We continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and throughout the world. We also pray for the upcoming Big Thank You Dinner that God would ignite in our hearts a desire to serve others through volunteering with Brethren Disaster Ministries and through various activities associated with the Disaster Auction. |
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From the Desk of District Executive Minister John Jantzi |
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The Discipleship Ministries Team is initiating a survey via a variety of means, e.g. handouts, the Shenandoah Update and an online survey. This survey will ask you to identify discipleship practices in your congregation and also identify areas of resourcing that would be helpful. I encourage you to review and complete this survey as you have the opportunity. You may download a copy of the survey here. When completed, please return it to the District Office (P.O. Box 67, Weyers Cave, Va. 24486, or scan and email it to slong@shencob.org).
The call to follow Jesus and discipleship lie at the heart of who we are as the Church of the Brethren. Future events and resourcing will be developed in light of your responses.
So ... take a moment and let us know what you think.
Following Jesus together,
John Jantzi
District Executive Minister
March 23, 2022
Note: District Executive Minister John Jantzi will be working out of the office April 1-7. He will be in Council of District Executives meetings in Elgin and will return email and phone messages in the evenings. Contact Sarah Long at the District Office, if you have further questions.
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Support for Ukraine Sought |
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According to the brethren.org website, Brethren Disaster Ministries is " monitoring the needs of response partners and mapping out the Church of the Brethren response. European churches and relief agencies already are addressing immediate needs of refugees traveling to surrounding countries. Churches in Poland and Hungary are receiving, feeding, and housing refugees from Ukraine." The article goes on to say, "The Church of the Brethren response will support partners such as Church World Service (CWS), the ACT Alliance, European Baptist Churches, or Mennonite groups. The response will focus on people and locations that are underserved and have the greatest need for aid."
You may make an online donation to support the Ukraine Crisis Response at www.brethren.org/give-ukraine-crisis. If you prefer, you may mail a check to the Emergency Disaster Fund, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, Illinois, 60120 and earmark your donation for "Ukraine Crisis." |
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National Youth Conference |
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Fort Collins, Colorado, July 19-30 |
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District Air Transportation to National Youth Conference |
Air transportation registration is open. The $625 trip is less than it was in 2018. We have 55 seats reserved, and those seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The bus will leave from the District Office (Pleasant Valley CoB parking lot) very early on July 23, arriving in Denver late morning. |
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The return flight leaves well after the end of NYC (to experience the full conference) at 7:40 p.m., with the bus returning us to the Valley very early in the morning on July 29. A $625 full payment, along with the completed registration/medical form, is due May 10. Please find the registration/medical form here. Visit the NYC webpage and if you have any questions about transportation, please contact Rebecca House at rebeccahouse@shencob.org.
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District Bus Transportation to National Youth Conference is open. A $150 non-refundable deposit, along with the completed registration-medical form, is due next week on Friday, April 1. Download the complete trip information and the registration form.
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The bus will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Final payments for the bus trip will be due on May 15. Visit the NYC webpage to learn more. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Rebecca House.
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District Communications Schedule Change |
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There will be no Shenandoah District Update issued next Wednesday, March 30. The Update will return to publication on Wednesday, April 6. Visit shencob.org for event information. |
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Upcoming District Meetings |
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The following are tentative meeting dates for District Leadership Team and other District bodies:
- The Gifts Discernment Team, Thursday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m.
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The Golf Tournament Committee, April 8, April 27 and May 11
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Thanking God for this recent call to ministry:
- Steve Mason has been called as part-time pastor of Sugar Grove.
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Cole Scrogham, interim pastor, search committee formed, congregational profile available
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Emmanuel
Part-time, Tim Ball, interim pastor, congregational profiles available
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Part-time, Ken Dolan, interim pastor
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Full-time, Paul Roth, part-time interim pastor
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Full-time, search committee to be formed
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Apr. 17: Easter Sunrise Service at the Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center on the beautiful hilltop overlooking the Shenandoah Valley. This outdoor worship service will begin on Easter morning at 6:30 a.m. Jerry Ruff, retired Church of the Brethren pastor, will share a meditation, and special music will be provided by a quartet from Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren. Please dress warmly and bring a lawn chair for seating. An offering will be taken to support the Heritage Center. For more information please visit https://brethrenmennoniteheritage.org/sunrise.
March 26: The Big Thank You Dinner for Disaster Ministry and Disaster Auction volunteers and interested others has been filled. However, volunteers who have supported either the District's Disaster Ministry work projects or auctions or persons who have an interest in learning more about becoming involved are invited to attend the program portion of the evening, beginning in the sanctuary at 5 p.m. The event will be held at the Pleasant Valley church (91 Valley Church Road, Weyers Cave). Pre-event tours of the depot will start at 3 p.m. The Good Time Gospel Quartet will perform, and door prizes will be given away. Registration is currently closed for the meal. Join the waiting list by emailing brendadiehl@shencob.org.
April 23: The Staunton Church of the Brethren Fellowships (women’s and men’s) will be sponsoring a chicken BBQ to benefit the Shenandoah District Disaster Auction. The event is scheduled for April 23. Chicken halves will be available for $5 per half. In order to facilitate planning, preordering is encouraged. Purchasers are asked to contact the church through email ( scobsecretary@gmail.com) or by phone (540-886-8655).
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Auction Booklet Pick-up This Saturday |
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The auction booklets are being delivered tomorrow and distribution has been set for Saturday, March 26, from 1-4 p.m. and 6-6:30 p.m. at the District Office. These hours are before the Big Thank You Dinner and immediately after.
Church representatives must pick up the booklets for their congregations or arrange for someone attending the dinner to receive them.
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Golf Tournament Tees Off on May 20 |
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The annual golf tournament to benefit the District Disaster Ministry is in its twenty-second year. This year's event will be held on Friday, May 20, at Heritage Oaks (680 Garbers Road, Harrisonburg). Registration will be at 7:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Mulligans, red tees and 50/50 tickets will be on sale. Lunch will be provided and prizes awarded by flight, closest to the pin and longest drive. Click for more information. |
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Beginning in June, the project focus changes from Coastal Carolina to Waverly, Tennessee. Below is the list of dates and the number of people needed for each project trip: |
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June 19-25, 7 slots open
July 24-30, 14 slots open
August 21-27, 14 slots open
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September 11-17, 14 slots open
October 16-22, 14 slots open
December 4-10, 7 slots open
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Happenings at Brethren Woods |
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Summer Camp Discount Ends March 31 |
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Brethren Woods Acting Director Linetta Ballew said the early registration discounts for summer camp registration will be in effect until March 31. Learn more about camp offerings by clicking here. |
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Spring Festival at Brethren Woods is Back |
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Brethren Woods is excited that the Spring Festival will be held in person at the camp (4896 Armentrout Path, Keezletown) on Saturday, April 30. The day will be filled with fun, fellowship and lots of ways to support the camp's ministry. Spring Festival classics include the trout fishing contest, yard sale, pancake breakfast, Hike-a-Thon, hayrides, petting zoo, zip line rides, pedal boat rides, Dunk the Dunkard booth, activities for all ages (like games, crafts, treats, emergency vehicles, mini-golf, and more!), Kiss the Cow, the Auction, and lots of delicious food round out the slate. Inaugural activities like climbing towers, inflatable bounce houses, and obstacle courses will provide new thrills. The Outdoor Ministry Team will recognize and celebrate Doug Phillips' retirement as camp director after the Auction (slated for 2 p.m.).
Here's how District churches may participate:
Hike-a-Thon (8:30 a.m. check-in, 8:45 a.m. celebration start) – Gather sponsors ahead of time, check-in, and then complete a hike around Cherry Hill (10 laps) or on the camp's trails (about 3 miles). The top money raiser will receive a gift certificate for a free summer camp program. Hikers that complete their course will be entered into a Camp Store drawing. Those who cannot attend may still participate by hiking any day in a location that suits them and sending sponsor money to the camp after completing the hike.
Dunk the Dunkard (9-11:30 a.m.) – The dunk tank will be back at camp to get some willing volunteers wet (A $100 minimum donation for each of the ten 15-minute slots). Off-site dunking and "bucket challenges" at churches are also encouraged. Prizes will be awarded for the most money raised for an on-site dunker and off-site dunker. Everyone who participates on or by April 30 will be included in a drawing for a Camp Store prize.
Kiss the Cow (11:30 a.m.) – Miss Moo is back and volunteers who are ready to pucker up are needed (A $100 minimum donation for this "mooooving" experience for your church's nominee). The top money raiser will receive a prize: a free weekend in the Forest Haven A-Frame. Every kisser will be entered into a drawing for a Camp Store prize.
Donations Needed for Yard Sale (7 a.m.-12 p.m.) and Auction (11:45 a.m.-2 p.m.) – It is the time of year for spring cleaning. Items that are no longer needed, but would be used by someone else, may be donated to the yard sale. Comforters, crafts, theme baskets, collectibles, artwork, wall hangings, cars, wooden toys, homemade items, quilts, woodworking projects, antiques, and other specialty items are sought for the Auction. Yard sale and auction items may be dropped off at camp starting April 25.
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Camp Still Seeking Food Service Director |
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Brethren Woods is now seeking a food service director, which is a new role. This will be a quarter-time, year-round, salaried position based on an average of 10 hours per week with more hours during the summer season, fewer hours in the fall and spring and limited hours in the winter. The food service director is an extremely flexible position and allows for making one's own schedule and working some hours from home if preferred. Additional hours, if desired, are available when fulfilling the role of head cook.
The food service director is responsible for planning and coordinating camp food service and staffing for all scheduled groups, activities, and events throughout the year. Benefits include a salary based on experience and within the context of our non-profit environment and professional growth funds. Click here for a complete job description.
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Bethel Church of the Brethren is seeking a custodian to care for the meeting house of the Lord at Mayland (outside of Broadway). They are looking for a dedicated person who would consider their custodial work to be more than a job—but also a ministry to the Lord. The custodian would work two mornings per week (probably Monday and Thursday) from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The pay will be commensurate with experience. If you would like to apply for this ministry, please contact Moderator Sue Sevier at Siever5059@yahoo.com or call 540-333-1420. She will email you an application, or send it to you via U.S. mail.
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Heaven, Hell and the Afterlife |
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Participants in this course will explore biblical and theological understandings of Heaven, Hell, and God’s judgment. Topics to be examined include Sheol and Gehenna, the destiny of the un-evangelized, the parousia and day of the Lord, the restoration of creation, the resurrection of the body, and the New Heaven and New Earth. Special attention will be given to the Brethren debate over Universal Restoration. The instructor is Craig Gandy, and the 2 CEU class will run from April 27-June 21. The deadline to register for this course is today, March 23. Click here for more information.
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Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership is offering Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change. This in-person class in conjunction with the Annual Conference features Tod Bolsinger, author of "Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change." The class will take place on July 9-10. Register online by June 6. Download an informational flyer here. |
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Continuing the work of Jesus.
Peacefully. Simply. Together.
Shenandoah District website:
www.shencob.org
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Questions? Comments?
Contact the Director of Communications
Unless noted otherwise, Scripture used is from the New International Version
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Today's graphic by B.S. Diehl with Canva
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Shenandoah District Church of the Brethren
Phone: 540-234-8555; Toll-free 888-308-8555; Fax 540-234-8333
Staff:
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