wfn.org | Church of the Brethren NOAC Notes

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      Sept. 3, 1998
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

NOAC Notes for Sept. 3, 1998

(NOAC Notes is the official publication of National Older Adult
Conference. It is produced by Fred Swartz.)

Multi-Talented Performer (And Friends!) Entertains Tonight

Steve Engle, who provides tonight's Evening Entertainment, is
indeed a person of many talents.  He is a Pennsylvanian who has
helped many Brethren appreciate their heritage through his music
and his ventriloquism.  He is a hymn writer and composer, and he
has a family of puppets who help young and old find the humor and
joy of life.
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Join In Tonight's Antiphonal Sing

Following the Evening Entertainment with Steve Engle, everyone is
invited to gather outside of Stuart Auditorium for an antiphonal
hymn sing around the lake.  You will be directed to the three
designated locations just east of the auditorium and chapel.  Group
leaders will be Wanda Miller, Nancy Faus, and Gerry Pence.
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"Looking Ahead And Moving On" Theme Of Special Session Tonight

A very significant addition to the NOAC schedule occurs tonight
following the Evening Entertainment.  A panel of denominational
leaders, including current and past Annual Conference moderators
and executives of Brethren program agencies, will lead an open
discussion on the challenges and opportunities for the Church of
the Brethren as it seeks to continue its work via a new
denominational structure.  

The session will convene in the Terrace Hotel Auditorium at 9:00
p.m.  Panel members are Lowell Flory, Elaine Sollenberger, Tom
Hurst, Judy Mills Reimer, Earle Fike, Jim Replogle, and Steve
Mason.
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Former Chicago First Youth To Meet

There will be a reunion of former members of the CBYF of Chicago
First Church of the Brethren  tonight, 9:00 p.m., in the second
floor lounge of the Terrace Hotel, by the fireplace.
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Mail Order Forms For Tapes Will Not Include Merrilyn Belgum 

An order form for video and audio tapes of NOAC's speakers,
including the NOAC music video summary and Friday morning's
speaker, will be sent to all NOAC attendees.  The tape of the
performance of comedian Merrilyn Belgum will not be included on the
order form at the artist's request.  The tapes of her NOAC
presentation will only be available at Lake Junaluska and will be
for sale in the lobby of Stuart Auditorium tomorrow 11:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m. 
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Indiana Pastor Tomorrow's Speaker

Susan Boyer, senior pastor of Manchester Church of the Brethren,
North Manchester, Indiana, will deliver the message in tomorrow's
closing Celebration, 9:30 a.m., in Stuart Auditorium.  Susan is a
graduate of La Verne and Bethany Theological Seminary, and she has
been a speaker for both Annual Conference and National Youth
Conference.  During the past year, she has provided spiritual
guidance to the Manchester congregation after they suffered severe
fire damage to their church facilities.
-----

Bottles Made A Few More Friends

The NOAC bottle offering increased to $704.52 by 9:00 a.m. this
morning.   The bottles were to be out yet today, and an offering
will be taken at tomorrow morning's Celebration.  Checks can be
made to "Lake Junaluska" with the purpose "NOAC" written on the
notation line.    
-----

Check Out And Luggage Directions

Those who are checking out tomorrow are encouraged to read page 7
of the Booklet for check-out procedures.  Especially note the 11:00
a.m. check-out time.  Persons who need to have bags loaded on a bus
are asked to have bags color-tagged and ready for pickup outside
your residence no later than 8:30 a.m.   
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Organist And Pianist Say They "Just Enjoy Playing Music"

This week's accompanists, Otis D. Kitchen and Bernice Pence, have
something unmistakably in common — they both "just enjoy playing
music."   That is evident in their service this week!

Otis Kitchen was born in Williamsport, Md., graduated from
Bridgewater College and earned a Master's degree from Northwestern
University.  He has an honorary doctorate from National
Conservatory of New Mexico.  After a brief career as a high school
band instructor in Roanoke, Va., he joined the music faculty of
Elizabethtown College.  He retired from the Elizabethtown faculty
in 1996 after serving there for 32 years.  

Otis' proficiency in conducting has resulted in many opportunities
for him to be involved in music festivals and schools in the U. S.
and abroad.  He recently completed a tenure at Royal Albert Hall in
London and is now preparing to lead the Music Arts Festival in
Vienna, Austria.  He has taught in Elderhostels and worked at
Disney World and Universal Studios.

Otis says he has found NOAC to be "very inspiring.  I am not
surprised at how astute these people are...You can't write us off
yet!"

Bernice Brandt Pence was raised in La Verne, Calif., where her
father, Jesse C. Brandt, was a math and physics professor at La
Verne College.  There were six children in her family, "so my
father had to have orange groves, in addition to teaching, to
support us."  Bernice is a graduate of La Verne where she majored
in education and organ. 

Soon after her marriage to Gerry Pence, she and Gerry went to
Europe for two years for Brethren Volunteer Service.  After rearing
a family of four, Bernice taught 17 years of kindergarten.  She and
Gerry have seven grandchildren, ages 9-20.

Bernice says "music fills my soul...and makes my life more
beautiful."  
-----

Copies Of Kauffman Hymn Available

Multiple copies of the new hymn, The Power of the Church, written
by Stewart Kauffman in memory of his wife Helen, are available for
the taking on the table by the door behind the organ.
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Next NOAC Dates Set

NOAC V will be Sept. 11-15, 2000 at Lake Junaluska.
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Horseshoe And Golf Winners Noted

Ten persons participated in the horseshoe tournament yesterday and
52 persons (13 teams) took part in the golf tournament.

Horseshoe winners were Dick Foust, Arlie Waggle, Wayne Kelner, and
Paul Abernathy.  The winning golf team (six under par) was Paul and
Priscilla Wampler, Ralph Moyer, and Fred Swartz.  Second place, at
five under par, were Paul Hersch, Don Clague, David Rogers, and
Earle Fike. Two other teams were four under par. The most accurate
drives were registered by Evan Kinsley and Rosie Renner, and the
closest to the pin winners were Hudson Sadd and Rosie Renner.
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Lots Of People Deserve Appreciation

NOAC takes a major complement of people to make the meeting a
success.  The many volunteers deserve a huge round of applause and
hugs!  Some persons who have taken leadership roles but were not
listed in the booklet include: Fletcher Farrar and Lowell Flory who
substituted for Curtis and Mary Dubble in leading early morning
worship at Lambuth; Phil Norris, Donna Forbes Steiner, Jan Reigel,
and Theresa Eshbach who led music before general sessions; and Chet
Peckover who designed and created the NOAC Bottles.

Special recognition and gratitude is due Jay Gibble, who created
NOAC six years ago and who has directed all of them since.  Jay
will retire from the Association of Brethren Caregivers staff at
the end of this year. 
-----

Yesterday's Web Site Winners

Ten more people were selected to receive a gift from
www.brethren.org for their "performances" on the Web site
yesterday.  They are Barbara Enberg, Helen Kinsel, Don Clague, June
Blouch, Carol Bowman, Mary Finkbiner, Clefa Cox, Millie Snavely,
Tom Hurst, and Sarah Bowman.
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Some Opportunities To Note
     * The Second Caring Ministries 2000 Conference will be 
          June 1-4, 1999 at Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown,
          Pa.
     * An Intergenerational Work Camp will be held the first week
          of July 1999 at Harrisburg, Pa.  Contact the ABC Office
          (800 323-8039) to register.
     * Give input for the next NOAC — Fill out your evaluation form
          before you leave tomorrow!