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12 Apr

April 12, 2012 |

Sally Hock-Harrison, layperson from West Windsor UB church (Dimondale, Mich.)

On Easter, West Windsor UB church held a SONrise service at the little Dimondale Cemetery, and then everyone returned to the church for breakfast.

Sunday school was a bit different. Mr. Hastings, who raises homing pigeons, brought about 20 of the birds. After showing one pigeon up close to the kids (18 of them under age 11), he let all of the birds out of the cage in the bad of his truck. They flew out, circled, and went to his home about two miles away.

Then came an Easter Egg hunt for all of the kids.

We normally have 45-70 people attending on Sunday mornings, but on Easter we had 92!

What happened at your church during this Easter season? Tell us on this form. 

10 Apr

April 10, 2012 |

Kevin Whitacre (right), senior pastor, Corunna UB church (Corunna, Ind.)

At Corunna, we enjoyed a delicious Seder meal on Good Friday, remembering God’s work through the ages. Our members did a great job inviting newcomers, resulting in the largest attendance we have seen in many years. Much more importantly, eight people prayed to receive Christ as their savior!

10 Apr

April 10, 2012 |

Roxton Spear (right), senior pastor, Mongul UB (Shippensburg, Pa.)

Easter weekend at Mongul Church was one of our best. On Saturday, we held our third annual Easter Eggs-travaganza at a local park. It was our largest ever! More than 600 registered, with over 700 in attendance. Six thousand eggs were given away, as well as 4 bicycles and many other prizes. In addition, our volunteers helped with crafts, food, and games. Several people in our community asked for more information on Mongul Church. We are grateful for God’s favor in our community.

Easter Sunday was truly blessed by God. We had 290 attending, including 11 first-time guests. One of our home groups organized and served breakfast for at least 150. Seven individuals indicated a decision for Christ.

God is truly giving us opportunity to impact the lives of men, women and children in the Shippensburg area. We are committed to God’s mission for us!

What happened at your church during this Easter season? Tell us on this form. 

10 Apr

April 10, 2012 |

L.A. Gossert, Mt. Pleasant Church (Chambersburg, Pa.)

On our off years (when we don’t do a large musical Passion Play), we at Mt. Pleasant have done a few other things instead–simple cantatas, special Maundy Thursday services, solemn and dark Good Friday services, etc. This year we tried something new which really blessed me and many others I know: “Experiencing the Last Supper.”

All outward appearances pointed towards a simple drama involving Jesus and his disciples at their final Passover meal together. We watched them sit down for the meal and when Jesus announced he would be betrayed, Da Vinci’s “Last Supper” painting appeared before our eyes, each character frozen into his position as in the painting. This became a springboard for twelve monologues, as each disciple stood and told us about how he met Jesus and had been changed; and each considering the coming betrayal and questioning, “Lord, is it I?”

But where “Experiencing the Last Supper” stood out for me, and others, is that we were a part of it. Each of us had in the pew one of those communion-cup-and-wafer combos. As the man who played Jesus stood and broke the bread and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat,” we also took and ate. The bread. Then the “wine.” What we do in remembrance took on a new dimension. It was very beautiful.

Now, I was not a part of the drama and I am not on staff, so I do not know stats nor do I have access to pictures. But I know the sanctuary was packed out (I think I heard just over 300 there) and I know there were some visitors among us. In fact, I got word that a family who had been looking around for a home church texted a friend of theirs from our church (the one who played Judas, interestingly enough) to say how much they enjoyed the evening, felt welcomed, and now they intend to make Mt. Pleasant their home.

What happened at your church during this Easter season? Tell us on this form. 

09 Apr

April 9, 2012 |

We are offering a course which will cover a broad range of mission-related issues–history, trends, key concepts, strategy–and cover the history of United Brethren missions.

This course satisfies a requirement for ordination in the United Brethren denomination. However, people wanting a well-rounded view of missions are welcome to attend for just $50. This is the first time the course has been offered.

Date Options

Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: King Street UB Church, 162 E. King Street, Chambersburg, Pa.

Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Shoreline UB Church, 769 N. Locust St., Oak Harbor, Ohio

Jeff Bleijerveld (right), Director of Global Ministries, is the teacher. Here’s what Jeff says about the course:

“Although only an introduction to missions, we will cover a broad spectrum of missions related issues that have both global and local impact. We’ll discuss both effective and detrimental mission strategies, and consider various trends in missions–historical and current trends, and trends specific to United Brethren missions. We’ll wrap up with practical help in implementing missions in the local church, including the opportunity for you to outline a basic missions policy for you or your local church based on the principles you will have learned.”

The cost is $100 if you are seeking ordination, $50 for everyone else.

09 Apr

April 9, 2012 |

The Easter season–-Lent, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday-–is always exciting for churches. There are special events, and often large attendances. Churches do some pretty creative things to capitalize on the Easter season.

Tell us what happened during the Easter season at your church. You can use this form. Then we can share it with other UBs right here on UBCentral.

If you have digital photos, send them along using the mechanism on the form, or email them directly to news@ub.org

09 Apr

April 9, 2012 |

Global Ministries is partnering with national church planting efforts in Turkey. We invite our children’s ministries, whether a vacation Bible school, midweek or Sunday school, to participate in raising $10,000 to support a Turkish Children’s Bible Camp project. Turkey is the first Islamic country in which the United Brethren church has launched outreach efforts.

The video above tells about our new work in Turkey and the Children’s Project. The video will also be included in the next Mission Moments DVD, which will be mailed to each church in the coming weeks.

05 Apr

April 5, 2012 |

Fifth Street UB (Staunton, Virginia). Harry Moore (right), who has served as a supply pastor since before 1997, is retiring effective April 29, 2012. George Etling has been appointed the senior pastor, effective upon Harry’s retirement. George has held a local license with the Jerusalem Chapel Church, under the supervision of senior pastor Dennis Sites, for several years.

Homefront UB (Grandville, Mich.). Josh Good (right) has been appointed senior pastor effective May 1, 2012. He holds a National Conference license and has been the youth pastor at the nearby Banner Church (Byron Center, Mich.) since 2003.

05 Apr

April 5, 2012 |

Huntington University senior Zachary Keller (right) of Portland, Ind., has been awarded a $1200 scholarship from the Huntington University Women’s Auxiliary. This scholarship, designated for a math education student, was established in 1973 by Mrs. Elba Kriegbaum.

Keller, who will graduate in May 2012 with a degree in math education, has received the Auxiliary Scholarship for the past two years. Presently, he is completing his student teaching at Manchester Junior-Senior High School.

Chosen to be a teaching assistant for Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth in Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., last summer and again this summer, Keller will be teaching two college level math courses to talented high school students from across the United States.

At Huntington, Keller served as a program coordinator and tutor during his sophomore and junior years. Also, he was the student director for the Joe Mertz Center for Volunteer Service during his junior year and a program coordinator during his sophomore year.

Keller coordinated a trip to Jamaica, and participated in missions trips to India and New Orleans through the university. He also volunteered with Youth for Christ and Open Door Ministry, and worked as a summer counselor at Camp Lutherhaven.

03 Apr

April 3, 2012 |

Jayne Louise Cleveland Mote, 71, of Caro, Mich., passed away Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Jayne, a schoolteacher for much of her life, served twice as a volunteer missionary in Macau: September 1998 – June 1999, and August 1999 – December 6, 1999.

Jayne was preceded in death by her husband, Loren John Mote, Sr.

Interment will be in Clarksville Cemetery, Clarksville, Mich. There will be no viewing or funeral service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the building fund of the Colwood church, 1840 N. Colwood Road, Caro, MI 48723.