How to help Chile
Regional Youth Event
Support youth events
Searles' prayer request for March
National Week of Prayer for Healing of AIDS
Act for immigration reform
Spring education event March 27 in Sioux City
Holocaust survivor April 7 in Sioux City
Ecu-Build in Cedar Rapids
April 11 - May 21
Earth stewardship workshop April 24
Sermon contest
Emotional Intelligence-Human Relations Workshop April 26-30 in Austin TX
Young Adult Service opportunities
|
|
A
devastating magnitude-8.8 earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, February 27, 2010,
shattering buildings and bridges, killing at least 78 people and setting off a
tsunami that threatened every nation around the Pacific Ocean - roughly a
quarter of the globe.
Messages of
care, concern and support have been sent to our missionary contacts. Church World Service
emergency staff have been in contact with colleagues on the ground in Chile,
who report their people are safe. CWS has worked in Chile to provide
emergency preparedness training and assistance to the country's sizable
population of Colombians, displaced to Chile by conflict.
As part of the international ACT Alliance network, CWS will work to provide
emergency assistance such as food, water and shelter to those affected by this
disaster. CWS staff continue to be in contact with people in Chile and
colleagues in other ACT Alliance agencies to ensure a timely and responsible response. CWS staff are also preparing for a tsunami response in Hawaii
should any be needed.
One Great
Hour of Sharing solidarity grants have been authorized for three Global
Ministries partners in Chile and Church World Service to support
immediate response initiatives.
OGHS and Global Ministries staff are monitoring the unfolding disaster situation and
will continue to update this site.
How Can I
Help?
1. Pray
for the people of Chile their leaders and emergency and emergency response
workers.
2. Please
help the people of Chile by sending gifts payable to your congregation marked
for Chile Earthquake & Tsunami with the request they be sent through your
Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries.
OR
Send gifts,
made out to United Church of Christ and marked in the memo portion "Chile
Earthquake & Tsunami" to Wider Church Ministries; 700 Prospect
Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115 or to the Iowa conference office.
OR
Make a secure online donation to the International Emergency Fund, please note
"Chile Earthquake & Tsunami" in the comments section.
19 weeks and counting! RYE: Regional
Youth Event News. Iowa's members of the RYE committee are busy planning
activities for small group gatherings at RYE and designing a creative piece to
be used in worship. Home churches are encouraging their youth to get
registered for RYE. Here is a message from youth Stephanie
Molden of Mayflower Church in Sioux City: "I think youth should go to
the youth events because it is an exciting experience, faith
filled, and it is a great way to meet new people. The experiences
and memories will last a lifetime." Let's give our young people memories
that will inspire them for a lifetime! Go to thewebsite, select the
youth page, and get details for registration.
Have you ever spent nights listening to the chatter of young
people excited to be on a mission trip? Have you ever given up your personal
vacation time to accompany youth attending General Synod or National Youth
Event? Then, you know how challenging and energizing youth ministry can be. The
Iowa Conference believes that we are all responsible for supporting the
ministry of these caring and patient adults by paying the entire cost of their
registration fee to these events. So please donate to the Iowa Conference today
online
or by sending a check to the conference office and designate your donations to
"Youth Ministry Scholarships."
Lent and Easter
preparations: Please pray for reconciliation among families divided by
religious affiliation. For some in Poland, the Easter celebration is even more
important than Christmas. It is a family-oriented celebration. Reformed
believers--Protestants--often are asked to defend their faith, or are
ostracized or belittled because their beliefs differ from those of the majority
in Poland. Pray that God will heal hearts so that forgiveness and acceptance
may flow freely.
The National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS: Healing through Prayer, Education, and Advocacy, and Service
will be held March 7-13, all over the U.S. Every church, mosque, synagogue, temple and home is invited to join together as
people of faith unite with purpose, compassion, and hope. The supporting statement says..."Through the power of God's love we will
educate every American about HIV prevention facts; encourage and support HIV testing; advocate for the availability of
compassionate care and treatment for all those living with the disease in every community in America; and love unconditionally all persons
living with and affected by HIV/AIDS." One of the national interfaith supporters of this campaign is the Rev. Geoffrey
Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ.
March for America: an action for immigration reform. Stand
up for our families and communities. Now is the time, we can't
wait. Thousands of people will March for America in DC on Sunday, March
21st, and demand Congress act NOW to enact immigration reform and deliver a
robust jobs program that puts people to work immediately. This is a chance for Iowans, new
and native, documented and undocumented to travel to Washington D.C.
to be a part of history! We will give Congress no choice but to act.
Contact Erica Palmer at 773.875.1493
to JOIN the march. Or go to www.wemarchforamerica.org
to find a bus near you. Join our cell phone action network by texting "JUSTICE" to 69866 to receive the latest updates
on the fight for immigration reform.
Trip sponsored by
Reform Immigration FOR America, groups all across Iowa and hundreds of grassroots
organizations nationwide. For schedule and other information, contact Julia.
The spring education event
on March 27 in Sioux City is at Sioux City FIRST UCC. Dr.
Bob Jewett, a Pauline scholar, will discuss how Christians today, wanting to
live a servant lifestyle, can respond in a global community, where militarism
and imperialism seem to be the norm. The entire flier is linked from our
continuing education page. Cost is $20 ($25 if you register after March
21), and you can get more information from Alaire Willets if the flier doesn't answer all
your questions.
"From
Hell to Here": Polish Holocaust survivor Benny Hochman will present his story
of survival during WWII at a German Concentration Camp. He shares his
experiences so that we may cherish the freedom we have. Wednesday, April 7 at 7
p.m. at the West Sioux High School Auditorium. Public invited. No admission
charge. Sponsored by: American Legion Posts 254 Hawarden and 276 Ireton.
April 11 - May 21 you can
join the Church World Service Ecu-Build in Cedar Rapids. Church World
Service is bringing together over 10 churches and agencies to join disaster
recovery efforts active since major flooding destroyed huge parts of Cedar
Rapids, Iowa in June, 2008. Hope UCC in Hiawatha is housing many of the
volunteers. Here's how to find out more.
April 24 is the date for a Cool Congregations workshop to be held in Indianola at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 200 Howard St. People of faith across Iowa are caring for God's creation by reducing energy use in their own homes, which in turn reduces the pollution that causes climate change. Plus they are saving money in the process! Bring a team from your congregation to a training workshop to learn how to get your faith community involved in a 'Cool Congregations' stewardship program.
Co-hosted by Crossroads United Church of Christ, First United Methodist and Redeemer Lutheran. Register online at iowaipl.org/calendar or contact Kathie Farris or 515-961-7647. Cool Congregations is a program of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, gathering people of faith to protect creation.
Iowa IPL is also having a sermon contest called "Earth Words," but you have to go to our website to learn about that, because I can't attach documents to this newsletter. Go to the Local Church Resources page and look under "Stewardship" for the link.
The next Emotional Intelligence-Human Relations Workshop will be April 26-30 in Austin, Texas. Faculty:
Roy M. Oswald, Alban Institute; Jackie Bahn-Henkelman, Ph.D., Center for EQ-HR Skills.
Their mission is to equip leaders within faith based organizations with skills that enhance their leadership abilites by developing emotional intelligence competence, building human relations skills, and providing coaching support.
Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Austin TX. Tuition is $775 (cost of the EQ assessment of $174 included). Rooms and meals - $450-$500. Please register by April 5 by contacting Robin Danner or call 336 716-9722.
NEW...UCC Young Adult Service
Communities. Year-long OR Summer. Application
Deadlines Extended - Apply now by going to http://www.ucc.org/volunteer/summer-young-adult-service.html.
You can experience:
Community Living
Hands-On Justice
Advocacy/Service Opportunities
Leadership Development
Faith Conversation that links
local and global mission issues.
Housing, health insurance and stipend
for food and incidental expenses are provided. Participant may qualify
for a part-time AmeriCorps Education grant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E-Communique
