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Bishop Phil and Sandy Whipple left today on a 12-day trip that will take them to churches in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The trip includes a consultation weekend at Bethel Temple of Praise in Yonkers, N.Y. It culminates with the Mid-Atlantic Pastoral Resource Day November 8-9 at Rhodes Grove Camp (Chambersburg, Pa.). Bishop Whipple will speak during the opening service on Sunday night, November 8, and lead devotions the next day.
The Women’s Ministry Leadership Team has a new website. It has information about the 2010 UB Women’s Conference, to be held in Lancaster, Pa, next September.
The annual Mid-Atlantic Pastoral Resource Day will be held November 8-9 at Rhodes Grove Camp and Conference Center near Chambersburg, Pa.
The event begins 7 pm Sunday night, November 8, with message from Bishop Phil Whipple.
On Monday morning, Bishop Whipple will give devotions. The rest of the day, 9 am – 4 pm, will focus on the topic “Addiction in the Pews: Understanding the secret struggles of addiction and how to bring ‘hope to the hopeless.” The presenter will be Carol Reinertson, formerly director of the Addiction Studies Program in the Campolo College of Graduate and Professional Studies of Eastern University.
A .5 CEU credit is available. The cost is $40 per person. Lodging is also available at Rhodes Grove Camp.
The Mount Zion United African Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) celebrated 15 years of service to the city’s African community on October 25. This congregation, which includes a number of immigrants from Sierra Leone, is pastored by Joe Abu.
The Huntington University Department of Theatre Arts is bringing Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” to the campus.
Dates: Nov. 12, 13, 14, and 19, 20, and 21 (Thursday-Saturday, both weeks)
Time: 7:30 pm, with 2 pm matinees on Nov. 14 and 21 (Saturdays)
Location: Zurcher Auditorium in the university’s Merillat Centre for the Arts.
Tickets cost the following:
To purchase tickets, contact the Merillat Centre for the Arts Box Office at (260) 359-4261. For more information….
Robert Gibbs passed away Sunday night, October 18, 2009, at the age of 87. During World War 2, he served in China with the Signal Corp. He went on to become a United Brethren pastor, and was ordained in 1954. He served UB churches in Michigan, and also worked as an electrical engineer.
After retiring, Bob and his wife, Pauline, volunteered as United Brethren missionaries in Macau.
Arrangements:
Visitation: Wednesday, October 21, 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Palmer Bush & Jensen Family Funeral Home, 6020 W. Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, Mich. 48917. Phone: 517-323-7890.
Funeral: 11 am. Thursday, October 22, at First United Brethren Church, 1330 E. Grand River, Lansing, Mich. Pastor Scott Hergert will officiate.
Burial: Interment with military honors will be held at 3 p.m. October 22 at Holy Corners Cemetery, Caledonia, Mich.
Memorials can be made to the First United Brethren Church of Lansing or to Global Ministries of the United Brethren Church.
Mattru Hospital in Sierra Leone is undergoing a renovation, which is expected to be completed in October. Funds are being provided by the United Nations Population Fund, through the office of the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma.
On a visit to the hospital, Mrs. Koroma lamented the poor conditions, and included Mattru Hospital in her vision to establish hospitals of excellence.
In a special service on October 3, the hospital was handed over to the contractor to be refurbished. Bishop Billy Simbo, who also chairs the hospital board, thanked the First Lady, and admonished the people of Mattru Jong to monitor the progress of the project and not engage in stealing building materials.
Richard Thorp, a retired UB minister, was named interim pastor of Maranatha UB in Perrington, Mich.
Jonathan Herron has been named senior pastor of Colwood UB Church (Caro, Mich.) effective September 27, 2009. He takes the place of Phil Whipple, who was elected bishop in June.
On his first Sunday preaching at Colwood, ten persons came to Christ.
Jonathan holds a degree in Theater from Columbia College, and a Masters in Evangelism/Missions from Ashland Theological Seminary (2002). He also studied improv comedy for two years under Tina Fey at the Second City Training Center.
Jonathan’s ministry experience includes being a youth pastor at three churches (including NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC, one of the fastest-growing churches in the country), and speaking at youth conferences since 2002. Most recently, he was founding pastor of Catalyst Church in Kent, Ohio. He writes a blog at: http://www.jonathanherron.typepad.com
Jon and Amber Herron have been married for ten years. Amber holds a Masters in Clinical Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary (2002). They have a two-year-old son, Josiah.
Rick Pride, pastor of Eagle Quest UB church (Columbia City, Ind.) is mourning the death of his father. Richard C. Pride, 84, died Monday, October 12, at his home in South Bend, Ind. He was a World War 2 vet who served in the European theatre. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Maymie, and their three children.
The funeral is today, October 15, in South Bend.
