Church of the Brethren

An interfaith prayer vigil on the evening of Thursday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern time) held both in-person at National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C., (5 Thomas Circle NW) and online via live-stream will support a court hearing in the sensitive locations lawsuit.

A Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) team of four volunteers (three from Iowa and one from Missouri) will provide disaster child care in Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs) in areas of Missouri hit by tornadoes last week.

This year’s first set of grants from the Brethren Faith in Action Fund (BFIA) have been announced, going to five Church of the Brethren congregations including GraceWay International Community, Harrisburg First, Highland Avenue, Ivester, and Sebring.

The Global Food Initiative (GFI) has given its latest round of grants to support well drilling by the Haiti Medical Project, an agricultural training component for students at the Great Lakes Bible School in Rwanda, and “Farming God's Way” in the Church of the Brethren in Burundi.

In this issue: The National Youth Cabinet meets, Youth and Young Adult Ministry recommends a video introduction to making communion bread, Josh Wilson concert at Camp Mardela, Jennifer Hosler named one of "12 Christian women shaping the church in 2025" by Sojourners.

A resolution on weapons transfers was adopted by the Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board at its spring meeting held March 7-9 at the General Offices in Elgin, Ill. Board chair Colin Scott led the meeting, assisted by chair-elect Kathy Mack and general secretary David Steele.

My first international trip as executive director of Global Mission for the Church of the Brethren was to South Sudan from Feb. 1-15. I was fortunate to travel with a group led by Carolyn and Roger Schrock. Here are excerpts from my daily journal of the trip

Registration for summer FaithX service trips closes on Tuesday, April 1. There are still open spots on several youth and adult trips. More information about the trips and availability as well as registration are at www.brethren.org/faithx.

The Church of the Brethren’s Shenandoah District has called a team of people to serve in the capacity of Interim District Executive Minister beginning on April 1. Paul Roth, Jan Orndorff, and Steve Spire will serve as the core interim team with Wayne Pence and Glenn Bollinger assisting as consultants.

In this issue: Remembering Marianne Rhoades Pittman; New and Renew offers March Madness discount; prayer requests for South Sudan, those affected by severe weather, those continuing to suffer impacts of fires in southern California; truck for Uganda; "Toward COP30" webinars from the WCC; threat to the US Institute of Peace, which got its start with help from the Church of the Brethren among other religious groups

Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to continued support for the Nigeria Crisis Response, to aid those affected in three central African countries by the warfare in Goma and the surrounding area, to aid those affected by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, and to aid those affected by the war in Ukraine, among others.

The Annual Conference office has announced the daily line up of preachers for the 2025 annual meeting of the Church of the Brethren, as well as the daily themes and scripture texts and the worship planning team and music leadership.

The keynote speakers for the 2025 National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) have been announced. The event takes place Sept. 1-5 in Lake Junaluska, N.C., a Spirit-filled gathering of adults 50 and older. This year’s theme is “Alive in the Spirit!” (Romans 15:13).

“Mark your calendar for BVS Visionary Voices!” said an announcement from the Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) office. This new quarterly speaker series highlights inspiring professionals sharing what they do, why they do it, and how you can get involved.

Looking to address hunger in your community? Congregations are invited to apply for a Global Food Initiative (GFI) grant to support efforts to address domestic hunger and homelessness.

The April offering from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College will be “A Place for Everybody: Creating Communities of Belonging” to be presented by Jeanne Davies, executive director of the Anabaptist Disabilities Network.

In this issue: Remembering Doris Cline Egge, prayer for the Democratic Republic of Congo, immigration vigil and advocacy visits in Washington, D.C., job openings at camps, installation service for Mid-Atlantic District executive Douglas Veal, book launch of Christ in the Rubble, '10 Books Every Brethren Should Read,' David Jehnsen and Barbara Daté receive awards from On Earth Peace, Womaen's Caucus address change, and much more

A new webinar, free to attend, is offered on Wednesday, March 26, at 2 p.m. (Eastern time), offering 0.1 continuing education credit. “Dinner Church in Every Context” is presented by Verlon Fosner, director of Dinner Church Collective, Fresh Expressions North America.

The Church of the Brethren has signed the “Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration: Defending Refuge” as one of the Covenant Members of Church World Service (CWS).

The Nominating Committee of the Standing Committee of district delegates to the Church of the Brethren Annual Conference is presenting the following ballot for the 2025 Conference taking place in Greensboro, N.C., on July 2-6.