Church Briefs 01-17-19

Posted

Coffeehouse tips go to Youth at Risk

BROOKINGS – The Mission of the Month at the Mission Coffeehouse at First Lutheran Church for January is Brookings Youth At Risk. 

The number of teenagers who report feelings of anxiety, depression and loneliness has been on a rapid increase. We as the Brookings community have decided to respond with a concerted effort to add resiliency into the lives of our children. One action step is to bring a Search Institute presenter to Brookings to initiate a “Developing Relationships” movement that would encompass many entities of our community. 

Churches in White to host special prayer service

WHITE – The White-Sterling United Methodist Churches will host a casual service of prayer and worship.

The event will be held at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, at the White United Methodist Churhc at 404 E. Main St. in White. All ages are welcome; participants can worship as they are and pray as they feel free to.

Special event in Dell Rapids

FLANDREAU – The Flandreau Christian Women’s Connection invites area residents to a “Pieced with Love” brunch.

The event will be held from 9:30-11:15 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the Dell Rapids Reformed Church at 1209 Thresher Drive in Dell Rapids.

The quilt shop Always Your Design will show participants quilting techniques and supplies and show some finished projects.

The speaker, Cathy Mitchell of Renner, will give a speech titles “A New Kind of Hunger.”

She will tell about her battle with bulimia and share how her hunger for food was transformed into a hunger for God. She now has found new purpose in her life by reaching out to immigrant children.

Musician Jane Smith of Pipestone, Minnesota, will perform.

A complimentary nursery is on site. Reservations can be made by calling Sandy Sheppard at 530-1899, Betty McMahon at 997-2177, Elaine Hoftiezer at 428-3679 or by email at flandreaucwc@hotmail.com.

Guam Catholic Church enters bankruptcy

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) – Guam’s Catholic Church filed for bankruptcy Wednesday, a move that will allow the archdiocese to avoid trial in dozens of child sexual abuse lawsuits and enter settlement negotiations.

Ford Elsaesser, an attorney representing the church, said the Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition was filed with federal court in Guam. The church faces multimillion-dollar lawsuits for sexual abuse from about 190 accusers.

Elsaesser couldn’t put a figure on the dollar amount the church is hoping to raise for its settlement. But it said its current assets are valued at $22.9 million with liabilities of $45.6 million. The church also plans to sell non-essential real estate and add the proceeds to the settlement fund.

The Chapter 11 reorganization also allows the church to continue its operations, keeping parishes and parochial schools open, Elsaesser said.

This bankruptcy filing will halt current lawsuits and create a deadline for abuse victims to file new claims before the church settles with accusers.

During the reorganization phase, a notice will be given to everyone who may have a claim but has not filed, Elsaesser said.