wfn.org | Newsline: A Maundy Thursday Reflection on the Cross

[cobnews <cobnews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service, News Director Cheryl Brumbau gh-Cayford, 800-323-8039 ext. 260, cobnews@brethren.org

>A MAUNDY THURSDAY REFLECTION ON THE CROSS

(April 9, 2009) Elgin, IL -- The large wooden cross that sits out in front  of the Brethren Disaster Ministries volunteer house in Arabi, La., has a st ory behind it, according to project consultant Mary Mueller.

It was a gift from a man who had been quite wealthy. He had two large boats . They both were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but he had taken scraps fr om them and made crosses.

The back sides of the crosses were rough and worn, like the damaged boat, b ut the fronts were sanded, finished, and beautiful walnut wood.

His comment was, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh."

Mary explains to the volunteers that, like this man, they are turning the b ad (discarded scrap wood) into something beautiful (a cross) by rebuilding  the city and the lives of the people there.

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This reflection was written by Kelly Richter, a Brethren Disaster Ministrie s volunteer from the Church of the Brethren's Southern Ohio District. Breth ren Disaster Ministries is a program of the Church of the Brethren to rebui ld homes following disasters, and has a continuing project in the New Orlea ns area rebuilding homes following Hurricane Katrina.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in  community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith t raditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated it s 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts more than 125,000 members across the  US and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Brazi l, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

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>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org