Part of the dynamic and exciting culture of the Richmond Church of the Brethren includes welcoming several Earlham College students as part of our fellowship. Over the years we have had many students find our congregation to be a safe place to ask questions, grow spiritually, and discern their own calling to follow in the ways and teachings of Jesus.

Friends, the August issue of Intersections has arrived...and it is packed! Lots of exciting things are happening in and around our congregation this month, so this is not one to miss! Click here to read about:

• Upcoming cooking classes sponsored by Clear Creek Co-op and the church
• Matt's Musings on "Turning the Corner"
• Directory updates, birthdays and anniversaries
• A report from the Ministry Team
• News from the hardware co-op
• Updates from Camp Mack, Global Women's Project, Clear Creek Co-op
• Information about our August outreach emphasis

And, believe it or not, much more!

Peace! Adrienne, Office Manager

Over the next few months we will be collaborating with the Clear Creek Co-op on a series of cooking classes that will take place in our church's kitchen. There will be two classes per month on various topics, including (but not limited to) canning, drying produce, event planning, food as medicine, cooking for the family, and many more.

Last Sunday (August 1, 2010) Katie Thompson challenged us all to rethink how we understand evangelism. Using Jesus' interactions with the Samaritan woman at the well from John 4 as a model she points us toward a progressive kind of evangelism that involves hanging out with people who aren't particularly popular to hang out with, treating marginalized persons as equals, and being non-judgmental but also unafraid to speak of the good news that we have come to know through the life and work of Jesus. If you missed it, you should check it out!

Read the full sermon (pdf) 

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
-James 1:22 

One of the distinctive aspects of our church community is the way we take seriously the call to not just hear the good news of God's new reign, but also to live in a way that reflects God's hope (and our hope) for the world. We seek to reflect our faith and values in many varied but tangible ways. Sometimes it's through shared actions like outreach and service projects that benefit our local community. Often, though, we find ways to be "doers of the word" by making small changes in our daily lives that remind ourselves and our neighbors that the path of Jesus is truly another way of living.