News Notes

District News Notes, April 11, 2024

*Please forward this to those on your mailing list. Thank you. 

1)    Union Center is hosting an original Jonah Fish Fry Saturday, April 20th, from 4-7pm. Proceeds go toward Outreach.

Adults - $13

Children (5-10) - $5

4 and under – FREE

Carry-Outs - $13

Cash or Check only

2)    On Sunday, April 21, 5:00 p.m., at Angola’s St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, an Ecumenical Concert will stir souls of thanksgiving, featuring Easter-themed music. We encourage you to attend. Paul & Cheryl Thomas will be participating. There is no admission cost (although a donation would be appreciated).

3)    April 27th -- We'd love to have you join us for our next Waffle Bacon Breakfast at Pleasant Chapel Church of the Brethren (1993 County Road 8, Ashley, IN) from 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Freewill donation. It's an all-around uplifting & filling experience! 

4)    Yellowcreek & Nappanee Church of the Brethren will be hosting an All You Can Eat fundraiser at the Nappanee COB, with proceeds going to The Center, Family Christian Development. Saturday, May 4th 4-7pm. Donation only. They will be having Beef Samosas, Chicken curry with rice, Naan bread, Chicken and noodles, Tossed salad, Cookies, Cake and Drinks. Carry-out is available.

5)    Calling the Called Event - Feeling the pull to consider ministry? Join us at our first Calling the Called gathering. On May 4th at Camp Mack, Northern Indiana and South Central Indiana districts will be host a time of learning, sharing, and discernment for anyone and everyone who might be interested in exploring what it means to enter the set-apart ministry. Beginning with lunch at 11:30 and ending by 5:15, we will gather to hear stories of call from sisters and brothers who are serving in ministry, to connect with others who are seeking clarity, to learn about training possibilities and credentialing processes, and to move more deeply into our own discernment with the support of others.

If you are interested in joining us, please RSVP to office.nidcob@gmail.com or call Torin at 574-903-3771. If you know someone else who you think would be a good fit for the ministry, pass along the invitation. And, please be in prayer for us as we gather on May 4th!

6)    Join us at Annual Conference - We have a unique opportunity this year … our Annual Conference Moderator, Madalyn Metzger, is a member of our district! We would like to invite you to take advantage of this to attend at least a portion of Annual Conference, especially on Wednesday evening (when Madalyn will be preaching) or over the weekend. In this way, we could support our sister in her role, enjoy some fellowship and activities with members from across the country, and join in powerful worship with hundreds of others. What’s not to love?!

The conference starts with worship on the evening of Wednesday, July 3rd and ends with worship on the morning of Sunday, July 7th. Since we are meeting in Grand Rapids, MI, the distance is not too far (about 2.5 hours from Ft. Wayne, 2 hours from Plymouth, and 1.75 hours from Goshen). Everyone is welcome to join worship in the evenings Wednesday-Saturday or Sunday morning without registering. Registering to experience other aspects of Annual Conference for a day is just $50 for age 22 and up (before June 10th) or $60 on site.

We encourage anyone who is interested to talk with others in your congregation and see if you can share rides. If you would like to ride up with others and are having trouble getting a group together from your congregation, please feel free to reach out to the District Office. We may be able to help connect you with others in the area. And, please, let us know if you have a group planning to attend and when. We’d love to be able to help everyone find each other.

Wouldn’t it be fun to fill a whole section for worship or business. Maybe we could even bring signs🤣🤣🤣

7)    Annual Conference Volunteers Needed:

a)    Our time together at Annual conference will be arriving quickly and there will be opportunities to volunteer to help things run smoothly. I have committed to being Usher coordinator and here is a way you can help. During worship we will be collecting offerings and we need ushers to help achieve this in a timely manner. This would require very little of your time and not take away from being in the worship service. You will be able to sign up when registering for Annual Conference and at the usher table when you arrive and check in for the conference, however I would like to have our first service covered on Wednesday night beforehand. You can reach out to me at ramerk32@gmail.com and let me know if you are willing to serve on Wednesday

or for any of the worship services. Please use “AC usher” in the subject line. Look forward to seeing you there.

Blessings,

Usher Coordinator

Kevin Ramer

b)    Annual Conference is not far away, and I am looking for people to help with Non-Delegate registration. This volunteer opportunity requires checking in non-delegates as they arrive at annual conference.  You will be given a day and time slot once the schedule is set up. You will be able to sign up when registering for Annual Conference, or you can email me at phollenberg@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Blessings,

Pam Hollenberg, Non-Delegate registration coordinator

8)    Save the Date: N IN Dist Annual Conference briefing Sunday, May 19, 2pm. Place TBA.

9)    If you have pastors attending the Annual Conference they may be interested in taking this course. The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is offering Listening for the Sound of Genuine, July 2-3, 2024, with Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey as the facilitator.  This course is a Directed Independent Study Unit (DISU) in conjunction with attending the Ministers' Association Pre-Conference event with Frank A. Thomas, in Grand Rapids, MI.

This is a two-step registration and payment process:

1. Fill out the attached registration form on the brochure and return payment of $115 to the Brethren Academy for the DISU credit or register online, https://bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy/brethren-academy-course-listings/brethren-academy-course-registration-annual-trim-payment/ for the DISU and pay $115 by credit card.

2. Fill out the registration form at https://www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/  to register for the pre-conference event.

Please give consideration to participating in this class; the registration deadline is May 28.  You may now register for the DISU by sending in the form and check, or at https://bethanyseminary.edu/brethren-academy/brethren-academy-course-listings/brethren-academy-course-registration-annual-trim-payment/

10)  Inclement Weather Policy: The District Office will follow the Triton/Plymouth school delays and closings.

11)  Summer camp registration is open at www.campmack.org. 

a.     If you or others you know are interested in leadership roles (team leader, counselor, summer staff, lifeguard, kitchen supervisor, etc.), reach out to us. If you or someone you know is available to assist with health office coverage, we are also in need of volunteers for that throughout the summer (both for check-ins and for weeklong summer camp coverage). Camper discounts are available to health office staff.

b.     We are hiring a kitchen supervisor! Please pass the word along. We pray that the calling reaches who it needs to so the position can be filled. We look forward to adding to our staff. (This person would work with Vanessa, food services director, and Dave, the morning kitchen shift supervisor.)

c.     We are also hiring summer staff right now! Summer staff have a variety of options in terms of working areas, so check out "Employment" on our website, or email or call us. Applications can be found online.

12)  2024 FaithX Opportunities - For more information or to register, go to: https://www.brethren.org/faithx/

• Jr. High - Roanoke, VA - June 19-23

• Palmyra, PA - July 17-21

• Jr. & Sr. High - Denton, MD - Camp Mardela—June 19-14

• South Bend, IN - June 18-23

• Knoxville, TN - July 21-26

• Winston-Salem, NC - July 28 - August 2

• Sr. High - Cle Elum, WA - Camp Koinonia - June 8-14

• North Ft. Myers, FL - July 14-20

• Adult International -Ecuador - June 1-10

• Adult Domestic - Eastern US - Brethren Disaster Ministries - July 28-August 3

• Older Adult - Gotha, FL - Camp Ithiel - February 25-March 1 (registration open now)

• Family - Petersburg, PA - Camp Blue Diamond - June 23-27

• We Are Able - Elgin, IL - June 24-27

13)  The Part-time Pastor; Full-time Church program offers circuit riders/mentors, program resources, and financial support for continuing education events and self-care strategies. Visit https://www.brethren.org/ministryoffice/part-time-pastor/ to learn more about the program.  Contact the district office to access an application form for grants.