March is Women's History Month. Since immigrants first brought the Methodist movement to the Americas in the mid-1700s, women have been key to its spread and have played a significant role in developing new churches.

 

United Methodists recall Barbara Heck, the "mother of American Methodism" and designer of John Street United Methodist Church in New York where congregations have gathered since 1768. In 1850, evangelist and writer Phoebe Palmer was a founder - with the Methodist Ladies' Home Missionary Society - of the Five Points Mission in a slum area in New York City. These are only two who have been part of planting and nurturing new congregations.

This service embodies the sharp contrasts of Holy Week. In the Entrance with the Palms we experience the joyous demonstration of loyalty to Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, including festive Palm Sunday music. In the Proclamation and Response we confront and respond to the story of Jesus' passion, including somber Passion Sunday music.

Creating world-transforming communities of faith...
Inevitably, people will search church websites and come across dead pages, bad links and seriously outdated information. These Web visitors probably will not visit in person. Don't let this happen to your church. Here are steps to clean your church website.

Trinity United Methodist Church in Keokuk is hosting a Camp Preview Day on Saturday, April 25th. Children and youth from ages 7 to 14 are being invited to "experience some of the fun camp has to offer and to learn about all that is happening this summer" at Iowa United Methodist camps.

UMC.org provides resources for the season of Lent including those for devotion and inspiration, learning and doing, family, worship and multimedia.
Equipping transformational leaders...

Ignition Spring Break 

There will be no Ignition at Wesley Woods this Sunday on March 22 and will resume again in April the 3rd Sunday.

 

Save the Date - Laity Day is April 25th
Conference Lay Leader, Margaret Borgen announces that the 2015 Laity Day with the Bishop is set for Saturday, April 25. It will be held at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Urbandale. More information coming shortly.
Iowa United Methodist Men Annual Meeting
All men and Pastors of the Iowa Annual Conference are invited to attend the annual meeting on 
March 28, 2015 at the Altoona UMC, 602 5th Ave SW, Altoona, IA.  Registration begins at 9:00 am, worship at 9:30.  Please bring used hearing aids
for The Hope of Hearing mission to Haiti.
Registration fee: $20. Pre-registration requested. Contact Jim Smith

The Iowa UM School for Ministry is pleased to announce that Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, Dr. Pamela Lightsey and Dr. Kristen Leslie have agreed to speak on the topic of Moral Trauma at our 2015 School, which will be held on April 21-24, 2015 at Honey Creek Resort State Park. Register today!
Iowa Prevent Abuse Conference

Human Trafficking, Internet, Drug Cartels, Pornography, and more (subject to change)

May 8-9, 2015

The Iowa Preventing Abuse Conference is going to be a dynamic and insightful conference. We will present top level speakers, survivors, law enforcement and more. We will identify the problems and focus on the solution.  We will also present wonderful success stories of how our Preventing Abuse Conferences helped rescue victims. Truly amazing and inspiring. For more information and to register please go to  www.preventingabuse.org.

 

United Methodist Women's Gathering

 Sunday June 7, 2015 

At Annual Conference 

Tickets $10 ($2 will go to the diversity fund) 

Contact Gladys Alvarez for tickets 

515-277-7337 or [email protected] 

Checks made to Iowa Conference UMW 

Program: Lynn Calvert on Domestic Violence 

Wesley United Methodist Church 

800 E, 12th St. Des Moines 


Five Day Academy For Spiritual Formation

October 4-9 at the American Martyrs Retreat House, Cedar Falls, Iowa
Iowa UMC Spiritual Formation Committee's Five Day Academy is the opportunity to be involved in this life changing event.  This year's five day academy is titled 'Pursuing Humor' and will feature Daniel Wolpert, the author of the "Life with God Series" and also Sister Kathleen Flood who until recently was the Director for Contemplative Programs & Coordinator of the Mentorship in Spiritual Direction for Still Point, Inc.  Both will share their experiences and practices in Spiritual direction and development while focusing on the caring love and light 'hearted side' of our God.   

 

The Academy for Spiritual Formation is an experience of disciplined Christian community emphasizing holistic spirituality-nurturing body, mind, and spirit. The program is ecumenical in nature and meant for all those who hunger for a deeper relationship with God, including both lay and clergy persons. Register Today. 


Keep up with United Methodist news from around the connection with a free subscription to the News Service Daily Digest.
The Rev. Cynthia T. Hinson, St. Paul United Methodist Church, Conroe, TX, offers this 2-page listing of Revised Common Lectionary readings for 2015, noting Sundays and Special Days.
Aligning our resources...

The Iowa United Methodist Church Building Fund Trust makes loans to local churches for the purposes of building new buildings, renovation or additions to existing facilities, repairs, purchasing land or even buying a parsonage. The Trust also has refinancing options for high-interest loans.

 

Rates currently starting at 4.50% for new loans as of February 16, 2015

 

Please contact us for more information:

Iowa United Methodist Church Building Fund Trust

[email protected] or call 515-974-8927


Looking for a Longer-Term Investment for Your Church's Endowment or Reserve Funds?

Are you looking to earn income and/or grow your long-term funds and endowments at current market rates while still maintaining the Social Principals of The United Methodist Church? Since 1981, the Iowa United Methodist Foundation began offering pooled investment options that do just that. We have grown to offer several investment options that can be invested in according to your committee's governing documents or we can help create a custom plan for your church's goals and objectives.

Opportunities...
Visit the classifieds section of the website for job postings and related opportunities within Iowa Conference congregations

 

In This Issue...
Quick Links
Iowa Conference, UMC 
2301 Rittenhouse St | Des Moines, IA 50321
(515) 289-1331