wfn.org | Newsline: Two new books celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren

["COBNews Newsline" <cobnews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service -- July 3, 2008
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director
800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org

>TWO NEW BOOKS CELEBRATE 300th ANNIVERSARY OF

>BRETHREN

(July 3, 2008) Elgin, IL -- Two new books celebrate the 300th
Anniversary of the Brethren movement. The Brethren movement began
in 1708 in the village of Schwarzenau, Germany, when the first group of
eight Brethren led by Alexander Mack Sr. were baptized in the Eder
River.

>"Brethren Brush with Greatness"

Frank Ramirez spins tales and Kermon Thomasson draws humorous
illustrations of 32 individuals whose lives have touched the Brethren in
this new book from Brethren Press. Abraham Lincoln, Annie Oakley,
Daniel Boone, Nathan Leopold, William Stafford, Andrew Young,
James Earl Jones, and many more famous people make their appearances
in the 150-page paperback. The book tells about famous people who
were somehow related to the Brethren; Brethren who, themselves,
became famous; and famous people who, legend has it, were members of
the Church of the Brethren. Author Frank Ramirez is pastor of Everett
(Pa.) Church of the Brethren and the author of numerous books, among
them "The Meanest Man in Patrick County and Other Unlikely Brethren
Heroes." Illustrator Kermon Thomasson of Henry County, Va., served
for 20 years as editor of the Church of the Brethren's "Messenger"
magazine. Order the book from Brethren Press for $15.95 plus shipping
and handling, call 800-441-3712.

"Alexander Mack: A Man Who Rippled the Waters"

This children's book about the life of Alexander Mack Sr. is written by
Myrna Grove and illustrated by Mary Jewell. The book is written
especially for children ages 8-12, and is a biography of the first  minister
and organizer of the Brethren. Jewell, who is a direct descendant of Mack, has illustrated it with 50 oil paintings, offering "a moving tribute
to the spirit of our church's founder who sacrificed to bring us another
way of living based on New Testament principles." Special features
include a timeline of Mack's life, an 18th century German map, and a
bibliography of suggested reading for older children and adults. The 64-
page hardback book may be ordered through Brethren Press for $22 plus
shipping and handling, call 800-441-3712. Go to
www.mgrovebooks.com or www.brethrenpress.com for information.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to
continuing 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 traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches.  It
celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts more than 125,000
members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and
sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and
India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

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

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