January 12, 2010
Iowa Conference News
Does Your Church Need a New Loan or to Refinance an Existing One?
The Iowa United Methodist Church Building Fund Trust makes loans to local churches for the purposes of building new buildings, renovation or additions to existing facilities, repairs, purchasing land or even buying a parsonage. The Trust also has refinancing options for high-interest loans.
Rates currently starting at 6.32% for new loans as of January 5, 2010
Please contact us for more information:
Iowa United Methodist Church Building Fund Trust
churchloan@iaumc.org
2301 Rittenhouse Street
Des Moines, IA 50321
515-974-8927
The Turbaning of Rev. John Pena
Our Nigerian friend, Rev. John Pena, a 46 y/o member of the Gwaten Conference headquarted in Bambur, has just been given a distinct honor. John has been selected to be a Baraden Bambur, or in Hausa, a man who cares for his people. This traditional honor afforded him will make him a member of the chiefdom of Bambur. Seldom is the honor given to anyone younger than 50 years of age. He will join the elders of the Bambur Community which is made up of 36 wards surrounding the larger village of Bambur which is one of the oldest UMC mission stations.
From the Kwonchi Chiefdom John grew up in a family of six siblings whose father was an animist, a chief priest of the idol Mam. Educated locally in a primary school, John attended the Government Commercial Secondary School before starting his theological studies. He holds a Diploma and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology and is currently a graduate student at EWCA Theological Seminary in Jos, majoring in Administration.
As a clergy person in the UMC of Nigeria, Rev. Pena has been a District Superintendent and Youth Director and now serves as the Registrar of Banyam Theological Seminary in Bambur. He coordinates the Taraba State Chapter of Peace and Development Initiative, an organization that facilitates unity between Muslim and Christians. John has helped coordinate a number of our Iowa work teams annually in the Bambur area.
Rev. Pena was a member of the first Iowa Resource International Service (IRIS) group in Iowa in 2001 under the program, “Conflict Resolution.” While here in Iowa John visited many churches in the former Cedar Rapids District and was adopted by New Creations UMC.
Married to Titi, a nurse working in the Government Ministry of Health, the Pena’s have two teenage sons Teddy and Tobias, 18 and 15 y/o.
John has shown leadership skills that caught the attention of the elders. He will sit in the tribal council to help make decisions for the community. On December 26th he will be initiated into the chiefdom through a “Turbaning Ceremony” when his head with be bound with traditional cloth as a turban.
We Iowans offer our congratulations to John Pena for being selected as Baraden Bambur.
A Conversation with Carol Howard Merritt
A Conversation with Carol Howard Merritt, author of Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation and the upcoming Reframing Hope: Looking at Vital Ministry in a New Generation, will be held on February 19, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 pm and on February 20. 2010 from 9:30-11:30 am at 1st United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa (1001 Pleasant Street). A $10 registration fee for each conversation can be paid at the door before each event. These conversations are sponsored by First United Methodist Church in Des Moines; Martha Hill DiSilvestro, Central District Field Outreach Minister; and The Young Adult Ministries Office of the United Methodist Church in Iowa.
Carol Howard Merritt is a minister in her thirties, who has served congregations in Louisiana and Rhode Island. Currently, she is a pastor at Western Presbyterian Church, an innovative, intergenerational congregation in Washington, D.C. Western is the home of Miriam’s Kitchen, a feeding program that serves a hot, nutritious breakfast to over 200 homeless men and women every weekday morning. Carol has written for several magazines and journals, and is the award-winning author of Tribal Church: Ministering to the Missing Generation (The Alban Institute, 2007). Her next book, Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry in a New Generation will be out in February. She blogs at TribalChurch.org and co-hosts God Complex Radio, an Internet radio show with Bruce Reyes-Chow, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
‘a conversation with...’ is an occasional conversation series focusing on the theological groundings of, and the practical implications for ministry with young adults.
For more information contact:
Eric Guy, Leadership Development Minister
Young Adult and Generational Ministry
The United Methodist Church in Iowa
eric.guy@iaumc.org * 515.874.8944
Free Youth Ministry Training Opportunity!
Youth Strike for Christ is again this year sponsoring a FREE training opportunity for adults who work in youth ministry – volunteer or paid staff - in the Iowa Conference. Youth Strike is inviting church youth workers to come as our guests on Saturday afternoon, February 6, 2010 to join us for lunch or dinner, experience something of what Youth Strike is about, and participate in some great training opportunities. All events will be held at the Polk County Convention Center in Des Moines (501 Grand Ave). All parts of the afternoon and evening are FREE, but spaces are limited. In order to register for these opportunities contact DeeDee Sobotka at deedee.sobotka@iaumc.org or 515.974.8912 before January 20. Spaces will be filled as registrations are received. You do NOT need to attend Youth Strike for Christ in order to participate in this opportunity. Register today!
Click to see a full description of YSFC Adult Training Opportunities.
Be prepared to identify workshop choices when you register and indicate what meals you will be participating in. Workshops will include:
App 1: Youth Ministry and Camping & Retreats
App 2: Youth Ministry and Missions, Service, & Social Justice
App 3: Youth Ministry and Higher Education & College Ministries
App 4: Youth Ministry and Spiritual Formation & Discipleship
App 5: Youth Ministry and Vocational Discernment
2010 School for Ministry Set for April 6-8
The 2010 School for Ministry will be held April 6-8. The gathering, entitled, “Back Preaching When You May Not Really want to Preach,” features Thomas Long, Steve Kraftchick and Luke Powery.
Faculty members will address the issues of Death and tragedy that can overwhelm human beings emotionally. Clergy are no exception. Yet, whether the tragedy is a natural disaster, or the death of a close friend, or the suicide of a church member or the death of a member who has not been in worship for years, clergy must proclaim God’s word of hope. In the midst of their own pain and anguish and even when they don’t know the deceased at all, clergy have to preach the word to those in their care.
Dr. Thomas G. Long is Bandy Professor of Preaching at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. A gifted preacher and world-renowned teacher of preaching, he has published fourteen books on preaching and worship, including his two most recent: Preaching from Memory to Hope, and Accompany Them With Singing-The Christian Funeral.
Dr. Steven J. Kraftchick is Director of General and Advanced Programs and Associate Professor of the Practice of New Testament Interpretation at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. He is the author of the Abingdon New Testament Commentary on Jude and 2 Peter.
Dr. Luke A. Powery is the Perry and Georgia Engle Assistant Professor of Homiletics at Princeton Theological Seminary where his courses include an exploration of the relationship between the Holy Spirit and preaching, and the connection between corporate worship practices and social witness in the world. In the fall of 2009, his book Spirit Speech: Lament and Celebration in Preaching was published.
The School once again will be held at the Downtown Marriott, Des Moines. More information about the event and links to registration information is available by clicking here.
Schedule crazy…
No time and No support…
Body out of Shape…
Eating out of control…
TAKE TIME TO CARE FOR YOURSELF
and
LEARN A DIFFERENT WAY
Clergy, Spouses & Conference Staff
A Resource of the General Board of Pensions
Servant Leadership Self-Care
Retreat
February 28-March 1, 2010
5 pm to 5 pm at Wesley Woods Cost: $50
Leader: Kae Tritle, RN Wellness Coordinator
Register at bktritle @msn.com by Feb. 19, 2010
Sponsored by the Iowa Annual Conference Wellness Program
Academy for New Ministry Development
The Academy for New Ministry Development will be having their next session on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at Ankeny First UMC. Ankeny First is located at 206 SW Walnut Street in Ankeny, Iowa. Their phone number is 515-964-4249. For a map and directions check out their website at: www.ankenyfumc.org/. An agenda of the event is provided below.
We would like to invite all pastors and church leaders to attend the dinner, worship and presentation given by the host (teaching) church and Pastor Robert Ward. This is a great opportunity for you to bring a team of people and experience what is happening at another church so that it stirs the discussion and fans the flames for your own congregations. We ask that anyone not currently part of the Academy for New Ministry Development pay for their own dinner ($9/person). To register, please contact Barb Mann as soon as possible at barb.mann@iaumc.org. Thank you.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Dinner provided by teaching church
6:00 pm – 6:20 pm Worship at teaching church
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Teaching church presentation
7:30 pm – 8:00 pm Q & A
Chad Jennings, Chair
Academy for New Ministry Development
Young Clergy Retreat--Register now!
The Young Clergy Retreat is coming up next week! If you haven't already registered, please contact Alexis Williams (revalexis@msn.com). Here are the details: this event is a chance for young clergy (elders, deacons, provisional members, licensed locals, seminary students, and conference staff under the age of 37 1/2) to come together to network, relax, and learn together. Spouses are welcome, as well as younger children. We'll meet at Wesley Woods on Monday, January 18 (beginning around 3:00 p.m. or whenever you can get there) through Wednesday, January 20 at 11:00 a.m. Cost: Clergy-$65, Non-clergy Spouses-$89, children under 4-$15. (Financial assistance available if needed.) Meals and lodging are included. Plan to bring your own towel and bedding.
Rev. Andrea Severson
Trinity (Huxley) and Cambridge United Methodist Churches
PO Box 185
Huxley, IA 50124
515-597-2625
United Methodist and Other News
PURCHASE ECO-PALMS EARLY
Countries like Guatemala and Mexico benefit from Eco-palm sales in the US. Workers receive fair wages that support their families’ education and healthcare needs, and palm fronds are harvested in a sustainable way that protects valuable natural forests.
UMCOR, in partnership with the University of Minnesota, supports the Eco-Palm Project which sustains forestry, protects local jobs and preserves the livelihoods of small-scale farmers by ensuring fair wages. United Methodists are encouraged to support this project and purchase Eco-palms in time for Palm Sunday service on March 28, 2010. You can use Why Eco-Palms?, a Power Point slide to share information about the benefits of Eco-Palms.
Last year, United Methodists were the second largest denominational purchaser of Eco-palms in the US, ordering over 115,300 palm stems for Palm Sunday services.
Click here now to place your order, or visit www.ecopalms.org for more information. The deadline for check orders is March 2. Eco-palms will be delivered between March 22 and 26.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online by clicking on any of the "Give Now" links. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY for those seeking longer term mission service:
Individual Volunteer training offered through the Mission Volunteer office of the General Board of Global Ministries will be coming to Camp Kingswood, Mound, MN for the extended weekend of April 15-18, 2010. The cost is $150.
Did you ever want to spend more time on a mission venture than the usual 1-2 weeks, but didn't think you were ready to become a full-time General Board of Global Ministries missionary? We have just the deal for you and those like you! The United Methodist Church, in partnership with churches and institutions in the U.S.A. and other countries, has identified opportunities for individual volunteers or married couples. Living in a different culture as Individual Volunteers presents challenges that require certain attributes:
Maturity
Interpersonal relationship skills
Cross-cultural skills
Physical & emotional health
An active prayer life
Interracial experience
A great sense of humor
If you have these attributes, you are ready to be an Individual Volunteer!
The program requires that volunteers serve for 2 months or longer with host communities, complete the application forms and attend a training/orientation weekend prior to service and be in prayer about your calling. Volunteers will be greatly rewarded by finding joy in making new friends and relationships with people of other cultures and growing in your faith and learning more about God's wonderful, beautiful world and God's people who inhabit it!
If your interest is piqued visit the Individual Volunteer website for all details.
Celebrate Human Relations Day - January 17, 2010
Sunday, January 17 is Human Relations Day, one of the six church-wide special Sundays in The United Methodist Church. The offering on this Special Sunday strengthens outreach to communities in the United States and Puerto Rico and encourages social justice and work with at-risk youth.
For more information about Human Relations Day visit UMCgiving/specialsundays.
Please note that all UMC special Sundays can be celebrated at any time throughout the year.
Rethink Church Lenten Season Sermon Starters
Rethink Church is offering sermon starters for the Lenten season to help you reach seekers and connect in new ways with your community. A Journey to Hope begins on Ash Wednesday with an invitation to travel with Jesus to the cross. As participants encounter real life issues along the way, we see that God’s light is sometimes even brighter in the darkness and that hope can be found even in the most unlikely places.
Social media suggestions are provided to engage community prior to the message, and to continue reflection afterwards. Props add another dimension to the series which are especially helpful to visual learners, while free-downloadable UMTV video stories illustrate how United Methodists are finding and sharing hope around the world. And that hope is extended beyond the walls through experiences shared through Facebook, Twitter, blogs, short videos and personal testimonies.
This Lenten season, take a journey to hope and share that hope with the world.
mid-week update is a ministry of the Communications Ministry Team
of the Iowa Annual Conference
