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August 25, 2016

Flooding in Louisiana
Trinity Huxley 'Excited' Community Ministry
African Cultural Festival set for Aug 27
THANK YOU NOTES: Stories of United Methodist Connectional Giving in Iowa
Church Anniversary Celebrations
School for Lay Ministry
United Methodist Youth Mission Day at Adventureland
Invitation to Collegiate/Wesley Centennial
Fall 2016 Order of Elders, Order Of Deacons, Fellowship of Associate Members & Local Pastors Event
Office of Pastoral Care and Counseling Groups Starting
United Methodist Men Four Conference Rally
2016 Annual Retired Ministry Professionals and Spouse’s Fall Gathering 
Spiritual Formation Academy 
Wisdom Stories: A Class for Elders-in-Training

Flooding in Louisiana

Last week Louisiana got 25-30 inches of rain in two days, it has caused catastrophic flooding. As we watch the news from Louisiana, the reports just keep getting worse. As of Tuesday, August 23, 2016 it is estimated that over 100,000 people have been displaced by the flooding. Learn what we can do to help.

Trinity Huxley 'Excited' Community Ministry

“They get things done. When they get the idea, they pursue it and get it taken care of,” says Pastor Rick Baarda of Trinity UMC in Huxley. He’s talking about his church’s ‘Dare To’ teams: Dare to Pray, Dare to Dream, and Dare to Act It’s an idea that his church came up with about a year and a half ago, to take the idea of a dream team to the next level – so that they could really start making those dreams come true.

African Cultural Festival set for Aug 27

Sat., August 27, 2016 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Salem United Methodist Church | 3715 33rd Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids
Music, Culture, Food, Crafts

On Saturday, August 27 from 1pm to 4pm, on the spacious and welcoming grounds of Salem United Methodist Church (3715 33rd Avenue Southwest), the people of Cedar Rapids will have an opportunity to take in the sights, sounds, and tastes of multiple African cultures thanks to a partnership of local congregations and ministries, notably African Women Empowered from St. Mark’s, the Asbury International French Fellowship, and the St. Paul’s African National Ministry.

THANK YOU NOTES: Stories of United Methodist Connectional Giving in Iowa

Change a Child’s Story

Patty Link recently joined the Iowa Conference staff as an advocate for Change a Child’s Story. Her work with local churches and their leaders to help children develop literacy skills is supported with apportionment gifts from the United Methodist churches of Iowa. Children with good reading habits by the third grade are far less likely to be living in poverty later in life.

 

Church Anniversary Celebrations

This is a friendly reminder from your Iowa Commission on Archives and History that if your church is celebrating an anniversary (75 years on up) we would like to hear from you so we can recognize you. Please send your information to the chair of Archives and History – Rev. Carl Benge at ckbenge777@windstream.net. Thank you for helping the Commission in their work. 

School for Lay Ministry

School for Lay Ministry Classes Beginning Soon

Several years ago dedicated people with great vision initiated the School for Lay Ministry in the Iowa Annual Conference. Since that beginning in Indianola at Simpson College, the school has expanded adding campuses at Morningside in Sioux City and at Cornell in Mount Vernon.  In 2014 a Spanish language class was added at Simpson. The purpose of the school is to prepare people to follow in Jesus’ footsteps by serving. If you are interested, additional details are posted on the SLM Website

Extended Learning Opportunities

The SLM Commission is once again excited to offer four Extended Learning Opportunities at Cornell College this fall. Classes are open to all clergy, laity or anyone interested so please get the word out. We hope many can take advantage of these opportunities. If you are interested in attending any of the classes that will be offered, additional details and the registration form are posted on the SLM Website. The following four classes are:

  • Oct. 15, 2016Clergy and Laity: Partners in Ministry for the Sake of God’s Mission taught by Rev. Dr. Jill Sanders, Field Outreach Minister for the East Central District; and Beverly Spencer, Laity from West Branch who has served on conference committee with regards to conflict management. 
  • Nov. 12, 2016: Adaptive Leadership taught by Rev. Karen Dungan, Assistant to the Bishop for Connectional Ministries and  Rev. Bill Poland, Assistant to the Bishop for Administration
  • Jan. 14, 2017:  The Bible and Human Sexuality, Instructors TBD
  • May 6-7, 2017:  TBD

United Methodist Youth Mission Day at Adventureland

September 10, 2016
305 34th Ave NW, Altoona IA 
$25 each for all ages 4 and over
Kids under 3 are free
10am-7pm
*Rally in the Theater 3:00-3:30pm

Please bring the attached flier when you come in order to receive your discount at the gate.  The price for us went up $1 this year to $25, but we are excited about the changes in our rally that will give you a little extra value to the day!  Pass holders, as always, do not have to pay for entrance. Please bring your hours and books donated this year in order to celebrate your youth group’s work to Change a Child’s Story!  Door prizes will be given, along with a random grand prize drawing from all youth groups who show up to report their hours!

Please plan to bring your youth for a Fun Filled Day at Adventureland!

Questions?  Text Amy Johnson at 712-350-0994

Invitation to Collegiate/Wesley Centennial

Sunday, September 25
Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation
Ames, Iowa

Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation in Ames, Iowa invites former members, campus ministry alumni, former staff members, and friends of the congregation to its Centennial Celebration, Sunday, September 25. There will be potluck breakfast, tours, kids activities, music, worship and more. 

Fall 2016 Order of Elders, Order Of Deacons, Fellowship of Associate Members & Local Pastors Event

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016
10 a.m.—3 p.m. 
First United Methodist Church
516 Kellogg Ave., Ames, IA 50010

Lunch catered by Hickory Park. Costs $25 to attend.

The gathering date of our next orders and fellowship event will be October 4, 2016 at the Ames First UMC. Registration will begin at 9 am. The day will start with worship at 10 AM and we will conclude no later than 3 PM. Our new Bishop, Laurie Haller, will be preaching and presiding at communion. 

Office of Pastoral Care and Counseling 
Groups Starting

Grounded in the Living Word: the Old Testament and Pastoral Care by Denise Hopkins and Michael Koppel

Oct. 3, 2016 | 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on the first Monday of each month
Collegiate United Methodist Church, Ames, Iowa, Room 44. 

Discussion, group exercises. CEU’s available.

Spirituality Group

Oct. 6, 2016 | 1:00 – 3 p.m.  
West Union United Methodist Church

All are welcome. This group will engage in various practices of spirituality and exploration of the inner life. Oct. 6 we will explore Attachment Styles and its meaning for ourselves and our work.  

Contact: Dr. Mary Fraser, Office of Pastoral Care and Counseling at DrMFraser@aol.com or 515-419-6163

United Methodist Men Four Conference Rally

Run for God — How Steel Sharpens Steel

Oct. 7 - 9, 2016
Lake Okoboji Camp and Retreat Center
Pre-register by October 5: laceyjim89@gmail.com

2016 Annual Retired Ministry Professionals and Spouse’s Fall Gathering 

Oct. 18, 2016 | Registration 9:00 am | 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
New Hope United Methodist Church | 4525 Beaver Ave., Des Moines

If you are retired and have served as clergy in the Iowa Annual Conference, you are invited to attend our Fall Gathering. This will be a get-acquainted time with our new bishop, Laurie Haller. 

Registration  |  Payment must be received by Monday, October 10

Spiritual Formation Academy 

Oct. 24-27 or Oct. 27-30, 2016
Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat Center

“Chaos, Solitude, and Community: Spiritual Practices for Ordinary Christians”

Rev. Tom Albin, dean of The Upper Room Chapel and Ecumenical Relations at The Upper Room, Nashville, TN, will be the presenter. Albin says, “My passion is helping people come to know and love God in and through Jesus Christ.”

Wisdom Stories: A Class for Elders-in-Training

Mondays, Oct. 31 - Dec. 5, 2016
TIME:  10:30 a.m. - Noon | $150 for 6-week series
Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center, 8553 Urbandale Ave.,Urbandale, IA

This six-week class will explore the process of personal autobiography. Through writing prompts, creativity exercises and personal sharing, we will discover together the wisdom that may be found in our own life experience. This class is part of the Redefining Aging initiative of the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center. 
Facilitator: Christine Dietz, Ph.D., L.I.S.W., D.Min. candidate is the Director of Clinical Training, as well as a therapist, teacher and spiritual director at Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center. For more information and a printer-friendly flyer, click here: www.dmpcc.org/wisdom

Let us remember in prayer those grieving the loss of their loved one, and remember in thanksgiving the life and ministry of:

August 19, 2016

Mrs. Naomi Leatherman


August 17, 2016

Rev. Norman P. Walter


August 11, 2016

Mrs. Pauline F. Ritter

 

August 08, 2016

Mrs. Esther Grace King


August 07, 2016

Rev. Nova L Wells

 

If you have an obituary about a Iowa Conference clergy or clergy family member please email the information (including arrangements) to us at DeathNotices@iaumc.org.

If you would like to include an event, workshop, conference or training in the News & Events weekly e-newsletter that is for all Iowa UMC Clergy and/or Laity, please email the information and registration information/link to communications@iaumc.org. Not all events will be included.
Please include:

  • a small informational blurb about the event that is between 25 – 50 words
  • a URL to link to for more information or to register
  • a phone or email for contact information?

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Revised Common Lectionary 2016

 
Communications Ministry Team | Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church | 2301 Rittenhouse St., Des Moines, IA 50321 |515-974-8907 | Please forward this to your congregation. Story ideas and comments may be emailed to communications@iaumc.org. Events of Conference or Area-wide interest and classifieds may be directed to liz.winders@iaumc.org no later than 5:00PM on the Friday prior to publication.