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And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
Luke 1:14 NKJV
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Burundi Project Is Still Making A Difference | | |
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Sewing machines gifted to Burundi by the special offering at the 2023 Shenandoah District Conference.
Above left: A student graduates from the second training course in Burundi.
Below left : Graduates from the second training course.
(Photos courtesy of J. Orndorff)
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The goal of the 2023 Shenandoah District Conference was to raise $4,000 to purchase sewing machines for use in Burundi. During the conference, a total of $1,895 was raised, and Nevin Dulenbaum with Eider Financial donated $2,105 to meet the goal. The money was forwarded to Expert Bukene in Burundi to obtain the machines, and training courses ensued.
Bukene extends thanks to the Shenandoah District Church of the Brethren for helping start this School. He describes the program, “We have a central location that we use as class, [and] after three months of training, each student returns to his home for beginning their sewing businesses.”
Seven women graduated from the first course, and six additional women recently completed the second training program. A third session is underway and will finish within the next three months.
Jan Orndorff, one of the organizers for the project, noted that the sewing machines have been assisting small business owners who wish to begin or continue working at producing and altering clothing. Women who undergo the training can develop the skills to provide additional financial resources for their families. Value is added for the community, which benefits from access to clothing and alterations.
Bukene noted that additional money is also needed to purchase additional supplies. Anyone interested in assisting with this ministry may send checks to the Shenandoah District, with Burundi noted on the memo line. The mailing address is P. O. Box 67, Weyers Cave, Virginia, 24486.
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Luray has called Amy Schultz to serve as an intentional interim pastor. Her tenure will begin on January 6. | |
The Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is offering an online Clergy Tax webinar with Deb Oskin on February 1. Participants may be pastors, students, or church personnel who handle clergy finances. Topics include preparing clergy taxes correctly and legally, complying with regulations, and maximizing tax deductions. The first two sessions only offer 0.3 CEUs. Click here to download a course brochure. | |
District Office Schedule for the Christmas Season | |
The District Office will be closed Christmas Eve, December 24, through New Year's Day, January 1, 2025. The office will reopen on Thursday, January 2. | |
Diehl Retires; Changes to The Shenandoah Update | |
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Brenda Diehl, director of communications, will be retiring later this month and the Update will undergo some changes beginning in January. She has agreed to produce the Update on the third Wednesday of each month until the position is filled. These publications will be limited to conveying basic information which will be helpful to congregations and individuals.
The Updates are slated for January 15, February 19, and March 19. In addition to the monthly Update, Diehl will post congregational events on the District’s website weekly.
This routine will be evaluated and amended to provide readers with the best service in the coming months. Congregations are encouraged to continue submitting news and information about their activities and projects to her at brendadiehl@shencob.org.
The District wishes Diehl all the best as she transitions into retirement with her husband, Steve, and looks forward to her continued involvement with the auction as a volunteer.
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Auction Coordinating Chair Tom Wetsel has already begun compiling the annual auction booklet. He is currently receiving photos of items to be donated to the 2025 disaster ministry auction. The deadline to submit photos for the auction booklet, ads, and sponsorships is January 31. Request ad information or send photos by email or text to sdcobda@gmail.com. | |
Editor's note: A tab on the District's website has been created to assist congregations with advertising special services. Submit Advent and Christmas Eve service information to Brenda Diehl for publication in Monday's special edition of the Update and on the website. Previously submitted Advent-themed events are listed by clicking on the button below. | |
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Dec. 21 and 22: The Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center’s annual Christmas event will this year feature a dramatized tour titled “This Solid Ground.” In “This Solid Ground,” visitors will progress through four different buildings on the Heritage Center campus, each with a scene that brings to life what Christmas Eve in 1871 might have been like for Brethren and Mennonites in the Shenandoah Valley. These special tours will take place from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. each day. Tours will begin every 15 minutes, with a maximum of 10 persons per group. Registration is required to attend; for more information and to register, visit https://brethrenmennoniteheritage.org/heritage–christmas-1.
Jan. 10-12: Winter Camp at Brethren Woods for youth in 7-12 grades. Visit https://brethrenwoods.org/wintercamp/ for more information.
Jan. 11: Winter Workday at Brethren Woods begins at 8 a.m. with coffee and donuts. This is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the camp property with a familiar face, Interim Maintenance Director Doug Phillips. Volunteer help is needed to tackle a variety of projects around the grounds. Call the Camp Office at 540-269-2741 to volunteer. Bring work gloves, tools, if you have them, and plenty of energy for a day of service and fellowship. To register online, click https://brethrenwoods.org/workday/.
Jan. 15: Contributions to the 2024 district budget must be received in the office by January 15, 2025, to be credited to 2024.
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FaithX trips allow volunteers from junior high school students to older adults to participate in service projects across the United States and abroad. Tasks performed include various skills such as relational service, gardening and eco-service, construction, painting, food bank, soup kitchen, thrift store, packaging clothing or supplies, card making, cookie baking, or other creative service.
Up to 20 junior high school students are slated for a trip to Richmond from June 8 to 12. A flyer outlining short-term service project locations for various ages may be downloaded here. To visit the FaithX webpage, click here.
Registration opens on January 8, 2025, at 7 p.m. Eastern time. Registration for the spring older adult trip is open now and will close on February 1, 2025. Go to www.brethren.org/faithx to register!
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CGI Class Provides Additional CEU Option | |
The next CGI course, Ministerial Leadership, is scheduled for January 18, February 8, and February 22. Attending this course qualifies students to earn 1.6 CEUs. Download the syllabus here and the registration form here. Registration is $100, and the audit cost is $25 for each course audited. Students who choose to audit the class will purchase the book, complete the assigned readings, attend the classes, and participate in the discussion. Auditing students are not required to submit assigned papers or projects. Contact Office Assistant Sarah Long for more information. | |
Continuing the Work of Jesus.
Simply. Peacefully. Together.
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Shenandoah District Staff Office Hours | |
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District Executive Minister John Jantzi, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday Friday
Director Brethren Woods Linetta Alley, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday - Friday
Director of Communications Brenda Diehl, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Wednesday
and 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Thursday
Financial Secretary/Bookkeeper Cerise Haas, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Wednesday
Director of Finances Gary Higgs, 2-5 p.m., Wednesday
Director of District Conference and Youth Services Rebecca House, 1-4 p.m., Wednesday
Office Assistant Anita Landes, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Tuesday
Office Assistant Sarah Long, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday
Disaster Ministries: Contact Jerry Ruff or Galen Halterman
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You are welcome to call the office anytime.
Someone will assist you when the responsible staff member is not present.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Email header image by B. S. Diehl
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