Clever Idea for Ministerium Meeting

Here's a clever idea, generated by Roy Halberg, which the Southern California ministerium will be enjoying at their next meeting:

Who doesn't love books? Who has enough books?
I've been buying, reading, collecting books since junior high and now I find I have many that I no longer need. How about you?
I am bringing several books to GIVE AWAY . . . my paper books have been replaced by digital copies . . . and I no longer need them

How about you? Got a book or two you could give away to a brother? Bring your books!! One book or a box . . .

November 9 is "GIVE A BROTHER A BOOK DAY" . . . come early, come often . . . you'll be glad you did!!

Marguerite Tresise With the Lord

BMH has just received a call from Pastor Frank Figueroa, Jr., of the Waipio Grace Brethren Church, Mililani, Hawaii, to let us know that Marguerite Tresise, 99, passed away Wednesday, October 20, 2010, at 12:36 pm Pacific Time. She was the wife of the late Rev. Foster Tresise, founder of the first Grace Brethren church in Hawaii. She would have been 100 years old on December 14.

Foster passed away January 2, 2001, at age 86. They have a daughter, Leilani.

Maxine Peters With the Lord

S. Maxine Peters, wife of longtime Grace Brethren pastor Jack Peters and mother of Pastor Steve Peters of the Community Grace Brethren Church in West Milton, Ohio, has gone to be with the Lord.

Maxine, age 85, of West Milton, Ohio, departed this world October 20th. She is greatly missed by her devoted husband of 64 years, Jack, two sons, Jack Jr. (Deborah) and Steve (Sue) and precious Dawnie, 9 grandchildren, Tarah, John, Suzanne, Rachel, Steve, Scott, Stewart, Sarah and Seth, 23 great grandchildren and 2 nieces Twila (Hal) and Jan (Robin). She was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Ola (Johnston) Mustard and her dear sister Eileen Montgomery.

Maxine graduated from Jefferson High School and National Business College in Roanoke, Virginia. She was employed by the Virginia State Parole Board, Donaldson Air Force Base Greenville, SC, Mack Truck Hagerstown, MD and in later years as librarian at Community Church in West Milton.

Maxine was an accomplished vocalist and pianist. She spent her life serving her Lord in ministry and her husband. Celebration of her homegoing will be on Monday at 10 a.m.(viewing) and 11 a.m. (service) at Hale-Sarver Funeral Home, 284 N. Miami St. in West Milton, Ohio. In lieu of flowers gifts can be made to Community Church Missions.

Jerry Young Gets Some Bad News

Dr. Jerry Young, former pastor at Lititz, Penna., and most recently ministry director for the Association of Grace Brethren Ministers, has been battling a series of serious health problems the last several years. He and his wife, Loreen, live in Tucson, Arizona, and this latest post from Loreen on Jerry's Caring Bridge website is cause for fervent prayer:

Jerry had the PET scan this afternoon and we got the worst news. The cancer in now in the liver so that is why he has been feeling so terrible the past two weeks. Hospice is coming here tomorrow to interview us.

He does not want any surgery, chemo or any other measures taken, so as before, it is all in God's hands.

The good news is that his mom is still hanging in there and we have sold the truck and RV to dear friends in Phoenix, John and Martha Schumacher, so that is an answer to prayer. Glad I have a least a couple of praises as it seems like every journal entry is negative so I am glad to have these couple of praises.

Just keep praying for both of us as I know you angels already are doing. This had been pretty crushing for me. Well, for both of us, but he took it much better than I did today. God bless you dear ones.

To follow Jerry's Caring Bridge website, log onto:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jerryyoung

A Few Suggestions for Reading

Daron Butler, pastor of cross-cultural missions at the Grace Brethren Church, Wooster, Ohio, asked an interesting question of pastors at the recent Central Focus Retreat, held October 11-13 at the Mohican Lodge near Perrysville, Ohio. He wrote about it recently on his blog, the Daron Butler Blog. Here's a bit of his post. Click here to read it in its entirety.

Books pastors are reading from Central Focus Retreat

During lunch on Tue Oct 12 at the Central Focus retreat I asked Pastor Terry Hofecker and Pastor Tony Webb what books they were reading or recently read. Here is their "off-the-top-of-their-head"

• "Tangible Kingdom" by Hugh Halter & Matt Smay. View a video and other resources at missio.ushttp://missio.us/"
• "Tangible Kingdom" workbook was highly recommended if you thinking of starting a new ministry to young adults.

To read the rest of the list, click here.

Seal Beach Announces Intentional Pastoral Transition Plan

The Grace Brethren church in Seal Beach, Calif., which has been pastored for many years by Donald Shoemaker, has announced a long-range plan, at Shoemaker's request, to transition senior pastoral leadership. Here is the announcement.

"OCTOBER 12, 2010. The Board of Elders of Grace Community Church of Seal Beach, California, after an extensive study of Pastor Donald Shoemaker’s request to conclude his Senior Pastor duties sometime in the near future, has announced that Pastor Don will continue in his position as Senior Pastor until January 8, 2012. At that time, he will become the church’s Pastor Emeritus.

"The Board has also announced plans for interim leadership for 2012, utilizing the pastoral services of current staff members, Pastor Steve Williams and Pastor Bob Wriedt, with the intention to call a new Senior Pastor by the end of 2012.”

James Renick Obituary

Rev. James R. Renick, 72, of Salunga, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 3, 2010, at Susquehanna Valley Nursing Center, Columbia. He was married to Joyce Baker Renick for 46 years.

Jim retired in 2003 from Cokesbury Bookstore at Lancaster Theological Seminary. Previously, he and his wife served in Christian ministries in France.

Jim earned a Master’s Degree in Missions from Princeton Seminary and a Master’s Degree in Theology from Grace Theological Seminary. He attended Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lancaster. A people person, Jim developed many friends throughout the world and enjoyed keeping in touch with them. He also enjoyed reading, history, games, puzzles, and especially spending time with his family.

Born in Hartford, CT, he was the son of the late Job R. and Louise Trimmer Renick.

In addition to his wife, Jim is survived by his children, Lauri and James Renick, both of Lancaster; two sisters, Mary Lou (Harry) Nickles, NY, and Ruth (Luis) Sandoval, NM; a brother, John (Linda) Renick, FL, and a brother-in-law, Carl Welty, MD. Two sisters, Joan Hollister and Helen Welty, and a brother-in-law, Jack Hollister, preceded him in death.

A memorial service for Jim will be held at Sheetz Funeral Home, 16 E. Main St., Mount Joy on Saturday, October 9, 2010, at 1 p.m. Burial is private in Westminster Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Center, Research, 330 S. 9th St., Philadelphia, PA 19107. Online condolences to:

www.sheetzfuneralhome.com

Pastor Galen Lingenfelter With the Lord

Longtime Grace Brethren pastor Galen M. Lingenfelter died at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 5, 2010, in Pasadena, California, at 89 years of age. His son, Sherwood Lingenfelter and daughter-in-law Judy were at his bedside when he departed quietly into the presence of the Lord and Savior he had served for more than 55 years.

The west coast members of the family will gather for viewing the deceased and greeting guests at Cabot Funeral Home, 27 Chestnut Street, Pasadena, California, from noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 7. Sherwood and Judy will
host a reception at their home (655 N. El Molino Ave) for the extended
family immediately following the viewing.

The funeral services for Galen Lingenfelter will be held at the Leamersville Grace
Brethren Church, Dncansville, Penna., on Monday, October 11, 2010. Viewing will begin at 1 p.m. EDT, and the memorial service will begin at 2 p.m. The internment service will be held about 4 p.m. at the Brumbaugh Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Pa.

Friends of the family are welcome at the Cabot Funeral Home on Thursday,
October 7, 2010 in Pasadena, CA, and at the memorial and internment
services at the Leamersville Grace Brethren Church, Leamersville, Pa on
Monday, October 11, 2010.

Flowers may be sent to either the Cabot Funeral Home or the Leamersville Grace Brethren Church. Gifts may be given to Fuller Theological Seminary for scholarships in the name of Galen M. Lingenfelter.

Hawaii's Frank Figueroa Recommended for Ordination

Note from the Wapio Grace Brethren Church in Mililani, Hawaii, regarding Pastor Frank Figueroa, Jr.:

Aloha, I'm Steve Butler, the Head Deacon of the Waipio Grace Brethren Church in Mililani, Hawaii. Good news, I've been forwarded an email From Ted Kirnbauer, Pastor of Grace Fellowship and the head of the Hawaii Ordination Board. In it he states that Pastor Frank's Board Examination results was unanimous in his favor and offered congratulations.

On behalf of the Deacon Board and congregation of the Waipio Grace Brethren Church I thank you for all your Aloha (love and concern) that you have showed to our Pastor and to our congregation. Please let me know how I can be of further service. Thank you once again, Steve

Steven C. Butler
Head Deacon
Waipio Grace Brethren Church