s Association in Philippines RESOURCES 4) Brethren Press offers summer curriculum FEATURES 5) Water, Holy Water: Praising God on Earth Day 6) The history of International Cane Awareness Day in Vietnam 7) Brethren bits: Medical volunteers needed at Conference, project leaders needed by Brethren Disaster Ministries, continued prayer needed for Nigeria, plus the SVMC board meeting, May 1 deadline for NYC, 150th anniversary of John Kline’s death, and lots of news from churches, districts, colleges, and more Find the full text of this Newsline in one document at www.brethren.org/news/2014/newsline-for-april-22-2014.html ****************************************************** Quote of the week: excuse me, earth, forgive me       for scarring your face       and forgetting    your part       in giving       me birth       and a place    to grow    in the sun --A poem by Kenneth I. Morse that appeared on the cover of the March 15, 1971, issue of the Church of the Brethren magazine “Messenger.” ****************************************************** 1) Presidential inauguration highlights Bethany Seminary trustee meeting By Jenny Williams The inauguration of Jeff Carter as Bethany Theological Seminary’s tenth president was the central event of the seminary’s spring 2014 board of trustees meeting, held March 27-30 at the seminary campus in Richmond, Ind.  (The link to view the inauguration online is at www.bethanyseminary.edu/webcasts .) In addition to several action items and reports from departmental committees, the board also devoted time to discussing issues presented by each committee pertaining to the operation of a seminary like Bethany in today’s social and cultural climate. Read the full Bethany release at www.bethanyseminary.edu/news/board_3-2014 2) Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust supports Church Alliance filing of Amicus Brief in clergy housing exclusion case The Church Alliance--a coalition of the chief executive officers of 38 denominational benefit programs including Church of the Brethren Benefit Trust (BBT)--has filed an amicus curiae brief in the Seventh Circuit US Court of Appeals (Chicago) in the case challenging the constitutionality of the clergy housing exclusion under Section 107(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Code). BBT participates as a member organization of the Church Alliance, where BBT president Nevin Dulabaum serves as the Church of the Brethren representative. Church of the Brethren general secretary Stan Noffsinger and associate general secretary Mary Jo Flory-Steury have signed on in support of the brief on behalf of the denomination. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2014/brethren-benefit-trust-supports-amicus-brief.html 3) Global Food Crisis Fund to assist Fisherfolk’s Association in Philippines A grant of $10,000 from the Church of the Brethren’s Global Food Crisis Fund (GFCF) has been allocated for replacement of fishing equipment in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan. The recipient of the grant is Barangay District 1 Fisherfolk's Association of Babatngon, Leyte, the Philippines. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2014/global-food-crisis-fund-grant-to-philippines.html RESOURCES 4) Brethren Press offers summer curriculum Brethren Press is offering a variety of curriculum for this summer, including the final quarter of Gather ’Round, the predecessor to the new Shine curriculum; A Guide for Biblical Studies on the topic “The People of God Set Priorities” written by Al Hansell; and a Vacation Bible School curriculum from MennoMedia focused on biblical hospitality, titled “Give and Receive God’s Great Love.” Also new from Brethren Press: “Behind the Drama: The Old Testament You Missed,” a Covenant Bible Study by Eugene F. Roop. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2014/brethren-press-offers-summer-curriculum.html FEATURES 5) Water, Holy Water: Praising God on Earth Day By Bryan Hanger April 22 is the day when the whole world pauses to celebrate the planet we call home. But for Christians there is a unique dimension to Earth Day, for creation cannot be spoken of without first remembering and praising the God who gave us this wonderful home. It can be easy to forget the true miracle of creation, but before there was anything, God already had in mind the details of our world and how we humans would be the ones to inhabit and steward over it. What a wonderful vocation to be given! But the responsibilities of stewardship can sometimes get beyond us, and occasions like Earth Day give us time to pause and reflect upon the successes and failures of our attempted stewardship. Read the full reflection at http://cob.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?dlv_id=34621&em_id=27481.0 6) The history of International Cane Awareness Day in Vietnam By Tran Thi Thanh Huong The first event of International Cane Awareness Day in Vietnam occurred in October 2011, at Nguyen Dinh Chieu Blind School, Ho Chi Minh City. An overall theme was chosen for this event: “The white-tipped cane is an adaptive, functional cane used by blind persons, which alerts people to give priority to the person using the cane.” This message was the dream of a blind teacher and trainer in Mobility and Orientation, Le Dan Bach Viet. Read the full story at www.brethren.org/news/2014/cane-awareness-day-in-vietnam.html 7) Brethren bits In this issue: Medical volunteers needed at Annual Conference, project leaders needed by Brethren Disaster Ministries, continued prayer needed for Nigeria, plus the SVMC board meeting, May 1 registration deadline for NYC, 150th anniversary of Elder John Kline’s death, and lots of news from congregations, districts, colleges, and more. Read the Brethren bits at www.brethren.org/news/2014/brethren-bits-for-april-22.html Contributors to this issue of Newsline include John Ballinger, Jeff Boshart, Chris Douglas, Nevin Dulabaum, Bryan Hanger, Mary Kay Heatwole, Tim Heishman, Tran Thi Thanh Huong, Phil King, Jeri Kornegay, Nancy Miner, Grace Mishler, M. Colette Nies, John Wall, Jenny Williams, Jay Wittmeyer, and editor Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren. The next regularly scheduled issue of Newsline is planned forTuesday, April 29.

Newsline is produced by the news services of the Church of the Brethren. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. Newsline appears every week, with special issues as needed. Stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. Forward Newsline to a friend

Minute For Mission, April 21, 1014

"That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” —2 Corinthians 5:19-20
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Minute for Mission  Issue 21 April 21, 2014   It is enough Carol Mason recently joined with other members of the Mission Advisory Committee in visiting the ministries of Eglise des Freres Haitiens, the Church of the Brethren in Haiti: Nothing was like I expected it to be in Haiti. I guess I was holding Puerto Rico (part of our Atlantic Southeast District) in my mind's eye, expecting the same lush abundance, but Haiti is dry and barren. I guess I was thinking Haiti has had so much American influence that it would be like Miami, but Haiti is Creole-speaking and reminded me more of Nigeria. The airport was new since the earthquake, but Port-au-Prince’s Cite Soleil (tent city) was unbelievable in its population density and vulnerability to the elements. The road to Croix-des-Bouquets, where we stayed in the new Brethren guesthouse, led us past ubiquitous signs of rebuilding. Rubble looked cleared away, and almost every compound had little piles of pebbles and white sand (limestone mined from the hills) ready to mix with cement. I felt deeply anxious about both the ecological devastation of mining the already de-forested mountains and the weakness of this sand as a cement aggregate. Many compounds had only the first few rows of block laid out, and the temporary housing for the 1.5 million homeless was visible everywhere. In contrast to the extreme poverty and my anxieties, I was elated by the incredible growth of the Church of the Brethren in Haiti and the witness it is making. A house built by Brethren Disaster Ministries in Morne Boulage. 21 Haitian Church of the Brethren congregations are not only caring for the spiritual welfare of the communities around them, but their church buildings—even the "temporary" structures of packing-crate plywood—serve as schools, medical outposts, and sources of clean drinking water for all those who live within walking distance. The strong yet simple two-room cement block homes built by Brethren Disaster Ministries, the decorated churches full of smiling, friendly folks who cheered my small attempts at greeting them in Creole, the beautifully cared-for children dressed in their school uniforms or Sunday best all broke my heart on the side of hopefulness and awe at the resiliency of God's people. My most poignant memory is of the owner of "BDM #14" (To track the houses built after the 2008 hurricanes, Brethren Disaster Ministries spray-painted a number on each one, with the expectation that it would be painted over. We were touched how many homeowners wanted to keep their numbers and have identified with that rebuild). The man greeted us with such a deep gash in his thumb that he was unable even to hoe his little plot of rocky soil in preparation for the seasonal subsistence farming. Mobile medical clinic in Croix-des-Bouquets "How can the people survive?" I wondered as I dressed his wound with my little emergency first aid kit. I couldn't escape the thought that anything we do seems such a small Band-Aid on such a hugely-wounded country. But then I listened to Ludovic St. Fleur, pastor of the Miami Haitian Church of the Brethren, praising his home district and Martha Beach (past district executive of ASE) and her love for Haiti as well as the Ministry Office's support of Haiti in encouraging the ordination and training for all the new Haitian pastors. I listened to Dr. Paul Ullom-Minnich and saw how the Haiti Medical Project is doubling its efforts to provide ongoing curative care through churches across the country. I watched Ilexene and Michaela Alphonse prepare for the theological training program beginning the next day, with pastors already arriving at the guest house, and I watched them lay out the plans for the large workcamp that would begin the week following our departure. I watched how our Mission Advisory Council worked so doggedly and efficiently in our one short week, feeling completely led by the Holy Spirit in our discernment of mission efforts and direction not only for Haiti, but for the new global Church of the Brethrenthat is spreading from country to country through the witness of Brethren lay members. I thought, "It is enough. Christ has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Out of the disaster comes the new shining star, and all will be well with this bright new generation of incredibly faithful, strong, and resilient young Haitians." What a joy and a peace to travel home connected to Brethren I never knew before. All photos above taken by Kendra Johnson. Church of the Brethren Annual Conference July 2-6, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio We invite you to the Global Ministries dinner on Friday, July 4, at 5:00 p.m. The Brethren Volunteer Service luncheon (PDF) will take place the same day at 12:30 p.m. Other Global Mission and Service events at the Conference include several insight sessions: Thursday, July 3 9 p.m. BVS and Congregations: Models of Partnership Changing Times in Disaster Ministries Friday, July 4 9:00 p.m. Going to the Garden When Disaster Strikes: Serving Around the World Saturday, July 5 12:30 p.m. South Sudan : Building a Brethren Presence for Peace in a Country Familiar with War 9:00 p.m. 70 Years of Service: A Look at Heifer International’s Early Years Short-Term Mission Trips : The Good, the Bad, the Powerful Find descriptions of all insight sessions here. We hope to see you in Columbus! Calling all advocates: a special Annual Conference note for members of the Global Mission Advocate Network Please join us for a Global Mission Advocate gathering on Thursday, July 3, at 12:30 p.m. Hear from and share with other advocates about how global mission is being shared and promoted across the denomination. Global Mission and Service staff and personnel will be available for questions. Let us know at mission@brethren.org if you'll be there! We would love to have you join us at the Global Mission dinner on July 4! Contact mission@brethren.org for one complimentary ticket per advocate. Service opportunities Brethren Disaster Ministries is seeking new project leaders. A two-week training in August will give new leaders the tools needed to help manage the volunteer household, manage weekly volunteers, and support the construction projects. No specific skills are required, but some construction experience is very helpful. Project leaders stay on the work site for a month or more each year. Please contact Jane Yount atjyount@brethren.org or call 800-451-4407. Brethren-supported Pyongyang University of Science and Technology seeks MS+ teachers for the 500+ undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of plant/animal biological sciences, agronomic sciences, and biotechnology/genetic engineering for the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The University also has Schools of Public Health, Electrical Engineering and Computer, and Management and Finance. Spousal appointments are supported. Appointments could be short-term or for multiple semesters which run from September - December, March June, and July. Classes are all held in English. Furnished on-campus apartments and cafeteria meals are provided. The Brethren will cover visas, transportation costs, health insurance, and some personal costs. Downtown grocery shopping and some touring services are provided. For more information, contact Dr. Robert Shank, Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences atdrarroz903@gmail.com. We are now screening for the fall semester. Prayer requests Pray for wisdom and prayerful discernment as members of the Church of the Brethren in India gather for their annual conference. Pray for conversations with Church of North India leaders, that they may be filled with a true spirit of reconciliation. Pray for Global Mission workers Jocelyn Snyder, Carl and Roxane Hill, and Chris and Jenna Horgan as they complete their terms of service and discern the next steps in their lives. Pray for more people to serve the Church of the Brethren around the world. Pray for Global Mission and service staff in this busy time of international travel. Pray for God’s protection, meaningful exchanges, and continued energy. To remember these and other prayer concerns, please print and distribute the May 2014 Global Prayer Guide.
"Minute for Mission" is published by Global Mission and Service, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120; 800-323-8039 ext. 362; www.brethren.org/partners © Church of the Brethren Church of the Brethren is a non-profit religious and educational organization recognized by the Federal and State governments. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. Share this message with a friend

Children's Disaster Services Comes to Washington State

Children’s Disaster Services responds to Washington mudslide

Church of the Brethren Newsline
April 7, 2014

Photo courtesy of CDSA view of the mudslide in Snohomish County, Wash. Children's Disaster Services (CDS) deployed a team of volunteers to help care for children in nearby Darrington, where community members were lost in the slide.

Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) deployed seven volunteers in response to the catastrophic mudslide in Snohomish County, Wash. CDS is a program of Brethren Disaster Ministries. The CDS team served in Darrington, a community near the slide location. The response ended Sunday, April 6, having made a total of 83 child contacts, according to CDS associate director Kathy Fry-Miller.

For the latest Brethren news go to the main Newsline page

FEMA has reported 30 confirmed fatalities from the March 22 disaster, with 13 people remaining missing or unaccounted for, and 43 homes destroyed, Fry-Miller said.

CDS volunteers receive special training to offer sensitive care to children in traumatic situations following disasters, giving them opportunities to express their feelings and stories through carefully selected play activities. The volunteers on this response included disaster project managers John and Carol Elms, Stephanie Herkelrath, Kathy Howell, Sharon McDaniel, Sharon Sparks, and Caroline Iha.

The CDS team served children from communities close to the mudslide area, where community members had been lost in the disaster. They also provided childcare on Friday during a meeting of first responders and loggers who were carrying out the search for bodies, and on Saturday during a memorial service for one of the people killed in the disaster.

Photo courtesy of CDSCardboard robots built by children in the play area set up by CDS volunteers in Darrington, near the location of the mudslide in Washington State. Wrote Carol Elms, one of the CDS team, in a Facebook post: "The major activities for today have been hot potato ball play and robots. Children made their own super powerful robots out of big boxes." What an important activity for children who feel dis-empowered while waiting to hear news of loved ones in the mudslide aftermath.

“We were basically providing respite care for the tight-knit community. The loved ones they lost were the librarian or the neighbor,” Fry-Miller said. The volunteers gave their attention to children who had “a certain level of fear, like when’s the next mountain going to drop on us?” she said.

The CDS response concluded Sunday, after the mudslide became a federally declared disaster and FEMA was called in, Fry-Miller explained. CDS had responded at the request of the American Red Cross.

In a Facebook post from the CDS team, there was “good interactive play with children and CDS volunteers. The major activities...have been hot potato ball play and robots. Children made their own super powerful robots out of big boxes.... What an important activity for children who feel so dis-empowered during this very sad time while waiting to hear news of loved ones in the mudslide aftermath.”

Photo courtesy of CDS

The Facebook posts also quoted one nine-year-old girl who received care in the play area: “I hope you keep doing this for the children because it makes me feel better and it occupies the children. I like to paint and play with play dough. I like to draw. I love it when you do this.”

For more about Children’s Disaster Services go towww.brethren.org/cds .

(Jane Yount, coordinator for Brethren Disaster Ministries, contributed to this report.)

Go to www.brethren.org/Newsline to subscribe to the Church of the Brethren Newsline free e-mail news service and receive church news every week.

eBrethren, April 10, 2014

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April 10, 2014 Support core ministries! Click here. CONTENTS Break through Coming home As the Body of Christ A determined cardinal on a break from her persistent knocking.Photo by Mandy Garcia "Thanks to his perseverance, there are no more barriers between us and God's love."Photo by Brethren Volunteer Service Break throughby Matt DeBall A few weeks ago, a spring cardinal moved into a courtyard at the General Offices. I know this because she immediately started flying into a window outside my office. For more than a week she persisted, knocking on the glass over and over again. Our winged visitor reminded me of others who found themselves stuck on the outside of a calling. Joseph had a dream of being blessed by God, but repeatedly experienced injustice. Moses saw God’s vision for Israel, but received repeated “NOs” from Pharaoh and insults from his own people. Esther had a fervent hope that her people would be saved, but faced ridicule and death. As Easter approaches, we remember that even Jesus had to break through walls as he faced an oppressive government and corrupt religious leaders. Yet he persisted, giving all of himself to display the power of God’s kingdom. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus broke down the walls of captivity, injustice, and religious arrogance. Filled with heavenly power, Jesus broke through walls of separation and made God’s kingdom accessible to all. Thanks to his perseverance, there are no more barriers between us and God’s love. It might be a stretch to compare biblical heroes to the stubborn cardinal in the courtyard, but I can’t help but be inspired by the consistency they seem to share. The people around Joseph, Moses, Esther, and Jesus must have thought they were chasing impossible dreams. But their diligence and tireless faith can remind us to stay the course, even when it feels hopeless; to focus on God’s kingdom despite the pain, selfishness, and destruction in our world. Through our service and speech, we can help to usher in God’s transforming peace, love, and mercy. Sometimes it may feel like we’re hitting our head against the same wall over and over again, but we must not give up. We must keep knocking, because through Christ all things are possible. Through the power of the Spirit, we will find a way. Through the grace of God, we will surely break through. Matt DeBall is a member of the Donor Communications team for the Church of the Brethren. He can be reached with questions aboutspecial offerings, eBrethren, the Stewardship Lending Library, and personal financial resourcesat mdeball@brethren.org .  Forward to a friend Back to top Register at www.brethren.org/yac . Coming home Worship. Learn. Fellowship. Get in the Word. Young Adult Conference May 23-25 Camp Brethren Woods Emily Shonk Edwards, Joel Gibbel, Kelsey Murray, and Marcus Harden will explore Jeremiah 29:11-13. Register at www.brethren.org/yac . Forward to a friend Back to top Brethren Volunteer Service worker Bryan Hanger at a booth at Ecumenical Advocacy Days in March. Photo by Christy Crouse “As the Body of Christ, we are each intimately connected to each other, and with each doing its part we not only can do more than we could on our own, but we create a community that lives out and embodies Christ’s new transformative reality.” —Bryan Hanger in “Living our way into a new way of thinking," a recent Brethren Volunteer Service blog post. See something you like?  Share eBrethren with your friends!   Watch for our next issue on April 24, 2014. Do you have a story about how you and your congregation practice stewardship? E-mail it to ebrethren@brethren.org ! eBrethren: Stories of Brethren Stewards, is produced every other week by the Church of the Brethren donor communications team.
Please add "cobweb@brethren.org" to your address book or safelist to ensure our e-mail reaches your inbox. eBrethren is published by Church of the Brethren Communications, 1451 Dundee Avenue, Elgin, Illinois 60120. Church of the Brethren is a non-profit religious and educational organization recognized by the Federal and State governments. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. © 2014 Church of the Brethren. Save trees: Think before you print!Click here to log in and update your information.