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In this issue ... |
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A path that totally changed my life |
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 Bill Spangler-Dunning
Regional Minister and President
She smiled and jumped up and down when I told her that she could go to camp! It touched my heart because it reminded me of a similar moment when I was 12 and my home church paid for my camp registration so that I could go to camp for the first time too. I am forever thankful for that moment because it helped set me on a path that totally changed my life. May all the campers who go to camp this summer experience nothing short of a change in life while on our Holy Ground in Newton IA.
A few weeks ago we, as Disciples Together, had a life changing moment together too. I don’t know that anyone jumped up and down but there were a lot of smiles and excitement in the sanctuary. I hope that as we prepare to gather together on October 15th to discern what God might be calling us to do together as Disciple congregations in the Upper Midwest you will seriously plan to attend. Every church is critical to this process. I pray, as your new Regional Minister and President, that God will make visible all the ways God wants us to do ministry together.
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2011 Summer Camp Information |
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Are you between the ages of 7 and 90? Do you dream of going to summer camp? Over 1000 campers will attend at least one of our 24 summer camps in 2011. Most of the camps take place at the Christian Conference Center, our Region's foremost symbol of our churches' ministry as Disciples Together. Don't miss out.
The camp theme this year is "Potluck" - get ready for the deep spiritual lessons that come when we say "please" and "thank you."
Camper Registration forms are at http://www.christianconferencecenter.org/camps/
Counselor Registration forms are at http://www.christianconferencecenter.org/camps/camp-counselors/
Questions? Please contact Bert Berns, our Regional Minister for Camp and Conference Center Ministries at bb@uppermidwestcc.org or (641) 792-1266.
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Youth: Apply for Upper Midwest Youth Council (UMwYC) |
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Who: Youth in 10th or 11th grade in Upper Midwest Region
What: UMwYC is a group of youth and adults who serve and lead
When: UMwYC gathers 6-8 times per year for leadership development, faith development and planning the different youth events in the region. Serving on UMwYC requires commitment, but we hope that many are up to the challenge.
How: Fill out the application
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"Bless This Dress" ministry idea from FCC Keokuk |
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"Do you know your worth?
More than diamonds hidin' on a shelf
Do you know who you are?
God has made you a shining star"
Nicole C. Mullens in "Baby Girl"
It's spring cleaning time, and if you're like many families that used to have high schoolers living with you, then you probably have leftover clothes -- in particular, formal wear. They're still perfectly good clothes, but do you know who would take them? Is your only option to throw them away?
That was a problem in Keokuk, IA. Marge Lightfoot, a member of the church helps at the local consignment shop - and the shop does not take prom dresses or wedding dresses for resale, since they're seasonal and "don't move."
When Marge brought the idea to Cathie Courtois (for campers, Miss Cathie) and Janel Quinlan, Minister of Children and Minister of Youth and Young Adults (respectively), the idea stuck.
"When Marge came and asked us if we could give these dresses to girls who needed them, Bless This Dress was born," Miss Cathie recalls.
The church invited girls from the community to come pick out a dress on a Sunday afternoon in early March. That day they gave away 21. Demand didn't stop, especially as prom quickly approached and church members kept talking up the program on Facebook. To date they've given away 40 dresses!
Geoff Mitchell, senior minister at FCC Keokuk, bragged on Facebook how this was another ministry that can happen without pastors. "Needless to say I was not there, but am excited it was happening. What a gift to the community!"
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"Pastors' Class" Retreat held at Norwalk CC |
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Twenty-four youth from eight congregations gathered at Norwalk Christian Church on April 1-2 for the annual Pastor's Class Retreat. Youth participated in workshops on prayer, communion, baptism, membership, and the Bible. The retreat also included games, snacks, devotions, singing, movies, and camp promotion. Sleep not included :).
The eight congregations sharing in this ministry were:
- Norwalk Christian Church
- Ankeny Christian Church
- Waukee Christian Church
- Runnells Christian Church
- Mitchellville Christian Church
- Capitol Hill Christian Church
- First Christian Church, Clarinda
- First Christian Church, Adel
- Davis Street Christian Church, Ottumwa
A special thank you to Norwalk CC pastor, Dayna Kinkade, for sharing the story and all the other ministers and churches who did this event as Disciples Together.
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Spiritual Feasting Retreat (May 20-22, 2011) |
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One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God ...
Would you like to be more intentional about your relationship with God? There is a tradition of Christian spiritual practices which has for centuries guided believers in their day to day relationships with God and the world.
Come, explore, and experience some of these practices and get a taste of a richer, more fulfilling way to live with God.
May 20-22, 2011
Christian Conference Center
Download the form as a printable PDF document.
Or, register online.
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FCC Davenport dedicates remodeled sanctuary front |
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Wondrous God, the skies and the highest heavens cannot contain you, much less temples made by human hands. yet you dwell on this earth among us and make yourself known in sacred space and time. Receive this house afresh for your glory as we rededicate this chancel and ourselves to your service.
- Part of the "Prayer of Rededication" at FCC Davenport, after they opened up and removed the choir lofts from the front of the worship space.
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Speaker and Time for School for Congregational Learning |
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The School for Congregational Learning planners chose Christian Piatt as this year's worship preacher.
Christian is a Disciples minister, blogger, and author of the "Banned Questions" book series by Chalice Press.
August 27th, 2011
West Des Moines Christian Church
Theme: Great Awakening 2011
If you or someone you know have something you want to teach, tell us: http://umw.cc/hWKrsT
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Central CC Waterloo Member Appointed IA Supreme Court Justice |
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On Tuesday, February 23rd, Governor Terry Branstad appointed Iowa District Court Judge Bruce Zager to the Iowa Supreme Court.
Zager and his family have been members of Central Christian Church in Waterloo, IA for years. And Zager's children, Tara and Zac both went to CYF Camp 17, while Tara also served on the Upper Midwest Youth Council (U.M.w.Y.C.).
Congratulations to the Zager family and the wider church family on this honor and continued service.
Read more about Judge Zager at the Governor's website: http://umw.cc/f9xilY
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Wii Bowling Tournament at Lake Harriet Christian Church |
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On March 20th, 22 members of Lake Harriet Christian Church in Minneapolis, MN gathered for their Wii Bowling for Beans Tournament. The bowlers, ages 9 to 89, competed using the popular Nintendo video game platform. The church family raised $804.00 for the Joyce Food Shelf in South Minneapolis through this tournament.
Special thanks to new Partner Regional Minister, Tammy Rottschaeffer, for sharing the story.
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Global Mission Partners in Region |
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Liz and Doug Searles, two of our region's Global Mission Partners will be in the U.S. from May - December, 2011. Their email address is thesearles@gmail.com and their Skype username is Flight128. Use the online form to have them contact you and hopefully visit your congregation.
We are Rev. Douglas and Dr. Elizabeth Searles, serving since 1997 in international ministries in India, China and now Central Europe. Jointly appointed by Global Ministries and PCUSA, we relate to three denominations: United Church of Christ, Christian Church/Disciples of Christ, and the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Our call is to walk with Kosciol Ewangelicko-Reformowany (KER), the Evangelical-Reformed Church of Poland, a minority and marginalized church. Our work seeks to support evangelism, church growth, ecumenical relations, and outreach.
One new outreach is to Roma, formerly known as Gypsies, who have been residents of Europe for over 500 years. Stigmatized, loathed and persecuted, they face severe human rights challenges. We have begun to build relations that will encourage capacity-building, advocacy and other ecumenical efforts towards acceptance, access and inclusion for Roma.
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Tenants Fix Up Former Regional Office |
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When the region started our transition process, one of the board's decisions was to quit using the building at 3300 University Avenue in Des Moines and instead to deploy staff throughout the region. Office equipment was moved to the Christian Conference Center in Newton where there was space for storage and networking.
Once the transition began, the region looked to sell the office building. Even though that has not happened (yet), a newly-forming church started renting the building. The Des Moines Intentional Eucharistic Community (http://dmiec.org), a group growing from their Roman Catholic roots, worships and meets in the space. Many of their church's commitments (such as prayer, an open communion table, generosity, social justice) sound quite like Disciples, don't they?!?
This new church is taking good care of the building; they are blessing the space.
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