We Are Online Too

Welcome to the 90's

The discovery of the internets has been reported in the January issue of Messenger (the one without the Gospel). While they apparently overlooked this blog in favor of the Dunker Journal and the highly active Saur Grapes blog, we're still impressed with the effort.

We also applaud the courage of the editor to post a portion of the Dunker Journal's criticism of Elgin and providing a glimpse into the secretive, closed archives of the VOS listserv. We are sure that the proper permissions were obtained since both BRF and VOS do have a common ground, agreeing that proper permission is of the utmost importance.

And we hope that the multitudinous COB-L and COB-YYA listserv members, who are recognized as belonging to two of the largest Brethren listservs, are not clogging the internet with what must be a vast sharing of common interests and concerns.

Finally, take a look over in the right margin. We've had a link to the Ship of Fools all along. In another ten years, maybe we'll hear about RSS.

Leviticus

General Board Endorses Leviticus

In a setback to progressives, the General Board endorsed the book of Leviticus when it cited a passage (see page 22 of the January 2007 Messenger magazine) within its pastor letter on immigration. The controversial book had been previously endorsed in a 1982 statement on refugees.

Another Sighting of an Elusive Figure

The plot thickens as Anglo Leasing has been spotted removing a second tree from the property Elgin's BVS House. Rumors circulate that the lumber is being sold as part of a bribery kickback scheme devised to replenish the General Board coffers. Bob Gross could not be reached for comment but it's been a long time since we've mentioned him.

LoraxVolSvc

Lorax Sighting

There's a buzz throughout the world of cryptozoology as a rare Lorax has been spotted in Elgin. The elusive indicator species was spotted over the weekend outside of the BVS House, located in Elgin, Illinois. While some are encouraged by the sighting of this rare creature, others quickly point out that its appearance raises concerns about deforestation.

Affirmation

Affirmation

The gentleman from Blair County was the only state senator not to place his left hand on a Bible while taking the oath of office. John H. Eichelberger Jr. instead folded his hands in front of him as he repeated the oath after Judge D. Michael Fisher. A member of the Church of the Brethren, Eichelberger’s religion prohibits pledging.

“So I ‘affirm,’” he said. “I’ve done that as a [Blair County] commissioner.”

Eichelberger was sworn into the state General Assembly Tuesday, one of the area’s two newly elected lawmakers. Eichelberger represents the 30th Senatorial District, including Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon, Fulton and parts of Mifflin counties.

Triceratops

Trouble in Sunday School

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas


It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

YMCA

No Room

When there's no room at the inn,
it's fun to stay at the...

I'm a Christian 4

I'm a Christ Follower

I'm a Christian 3

I'm a Christian

I'm a Christian 2

I'm a Christ Follower

I'm a Christian 1

I'm a Christian

Stanley Dancing Again

Season's Greetings

Send us your elves!

NOT THE MESSIAH

How Not To...

Generation Gap

Generation Gap

Not willing to share the spotlight, the next NOAC will happen in 2008 and again in 2009 where it will begin a biennial pattern. The new schedule will eliminate the conference occurring on the same years as National Youth Conference. NOAC also added, "NYC never visits, they never write, they don't even call. Kids these days... just wait until they have kids of their own." Not surprisingly, NOAC has no plans to establish a presence on MySpace.

GB Purport

General Bored Purport

Meeting for the first time since 2004, the General Bored may conduct business this weekend as they gather at the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Illinois.

Bingo October 2006

Buzzword Bingo

It's time again for the General Bored Meetings. Take along Buzzword Bingo.

If you're not happy with the sheet that you're initially presented, click Reload until you get a card that looks like a winner.

Second Coming Clothing

One of the growing concerns that comes to serious followers of Christ, is the increasing evidence of immodesty in dress. However, not every Chirstian clothier has the same concerns. One company's mission is not focused on modesty but, instead, it is to spread the Gospel in the "Great Commission" by focusing the attention of the world on Jesus Christ. Meanwhile, another company makes products that feature a one-of-a-kind pattern designed with a meaningful Christian concept. Intertwined to form this unique pattern are five symbols Christianity: the Cross, the fish, the ark, the dove and the olive branch. And being 100% American made, they couldn't possibly be any more Christian.

Seven Deadly Sins

Lest we forget, the 7 deadly sins are not Sleepy, Grumpy, Happy, Sneezy, Bashful, Doc and Dopey.

New Software Helps With Stewardship Drives

It's that time of year. The air gets chilly, the leaves begin to change colors, and sermons focus on the topic of stewardship. Churches everywhere are gearing up for that annual tradition; the stewardship drive. While the goal is a budget and the pledges to support it, the pathways to get there are myriad. Now churches can add one more tool to their bag of tricks. A new software application offers the promise of raising funds for your cause.

Brethren Art Treasure Recovered

A new ad campaign launched by the owner of the Wilbur Bud brand aims to make eating dark chocolate a scream.

Shortly after the candy company offered 2 million dark chocolate Wilbur Buds for the return of "Beahm Scream," a painting by Edvard Munch, "Beahm Scream" and "Madonna" have been found. "We are 100% certain they are the originals. The damage was much less than feared," police said. The paintings had been missing since two armed men ripped them from the wall and threatened staff at the Munch Museum in the Norwegian capital in August 2004.

The candy campaign accompanies the permanent addition of dark chocolate candies to the Wilbur Bud product line, which was announced earlier this month.

"We've received tremendous interest from Brethren to make Wilbur Buds Dark Chocolate a permanent offering," a vice president of marketing at the company said in a statement.

The campaign aims to bring some fun into the dark chocolate category, which is perceived to be more serious.

Youth Future

Our Youth Are the Future of the Church

The 38th annual Southeastern District Conference, cleverly scheduled on July 28-30, was led by moderator Jim Hoffman on the theme, "Mostly Together in God's Presence." Emphasising that the youth are the future of the church, but not the present, a total of 94 delegates represented 27 congregations, and a total of 167 adults were in attendance while youth and leaders who were returning home from National Youth Conference in Colorado.

A time was held during the business to have small group discussions as part of the denominational study process Mostly Together: Conversations on Being the Church. Discussion focused on the question, "What does it mean to be the church today?" This was a very productive time of conversation, co-executive minister Martha Roudebush reported. Saturday night's insight session provided leadership training for individuals to lead their congregations in this conversation.

Roudebush said that the district faced a "productive" situation this year. "The parliamentarian was at National Youth Conference," she said, "and the moderator-elect was also at NYC."

Come and Dance

Come and Dance

As youth across the denomination are receiving their NYC DVD's, the Youth and Young Adult Ministries office would like them to know that National Youth Conference will also be available in other media.

Just released this week, NYC: Patio Dance Revolution is a video game that is available for several systems including the X-Box and Sony Playstation.

JesusSaves

T-Shirts for Geeks or World Cup Fans

Bingo 2006 June

Buzzword Bingo

Bored of Annual Conference business sessions? Take along Buzzword Bingo.

If you're not happy with the sheet that you're initially presented, click Reload until you get a card that looks like a winner.