Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
The Reflector
a publication of the
Illinois/Wisconsin District of the Church of the Brethren
District Executive: Kevin Kessler
September 2008 / Volume 05 / Issue 08
Children's Disaster Services has set up child care centers in three "super shelters" for those fleeing Hurricane
Gustav, at the invitation of the American Red Cross. As of today, 14 volunteers with Children's Disaster
Services have been deployed to two shelters each housing thousands of people in Alexandria and Shreveport in
Louisiana. A group of 16 more volunteers are packed and ready to go to shelters in Jackson and Hattiesburg in
Mississippi. The program already has received additional requests for 20 more volunteers to serve in other child
care centers.
Children's Disaster Services is a program of the Church of the Brethren Disaster Ministries. It is the oldest and
largest nationwide organization specializing in children's disaster related needs, and since 1980 has been
working with children following disasters. Arriving with a suitcase full of toys, the specially trained volunteers
work in teams to provide a warm, comforting presence for children. The care centers become spaces designed
especially for children to be able to be themselves. While safety is the highest priority for these child care
centers, the Children's Disaster Services volunteers also provide lots of individual attention for each child, and
plenty of understanding to go around.
Due to the size of the evacuation from Hurricane Gustav, the entire nationwide base of volunteers for Children's
Disaster Services has been put on alert. More volunteers are standing by, ready to respond when and where they
are needed. Each team of volunteers stays in a shelter for up to two weeks, and then is relieved by a new team.
With a volunteer base of more than 500 trained and certified volunteers, child care can be provided for children
of disaster survivors as long as it is needed.
To become certified with Children's Disaster Services, volunteers participate in a 27-hour experiential training
to learn about children's special needs after a disaster, and how to work with children and families to provide a
safe and secure environment in shelters and other situations following a disaster. The volunteers undergo a
rigorous screening process before they can be called to respond either locally or nationally.
How can Brethren help in this effort? Staff are suggesting the following ways:
-- Support families who have had to flee their homes with prayer, and pray also for volunteers and staff of
Children's Disaster Services. Pray for those sheltering in Alexandria and Shrevesport, and for the volunteers
who are caring for children there. Pray for those sheltering in Jackson and Hattiesburg, and for safe travel for
child care teams preparing to go to those shelters.
-- Contribute to the cost of placing volunteers in the Hurricane Gustav shelters, through donations to the
Emergency Disaster Fund. The fund is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren. Send donations to Emergency
Disaster Fund, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.
-- A need for more Clean Up Bucket kits is anticipated, following the hurricane damage in southwest
Louisiana, and the flooding in parts of New Orleans. Brethren congregations and individuals are encouraged to
consider preparing and donating these kits, which are warehoused at the Brethren Service Center on behalf of
Church World Service. Go to www.churchworldservice.org/kits/cleanup-kits.html for a contents list and
shipping address.
-- Consider attending a training workshop to become a Children's Disaster Services volunteer. This fall, Level
I Training Workshops are offered on Sept. 18-20 at Los Altos (Calif.) United Methodist Church; on Sept. 22-24
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at First United Methodist Church in Reno, Nev.; on Oct. 3-4 at the American Red Cross in Everett, Wash., and
in Tacoma, Wash.; and on Oct. 10-11 at the Holiday Inn in Evansville, Ind. Go to
www.childrendisasterservices.org for more information.
Contacts:
Judy Bezon Kathleen Campanella Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Children's Disaster Services Brethren Service Center Director of News Services
601 Main Street, P.O. Box 188 601 Main Street, P.O. Box 188 Church of the Brethren
New Windsor, MD 21776 New Windsor, MD 21776 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
410-635-8734 410-635-8747 800-323-8039 ext. 260
800-451-4407 Kcampanella_gb@bretgren.org
CDS_gb@brethren.org
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Then they get down on the floor to play with the kids and the toys. There are some kids who cry. One such 1
½-2 year old boy was as strong as GI Joe, Jr.! I worked with him for 45 minutes and finally sat him down in the
middle of our puzzle and coloring table which won his attention instead of running for the door! He then
wanted to move to the play dough table and sat on the same chair with an older boy. They became pals.
The children sometimes talk about their experiences with the disaster. If so, we listen. One told of a house
sliding down a hill. Another’s face would cloud up and say, “I’m worried about my Mommy and Daddy”.
Some talked about how high the water was in their house or trailer. “Don’t touch those toys,” a child had been
told in her flooded home.
Children and adults came in with red swollen tetanus shot areas. One child came to us three days. His mother
said, “How do you do it? You must coat everything with sugar! He told me he wanted to come here today.” He
spent 6 hours with us one day and was a delight playing games. Can you imagine how bored he’d have been for
that length of time with her? One mother lamented she felt guilty because all she lost was electrical appliances
while others lost everything. (During my stay 238 kids were served.)
Parents were very grateful for our help thanking us at both drop-off and pick-up times. ARC people came to our
room and thanked us. An Indiana State Trooper came to our room daily. He did magic tricks for the kids and
showed them policemen are friends and not to be feared. He sat with the children and colored.
A young mother named Angel came with her five children to ask if some of her older 4-H club members could
come help us. She was from higher ground and wanted to do something more. What did we need? She brought
fresh fruits, finger cereal and crackers, juice boxes and numerous other supplies. Her children played
beautifully with ours just for entertainment.
They prepared a puppet show for us. Angel and family had us to their home for a Thanksgiving meal for our
services. We were blessed! - CC
-- Dixon (Ill.) Church of the Brethren is hosting a Spiritual Renewal Weekend on Sept. 13-14 in celebration
of the congregation's 100th anniversary and the 300th Anniversary of the Church of the Brethren. Jim Myer, an
ordained minister at White Oak Church of the Brethren and a leader in the Brethren Revival Fellowship, will
lead the services. Worship will take place on Saturday at 8:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., followed by an ice cream
social, and on Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. followed by a question and answer time and a carry-in dinner. For
more information call the church at 815-284-2711.
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WESTERN HOEDOWN II
BACK BY POPULAR REQUEST
This is the theme for this year’s FALL DINNER AND AUCTION FOR PLEASANT HILL VILLAGE on
October 18, 2008. A Western Hoedown was the theme for last year, and people enjoyed the food, decorations,
and relaxed atmosphere so much that they requested the same theme to return for this year. So, we are honoring
your request. Dress casual and in-tune with the theme. Come to have a good time and support Pleasant Hill
Village.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR, AND PLAN TO ATTEND THIS 12th ANNUAL FALL DINNER AND
AUCTION. It will be held in Virden at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The doors open at 5:00 p.m. with dinner
served at 6:00 p.m. The cost is $25 per person. A highlight of the evening will be the live auction with many
items to choose from. Also there will be an ongoing secret silent auction during the early part of the evening.
Come and challenge your friends to outbid you. Your purchases are for a good cause - the residents at Pleasant
Hill Village. Pleasant Hill Village has been serving Girard and the surrounding community with caring staff and
administration since 1905.
REMEMBER THAT YOU AND YOUR CONGREGATION CAN ASSIST EVEN IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND
THE EVENING EVENT BY BEING A TABLE SPONSOR. This is a donation for a table of eight at $25 each
or a total of $200 which will allow residents at the HOME who are able to attend to do so at no cost to them.
What a wonderful gesture on your part! THANK YOU to those of you who have done this in the past as well as
those who will contribute this year.
To purchase tickets, to send your donation to be a table sponsor, or if you have items to donate for either the
secret silent or live auction, contact Paulette Miller at Pleasant Hill Village by phone at 217-627-2181 or by
email at
phvil@royell.net. If you have an item to donate for either the secret silent or live auction, please let Paulette
know by September 15.
MISSION STATEMENT OF PLEASANT HILL VILLAGE
Pleasant Hill Village is founded to provide quality care to elderly persons on a not-for-profit basis, with housing
facilities, and services, especially designed to meet the aged, and contribute to their health, security, happiness,
and usefulness in living.
Phil Jones, director of the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, will lead in exploring Faith and Politics. Major
themes include
• Who is our neighbor?
• How are we called to respond to the needs of the world?
• Where do faith and politics intersect?
Youth can look forward to worship, insightful and engaging discussion, opportunities to grow in their faith, and
make new friends from across the Midwest, and a special Saturday evening musical event!
The weekend begins with check-in Saturday morning from 8:30 am to 10:00 am, and conclude before lunch on
Sunday. Online registration will begin Monday, September 1. Costs for the weekend are $50 for youth and $35
for advisors, and include three meals, snacks, registration, activity fees, and housing.
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MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION in light of these persons forced to perform domestic
ANNOUNCES ITS FALL WORKSHOP and agricultural work as well as to become
SCHEDULE prostitutes or soldiers against their will? We will
The Ministry of Reconciliation of On Earth Peace examine the current status of slavery today and what
announces three regional workshops this fall. our Christian faith invites us to do for “the least of
these.”
"Exploring Consensus Decision-making" will be
at Richmond (Ind.) Church of the Brethren on Oct. Brochures are now available from the Youth/Young
4, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The workshop explores the Adult Ministry Office in Elgin. You may also find
underlying principles of decision by consensus, the information by going to www.brethren.org
process itself, and participate in a mock meeting
where a decision is made using consensus. Cost is Please pass this information on to youth in your
$60 per person or $100 for groups of three or more. church!
Leadership is provided by Charletta Erb of Chicago,
Ill., and Wanda Joseph of Brethren, Mich. NATIONAL JR. HIGH CONFERENCE
June 19-21, 2009 will be the second National Junior
"Keeping a Cool Head in a Hot Meeting" will be High Conference in the Church of the Brethren.
presented at Camp Mack in Milford, Ind.. on Nov. The first was held in 2007 at Elizabethtown
13-14 by Celia Cook-Huffman, Professor of Peace College. The 2009 Conference will be held at
and Conflict Studies at Juniata College. Participants James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA
will learn the best way to structure meetings with an (just off Interstate #81). The conference will begin
eye to efficiency, openness, and clarity, and will on Friday evening after dinner and will end before
learn basic guidelines to use when anxiety levels are lunch on Sunday morning.
high, and how to lead difficult discussions. Cost is
$155 for overnight lodgers and $120 for commuters. Ken Medema will lead singing in each of our
worship services, as well as perform a Saturday
evening concert. Ted Schwartz (formerly of "Ted
"Keeping a Christian Attitude, Skills for and Lee") will present scripture skits. Other
Holding Difficult Conversations" will be at speakers will be announced after the planning
Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren from 9 committee meets in September.
a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Nov. 15. The Service and
Outreach Ministry Team of Mid-Atlantic District Registration for this conference will begin on-line
sponsors the workshop.. Participants will learn to January 15, 2009 for junior. high youth and their
prepare well for difficult conversations, create the advisors. The registration cost will be $125 per
space for honest sharing when emotions run high, person for both adult advisors and youth. Persons
and utilize conversation to build trust and west of the Mississippi will be eligible for a $150
understanding. Cost to participants is $20. travel scholarship.
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP SEMINAR Mark your calendars now for June 19-21, 2009.
April 25-30, 2009 youth and advisors in the Church Additional information will be available soon!
of the Brethren will gather in New York City (and Keep checking:
later go on to Washington, DC) for Christian www.brethren.org/genbd/yya/NatJrHighConf.htm
Citizenship Seminar. The focus for our seminar
will be on the issue of modern-day slavery. Most of
us think of slavery as an institution that does not
exist anymore, but many experts estimate that there
are approximately 27 million human beings who are
currently being held in slavery around the world.
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Regional Youth Conference (RYC) takes place each year on the Manchester College campus. Church of
the Brethren high school students and their youth group advisors are invited to participate in this weekend
event. The weekend consists of worship, small group sharing, educational workshops, recreation, campus
tours … all of which lead to personal growth and a great opportunity for fellowship with other Brethren youth.
Beginning September 11th through October 23 the District Office hours will be:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
The regular Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm will resume October 30th.
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Pursuing Peace
2008 Illinois/Wisconsin
Fall District Youth Retreat
Nov. 7-9, Peoria (Ill.) Church of the Brethren
Why is the Church of the Brethren a “Historic Peace Church”? What does that even
mean? How did the Bible and our heritage shape those beliefs? And how do we live it
out today when the world if full of so much violence?
Come spend a full and fun weekend with friends exploring these questions along with
time for games, recreation, music, good food, and more.
The details:
WHERE: Peoria Church of the Brethren, 4714 N. Sheridan Rd., Peoria, Ill.
WHEN: Nov. 7-9, 2008. Registration will begin at 7 p.m. We will stay for
opening worship, then going to our retreat space for the weekend. We will end
around noon Sunday, with the conclusion of district conference closing worship.
WHAT: A weekend filled with fun, learning, worship, food, and time with
friends.
COST: $30 (free for advisors). Additional registration forms are available at
www.cobyouth.org . Registrations are due by OCTOBER 28!
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