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Merry Christmas By Rev. Ronald Carlson Jr. Dean of the Cabinet and District Superintendent of Riverview Park District  “Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them.” - Luke 2:18 (CEB) In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. 2 This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. 3 Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. 4 Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went ...

Christmas Eve By Rev. Ronald Carlson Jr. Dean of the Cabinet and District Superintendent of Riverview Park District  Read Isaiah 9:2-7 and Luke 2:1-14 Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people.” (Luke 2:8-9 CEB) Birth stories are important in our family. Every year ...

Dear Church Leader, The Episcopal Office of the Iowa Annual Conference has created a full worship service for pastoral leaders and worship teams to use for Christmas. This worship service has been planned for your inspiration and encouragement while providing a moment of rest for our local church leaders. Merry Christmas! Bishop Laurie and the Appointive Cabinet View on our website Bulletin Video - Mp4 with Captions Video - Mp4 without Captions Audio - Mp3

What's In a Name? By Rev Dr. Jaye Johnson Director of Congregational Excellence &  Interim Director of New Communities of Faith  My full complete name is Jaye J Johnson. The initial J is my full middle name, so I do not put a period behind it. I tried to convince Amy that our first boy should be called Jaye J Johnson, Jr. but Amy thought that was just one too many J's for any kid. Amy has some relatives, and the boys in that family are named William. There is William Black, William Black Jr., ...

Mary’s Hymn Advent Devotion for 12/11/2022 Rev. Melissa Drake, Aldersgate District Superintendent  Mary’s Magnificat, her hymn of praise, is one of the original eight hymns of the ancient Christian church. It has been foundational for Christian worship for centuries: meant to be sung or prayed every day, working its way into the spirit and down into the very bones of disciples as the very essence of the kind of work that God is up to. It is the longest speech any woman has in the New Testament. ...

December 4, 2022 By: Rev. Doug Cue, Golden Valley District Superintendent   Read: Isaiah 11:1-10,  Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12 Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord   If you listen, you can hear it. No…it’s not the sound of the holiday Muzak pumping through the store speakers. No…it’s not the sound of the “hustle and bustle”…or the urgency and preference and unawareness all rolled up into one. Nor is it the conscious and verbal sighs that sneak past our lips as they find ...

November 27, 2022 By: Rev. William Poland, Interim Assistant to the Bishop and Director of Connectional Ministries    Read: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 Come, house of Jacob, let’s walk by the Lord’s light. —Isaiah 2:5 CEB        The invitation to walk in the light is at the heart of our passages today from Isaiah and Romans, along with the warning to pay attention to the time in Romans and Matthew’s Gospel. Both themes are important for us to remember as we enter Advent and...

Christmas Greetings from Bishop Laurie Download Video Transcript

Mary said,   “With all my heart I glorify the Lord!      In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior. He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.     Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored        because the mighty one has done great things for me. Holy is his name.      He shows mercy to everyone,         from one generation to the next,         who honors him as God.  (Luke 1: 46-50 CEB)   This fourth Sunday of Advent we pause to reflect upon the ...

Dear Church Leader, The Episcopal Office of the Iowa Annual Conference has created a full worship service for pastoral leaders and worship teams to use on Sunday, December 26, 2021. Bishop Laurie and the Appointive Cabinet thank you for your tireless work during the COVID-19 pandemic. This worship service has been planned for your inspiration and encouragement while providing a moment of rest for our local church leaders. Merry Christmas! Bishop Laurie and the Appointive Cabinet VIEW ON OUR ...

Written by Rev. Doug Cue, District Superintendent of the Golden Valley District FOLKS…What’s the easiest thing for you to lose?    I think I know what it is for me…it’s my glasses, I am losing them all the time.  Or maybe it is the clicker for the power point…I am always putting it down somewhere.  Ask Miss Jodie what it is, and she would probably tell you…”His mind”. All of those might be correct, but the easiest thing for me to lose, in reality…is JOY.  All it takes is…one phone call, one ...

By Rev. Ron Carlson, District Superintendent of the Clear Lake Camp District Peace is often thought of as being free from disturbance, or as a state of tranquility. When we talk about biblical peace, we are often talking about the Hebrew word for peace: Shalom. Shalom goes far beyond a simple definition, shalom is, in essence, a slice of heaven. Shalom is the ideal, it’s a return to God’s original creation, untouched by sin. A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on...

By Rev. Dr. Heecheon Jeon, Superintendent Riverview Park District For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has ...

As a gift to our pastors and churches during the Christmas season, we are creating a Blue Christmas Worship Service for use in your online church messages, to share with members, or on your social media channels.   We know that not everyone is experiencing joy and excitement during the Christmas season. Dealing with the isolation of a global pandemic, job losses, COVID-19 infections, deaths of loved ones, divorces, the political and religious divisions all contribute to feelings of pain and ...