News

There’s a season for everything     and a time for every matter under the heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1, CEB) In my new neighborhood, there has been an intentionality in providing green space.  To that end, there is a large depression filled with an assortment of prairie plants located between where I live and the houses on the next street over.  On the development plans this area is referred to as a prairie slough, however it has been bone-dry ever since I moved in a little under a year ago.  ...

Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church For Immediate Release May 14, 2024 Clarifying the Status of The United Methodist Church’s Relationship with the Global Methodist Church “Make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together.” Ephesians 4:3 CEB Holding Scripture’s call for Christian unity before us, we lament that some have chosen to leave The United Methodist Church. At the same time, we must clarify that the Global Methodist Church has no ...

Looking to rent out your church property to third parties for weddings, funerals, or community events? In today's changing landscape, leveraging church property can be a game-changer for ministries seeking to expand their impact, but it also presents unique challenges and risks. Unlock the potential of your ministry's property usage with exclusive insights from United Methodist Insurance and GCFA's Legal Team. Join us for a dynamic webinar that’ll empower your ministry with the tools necessary...

Wellness Screening at Annual Conference Saturday June 8: 6 am until 8:30 am WDM RecPlex in the Community Room    Open to all clergy and spouses. This includes all local pastors, part-time pastors, commissioned, probationary, extension and retired clergy, elders,and deacons.   All means All, even if you aren’t on the conference insurance.  MercyOne is handling our online registration which is open until 5 am on June 8th.  Registration Link: https://MercyOneBusinessSolutions.as.me/UMC  The ...

Read the Iowa May Connection Newsletter.

Do you wish you knew how to better engage families with children, or better support them in their everyday faith journeys? The United Methodist Publishing House is launching a research project to discover just that, and we need the help of church leaders like you!   Click HERE to take a quick, 5-question survey about engaging families, and you’ll have the opportunity to receive all the insights from our research into what helps parents and caregivers engage in faith formation.  

May 26, 2024 — Trinity Sunday Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17 Rev. Dr. Gary L. Armstrong   One of the challenges of being a preacher is that at times between the time a sermon is prepared and when it is preached events can happen in the world, or one’s immediate surroundings, that cause a shift in one’s worldview or view of life in general.  As I began to prepare these remarks the General Conference of the United Methodist Church was meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina. Key ...

“… they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” Isaiah 2: 4   At the first General Conference of The United Methodist Church, held in 1972, the Social Principles Study Commission presented this statement:   “Homosexuals no less than heterosexuals are persons of sacred worth, who need the ministry and guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment, as well ...

Iowa has been impacted by more than 60 Tornados in 2024 (so far). This is a great time to take a few minutes to “Get Prepared”. While there is no way for us to be prepared for everything, if we take some basic preparedness steps, we will be able to survive disaster when it happens. Disaster is “self-defined”, what is a disaster in one community may not be seen as a disaster in another community. Our goal for being prepared is to have some basic things and processes in place.    TALK: Start by ...

Be a Part of our UMC Future!  Iowa Conference Youth and Young Adults are invited to consider making their voices heard as members of our Conference agencies which coordinate the mission activities for our Conference. Below are listed some open positions for interested youth (ages 12-17) or young adults (18-35). Descriptions of the agencies which request youth/young adult involvement are available here. Elections will be held at Annual Conference 2024 for four-year terms. (Yes, it’s a long ...

Mission u 2024 is an in-depth study presented by Iowa Conference United Women in Faith Saturday, July 13, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Scheman Building, 1805 Center Drive, Iowa State University, Ames Register: https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=787387 Registration deadline: July 5. Cost: $45; includes lunch; pay by check to Iowa Conference United Women in Faith; send to Jane Edwards, registrar, 2232 170th St., Boone, IA 50036. Scholarships and grants are available; contact your local UWFaith ...

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 NIV “Hope” is a thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words -  And never stops- at all - And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -  And sore must be the storm - That could abash the little Bird That kept so many warm -  I’ve heard it in the chillest land -  And on the strangest ...

Acts 2:1-21 | Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:22-27 | John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15   When the day of General Conference had come[1], they were all together in Charlotte, North Carolina (or gathered virtually around their screens). Folks from all places, speaking many languages and representing many identities were gathered. After diligent prayer, study, holy conferencing, and legislative action, votes were taken and calculated. Significant changes were approved through majority votes and many ...

How Do We Bring About Change? By: Rev. Cindy Hickman How do we bring about change? Not change for change’s sake. Not the sort of change that results in a new couch because I am desperately tired of the old one. I mean the sort of change that makes life better for people, that makes us all more loving, and that makes for a more peaceful planet. The sort of change that points the world toward God’s intention at creation. How do we bring about that change? The Commission on the Status and Role ...

A short story by Verl Lekwa “Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this he showed them his hands and sides.”                              —John 20:19-20  It was my first job as a pastor after serving in World War II. The town was a small Midwestern town, agriculturally oriented, with lots of energy and activities that had been slowed by the war. I had just finished seminary when I was drafted, and now I was ready to see how suited I was to lead a church.  ...

By: Liz Winders, Director of Communications Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church On May 3, 2024, at the 2020 General Conference of the United Methodist Church being held in 2024, delegates voted to reduce the number of bishops from 39 to 32 for the 2025-2028 quadrennium. Based on decisions of the North Central Jurisdiction and General Conference, one of the current bishops serving in the North Central Jurisdiction will likely transfer to another jurisdiction.  Rev. Dr. ...

May 12, 2024 —  Seventh Sunday of Easter Acts 1:15-17; Psalm 1; 1John 5:9-13; John 17: 6-19 or Ascension Sunday Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 24: 44-53  Rev. Paul Wilcox On this 7th Sunday of Easter, we have choices, choices, choices!  Our regular lections prepare us for next Sunday’s Pentec ost celebration.  But 40 days after Easter is Ascension Day, so this Sunday is also Ascension Sunday.  If that isn’t enough, it’s also Mother’s Day—which any preacher knows is ignored only ...

Dear friends, Friday night, April 26, 2024, as many as 78 tornados (per USGS and Local Emergency Management) raced across eastern Nebraska and western and central Iowa leaving devastation in their wake.   Like many of you, my first instinct is to pack the car and help, but please don’t. In the coming days (and weeks), we will have information and opportunities for you to help. All available resources, including housing, floor space, and Sunday school rooms, are being used to house and help ...

By: Liz Winders, Director of Communications,  Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Bishop Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai delivered a powerful sermon on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Providence United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC. In her sermon, "What's Love Got to Do with It?" Bigham-Tsai emphasized the importance of love in our daily lives and challenged attendees to put love into practice. Watch the Contemporary service.  |  Watch the Traditional Service.  |  See images from both...

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” —Ephesians 4:3  Dear Friends of the Iowa Annual Conference,  The 2024 General Conference has approved regionalization, quietly and overwhelmingly, by a final vote of 78.13% in the affirmative. It did so in a way that will help maintain the unity of our global church while increasing our ability to make local decisions about ministry.  First, some background about the process. The regionalization legislation was first ...

For as long as I can remember, I have been curious about and fascinated by the ancient sin of inequity.  The ways we as humanity create division and then use that division to justify the dissemination of resources under the created illusion that there isn’t enough for all of us.  And more egregiously, we use these divisions to justify violence in all its forms. Inequity and iniquity have separate meanings but the same base, the Latin word aequus, meaning “level” or “equal.”  The word inequity ...

April 24, 2024 Dear Members of the Iowa Annual Conference,    Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.     General Conference has officially begun. And we come into this time with great hope for our church. We come hoping for outcomes that will move us forward as a more equitable church, a more gracious church, a church making space for all people, no matter race or culture, economic or immigration status, gender, gender identity, or sexuality.  Some of us also come with ...

By: Liz Winders, Director of Communications,  Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church The 2020 General Conference of the United Methodist Church being held in 2024 opened with a sermon on the importance of stillness and the power of God. The speaker, Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton, urged attendees to seek a "conversion of our hearts" and to live out the church's mission of "extravagant love seasoned with an unmerited and amazing grace." "Some words that stuck with me from Bishop ...

Acts 10:44-48; Psalm 98; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17  Rev. Rebecca Campney Carver  When was the last time you jumped for joy? In 2009, I traveled to Washington, DC as a chaperone on an Iowa City West High School choral trip. The day our entourage was in Lafayette Square, near the White House, the adults watched group after group of students taking pictures as they jumped in the air. We chaperones decided to do the same. Somewhere in a box of photos, I have documented evidence of this: a picture ...

Time to Level Up Your Faith By: Pastor Nate Mason Nerd Alert! I think it’s been fairly well-documented that I am a dork.  A big one.  One of my favorite pastimes is playing role-playing games (RPGs) on my PS5.  I don’t have a lot of time for gaming anymore.  I often have to multitask[i] to get my gaming in.  I stay away from online gaming, and games that require any amount of skill or hand-eye coordination, because I’m awful at them,[ii] which makes RPGs perfect for my play style.  RPGs ...

April 28, 2024 — Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8 By Rev. Katie Z. Dawson   Grape farmers are diligent about pruning their vines because the farther away from the main vine the grapes are, the smaller and more bitter they will be.  Nutrients the plant takes in have to be distributed and are more diluted.  But if the vines are pruned back so that the fruit can grow closer to the heart of the vine, they get the nourishment they need to produce ...

June 7-9, 2024  |  RecPlex in West Des Moines www.iaumc.org/AC2024 Getting ready to serve As a member to the Annual Conference there are many important responsibilities. Coming prepared is essential to a smooth and meaningful session. As materials become available they will be posted.  Questions Please address any questions to: [email protected]. Registration You should have received your registration link for the 2024 Iowa Annual Conference from your District Office. They are due by Wednesday,...

The Iowa Conference Center building has updated its hours to Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The building is closed to the public Friday – Sunday. Regularly scheduled conference meetings will continue to be held on site and employees will continue to work their assigned schedules and hours and be available by appointment. If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call (515) 974-8000.

Are you ready for a thrilling adventure this summer? The Iowa Conference has an exciting invitation for you and your congregation members! Join the Iowa Annual Conference #BeUMC Team on RAGBRAI LI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa 51) and pedal across the beautiful landscapes of Iowa.  RAGBRAI draws thousands of cyclists worldwide, and this year's ride promises to be one of the prettiest, with a route through southern Iowa. You can ride the whole week or a couple of days, and ...

Have you heard that phrase before? I imagine you have. Before I knew anything about the theology or mission of The United Methodist Church, I knew those words that describe who we are. I remember seeing TV commercials and billboards promoting that slogan when I was in my teens. The UMC out in the wild, if you will.    So, I was surprised to learn later on that those words are not our mission statement, nor are they General Conference-approved wording carefully workshopped over a quadrennium. ...

Want to learn more about what will happen at Annual Conference this year? Sign up to join the Annual Conference Pre-Conference Town Hall meeting scheduled for Saturday, May 11, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am via ZOOM. Registration is open to anyone who would like to attend. Register here. At the Town Hall meeting, we will hear a report from our 2024 General Conference delegation, who will present the results of the General Conference and what they mean for The Iowa Annual Conference. There will also ...

We invite you to join us for a time of conversation with the Iowa Delegation as we prepare for the General Conference. Our topics for the evening will include legislation, how you can follow along at home, and ways that you can pray and support the work before the group. We will meet on Tuesday, April 9, at 7:30 pm, following the United Women in Faith Conference Book Study that evening (see here for more details).    We also encourage you to check out the resources that Communications has been ...

April 21, 2024 — Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 4:5-12; Psalm 23; 1 John 3:16-24; John 10:11-18 By Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Thompson   The 23rd Psalm opens with The Lord is and then follows, in great detail, with images of the Lord as shepherd and the people as flock. The Gospel according to John records a collection of self-revealing statements by Jesus known as the “I am” sayings.  Perhaps, upon hearing Jesus proclaim, “I am the good shepherd,” you thought of the shepherd boy David’s 23rd Psalm?  ...

After much discernment and consideration, The Board of Camps of the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has decided to discontinue the Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy Program at Wesley Woods Camp and Retreat Center effective April 30, 2024. This change will not affect Wesley Wood Camp and Retreat Center’s long-standing tradition of providing exceptional summer programming to campers. Wesley Woods will continue to offer programming with horses during its summer camp ...

On April 22, 1970, I was twelve years old when the first Earth Day was celebrated in the United States. It is estimated that 20 million people attended the inaugural events at tens of thousands of sites, including elementary and secondary schools, universities and community centers across the country[1] In my hometown of Long Beach, California there were several walks and events; it felt like the world was waking up to planet justice and care. The walk I was on with my school friends was 20 ...

Luke 24:36b-49 — Jesus appears to the disciples  By Rosa María Rodríguez Jesus presents himself in our midst; when the circumstances of life fill us with sadness, doubts, incredulity, etc.  These keep us from feeling and having the peace of Christ and thus it is difficult to be his witnesses.  We can’t spread the good news when we don’t have peace in our hearts.  This is why the gospel of Luke describes the unexpected encounter between Jesus and his disciples after the resurrection.  Where all ...

Camp Sunday is a special day set apart for your congregation to celebrate the ministry of camping together. The Camp Sunday Worship is based on John 1:35-51, where one disciple after another encounters Jesus and has a transformative experience that leads them to tell others, so they too will “come and see” this man from Galilee and be changed by that experience. Through our Camping and Retreat ministry, we know that children, youth, and young adults find their faith, become strengthened, and ...

The Anti-Racism Team will host a month-long book study of Our Hearts Were Strangely Lukewarm on Tuesdays from 7-8 p.m. in May (7th, 14th, 21st, & 28th) via Zoom.  Why attend this study? As the book describes, “Our Hearts Were Strangely Lukewarm summons the reader on a most unusual journey through Methodist history. Along the way, we discover how the White American Methodist Church became deeply entangled with White supremacy. From the founding of the church in the late eighteenth century to ...

Someone Else's House By: Rev. Lee Roorda Schott In about three months, I’ll move from a house that isn’t mine to another that isn’t mine. Both houses are parsonages, owned by the church I currently serve and by the one I’ll serve next, respectively. We pastors sometimes live in houses like these. Someone else’s house.   In a culture where home ownership is highly valued and often regarded as a mark of successful adulting, it’s peculiar—and somewhat unsettling—to find oneself in someone else’s ...

Memo for Preachers See all the people April 7, 2024 — Second Sunday of Easter Acts 4:32-35; Psalms 133; 1 Juan 1:1-2,2; Juan 20:19-31  By Wendy Zadeh Thomas was heartbroken to miss seeing the resurrected Jesus. He expresses his need out loud. “Unless I see . . . I will not believe.” It’s a short lament.  Thomas threatens nonbelief, yet he shows a committed faith. He’s right there with the disciples the following week. I admire the pluckiness of Thomas. He sticks it out in community even while ...

Ten years ago, as part of our Imagine No Malaria campaign, we partnered with Terracycle as a fundraising effort. Congregations could collect hard-to-recycle items and mail them in, and the conference received a small donation in return.  We stopped utilizing this program a decade ago, and the Terracycle program itself moved eight years ago. However, we still have folks collecting and mailing recyclables with this old information. As a result, the address in Pennsylvania rejected them and ...

Application forms are now available for the 2024 Barbara Csomay Be Bold Grants, which are awarded annually by the Iowa Conference United Women in Faith (UWFaith). Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to active local UWFaith units in Iowa that want to begin a new project involving multiple members to serve the community. Grants of up to $500 will be awarded to units that are planning to repeat a project or have an ongoing project involving multiple members. In addition, grants of up to $1,000...

I looked out to see the bustling courtyard. A European café, complete with cobblestone pathways and wrought-iron chairs. As I looked to my right and left I saw the curious gaze of strangers as we all knowingly nodded and did that little half-wave where you just flashed your fingertips up at someone. The host, the one who had gathered us together in this courtyard, posed a question that puzzled me. "Would you like something to drink?" The words hung in the air like a riddle, and I stood ...

This winter and spring, you are invited to one of five district town halls as we continue to claim our identity as United Methodists. The focus of our gatherings will be on our mission, vision, and core values at the Iowa Annual Conference. Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai will be present at each of these five gatherings for a time of teaching, and together, we will share stories about what it means to be engaged and connected with one another. They will be held on Sunday afternoons from 2-4 p.m., ...

Submitted by: Rev. Jane Shepherd God spoke to me while I was reading a book in bed.  It was Elisabeth Moltmann’s The Women Around Jesus (Crossroads Publishing, New York, NY, 1990).  God said, “Draw these women.”   It was December of 2017.  I knew it was God’s voice.   However, I have never been interested in being an artist.  I never took an art class in school or went to an art museum.  I own no art books.  But I knew to listen and be obedient when God speaks.  I got on Amazon’s website and ...

John 20:1-18 and/or Mark 16:1-8  By: Paul I. Burrow The Easter story from the gospel of John is well-known.  But it’s worth taking the time to note the details that John includes.  Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb of Jesus to finish embalming the body.  It’s not only early, it’s still dark.  Jesus had died late in the day on Friday.  Joseph of Arimathea had just enough time to ask for the body and place it in the tomb before the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath at dusk.  ...

Over the season of Lent, Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai has been leading the Iowa Conference through psalms of lament. We have focused on events and trials impacting our own lives and the world, sharing in prayer and seeking signs of hope.  In particular, we have heard powerful stories already from Ukraine and the Holy Land. There is still one more evening session on March 19th if you would like to join in, or you can rewatch the videos at https://www.iaumc.org/lent. As we move towards the end of ...

At a gathering of friends, one friend lamented about the apathy she sees in the world. She lifted up how people don’t seem to take action or speak up against those things that matter to them. She worried about what life would be like for the upcoming generations. This essay is in response to my friend’s lament. An Unexpected Sight And God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and ...

Memo for Preachers March 28 and 29, 2024 — Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, Year B  By: Rev. Bob Dean Most of the passages on both days describe aspects of the doctrine of substitutionary atonement, while while not naming it as such. Your congregation may benefit from an overview of it. One article notes “The English word 'atonement' originally meant "at-one-ment", i.e. being "at one", in harmony, with someone.” (1) These holy days remind us how we made “at one” with God, and with one another. ...

For Immediate Release Wednesday, March 13, 2024 United Methodist Church Council of Bishops calling for ceasefire in Gaza “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God”  Matthew 5:9 NLT   As bishops of The United Methodist Church, we call for an immediate and permanent cease-fire in the conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza and pledge our prayers and commitment to work for a durable peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and all in the region. As United Methodists, we ...

March 24, 2024 — Palm Sunday Mark 11:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 By M. Wayne Clark   Hosanna! A Cry For Help In the gospel of Mark, Jesus’ ride to the gates of Jerusalem is accompanied by a procession of people, who have practiced their cheer, “Praise God!...”. Their cheer probably sounded like the cheer of the crowd at any one of the state basketball or wrestling tournament games. On the back side of such a cheer is its true meaning, “Hosanna!...,” put literally, “Please help!” shouted out as a...

Read the Iowa February Connection Newsletter.

The announcement is official: Visas are secured, and the itineration is scheduled for United Methodist missionaries Rev. Dr. Jean Claude Masuka Maleka and wife Francine Ilunga Mpanga Mufuk to be in Iowa in April. They will arrive in Iowa on April 25 and depart on April 30.  Carroll First United Methodist Church will host Jean and Francine on Sunday, April 28. Carroll First has been prayerfully and financially supporting their global partnership with Francine since 2020 and Jean since 2023 while...

By: Rev. Dr. Sherrie Ilg   I was invited to write a bit about the Women’s Clergy Retreat, February 27-28, with Bishop Kennetha, held at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Hiawatha, IA.   I arrived early to walk the grounds, a warm February day unexpected for the normal seasonal temperature. Experiencing the evergreen grove with needles and pinecones reaching up and hanging down, the garden beds waiting for warmth to stay around so food could grow with compost and soil bins ready, the...

Happy Lent! Wait, is “Happy Lent" too cheerful of a greeting for the contemplative season we’re in? Perhaps. Regardless, I do hope that it is well with your soul this Lenten season. As an anxiety-ridden kid, the practices full of lament and calls to repentance of Lent sometimes left me despising myself more than I was loving God. Having grown out of my adolescence, I find that Lent takes on a different, more complex role in my spiritual journey; and I have discerned how to perform Lenten ...

Each year, on the first Saturday in November, United Methodists gather for the Mission Ingathering at five sites across Iowa to offer cash and other items for missions in Iowa and around the world. A portion of the funds collected is returned to Iowa United Methodist churches to work to address hunger relief, primarily within their local community. If your United Methodist congregation is involved with a hunger project or wishes to begin a program, you may apply for a portion of the available ...

Memo for Preachers March 17, 2024 — Fourth Sunday of Lent Jer.31:31-34, Ps. 51:1-12, John 12:20-33, Heb. 5:5-10 Martha Dalton Ward Love is Something If You Give It Away… This week’s Gospel text from John 12 brought to mind a line from “The Magic Penny”, a 1967 folk song by Malvina Reynolds, “Love is something if you give it away, you end up having more.”   Now that’s a paradox, a statement which seems to contradict itself, but in fact turns out to be true.  Indeed, when we give love freely, ...

The Iowa Annual Conference is now accepting nominations for The Harry Denman Evangelism Award for Clergy, Lay, and Youth. The Harry Denman Evangelism Awards honor United Methodists in each annual conference whose exceptional ministry of evangelism – expressed in Word (what), Sign (why) and Deed (how) – brings people into a life transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Annual Conferences join The Foundation for Evangelism each year to recognize one youth, one clergy, and one lay person in ...

Now is the time to act and apply for the 2024 General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) scholarships. Annually, the GBHEM provides many scholarships for college and seminary, and the deadline for application is fast approaching. Supporting your educational goals is a top priority for the GBHEM. In 2023, more than two thousand United Methodist students were awarded scholarships. This financial aid opens pathways for students of all backgrounds to earn degrees and serve as the next ...

Every year, the In Mission Together team collects stories of how Iowa United Methodist Churches are in mission with their communities. These stories will uplift, inspire, and communicate to other churches how they can be in mission.    Burlington First United Methodist Church Burlington First United Methodist Church celebrates ten years of serving the local and international communities through the LOFT Market, a fair-trade store that is housed in the church's community activity building.    ...

By: Liz Winders, Courtney Levin and Katie Dawson While stories of disaffiliation seemed to dominate 2023, there was another story being written. For those congregations who experienced a disaffiliation vote and yet ultimately chose to stay among the 566 congregations remaining United Methodist, we are experiencing a renewed sense of excitement and hope for the future.    Grace United Methodist Church (UMC) in Spencer, IA, is healing and looking outside its walls to reach new people through ...

Lent. A holy pause. Reflection. A time to step into our origin story again. Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. Jesus at the Passover meal looking across the table at friends. Jesus in the garden kneeling in prayer, in tears. Jesus facing Judas at his arrest. Jesus before Pilate. “What is truth?” Jesus carrying a cross. Jesus nailed, slumped, dying. Jesus limp in the arms of Joseph of Arimathea. Three days of Jesus as only a void, an aching empty place. And then sunlight in a garden and open tomb ...

Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-21; Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22 Rev. Dr. Gary L. Armstrong   Getting the Poison Out of Our System When I was a teenager I had some bouts of blood poisoning (sepsis) in my leg. With some appropriate treatment consisting of antiseptic and antibiotic treatment (including mega-doses of penicillin), the sepsis did not spread beyond my leg. For that, I am extremely thankful. The memory of that time comes to mind as I read texts for the Fourth Sunday in Lent. They allude, directly ...

By: Kae Tritle, RN Well-being Coordinator IAC   A common refrain often heard in today’s society is ‘I am so busy.’ We often may feel hurried and harried. What we have forgotten in our ‘busyness’ is God’s instruction to observe the rhythm of Sabbath rest. From Wayne Muller’s Sabbath Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest: “The practice of Sabbath is designed specifically to restore us, a gift of time in which we allow the cares and concerns of our work to fall away.”   Sabbath is meant to create ...

In their In Mission Together Report, Melvin United Methodist Church highlighted their commitment to spreading kindness, advocacy, and compassion to those incarcerated. In 2023, Melvin UMC embarked on a new ministry endeavor, extending support to individuals and families affected by incarceration of their loved-ones at Newton Correctional Facility. The church aimed to demonstrate care and concern for eight families connected with the facility through various means such as prayer, practical ...

We are excited that so many are signed up for Bishop Kennetha’s Lenten Study, From Lament to Hope: A Lenten Study of the Psalms of Lament.  Register here → Over four weeks, Bishop Kennetha will be exploring with us Israel’s hymnbook and the psalms of lament that expressed their grief in the midst of trials. As we focus on events and trials that are impacting our own lives and the world, we will see how the psalms can lead us to hope. In particular, we will pray for peace in the ...

Back in December, we got a family membership to the Chaska Community Center, and it is awesome! It’s his huge complex with two weight rooms, racket ball courts, a lap pool, a kiddie pool with all kinds of slides and sprayers, a hockey rink (because we are now in Minnesota, I think it’s required by law for every public complex to have a hockey rink), a walking track, and, most importantly, drop in daycare so I can use these facilities.  When we first started going to the gym, it was packed.  We’...

By: Cherie Miner, Director, Mobile United Methodist Missionaries (MUMM) On Oct. 1, 2023, I marked 10 years of service as director of Mobile United Methodist Missionaries (MUMM). I was hired as the group’s second director approximately 20 years after the founders began exploring the formation of an Iowa-based mission group. That group had started within a much smaller area (Ottumwa District) and with a much broader range of work.   When I started, our board was already overdue to hire, and the ...

Exodus 20:1-17  • Psalm 19  • 1 Corinthians 1:18-25  • John 2:13-22  Rev. Mara Bailey   Right Relationship—With God, With Others, With Ourselves  When people ask me, “What’s your favorite season?” they usually mean one of the seasons that are reflected in nature—Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall (all you have to do is call!). As a pastor, I think liturgically in response to that question, and without a doubt, Lent is my favorite. In a conversation with a colleague on Ash Wednesday, we reflected ...

A Song for Every Season By: Rev. Brian Williams 3 There’s a season for everything     and a time for every matter under the heavens: 2     a time for giving birth and a time for dying,     a time for planting and a time for uprooting what was planted, 3     a time for killing and a time for healing,     a time for tearing down and a time for building up, 4     a time for crying and a time for laughing,     a time for mourning and a time for dancing, 5     a time for throwing stones and a time ...

By Bill and Katherine Howell, UMVIM Team Leaders On January 20, 2024, our mission team (Beverly’s Alpha Team) of sixteen, teamed up with Strong Missions in Grecia, Costa Rica. We were greeted by a wonderfully enthusiastic staff that would take care of our basic room and board during our 10 working days. Every staff member contributed 100% every day. Strong Missions has an outreach that extends into many areas of their surrounding communities. They deliver food boxes and teach Karate and dance...

Memo for Preachers February 25, 2024 — Second Sunday of Lent, Year B  Gen. 17:1-7, 15-16; Ps 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38  Rev. Paul Wilcox   The older I get, the better I was Abraham figures prominently in the readings for the 2nd Sunday in Lent.  “Perfect @ 99” is the sermon title I would use for the Genesis and Romans readings—it gives an old duffer like me something to look forward to!  Perfection, of course, is measured not in Abraham’s behavior, but in his trust: trust in the ...

Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai announces that Rev. Edgar F. Solís will be the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (IAUMC) Director of Connectional Ministries beginning July 1, 2024. Solís is currently serving at First UMC in Des Moines.   Rev. Edgar F. Solís began his ministry as a youth leader and worship minister in his local church. Pastor Solís has devoted years to designing and implementing outreach and evangelistic programs such as children, youth, and family camps, ...

The mission of Iowa Methodist Camps is to allow youth to explore Christ’s love in a safe and welcoming environment. Their annual campaign has become vital to the sustainability of the outdoor Christian faith experience for both youth and adults. Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai invites you to support our Camping Ministry. Donate here: www.iaumc.org/camps.   The annual campaign celebrates relationships both with God and with one another. It is an opportunity to share a camp story and the ...

Join Bishop Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai & the Iowa Annual Conference on Journeys of Paul in Greece & Turkiye on October 8, 2024. On this tour, you will see the sights in Athens as your guide introduces you to the world-renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, the Erectheum, stand on Mars Hill, stroll the agora, the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Corinth and so much more. Sign up today. Register early and save $75  by March 8, 2024 $50  by...

This article is adapted from What Does ‘Regionalization’ Mean for the UMC by Rev. Victoria Rebeck, Northern Illinois Director of Communications. It has been used with permission. Over the past few years, you may have heard that the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) General Conference will vote on a plan for “Worldwide Regionalization.” You might wonder, “What does that mean, and how will it affect the United Methodist Church?”   A group of significant leaders in the UMC, namely the Standing ...

As we lean into Lent, I wrote this poem for Ash Wednesday. If you are into interactive reading, you can look up the passages in Daniel and John that I reference in the poem.  I was working with the idea that ash is a transformed remnant of something: a piece of wood, the remains of a meadow, a life, and in that transformation, it always carries the memory of what it was before, just now it is changed.  I apply the idea of God’s unquenchable fire (such as displayed in the burning bush and maybe ...

February 18, 2024 — First Sunday of Lent, Year B  Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15  Rev. Rebecca Campney Carver    At Once We begin the season of Lent with a surge, as has been true throughout this Year B in the lectionary. The gospel of Mark moves with alacrity, giving only the highlights of what is happening and leaving everything else up to us to interpret. Such is the case with the scripture for this Sunday. Three short paragraphs that encompass Jesus’ baptism, ...

Fresh Expressions with Michael Adam Beck resources church leaders to serve the present age…  If you long to reach new people for the Church in new ways, this new channel will help you understand what Fresh Expressions of the church are, how you can start your own, and will provide you with case studies of Fresh Expressions “in the wild.”   As new content is developed, you can expect to find training videos, regular check-ins from Michael, regarding best practices, and more!   Do church ...

The Commission on Religion and Race (CORR) mission in the Iowa Annual United Methodist Conference is  “Supporting and leading vital conversations on dismantling racism, developing culturally competent leadership and ministry, and promoting equity and racial justice in the church.” We will seek to equip and support clergy and churches in cross-racial appointment and diversity.  We are a conference acting for justice (Micah 6:8), which requires us to open our eyes and witness the various forms of ...

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 By Rev. Katie Z. Dawson   The Truth of Our Hearts I have always found this passage from the gospel of Matthew a strange text to be assigned for Ash Wednesday.  Every year, on this day, we read: When you pray, shut the door and pray in secret. When you give, don’t look for praise. When you fast, don’t let it show.    All of these seem to decry the extremely public display of leaving a church with a sooty cross on ...

I found myself recently in a conversation with a young man whom I baptized some years ago. I’ll call him Max. It was great to see him again, after years in which our paths had diverged. We had a good catch-up. Along the way, Max shared his rather uneasy relationship with organized religion—a trait he shares with many in his generation.    But Max hasn’t walked away entirely. And I can’t stop thinking about something he said about local churches, especially those with a denominational label:    “...

2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-6; 2 Cor. 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39 By Paul I. Burrow   The Other Side of Death One of my favorite television shows ever was M*A*S*H. It was about doctors during the Korean War who did their best just to stay sane and to survive. One of the last major characters to join the cast was Major Charles Emerson Winchester. He was an elitist, and he was proud of it. Everyone else was beneath him and he let them know it. He was a snob. But Charles was also intelligent and deep ...

Carlisle UMC February 23 - February 25 Begins – 5–6 pm Friday  |  Ends – 2 pm Sunday   Learn More → This winter, the Camp Clear Lake district, in partnership with Carlisle UMC, is hosting a confirmation retreat to empower, equip, and connect our youth, helping them to live into their call as United Methodists and followers of Christ. Due to the generosity of a few churches and the faithfulness of God, we are pleased and excited to be able to open this event up to all churches of ...

By Alaire Willits, Midwest Mission's Iowa Volunteer Coordinator As the church looks forward, we want and must weave ourselves together. Midwest Mission’s Sleeping Mat Project is a perfect way. We are all too aware of many unhoused people, not only here in Iowa but also all around the globe — together, we can help create a more comfortable and restful (and dry) space for sleep. Sleeping Mats, woven from plastic grocery bags, can make a tangible and intangible difference, giving hope and ...

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7, CEB) Seized By Nan Smith I was hanging onto the bench, riding the ups and downs of a two Dramamine boat ride, when I saw them – dolphins – everywhere – as far as the eye could see.  Dolphins - leaping from the water in a fluid motion, by themselves or in pairs.  Dolphins – leading at the front of the boat, accompanying along its sides, and following in the boat’s wake.  It ...

Memo for Preachers 5th Sunday after Epiphany – Feb. 4, 2024 Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-11, 20c; 1 Cor. 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39 By: Pastor Rosa María Rodríguez   Rise Up Like the Eagles 29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. 30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; 31 but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. ...

The candidacy retreat, which is a requirement of the candidacy process, is an opportunity to further discern your call to ministry, learn more about the process, meet others on the journey, hear from those serving in different types of ministry, and have a chance to ask questions. The next candidacy retreat will be on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. via Zoom. Registration is required in order to receive the Zoom link.   Register Here →

Bishop Julius C. Trimble has served the Indiana Conference for eight years and will be retiring in September of this year (2024). As we look to celebrate Bishop Trimble and First Lady Racelder Grandberry-Trimble’s 40+ years of ministry, the Indiana Conference will be hosting a “Be Encouraged” fundraising gala and celebration in their honor on March 16. This evening will be a chance to celebrate the Bishop and First Lady and raise student scholarship money for The Trimble Africa University ...

I want to take a minute to thank all of you for your support of the camping ministry. The 2024 Annual Campaign will run throughout the month of February, and I would like to invite you all to join us on Tuesday, January 30, from 6 pm – 8:30 pm for our official campaign kick-off. Wesley Woods is graciously hosting the event complete with food, live music, and fellowship.  There will not be an ask. This is simply to celebrate the start of our camp season and to thank you for your participation.   ...

The psalms were Israel’s hymnbook. And psalms of lament were Israel’s expression of grief in the midst of trial. For this season of Lent, Bishop Kennetha invites you to join her for a conference-wide online study that will explore both personal and communal psalms as we focus on events impacting our world and our lives. In particular, we will pray for peace in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and our own nation. As we move from Lent to Easter, we will see how the psalms can lead us to hope.   This Lenten...

The Annual Conference Resolutions Committee is now accepting Resolutions for consideration at the 2024 Annual Conference Session. The deadline for submission has been extended to February 15, 2024. Procedures for Submission of Resolutions to the 2024 Iowa Annual Conference  Resolutions are “motions which express the mind of the Annual Conference Session on an issue or matter of concern or alter an aspect of conference procedure. They cannot require meetings, the expenditure of conference funds ...

Every person carries the same question: “Am I loved?” Every soul on the planet wants to know if anyone cares about them. Everyone wants to be seen as someone who is valued and accepted. From gang members to presidential candidates to the waitress who stands at our table introducing herself and saying, “I’ll be serving you tonight.” Two-year-olds to 82-year-olds, everyone carries that same question at the core of their being. Am I loved? I just finished reading Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of...

The Iowa Legislature's 2024 session is underway, and the Iowa United Women in Faith is encouraging Iowans to engage in the lawmaking process through advocacy events. "I believe as Christians we need to learn about our Iowa legislators," said Iowa United Women in Faith Social Action Committee member Bobby Jo Paige. "They enact laws that affect all of us, including housing, fair wages, good education for everyone, enough food for all and adequate health care." The first event was held on January...

January 16, 2024 Rev. Ron Carlson begins a new chapter in Iowa as Conference Treasurer Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai announces that Rev. Ron Carlson will be the new Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (IAUMC) Treasurer beginning June 1, 2024. The Iowa Conference on Finance and Administration (CFA) approved Carlson on an interim basis until he can be elected by the 2024 Iowa Annual Conference. Carlson is replacing Emily Graber whose final day was Friday, January 12.   The chair ...

Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28? By Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Thompson   Expect the Awful, Wonderful Grace of God I enjoy words. In my reading, I love how authors place words together that can both astound and teach. And in my writing, I’m always striving to capture a sacred moment, encounter, or experience that brought me to my knees—figuratively if not literally. (And I also attempt to do this in my photography.)   In the book of Deuteronomy, part of the Mosaic ...

In a climate of escalating insurance rates, churches grapple with significant challenges. Insurance companies’ decision to discontinue several church policies has left a void, contributing to a widespread surge in rates and deductibles.   Iowa, with a top-five ranking in disaster-prone states, bears the brunt of recent hail and wind damages. Costs have increased due to what insurance companies call secondary perils, such as damage from storms and other natural disasters, which in turn has driven...

The Iowa Annual Conference Communication Ministry Team is gearing up to provide extensive coverage throughout the 2024 General Conference (GC2024) of The United Methodist Church. With a focus on effective communication that encourages understanding, engagement, and connectivity among all stakeholders, the GC2024 communications plan is set to be a cornerstone of this comprehensive effort.  The core messaging of the GC2024 communication plan is guided by fundamental principles such as accuracy, ...

To cap off this season’s Advent study of Bishop Ken Carter’s book, Unrelenting Grace, an Epiphany Service of Commitment and Healing was held at Fort Dodge First United Methodist Church.    “Look at all the light! The light of Christ that is within us and that surrounds us,” remarked Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai as she scanned the crowd.    About 130 people attended in person, with 50 more joining by livestream.      See an album of images from the service. “We have come here on this Epiphany ...

Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes ...