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Contact Info
Jo Ordway
515-277-6369
Please call me or email me at jo@ucciaconf.org |
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ADD TO YOUR NEWSLETTER MAIL LISTS - Both Printed and Electronic Formats!!
Any churches in East, Northeast, Southeast Associations, please add Jonna Jensen to your NEWSLETTER mail lists at 3675 67th St, Baldwin, IA 52207 or email jonna@ucciaconf.org.
Any churches in Northwest, Southwest Associations, please add Tony Stoik to your NEWSLETTER mail lists at 4557 Hamilton Blvd, POB 2142, Sioux City, IA 51104-2142
or email tony@ucciaconf.org.
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Our Common Life...Words from the Conference Staff
"Keep awake therefore, for you do not know what day your Lord is coming."
-Matthew 24:42
Last Sunday I spent a delightful Sunday morning with the good folk at St. John UCC in Melbourne. As I prepared my sermon for that visit, I mulled the lectionary's gospel text for the first Sunday in Advent. My attention was arrested by the line above - and not (unfortunately) in a particularly helpful way. I found myself wondering - is the coming of the Lord something to cringe about?
I wondered about a famous song - not one we sing in church, but one you all know -
"You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why -
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He's making a list,
He's checking it twice,
He's gonna find out
Who's naughty or nice -
Santa Claus is coming to town."
So is that how it is with the coming of the Lord? I s God's interest in us and our living primarily one of judgment and frequent disapproval? Is God the celestial killjoy whose attitude can best be summarized in that not so admirable parental admonition, "Better not make me come back there (or down there, I suppose)!"
It's not that God has no interest in right-doing and wrong-doing - God is a God of righteousness and clearly we are enjoined to righteousness.
But we - or at least I - are woefully inadequate at this business of righteous living. If that's the case, must Advent be a season for fear and dread? Should we live each day with the awful prospect that God might return today and find us messing up - yet again?
I don't think so. God knows our failings - our sin - and the promise of the Gospel is God's unconditional grace even in the face of human brokenness. If that's the case, then I understand the Advent prospect of God's return to be a source of hope - not a source of dread.
What is the nature of this hope? That in spite of my brokenness and the collective brokenness of all of humankind - God still loves us and that the prospect of wholeness for all of creation is not a pipedream.
That's my Advent hope.
Amen! Come Lord Jesus!
Rich Pleva
Conference Minister
Iowa Conference, United Church of Christ |
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We need a Logistic team immediately!
Global Ministries and PC USA has started a team effort and we need to add a UCC segment to spread the word across the state of Iowa...read below!
Hello friends!
We need your help getting the word out. Our 3-year term in Poland concludes with 6 months of travel and speaking in United States congregations. This is a time of sharing and appreciation of our senders.
It is also a challenging time for us.
We seek to reach as many people as possible to build relationships, encourage outreach and missions, and tell the story of what God is doing in our part of the world and beyond.
Without a logistics team we are lost.
The team contacts pastors and missions committees, arranges and confirms our schedule, makes sure we are housed and fed, and generally makes sure we are fully used when we are in the area.
Iowa and South Dakota are big states and we will be putting on many miles as we visit congregations of the UCC, DOC and PC USA, sometimes trying to get those congregations to gather together for a special event to host us.
Do you know a person or a group who could undertake this ministry?
It's a 14-month commitment, really, starting now and ending around December 15, 2011. As a mission to missionaries, it is vitally important to the ongoing work of Global Ministries worldwide. As critical support for getting out the word, itineration planning makes it possible for us to bring the good news about Global Ministries work.
Itineration planning is hard work and often thankless work.
It takes a team approach. It means spending a lot of time talking to people on the phone and working on the computer, scoping out our days and ways as we cover the miles and bring the message. This work could be done from anywhere with a cell phone and a laptop.
Think about folks you know who enjoy connecting with people and planning events. We are the first of many missionaries who will be coming to speak and experienced itineration planners are THE key to bridging congregations with international ministries worldwide.
Have questions? Please write to us:
Liz and Doug Searles <thesearles@gmail.com>
To volunteer for this ministry as an individual, couple, or group, please contact Jo Ordway at 515.277.6369 or jo@ucciaconf.org
Blessings on all your ministries and discernments!
Liz and Doug in Lodz, PL
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IT IS BACK...A CLERGY DAY
Leader for this Crisis Intervention Workshop on The Impact of Trauma on Spirituality is Kathy Reardon.
This had been cancelled earlier this fall, so remember to get this back on your calendar!
Date: December 6, 2010
Time: 9am - 4pm
Location: Highland Park Christian Church, 4250 NW. Sixth Street, Des Moines
Cost: $25 including lunch
To register, email Connie Derby Dirks at cddumw@gmail.com.
IF YOU RECEIVE A BOUNCE BACK/ERROR MESSAGE WHEN SENDING TO CONNIE, PLEASE USE AN ALTERNATIVE EMAIL TO JULIE BISHOP GIBSON AT jgibson@pcpartner.net.
IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED AND WANT TO VERIFY YOUR REGISTRATION, PLEASE USE THE ALTERNATIVE EMAIL TO JULIE BISHOP GIBSON AT jgibson@pcpartner.net |
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Call retreat POSTPONED!
"The Call" Retreat that was scheduled for December 10th and 11th has been postponed.
However, this retreat for people discerning a call to ministry WILL be rescheduled so stay tuned for the new date information in 2011.
Please contact Rev. Nicole Havelka (nicole@ucciaconf.org) or Dianne Prichard (dianne@ucciaconf.org) if you have any questions. |
Certification School in Progressive Christian Youth Ministry...
Save the dates: May 22-27, 2011 and November 4-6, 2011! This opportunity will take place in Alexandria, Minnesota and there are early registration incentives; the price will be only $2,000 if registered by January 1. The registration will be up and running soon, but NOW is the time to get this into your budget for 2011. |
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New Church Planter Discernment Workshop...
Across the United Church of Christ, there is increasing
interest in starting new churches. To accommodate those considering a call to do so, these discernment retreats are offered with the goal of developing a pool of clergy and lay persons who are ready to respond to a call for new church start ministry.
Sponsored by Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa Conferences of the United Church of Christ, this conference is on February 25, 2011 in DeForest, WI. Reduced registration fees if register prior to January 21, 2011. |
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"Hospitality in Changing Times "
30th Annual Rural Ministry Conference
DUBUQUE, IOWA
March 6-8, 2011
An ecumenical event for pastors of small town & rural congregations to network with others in similar circumstances as well as discover creative and practical ideas. Save the dates on your calendars! |
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Emotional intelligence and human relations training...
The Core EQ-HR Center is offering an intensive 5-day session designed to enable participants to learn about, build, and practice emotional intelligence skills in a small group setting. Skilled facilitators provide tools and feedback to enable participants to learn about themselves and to immediately practice emerging skills.
As part of this core event, workshop participants complete a comprehensive self-assessment of their emotional intelligence. They also identify up to 20 people who know them well and are willing to complete the same assessment in order to provide valuable feedback. Past participants have described this assessment and the EQ-HR workshop as a life-changing event.
Click here to learn more about the upcoming sessions. |
Do you need some hymnals?
St John UCC in Melbourne has over 60 copies of the red "Hymnal United Church of Christ" available for anyone in need of them. You may contact 641.482.3423 or send an email to stjohnucc265@yahoo.com. |
Spiritual directors...
Do you work with or know of a spiritual director you would recommend to others? The Iowa Conference office is interested in compiling a list of such persons. Please send names and contact information to Jo Ordway at the conference office - just email jo@ucciaconf.org. |
REMINDER...Year end accounting
The Iowa Conference accounting for year 2010 will end on the first Wednesday of 2011 which is January 5, 2011. Please be aware that anything received after January 5, 2011 will appear on the 2011 records and not the 2010 records. |
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Conference-wide Book Reading
Realities, chuckles, ponderous thoughts, relaxation...join the Conference-wide Book Readers who will take on their first book starting in January 2011!
What book???
Who is the author???
How do I join???
Where is the book???
How do I obtain the book???
The answers...open
Conference-wide Book Reading and join the fun.
Schedule of the chapters - click here. |
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December 3, 2010
