mid week update

January 19, 2010

Haiti Updates

Rev. Samuel W. Dixon, Jr (UMCOR) and Rev. Clint Rabb (UMVIM) Die from Injuries Sustained in Haiti Earthquake

Samuel Wesley Dixon, Jr., age 60, died doing what he loved to do: working for the welfare of the poor and rejected of the world in the name of Jesus Christ. His life ended before he could be rescued from the ruins of a hotel toppled by the powerful earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12.

"Sam was unsurpassed in his dedication, tireless work, and joyful embrace of Christ's mission," said Bishop Bruce R. Ough of West Ohio, president of the General Board of Global Ministries. "His absence in our lives and at Global Ministries will be profound." The bishop said that Dixon's death is an "overwhelming blow" for the organization. "I extend my deepest sympathy to Sam's family and his colleagues in ministry."

Rev. Dixon and two others from the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries had gone to the Hotel Montana to meet colleagues from other agencies to plan improved health services in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country. His colleagues, the Rev. Clint Rabb and the Rev. James Gulley, were rescued. Rabb was taken to a Florida hospital, but later died from injuries sustained under the rubble of the hotel, and Gulley was able to return to his home in Denver.

"Clint Rabb was a tough and fearless advocate for the least and most vulnerable of God's children," said Bishop Joel N. Martinez, the interim general secretary (CEO) of Global Ministries. "He traveled the world encouraging volunteer ministry in his service on behalf of Christ and the church. He gave his life for others and we celebrate his faithful witness."

"Our grief is overwhelming, in part because just hours ago we were grateful for his rescue," said Bishop Bruce R. Ough of West Ohio, president of the General Board of Global Ministries. He called Rabb "a tireless, dedicated advocate for volunteers in mission around the globe."

VIM Member from Dallas Dies from Injuries

A member of a Dallas mission team providing eye care to Haitians died of injuries suffered in the Jan. 12 earthquake.

“Jean Arnwine passed away overnight in Guadeloupe. Doctors there tried to revive her, but were unsuccessful,” Highland Park United Methodist Church, Dallas, TX announced Jan. 15.

Another team member, Dr. Gary Fish, was with Arnwine and is working with the U.S. Embassy in Guadeloupe to bring her home. Arnwine was 49.

A group of 12 missionaries from Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas was working in the village of Petit Goave when the clinic building collapsed. Volunteers had to dig out people buried in the rubble, the church said.

Fish, who was believed to have broken ribs, was en route to Martinique with Arnwine when their plane was rerouted to Guadeloupe after Arnwine suffered complications.

The other 10 mission workers landed in Dallas early Jan. 15. Two members were treated and released from Dallas hospitals.

Online Prayer Wall

United Methodists everywhere are invited to share a prayer for those affected by the Haiti earthquake. Visit the Facebook group for 10thousanddoors.org to lift up your praise or concern on the wall.

UMCOR Advance # for Haiti Emergency: 418325

United Methodists have had a long-standing relationship with Haiti through the Methodist Church of Haiti. The strong ties between the Methodist Church of Haiti and The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) helped in facilitating the opening of the UMCOR Haiti field office in 2005. 100 percent of Advance gifts made will go to support relief and development efforts due to emergencies in Haiti. You can donate through your church (designate the number above on your check) or you can donate direct on-line at http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760

Iowa Conference News

The Ankeny First United Methodist Church youth ministries is sponsoring two events that may be of interest to youth directors:

Summer Mission Trip. Ankeny First UMC is inviting all youth groups to join us in one of our mission trips. This one is June 20-25 and we will be working with the Harlan United Methodist Church helping out those in need in the community. This may include some building projects, some painting projects, brush removal, and even some organizing of rooms. We have worship, small groups, and communal fun events every evening. Early bird costs are only $190. For more information or to register go to: www.afumcyouthmissions.com

Youth Specialties One Day Training Event. February 20^th at Ankeny First United Methodist Church. This is a one day, high quality, training/resource event for all youth leaders, paid or volunteer. It is put on by Youth Specialties and we just host it. Early Bird registration is $49 and groups rates are $45. For more information or to register, go to: www.ysoneday.com .

Exploring Our Interior Castle
Embracing metaphor to enhance your Spiritual Journey and discover the extraordinarily holy in the ordinary.

A 24 Hour Retreat Experience, Presented by the Spiritual Formation Steering Committee, Board of Discipleship of the Iowa Annual Conference, United Methodist Church

May 14-15, 2010 at Creighton U. Retreat Center, Griswold, IA www.creighton.edu/CURC/curc.html

or

October 29-30 at American Martyrs, Cedar Falls, IA

http.americanmartrys.tripod.com

Friday 5:00 p.m. through Saturday 5:00 p.m

Click here for more information and registration form

Interfaith Day of Prayer for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Feb 2 is the Second National Interfaith Day of Prayer for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. It is crucial that every Member of Congress know that people of faith in their states and districts supports just and humane reform. So, gather your church together and let's make history happen again!

If you live in the Des Moines area, please plan to join a group of faithful from a wide variety of denominations. Other faiths have been invited to participate and we are hopeful that will happen. Our concern is that we have a short window of opportunity to get plans made. We'll see who catches the spirit at this time to join our efforts.

If you do not live in Des Moines, please plan a Prayer Vigil in your area. Bill Mefford, Director, Civil and Human Rights, General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, bmefford@UMC-GBCS.ORG, would appreciate hearing of your prayer vigil so he can raise our collective voice to our legislator in Washington, D.C. Please send him an email and let him know of your plans.

New On-Line Print Resource Available for Iowa Churches

Your Communications Ministry Team has been working with Koch Brothers Printing to provide an on-line resource for your church stationery needs that coordinate with the new Iowa Conference logo. The design work has been done for you in advance!

Orders can be placed on-line for stationery, envelopes, business cards, FIT Challenge brochures (a very popular item!) door hangers, etc. The process is easy, we have worked out great pricing for you and you simply enter the information that you want for the particular item(s) you need and Koch Brothers Printing will ship and bill you directly or you can use a credit card and pay when you place the order. The Communications office will receive a message once an order is placed to confirm that it is a legitimate/appropriate order before they print the order. For example, we will need to confirm with Koch Brothers that you are approved to order church stationery, but not Episcopal Office or District Office stationery, etc. Normal turnaround time is 7days to print + delivery time. It is certainly not mandatory that you order from this resource – and we do not receive a commission or any type of compensation for your orders. We want to offer churches an option in case you are in need of a print service.

We have placed a link on our website to make it easy for you to access this on-line service. To get into the site directly, you need to use the following link:

http://www.printstorefront.com/kochbrothers/

User Name: IowaUMC

Password: Wesley

If you have any questions about this service please feel free to contact us!

United Methodist and Other News

2010 Lenten Resources

This Lenten season, you are invited to go on A Journey to Hope as we travel with Jesus to the cross, discovering along the way that Hope can be found even as we encounter some of life’s most difficult circumstances.

While this series will encourage all persons along the faith journey, it is written specifically with the 18-34 age group and “seeker” in mind. The Message translation is used, keeping scripture easily accessible to all audiences. By addressing real life circumstances along the way (i.e., relationships, self-esteem, work, temptation, money problems, suffering and death), those on the journey learn how faith in Christ is relevant to everyday life and how having a faith community can make all the difference. Click here for more information.

Change the World – a church-wide event

Save the Date: United Methodists everywhere are encouraged to begin planning now to join in Change the World, a church-wide event on April 24-25 that prompts members to join with others in the community to make a difference locally and globally. Look for more information in the coming days at http://www.rethinkchurch.org/.

Turn tax season into outreach time

Tax season is one of the most dreaded times of the year. However, using your church resources can make filing friendly and free.

Setting up a tax clinic at your church is a good way to help your congregation and to draw community members inside your facility. Your church can serve as a center of relief as the April 15 Internal Revenue Service deadline approaches.

click to continue >>

During Lent make feeding the hungry your mission

Free daily Lenten Devotions program presents Jesus in unique ways through the eyes of many contributors. Available now from Society of St. Andrew, a national (Advance) hunger relief ministry

Jesus commanded his followers to make feeding the hungry their mission on his behalf.* In the Old Testament God called His people, His Church to be His hands and feet in a world in need.** What better way during Lent to honor God’s directive and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross than by helping to feed the hungry? With the tumultuous economy affecting just about everyone, the need for help is even greater for those who are forced to rely on critical service agencies to feed their families.

The Society of St. Andrew, a national, ecumenical, nonprofit hunger relief ministry and Advance #801600, offers its 2010 Lenten Devotions program, “Jesus is ….”. “Through spiritual reflection, prayer and giving, the reader is challenged to take seriously the scriptural injunctions to care for the poor, while also being provided an opportunity to feed our hungry neighbors,” explained Rev. Jennifer Vestal Moore, church relations director for the Society of St. Andrew. “Each day of Lent, one of our gifted guest writers uses the theme “Jesus is …” to describe how they see Jesus and how His love has touched their life. As you make the journey to the cross this year, use this devotion booklet to see Jesus in all kinds of unique ways while remembering how much Jesus loves you and the incredible sacrifice He made for each of us.”

An optional “Good Friday Fast” is available for use in conjunction with the daily devotions or as a stand-alone program.

The Society of St. Andrew’s (SoSA) produce salvage programs (Gleaning Network and Potato & Produce Project) are a common-sense and cost-efficient way to gather what is left in farm fields after the harvest to feed the hungry. SoSA has a 30-year history of ministry and has saved nearly 600 million pounds of good, nutritious food from going to waste. This food has been donated to critical feeding agencies throughout the nation, providing hungry people with 1.78 billion servings of nourishing food. Since SoSA delivers fresh food for about 2¢ per serving, a $1 a day donation during Lent ($47) will provide over 2,000 servings of fresh produce for those who don’t get enough to eat. SoSA’s fundraising and administrative costs are less than 10%, which means that more than 90¢ of every donated dollar goes directly to providing food.

By 2008 General Conference Resolution, the Society of St. Andrew is an official partner with the United Methodist Church in alleviating hunger in the U. S. The UMC commends this partnership between local churches and SoSA through volunteer service and gifts through The Advance Special #801600.

“Donations made to the Society of St. Andrew through last year’s Lenten Devotions program were directly responsible for providing 4.25 million servings of food to the nation’s hungry families,” said Carol Breitinger, SoSA communications director. “The hope is, with the need for food help continuing to rise, that even more people will provide the means for meeting that critical need.”

All materials for the Society of St. Andrew’s Lent Devotions program are free. Order today – individuals can order their own packet, and churches can order a sample packet. There is no obligation. Call 800-333-4597; fax 434-299-5949; email church@endhunger.org; or order online at www.endhunger.org/lent.htm.

Materials will begin shipping the week of January 18, “but place your order early so we can be sure to print enough packets,” asked Rev. Moore. “And if you do not receive your packet within two weeks of ordering – it may have gotten lost in the mail or email – please call or email me again and we’ll send it out immediately!”

For more information about the Society of St. Andrew, its hunger-relief or Lenten Devotions programs, call 800-333-4597 or email church@endhunger.org.

Scripture Resources:

*Matthew 14:16 - But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” (NRSV)

James 2:14-17, 26 – What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 26-For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead. (NRSV)

I John 3:17-18 – How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. (NRSV)

Matthew 25:34-40 (NRSV) - "Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger an, d you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'"

**Deuteronomy. 15:11 – For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Participate In SOUPER BOWL OF CARING, Sunday, February 7

River of Life Community Center of Newcomerstown United Methodist Church, Ohio is joining the fight against hunger and poverty right in their community. The church is hosting a festive Souper Bowl of Caring Party, where football fans can watch the Super Bowl game as donations of canned soup are collected for Journey’s End Food Program, a local food pantry. During the game, participants can enjoy six inch subs sold by Newcomerstown’s youth group.

United Methodists are encouraged to participate in Souper Bowl of Caring on Feb. 7, by collecting canned goods and making donations through local church offerings.

Last year, 13,794 United Methodist church groups participated in Souper Bowl of Caring events across the US. A total of $10,339.233 was raised nationwide for local hunger programs. 100 percent of the collections are donated directly to the charity of each group's choice. Register at www.souperbowl.org.

UMPH, GBOD to Collaborate on New Worship and Song Resource

Nashville, January 12—The United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH) and The General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) announce their collaboration in developing a new resource for worship and congregational singing.

The new collection will include separate volumes for singing and worship. Publication is scheduled for February 2011 with a national introductory event in Nashville.

When work on a new denominational hymnal was suspended in May 2009, Karen Greenwaldt, General Secretary of GBOD, and Neil Alexander, President and Publisher of UMPH, told the Hymnal Revision Committee that special projects in the development of resources for the church’s liturgical life and music ministries would be pursued on other tracks. “This is just the type of project that makes sense at this time,” Alexander said. “It is an opportunity to work with worship leaders across the connection to offer music and worship resources that are currently not available and that can be made available in a matter of months.”

“As music and worship liturgies emerge, it is important to provide them to our church,” Greenwaldt stressed. “GBOD is delighted to partner with UMPH to provide this new resource for worship leaders.”

The song collection will include up to 180 new, traditional, contemporary, global, and ethnic hymns and songs in a wide variety of styles and will be released in multiple editions. The worship resources collection will include service music, prayers, liturgies, and spoken acts of worship. Neither collection will duplicate material contained in The United Methodist Hymnal (1989), The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992) or The Faith We Sing (2000).

The collections will be available in print, digital, and online versions. The music collection will include PowerPoint slides, CD accompaniment, MIDI, and lead sheets. The worship resources collection will also include PowerPoint and PDF files. As rights are cleared, most of both collections will be available for individual purchase online. In addition, internet downloads will be available of hymns, songs, and worship resources that do not appear in the print volumes.

Gary Alan Smith of UMPH will serve as General Editor. Dean McIntyre of GBOD will serve as Worship Resources Editor and Introductory Event Coordinator. Anne Burnette Hook, Bob MacKendree, and Jackson Henry will serve on the development team. They will be assisted by music and worship specialists, expert consultants, a large number of music and worship reader consultants, and agency staff.

Persons desiring to submit original hymns, songs, service music and worship resources for publication consideration in the new collections may send submissions to Gary Alan Smith at gsmith@umpublishing.org

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

of the Iowa Annual Conference