News Notes

District News Notes, November 10, 2026,

ON EARTH PEACE

On Earth Peace has announced its 2026 Member Meeting on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 8 p.m. (Eastern time). “We want to listen to you tell us what you appreciate about On Earth Peace and what you dream for OEP,” said the announcement. “This member meeting will be held on Zoom. Members of On Earth Peace must approve any changes in On Earth Peace’s bylaws. Revised bylaws were approved by the Board in their August 2026 meeting and must now be approved by OEP members. Please read through the bylaws to be a knowledgeable voter to either approve or reject the revised bylaws.” The definition of membership in On Earth Peace: “Any person who intellectually and spiritually supports the purpose of On Earth Peace Assembly, Inc. shall be a member of the corporation if a financial contribution has been made at any time within the previous two (2) years.”   https://www.onearthpeace.org/2026_11_19_member_meeting

DISCERNMENT AND CALLING: AN APPEAL FOR NOMINATIONS

By Lori Sollenberger Knepp, chair of the Standing Committee Nominating Committee

Choosing to live faithfully presents any number of moments for discernment. Everyday

choices usually don’t call for serious discernment but are simply a matter of doing, as an

individual, what we know is right. But now and then we need to dig a little deeper.

The Church of the Brethren has long considered the call of leadership to be one of those

times that requires real discernment. And, when it means choosing denominational

leadership, we have looked at the process as something the body needs to do together with

prayer and careful thought.

Toward that end, the Nominating Committee of Standing Committee is asking the body to

submit names for consideration for open positions in our elected leadership. Our practice has

been to then contact the nominee asking them to consider allowing their name to be offered

for further discernment and to submit additional biographical information that will allow the

Nominating Committee to see the gifts and skills that individual would bring to the position.

Nominating Committee presents a ballot to the Standing Committee which then reduces that

ballot to the final one that comes to Annual Conference for voting by the delegate body.

Additional information about the process and open positions as well as the form for submitting

nominations can be found at brethren.org/ac/nominations/. Please note that nominations are

due December 2 and the nominee information forms from individuals accepting a nomination

are due December 9.

We have heard that it matters “who you know” to get elected so we are asking who you know

that might be tapped to serve well. If you are feeling called yourself, test that call in

conversation with a few other trusted Brethren and if it seems right, one of those trusted

friends can submit a nomination. We are aware that the process can be flawed and has the

potential to miss gifted candidates, but we also trust that in God’s hands, that process can lift

up capable, credible leadership for our beloved denomination.

We are grateful for your discernment and participation in the process.

ALL YOU CAN EAT BBREAKFAST HAYSTACKS - Saturday, November 14, 7-11a.m.

DONATION ONLY with ALL PROCEEDS going to DESTINY RESCUE

10339 Dawsons Creek Blvd., Suite C   Ft. Wayne, IN 46825

Rescuing children from HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Located at

Nappanee Church of the Brethren

301 Mack Drive

Nappanee, IN

Sponsored by:

Nappanee Church of the Brethren, Union Center Church of the Brethren, Yellow Creek Church of the Brethren, Nappanee Brethren in Christ

Church of the Brethren Newsline, October 29, 2026 - by Cliff Kindy A Public Witness at the Miami Correctional and Detention Center, an immigrant detention facility in Indiana, is planned for Saturday, Dec. 12, starting at 12 noon (Eastern time). This is a nonviolent public witness that is being organized by clergy, lay leaders, and organizers within the Indiana Organizing Project (IOP) and Peace Church Coalition. It will take place at US 31 and about one mile north of the entrance on County Road 850 South. The witness will start there with a ceremony celebrating the Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day, followed by a walk to the guard house of the facility on the entrance drive off County Road 850 South.

Twelve people, representing the 12 disciples, will offer to be exchanged for immigrant detainees so that they are able to go home to be with their families for the holidays. This offer will be made to Governor Braun, the warden of the detention facility, and representatives of ICE. This offer is an invitation for state and federal officials to mirror the spirit of compassion, love, and mercy during the season of Advent.

This witness is part of a larger nonviolent campaign to close the detention center. Immigrants, at least 75 percent of whom have no criminal charges against them, are being held at the Miami facility where two immigrants already have died this year due to very poor health care. The detention of more than 800 people means many families have lost a bread winner, housing, and food, health care for family members have been put at risk, and families face extreme stress. Does the Beloved Community, represented by the exchangees, reflect the Light sufficiently to nurture that same spirit among state and federal representatives as they interact with immigrant detainees?

Those who are interested in joining as an exchangee, or those who would offer support by transporting detainees to home, being a nonviolence monitor, giving prayer support, being a clergy presence, or other form of support, may contact Cliff Kindy by email at kindy@cpt.org or call 410-259-1900. Or find more information and sign up to participate at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAYUZEgJYdm9jFHbLps2CfaUvY23JuMe _taqbY4NlFOIYfCg/viewform.  An in-person training for all involved will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5.

— Cliff Kindy is a Church of the Brethren member from Indiana whose long-term involvement in peacemaking has included years of work with Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT).

BVS

Save the date! You're invited to include Service Sunday as part of your 2027 worship schedule! 

The Church of the Brethren has a rich history of service that we are called to celebrate and challenged to continue living out in the future. To honor this tradition of service, our denomination recognizes Service Sunday annually on the first Sunday in February and encourages congregations to use this day to highlight those who serve, or have served, in their local communities and across the world.

Sponsored by Brethren Volunteer Service, FaithX, Brethren Disaster Ministries, and Children’s Disaster Services, Service Sunday is also the perfect time to learn more about the Service Ministries of the Church of the Brethren! Resources to share about these ministries of the Church of the Brethren, as well as worship resources for pastors and individuals planning the Sunday service, will be available online.

Resources have not yet been published, but we know that worship teams often like to plan ahead. Please consider saving a Sunday to focus on service in 2027. There is no requirement to host your congregation's Service Sunday exactly on the first Sunday in February, but the worship resources will be available before February 1, 2027. 

We look forward to celebrating service together!

Virginia Rendler (she/her/hers)

Interim Co-Director of Brethren Volunteer Service | Coordinator of Long Term Service 

vrendler@brethren.org

(612) 750-9777 or (847) 429-4387

GLOBAL WOMEN’S PROJECT

Giving Tuesday - December 1, 2026

Consider including GWP in your giving during the Thanksgiving season. Donate online here or by mailing checks to GWP c/o  Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 (write checks to GWP).

GWP's Advent Calendar Project

Nurture gratitude and solidarity among global women this Advent season by following along with our calendar (December 1-25) filled with scripture, mindful activities, educational information, and a color-by-day Christmas image. Download the 2026 Calendar on our website  and share with your family, friends, congregation, and Sunday school! 

FaithX

What are FaithX service trips?

FaithX trips are short-term service experiences that challenge us to be more aware of ourselves, our communities, and our world. Through FaithX trips, participants grow in Christian discipleship, formed by the command to love God and neighbor, and inspired by Christ’s example of humbly serving others. We hope that by serving, we will deepen our faith and grow our compassion as global citizens and children of God.

Details about this FaithX trip…

·        Dates: February 21-26, 2027

·        Location: Gotha, FL – Camp Ithiel

·        Cost: FaithX uses a pricing model that allows participants to choose a fee that most closely reflects their ability to pay for a FaithX trip. Your registration fee includes housing, meals, during-trip transportation, and programming costs. The only extra cost to you is your chosen transportation to and from the FaithX trip location (i.e. your flight to/from Orlando).

o   Supporter = $625

o   Standard = $585

o   Subsidized = $545

·        Registration opens: Registration is open now!

·        Registration closes: February 1, 2027

·        Registration form: www.brethren.org/faithx/older-adult   

Not over the age of 50?

Please share this opportunity with anyone you know who is 50 or older! And keep an eye out for the summer 2027 FaithX trips for both youth and adults – whether for yourself, members of your family, or members of your congregation!

SHINE CURRICULUM FOR FALL 2026 INCLUDES NEW FEATURES
A release from Brethren Press

The Shine curriculum from Brethren Press and MennoMedia has announced several new features for the 2026-2027 year, beginning with this Fall 2026 quarter for pre-K and kindergarten, elementary ages, and junior youth. Shine also offers several additional curriculum options. All are available through Brethren Press.

Among the new features, each quarter for pre-K and kindergarten, elementary ages, and junior youth classes offers a choice between two 6-week units (A and B), with a FlexSession extender that encourages intergenerational interaction. This Fall, the theme for Unit A is “God’s Good Creation” (Genesis, Psalms, Isaiah) and the theme for Unit B is “Family of Abraham and Sarah” (Genesis).

Read more at www.brethren.org/news/2026/shine-curriculum-for-fall-2026

MIDDLEBURY UPDATE: CHANGES AND MORE CHANGES!

Effective 11/8/26, we are moving our start time from 9:00 to 9:30 am. All else remains as is. We will be meeting at the Greencroft Community Center on the Greencroft Middlebury campus going forward. Our church phone number remains the same, and our mailing address changes to P.O. Box 468, Middlebury.

SHEPHERD’S HEART FELLOWSHIP

Cookie Walk and Craft Sale

Saturday December 6, 9 a.m. to noon

Shepherds Heart Fellowship

58362 Beech Rd. Osceola, IN 46561

Please join us for a fun day of shopping for crafts and treats! Besides crafts and cookies, we will also have hot chocolate mix, cookie mix jars, fudge, party snack mixes, maple syrup and more.

All proceeds will be divided between church outreach activities such as our community meal and paper pantry, and SPA ministries in Elkhart.

CREEKSIDE

Creekside Annual Cookie-Candy Walk

Saturday, December 5, 2026

8:30-11:30am

Creekside Church of the Brethren

60455 County Road 113

Elkhart, Indiana 46517

574-875-7800

Begin your holiday season with us! 

An impressive assortment of holiday baked goods and confections to choose from. There’s fun to be had and treats for all ages!

Containers will be provided for your convenience.  All items will be labeled and sorted for those with food sensitivities.

Plan to come early; visit a while and enjoy a warm beverage.

*Proceeds used for Outreach within the community, 

+++++++

Creekside has partnered with SAW's (Servant at Work) specializing in building wooden wheelchair ramps for low-income, permanently disabled individuals. 

https://sawsramps.volunteerhub.com/vv2/event/ebe94b2d-4f6f-4a10-8795-464cc1c3d9b2

If you are interested in helping or would like additional Information, please contact Mike Kauffman mkauff2012@gmail.com or Roger Griffith 14rogergriffith@gmail.com , 574-707-9872   

CAMP MACK

November 18 Men Creating Community

November 21 Sandhill Cranes Get-A-Way Day: Travel with us to multiple locations to observe thousands of cranes as they fly in and dance. 1p–9p. Meet at John Kline Welcome Center. $40 (snacks & travel included). Dress for the weather. Bring binoculars. We’ll stop for dinner on the way home (bring money). Ages 10+.

December 5 Wreaths and Swags Get-A-Way Day:

Make a Williamsburg Wreath, Christmas wreath, or swag. 9a–12p, OR 1–4p, with lunch at noon. $35 (incl. lunch & materials). Bring gloves.

December 5 & 6 Christmas Cookies Get-A-Way Days:

Camp provides ingredients, measuring utensils, and mixing bowls. You bring the family and

friends, mix the dough, and decorate cookies. Camp cleans up! Choose 4 batches of cookies (each makes about 3 dozen). Saturday 9a–1p or 12p–4p. Sunday 12p–4p. $55 (1 lunch and all baking materials included; option to add additional people for lunch and batches of cookies). Bring an apron and containers to take home your cookies.

Thank you for your continued support! We are sincerely grateful that you volunteer, donate, and pray.

Prayer Request: Please pray for a blessed rest of retreat season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you to all who have volunteered or served in some way for summer camps! We so appreciate your time serving and guiding Camp Mack's campers. Keep an eye out for next year's dates, and let us know where you would like to participate. 

Learn About Andrew Kauffman

Our New Executive Director

Dear Friends, Partners, and Supporters,

The Indiana Camp Board is grateful for your continued support and prayers

throughout the search for Camp Mack’s next Executive Director. We are excited to share that the search process has been completed, and we are pleased to announce that Andrew Kauffman has accepted the position of Executive Director of Camp Alexander Mack!

Andrew brings a wealth of leadership experience, along with deep ties to the Camp Mack community. Most recently, he has served as the Executive Director of Inspiration Hills Camp in Ohio. Prior to joining Inspiration Hills, Andrew spent more than a decade in Arizona serving in education. During that time, he taught band and music, served as Dean of Students and principal, and advanced to the role of superintendent. These experiences have provided him with a strong foundation in leadership, administration, and working with people in a variety of settings.

Andrew’s experience, passion for camping ministry, and connection to Camp Mack will be valuable gifts as he steps into this new role.

We are excited to welcome Andrew into this next chapter in the life of Camp Mack. We look forward with anticipation to the gifts, leadership, and vision he will bring to our ministry as we continue building on the strong foundation that has been established.

Thank you again for your prayers, encouragement, and support throughout this process. We invite you to join us in welcoming Andrew and keeping him in your prayers as he begins this new journey with Camp Mack.

With gratitude and excitement,

Indiana Camp Board

BRETHREN ACADEMY

Fall Ventures Series

Find full series and session details at the Ventures website: ww.mcpherson.edu/ventures.

Looking Ahead: Spring 2027 Lineup

Mark your calendar for these upcoming courses and presenters:

·   January 19 & 26: “Speed Dating the Bible” with Debbie Eisenbise

·   February 23 & March 2: “Leading Through the Storm: Leadership Wisdom for a World That Got Different” with Stan Dueck

·   April 10: “Holy Play: Entering Divine Conversation with Nature and Expressive Arts” with Shana Leck

OEP Calendar for 2026

The calendar below lists the events we will be promoting in 2026. Please share this with your leadership, affinity, or interest groups. Choose which events/activities you will want to participate in fully, so you can plan ahead. Each month we will provide resources to support the listed event. 

Click on the blue link below to find out more information.

November: National Vigil to End Gun Violence (new resources)
Prepare for Blue Christmas or All Saints Day Service
Service Elements will be provided

December: Celebrate Progress
Let us know what your congregation contributed to Gun Violence Prevention

2027 NEW COMMUNITY PROJECT LEARNING TOURS

David Radcliff, New Community Project dradcliffncp@yahoo.com Go. Meet. Learn. Grow. Change yourself – and your world. For more information: www.newcommunityproject.info/learning-tour