News Notes

District News Notes, June 3, 2025

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

Reminder Bulletin Announcement

Online Delegate Briefing - If you weren't able to join us for our Annual Conference preview in May, there is an opportunity to attend an online briefing offered by the Annual Conference Office. The briefing will be on Wednesday, June 11th at 8pm. Registration is required (though there is no fee). To register go to https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/kF_AbZMLQbiZ4N4rOrNjpQ.

New Paris Church of the Brethren

Please see attached flyer about their Strawberry Shortcake sale THIS Friday and Saturday from 9am-4pm.

Find The Boomer Boys at Goshen City Church of the Brethren

The Boomer Boys, a jazz trio, will appear live at Goshen City Church of the Brethren on First Friday, June 8th. The band plays music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Join us for some great music, and also enjoy the Ice Cream Social.  Music starts at 5:30 pm. EVERYONE is welcome!

Thank you from Global Women’s Project

I want to send a huge THANK YOU to all who contributed to Global Women’s Mother’s Day Gratitude Project! We raised $6695, the second largest dollar amount in the past 6 years!!! We had 45 donations, 16 memorials, and sent 60 cards to honorees. We received such wonderful notes from the donors who so appreciate this project.

- Karlene Tyler, for GWP

Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities [HROC], an African initiative to facilitate trauma healing from genocide and violence.

When: Friday, July 18: 9-5 Saturday July 19th: 9-5 Sunday, July 20th 1-5

Where:  Beacon Heights Church of the Brethren, 2810 Beacon St, Fort Wayne, IN 46805

The Story:

In the latter part of the 20th century, Rwanda, and Burundi both experienced devastating internal conflict between their Hutu and Tutsi communities. In Burundi there were eruptions of communal violence. In Rwanda there were also many conflicts. Violence there reached a peak in 1994, when 800,000 Rwandans were killed during an 8-week period, now known as the Rwandan genocide. In both countries, people were left deeply traumatized and in great need of healing. In 2003 Rwandan and Burundian Friends [Quakers] began to develop HROC in response to this great need, with support from the African Great Lakes Initiative.

“Before we [survivors and released prisoners from the Rwandan genocide] could not even talk to each other or sit next to each other, but after the workshop we could talk. The one who killed my family asked for forgiveness, explained what he did and accepted it. It was not easy for me to forgive him, but I did and little by little he became close to me.” 

In 2010 Santa launched the first HROC workshop in the United States. She then went to Africa to study and facilitate these workshops. The work continues….

For more details: https://www.healingincommunityss.org/events-2

To sign up, fill out the "contact me" form: https://www.healingincommunityss.org/contact-me

Agape: A Peacemaking Guide for Kids

Dear Reader,

I am excited to welcome you to the new and improved (shorter and more frequent) Agape Magazine! This project is aimed at peacemakers in 3rd through 5th grade. To read our first three issues, checkout our very own page on the On Earth Peace website: https://www.onearthpeace.org/agape_magazine. 

Our fourth issue focused on “Neighbors" is now available! Please share this with any and all peacemakers in your community – no matter their age.

You, my friends, have the power to make a difference! I hope the stories in this magazine teach you new ways to notice your neighbors so that you might better show up for them. Together, we can build a better world!

In Peace,

Miriam Erbaugh

Children and Youth Peace Formation Organizer; Editor-in-Chief Agape Magazine

Leadership and Administration for the Now and Future Church
August 13 – October 7, 2025
Online | Course Fee: $300
Instructor: Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey

This 8-week online course, offered by the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership, will explore what it means to be a faithful and effective leader in today’s church. Participants will gain practical skills in administration, conflict management, communication, and spiritual leadership, while engaging in timely conversations about leadership for the emerging church.

Registration Deadline: July 9, 2025
Register Online

This course is open to TRIM/EFSM students, CEU seekers, and those pursuing personal or spiritual enrichment. Please wait to order books until you receive confirmation from the Brethren Academy office.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at academy@bethanyseminary.edu or call 800-287-8822 x1824.

On Earth Peace:

HOPE-PV has created a guide for individuals and organizations on how to effectively counter political violence. This guide goes over strategies to respond and prevent political violence. The central framework used in the guide is the backfire model: when nonviolent activists deter perpetrators of political violence by putting them in a position where they face high costs for their actions. There are five backfire principles (Reveal, Redeem, Reframe, Redirect, Resist) which mirror the five political violence strategies that perpetrators use (Coverup, Devaluation, Reinterpretation, Official channels, Intimidation). The guide also includes many resources for individuals to empower them to counter political violence in their communities. HOPE-PV also hosts free nonviolence trainings for individuals and OEP can help you organize one in your community. We also help organize them for anyone who would like to attend.

OEP: Learn how to bring a Be SMART training to your church or community.

The Be SMART campaign was launched in 2015 to promote responsible gun ownership in order to reduce child gun deaths. They offer the materials so you can bring this important training to save children’s lives. The steps are simple:

1)     Attend a one-hour training online. Check the link on the website to find a convenient time for you.

2)     After completing training, send an email so you can receive the training material. The materials are clear, concise, and easy to follow.

3)     Arrange a training for your community. Consider presenting to local school parent-teacher organizations, preschools or other community schools, parent groups, or your own congregation.

4)     Take pictures and share your story with us!

YOU’RE WELCOME AT CAMP MACK

We hope to see you at Camp Mack soon! We're having fun celebrating 100 years through several different events. Mark your calendars for August 10th, which is the big Centennial Celebration at camp that afternoon! The plan is to have reunions, a community campfire, dinner, worship, and popcorn. We want a huge turnout so we can celebrate together, seeing old and new connections, and having fun together. See you there!

The day before that, August 9th, is Galen Jay's retirement party! He has been on staff at Camp Mack for 29 years, for most of which he was the facility director. He has made so many great connections over the years, and we know he would enjoy seeing everyone. Please come help us celebrate his time here. The event will be from 2 to 4 p.m. with a program starting at 3 p.m. He and Carleta plan to move into Greencroft around September.

Check out the paintings (giclees) that are available to sponsor for Ulrich Lodge! We have a selection of paintings that have been matted and framed (with frames specially made by Camp Mack volunteers Lynn Kreider and Duane Arnold) by a very talented artist from St. Charles, IL, Jan Schmuckal. They are beautiful landscapes that add a homey feel to Ulrich and welcome guests with peaceful scenes. Please consider sponsoring one, whether that be individually, as a group, or as a congregation. Your name will be placed on a plaque with the frame and you will receive an 8.5"x11" signed hard copy of the image to keep. Feel free to be in touch with any questions. Check out the website here: https://www.campmack.org/product-category/ulrich-art/ 

They are a $250 sponsorship.   

More details can be found on the website https://www.campmack.org/ Follow camp on

Facebook for the latest updates: www.facebook.com/CampMack.

Volunteers are often needed at camp. Contact them at (574) 658-4831 to match your skills to their needs.

Summer camp registration is open! Campmack.org Know someone who loves kids and camp? Is that you? We have 20 open volunteer counselor spots available this summer, so claim your week now! These wonderful volunteers spend the week with a cabin of up to 8 campers. Lodging and meals are provided. Counselors must be at least 18 years old. Counselors in Training (CITs) begin at age 14 and are placed in a cabin with a counselor.

We are still in need of team leaders for Finders 1 (July 6–11), Finders 2 (July 20–25), Creative Arts (July 6–11), and Splash Camp (July 13–18). Team Leaders help guide the camp with the help of Camp’s Program staff. If you are available to serve in this way, contact jessk@campmack.org for information.

We are almost filled up in the Health Office for the summer but still need a health officer for the week of July 6th. This person is provided lodging, meals, and a free week of camp for a child during the week they are here. Others are needed for check-ins on some Sundays.

Upcoming Events:

*Grades are grade completed at the time of camp

June 22--24 Samplers 1, Grades 1-2

June 25–27 Grand Camp: Grandkids ages 5–10, Grandparents of all ages

June 15–20 Paid Counselor Training

June 29–July 4 Culinary Camp, Grades 6–9

June 29–July 4 Seekers 1, Grades 3–4

June 29–July 5 Youth Camp, Grades 9–12

Other Upcoming Camps:

Creative Arts: July 6–11, Grades 6–10

Finders 1: July 6–11, Grades 5–6

Target Sports: July 6–11, Grades 6–9

Samplers 2: July 9–11, Grades 1–2

Seekers Camp 2: July 13–18, Grades 3–4

Splash Camp: July 13–18, Grades 5–8

Survivor Camp: July 6–12, Grades 6–9

Eco-Adventure: July 20–25, Grades 5–6

Finders 2: July 20–25, Grades 5–6

Grand Camp: August 3–5

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

Prayer Request: Please pray for campers and staff, for endurance, meaningful experiences, &  God’s guidance.

Blue Ridge Song & Story Fest:

Singin’ the Blues, Searchin’ the Stars!

July 6-12, 2025

Camp Brethren Woods, Keezletown, VA

A Family Camp featuring Brethren musicians and storytellers in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia!

Register here: https://www.onearthpeace.org/song_and_story_fest_2025 and pay on-line Or Send a check to the address below:

On Earth Peace, P. O. Box 188; New Windsor, MD 21776

Phone: 410-635-8704 - Eastern Std.Time; oep@onearthpeace.org

For general questions, email the Song and Story Fest planning committee at

songandstoryfest@gmail.com.

2025 Denominational Clergywomen’s Retreat

Great news! We have a new date, Saturday, Nov. 8 and a new host church, Agape COB (Fort Wayne area), for the Women’s Retreat for Northern Indiana District.

The speaker will remain the same, and Cedar Lake COB will be assisting Agape.

Save the date and invite your women friends and family members! More information and registration to come.

Judy De Pue

2025 New Community Project Learning Tours

David Radcliff, New Community Project
dradcliffncp@yahoo.com

Go. Meet. Learn. Grow. Change yourself – and your world. These trips will take participants of all ages to: Lybrook, NM in late June (native Dineh craftspeople and traditional healers, work projects, Chaco Culture historical ruins, impacts of fracking); Denali/Kenai Fjords National Parks in early August (big mountains, big critters, climate impacts, seacoast experience); Nepal in mid-January, 2026 (human trafficking, Himalaya, a wildlife park, NCP support of girls and women).

For more information: www.newcommunityproject.info/learning-tours