Photos from EVCoB's Women's Retreat 2007

Every year, the women of Elkhart Valley Church of the Brethren take an unstructured weekend in November to relax, surrounded by friends and laughter, fun, and nature's beauty.


























We hope you'll join us for Women's Retreat 2008!

This week at Elkhart Valley (Aug. 20-26)

Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007
7:00 p.m. -- Deacon Meeting

Sunday, Aug. 26, 2007
9:30 a.m. -- Sunday school for all ages
9:45 a.m. -- Teacher Appreciation Reception 10:30 a.m. -- Worship

Commission chairs are asked to submit 2008 proposed budgets to the Finance Commission as soon as possible.

Attention all Deacons! Don’t forget the Deacon Council meeting this Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Are you running the race?

Are you running the race that the writer of Hebrews talked about? The one we are inspired to run because we run in the presence of so great a cloud of witnesses? The race that is before us each and every day? The race we run with perseverence because we know God is at our side?

A writer has shared this prayer:
Holy are you, Shepherd of all people,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
your sign of hope and grace.
Surrounded by all faithful,
he humbled himself,
coming to set the pace for us
in this race we call life.
Worthy of all glory and praise,
he disregarded human acclaim,
and died on the cross
that we might be given life.
Picking up sin and death,
and tossing them aside,
he cleared the way to you,
that we might enter your kingdom.
As we remember his death and resurrection,
as we look for signs of his life in our time...
may we be transfornmed
into signs of peace and hope
for our time. Amen.
(Shuman)

Keep your toes pointed forward

Good Morning!

On this gray drippy morning I have been thinking how easy it is to look back and celebrate what has happened previously and how challenging it can be to look forward to the possibilities we have before us. Don't you suppose that the early church sat around after potluck meals drinking coffee and recalling tales of those glorious days when Jesus walked the earth teaching, leading and healing? As a church getting ready to celebrate our 300th anniversary as a denomination, it is easy to bask in the glory of yesterday. The task for the faithful is to look forward with purpose and hope.

Recently I had the opportunity to travel with a football coach. To while away the miles he tried to teach this non-football minded soul about the rules of the game. Most of it did not stick, but one rule seemed a good life lesson; keep your toes pointed forward. Tempting as it is to lose our sense of direction and look back or shuffle sideways, we as a church are called to keep our toes pointed in the forward direction. Paul reminds us that Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of our faith and we must not lose sight of our Savior. The focus must be forward and the call to new and exciting challenges is before us.

Keep your toes pointing forward!
Pastor Beth

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

This week at Elkhart Valley (May 28-June 3)

June 3 our worship will be at Camp Mack. After worship on Vesper Hill on June 3, you are invited to eat lunch at the camp ($7 per person age 9 or older, $3.50 for children 3-8, children under age 3 eat for free). Camping in the Northeast cabin area will be available on June 2 ($14 for a cabin or bring your own tents/campers).

Come and celebrate with two of our high school graduates!
- Levi Mevis, Sun., June 3, 3:00-7:00 p.m. in the cabin
- Adam O’Haver, Sat., June 9, 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the cabin

All Church Bible School will be Sunday, July 8. Make plans to attend and bring a friend!

Representing Jesus

Dear friends,

Our worship Sunday will be at Camp Mack at 10:30 a.m.!

Tony Campolo tells the following story:

A believer wanted to serve the Lord, but had no clear sense of leading. Finally the brother concluded that there was something he could do. He could take the youth group to the old folk’s home. Once a month the youth group of this church went to the old folk’s home and put on a little church service for the people who were there. He went with the youth group and he stood in the back of the room. The young people were performing and this old man in a wheel chair rolled over, rolled his chair over to where this man was standing, took hold of his hand and held it all during the service. That was repeated the next month and the next month and the next month and the next month and the next month. Then they went one Sunday afternoon and the man wasn’t there. The brother asked the nurse in charge, "What happened to that man?" "Oh," she said, "He’s near death. He’s just down the hall, the third room. Maybe you should go in and visit him. He’s unconscious, though.

The brother walked down and went into the room. There were tubes. You know how people are when they are just about gone - and lying there was quite a tough scene. The man went over and took hold of the hand of the gentleman in the bed. He said a prayer. Just instinctively led by the Spirit, he said a prayer. And when he said "Amen," the old fellow squeezed his hand. He was so moved by that squeeze of the hand that he began to weep. He shook a little. He hurried out of the room, but as he was leaving the room, he bumped into this woman who is coming into the room. She said, "He’s been waiting for you. He said he did not want to die until Jesus came and held his hand and I tried to tell him that after death he would have a chance to meet Jesus and talk to Jesus and hold Jesus’ hand. But he said, ‘No. Once a month Jesus comes and holds my hand and I don’t want to leave until I have a chance to hold the hand of Jesus once more.’" [Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo, "Being Upbeat in a Downbeat World, 30 Good Minutes, Chicago Sunday Evening Club, 2002.]

We never know when we will be called upon to represent Jesus! Let us live in ways that show Jesus to the world and continue his work, Peacefully. Simply. Together.

Blessings,
Pastor Beth

This week at Elkhart Valley (May 7-13)

Tuesday, May 8, 2007
3:00 p.m. -- Christian Education Commission
6:30 p.m. -- Ministerial Commission
7:00 p.m. -- Trustees Commission

Thursday, May 10, 2007
7:00 p.m. -- Council Meeting

Sunday, May 13, 2007
9:30 a.m. -- Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m. -- Worship

This Sunday, May 13, will be our Tools and Blankets Sunday. We will take a special offering to support Church World Service's Tools and Blankets programs around the corner and around the world.

Harnessing the energies of love

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, the Roman Catholic theologian, once wrote:

“Sometimes after the mastery of the winds and the waves and the tides; after the mastery of the sun and the sea and the laws of gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And when we harness the energies of love, for the second time in human history, we shall discover fire.”

What if we harnessed atomic fusion? Wow! But what if we harnessed the energies of love? The world would then be transformed.

I trust that every person who reads this is living to bring about God's realm in the world. The trouble comes when we forget that work is our focus. We plod along trying to do the right thing and share the love of God but we sometimes forget we are a part of a major movement. We have been charged with living everyday in ways that bring God's realm into being. The work you do, the thoughts you think, the love you share, all contribute to God's work. Thank you!

And may your week be blessed.
Pastor Beth

This week at Elkhart Valley (April 23-29)

Saturday, April 28
Garage sale to raise funds for outreach -- Frank and Carole Walker’s home, Green Valley subdivision

Sunday, April 29
9:30 a.m. -- Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m. -- Worship

Today noon through Wednesday late afternoon Pastor Beth will be at Camp Mack for the pastor's sabbath and a meeting with the clergy couples she and Tim traveled with to South Africa.

Garage sale items should be delivered to Marv and Judy Roush’s home by Wednesday, April 25. Volunteers are needed to transport items to Frank and Carole Walker’s home and/or work the sale on Friday, as well as to work on Saturday.

Tuesday. May 1, 11:30 a.m. Classes 15 and 16 will meet for lunch at Pastor Beth's home. If you need transportation or directions, please ask Beth!

Signs of God's promise and love

The sun was warm but the wind was chill,
You know how it is with an April day,
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.
~Robert Frost

These words of poetry certainly describe the fickle weather we have "enjoyed" this month. For me they also have a bit to say about life in the church. As a congregation we have been working diligently to discover ways to bring the love of God and the joy of resurrection alive in ways that communicate with our neighbors. Sometimes it feels like we take one step forward and then a few back! My hope is that the bigger picture finds us moving, like the seasons, relentlessly forward. When April snow covered our lilac bush and froze our bleeding heart, I worried. This morning I had to look but there are again signs of life and color in our backyard. Can you see signs of God's promise and love, as well?

Blessings,
Pastor Beth

This week at Elkhart Valley (April 16-22)

Tuesday, April 17
6:30 p.m. -- Ministerial Commission

Thursday, April 19
7:00 p.m. -- Deacon Commission

Sunday, April 22
9:30 a.m. -- Sunday School for all ages
10:30 a.m. -- Worship


Looking Ahead
April 27 – Elkhart Valley Garage Sale: Garage sale items should be delivered to Marv and Judy Roush’s home between now and April 25. Volunteers are needed to transport items to Frank and Carole Walker’s home and/or work the sale on April 27, as well as to work on April 28. See Judy or Marv for more information.

Pray for those suffering through tragedy

Good Morning,

It is difficult to focus on Easter thoughts this morning as we try to process the horrifying events of Monday at Virginia Tech. It seems most right to invite one another to pray for those who are suffering through this tragedy. And as we ponder the awfulness of the event, I would also remind us to pray for those affected by the daily death and destruction in Iraq. One report would add to the 3305 United States Service personnel killed the death of 65000 Iraqi people. In the face of so much loss of life it is good to remember the Psalmist's words, "God is our refuge."

Blessings,
Pastor Beth

Yesterday we received this press release from the Church of the Brethren Newsline:

April 16, 2007

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

Prayer is requested for Virginia Tech University and Surrounding Communities Prayer is requested for the community of Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va., and surrounding communities, following a shooting in which as many as 33 people have been killed and many more wounded.

Prayer has been requested by Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren in Blacksburg, where Marilyn Lerch serves as pastor; by Virlina District and by Shenandoah District; and by the Church of the Brethren General Board. The districts of Virlina, Shenandoah, and perhaps other districts, include several congregations with Brethren students at Virginia Tech.

News reports say this is the deadliest mass shooting in US history. As of late afternoon, the Roanoke Times of Roanoke, Va., reported that at least 33 people had been killed. According to news reports, shootings began around 7 a.m. and took place at two sites on campus, in a dormitory and a classroom. The unidentified shooter is reported to be among the dead.

"Pour prayers in this direction," requested pastor Lerch. "Surround us with prayer."

"The prayers of the Virlina District are with the students, parents, faculty, staff, and all concerned," said an e-mail from district executive minister David Shumate.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with those of the Virginia Tech campus community in the aftermath of today's shootings," said an e-mail from Shenandoah District. "We know that many of our churches have students on the campus and pray for their safety and comfort in light of this tragedy."

General secretary Stan Noffsinger and staff of the Congregational Life Teams, Area 3, requested prayer for all affected by the shootings. Noffsinger called for prayer for families and friends of victims, the university and its staff and student body, for Brethren congregations that include university students or staff, for first responders among police and medical staff, for the faith community in Blacksburg, and for the family of the perpetrator. "They all need our prayers," he said. "There are the innocent and their families, there's also the family of the perpetrator with so much hostility focused toward them, and the law enforcement officers and others who are called. They all need to be embraced by an understanding that they do not walk alone."

Good Shepherd pastor Lerch, who also serves as one of the campus ministers, was on her way to the university when she was reached by telephone in mid-afternoon. She requested prayers for the university community, and prayers for the town of Blacksburg because of its close relationship with the university. "The town is stunned," she said. This is the second time that the campus has suffered from shootings this school year, she added. The fact that on the first day of classes a gunman was loose on campus, she said makes the situation today "especially difficult."

At this time, Lerch said that very few details are known. She reported that the Good Shepherd congregation includes employees and faculty of the university, and so far no one in the congregation has been directly affected by the shootings at this time. She said she has been able to be in touch with most of the university employees in the congregation.

Good Shepherd Church of the Brethren will hold a silent prayer vigil this evening from 5-7 p.m., when the church will be open as a sanctuary, Lerch said. The congregation will be waiting to see what is needed, beyond this time of prayer, she said.

Virlina District shared the address for a website created by the Virginia Interfaith Center for those wishing to share comments, prayers, and condolences: www.compassion24x7.org. The center will be sending a copy of all appropriate messages to the president of Virginia Tech.