Blog
Vacation Bible School Wrap-Up
Power Lab Vacation Bible School 2019 was a huge success. On the average we had 50 children each evening. The kids had a great time learning about the POWER Jesus gives us to have ....
Remembrances From WWI Veterans
On Veterans Day this year marked the 100th anniversary of the Armistice Day for WW1. Pastor Delbert Kettering shared remembrances that had been shared with him by Veterans of the Great War. Listen to these voices ...
National Youth Conference Report
Every four years the Youth of the Church of the Brethren gather for National Youth Conference(NYC) in Colorado. This was the year, and the youth of Maple Grove have worked...
Church of the Brethren Gifts to the World
Heifer Project, the sharing of animals, the first-born - which is then passed on - involved UNRRA (United Nationals Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) and a large number of volunteer seagoing "cowboys" who cared for the cattle and
When the Church Serves the World
Coming home from the love feast, Jim and Jane were too excited to be sleepy. The service had been different and interesting and they had many questions to ask...
When We Go to a Love Feast
The Saturday before love-feast day, Jane skipped out the long lane to get the ail as soon as she saw the carrier drive away from the box. She had a feeling that there might be a letter from...
When We Settle Differences
Jim slowly plodded along the dusty road. His steps dragged. He really didn’t want to go home. He didn’t want to face the questioning eyes of Grandfather, Grandmother, and Jane. How could he explain his...
When We Go the Second Mile
“We’ll start picking the peaches today,” Grandfather said one morning at breakfast. He looked at Jim and Jane. “I’ll let your kiddies help if you don’t insist on picking on shares to the extent of...
When We Choose the Way of Peace
Jim and Jane decided that Sundays were special days on the farm. When they got awake in the morning everything was very quiet. The sun seemed brighter; the birds sang more sweetly. There were no tractors in the fields and no trucks on the road, because in the little community where...
When We Think of Others
On a very hot afternoon Jim and Jane were sitting under the big walnut tree planning for Grandmother’s birthday. “We really ought to do something special,” said Jim. “We are having a wonderful time out here...
When We Help Others
It was very early in the morning—Jim was sure of that. The birds were twittering outside his window as they did every morning when it started to get light. The sun, which always threw its first rays through the east window beside his bed, was not even peeping up yet. Something had made...
When We Pray for Others
Jim was very excited. He and David had planned a week-end camping trip up on the mountain. They had been planning it for several weeks and now it was almost time to leave. Jim kept hovering...
When We Choose the Best Way
One of the happiest times of the day for Jim and Jane was the evening, when all the chores were done and they could sit in the twilight on the porch with Grandfather and Grandmother. They loved to watch...
When We Keep Our Word
One hot morning in July, Jim and Jane were picking blackberries for Grandmother along the meadow fence. Huge white clouds were raising their heads in the west. There was a distant roll of thunder. The air was very still; not a leaf...
When We Do Hard Things
One beautiful warm afternoon in June, Grandmother and Jane were shelling peas on the back porch. “All these peas should make a lot...
When We Share
The next Saturday Jim and Jane went with Grandfather to the town. Jane felt very important and grown up because she was going to buy the groceries for Grandmother. Grandfather had several crates...
When We Forgive
Jim was swinging along the road toward home in the twilight. He and David had had a wonderful hike to the top of Little Mountain, but it was getting late and Jim was somewhat afraid as he noticed the shadows...
Baptism
Excerpt taken from Learning the Brethren Way with Jim and Jane by Dessie R. Miller, Illustrated by Harry Durkee, Elgin, Illinois: Brethren Publishing House, 1951.
You, Too, Can Be Set Free!
Samuel Weir, born a Virginia slave in 1812, was the first African-American minister and ordained Elder in the German Baptist (Dunkard) Brethren (later Church of the Brethren) church. He was sold at age twelve (1824) for two hundred eighty dollars to...
Samuel Weir Part 2
Of his work and life as a minister, he said little, but that little expressed much in the life of a minister, and especially so with one placed as he was; for his public life was at that time, and in his situation, well calculated to bring out all the variety found in the brief period of one man’s life. He said: “I then preached just wherever...
Samuel Weir Part 1
If Elder George Wolfe was most of his life masterful in the best sense, Elder Samuel Weir began his life as a slave in the worst sense. Both were courageous, but circumstances called for a different kind of courage from Elder Weir. Where Elder Wolfe always had the freedom...
Agape Acres:Part 3
A Word About the Donor: Mr. Leon A Beeghly is a leading churchman, philanthropist, and industrialist. He was born in Bloomville...
Agape Acres:Part 2
As Dedication and Open House approaches we look back on a busy eighteen months of preparation. The schedule was...
Agape Acres:Part 1
This is the story of two people, a church and their pastor, an idea and a wonderfully generous man. How they all got together and what they did is our story. In the scriptures, we read that the effectual fervent prayers...
A Student Named Richard
He was a very intelligent sixth grade student; sometimes a little eager boy-learner who got so excited about learning that...
Coincidence? Or God?
This story predates the time of credit cards, gas cards, cell phones, or gadgets like that. My twin brother, Merlyn, decided to delay his final year at Manchester College in ....
Marinated in God's Love
“But God’s love can happen ANYWHERE. Once it happened to me at the Department of Motor Vehicles office when I was selecting a personalized license plate for my husband Bill. As I looked through the giant book of...
He Took The Towel
Consider this invitation from an old book in the Maple Grove Church of the Brethren historic library, In His Presence, as you think about our upcoming Love Feast and Communion Service on Thursday, April 13. All believers...
Paying It Forward
One recent discovery occurred when, as historian, I submitted copies of two old letters to Maple Grove Church found by Annamae Rush Swaisgood in her parents "stuff." (Cloyd and Alice Rush). I sent copies to...
