Bridge Spring 2015.pdf

Bridge Spring 2015

You shall go out with joy A publication by and for Church of the Brethren Young Adults Bridge

Inside this Issue God Laughing at My Plans—————————————————-3 On the Bus to Birmingham—————————–———————–4 Top 10 Things We See God Doing in the World———————–5 Praying for Peace in Nigeria————————————————-6 Photo Essay: Joyful Action————————–————————–8 YAC Flyer—————————————————————————-10 Young Adult Steering Committee Application————————11 Ads & Announcements———————————————————12 Young Adult Steering Committee ————–—————————14

2 Bridge

God Laughing at My Plans

by Jessie Houff I’ve always loved warm weather. Growing up in Virginia, I got a lot of it. So when I decided that I would spend my first Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) year in Upstate, New York, I even surprised myself. Then I surprised myself even more when I decided to do a SECOND BVS year in even colder, Elgin, Illinois. I’m not sure where life will take me next year, but I can tell you right now it will be somewhere not just warm, but HOT. Of course, I say this knowing that God is upstairs laughing at me and my ‘future plans.’ Ever since high school I have been telling myself what I will do next with my life. Though, every time I make a plan in my head, the opposite happens. I wanted to go to a far-away college for dance and theatre and I ended up going to a college 10 minutes from my house with a major in art. I wanted to go to Central America for my first BVS term and ended up an hour away from New York City. Then I wanted to try a different volunteer organization in Ecuador, and here I am in my second year with BVS in Chicago.

Life is funny and confusing. I suppose one day I’ll understand why God has pointed me in directions I’d never thought I’d go. This makes planning for the future difficult. About a month and a half ago I came to Elgin to be the BVS staff volunteer working with orientations and recruitment. I’ve still got almost a whole year before my term is up, and already people are asking me what I’m going to do next. My response as of late has been, “I have about 5 ideas of what I want to do, but odds are not one of them will actually happen.” One might call this pessimism, but the realist in me assures that I am just mentally preparing for the unknown future.

I was speaking with a friend of mine recently about how badly I want to travel the world (one of the 5 or so options I have for my near future). He said, “Jessie, you keep talking about traveling, but you never do it. Stop talking about it and make it happen!” My excuse now, of course, is that I’m in BVS. But after this conversation, I realized that my excuses have been more like, “Oh, it’s unrealistic” or, “Oh, I don’t have that kind of money.” Then I remember something that my mom always says: “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Soon, it will be time to actually turn my dreams into reality.

Now, this isn’t to say that I’m not living some of my dreams now. For years I have been dreaming of doing BVS and making a difference in the world around me. And now it’s actually happening…for the second time! That’s pretty neat.

I believe that anyone can change the world. A lot of people get really intimidated by that phrase, but I think that the world can be changed on a wide spectrum of ways. One could go as far as Gandhi or Mother Teresa and literally save and change lives of those in desperate need; or one could think on a smaller scale by simply smiling at strangers every day. These things and everything in between are ways to change the world and all the lives in it.

God is funny. God points us in all kinds of crazy directions and gives us tasks that we might deem unimaginable. Sometimes God directs us to take some time “off” from school or work and join Brethren Volunteer Service. Sometimes God sends us to seminary or to start helpful organizations all over the world.

Other times God keeps us home to care for our children and our loved ones. So today, I leave you with some happy thoughts that I try to tell myself every day. Whatever your case may be, dear reader, know this: That you are exactly where you are supposed to be, even if it means you have no idea what you’re doing. Smile, learn, laugh, pray.

Peace.

Bridge 3

On the Bus to Birmingham

by Wendy McFadden It is my dream that lots of Brethren will take the bus to Birmingham—that is, on a Sankofa Journey.

“Sankofa” is a West African word that means “looking backward to move forward.” A Sankofa Journey is a three-day immersion experience that pairs African Americans and non-African Americans to gain racial understanding. The trips—led by the Evangelical Covenant Church—are offered twice a year, generally in February and August, and are open to anyone.

The Sankofa Journey caught my imagination because I have—over the years— participated in anti-racism workshops that did not go well. I wished for something better. I’ve also been part of groups that have talked about becoming more multiracial but have not been able to succeed. One of those is the Church of the Brethren.

Since my trip three years ago, several other Brethren have taken part. How great it would be to see that number grow! I would especially love to see young adults participate.

Driving through Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, we visited places such as the 16th Street Baptist Church, the Civil Rights Institute, Kelly Ingram Park, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the John Perkins Center, the National Civil Rights Museum (located in the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King was shot), and Slave Haven, an underground railroad house and now museum about slave history.

Between stops, our time on the bus was spent studying about race and engaging in discussion with our partners. It was an intense time of watching, listening, thinking, feeling, talking, learning, realizing—of being transformed.

In a time when our country is painfully divided by race, I believe that one of the most transforming forces can be to hear one another’s stories. For me, the Sankofa Journey was an opportunity to do this on two levels: It was an experience with a people. And it was an experience with one person, the black woman who had been assigned to me as my partner for the weekend.

What I found most meaningful was the power of entering another’s story. There is damage done when a people’s story is not heard. And there is healing when the story is treated as important.

To learn more, go to http://www.covchurch.org/justice/racial-righteousness/sankofa/ .

4 Bridge

Top 10 Things We See God Doing in the World

by Young Adult Steering Committee Back in January, the Young Adult Steering Committee had the privilege of being involved in worship at the Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren. For the service, we came up with a top 10 list to describe new things we see God doing in the world. This list was a way for us to appreciate the new year and that our God is always creating. With each top 10 item, we included a related quote or scripture. We concluded our list with a short and simple prayer. We hope you enjoy this list and will look for God's new creations in your life!

1. New Gifts “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to God.” – Leo Buscaglia 2. New Leadership “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams 3. New Experience “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be live forwards.” – Soren Kierkegaard 4. New Relationships “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” – Helen Keller 5. New Vocation “Vocation does not come from a voice ‘out there’ calling me to be something I am not. It comes from a voice ‘in here’ calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given to me at birth by God.” – Thomas Merton 6. New Community “We can learn the art of fierce compassion –redefining strength, deconstructing isolation and renewing a sense of community, practicing letting go of rigid us versus them thinking – while cultivating power and clarity in response to difficult situations.” – Sharon Salzberg 7. New Healing “There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering, too much pain. Then suddenly, the Spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who hear a call and answer in extraordinary ways.” – Mother Teresa 8. New Challenges “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve 9. New Hope “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” – Desmond Tutu 10. New Creation “While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s creation.” – Maya Angelou Prayer: Lord, help us to see and embrace the newness you create in our lives each day. Amen.

Bridge 5

Praying for Peace in Nigeria

by Mark Pickens I recently attended a presentation by EYN (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) leader, Dr. Musa Mambula. I was and am particularly interested in the work that is going on in Nigeria because of having grown up in that part of the world. I need to explain that I did not grow up in Nigeria, nor have I ever been to Nigeria. However, I was raised by Christian missionary parents who served in the countries of Ivory Coast and Kenya. My trans-cultural experience of growing up in Africa has really broadened my worldview in ways beyond my description and imagination. I see myself differently now than someone who has grown up or lived most of their life in one location or one part of the world.

As I listen to the voices of individuals who have only experienced other countries in the world like Nigeria through personal encounters like with Musa Mambula or through watching and listening to world news or social media, I am very discouraged by a narrow mindedness that seems to come through perceiving the world through our own individual human lenses. It almost sounds to me like we enter into a space where we fear an unknown and treat it as if we already know and understand the information that we have as sufficient. We may not be satisfied with reality as it is or want to know more.

I have heard and met many active members in our church today who have an eager heart to help the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria through their struggle of dealing with acts of violence. Our sisters and brothers are seeking care and love from families, friends, neighbors, and churches across Nigeria as well as from our global partnering churches. As I sat in a small meetinghouse congregation and listened to Musa Mambula speak about the role of the church to combat violence against Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, one common practice stuck out to me as he repeatedly addressed all of us present that day - PRAYER. He said, “Pray for the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria. We need your prayers and support more than anything.�

While it is important to serve the church through our financial and material donations of goods and services, we have been reminded by the church that the church is above all, called to PRAYER. This is one practice that I think the church in the United States needs to revive and learn from our brothers and sisters in Nigeria. Prayer is not exactly thought about as an active or proactive means of doing something whenever there is a need. For many of us, Christians are called to be people who pray at all times. However, many of you may agree with me when I say that as Christians in the United States, we often do not even think about prayer unless we are left in a state of helplessness.

Prayer is often undervalued and underestimated as a spiritual practice, and is not as regularly observed more active tasks that the church perceives as productive or fruitful.

The call to prayer is an ancient Christian tradition and practice that dates back many centuries. We may say that the church still exists today because of prayer. This is why it is very important and necessary for us as young adults in the Church of the Brethren to be people who pray and who actively participate in world affairs and services that supports and benefits the needs of our global village.

Nigerian Brethren encourage us; in fact, they challenge us to be faithful and committed to the work of prayer, in order that we may truly seek strength and wisdom from God in the face of violence and conflicts.

6 Bridge

As we position ourselves for prayer, let’s pause for a moment and think about our lives. How often do we come before God with joys and concerns upon receiving news from Nigeria? Do we truly seek out a space to have quiet time for reflection and meditation? Are we focused on a narrow view of completing tasks (that are good and serve the common good), that are not built on a spirit of prayer? I would like to invite and challenge all of us in the days, weeks, and months ahead to take time to listen to needs in your faith communities and congregations. Listen to the needs around your living communities and where you work or go to school. Listen to the words and emotions that seem to accompany them by people around you and on world news as well as social media. Call people to prayer and challenge the status quo on what seem to be the most popular opinion of choice action and solution to end violence and conflict in nations such as Nigeria. Once you find the courage and take a risk in offering up your prayers for peace in Nigeria and approach any and all situations with prayer, your perception of the world will begin to change. It may even expand your worldview and create a desire to learn more.

It is my hope and prayer that as we think of our brothers and sisters in Nigeria, we will not just think about the violence that they encounter on a regular basis and feel helpless, powerless, or sympathetic towards them. Rather, I hope that we will be challenged and inspired by their public witness for peace and their continued courage to withstand any evil that would hinder their witness for the body of Christ, the church. This is an image of the Church that we can learn and grow more into ourselves, if we are willing to do so. May it be so for me and for you. God bless us all.

Bridge 7

Photo Essay: Joyful Action

by Jess Hoffert How do you use joyful action in your everyday life? How do you spread God’s love to those around you? Here is how members of the Young Adult Steering Committee do it! Share with us on the Young Adults of the Church of the Brethren Facebook page!

“This past summer, while living in Virginia, I had the opportunity to teach craft classes at Brethren Woods. What a blessing to work with hundreds of children and youth, helping them to discover their creative side and use that creativity to express themselves and their faith.”

–Heather Landram

“I was privileged to share the message at Salem Church of the Brethren, a tiny rural congregation in Lenox, Iowa, this past summer. The scenery, combined with country childhood memories and a warm one-family congregation, made for more than a few ‘God moments’ I will always cherish.”

–Jess Hoffert

8 Bridge

“I serve The Brethren Home Community of Cross Keys Village in New Oxford, Pennsylvania, in a number of capacities. One is in laundry services. I also lead other activities that are a part of community life. These activities include devotions and sensory group sessions with older adults who have dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.”

–Mark Pickens

“Last January, I was able to do a service trip to rural Honduras. We built latrines, sinks, and stoves for a family to help them live healthier lives and prevent the spread of disease. It was wonderful to express my faith through service and to share God's love with others. In the picture, I'm holding one of the family's babies while on a break from constructing the latrine.”

–Amanda McLearn-Montz

“This photo is from my BVS orientation where we were spending some time helping with Brethren Housing Association in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My time in BVS so far has shown me that there are many ways to serve out your mission, whether it is painting floorboards or helping to organize a conference for the older adults of our denomination!”

–Laura Whitman Bridge 9

Young Adult Conference 2015 “You Shall Go out with Joy: Transforming the World’s Thorns with Joyful Action!”

(Isaiah 55:12-13)

Where: Camp Swatara in Bethel, Pennsylvania When: May 22-24, 2015 Who: All young adults are welcome! (Ages 18-35) Cost: $125 ($150 after April 30) Registration: Starts online on March 16 (www.brethren.org/yac) Please email Laura Whitman (lwhitman@brethren.org) for scholarship requests

by April 17.

10 Bridge

Young Adult Steering Committee Application Name__________________________________________ Age_______ Gender__________ Address______________________________________________________________________ Phone________________________ Email__________________________________________ Congregation and district________________________________________________________ What activities and/or leadership opportunities have you had in your congregation and district?

Describe where you are currently at on your faith journey.

Why do you want to serve on the denominational Young Adult Steering Committee?

What are your ideas/hopes/dreams for the future of young adult ministry for the Church of the Brethren?

By June 30, 2015 please return to: Becky Ullom Naugle, Director of Youth/Young Adult Ministry Church of the Brethren 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 bullomnaugle@brethren.org fax: 847-429-4395

Bridge 11

Ads & Announcements

12 Bridge

On Earth Peace Seeks Interns On Earth Peace is now providing three-month internships for college students (and recent grads). The purposes of On Earth Peace internships are to advance our work, to achieve success in specific programs and initiatives, and to offer skill development and personal growth for emerging peacebuilders in a faith-based nonprofit setting, fulfilling our mission to develop leadership for peace in each generation.

These are paid positions working in each of our program areas.

Current openings and application instructions are listed on our website at OnEarthPeace.org/Internships. In addition, On Earth Peace is willing to design internships to meet specific program and learning goals.

ROYGBrethren Online Forum ROYGBrethren, an online forum for lgbtq youth and young adults, is open.

ROYGBrethren is a confidential forum created by and for youth and young adults of diverse sexual and gender identities, including lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, genderqueer, intersex, asexual, pan, poly, questioning, and more. ROYGBrethren provides space for those connected to the Church of the Brethren, whether by history, culture, family, partners, or participation to share stories, offer one another support, and discuss collective nonviolent action which builds a more just and affirming community in the Church of the Brethren. People of color, diverse abilities, survivors of sexual violence and others who hold intersectional identities are more than welcome.

Email roygbrethren@gmail.com or search for the ROYGBrethren Facebook group for more information.

Bridge 13

Young Adult Steering Committee

2014-2015 From L to R, Front: Heather Landram, Laura Whitman, Mark Pickens. Back: Kyle Remnant, Amanda McLearn-Montz, Jess Hoffert.

Staff for Young Adult Ministries Becky Ullom Naugle bullomnaugle@brethren.org 847-429-4385 800-323-8039 ext. 385 Youth/Young Adult Ministry Church of the Brethren 1451 Dundee Ave

14 Bridge

Join the Conversation!

Each week members of the Young Adult Steering Committee post a question to the “Young Adults of the Church of the Brethren” Facebook page. Join the conversation and suggest your own questions!

Bridge 15