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Date: Nov. 19, 2004
Contact: Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
V: 847/742-5100 F: 847/742-6103
E-MAIL: CoBNews@AOL.Com

Newsline       Nov. 19, 2004

"...We must grow up in every way into him...into Christ..." Ephesians 4:15

NEWS
1) Five Brethren participate in National Council of Churches assembly.
2) National Council celebrates success on labor issue.
3) District hosts conflict transformation workshop, OEP anniversary
celebration.
4) Two Brethren Volunteer Service units complete orientation.
5) Brethren Historical Committee encourages preservation of records.
6) Faith Expedition to Guatemala celebrates Brethren stove project.
7) Southern Pennsylvania District conference `attracts Ivan.'
8) Idaho District conference called to `Be My Witnesses.'
9) Shenandoah District conference meets for 37th year.
10) Brethren bits: Correction, job openings, and more.

***********************************************************

1) Five Brethren participate in National Council of Churches assembly.

At the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) General
Assembly meeting in St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 9-11, the Church of the Brethren was
represented by delegates Nelda Rhodes Clarke, Jennie Ramirez, and Marianne
Miller Speicher, who began a four-year term of service with this meeting; and
by
Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board, and Becky Ullom, the
board's director of Identity and Relations. The theme, "Weave Anew: Unity,
Peace
and Justice, Hope" based on Eph.4:15-16 encouraged the 36 member communions
to reclaim their collective Christian voice on a national level.

The assembly unanimously adopted a comprehensive policy statement on
children. "The Church and Children: Visions and Goals for the 21st Century"
represents
a holistic view of childhood and the diversity of children's gifts and needs,
Ullom reported. The delegates reaffirmed the NCC Executive Board's call for
urgent intervention to stop the killing in Darfur, Sudan, and received a new
study guide and gave feedback for development of a new policy on human
biotechnologies.

The assembly addressed the national elections with an "Action on Dialogue
Among US
Christians on Christian Values" and a related "Open Letter." In the action,
written "in the wake of divisive national elections in which matters of faith
played a highly visible role, and during which the discussion of moral values
resulted in the widely held perception of opposing Christian camps in the
United States," the assembly asked for "a process that attempts to engage the
spectrum of Christian churches in our communities in dialogues about
Christian
values."

The meeting also marked the death of Yasir Arafat with prayers "for his
people, colleagues, and families" and a call "for restraint on the part of
all
parties and respect for the dignity of all peoples and sacred places."

Prior to the assembly, roughly 30 young adults gathered to discuss the role
of young adults in the NCC and issues facing young adults as individuals and
as
a demographic. "It was a blessing to meet young adults from other
denominations who are also committed to making Christ's yearnings for
humanity
a
reality," said Ullom. "I felt affirmed of my own Church of the Brethren faith
tradition in comparison to other traditions, and also as a part of the larger
Christian tradition."

For more information about the NCC including resources, policy documents, and
pictures, visit www.ncccusa.org.

2) National Council celebrates success on labor issue.

Two former opponents in a years-long workers' rights struggle were
co-recipients of a Peace and Justice Award of Excellence from the National
Council of
Churches (NCC) General Assembly. The event marked a significant success for
all
involved, reported Stan Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board.

Baldemar Velasquez, of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC), and
William Bryan, CEO of the Mt. Olive (N.C.) Pickle Company, were awarded for a
labor
agreement ending a five-and-a-half-year consumer boycott of the company. Mt.
Olive Pickle Company is the second largest independent pickle producer in the
US. The agreement, made with the North Carolina Growers Association, allows
8,000 guest workers from Mexico to gain a contract and union representation,
increases what the company pays for cucumbers, offers a financial incentive
for
growers to provide workers compensation, and provides better pay, grievance
procedures, and bereavement leave to farm workers, among other measures. The
"H2A
Program" guest workers are the first such workers in the US to gain these
goals, the NCC said. For the past four years the
NCC has supported those working on the negotiations; the NCC General Assembly
endorsed the boycott last year.

Noffsinger credited the continued support of the NCC and its concern for farm
workers, along with the efforts of Velasquez and Bryan, for bringing "out the
best." Bryan, who has worked collegially with Brethren disaster relief in
North Carolina, "worked to radically change the environment for the least of
these," Noffsinger said. The NCC made it clear that "it's not just a matter
of
the
good guys and the bad guys," he said, "but it's a matter of bringing people
together in peace. And it was done."

"I rejoice," said retired pastor Gene Bucher, who last year finished a
four-year term as a Church of the Brethren delegate to the NCC. "It is a
great
victory." Concerns that prompted him to vote for the boycott included
"workers
who
hadn't gotten raises for a long time, that workers could earn a living wage,"
he said. He heard the initial presentation of the boycott by a Presbyterian
group. "I thought they went about it in a careful and compassionate way."

In 2000 the NCC assembly voted support for FLOC after hearing of difficult,
unhealthy, and dangerous conditions for migrant farm laborers. FLOC began the
Mt. Olive boycott in 1999 after investigating farm worker conditions in North
Carolina since in the early 1990s. In Nov. 2003 the assembly endorsed the
boycott, along with a consumer boycott of Taco Bell that still continues--the
first
boycotts it had endorsed for 15 years since a boycott of Roy Dutch/Shell
connected with apartheid South Africa. The NCC reported that the Taco Bell
boycott
was called in 2001 by the Coalition of Immokalee (Fla.) Workers following the
company's refusal to address worker exploitation by its tomato suppliers. For
more information about the Taco Bell boycott see www.pcusa.org/boycott.

The NCC regards boycotts as a measure of last resort. Bucher remembered
delegates expressing concern for those in business and other workers who
would
be
affected by the boycotts, and for owners of Taco Bell franchises. Delegates
talked about going to speak personally and explain the issues with local
franchises, he said.

"The most important thing the NCC is doing is continuing to be a voice for
Christians concerned about justice in the world," said Frances Townsend, who
served as a delegate alongside Bucher. Beside support for farm workers, she
named
support of public education and actions regarding welfare as examples "of
where the NCC is in the 'healing society' versus 'avoiding society' debate,"
she
said. "It's all part of a big discussion about engagement with the world,
bringing Christ's healing to the world, because we can't just heal it
ourselves."
David Miller, pastor of West Richmond (Va.) Church of the Brethren, and
Valentina Satvedi, pastor of South Bay Community Church of the Brethren in
Redondo
Beach, Calif., also served as Church of the Brethren delegates to the NCC for
the years 2000-03.

3) District hosts conflict transformation workshop, OEP anniversary
celebration.

The third of four regional celebrations honoring 30 years of On Earth Peace
took place Nov. 12-14 in Western Plains District. The event drew participants
from across the district and an audience of several hundred to a JOYA
(Journey
of Young Adults) concert in McPherson, Kan. Over 40 pastors, deacons, and
other congregational leaders met at McPherson Church of the Brethren for a
conflict transformation workshop.

"One of the reasons this training was so successful is that this district
really yearns for
opportunities to come together and exchange ideas," said Leslie Frye,
co-facilitator of the workshop. "So whenever something like this is offered,
people
will travel long distances to take part." Frye, a licensed minister and
certified mediator from McPherson, teamed together with Vickie Samland,
ordained
minister and teacher at the Conflict Center in Edgewater, Colo., and Bob
Gross,
co-director of On Earth Peace and a mediator and workshop leader from North
Manchester, Ind., to lead the event.

The workshop included exercises in understanding conflict dynamics, active
listening, and other tools for transforming conflict and handling power in
church leadership positions. Small group sessions gave pastors, deacons, and
meeting facilitators a chance to exchange their thoughts and experiences in
dealing
with conflict in their respective roles.

An afternoon session for meeting facilitators drew the largest group.
Congregational lay leaders were given resources and tips for planning an
agenda,
effective use of consensus and other group decision making models, and how to
react to passive and aggressive behaviors in a group setting.

The JOYA quartet of LuAnne Harley, Shawn Kirchner, Brian Kruschwitz, and Barb
Sayler traveled through the district during the weekend, performing at Church
of the Brethren congregations in Kansas City, Kan., and McPherson, and
leading Sunday morning worship in Wichita, Kan. JOYA first formed in 1994
while the
participants were in Brethren Volunteer Service, and has gathered again ten
years later to help celebrate the ministry of On Earth Peace. "The rich
harmonies, which bring the message of peace through the universal language of
music,
invoke a spirit of prayer, build bridges with other cultures, and pass on the
stories of freedom, hope, and love," said Sayler, who is a co-director of On
Earth Peace. JOYA is preparing to record a CD which will be available by June
2005.

The final regional weekend commemorating the anniversary of On Earth Peace
will take place March 4-6, 2005, in Pacific Southwest District at Modesto
(Calif.) Church of the Brethren and LaVerne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren.
For
more, visit www.brethren.org/oepa/30thAnniversary.html or call On Earth Peace
at
410-635-8704.

4) Two Brethren Volunteer Service units complete orientation.

Brethren Volunteer Service Units 261 and 262 have completed orientation, with
30  volunteers beginning new projects across the US, Europe, Latin America,
and Africa.

Brethren Revival Fellowship BVS Unit 261 completed orientation Sept. 1.
Volunteers, their home churches or home towns and placements are: Amanda
Akers
of
Welsh Run Church of the Brethren in St. Thomas, Pa., and Marian and Kevin
Auker
and their children Lynette, Holly, and Tyler of Blue Ball Church of the
Brethren in Gap, Pa., to Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn, Maine; Jennifer
Kennedy, Upton Church of the Brethren in Mercersburg, Pa., to Maine Area Home
School
in Lewiston, Maine; Rob Raker, Greencastle (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, to
Brethren Mission House in Miami, Fla.

BVS Unit 262 completed orientation Oct. 15. Volunteers, their home churches
or home towns and placements are: Rebecca Allen, Seattle, Wash., to CPR
Sierra
in Guatemala; Kandice Arwood, Ottawa, Ill., to GETO in Bosnia-Herzegovina;
Christoph Baecker and Krista Kunkel-Baecker, Paderborn, Germany, to Hopewell
Inn
in Mesopotamia, Ohio; Missy Clements, Codorus Church of the Brethren in
Loganville, Pa., to L'Arche Kilkenny in Ireland; Anji Couillard, White Bear
Lake,
Minn., to Trees for Life in Wichita, Kan.; Kevin Dibert, Chambersburg (Pa.)
Church of the Brethren, and Sandee and Larry Kitzel, Monitor Church of the
Brethren, Conway, Kan., to Brethren Disaster Response in New Windsor, Md.;
Tara
Failey, West Worthington, Ohio, to Pesticide Action Network in San Francisco,
Calif.; Carolyn Gong, University Baptist and Brethren Church in State
College,
Pa.,
to Bridgeway in Lakewood, Colo.; Steph Hartley, Lewistown (Pa.) Church of the
Brethren, to Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN the Church of the Brethren in
Nigeria) Secondary School; Jenny Hartwell, Deltona, Fla., to Brethren Woods
in
Keezletown, Va.; Carmen Kingsley, Elkhart, Ind., to Emmaus Community in
France; Andy Miracle, Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren, to the
General
Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office in Washington D.C.;	Melissa
Neher,
Santa Cruz, Calif., and Daniel Otten, Freising, Germany, to Camp Courageous
in
Monticello, Iowa; Oliver Peter, Hamburg, Germany, to CentrePeace in
Bellefonte,
Pa.; Philipp Pfefferle, Bad Krozingen, Germany, and Stephanie Speicher,
Richmond, Ind., to Su Casa Catholic Worker House in Chicago, Ill.; Becky
Snavely,
Mountville, Pa., to Casa de Ezperanza de los Ninos in Houston, Texas; Michael
Stover, Dayton, Va., to the Washington (D.C.) City Nutrition Program; Nicole
Suiters, New Enterprise (Pa.) Church of the Brethren, to Friendship Day Care
in
Hutchinson, Kan.; Emily Wampler, Bridgewater (Va.) Church of the Brethren, to
CooperRiis in Mill Spring, N.C.; Dana Young, Grace Church in Akron, Ohio, to
L'Arche Dublin in Ireland.

5) Brethren Historical Committee encourages preservation of records.

The Brethren Historical Committee met in Elgin, Ill., Nov. 5-6. The role of
the committee is to encourage Brethren historical research and publication,
promote the preservation of Brethren historical records, and approve general
policies for the General Board's Brethren Historical Library and Archives
(BHLA).

Topics on the agenda included the microfilming of Brethren periodicals from
the 1800s, the preservation of 16-millimeter films produced by Brethren
agencies in the 1900s, the preservation of congregational records,
repositories for
congregational and district records, an index to Annual Conference minutes,
and
plans for an insight session at the 2005 Annual Conference. "The committee is
especially concerned about where and how congregational and district records
are being preserved and made available to researchers," reported BHLA
director
Ken Shaffer. "If the records of a disorganized congregation are not
preserved, there is no documentation that the congregation ever existed."

Members are chair William Kostlevy, Jane Davis, Marlin Heckman, and Kenneth
Kreider. Also meeting with the committee were Shaffer; Judy Keyser, the
board's
executive director of Centralized Resources; and Mary Beliveau, volunteer
archival assistant. The committee planned its next meeting for Nov. 4-5,
2005,
in
McPherson, Kan. For more information contact Shaffer at 800-323-8039 ext. 294
or e-mail kshaffer_gb@brethren.org.

6) Faith Expedition to Guatemala celebrates Brethren stove project.

Margot and Tom Benevento, General Board program volunteer for Latin America
and the
Caribbean, led a Faith Expedition to Guatemala Oct. 28-Nov. 5, sponsored by
the Brethren Witness/Washington Office and Global Mission Partnerships. The
delegation of 14 spent time in the community of Union Victoria and the
community
development projects of San Lucas Toliman, exploring the culture, history,
and
development of indigenous people of the communities while considering issues
of peace, justice, and human rights.

A highlight of the trip was a festival and inauguration celebrating a Church
of the Brethren-sponsored stove project. "Tom Benevento was recognized for
his
efforts of over ten years in developing a fuel-efficient stove that is now
used throughout the Union Victoria Community and is growing in its use
throughout Guatemala," reported Brethren Witness/Washington Office director
Phil Jones.
"The unique baffling system of this stove reduces wood consumption by more
than 75 percent and provides a healthier, safer environment for the family in
its use."

The group also participated in celebrations of All Saints Day and the Day of
the Dead, long-standing and important holidays of the Guatemalan people,
Jones
said. "An interesting side to the trip was the unfolding of the American
presidential election as seen through the eyes of this Central American
country,"
he added. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office sponsors Faith Expeditions
on
a regular basis. For more information call 800-785-3246.

7) Southern Pennsylvania District conference `attracts Ivan.'

"For the second year in a row, district conference attendees were faced with
a tropical storm," reported Georgia Markey, associate executive for Southern
Pennsylvania District. "This year, tropical storm Ivan found its way into
central Pennsylvania causing some persons to experience travel concerns,
flooded
basements, detours, or having to cancel their attendance at conference. For
those persons, the 2004 district conference theme, `It is well...' may not
have
been accurate," she commented.

Out of a possible 157 delegates from congregations, 133 attended the
conference Sept. 17-18 at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. Up to 124
non-delegates
attended. A pre-conference workshop drew 53 people in addition to staff and
presenters. The conference featured worship, business sessions, and six
insight
sessions. The opening worship service featured Bob DeSalvio preaching on
"Where Is
the Peace?" and his personal story of ministering to a mobster. Nineteen
district ministers were re-licensed during the service.

"Business began with a joyous note as conference delegates received into
fellowship two delegates from the Trinity Church of the Brethren," Markey
reported. The congregation is a "daughter church" of Upton Church of the
Brethren
outside of Greencastle, Pa. Reports were received from district and
denominational
agencies and congregations responded to the conference theme. Three ministers
were recognized for 50 years of service: Paul Ritchey, David Wilson, and J.
Donald Plank. Delegates examined revised by-laws "that have been several
years
in the reworking," Markey said. "After much discussion, delegates accepted
the
revised by-laws, only after voting to return the suggested `slate' process
back to a ballot process."

Delegates affirmed the conference ballot calling Paul Holtry as moderator
elect; Julian Dunnick, Kenneth Stewart, Galen Heckman, George Martin, Kenneth
E.
Boyer, Frank Leaman, and John F. Hess to the district board; Larry Dentler to
Standing Committee; Bonnie Colantoni-Owens, Clarence Stouffer, Carole Crusey,
and Arthur Lewellen to the Nominating and Personnel Committee; Ruth Cook and
Wanda Smith to the Program and Arrangements Committee; Mel Fleming, Abe
Fisher,
Eric Longwell, and Mary Jo Stevenson to the Camp Eder board; Harold Yeager
and William Hartman Jr. to the Elizabethtown College board; David E. Miller
and
Victor S. Norris to the Children's Aid Society board; and Richard Godfrey,
Gary Meyers, and David Wampler to the Brethren Home Foundation board. The
district board called John Hess as chair and Wilmer Horst as vice chair.

A Church of the Brethren pastor, Dan Lehigh, was introduced as the Carlisle
Trucker Traveler Ministry Chaplain. Discussion of the ministry included
gratitude for the opportunity to "have one of our own ministers serving in
this
capacity" and concern about lack of financial support, Markey said. Southern
Pennsylvnia District is a partner in the funding of this ministry. "However,
only
half of the needed resources is being received, thus not allowing the
Pennsylvania Council of Churches and the Truckstop Committee to offer the
position as
fulltime," Markey said. Two plank-bottom chairs were auctioned for $325 to
benefit the ministry.

8) Idaho District conference called to `Be My Witnesses.'

"You shall be my witnesses..." (Acts:1:8) served as the theme for Idaho
District conference Oct. 22-23 at Community Church of the Brethren, Twin
Falls,
Idaho. Ed Kerschensteiner served as moderator. More than 100 attended,
including
25 delegates representing five of the six congregations in the district. A
strong contingent of children and youth attended the worship events and held
their own activities during the business sessions.

"A highlight of the conference was meeting at the Twin Falls Community Church
of the
Brethren," reported general secretary Stan Noffsinger, who preached for the
conference. "This congregation has been in a process of revitalization.
Several
attendees noted that not many years ago there was talk of closing the church.
During the past six months, ten persons have joined the church, six by
baptism, and at the conclusion of the conference a new pastoral team of Mark
and
Kathryn Bausman was installed. The Twin Falls story will be one to watch."

A progress report from the Constitution Study Task Team was presented and
delegates supported continued work on the plan. The committee proposed a
board
structure of 12 members, six congregational representatives, and six pastors.
"Our revising the constitution will not have any major benefit unless we as
members of the Church of the Brethren revise our commitment and dedication to
the
work of Jesus," the committee reported. "It is time for us to define who we
are and commit to work together toward a shared mission and purposeful,
attainable objectives."

Standing Committee member Mary Ann Sedlacek led a conversation on what
district members need, hope, and desire from and for the church. Camp Wilbur
Stover,
in New Meadows, Idaho, reported a productive year with many improvements,
good attendance, and good use of facilities. A district budget of $8,675 was
approved for 2005.

The next Idaho District conference will be Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-3,
2005, at Camp Wilbur Stover. Steven McPherson will serve as moderator, and
Sidney
King as moderator-elect.

9) Shenandoah District conference meets for 37th year.

The 37th yearly conference of Shenandoah District was held at Bridgewater
(Va.) Church of the Brethren Nov. 5-6 on the theme, "A Caring Community,"
from
Matthew 25:31-46. Moderator John Garber led the business session. Clerk
Charlotte Campbell reported that the high point of attendance was 337
including 141
delegates, 15 alternate delegates, 58 pastors, 37 church board chairs, and 57
nondelegates. Delegates represented 84 of the district's 103 congregations
and
fellowships.

The conference opened with a worship service led by Garber and preacher Chris
Bowman, pastor of Oakton Church of the Brethren in Vienna, Va. Special music
was provided by a combined choir of churches in the Waynesboro, Va., area,
directed by Tonya Garman. An offering of $1,204 was received, to be divided
between the 2005-06 Discipleship Emphasis and Spiritual Retreats for Youth
and
Adults.

In business, delegates approved congregational status for Mountain View
(McGaheyesville, Va.) Fellowship and for Knight's Chapel Fellowship,
Barboursville,
Va., and a name change from Trout Run Church of the Brethren to Sugar Grove
Church of the Brethren, Wardensville, W.Va. Bruce Barlow, District Board
Chair,
introduced the 2005 district budget of $377,000, which was approved along
with income and expense parameters requiring a five percent increase in
congregational giving, representing a 1.4 percent increase over 2004.
Delegates also
approved the district board report and financial reviews showing a wide range
of
activities by various groups related to the board, and received a report on
how undesignated gifts would be applied in 2005. Thirty minutes were used by
the Standing Committee delegates, David Rittenhouse and Charles Simmons, as
an
"open mike" time to hear about what persons yearn for in the Church of the
Brethren.

In other business, delegates recognized changes in church and district
personnel: eight pastors beginning in new parishes; ministers recognized for
"Milestones in Ministry"; and district staff and volunteers completing
service
including Bob McFadden who served six years as TRIM coordinator, Lisa Cook
who
served seven years as administrative and financial secretary, and Frances
Adams who
served 17 years as treasurer. New district staff and volunteers were
introduced: administrative assistant Sandy Kinsey, treasurer Elby Wilson, and
financial secretary and clerical assistant Pat Judd.

The election of officers for 2005 also was held. Paul Roth was elected as
moderator elect. Glenn Bollinger was elected to the Standing Committee of
Annual
Conference. Paul Davis, Fred Bowman, Nancy Lantz, Charles Comer, Howard Lutz,
Randy Cosner, Katie Jarvis Dovel, and Paul White were elected to the district
board. Becky Glick was elected to the Program and Arrangements Committee and
Debbie Bollinger and David Grimes to the Nominating and Personnel Committee.
Ramona Pence was elected to the General Board.

Other events during the conference included 11 insight sessions, lunch
meetings with
representatives of denominational agencies, and a pre-conference Ministers'
and Spouses' Dinner with 116 attending, where Stan Noffsinger, general
secretary of the General Board, gave the meditation.

As business concluded, moderator Garber presented the gavel with words of
challenge and encouragement to Pete Leddy, Jr., who dismissed the conference
with
a benediction and a challenge for the work ahead. The 2005 Shenandoah
District conference will be held Nov. 4-5 at the Bridgewater church.

10) Brethren bits: Correction, job openings, and more.

*In a correction to the Nov. 5 Newsline, the report "Mid-Atlantic District
instructed in `Christian Pestering'" was written by Joy Zepp, pastor of Manor
Church of the Brethren, Boonsboro, Md.

*The Annual Conference Office in Elgin, Ill., seeks a fulltime registration
coordinator for a
temporary position March 1-June 10, 2005. The coordinator will be responsible
for tasks related to the registration process for Annual Conference. Word
processing and organizational skills, an effective and pleasant communication
style, experience with software such as Word or Word Perfect and Excel,
customer
service skills, two to three years of administrative clerical experience, and
a variety of work experiences with direct customer contact are desired. No
benefits are included. For position description and application form contact
Office of Human Resources, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120-1694;
800-323-8039
ext. 259; e-mail mgarrison_gb@brethren.org.

*The Brethren Home Community, a continuing care retirement community serving
over 900 residents near Gettysburg, Pa., seeks a team-oriented chaplain to
provide quality pastoral care and spiritual support to residents and
families,
and to act as liaison between the home and the residents' congregational
pastor.
Understanding and application of biblical and pastoral principles, concepts,
and practices as acquired through college and seminary training or ministry
training leading to ordination, along with one to three years of pastoral
experience are required. Contact the Brethren Home Community, Attn: Christine
Daoularis, Human Resources, 2990 Carlisle Pike, P.O. Box 128, New Oxford, PA
17350.

*Andy Miracle is the newest addition to the staff of the General Board's
Brethren
Witness/Washington Office, serving as a legislative associate through
Brethren Volunteer Service. He is a  member of Bridgewater (Va.) Church of
the
Brethren and attended Bridgewater College where he studied Philosophy and
Religion,
Communication Studies, and Political Science. His main assignments will be
the
development of environmental resources, advocacy work in relation to a
National Peace Tax Fund, and any current or future conscription legislation.

*Brethren Press is taking orders for two resources related to the Church of
the Brethren
Christmas Eve worship service on CBS: a four-color card to be used as an
evangelism tool, bulletin insert, or invitation to be mailed out by
congregations;
and a DVD/video of the service including a "behind-the-scenes" documentary by
Brethren videographer David Sollenberger. A sample of the 5 + by 8 + inch
card will be mailed to each congregation the first week of December.
Quantities
of the card can be ordered for only the price of shipping and handling, and
will be shipped as of the beginning of December. The DVD (item #1122) costs
$14.95 and the video (item #1123) costs $19.95 plus shipping and handling
orders
will be shipped beginning Dec. 27. Call Brethren Press at 800-441-3712.

*The Schowalter Foundation has given a $10,000 grant for the year 2005 to the
new Sunday school curriculum project Gather 'Round: Hearing and Sharing God's
Good News. The grant will be shared between the two sponsors, Brethren Press
and Mennonite Publishing Network. "We have also been told that we may reapply
next year for an additional grant for the year 2006," reported Gather 'Round
project director Anna Speicher. "We are very grateful for this level of
support
from one of the key Mennonite funding organizations."

*In the General Board's Service Ministries program report for October,
domestic shipments of material aid for Church World Service (CWS) from the
Brethren
Service Center warehouses in New Windsor, Md.,	were sent to Pennsylvania,
Florida, Alabama, New York, Virginia, and West Virginia. International
shipments
were also made: a 20-foot container was sent to Cuba with baby blankets, 50
cartons of school kits, 100 cartons of CWS health kits, and 18 cartons of CWS
sewing kits; 3 shipments went to Mexico with a total weight of 19,489 pounds
including blankets, baby kits, school supplies, and health kits; 50 bales of
blankets 25 CWS blankets in
each bale--were trucked to New York, to be shipped by air to Peru; 6 cartons
of school kits went to El Salvador; and 175 cartons of school kits and 75
cartons of health kits were shipped via ocean container to Montenegro.

*Camp Eder in Farifield, Pa., presents a Christmas Crafts Bazaar on Nov. 20,
from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The bazaar will offer homemade crafts, baked goods, kid's
activity area, entertainment, and a food court. For more information call
717-642-8256 or e-mail campeder@campeder.org.

*A World Council of Churches campaign, "On the wings of a dove," addressing
violence against women and children, begins on the UN International Day for
the
Elimination of Violence Against Women Nov. 25 through International Human
Rights Day Dec. 10. The theme expresses the hope that, with God's help, it
may
be
possible to escape even hopeless situations "on the wings of a dove" (Ps.
55). It is part of the Decade to Overcome Violence. More information,
resources,
and activities are available at www.overcomingviolence.org.

*****************************************************************
Newsline is produced by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of news services
for the Church of the Brethren General Board, on the first, third, and fifth
Friday of each month, with other editions as needed. Newsline stories may be
reprinted provided that Newsline is cited as the source. Jane Bankert, Joan
Daggett, Janelle Flory, Phil Jones, Jim Miller, Stan Noffsinger, Janis Pyle,
Barb
Sayler, Ken Shaffer, and Becky Ullom contributed to this report. Newsline is
a
free service sent only to those requesting a subscription. To receive it by
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260.
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