September 22, 2009
Iowa Conference News
Destination: Van Cleave '10 - Van Cleave, MS
After working diligently with the ongoing recovery efforts in Eastern Iowa, Pastors Arley and Peg Ellingson are once again leading a Volunteer In Mission team to Mississippi. We would like to invite you to join us on our next adventure to VanCleave, MS January 2-10, 2010.
The cost of this adventure is $250.00 and includes: Transportation, from/to Libertyville/Mt Pleasant, IA and while in Mississippi, meals, lodging and limited building supplies while at Camp Hope and lodging on travel days. All meals on travel days, personal expenses and side trips are at participant’s expense.
If you have any questions or would like a registration packet, please call Peg or Arley Ellingson at 641-954-2009 or email Peg at pellingson@usa.net or write to the following address.
Building Hope
% Peg Ellingson
102 Burlington St.
Libertyville, IA 52567
Making a Future Gift & Increasing Income
Did you know you can make a gift to your local church, a favorite ministry or mission, or any other UM agency while guaranteeing income for life? In fact right now is an excellent time to explore a Charitable Gift Annuity.
Examples of some of the current income rates are:
Age %
50 4.4%
60 5.0%
70 5.7%
75 6.3%
80 7.1%
For more information, e-mail kgowdy@iaumc.org and request a personalized example based on your specific situation.
Young Clergy Retreat
Young clergy (and families), ministry can be stressful, but you don't have to do it alone! Grow your support network and recharge your spiritual batteries on retreat at Wesley Woods! We'll gather the evening of Monday, October 19 and head out the morning of Wednesday, October 21. The cost is $65 for clergy, $89 for non-clergy spouses and $10 for children. This includes two nights lodging, five meals and retreat resources. Childcare will be available on Tuesday with advance notice. Please contact Alexis Williams at revalexis@thewebunwired.com by October 15 to register.
St. John’s Bible Art Exhibit at Greenfield in October
In 1998, St. John’s Abbey & University at Collegeville, Minnesota, commissioned renowned calligrapher Donald Jackson to produce a hand-written, hand-illuminated Bible. It is acclaimed world wide now as a masterpiece of the ancient crafts of calligraphy and illumination (artistic depictions) that could only be made by artists of today who are assisted by computer technology and electronics.
As part of its Sesquicentennial Festival, the United Methodist Church of Greenfield is hosting for SW Iowa the authorized exhibit of St. John’s Bible print art. The public may tour the exhibit free of charge and learn all about the St. John’s Bible project through audio-visual presentations during the church’s festival weekend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd and 4th.
The St. John’s Bible is seven volumes and two feet tall by three feet wide when open and cost $4 million dollars to produce. The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible is used. Benedictine scholars collaborated with Catholic, Protestant and Jewish theologians to produce the interpretive illustrations. Volumes consist of Gospels and Acts, Pentateuch, Psalms, Prophets, Wisdom literature, Historical Books, Letters and Revelations.
Following the church’s festival weekend, the art exhibit continues on the following schedule: Oct. 6, 7, 8, and 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Then it moves to the Warren Opera House in Greenfield Oct. 15, 16, 18, 22 and 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Group tours may be scheduled by calling the church office 641-743-2715.
United Methodist and Other News
The academy for Vital Christianity at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
The Academy for Vital Christianity classes at United Theological Seminary are designed for individuals who want to deepen their faith and broaden their knowledge of Christianity; church members eager to enhance their participation in the church, and religious leaders (clergy and lay) who want to expand or renew their skills for ministry. Academy students will gain confidence in their ability to work in the church, a deep and more vital faith, and the skills to enhance their congregational participation. Class fee is $175.00 for early registration, otherwise $225.00.
Upcoming classes:
Metro Area
Bringing Global Music into Worship, Arthur Clyde
Creation or Commodity: Biblical Perspectives on the Environment, Richard Weis
Eco-Injustice: Responding as Artistic, Theological, and Spiritual Leaders, Christine M. Smith
From One Jesus to Many Christianities, Paul E. Capetz
Making Sense of Paul in a Global Village, Neil Elliott
The Stories of Women in the Church, Jeanne H. Kilde
Sunday School Teaching 101, Cindy Yanchury
Wrestling with the Problem of Evil and Suffering, Eleazar Fernandez
Greater Minnesota and Northeastern North Dakota
Alexandria - The Spiritual Life of the Congregation, Barbara Anne Keely
Duluth - Engaging the Arts to Revitalize Worship, Arthur Clyde
Fargo, N.D. - Wrestling with the Problem of Evil and Suffering, Eleazar Fernandez
Mankato - Welcoming the Stranger: The Church’s Response to Immigration, Sharon Tan
Rochester - What Does the Bible Have to Do with Life Today?, Carolyn Pressler & Neil Elliott
Valley City, N.D. - Interpreting the Older Testament with Integrity, Richard Weis
For more information, including class details and how to register, go to www.unitedseminary.edu/CommunityPrograms/academy.asp.
Questions? Contact Renee Flesner at 651.255.6138 or rflesner@unitedseminary.edu.
Medical Team Going to Haiti in Feb 2010
Terry Dewald, UMVIM Team Leader from Ames, IA will lead a medical team to Mizak, Haiti Feb 25 – Mar 8, 2010. This 'Mizak Medika Clinique' will serve with Haitian Artisans for Peace International (HAPI) will conduct a medical clinic and/or health seminars. Haitian Artisans for Peace International is Advance Number 3020490
The community of Mizak is in the southern mountains of Haiti, north and west of Jacmel. The team will assist our Haitian partners in an outpatient medical clinic in a community facility and in home visits (~ 100 patients / day). You will have the opportunity to do serious work, but the whole point of our presence in Haiti is to collaborate and empower, not to do things for the people. We need to follow-up on 100 participants in a current is a hypertension program. Additional opportunities for community-based health care involvement include working with a team of Haitian Health Care Workers. They have no formal medical training but are eager to learn more health assessment skills. Possible seminars for them could be taking blood pressures, Heimlich maneuver, self breast exams, signs and symptoms of urinary tract infections and vaginitis, hydration needs, care of wounds, teeth brushing, importance of and proper hand-washing, assisting with home deliveries, etc. – depending on the team member skills we take with us.
For information or to sign up for the team contact Terry Dewald:
3812 Eisenhower Ave
Ames, IA 50010
515-231-1914
tdewald.rn@gmail.com
mid-week update is a ministry of the Communications Ministry Team
of the Iowa Annual Conference
