August 30, 2010

ELGIN, IL – Frank Ramirez, pastor of Everett (Pa.) Church of the Brethren and author of many Brethren Press titles, will preach for the 40th Annual Dunker Church Service at the Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Md., on Sept. 19.

The service is to start at 3 p.m. It is sponsored by area Churches of the Brethren.

The worship service will be held in the restored Mumma Meeting House on the battlefield site, commonly referred to today as the Dunker Church. The meetinghouse was built in 1853 and was heavily damaged during the Sept. 17, 1862, Battle of Antietam. After extensive repairs were made, services resumed in the summer of 1864.

Ramirez also will preach at Sharpsburg (Md.) Church of the Brethren that Sunday morning, at 9:30 a.m. His many books include two popular volumes of stories about Brethren historical figures, "The Meanest Man in Patrick County" and "Brethren Brush with Greatness." He also is the author of the feature "Out of Context," which appears weekly in the Brethren Press curriculum for adults, "Guide for Biblical Studies."

For more information about the service contact Eddie Edmonds at 304-267-4135 or Tom Fralin at 301-432-2653.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts some 123,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service