Continuing the Work of Jesus....simply, peacefully, together...
Christ calls us to feed the hungry, love our neighbors and enemies alike, work for justice, and care for God's beautiful creation, given to us as a gift from God, to sustain us all. We seek continual opportunities for service and learning from all of God's people.
for the glory of God and our neighbors good...
Iowa Peace Network lists peace activities in Central Iowa. Member Christine Sheller did her ministry formation by serving as IPN coordinator 2009-2010.
On Earth Peace is the denomination's office for the promotion of peace. Join a peace action mailing list to be advised of things we can all do to advocate for peace.
Ivester invites donations for Church and Peace, the Historic Peace Church and ecumenical network in Europe, which seeks to share the message of nonviolence as a form of Christian discipleship. Contact us if you are interested in receiving their publications. Church and Peace plans regional and international conferences throughout Europe. Postcards and note cards with a rainbow colored cross are available in packs of 10 to support their work. Contact us if interested in purchasing some. We also collect used cell phones and printer cartridges to recycle, which will benefit Church and Peace. Biannual European conference is June 2010.
Ivester participates with several local congregations of various denominations on a Food Resource Bank Project. Local land and supplies are donated to grow a crop; in the fall the churches come together to harvest the crop; proceeds go to support a development project to fight hunger. Email us if you are interested in participating in this year's project.
Global Women's Project of the Church of the Brethren contributes donations to women's development projects around the world. Because we have been given much, we can live in solidarity with women around the world seeking to fulfill the most basic needs of women and children in their communities. Give a gift in honor of a woman you know for Mother's Day.
Guatemalan Accompaniment Project. Ivester has supported volunteer accompaniers to live with communities of returned refugees following years of civil war, showing solidarity for their communities and providing additional security for those investigating human rights abuses. We invite you and other groups to join us in this effort. Please email us if you are interest in this project. See heartoftheskyfairtrade.com to buy crafts where 50% of the proceeds support the Guatemalan Accompaniment Project.
More crafts which directly benefit artisans around the world can also be ordered at SERRV.
Order Fair Trade coffee and hot cocoa from the Equal Exchange Interfaith Coffee program or see Lyle Neher.
For Guatemalan coffee, which benefits a Catholic farmer coop, see Vicki Draper.
Disaster Work Camps performing cleanup, building and child care services in disaster-stricken areas are available. Email us if you are interested in joining a disaster work camp for a week. Flood relief volunteers are needed now to help in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Contact us if interested!
Volunteer through Brethren Volunteer Service in the US or other countries for one or two years.
The Church of the Brethren provides numerous opportunities to participate in:
Work camps for Junior and Senior high youth in this country and abroad. See youth and Church of the Brethren web page.
The New Community Project hosts study tours several times a year to places in the world suffering injustice or environmental damage. www.newcommunityproject.org.
The Christian Citizenship Seminar
for senior high students and adults takes place each winter with visits to the
United Nations and Washington, D.C.
District and national conferences of the Church of the Brethren for all ages.