June 27, 2019
In Our Prayers
We are called to prayer this week by 2019 District Conference Moderator George Bowers for God to reveal His 'Compelling Vision' for The Church of the Brethren as delegates meet at Annual Conference. Over the Fourth of July, please pray for all of our nation’s leaders and judges and for God to be glorified in and throughout our nation.

The Global Mission and Service Office prayer focus this week includes:

  • Brazil-Pray for the leaders of Igreja da Irmandade-Brasil, the Church of the Brethren in Brazil, as they deal with legal challenges surrounding the church’s property in Rio Verde. There has been conflict with local leadership of Rio Verde, and denominational leadership is hoping for a favorable judicial decision regarding municipal fees.
  • South Sudan-Pray for traveling mercies for Global Mission worker Athanasus Ungang as he returns to the United States for two months of home leave. Pray for a time of rest, rejuvenation and connection as he spends time with his wife and children in South Dakota.

Today's Annual Conference request for prayer is to read Luke 4:16-21 and Luke 9:1-6 and pray…for the ministerial leadership in the Shenandoah District. Pray for more individuals to be called. Pray for the name of someone you can encourage toward that calling and plan to speak with them.  The prayer guide for Annual Conference is available online .
District News
This month, the Update launched a new, sleeker look for summer. With the introduction of a new template style, several functions or features readers have been accustomed to will not be available. Unfortunately, features such as quicklinks and back to top are not supported in the newer option. However, the new format for summer should generate fewer technological snafus and provide a clean, crisp layout for ease of reading and display of photos. At the end of summer, District staff will evaluate the pros and cons for this change and see what works best before launching the Sep. edition.

Read last week's Update in full on our website . With the new format, a link is generated to the Shenandoah Update email newsletter and placed on our website (i.e., go to www.shencob.org, choose News & Events tab at top, then choose publications) which allows readers to go back an issue and find all the information published in previous weeks.

Your comments are welcome! Contact Brenda with your ideas and suggestions.
In Our Pastoral Family
  • Ken Fox will be ordained July 14, at Cedar Run
Pastoral Vacancies
Beaver Creek - full-time, Elaine McGann, interim pastor, congregational profile available
Friends Run/Smith Creek - full-time, David Morris, interim pastor, congregational profile available
Greenmount - full-time, Gary Shull, interim pastor, congregational profile available
Leake's Chapel, Ken Dolan, interim pastor, congregational profile forthcoming 
Mill Creek - full time associate pastor, congregational profile available
Pine Grove - Pastor G. Scott Payne announced his resignation, effective Dec. 31

Pleasant Hill - part time, Janet Elsea has announced her resignation, effective date to be determined, congregational profile forthcoming

Waynesboro - full-time, Dot Mellot, interim pastor, updated congregational profile available
Annual Conference: 'Compelling Vision' Report
Last Thursday, the Compelling Vision Processing Team published its report on the 'Compelling Vision' conversations held throughout the Districts within the last year. The report is entitled "Unfolding Journey: A Report on the District Conversations" and it may be accessed here .

Moderator Donita Keister highlighted some of the findings revealed in this report when she briefed Annual Conference Delegates earlier this month. The report expands on her observations and describes the process behind the findings in greater detail.

The 'Compelling Vision' process has sought to receive comments from individuals in all Church of the Brethren Districts to identify what could compel the denomination to work together toward shared vision and goals. The initiative explored what scripture references, values, observations and aspirations exist that may bring the denomination closer to Christ and to each other. To this end, the Compelling Vision Processing Team and Compelling Vision Working Group created a format to bring these comments together in a way that was respectful of everyone who took part. They selected a conversational a pproach and the table group format was utilized to explore nine questions brought before participants. There were 563 table groups meeting together in 71 District events and 2,577 comments from individuals were received. Various other groups such as National Youth Conference, National Young Adult Conference, the Council of District Executives, Outdoor Ministries Association and the boards of all four denominational agencies were also included in the process, although these are not directly reflected in the report. Results from these meetings will be presented during the conference.

The members of the Team each entered between 50 to 100 forms each into a database to get a sense of how participants responded to the questions. They also employed a professional firm to assist with additional data entry and analysis. The frequency of words or scriptural references were captured and the words were depicted in "word clouds" as a way to illustrate those things that were most important to participants. " Word clouds" capture all the words that were entered into the database and represents their frequencies through text of varying size fonts. The more frequent the response, the larger the word appears in the graphic.These illustrations are included in the report. Of necessity, the scriptural references were evaluated in a different way. A complete listing of scripture references cited by participants is included in the appendix of the report.

What emerged from the data exploration is not surprising to long-time Brethren: Service and peace are prominent in the word clouds, along with concepts of love, community and the Bible. The top two Bible verses cited when asked, "What scriptures can unite us as a church, drawing us closer together, both locally, and as a denomination?" were Matt 22:34-40 (The Greatest Commandments) and John 3:16-17 (For God so Loved the World). The team processed 489 distinct Bible references.

Delegates to this year's Annual Conference will have these findings presented in greater detail and will have the opportunity to discuss important unifying themes. Authors of the report emphasize, "The conversations at Annual Conference, will not be a repeat of the conversations that took place in the districts, but will be shaped by what we learned from those conversations and conversations with other key constituency groups." For more about the expectations for conversation at Annual Conference, click here .

The work of delegates this year will be entrusted to the Compelling Vision Process Team and the Compelling Vision Working Group to collaboratively articulate a vision this fall. The vision will be brought before delegates in 2020 for affirmation. If affirmed, the vision will be embodied and carried out in churches, districts and the denomination.

Annual Conference gets underway next week in Greenboro, N.C. Advance Registration is now closed. However, on-site registration in Greensboro will begin Tues., July 2, at 3 p.m. in the Sheraton/Koury lobby.

For more information, go to: www.brethren.org/ac
Free Resources Available
There are 31 blue hymnals in good condition available at the District Office, contact Sarah for more information about obtaining them.

Calvary Church ( 578 Front Royal Pike , Winchester) has several types of Sunday School materials available. Contact Carmen Taylor , if you are interested.
Ride Sharing to Annual Conference
If you are going to Greensboro, N.C., next week for Annual Conference and have room in your vehicle for one more person, please contact Brenda . There are a couple of people who are looking to share transportation to the conference.
Events at the District Office
Please take note of the following meetings and events scheduled for the District Office:  

  • July 1 through 5, District Office closed the week of Annual Conference
  • July 4 and 11, Shenandoah Update will not be published
  • July 8 and 15, Pastor Alert may not be published
  • July 15, 6 p.m., Disaster Auction Committee, District Office
  • July 16, 6:30 p.m., Gifts Discernment Team, District Office
  • July 17, 11 a.m., District Office staff meeting, District Office; phones unanswered
  • July 25, 11 a.m., District Office staff meeting, District Office; phones unanswered
Mark Your Calendar
Through Aug. 11: Worship in the Woods , Summer Vesper Series, Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center Amphitheater , ( 1921 Heritage Center Way , Harrisonburg), 7 p.m. nightly.

  • June 30 Robbie Miller
  • July 7 Joanna Friesen
  • July 14 Larry Aiken
  • July 21 Ron Wyrick
  • July 28 Scott Duffey
  • Aug. 4 Mountain High Rise
  • Aug. 11 Mount Pleasant Mennonite Youth Choir (at Weaver's Mennonite Church)

June 29: B lock Party, Blue Ridge Chapel , ( 19 Brown's Lane , Waynesboro) , 4 to 7 p.m. Food, games and activities at no charge .

July 10: Monthly Auxiliary Luncheon at Bridgewater Church ( 420 College View Drive , Bridgewater), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Dayton Church will be hosting this meal. Menu: Mexican tossed salad with assorted cakes, fresh fruit cup, iced tea or coffee. Cost: $6.

Through July 15: Early registration for  National Older Adult Conference (NOAC) to be held Sep. 2-6 at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. NOAC is a Spirit-filled gathering of adults age 50 and older who love learning and discerning together, exploring God's call for their lives and living out that call by sharing their energy, insight, and legacy with their families, communities, and the world. For more information,   click here   or register online at:  www.brethren.org/noac/registration.html .

LOOKING AHEAD
Aug. 3: Practice of Ministry Day-Ethics Training, Cloverdale Church ( 4708 Read Mountain. Road ,  Cloverdale ), 8:30 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. Two courses will be offered on this date: 
Course 1: For licensed ministers and students in the Christian Growth Institute (CGI) and other ministry training programs. Course 2: Advanced training for commissioned and ordained pastors. Contact  Sarah Long  for registration details.

For a complete listing of alternative dates for Ethics Training,  click here .

Sep. 28: Emotional Well-being for Pastors, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Pleasant Valley Church
( 91 Valley Church Road, Weyers Cave), cost: TBD.

Oct. 13: District Conference Delegate Briefing, time and location to be announced.

Nov. 1: Fred Pryor Seminar for Pastors, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wakemans Grove ( 668 Wakemans Grove Road , Edinburgh), CEUs available.

Nov. 1: Milestones in Ministry with Paul Mundey, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Columbia Furnace Church ( 20910 Senedo Road , Edinburgh).

Nov. 1-2: District Conference, Antioch Church ( 23502 Senedo Road , Woodstock). 

NOTE: VBS listings are in the  District Youth section below.

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Youth News
Vacation Bible School (VBS)
July 21-26: Blue Ridge Chapel ( 19 Browns Lane , Waynesboro ), 5:15 to 8:30 p.m., dinner served nightly. The theme is " Roar: Life is Wild, God is Good!" For ages nursery through Adult. Call (540) 949-6915 for more information. Participants may preregister by clicking  Life is wild, God is Good! ROAR VBS 2019 .
Summer Work Camps
The Workcamp Team lists the following vacancies this summer:

Junior High
Roanoke, Va. - July 17-21 - 1 spot open
 
Senior High
Waco, Tex. - July 22-28 - 12 spots open
Portland, Ore. - July 29-Aug. 4 - 1 spot open
Washington, D.C. - Aug. 5-11 - 13 spots open

Find out more by visiting:   http://www.brethren.org/workcamps/schedule/
Brethren Woods
It's Not too Late for Summer Camp
Summer Camp at Brethren Woods is in full swing and continues for three more weeks in July. There are still opportunities for children and youth in K-12th grade to sign up for a camping adventure. A Christian summer camp experience can be life-changing as children, youth and adults gather in God's beautiful creation, grow together as Jesus' disciples, develop life and leadership skills and have good 'ole fashioned' fun.
 
Online registration is available at:   www.brethrenwoods.org/summercamp/ . Paper registration forms can be printed off from the camp website and are also included in the brochures that were mailed out in January.

Summer Camp Volunteers Needed
 Brethren Woods depends on a variety of volunteers each summer to serve alongside the amazing group of young adults working as paid staff all summer. Positions include camp counselors, support staff, activity leaders, kitchen and maintenance assistants, health managers and deans. Discounts are available for camper parents who volunteer. 

Volunteer needed for:
July 14-16:  ONE Male Counselor and ONE Female Counselor for Mini-Camp (1st-3rd Grade)
July 15-18 (daily): ONE Female Counselor for Day Camp (K-2nd Grade)

Go to:   http://brethrenwoods.org/volunteer  to apply and learn more.

Brethren Woods Annual Golf Blast and Elzie Morris Memorial
Registration for the Brethren Woods Annual Golf Blast and Elzie Morris Memorial is underway. The captain's choice tournament will be held on Sat., Sep. 7, at Lakeview Golf Course. The excitement begins with a putting contest and the purchase of mulligans at 7:30 a.m. The shotgun start begins at 8:30 a.m. Both individuals and teams may preregister. A delicious meal will be served at the end of the round and prizes will be awarded after lunch. The $70 cost includes participation in the golf tournament and lunch. There is an option to join the players for lunch. The cost is $8 for the meal only. Walkers are welcome to participate, especially if they just like to take a walk in the woods.  As it turns out many golfers get that experience, too!  There are also opportunities available to support the ministry at Brethren Woods by being a sponsor of the event. For tournament information visit  http://brethrenwoods.org/annual/golfblast/
Brethren Disaster News
Shenandoah District Disaster Ministries
Taking a break
The work is done
Throwing in the trowel
The Bridges of West Virginia
Last week a team of volunteers built a bridge near Elkview, W. Va. This was the first experience many volunteers had with constructing a bridge. The photos in this section are from the project site and were provided by Henry Elsea.

Volunteers Needed
Another trip is planned for July 28-Aug. 3. The team will be going to Lumberton, N.C., to assist with ongoing projects there. Potential team members may contact Jerry Ruff  at 447-0306 or  Henry Elsea  at 271-1533 to find out more about becoming a member of the Disaster Ministry team.

In Other News
Brethren Disaster Ministries has considered moving a group to central Fla. to assist people there who are still recovering from Hurricane Michael. A Shenandoah District team may travel in late Aug. to assist with moving one of the two project sites to a Fla. location, Henry Elsea will have more information about this possibility in the coming month.
When it rains, it pours...concrete!
It's finally taking shape....
This is still a lot like work...
Shenandoah District Disaster Auction
Meal Tickets for Sale : The 2019 Shenandoah District Disaster Auction has several Share-A-Meal tickets remaining for the Oct. 13, 5 p.m. dinner hosted by the Disaster Auction Committee at Eddie Major's home ( 502 Sandy Ridge Road , Waynesboro) .  If money from ticket sales comes in by July 15, it will be included with this year's auction receipts, after that time it will be credited to next year's auction proceeds.

The menu will consist of BBQ chicken and all the fixin's. At press time, s pecial music after the meal is slated to be the Good Time Gospel Quartet. The second group to perform has not been confirmed at this time. Eddie invites g uests to dress casually and come early to hike the trails near his home. The tickets are $20 each. For more information about the venue, contact Eddie at 943-1244.

Lost and Found : Two envelopes were left at the auction near the Sow and Grow table. These appear to have been seed money to start a project and return the proceeds for next year's auction. If you are missing your Sow and Grow envelope (one contained $11, the other, $10), please call 896-7556 or email Catherine Lantz to make arrangements for retrieving an envelope.
Church Development and Evangelism Tips
In the May issue of “Church Around the World” there was an article about becoming a more welcoming church. It talked about the importance of members introducing themselves to guests and being genuinely interested without being pushy. It reminded me of several churches I visited in the Shenandoah District as part of our church visitation program a few years ago. As an unannounced guest, I was welcomed warmly by people in the churches. Think about how it would feel to visit a church where no one said anything to you. Let’s remember to greet all our guests and share God’s love with them. Even better, may we encourage our members to invite their friends and neighbors to join them at a service or special event.

Sharon Poff
Mountain View Fellowship
Job Announcement
The Church of the Brethren is seeking an individual to fill a full-time salaried position of Director of Intercultural Ministries. The Director of Intercultural Ministries is part of Discipleship Ministries team and reports to Director of Organizational Leadership and Co-Coordinator for Discipleship Ministries. This position is based at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, IL. Click here to learn more.
Upcoming Classes
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15, NIV).

The Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center will offer a TRIM level course,  The History of the Church of the Brethren . This class will be a two-weekend intensive class, on-site in Elizabethtown, Pa., on Sep. 27-28, and Nov. 15-16, with Jeff Bach as the instructor. TRIM/EFSM students will receive one credit in Ministry Skills upon completion. Continuing Education students will receive 2.0 CEUs. This course is also available for laypersons for their own personal enrichment (PF). See details below for CEU or PR: 

Please use the link below to go directly to SVMC's website to access the brochure and registration form. The registration deadline is August 15 . The registration form must be mailed to the address on the form.


Persons interested in taking an TRIM level course for continuing education credit (CEU) or personal enrichment (PE) may enroll as a student and select their category (CEU or PE) upon registration. 

Successful completion of the course requires
  • Meeting the attendance requirement set by the instructor,
  • Completion of the assigned reading,
  • Engagement in the course through participation.

A CEU or PE student is not required to complete assigned papers or exams.  However, any student who completes papers or exams can expect feedback from the instructor. CEUs are awarded after the instructor has notified the Brethren Academy of successful completion of the course. Questions about taking an Academy course for CEUs or personal enrichment may be directed to Academy Director, Janet Ober Lambert at  oberlja@bethanyseminary.edu  or 765-983-1820.

The 46th Brethren Bible Institute  will be held  July 22-26  on the campus of  Elizabethtown College . This one-week school is intended to provide systematic instruction in the Bible for any person 16 years of age or older. Students may take one, two, or three courses. The cost is the same regardless of how many courses are taken. It is expected that dormitory students take three classes, unless special arrangements have been made with the principal prior to the opening of the Institute. Classes meet every day, Mon. through Fri. 

The total cost for dormitory students (including room/board/tuition) is $300.00 for the entire week. The cost for commuting students is $125 for the week. Brethren Revival Fellowship significantly subsidizes the overall costs of the school. Applications must be received by June 25 at BBI, 155 Denver Road, Denver, PA 17517. For more information, visit:   http://www.brfwitness.org/brethren-bible-institute/

The Christian Growth Institute (CGI)  New Testament class is set for Aug. 10, 24, and Sep.7. The instructor is Pastor Tim Craver of the Summit congregation. Please mark your calendars. Cost is $75 plus books. If you have questions about CGI, contact Sarah Long at  sarahlong@shencob.org . 

Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is offering two classes this fall:
  • Death and Dying, Sep. 4 through Oct. 29. This 8 week online course will explore how pastors can teach and model a faith that informs dying, including ways to attend to God in suffering, grief and end-of-life care. 2.0 continuing education units are available for completion of this course. Cost: $295. Register by clicking here.
  • Interim/Transitional Ministry: More than Mere Maintenance, Sep. 25 through Nov. 19. This course is a practical exploration of the gifts and challenges specific to interim/transitional ministry. We will explore the necessary tasks for success and the personality characteristics most helpful to develop for the practice of this specialized area of congregational leadership. We will examine the unique calling of persons to walk with congregations in both short term and long term intentional ministry situations.
  • Introduction to New Testament, Oct. 16 through Dec. 3. Instructor: Matt Boersma. Online Registration deadline: Sep. 11. The Church of the Brethren has long held that it has “no creed save the New Testament.” Yet the New Testament itself is a collection of books and letters of a wide range of genres, none of which resemble a traditional creed. This course will look at the various books of the New Testament, explore the world which created these texts, and look at how the texts may have interacted both with each other and the Hebrew Scriptures. In addition, what the ancient authors of the texts might have been trying to say to their audiences as well as what they are still saying today, will be examined. Cost: $295.
At Your Service
Questions?
Contact Brenda Diehl
Director of Communications