March 24, 2017

What is Saving Your Life Right Now
Lenten Devotions and Bible study with Bishop Laurie
From backpacks to sleeping mats
Seymour UMC reaches out after tornado
Small church, big impact
Spring weather brings Spring storms: Tips to stay safe
Registration for Annual Conference - Deadline is April 1st
Need childcare at Annual Conference
Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Clergy, Lay, and Youth
Mindfulness for Ministers: A Class for Clergy
Iowa United Methodist School for Ministry
12th National Gathering of United Methodist Men
Camp Hope 2017

What is Saving Your Life Right Now?

As the four of us sat down for an extended lunch recently, one of my friends asked, “What is saving your life right now?” We sighed, laughed, and began to reflect, all of us United Methodist clergywomen. We didn’t bother trying to unpack what the question meant because we instinctively knew. Read Bishop Laurie's blog post from Monday, March 20.

Deepen your walk with God—Lenten Devotions and Bible study with Bishop Laurie

You are invited to deepen your walk with God during the Lenten season 2017. Subscribe to receive Lenten Daily Devotions or join Bishop Laurie in a Lenten Bible Study. Click here!

From backpacks to sleeping mats

Sometimes a little creativity can go a long way. The members of Calmar United Methodist Church, near Decorah in northeast Iowa, with the help of other church groups have banded together for the past several years to help their community. But when one community outreach program ended, they group thought of a new way to help those in need. - Read more.

Seymour UMC reaches out after tornado

Seymour United Methodist Church is making a big difference in the southern Iowa community. “They’ve been a part of the school system, sending volunteers in to read,” said Jamie Houser, the principal of the Seymour Community school. “We’ve had a really good partnership with the United Methodist Church for several years. It’s nice to have people in your community that work together to make sure that our kids are learning and having good experiences.” - Read more.

Small church, big impact

Sometimes, it’s easy to feel forgotten. Small, rural churches in Iowa can sometimes feel like they’re on the brink of closure, forgotten by their communities. In the US, some communities even feel forgotten, stuck in time as the world flies past them. That feeling is sometimes what brings communities together. - Read more.

Spring weather brings Spring storms: Tips to stay safe

As United Methodists in Iowa are praying and mourning over the storm damage in Muscatine and Seymour on Monday, March 6, the Iowa Conference Disaster Response Coordinator Rev. Catie Newman said now is the time to start thinking about spring weather. Read more.

Registration for Annual Conference - Deadline is April 1st

Lay members, clergy, and retired clergy should have received an email containing your link to register for Annual Conference. If you did not, please check your spam folder. Please remember to "submit" your registration upon completion. Those without email addresses were sent paper registration forms via the United States Postal Service. If you have any questions about your registration, please contact the District Office. For current details about Annual Conference, please visit the Conference website, here

Need childcare at Annual Conference? Contact us by April 3rd

The Annual Conference Planning Team is considering the following childcare option for children 5 years of age and younger for the 2017 Annual Conference Session:

Location: Lower level of Hy-Vee Hall
Hours: Each day: morning start time to lunch break and afternoon start time to dinner break
Cost: $5/hour per child

If you would utilize this service, please contact your District Office by April 3rd. A minimum of five children will be required to make this a financially feasible option. Thank you for your assistance.

Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Clergy, Lay, and Youth - nominations due by April 1st

The Iowa Annual Conference is now accepting nominations. To learn more about the award or to download a nomination form, click here. Nominations must be received by April 1st to be considered for the 2017 awards. Hard copy forms should be sent to: Iowa Annual Conference, Attn: Board of Discipleship, 2301 Rittenhouse St., Des Moines, IA 50321.

Mindfulness for Ministers: A Class for Clergy - April 5th-May 24th

This eight-week class will help clergy focus on developing a mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness is about cultivating the skills to pay better attention and deepen a greater awareness. This class will meet on Wednesdays, from 2-3:30 pm, at the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center. Click here for more information.

Iowa United Methodist School for Ministry - April 18th-21st

The 2017 vision is a school that will be focused on the Psalms. Workshops and small groups provided will also include topics on praying the Psalms in daily life. This year topics covered will include art, music, lectio divinia, labyrinth, meditation, prayer, yoga, spiritual directions, and corporate worship. Click here for more information and to register.

12^th National Gathering of United Methodist Men

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
100 W. 86^th St., Indianapolis, IN 46260
July 7 & 8, 2017

Click the link for more information. www.ummgathering.org

Camp Hope 2017
A camp for any youth from the ages of 8 to 16 who has a family member who has been or is currently in prison

This wonderful Christ centered and grace filled-camp is available at no cost to any young person who has an interest and will take place at your Iowa UMC Conference Camps this summer in July, 2017. The attached flyer shares more about Camp Hope. Download the flyer.

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?