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February 4, 2010
E-Communique
Iowa Conference, United Church of Christ
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Dear Everyone,
I just got
the news from Gobbler's Knob-and it's all bad! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow
this morning; six more weeks of dark, below-zero mornings; drifts to the eaves;
snow-covered, icy sidewalks and treacherous travel. It's enough to make a snow
man weep.
Just when I
am convinced that one more day of this *!?∞∑☼♣ weather will send me screaming off
the glacier that's come crawling into my back yard from somewhere in the frozen
north, I take a deep breath and look out my window. A birdfeeder hangs there in
the crook of a gnarled old mock orange tree. Every day, birds come to grab
seeds from the openings in the mesh that forms the sides of the feeder or to peck
at the seeds that fall to the ground. Birds of all sorts-cardinals, swallows,
finches, nuthatches, even the occasional woodpecker-come to dine, all without a
care in the world. About the time I start to think the reason they're so
carefree is that I am the one who puts the seed in the feeder, however, I
remember these words from the Sermon on the Mount: "Look at the birds of the
air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly
Father feeds them." (Matthew 6:26).
In the
short time I've been at this job, I've come to appreciate that conference
ministry is a little like that birdfeeder. Whenever I begin to think the good I
am able to do happens because of me, I think about the birdfeeder and those
words from Matthew. It is not my will that makes this ministry happen, but
God's.
Be well and
stay warm!
Tony Stoik
Associate Conference Minister for Western Iowa
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Rich Pleva sabbatical begins March 1
Webinar on "Safe Church Policy" Feb. 9
Meet Geoffrey Black Feb. 14 in Ankeny
Webinar on "21st Century Stewardship" Feb. 18
Boundary training in NW Association Feb. 27
Pastors' Retreat April 13-14
Haiti relief
Blog and workshops from the Center for Renewal at Grand View University
UCC Volunteer Opportunities
Young adults, adults, groups should look at this!
Youth Academy for Christian Formation at Duke University June 20-July 3
Youth and Young Adult resources posted
Teach in Micronesia and the Marshall Islands!
Pilgrim Heights has programs
Searles ask for prayers
Support youth ministry with your dollars
RYE registration materials are up on our website!
Emotional Intelligence and Human Relations workshops
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Conference Minister Rich Pleva will
begin a three month sabbatical on March 1. The Board of Directors has
appointed Ron Eslinger, former interim ACM with the Iowa Conference as Acting
Conference Minister in Rich's absence. Ron will work approximately half
time and will typically be in the conference office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and
Thursdays. His responsibilities will include supervision of the
conference staff, direct support to the congregations of the Central
Association, leadership of the three SAG groups in the Central Association, and
support for the Central Association Committee on Ministry and the Conference
Board of Directors.
The Iowa Conference is grateful to
the Louisville Institute for a grant which will help subsidize the costs of the
Acting Conference Minister and other costs related to the program which Rich
will pursue while away. That program includes time spent in Amman, Jordan
visiting family, and an Amtrak trip to the west coast and back. The
remainder of Rich's time away will be spent in reading, walking and gardening -
once the weather warms up!
On Tuesday, Feb. 9, the Pension Boards are offering a webinar on "Safe Church Policy." It will be at 10 a.m. central time. Go to this website to register. Ignore the request for the user name and password. Go to Public
Sessions in the red bar. You will then see the list of Sessions. Click the
one(s) you want to register for and then go to the bottom of the list and click
the register button.
You will be asked to enter your name and email. You will receive e-mail
confirmation and meeting reminders. You have the option of adding the meeting
to your Outlook calendar. If there are other subjects you want to learn about, please
contact Carl Kotheimer at the Insurance Board via email or phone: 216.736.3244.
Pastors and lay leaders are invited to meet UCC General Minister and President Geoffrey Black on Feb. 14 at the Ankeny church from 3-5 pm. Geoffrey wants to hear from us about our vision for the future.
Thursday, Feb. 18 will be a webinar on "21st Century Stewardship" hosted by Coy James, Canon of Stewardship for the Cathedral of
Hope UCC. The webinar will begin at 6 pm Central time. To learn more about it and to register, go here and scroll to the bottom, or check our Continuing Education page (which has the same link). The cost is $10.
The Northwestern Association is offering a boundary training on Feb. 27 at Schleswig. If you want to attend,
Please RSVP ASAP to First Congregational UCC, Fort
Dodge (515) 573-3817.
Pastors, save the date April 13-14 for the pastors' retreat at the Christian Conference Center near Newton! It will start at 1 and end at noon, and more information will develop.
$8,594.24 has been collected here in the Iowa Conference through
1/31/10 for Haiti Relief and was sent in yesterday, Feb. 3. I don't like to name names, but one church, whose initials are Zion UCC in Lowden, has youth who held a bake sale and raised $159.50 for Haiti! Awesome job!
The UCC has also established a way to text money to Haiti: Text LOVE
to 25383 to donate $10 to UCC Haiti relief. Of course you can also send a check to the conference office, and we'll send it on to Cleveland and thence Haiti.
The Center for Renewal at Grand View University is doing interesting work on congregational vitality. You can read their blog with entries about experiences of doing visioning, changing the ways a congregation makes decisions, and more. You might also want to participate in their Congregational Leadership series. I have posted it on our continuing education page, too, in the late April section.
The UCC Voluntary Service program has come a long way in recent years, and you should check it out. There are summer and year-round opportunities for young adults to live in intentional community while serving, other opportunities for adults of all ages, and mission trips with host sites in the US. Go to their web page to find possibilities to publicize to your church members. Go to our Local Church Ministries page under Stewardship and Mission (next to the picture of the globe) to find a link to their newsletter, which is very attractive and informative.
Duke University offers a Youth Academy for Christian Formation from June 20 - July 3. Youth will study theology with Duke Divinity School faculty, and practice their faith through gestures of hospitality, servant ministry,
justice, reconciliation and reflection. I've put links on our Youth page as well.
Speaking of youth--and young adults--there is a whole raft of links now available on our Youth page and our Young Adult page, showing opportunities for enrichment, mission, and activities through the UCC. There are also some opportunities for youth leaders. Go see the new postings on those two pages, Youth and Young Adults.
Pastors, do you want to teach for a month in Micronesia and the Marshall Islands this summer?
Global
Ministries is looking for one person or a couple to fill a temporary (one
month) teaching position(s) at Summer Church Leadership Training Events for
Micronesian Churches in Chuuk (June 6 - 11), Pohnpei (June 13-16), Korsae (June
20-25), and the Marshall Islands (June 27-July 2). Teaching topics can be: Biblical Theology,
Ecumenical and Christian Unity, Church Management, Women and Youth Ministries,
Marriage, etc.
Teacher(s)
can be UCC Conference or Association leaders, pastors on sabbatical, or retired
UCC ministers with a Theological Masters Degree or higher. Global Ministries will cover the cost of
round trip international flight expenses in addition to room and board.
For
more information please contact:
Rev. Dr. Xiaoling Zhu, Area Executive
East Asia and the Pacific Office
zhux@ucc.org
-- or --
Ms. Maria Smith Warren, Administrative Assistant
East
Asia and the Pacific Office
warrenm@ucc.org
216/736-3229
A reminder that Pilgrim Heights is always offering fun and diverting programs. Maybe that's what your church members need to lift the winter blues!
Doug and Liz Searles, our missionaries in Poland, ask for your prayers in February: "Please pray that
there may be shelter, food and warmth for the many homeless and suffering,
especially including those in Poland with alcohol or drug problems, or with
HIV/Aids. Pray for care and loving attention for the many children orphaned or
made homeless by these."
When you were a young person, do you remember the
mind-blowing experience of attending General Synod or National or Regional
Youth Events? Help more high school youth have this amazing experience of wider
church events by giving to the Iowa Conference today online
or by sending a check to the conference office and designate your donations to
"Youth Ministry Scholarships."
RYE: Regional Youth Event News. Week 23 and
counting. All
registration materials are posted on our website, on the Youth page! (Left side, scroll down) Remember, all registration materials must be sent to the Missouri-Mid-South Conference!
The following quote is from a young person who
has experienced many UCC large events. Her testimony follows: "The
first church trip I went on was RYE at St. Olaf in Minnesota. It was so much
fun. That is when I started to incorporate my faith in music and dancing. I met
the most amazing group of people. The people I met three years ago on that trip
are still some of my best friends. Those friends were the ones I looked forward
to seeing at Synod and NYE after that. Synod was the best experience of my
life. Most of the RYE crew came back and the people we met are all still in my
life today. In fact, we're having a Synod reunion in a month. We gave Iowa
Youth a reputation with our clever cheers and chants (Jump Shake Your Booty
cheer) and I found that my Christianity blossomed on these trips with my fellow
UCC Youth. I was able to be myself and appreciate all that God has given me and
that he brought all those wonderful people into my life and learn about what
the UCC is and what it stands for. I would not be the person I am today without
the people I met, the things I experienced, and everything I learned on those
trips."- Kelsie Mills, Trinity UCC, Hartley, IA.
If you have been wanting to participate in the Human Relations and Emotional Intelligence workshops offered by Roy Oswald, there are still several ahead in 2010. Scroll through our Continuing Education page to find the best time and place for you! Their mission is to equip leaders within faith based organizations with skills that enhance their leadership abilities by developing emotional intelligence competence, building human relations skills, and providing coaching support.
That seems like just about enough, doesn't it?
Julia
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