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Rich Pleva
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Sabbath - we get about two pages into the biblical story and
there it is - this idea that God embraces work, but that God also embraces REST
from work.
Not surprisingly, the whole of the creation is challenged to
embrace this restful notion - this dynamic (and necessary) balance between
doing and being - between work and rest (and play, I think) - between
production and reflection.
Your generous gift of time away (and the generous financial
backing of the Louisville Institute), provided the means for a remarkable
experience of sabbatical that I'm just now ending. I can't honestly say I'm happy it's over (I
mourned its ending just a bit this past week), but I feel as rested as I have
in years, and I think I'm genuinely ready to be back.
Many persons - especially the staff of the conference and
Acting Conference Minister Ron Eslinger - have done stellar work in my absence
and I'm grateful to all of them. I hope
you express your appreciation regularly to them, as I have done for their most
recent labors in my stead.
Though there is much I might say as a result of my recent
times of reflection, for today let my encouragement be the simple reminder that
rest isn't something optional - something we embrace when time and schedule
allows. Rest - Sabbath - is part and
parcel of God's intention for the creation - including you and me.
It's good to be back. See you soon at Annual Meeting!
Peace,
Rich Pleva
Iowa Conference Minister
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Condolences
The father of Bill Iammatteo-Code, Clifford Code, died Sunday, May 23, in Minneapolis at the age of 93. Bill and his wife, Carol, are chaplains with Hospice of Central Iowa and members of the Oskaloosa church.
The mother of Daniel Moore, Phyllis Moore, passed away at her home in Virginia on May 26th. She was 69 years old. During
the late 1970's and early 1980's she was church school superintendent of the
First Congregational United Church of Christ in Madison, Connecticut. She is
survived by her husband Robert, her two sons Daniel and Matthew, their wives
(Denise and Kate respectively); her grand-daughter April and her two
great-grandchildren Isabel and Elijah. Daniel Moore is pastor of Cromwell Congregational UCC and St. John's UCC of Creston.
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Prayers for Laird Keever
The Rev. Laird Keever, currently interim pastor at our Webster City church, suffered a stroke on May 30. He is recovering at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.
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Regional Youth Event registration deadline extended
Registration
deadline has been extended to July 1(with a $25 late fee added).
Register high school youth (entering 9th grade to graduating
seniors) to this year's Regional Youth Event.
July 14-18,
2010 West Central Regional Youth Event "Agape: God's love for us all"
Park University; Parkville, MO
(near Kansas City) Cost: $225 (by July 1)
Send registration forms and your check for individual/church
costs directly to the Missouri Mid-South Conference:
R.Y.E. Registrar
Missouri Mid-South Conference
411 E. Lockwood Ave.
Webster Groves, MO 63119
Questions about RYE registration?
Call Karin Oelzen, R.Y.E. planning team, at 314-521-7324. |
"Almost Christian" June 21-25 conference for youth workers
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Faith Formation through the Generations August 28
A workshop with Carol Wilson, United Church Education
Consultant
Saturday Aug. 28, 2010 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(with an optional networking gathering on Friday evening,
Aug. 27, 2010)
Cost and Location: TBA
Are you struggling to figure out what to do with smaller
numbers of young people in your church? Are you considering a
"one-room" Sunday School approach that brings a wide age span
together? Carol Wilson, a United Church Education Consultant, will show us the
rich opportunities for learning in intergenerational approaches to faith
formation and Christian education. She will also introduce us to Faith Practices, a new project of the United Church of Christ which will provide
resources for worship, learning, and serving, on 24 faith practices. Arrive on
Friday for a social gathering that will help you meet other youth leaders and
Christian educators from across the conference!
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Support youth ministry in the Iowa Conference!
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."
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Emotional Intelligence-Human Relations Workshop August 23-26
Emotional Intelligence-Human Relations Workshop. Faculty:
Roy M. Oswald, Alban Institute; Jackie Bahn-Henkelman, Ph.D., Center for EQ-HR Skills.
Center for Emotional Intelligence and Human Relations Skills Training:
Our 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.
Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, Louisville, KY. Tuition is $775 (cost of the EQ assessment of $174 included). Rooms and meals - $450-$500. Please register by August 2 by contacting Robin Danner or call 336-716-9722. |
Pathway to Renewal Workshop Oct. 23
A "Pathway to Renewal" workshop in DeForest, Wisconsin, will be led by the Rev. Dan Smith, an Alban Institute author.. $50. Dan will introduce basic principles of congregational renewal and the steps in the renewal process. He'll also address the critical need to ground a healthy renewal process in the mission of the church.
As an add-on option for leaders who would like back-home help adopting this approach to congregational renewal, Dan will offer the possibility of organizing "coaching clusters" for follow-up coaching at an additional cost. |
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June 3, 2010
