December 1, 2009

Iowa Conference News

Energies of Body-Mind-Emotion-Spirit

We are offering four opportunities for a one day introduction to the energy system that connects body, mind, emotion and spirit in relationship to the heart. Experience an awakening of the body that will lead to heart health in these four chambers of the heart.

Upon Completion of the day you will have:

· Learned gentle body work techniques which create physical and mental health.

· Identified the location of energy sites within and around your body which will focus consciousness of body and spiritual fitness.

· Discovered a theological connection of Jesus’ teachings and energy concepts

· Participated in meditative techniques connecting body and spirit through an expanded heart consciousness

A three day immersion course will be available in June for those who seek to grow beyond this introductory experience.

The Cost: $65 for the day

Time: 9:00 AM to 4 PM Bring your own lunch.

Choose from the following dates:

February 27, 2010 at Waterloo

March 20, 2010 at Spencer

April 17, 2010 at Wesley Woods

Leadership will be shared by: Dr. Mary Fraser, Rev. Marilyn Buchanan, and Dr. Dana Wimmer,

R.S.V.P. to Dana Wimmer at wfumcdana@msn.com

Please indicate two location choices.

Nigerian Thanksgiving

There is none! Thanksgiving is a United States holiday based on our history. But to Nigerians this is a time of thanksgiving because the harvest has started with short handled hoes, baskets and sacks used to dig up the cassava and yams and gather the ears of maize. All the family treks to their small farm plot (average farm is 2 ½ acres) where the gleaning is done by manual labor.

Now Nigerians do not have to eat bugs and berries as they did during the hunger season. The several weeks of the hunger season are when all of the food from last year has been eaten and before the harvest of this year.

At the end of the rainy season, healthy fat cows graze on the green sea of the savanna. The rains have filled storage barrels with water and increased the water table in the wells. The yam is fat like meat, the cassava melts on the tongue and oranges burst in their peels, dazzling and bright. Nigerians are thankful with hearts of gratitude for the harvest.

Thinking about a spring capital campaign?

Did you know The Iowa United Methodist Foundation provides experienced professional consultant services that can help? Our fees are lower than for-profit companies, and our consultants bring a combined 17 years of experience leading campaigns specifically for United Methodist Churches.

Contact kgowdy@iaumc.org for information or to schedule a presentation.

PILL BOTTLES, no, EYE GLASSES, YES!

Thanks to many local churches that have faithfully collected all sizes of medicine/pill bottles we have a sufficient supply. These clean and covered medicine bottles are preferred by the Rural Health Program pharmacies as the container for the prescribed medications. This beats handing the patient their pills in a cut off corner of a dirty envelope.

The Iowa Nigeria Partnership suggests that if churches want to collect something for Nigeria that eye glasses including sun glasses and lenses would be greatly appreciated by the Eye Centre. For the past two years the Iowa Conference has helped fund free eye surgeries including cataract surgery. Iowa medical teams have assisted the Eye Centre’s surgeon, Dr. Gideon Avar and his dedicated staff.

When the medical team was in Nigeria in June, a week of free eye surgeries was planned for Pero. Here the health care professionals encountered more patients than they could treat in one week. Desperate patients crowded in around the team as they planned to leave begging them to stay. Dr. Avar plans to return to Pero in August 2010.

To bring sight to the blind of Nigeria, we need eye care professionals to volunteer their time as part of the Iowa medical team to Nigeria. To volunteer, contact Beverly Nolte, bnmedical@aol.com, 515 266 4186. To support the free operations it costs $150 per eye. If you/your church group is willing to help the blind to see contributions may be sent to the conference treasurer, designated INP, #230, Eye Camp.

Thank You Blog of the Week

Click here to read the Thank You from Shalom Zone at Gatchel UMC

United Methodist and Other News

Miracle in Port-au-Prince

Five weeks after a brush with death during a robbery in downtown Port-au-Prince, Montas Joseph describes gunshot wounds that the doctor said should have killed him. Three other victims with less serious bullet wounds died that day on the same hospital ward. It was on October 12, 2009 that Montas drove himself a few blocks to the hospital after a large caliber slug passed through his chest from left shoulder to right shoulder. That day also marked the first steps of a miraculous recovery that found Montas starting back to work with a Solar Oven Partners mission team that arrived just three-and-a-half weeks later, on November 6!

Montas takes this opportunity to record his heartfelt thanks for the wide-ranging prayer and financial support that enabled his amazing recovery. God Bless!

Watch the video on YouTube at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwtmK0FIsrw

Early Response Team Train-The-Trainer

Barbara Tripp, UMCOR Consultant, will be leading a class on Train-The-Trainer for persons interested in training Early Response Teams (ERTs). This class which is limited to 8-12 participants from the North Central Jurisdiction convenes at 1:00 PM, January 22 (Friday) and goes until 5:00 PM, Januray 23 (Saturday). The Detroit Conference and First UMC Mount Clemens will host this event:

First UMC Mount Clemens
57 Southbound Gratiot Avenue
Mount Clemens, MI 48043-5545
Phone 586 468-6464

ERTs provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster. Following first responders, FEMA, the National Guard and other civic agencies, ERTs move in to assist with relief efforts. In many instances, no volunteers are permitted past checkpoints except those who have undergone training and have identification badges. Upon invitation, the United Methodist Church sends these trained volunteer teams to disaster sites.

Persons who have taken the Basic ERT class and would like to be more involved in helping train more ERTs should contact your Conference Disaster Response Coordinator to see if more trainers are needed in your conference or district.

Prerequisites for T-T-T training:

Attended and passed the Basic ERT coursework

Background Check verification

Recommendation form completed by Conference UMVIM or Disaster Response Coordinator.

After completion of this course, an UMCOR evaluator will be asked to be present the first time you conduct a training. This will be the final step in getting UMCOR authorization as an Authorized ERT Trainer.

Cost: $25 per person. (training manual, Lunch and Snacks will be provided.)

Reservations must be made through:

David Lafreniere

First UMC Mount Clemens
57 Southbound Gratiot Ave
Mount Clemens, MI 48043
586-468-6464
davidlafreniere@mountclemensumc.org

2009 Advent Sermon Starters

2009 Advent Sermon Starters have just been released, based on the message “Rethink Church this Christmas.” This resource promotes ideas for living the faith beyond Sunday and connecting with those outside the church. Social media ideas and video downloads are offered as well.

Visit the site frequently in coming days as more resources are released. Watch for free-downloadable worship and bulletin graphics; a new 30-second spot; and newspaper, billboard, postcard and door hanger graphics.

Demonstrate Christ’s presence within and beyond your walls to those whose wishlist may begin with acceptance, love and hope.

God Bless,
Rethink Church Team
1-877-281-6535

Popular Asbury Seminary program restores full-ride fellowship
Asbury Seminary’s Beeson International Center for Biblical Preaching and Church Leadership returns in full in 2010. The Center was created by the generous gifts of Ralph Waldo Beeson, a successful insurance executive who put God first in everything. Known for its scholarship program, the Beeson Doctor of Ministry program provides full-ride residential fellowships for pastors who take a sabbatical from ministry for one year to pursue further study. A nonresidential model allows pastors to hone their leadership abilities without leaving their parishes. A third model, the Beeson International Leaders track, currently equips 35 students represent 21 countries. In July 2010, residential fellowship recipients whose 2009 entrances were delayed due to a drop in endowment funding will enter the program.

The Beeson Center also houses: Asbury’s Cluster Education (ACE) extension, which offers regional courses toward several degrees; Theological Education for Accelerating Ministry (TEAM), which provides seminars and formative discipleship experiences for pastors and laity; The Center for Life Long Learning which, benefitting from a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, strengthens pastors in spiritual and transformational leadership; and a new doctor of ministry cohort on Asbury’s Florida Dunnam campus in Orlando, beginning January 2010. For information on Beeson Center programs, contact 1-888-5Beeson or beeson.center@asburyseminary.edu.

mid-week update is a ministry of the Communications Ministry Team

of the Iowa Annual Conference