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Submitted by Teryl Cartwright, Susquehanna Conference of The United Methodist Church Churches and congregants are invited to join in on Praise for Pentecost by praying to God in a new language. "This is something we could all do in our churches and locations together, just like we have a World Communion Day, a National Day of Prayer, or virtual choirs," said Teryl Cartwright of the Susquehanna Conference of The United Methodist Church. "This could be in a church service, a posted video, a ...

The Offices of Clergy and Congregational Excellence hosted Jason Moore's two-day workshop, "Worship in the Post Pandemic World." About 80-100 individuals and church groups joined during the two-day event. "I am thankful for the workshops with Jason Moore, who brought his insight, engagement, and experience as a seasoned professional with worship, hospitality, and online ministry," said Rev. Ryan Christenson, Associate Director for Congregational Excellence. "His four workshops over two days ...

The Iowa Conference Communications Office is assembling a list of ways you can continue socially engage in worship while practicing physical distancing. We will update this story with new streamed services as they become available. To submit a service time, please fill out this form with your church name, service time and a link to where the service is found online, Facebook, YouTube, television or radio station. Services won't be listed if URLs are not made available.   Thinking of starting to...

There will be a free, twenty-minute virtual worship experience available for clergy and local IAUMC churches for April 11, 2021 - the Sunday after Easter Sunday. The Simpson College Youth Academy community will be providing the service, as an effort to support clergy in resting following Lent and Easter.  The service will include worship music, Scripture from the lectionary (John 20:19-31), and reflections and blessings from high school students in response to the text. It will be a Youtube ...

Bishop Laurie Haller invites you to join her on a journey to renew our collective practices of prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness as we begin a new Christian year.    In the message for the First Sunday of Advent, Bishop Laurie remarks, “What is it that holds us together as people called United Methodists? It is a set of spiritual practices that center around the membership vows we take.”   During Bishop Laurie’s Vision 2032 Conversations, many of you said that we needed to regain a ...

To the clergy and laity of the Iowa Annual Conference,            Many of you know that our United Methodist Africa University plays a critical role in higher education not only in Zimbabwe but on the entire continent of Africa. Out of gratitude for the support that AU receives from around the UM connection, including Iowa, Africa University has produced a full worship service that they wish to share with us. Knowing that COVID-19 safety precautions have made worship planning a challenge, I hope...

Christ the King Sunday - Lanette Plambeck from Iowa Annual Conference on Vimeo.  

A beloved community was in full bloom at the spring Order of Elders, Order of Deacons, Fellowship of Local Pastors & Associate Members Gathering on April 26, 2018. Clergy gathered at Ames First United Methodist Church to address the common anxiety in the Iowa Conference around the upcoming General Conference sessions.   “Today is an opportunity to be together, take a deep breath, and address our common anxiety about where our church is right now,” said Rev. Scott Lothe, an Orders planning ...

At Aldersgate UMC in Urbandale, a city of some 40,000 people located in the Des Moines metro area, the Advent season came alive in a special way this past year when members of the congregation were called on to bring desperately needed gifts to the local homeless in Des Moines. Aldersgate Lead Pastor Jon Bailey likes to work with the church’s worship committee to find ways to connect the congregation to each sermon series in a tangible way. “The series was supposed to be about focusing on the ...

It’s an unlikely place for church.  A coffee shop.  Espressos and lattes.  Hot chocolates and smoothies.  Muffins and oversized cookies.   And ashes.   Immanuel United Methodist Church brought church to the people.  Ash Wednesday was happening in the midst of the tables, soft chairs and a blazing fireplace.     Rev. Katie Dawson, Immanuel’s Lead Pastor and Associate Pastor Todd Treese were at a table marked with a purple stole.  A sign offered, simply, “ashes and prayers.”  Cards offered ...

The church was brought to the people on Ash Wednesday by four United Methodist clergy.  In their white albs they headed out through the Des Moines Skywalk system, at noon, to offer pray and the imposition of ashes.   “The Holy Spirit seems to be moving us here today,” Rev. Martha Ward observed, thinking about what some called “ashes to go.”  “It was similar to what John Wesley did when he got outside the church,” Rev. Bob Ward noted, adding “it feels right in our tradition.”   Click to listen to...