January E-News
From the Bishop
“Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the excitement and gladness; touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace” (Frederick Buechner).
The turn of the year brings with it all manner of resolve, and there can be no more encouraging thoughts than those expressed above. January 1 in the Christian calendar is dedicated to the Holy Name. God’s Name bears the essence of who God is; and so it is for Jesus. For He saves us from our sins. That’s who Jesus is and it is expressed in the very Name He bears. We might not quite have the same attachment to our given names, but I find knowing that my given name means harmony or joyful is an aspiration. I encourage congregations to live into their names—even Trinity and the call of the Divine Dance.
To know “all moments as key moments, and (that) life itself is grace” calls us to own our relationship with God, ourselves and our neighbor. In 2020 relating to “our neighbor” has a huge political implication, perhaps greater than our usual loyalties. I am often told to keep from politics, and I am aware of the limits my own life choices impose on that. There is however one choice that engages my whole being, and that is to love God with all my soul, mind and strength, and to love that very same neighbor as myself. What I desire for myself, I desire for the neighbor; and what I desire for both of us reflects the desire to love our Creator with all of my being. As the Apostles Paul and Peter would say: “How then must we live?” And our political being comes into play, as does our ecological and economical being.
The year 2020 might be a year of immense significance in how we answer that question. All I encourage us to do is recognize everything as grace, and make our choices from that hallowed place. We are the light of the world. Jesus describes us as such. May our diverse and multiple choices, in small as in larger things, be true to this reality. May they extend Christ’s light on our world’s path, and move us a little closer to a place where God’s will is done and God’s kingdom is come.
“Let nothing disturb thee, nothing affright thee;
all things are passing, God never changeth!
Patient endurance attaineth to all things; who God possesseth
is nothing in wanting; alone God sufficeth.” —Teresa of Avila
In the peace and love of Christ,
+Alan
The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa
Seeking Bishop Search Committee Nominations
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We hope that you all are enjoying a blessed Christmas season and a joyful start to the new year.
We appreciate your patience these past two months as we have been meeting and building the necessary foundation to launch our bishop search. What follows is a brief update on what we’ve been up to, and how you can participate in these early stages of the process.
In December, the Standing Committee interviewed and hired The Rev. Conrad Selnick to serve as our Episcopal Election Consultant for the diocese. (A consultant is traditionally hired to walk with the Standing, Search, and Transition Committees from the initial building of the foundation of the process all the way to the consecration of the next bishop.) Conrad is an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Chicago and has been ordained for 37 years. In addition to parochial ministry (Diocese of Ohio), Conrad has served as Vice President for Advancement and Church Relations at Bexley Seabury Seminary Foundation (Chicago), and is a licensed Clinical Counselor. Conrad has served as an Episcopal Election Consultant since 2000.
We are in the early stages of preparing a budget for the search and transition process and are developing the timeline for our work. With a September 2021 consecration, we anticipate holding the electing convention sometime in the spring of next year. In addition, the Standing Committee is formulating a theological statement and developing procedure guidelines for the various committees. With the help of diocesan staff, a new website is being designed which will serve as an essential part of our communication efforts. To communicate directly with the Standing Committee during this process, an e-mail address is available: standingcommittee@iowaepiscopal.org .
Now with January now upon us, diocesan chapters will be meeting in special session to select two nominees for consideration for the Bishop Search and Nominating Committee (BSNC). The Standing Committee will meet in early February to prayerfully select the fifteen members who will comprise that committee. The Organizing Retreat will be held on March 6-7, 2020 . Participation at the retreat is a requirement for serving on the BSNC.
Finally, we ask for your prayers as we begin the process of discernment, particularly for those who will serve on the BSNC.
Gracious and Creator God, you are the source of all wisdom and the provider of every need; you have gathered your faithful people, a diverse group of men and women of varied gifts and talents, strengths and characteristics, backgrounds, orientations, ages, and races, in this diocese to boldly serve you. We pray for your Holy Spirit to direct and guide our decision making in selecting people to serve on the BSNC; grant us perception and faithfulness so that we may hear your voice in all our deliberations, and impart in us the desire and ability to truly hear each other and those who will be entrusted with this process; we humbly pray through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Faithfully,
The Standing Committee
Karen Brooke, Aileen Chang-Matus, Greg Jones, Kathleen Milligan, Elizabeth Duff Popplewell, Anne Williams
Upcoming Youth Events
EYE 2020 July 7-11, 2020
Washington National Cathedral & University of Maryland
The Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) is a triennial event for young people put on by the Episcopal Church. It serves as a celebration to inspire a deeper faith in Jesus Christ and a renewed commitment to mission and ministry. It is the second-largest event in the Episcopal Church and the single largest youth event in the Episcopal Church. EYE is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purposely gather with 1200+ other faithful young people from across the Episcopal Church for three very full days of worship, sharing, praying, learning, singing, and working between the arrival and departure days.
Youth currently enrolled in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade during this 2019-2020 school year are encouraged to apply. Deadline to apply: January 20, 2020
Applicants should be members of an Episcopal church in the Diocese of Iowa, emotionally mature, and capable of being a responsible member of the Iowa delegation. Space is limited and applications will be reviewed in the order they are received.
Click HERE to see a video from 2017 and get a better sense of what EYE is all about.
Applications are live! Click HERE to register! And fill out the 2020 Medical Form HERE.
Find us on Facebook and Instagram!
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR SKI TRIP 2020
January 17-19 in Boone! Skiing, Tubing and Snowboarding at Seven Oaks. Fun, games and food at Camp Sacejawia! Deadline to register is January 5!
Check our webpage and our Facebook page at Diocese of Iowa Youth for announcements.
Beloved Community Initiative
Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders
Dismantling Racism training is required of all lay and ordained leaders in the church
(including vestries, search committees, diocesan leadership, etc.). The training day has been restructured to reflect The Episcopal Church's commitment to this work as part of our lifelong spiritual formation and our church's long-term commitment to racial justice, healing, and reconciliation.
Ideally, every chapter will schedule a training day in their area or take part in a neighboring chapter's.
REQUEST A TRAINING IN YOUR AREA
UPCOMING TRAININGS
January 11: EAST CHAPTER Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders 9:00-3:30pm hosted by Trinity Cathedral, Davenport
January 25 training in Storm Lake is being re-scheduled
Are you or your congregation working with 2020 Vision for Becoming Beloved Community ? Visit the website to find materials that focus on a central theme introduced with a theological reflection, followed by suggestions in five areas: Learn, Notice, Engage, Reflect, and Pray. You could choose to work your way through it as an individual, with a partner or two, or with a larger group.
January begins with "Whose Land is it?" and a theological reflection drawn from Braiding Sweetgrass .
PrairieFire
PrairieFire is an invitation to a deeper spiritual life, a 2-year program that invites you to set time aside for renewing of self and awakening of soul. It is an opportunity for education and mutual guidance and support in developing spiritual awareness and life-sustaining spiritual practices. Want to learn more? Come to an Open House at the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center:
Thursday, January 9, 2020 and Tuesday, March 3, 2020 6:00-7:30PM
RSVP HERE -- for the January 9th Open House
RSVP HERE -- for the March 3rd Open House
Small Church Summit
June 26-27, 2020 (as part of Summer Ministry School and Retreat)
Bringing Small Church into conversation, discussion and growth.
The Small Church Summit is being formed around what was heard in the listening sessions and quadrant gatherings over the last few years. The Small Church core group invites your church, your community, and your inspiration to be a part of the 2020 Summit. Plan to save the date to attend as a team and watch for more information!
Diocesan Calendar
January
Jan 11: Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders, Trinity Cathedral, Davenport 9:00-3:30pm
East Chapter Special Nominating Meeting at Trinity Cathedral 3:30-4:30pmJan 12: Southeast Chapter Special Nominating Meeting 11:30pm via Zoom
Three Rivers Chapter Special Nominating Meeting at Grace Church, Cedar Rapids 1:30pm
North Cedar Valley ChapterSpecial Nominating Meeting at St. Luke's, Cedar Falls 2:00pmJan 17-19: Diocesan Ski Trip
Jan 18: South Central Chapter Special Nominating Meeting at Trinity Church, Ottumwa 10:00am
Metro Chapter Special Nominating Meeting at St. Andrew's, Des Moines 10:00amJan 19: Bishop's visit to St. Andrew's, Des Moines (am and pm)
West Chapter Special Nominating Meeting by Zoom 2:00pmJan 22: Free movie screening of Selma at FilmScene in Iowa City, presented by Beloved Community Initiative. 6:00pm
Jan 24-25: Commission on Ministry
Jan 25: One World One Church meeting
Jan 26: Bishop's Visitation with St. Thomas', Sioux City
Jan 30: Chapter nominations for Bishop Search/Nominating Committee due to Standing Committee
To be announced: Special Nominating Meeting dates for North Central Chapter and Southwest Chapter
February
Feb 1: Board of Directors
Iowa Connections deadlineFeb 2: Bishop's Visitation with St. Paul's, Durant
Feb 8: FAITHFUL INNOVATIONS Cluster Gathering at St. Paul's, Grinnell with St. Stephen's, Newton and St. Paul's, Marshalltown 11:00am-3:00pm
Feb 9: Bishop's Visitation with St. Paul's, Grinnell
Feb 16: Bishop's Visitation with St. Luke's, Ft. Madison
Feb 23: Bishop's Visitation with Grace, Decorah
Feb 26: (Ash Wednesday) Bishop visits St. Mark's, Anamosa
Feb 27: Priests in New/Transitional Situations (PINTS) at St. Andrew's, Des Moines 12:00-4:00pm
For calendar updates, visit our website.
2020 Intercession List
How can we support you?
Let us know how we can support you in your ministry or share the good work you are doing:
By phone: 515-277-6165 regular business hours (Mon-Fri: 9-5pm)
By e-mail: diocese@iowaepiscopal.org
To e-mail a specific staff person use their first initial and full last name before the @ sign. (e.g. John Doherty's e-mail is jdoherty@iowaepiscopal.org ).
Share stories for diocesan newsletters by emailing communications@iowaepiscopal.org .
For resources: IowaShare.org
Episcopal Diocese of Iowa | (515) 277-6165 | diocese@iowaepiscopal.org| iowaepiscopal.org