Bishop Laurie offers this prayer for the Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church's 2020 Legislative Session.
O Creator and Redeemer God,
In a few days, we will gather in your presence and as your faithful disciples at the Legislation Session of the 2020 Iowa Annual Conference. In 1744, your servants John and Charles Wesley first met with a few clergy to consider how they should proceed to save their own souls and those who heard them. They quickly agreed to invite the lay preachers who were in the house to join them.
276 years later, ever-renewing God, you are still bringing us together as United Methodists every year – clergy and laity – to worship, fellowship, learn, conference together, and leave inspired to be difference makers in our communities, state, and world.
This year, however, we will gather in a different way. Even though we are one body of Christ, we will be physically separated from one another because of COVID-19. We confess that we desperately want to see each other face to face. Yet we know that the health of our state, nation, and the world depends on necessary social distancing.
And so, God, as we prepare our hearts and minds to be transformed by this annual conference, we pray:
Bishop Laurie Haller
You are invited to watch the AC2020 live-stream which you can access here. The legislative session begins at 9:00 a.m. and runs through 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 18.
AC2020 Legislative Session Agenda - PDF
Access the Pre-Conference Manual - here
Both services can also be viewed here:
All Iowa United Methodists are invited to attend the AC2020 Laity Session Zoom Webinar on Sunday, August 2, at 2:00 p.m.
The Annual Conference Laity Session is a wonderful opportunity to connect with other United Methodists as we gather through a Zoom Webinar. During the Laity Session, you will hear a message of hope from Bishop Laurie Haller and interact with a panel of Mental Health professionals. They will address how we can better cope with multiple challenges currently facing individuals, families, and congregations. There will be time for Q&A.
We will also recognize new School for Lay Ministry graduates and Certified Lay Ministers, meet the Board of Laity, hear uplifting music from the high school gospel choir, Bridges 2 Harmony, and experience so much more! The link is below.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/95931192502?pwd=bmdFN1pzZE5NSDlnQjlzR0tJdUt5QT09
Password: 952233
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +19292056099,,95931192502#,,1#,952233# or +13017158592,,95931192502#,,1#,952233#
Or Telephone:
Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 253 215 8782 or
+1 346 248 7799
Webinar ID: 959 3119 2502
Password: 952233
International numbers available: https://zoom.us/u/aJg4IBVI