UPDATE
June 24, 2009
Disaster Work Group Cancelled:
Last UPDATE announced the District Disaster Work Project for September 2009. Due to some scheduling problems, Jim and Pat Denison report that the work project been cancelled for 2009. Therefore our district will not be sending a team at all in 2009. We will hope for a better circumstance in 2010.
Remember to Register:
Each congregation has been sent a registration form for our September 25,26 District Conference. Make as many copies as you need and send them to Anne Zimmerman by August 1.
The registration form can also be downloaded from the Conference page.
CHILDREN'S DISASTER SERVICE TRAINING To Be Offered at McPherson:
Children's Disaster Services (CDS), a ministry of the Church of the Brethren, will sponsor a two-day training session at the McPherson First Church of the Brethren, 200 N. Carrie St., McPherson, KS, on Friday and
Saturday, Oct. 9-10. CDS volunteers will learn to provide a comforting presence and safe space for children impacted by natural disasters.
When natural disasters strike, parents' attention is diverted to caring for emergencies. The needs of their traumatized children are often overlooked. At such times, CDS volunteers are called upon to work with children on location. During training, volunteers will experience a situation from sleeping on cots to simple meals just like they would in an actual disaster situation.
After 9-11, the American Red Cross discovered the Brethren Children's Disaster Services provided the only specialized service of this kind in the United States. Since then, the Red Cross has collaborated in training events with Brethren to train childcare volunteers to provide emergency services.
Please spread the word to other churches and Red Cross offices in your area.
Cost for CDS training is $45 per person. Sessions begin at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and adjourn at 7:30 on Saturday evening. Classes are limited to 20 persons. Call now to ensure your place in this important event: (800) 451-4407, ext. 5.
Please Pray for our Annual Conference:
Brethren from across the country will be traveling to the 2009 Annual Conference, which will be held June 26-30 in San Diego, CA. This will be the 223rd recorded Annual Conference for the Church of the Brethren.
Annual Conference will meet on the theme, “The old has gone! The new has come! All this is from God!” (2 Corinthians 5:16-21) David Shumate of Roanoke, VA will serve as moderator of the conference. He also serves as executive of the church’s Virlina District.
The conference will welcome church members from across the US and Puerto Rico and delegates from the church’s 1,000 congregations and 23 districts.
More than 2,000 people are expected to attend, including church members and families, pastors, denominational officers, and church staff.
Business for the delegate body includes "A Statement of Confession and Commitment," which is a paper from the district delegates addressing a call to unity on issues of sexuality; a paper offering "A Structural Framework for Dealing with Strongly Controversial Issues"; queries from congregations on the issues of "Language on Same-Sex Covenantal Relationships" and "Secret Oath-Bound Societies"; and revised bylaws for the denomination, which last year underwent a restructuring. Also on the agenda are reports from church programs and elections of church officers.
Be in prayer for those traveling to Annual Conference, for those providing leadership, and for the assembled body as it seeks the mind of Christ together on matters before the church. For information and to follow Annual Conference activities go to http://www.cobannualconference.org/
Please visit the home page for Upcoming Events
KEEP COOL
Carolyn Schrock
District Coordinator
