. . . To
continue the work of Jesus
Bridgewater Church of the Brethren
APRIL A 2008
New Members by transfer of
letter and Associate Members will be received during Worship at 11 on Sunday, April
27. Those persons desiring to transfer letters or to become associate
members should be in contact with one of the pastors as soon as possible.
Plan now to attend our
regularly scheduled Council meeting on Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m. in the sanctuary. A fellowship meal will precede council at Noon in the social hall. More information about the meal will be
included in the April B Connections.
Our church pays the full
registration fee for each camper to attend one camp; all registrations must be in to the church office
prior to May 1 for the church to pay the full fee. Registration forms
are available at the display in the Greeting Hall. If you have questions, contact C.E. Director Jeanie Eye or
Chuck & Jill Horn (350-2226).
VBMHC SPRING 2008 LECTURE
The CrossRoads Heritage Center will hold its annual spring lecture on Sunday, April
6, at 4 p. m. at
Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, 1552 S. High St., Harrisonburg. Joan Daggett,
missions advocate in the Shenandoah District office of the Church of the
Brethren, will speak on “Missions in the Brethren Tradition.” Call 438-1275 for more information.
GRADUATE CONDUCTING
RECITAL
The members of the church are
cordially invited to attend Jim Benedict’s graduate conducting recital in partial fulfillment
for a Masters in Music from James Madison University. The recital is Saturday, April
19, at 2:30 pm and will be held at
our church. Music conducted will
include works by Faure, Brahms, Lauridsen. The women’s choir will sing a new composition by John
Barr entitled Amherst Melodies
whose text is based on poems by Emily Dickinson. John will also be playing the organ to accompany
Faure’s Messe Basse. Also of interest for our church is that
Leroy Flaten, who is in the Doctor
of Music program at JMU, will solo with the JMU Chorale on a work by Rene
Clausen. A reception will
follow.
MISSION ALIVE
2008 – April 4-6
Mission Alive 2008 is a national CoB missions conference to
energize and equip the Church of the Brethren to faithfully share God’s love
with the world. Held in our
facility April 4-6. Brochures
containing more information are available from the literature rack in the
Greeting Hall.
Participants for only parts of the event are welcome. Donations in lieu
of the registration fee would be appreciated. Suggested donation--$20.00
per half day with checks payable to Church of the Brethren General Board
Ministries.
MESSAGE FROM THE ANNUAL
CONFERENCE MODERATOR
Posted on the large bulletin
board in the Greeting Hall is a letter from Jim Beckwith, 2008 Annual
Conference Moderator. We invite
you to take time to read the letter and take part in the 300th
Anniversary challenge.
NOTE OF THANKS
Jennie, Becca, Carrie, and
I are humbled, comforted, and awestruck by the outpouring of love and support
for us through the illness and loss of our beloved Glen. Thank you for your countless and
continued acts of kindness. We are
extremely blessed to have you as our church family and as dear friends.
With love and
gratitude,
Ellie
Thank you very much for
your recent contribution to On Earth Peace. As we refocus on our mission for 2008, I want to share our
new scripture theme with those who make our work possible. The theme we’ve chosen to inspire our
work this year is: Steadfast love and
faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other (Psalm
85:10)....God calls us, and Jesus leads us, into a faithful love; a
righteous peace….You are part of the way that God’s promise comes to pass….In
Peace, Bob Gross,
Exec.Director
We want to express deep
appreciation for all the prayers, concern, and love for Temi and me. We would ask for continued prayers as
we still have some hurtles to deal with.
The Lord has been gracious to us with His continuing care and love. To each of you we again express our
appreciation and love. God bless
each of you.
~ Louise & Temi Vakil
Thanks to everyone for
helping in sponsoring our home.
Also thanks to everyone who volunteered. Tatianna and I will cherish our safe and happy home for
years to come. Thanks so much!
~ The Acevedo Family
Homeowners of Habitat duplex
LIBRARY IN ZAMBIA
Dr. Mwizenge Tembo of Bridgewater College is
sponsoring a drive for a library to be built in his home village of Zambia. Bridgewater College is helping to support
the project by collecting money for the building, for the purchase of books,
and the shipping of materials to Zambia. Steve Watson will be available on Sunday morning, April
6, before and after worship with pictures and information about the
project. He will accept donations for this very worthy mission project.
Checks may be written to Bridgewater College (memo line, Zambia library)
and considered tax deductions. Students at the college are planning a
special “Gifts for Africa” entertainment night on April 12 to raise money for
the project. Donations will be appreciated for this worthy cause.
SPECIAL THANKS
Dear Friends –
I’ve taken the liberty of
borrowing a bit of rhyming meter from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his
“Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” – thought I’d use it to say “Thanks!” to
all of you.
Listen my children and you
shall hear
Of the year long toil of
Habitat dear.
On the 29th of
April and two thousand and eight;
Many a man would come by
God’s fate
To remember that famous
day and year.
I said to my friends, If
Habitat lacks
A nail or a board for the
house to build,
Send out a cry by
newsletter facts, of the Habitat
Office for the need must
be filled.
One more helper and two
would be better;
To align roof joists and
be a nail setter
Ready to paint and spread
out the food
For every worker we had
wooed
So the grand dedication
could by all be viewed.
You know the rest –
in the newspaper read
How the churches all gave
and fed
How the volunteers gave
their all in all
From the concrete pouring
and wiring in the wall;
Chasing down wind blown
shingles
Then spreading seed and
hauling rock,
Under the trees at the
noon of day
And pausing only to drink
and pray.
So through each meeting,
planned the Habitat board
And so through each church
went the friendship cry
To every Habitat girl and
guy,
A cry of giving and not of
hoard
A voice in the heart, a
call on the phone,
A gift that will bless and
never be known.
For borne on the night
wind of the past,
Through all Habitat’s
history, to the last,
In the hour of want,
desire and need
The people will waken and
listen to hear
The scurrying footsteps of
each deed
And the ongoing cry of
Habitat dear.
Thanks, Clarine
Homeowner of Habitat duplex
CHURCH LIBRARY NEWS
The new DVD Amazing
Grace is missing from our
library. If you have it, please
return it. People are asking about
it.
Find out what’s happening at
Bridgewater College – a list of events for the month of April is posted
on the bulletin board in the greeting hall – or you may visit their
website at www.bridgewater.edu.
KID-FRIENDLY
SNACKS
Now that the Easter candy is put away, we need to get the kids (and us) back on
track. Snacks are a good way to introduce those extra servings of fruits
and veggies. These seven healthy snack options are recommended by the
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases:
1. Fresh fruit
2. Canned fruit in juice or
light syrup
3. Small amounts of dried
fruits like raisins, apple
rings, or apricots
4. Fresh vegetables such as
baby carrots, zucchini
slices, tomato wedges, or cucumber spears
5.
Reduced fat
cheese or small amounts of peanut
butter on whole-wheat crackers
6. Low-fat yogurt with fruit
7. Graham crackers, animal crackers, or low-fat
vanilla wafers
And, adults can benefit from these as well. Enjoy!!!! ~
Health & Wellness Committee
MOVIE NIGHT: Sunday, April
13
At 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 13,
in the Senior High Room, a film called “The Power of Community: How Cuba
Survived Peak Oil” will be shown.
Come and share snacks, drinks, the film, and discussion.
In
the late 80’s, Cuba’s supply of oil was cut off. This film tells what a group of creative Cuban citizens did
in this crisis situation.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE July 12-16, 2008 Richmond, VA Information about this
year’s Annual Conference can be found online at www.brethren.org and is available on CD
from the church office.
IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY
·
Bridgewater College head
softball coach Donnie Fulk
celebrated a milestone on Saturday, March 15, with his 400th career victory. He
reached the milestone when the Eagles defeated York College, 6-5 in eight
innings, in the first game of a doubleheader.
·
Christy Craun is collecting donations for the March of Dimes Walk
on April 19 which will be used to give every baby born a healthy start. There will be a collection container in
the Greeting Hall on Sundays, April 6 & 13. Thank you for your donations!
·
Address for Greg Martin,
husband of Michelle Shirkey Martin,
in Iraq:
CPATT / DYNCORP
COB SPEICHER
TIKRIT IRAQ
APO AE 09393
FRUIT OF THE WOMB
CROSS CULTURAL
CONSULTATION &
CELEBRATION – April 24-27, Elgin, IL
A poster with more
information is on the large bulletin board in the Greeting Hall.
HYGIENE KITS NEEDED
It’s time to again assemble
kits for Church World Service emergency needs. This year we will be concentrating on Hygiene Kits. You may pick up a sheet of instructions
for assembling a kit from the literature rack in the Greeting Hall. Kits need to be returned to the church
by Sunday, April 20. So pick up instructions and assemble
one or more kits right away.
~Mission & Service Commission
WORSHIP SERVICES
Every Sunday at 8:30 and
11:00 am
Child Care provided for both services
April 6—Third Sunday in Easter
8:30 Worship will be the
closing Worship for Mission Alive.
Pastoral Message: “For
All the
World”
Pastor Robert preaching at both
services
Scriptures: Matthew
24:14 and 28:18-20;
Galatians
6:7-10; Acts 2:1-11 and 17:22-31
April 13 – Fourth
Sunday in Easter
Pastoral Message:
“Meltdown”
Scriptures: Psalm
24; Genesis 1:26-31
Puppets will share
children’s story at both services.
April 20 – Fifth
Sunday in Easter & Sr. Hi. Youth Sunday
Both services planned and led
by Senior High Youth.
April 27 – Sixth
Sunday in Easter
Pastoral Message:
“Becoming a Resurrection Community”
Scripture: Acts 2:36-47
Service of Baptism and
Receiving of New Members by Letter—Worship at 11
VOLUNTEER NEEDS AT THE
FREE CLINIC
As the Free Clinic gets ready
to open up a Monday morning clinic at the end of March and prepare for the
summer without student volunteers, there are a number of important volunteer
needs:
* Spanish
Translator-Monday 9-2
* Spanish
Translator-Wednesday evenings for
Front Desk and Medical
* Front Desk-Friday 9-2
* Bilingual (Spanish)
Eligibility Worker for
Wednesday evening and
Thursday morning
If able to help with
volunteer needs, contact Rich Sider, Executive
Director, at 437-4962 or
Shenandoah District Disaster Relief Auction May 16 & 17 Rockingham County
Fairgrounds
BOOK GROUP meets on the last Wednesday of each month from September through May at 7:00 p.m.
in the church library. The book
selection for April is Wayward Christian Soldiers: Freeing the Gospel from
Political Captivity by Charles March.
Join in the discussion on April 30th in the library.
2008 HARP EXTRAVAGANZA: April
19-20, 7 p.m.
Location: Park
View Mennonite Church
Featuring: Performer
& Clinician,
Robbin Gordon-Cartier & others
Concert free to the public;
donations accepted.
All proceeds benefit the Millard
Fuller Center for Housing.
BRETHREN WOODS NEWS
Plan
to head out to camp on Saturday, April 26, from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (rain or shine). Events planned: fishing contest (7 a.m.), pancake breakfast
(starts at 7:30 a.m.), craft demonstrations, paddle boat rides, hike-a-thon
(starts at 8:30 a.m.), children’s games, petting zoo, entertainment, zip line
rides, and real live auction. Fill
up on BBQ chicken & pork, ham pot pie, homemade ice cream, cakes, and
pies.
The
evening will begin in the Woodland Retreat Center at 6 p.m. with a dinner of
mixed green salad, marinated chicken breast, roasted vegetable lasagna, herbed
new potatoes, homemade bread, fresh fruit cobbler with ice cream, and various
beverages. Entertainment: “The
Classic Hillbilly” Linden Bowman.
Camp staff will give an update on camp’s ministry at this 50-year
milestone. There are only 100
tickets for this $50 per person dinner, so get yours now by contacting the camp
office at 269-2741 or camp@brethrenwoods.com.
__________________________________
FRIENDS AT PLAY
Eight Hands at Two Pianos
Patty Bird, Sharon Bloomquist, Joyce Grove,
Becky Kingsley, Mary Rouse
In Concert
Presenting Classical, Sacred, Folk, Patriotic, and
Jazz selections
Sunday, May 18, at 3:00 p.m.
Massanutten Presbyterian Church
____________________________________________
PASTA WITH THE PASTORS
Bridgewater Home Auxiliary Spring Supper
Friday, April 11, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Houff Community Center
Menu: Variety of Pasta with Sauces, Salad, Rolls,
Drinks,
Cupcakes
Cost: $10.00 per person
Followed by Rockingham Male
Chorus Concert at 7 p.m. in Lantz Chapel.
Supper Ticket Deadline:
April 4
All proceeds to benefit the
Employee Scholarship Fund. Concert
is free and open to the public.
For more information, call 828-2682.
Hosts:
4/6 Kent
& Mitzi Miller
Kevin
& Penny Keplinger
4/13 Kevin & Penny Keplinger
David
& Lori Lineweaver
4/20 Carson & Sharon Kiracofe
Kent
& Mitzi Miller
4/27 Carson & Sharon Kiracofe
Nancy
Trout & Sarah Bowman
Decorators: Jan Matteson & Nikki May
Sound/Light Operator: Ellsworth Neff
Ushers: David
Evick, ldr
Palmer
Lee Berry, Harold Jennings
Devin
Bowman, Jim Lane, Rick Fawley, Michael
Mason, Sr., Chad Flora,
Clara
Metzler, Leroy Harsh, Bill Miracle, Missy
Hipps, Fred Showalter, Chuck Horn, Bill
Stovall
SVCS SPRING CONCERT
The Shenandoah Valley Choral Society, under the direction of Curtis
Nolley, will
present its annual spring concert on Friday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m., in our sanctuary. The
concert entitled “Spiritual Songs” will feature Anton Dvorak’s Mass in D accompanied by organist John Barr along
with featured soloists Brenda Witmer, Carrie Stevens, Les Helmuth, and Shannon
Kiser. The second half of the
concert will feature a variety of traditional and contemporary settings of
African-American Spirituals.
Tickets are available from Choral Society members, Family Christian
Store, Red Front Supermarket (Harrisonburg), Ruth’s Books (Bridgewater), The
Bookstack (Staunton), and at the door. Advance admission is $10 for adults/$9
for seniors and students; $2 more at the door.
NOAC 2008
National Older Adult
Conference
Theme: “Come to the Water”
Dates: September 1-5, 2008
Location: Lake Junaluska
(N.C.) Assembly
Conference Highlights:
Worship, Daily Bible Study, Social Gatherings, Service Project, Workshops,
Handcrafts, Recreation, Entertainment.
Registration materials are
available from ABC at (800) 323-8039 or register on-line at www.brethren-caregivers.org. Sponsored by Caring Ministries of the
Church of the Brethren.
BVS PROJECT BOOK for 2008 is now available from the literature rack in
the Greeting Hall. BVS: Sharing
God’s love through acts of service. Advocating justice, working for peace,
serving basic human needs, and caring for creation. A ministry of the CoB General Board.
DENOMINATIONAL PERSONNEL
AMONG US
APRIL CALENDAR
All events take place at the church unless otherwise noted.
Sundays: Sunday School – 9:45 a.m.
Worship – 8:30
& 11:00 a.m.
1 Staff Meeting – 9 a.m.
Food Pantry – 7 p.m.
2 Auxiliary Luncheon – 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Another Voice – 2 p.m.
Children’s Ensemble/YORFFS – 3:30/4 p.m.
Brethren Student Movement – 6:30 p.m. –
Carter Ctr.
Christian Education Commission – 7 p.m.
Properties Commission – 7 p.m.
Witness & Renewal Commission – 7 p.m.
Worship & Music Commission – 7 p.m.
3 Interfaith Association – Noon – EMU
Grief Group – 4 p.m. – Community Room @ BH
Sanctus Choir – 7:30 p.m.
4-5 Women’s Retreat @ Brethren Woods
4-6 Mission Alive
4-6 Roundtable @ Bridgewater College
6 Sustainable Living – 8:30 a.m.
Bell Choir – 9 a.m.
Fellowship Time – 9:15 a.m.
Brethren 101 – 6 p.m.
7 Spanish Conversations – 9:30 a.m.
8 Fellowship & Recreation Commission – 7 p.m.
Finance Commission – 7 p.m.
9 Bridgewater Ministers – 8 a.m. – Maple
Terrace
Character Builders Circle – Noon – Maple
Terrace
Another Voice – 2 p.m.
Jubilee Circle – 2 p.m.
Children’s Ensemble/YORFFS – 3:30/4 p.m.
Brethren Student Movement – 6:30 p.m. –
Carter Ctr.
Friendship Circle – 7 p.m. – Home of Bea
Miller
JOY Circle – 7 p.m. – Home of Gerri Rigney
Mission & Service Commission – 7 p.m.
10 Sanctus Choir – 7:30 p.m.
11 Pasta with the Pastors – 4:30 p.m. –
Maple Terrace
Rockingham Male Chorus – 7 p.m.
– Lantz Chapel
12 Memorial Service for Peggy Barnett – 2 p.m.
13 Bell Choir – 9 a.m.
Fellowship Time – 9:15 a.m.
Brethren 101 – 6 p.m.
Movie Night – 6 p.m.
14 Spanish Conversations – 9:30 a.m.
Ret. Ministers & Spouses – 5
p.m. – Maple Terrace
Stewardship Commission – 7 p.m.
15 Staff Meeting – 9 a.m.
Food Pantry – 7 p.m.
16 Another Voice – 2 p.m.
Children’s Ensemble/YORFFS – 3:30/4
p.m.
Fellowship Meal – 5-6:30 p.m.
Brethren Student Movement–6:30 p.m.
– Carter Ctr.
Board of Administration – 7 p.m.
17 Grief Group – 4 p.m. – Community Room @
BH
Sanctus Choir – 7:30 p.m.
18 Shen. Valley Choral Society Concert – 7:30 p.m.
19 Men’s Fellowship – 7:30 a.m.
Master’s Recital w/ Jim Benedict – 2
p.m.
20 Bell Choir – 9 a.m.
Fellowship Time – 9:15 a.m.
Blood Pressure Clinic – 9:30/10:30
a.m.
Millennium Circle – 9:45 a.m.
Brethren 101 – 6 p.m.
21 Spanish Conversations – 9:30 a.m.
22 Gifts Discernment Committee – 7 p.m.
23 Another Voice – 2 p.m.
Children’s Ensemble/YORFFS – 3:30/4
p.m.
24 Housing Committee – 7:30 p.m.
Sanctus Choir – 7:30 p.m.
25 Beth Harrison/Garrett Suhr Rehearsal – 6 p.m.
Brethren Student Movement – 6:30
p.m.
26 Harrison/Suhr Wedding & Reception – 6 p.m.
27 Bell Choir – 9 a.m.
Fellowship Time – 9:15 a.m.
Fellowship Meal – Noon
Council – 1 p.m.
Brethren 101 – 5:30 p.m.
28 Spanish Conversations – 9:30 a.m.
BH Aux. General Meeting –2 p.m.
– Maple Terrace
APRIL CALENDAR CONTINUED
29 Shawl Ministry – 10 a.m.
Child Care Center Board – 7 p.m.
Food Pantry Coord. Committee – 7
p.m.
30 Another Voice – 2 p.m.
Children’s Ensemble/YORFFS – 3:30/4
p.m.
Brethren Student Movement –5:30
p.m.– Wildwood
Book Club – 7 p.m.
RELAY FOR LIFE
The
Agape Sunday School class is sponsoring a team in this year’s Rockingham County
Relay for Life event on Friday, May 9,
at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds.
Relay for Life is an annual event where people come to celebrate those
who have survived cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against a
disease that touches too many lives.
The
class fund raising goal is $10,000. If we as a church can raise at least $5,000,
our usually casual Pastor Chris has agreed to preach a spring sermon in a
tuxedo. Now that is a sight that
many would pay money to see!
To
donate, visit relayforlife.org, search for the Rockingham County event, and
then find team Agape Love under the team listings. You can donate online, or make a check payable to the
American Cancer Society and give it to any member of the Agape Sunday School
class.
If
you are interested in joining our team and walking with us, please contact Erin
Eye or Heather Driver for more information. All are welcome!
CHILDREN’S
OFFERING
During the winter quarter and the month of March our children’s offering
has been going to “We are the Church” and has been donated to the church’s
working budget.
For the
month of April, we will be giving the Children’s Offering to Relay for
Life. The Agape Sunday School Class has a
team walking in the Relay for Life event in May. They are hoping to raise money for cancer research.
The money we give on Sunday mornings will go to our church’s Relay
for Life Team.
Our church family has
been touched by people who have been diagnosed with or have lost their battles
with cancer. This offering would
give us a way to show how much we care and how much kids can help too!
IT’S A SMALL WORLD AFTER
ALL
Daily decisions, Global
impacts
David Radcliff from New
Community Project will lead these presentations at Montezuma CoB April 19-20.
April 19, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
“One Earth, One Chance”
Presentation includes photos
of the Amazon and the Arctic, plus discussion and guests from local groups that
offer options for sustainable living and food resources.
April 20
Morning Worship at 9:30 a.m.
“Back to the Future” –
Drawing on the spirit of the early Brethren, what is our calling in our
church’s fourth century?
Sunday School at 10:45 a.m.
“Gone Fishin’” – Beyond
teaching our neighbors to fish, what would it look like for us to stand with
them on the riverbank? Focus:
Sudan
Carry in Lunch at 11:45 a.m.
Next Steps, 1-2:15 p.m.
“The Ordeal of Change”
– How do people of faith work to change the direction of a world bent on
self-destruction?
PLEASE RECYCLE
Connections is published by
Bridgewater Church of the Brethren
Collating/Mailing:
Clayton & Jackie Towers, Glenn
& Ruth Felix, Harold Jennings
Next Newsletter – APRIL B 2008
Information is due by noon on
Monday, April 14.
Church
Staff:
Pastor Robert Alley
Associate Pastor for Youth, Younger
Adults & Families Chris Zepp
Associate Pastor for Visitation
Wendell Eller
Christian Education Director Jeanie
Eye
Administrative Secretary Shannon
Puffenbarger
Manager of Finances & Property
Glenna Wampler
Custodian Fortunato Correa
Sr. Hi. Youth Mentors Josh & Erin
Eye
Jr. Hi. Youth Director Heather Galang
Child Care Center Administrator
Kathleen Arndt