October 13, 2009
Iowa Conference News
Our Website has a new Feature
The IAUMC.org website has a new feature that will translate information into another language. This feature is available on most pages of the website, with the exception of the front page. The front page is available in English only. Now you can share news from Iowa with friends who speak a different language! You can locate the box in the mid to lower left side of the page – it is a Google feature and says “Select Language” and has a drop down box to choose the language you want to translate to.
Ingathering History - Continued
Many of you probably remember at the beginning of this event in 1980 that it was named the “Bishop’s Ingathering”. In 1982, it was changed to the “Thanksgiving Ingathering” because it was mainly a laity program, therefore the Board of Laity had become a part of it.
In 1983, it was decided to add another site, Mt. Pleasant. In 1985, Greenfield was added as a third site. The Waverly site was then added in 1987 and in 1992 a fifth site at Humboldt.
Craft items and “Preacher Pies” were included for Ingathering day, adding to the entertainment of the day. Luncheons, loading trucks, sorting kits, displaying quilts and many necessary responsibilities involve those attending each year. Guest speakers, some often being missionaries or workers from some of the projects supported, were a big part of the day. “There are plenty of rules for attaining success, but none of them work unless you do.” A wonderful quote for these past 30 years!
Thanksgiving Ingathering is Saturday, November 7th. You can be a part of its success! You can be a part of its 30th celebration!
MORE INFORMATION COMING EACH WEEK!!!
In Christ’s Service,
Ranee and Gaylen Goettsch
Iowa Ingathering Coordinators
Women’s Retreat at Wesley Woods
Are you in need of a relaxing weekend where you can fellowship with others, worship God, and have a little fun? Join us for just that!
Teaching sessions will be led by Rev. Celestyne DeVance. Worship will be led by the Grimes UMC Praise Band. Please feel free to take time during the day to spend in solitude with God. All activities are optional.
Call Wesley Woods at 515.961.4162, email: wesleywoods.camp@iaumc.org, or go to our website to register by October 23rd. $45 registration fee for weekend.
Lord, Teach Us to Pray
The First United Methodist Church - Tipton is hosting a "Lord, Teach Us to Pray" seminar on Friday evening, November 13 from 7:00-9:00 pm and Saturday, November 14 from 9:00 am-9:00 pm. Leadership is provided by Aldersgate Renewal Ministries. The cost is $20 for the first family member and $12 for each additional family member. The fee covers the seminar, a participant's manual and lunch on Saturday. Registration deadline is November 1st. More information and registration materials are available at www.tiptonumc.org or by contacting Pastor Paul Frederiksen at 563-886-2331or pastor@tiptonumc.org.
The "Lord, Teach Us to Pray" seminar encourages individuals to take another step toward maturity in prayer. The schedule includes time for worship, teaching, testimony, small group experiences and prayer ministry. This seminar has the potential to change lives and to transform churches as participants are challenged to walk in intimacy with God through prayer. Please consider bringing a group from your church for this life-changing event.
Screws and Nails
Walk into Lowe’s or Menard’s and you will find rows of different size and types of nails, screws, nuts and bolts. You have choices of roofing, cement and wood nails while the choice for screws might be hex, slotted, Phillips, torx or Robertson drive. For the various construction projects, digging of wells and installation of solar panels in Nigeria you don’t have the luxury of a Lowe’s or Menard’s. Hardware is removed from boards and roofs to be reused as needed because they are hard to find in Nigerian shops.
If anyone has a sack or bag of nails, screws, nuts and bolts and willing to donate them for work projects in Nigeria please contact me. Better yet, bag them up in sturdy boxes/bags/sacks, label them and take them to the InGathering on Nov. 7. Roofing nails and screws are especially in short supply in Nigeria.
Cordless drills are welcome to be used at the various construction sites.
This project would be perfect for a UM Men’s group. We will gladly take any of the above items so we can raise the roof or at least nail it down in Nigeria. Monetary donations may be sent through your local church to the conference treasurer designated: INP #230, Screws/Nails.
For those of you interested in being a part of this mission project for Nigeria, we welcome these items on Ingathering day, November 7th. Just drop them off where the Iowa-Nigeria truck will be loading kits. No postage necessary for shipping. Credit will be given for Rainbow Covenant but not for Ingathering because remittance forms cannot be changed at this time. This will be extremely helpful for Nigerians who do not have access to stores as we in America.
If you have questions, please contact Beverly Nolte 515-491-5975
Or---Ranee & Gaylen Goettsch 800-228-2853
All God’s People Active in the Church – A Seminar for Inclusion of People with Disabilities
This seminar is for: churches of all denominations; conferences; organizations; camps, day camps, leadership programs.
This seminar offers: case studies of visible and hidden disabilities; strategies and suggestions for reaching out and teaching people with disabilities; guidelines and forms individualized to unique needs; curriculum suggestions and resources.
Click here for more information.
Registration will close on October 21st for A Conversation with Young Adults
an event for those interested in ministry with Young Adults and College Students which will be held on October 24, 2009 at Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation in Ames, Iowa. Bruce C. Birch, Dean of Wesley Theological Seminary and Bill Lizor, past Director of Young Adult Ministries with the General Board of Discipleship will provide primary leadership for this event. To see the event brochure go to Conversation Brochure. To register for the event go to www.iaumc.org/yaconversation.
Shared United Methodist Ministries (S.U.M.M.) is excited to be a part of the team bringing internationally respected marriage and family life expert, Dr. Gary Chapman, to Burlington's Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, January 9, 2010! This conference will be filled with humor and practical insights based on sound biblical principles. Single adults, engaged couples, along with married couples of all ages are invited to take part in this seminar. The lessons you will learn can help you build healthy relationships in every aspect of your life. All relationships, whether at work, church, or in your family can benefit so all involved feel valued and appreciated!
Dr. Gary Chapman has degrees from some of the most respected colleges and seminaries. He's written some of the best-selling books of the past decade and appeared on thousands of radio and television programs across the country. However; Dr. Gary Chapman knows more than just a lot of scholarly theories and practical advice—he knows people. He knows how to relate to people, how to have fun and how to make people laugh. You are invited to join us for a day of laughing and learning with Dr. Gary Chapman.
To Purchase Tickets: Call West Hill U.M.C. (319-754-7918); Send an email to SUMMinfo@aol.com (please put Chapman Tickets in the subject line); or you may purchase tickets at The Christian Bookstore in Westland Mall, West Burlington, Iowa. Tickets are: $45 each or $80 for 2 tickets; tickets include a conference journal, and refreshments for both breaks. Flyer is attached to this message.
United Methodist and Other News
ADVENT WREATH CANDLE LIGHTING MEDITATIONS - 2009
by F. Richard Garland
http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=47983
This set of brief meditations with scriptures, reflections, and liturgies may be used in lighting the candles of the Advent wreath in worship at church or home. Each meditation uses one of the 2009 Lectionary readings for that day. The readings are divided into sections that can be assigned to various persons participating, including the children. Suggested hymns from both The United Methodist Hymnal and The Faith We Sing are provided as an option to conclude each meditation. A link to a new hymn written for each Sunday of Advent is also provided. Permission is granted to download, copy, adapt, edit, and reprint for home or local church worship with the inclusion of the copyright citation on each copy.
Dean McIntyre, music@gbod.org
Director of Music Resources
GBOD | The United Methodist Church
PO Box 340003
Nashville, TN 37203-0003
GBOD Web site: www.gbod.org
GBOD Worship Web site: www.GBOD.org/worship
Toll-free: (877) 899-2780 Ext. 7073
Equipping World-Changing Disciples
Interpreter Enrollment - The Time is Now!
Helping you and other leaders in your conference do their ministry effectively is important to United Methodist Communications. We are pleased to offer each local church five print and five digital subscriptions to Interpreter magazine, the official ministry magazine of The United Methodist Church.
Interpreter’s goal is to inform, inspire and engage clergy and lay leaders through innovative ideas presented in interesting, practical articles. The content of Interpreter is focused toward both lay church leaders and clergy. Please encourage pastors in your conference to respond with the names of ten persons in leadership positions and designate which ones would get print copies and which ones would get electronic copies.
Many leaders will miss the valuable ministry information this magazine provides if they do not take the first step of completing the enrollment form – paper or online – in a timely manner.
Enroll online now for 2010 Interpreter magazine before Nov. 20 to receive the January/February issue on time. If you have questions, please contact customer service at (888) 346-3862.
For convenience you may also:
Fax updated enrollment forms to: (615) 742-5499
Mail updated forms to: Interpreter, P.O. Box 440229, Nashville, TN 37244-0229
Thank you,
Interpreter 2010 Enrollment Team
Science and Faith to be Explored in 2010 Ministers’ Conference
Ministers are met by questions that may seem a galaxy away from what their training prepared them to expect.
“Can scientists and the Bible both lead us to understand the origins of the cosmos?”
“Can our genetic makeup predispose us to conditions such as depression or alcoholism?”
“How important to the mission of the gospel is acknowledging the beauty of creation and caring for its goodness?”
Asbury Theological Seminary is bringing together a team of scientists, pastors and theologians to help ministers with biblical responses to issues of science and faith. Through this team effort called Q3, pastors, youth workers, counselors, educators and others in full-time ministry will profit from online resources and conference workshops.
The Q3 ministers’ conference, “Ministry Celebrates the Wonders of God’s World,” is March 9-11, 2010, at the Asbury Seminary Wilmore, Kentucky campus. Registration is open.
Conference participants will discuss topics including creation and evolution, God’s providence in the world, and lessons that can be learned for ministry from the historical relationship between science and faith. Dr. Owen Gingrich, Harvard University professor emeritus of astronomy and the history of science, will be keynote speaker.
“Q3 will aid ministers in leading the people they serve to a deeper knowledge of God as Creator and the world as God’s good creation,” said Q3 Director Dr. Michael Pasquarello III, Asbury Seminary Granger E. and Anna A. Fisher professor of preaching. “Ministers can find help in Q3 for evangelistic outreach to people with scientific professions or aptitudes, and pastors to young adults can learn ways to guide those who sense God’s call to prepare for scientific vocations.
“Science can help us,” added Pasquarello, who has studied issues of science and faith for 30 years. “It doesn’t provide all the answers, but it can provide a more up-to-date framework that will give us more knowledge of the creation to work with, that will contribute to making our theology fresh and real for us and those whom we serve. And we can say, ‘Yes, the world is open to God’s work and presence.’”
Q3, funded by a grant from the Templeton Foundation’s Science for Ministry Initiative, is named after the “Questions” it will address on a schedule across the next “3” years. In 2011, Q3 will turn its focus to the nature of human beings as creatures wonderfully and carefully made in God’s image and, in 2012, to the nature of the church as the new creation of God and visible sign of God’s presence in the world.
Registration is $49 per person before February 1, or $99 after February 1. For groups of five or more and Asbury Seminary students, registration is $49 per person. For information and to register, visit aburyseminary.edu/q3, call 877-776-3646 or e-mail ginny.proctor@asburyseminary.edu.
About Asbury Theological Seminary:
With multiple campuses, Asbury Theological Seminary is an interdenominational graduate school of theology committed to teaching the unchanging truth of historic Wesleyan Christianity through the most dynamic means available. Asbury offers a variety of degrees, including the master of arts, master of divinity, master of theology, doctor of ministry and doctor of philosophy in intercultural studies, biblical studies. Current enrollment nears 1,600 students, representing 94 denominations and 29 countries. For more information, please visit asburyseminary.edu.
mid-week update is a ministry of the Communications Ministry Team
of the Iowa Annual Conference
