UPDATE

April 6, 2010

Women’s Retreat Is a Success:
The 12th Annual District Women’s Retreat was held again at Peace Valley on March 26 and 27, 2010. There were 27 women in attendance from 7 different congregations. Hostesses for the event were the women of Messiah and Warrensburg. Pearl Miller presented the main program about Care of Creation. Her thoughts were based on her recent learning trip to Alaska with the New Community Project, under the leadership of David Radcliff. Her photos were awesome and the connection with the land and the people of the Denali National Park area were touching. Those gathered also enjoyed the music led by Elizabeth Irle.

Hygiene Kits were assembled with lots of leftover pieces to kits. Martha Louise Baile took the remaining items, purchased missing pieces, and assembled more kits. All together 41 kits were finished along with the 30 that the Cabool congregation had made. All 71 kits will be taken to the Festival of Sharing office in Columbia to be sent on to Church World Service for Haiti Relief.

A quilt made with fabric left over from the 300th Anniversary quilt at Annual Conference, 2008 was set up for retreat participants to quilt on. This quilt will also be set up at District Conference in September so all quilters should bring their thimble and needle along then. $2.00 per kit shipping will also be given to CWS.

In the business meeting new officers were elected for the coming year. They are: Anne Zimmerman, president, Janelle Flory Schrock, vice president, Stephanie Sappington, secretary/treasurer, and Claudine Manning, historian.

It was decided to send a donation of $100 to the New Community Project designated to be used for a special project called “Give a Girl a Chance.”

It was also moved, seconded and passed to send $300 from the District Women’s Fellowship to Church of the Brethren Disaster Services designated for Haiti earthquake relief.

Much discussion was heard about the Women’s newsletter. It was decided to ask Margaret Keltner to collect news from the various women’s fellowship groups and send it to Carolyn so she can include it in the district UPDATE. Margaret will be looking for a contact person from each congregation to provide her news.

The dates of April 1 and 2 were set for the 2011 Women’s Retreat to be held again in Peace Valley. Peace Valley will prepare the room and manage the meals. Cabool will bring the program. Janelle Flory Schrock offered to be in charge of the program with others from Cabool helping.

A warm thanks was offered to the Warrensburg and Messiah women for their hosting and program. Also big thanks went to Sandy Bosserman who always has the building ready for the group.

Women’s Fellowship Groups who were not in attendance and have some offering for the Least Coin should send that to Carolyn Schrock by the end of April. She will hold off sending the District contribution to Least Coin until after that date. Also send your yearly contribution to the District Women’s Fellowship.

ATTENTION:
A nurse is needed for camp this August. If you can help out contact Stephanie Sappington at 314-963-0764. Camp is scheduled for August 1-7.

Regional Youth Conference Will Be Held this Weekend:
Two youth and one leader from the Warrensburg congregation will plan to attend the RYC held yearly at McPherson College. This year’s theme will be Fully Alive: Taking hold of the life that is really life in body, mind, and spirit. Paul Grout will be the featured speaker.

May is Older Adult Month:
Each May, the Church of the Brethren’s Older Adult Ministry provides a variety of resources for individuals, groups, and congregations to observe older adult month. This year, resources focus on the theme, "Walking in the Newness of Life: The Adventure Continues..." (Isaiah 43:19).

God’s image of aging is bountiful and beautiful--a time of doing new things, bearing new fruit, and striving toward what lies ahead. As in biblical times, when God called older adults to unexpected roles and unanticipated missions, God continues doing a "new thing" in the lives of people today.

Older adult month materials celebrate this newness in life through stories from Brethren who are experiencing newness of life as they follow God’s call, meditations that challenge us to see God at work in the world around us, and resources to use in worshiping our God who walks with us throughout our lives.

Download resources at www.brethren.org/OAM ; click on the link to 2010 Older Adult Month. The resources also can be obtained by contacting Kim Ebersole, director of Family Life and Older Adult Ministry, at 800-323-8039 ext. 302 or kebersole@brethren.org . Congregations are encouraged to use these resources during the month of May, and to let their members know they are available for their personal use.

News From Osceola:
We are greatly blessed here at Osceola Church of the Brethren to be part of the body of Christ. We have folks from Bolivar, Fort Scott and places further. that come to be a part of what Jesus is doing here. We are focused on ministering to this community, being the hands and feet of our Lord. Giving money and food to the food bank, helping a lady with no insurance fighting cancer and many others that are struggling with other matters, yes, they are the ones we feel called to reach out too. Personal involvement and prayer blooms here. We are so blessed. Our worship services are becoming more open and we are beginning to think outside the box and allowing the believers to respond as their lives call. All are welcome here, even those that cannot fit in at other places. Amen.
Pastor Jim Powers

Denominational News:

• Randy Miller of La Verne, CA has been named interim editor of “Messenger”, the Church of the Brethren denominational magazine. This is a long-distance, part-time assignment. Miller is currently teaching a the University of La Verne.
• The Church of the Brethren seeks candidates for the positions of Editor of Messenger, Coordinator of Online Giving, and Director of Identity and Relations. Applications will be received immediately and will be considered until the position is filled. To receive a position description and application contact Karin Krog, Office of Human Resources, at kkrog@brethren.org or 800-323-8039, ext. 258.

From the Annual Conference Office:
A reminder to congregations to register your delegate(s) for Annual Conference. All congregations were sent a blue, delegate authorization card that is to be filled out, signed by the pastor or moderator, and sent in with the registration fee ($300). If your congregation is missing the blue card, another one can be sent to you. Please contact Jon Kobel at 800-323-8039, x229 or jkobel@brethren.org. Thank you.

As of April 5 the following congregations have registered their delegate of AC: Broadwater, Cabool, Messiah, Peace Valley and Warrensburg. Don’t let your congregation miss out of the opportunity to participate in the life of the denomination. Register your delegate today!!!

Global Women’s Project announces the 3rd annual Mother’s Day Gratitude Project:
Rather than buying more material gifts for your loved one, express your gratitude with a gift that helps other women around the world. Your donation allows us to fund projects focused on women’s health, education, and employment in Indiana, Palestine, Southern Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda and Nepal. In return, your chosen recipient will receive a card indicating that a gift has been made in her honor.

To participate, send a donation to:
Global Women’s Project
c/o Nan Erbaugh
47 S. Main Street
West Alexandria, OH 45381-1243

Remember to include your name(s) and recipient’s name and address. You may also make memorial donations. These will be honored on a special page on the website.

Gratitude cards will be mailed in time for Mother’s Day.

Global Women’s Project seeks to raise awareness of the poverty, oppression and injustice suffered by women around the world; to recognize how our over consumption and misuse of resources contributes to that suffering; to change our way of living; and to support self-help community projects that are led by, empower, and benefit women.

Additional information can be found at www.globalwomensproject.org

Ordained Ministers Need to Send Report:
Letters have gone out to all ordained ministers in the district requesting your report of Continuing Education Units earned. Please send this form to Carolyn ASAP. Thanks.

District Disaster Work Project Coming Up Soon:
April 26-May 1 is the date set for our district’s disaster response project for 2010. The group will be rebuilding in Cedar Rapids, IA. If you want to join the group and haven’t registered yet, please contact Pat and Jim Dennison ASAP at 816-238-1287.

Add Camp to Your Dates to Remember:
It’s time to be planning for your children and youth to attend camp at Hammond Mill this summer. The dates will be August 1 - 7. More details will be coming in your way, but please get it on the calendar now.

 

Carolyn Schrock, District Administrator, produces UPDATE in the District Office.

Please send your congregational news for inclusion in the next issue!!!