October 2019

From the Bishop

Fridays might never be the same. On Friday, September 20, millions of young people filled city streets across the world demanding with one voice that those in power and influence act on global warming. This past Friday there were millions more. One, now famous, sixteen year old girl—began taking Fridays off of school to sit at a prominent place in her hometown, with placards warning against climate change and demanding grown-ups with power act. These young people are convinced that their future is in serious jeopardy. If you didn’t catch her address to the United Nations, please do yourself a favor, and look it up on YouTube. And I invite you to take some time to learn about other youth climate activists that are working to save the planet.

Where all this is going, I don’t know. There are a number of you who have heard the cry much earlier than I, and seek to call us to attention and action. I do know that a disastrous “tipping point” to which scientists are urgently attesting, does not come “in the final hour” during the last 5 or 10% of the time we have. When you fill a jar of water with sand, the point of no return or “spilling point” comes at 50%!

Insects, birds, and now the oceanic life, and in the UK the tree population are under watch. On the road to the Manchester Airport, as I returned from caring for my mother in convalescence, there was a chalked message across the highway bridge, inviting us to join the “Extinction revolution.” In a different time, we might say that’s something from a dystopian novel.

We are the rich man in the mansion. And Lazarus lies at our gate, first to be afflicted by drought, floods, hurricanes, imperiled waters and food insecurity. And this is not politics, though we must look to those invested with our trust to use the power of our common resources to act, or move over and let others of more courageous will do so. It is more a matter of asking the question—how then shall we live?

READ THE REST OF THE BISHOP'S REFLECTION

IMPORTANT LINKS

Public Registration (for non-parochial clergy, guests, and visitors)
Delegate Certification Forms
Delegation Payment
Nominations Report
Reports to Convention
Hotel Reservation Link
Convention Menus
Exhibit and Display information
Pledge to reduce your carbon footprint

IMPORTANT DATES

October 4:

Last day to book a room at the Marriott with the group rate

Friday, October 25: (at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral)

Pre-convention clergy meeting with Shane Claiborne 2:00pm

Choral Evensong 7:00pm

Pre-convention session with Shane Claiborne, "Follow Me to Freedom - the Irresistible Revolution." Open to all 7:45pm

Saturday, October 26-Sunday, October 27:

The 167th Convention of the Diocese of Iowa

Convention Eucharist on Sunday morning will be live-streamed through YouTube at 11:00am and available to watch at your church here: https://tinyurl.com/conventionlivestream

New this convention: You will have the opportunity at convention to choose to add a preferred pronoun flag to your nametag. Want to learn more? Read about why pronouns matter.

If your church has not yet sent a Necrology list, please send as soon as possible to: eadams@iowaepiscopal.org

GILEAD update

IRMS resources still on sale

With the closing of Iowa Religious Media Services, several resources are still available for purchase for up to half of their original purchase price.

If you are interested in any of their resources, email questions@irms.org or call 515-277-2920.

Upcoming Youth Events

NEW BEGINNINGS #23

OCTOBER 11-13 at St. John's, Dubuque

New Beginnings weekends offer an opportunity for young Christians in grades 6-9 to retreat from their hectic world to consider some of the important relationships in their lives—with parents, siblings, peers and with God.

DIOCESAN CONVENTION

High School youth who would like attend Diocesan Convention as a visitor can apply here:

YOUTH VISITOR

The 2019 Youth Event Calendar is now available to download!

Find us on Facebook and Instagram!

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

Nov 2: Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders 9:00-3:30pm hosted by St. Stephen's, Newton.

DOWNLOAD A FLYER

REGISTER NOW

October 12: LIVING IN TWO WORLDS

Join us at Old Brick for an evening of story, art, dance, fashion, music and food. Dawson Davenport will share his story of Living in Two Worlds and how art and hip-hop led him to learn about climate change, social justice for Native peoples, love and self-awareness.

Free food provided by Red Earth Gardens and Meskwaki chef Desse Davenport. Dancers include: Rosie and Micah Youngbear

JustMatters Modules

Transitions

The Rev. Zebulun Treloar was appointed Assisting Priest at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Des Moines

Diocesan Calendar

October

Oct 3: Stewardship Systems Webinar
Oct 4-6: Pathways to Serenity Retreat
Oct 5: ENGAGING ALL DISCIPLES12:00-5:00pm at St. Timothy's, West Des Moines with St. Andrew's, Des Moines and All Saints', Indianola
Oct 11-13: New Beginnings #23, St. John's, Dubuque
Oct 12: ENGAGING ALL DISCIPLES 3:00-7:00pm at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, Des Moines with St. Mark's, Des Moines.
Oct 13: Bishop's visitation with St. Paul' Cathedral, Des Moines
Oct 19: ENGAGING ALL DISCIPLES 3:00-7:00pm at St. John's by the Campus, Ames with St. Martin's, Perry and Grace Church, Boone
Oct 20: Bishop's visitation with St. John's by the Campus, Ames
Oct 20: Eucharist with Bishop Scarfe and the Dinka community at St. Andrew's, Des Moines
Oct 25: Clergy Pre-Convention gathering with Shane Claiborne, 2:00pm
Oct 25: Standing Committee meeting, 5:00pm, St. Paul's Cathedral, Des Moines
Oct 25: Choral Evensong at 7:00pm followed by pre-convention gathering with Shane Claiborne, "Follow Me to Freedom - the Irresistible Revolution." Open to all. St. Paul's Cathedral, Des Moines
Oct 26-27: 167th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Iowa, Des Moines Marriott Downtown

November

Nov 2: Dismantling Racism Training at St. Stephen's, Newton
Nov 3: Bishop's visitation with Church of the Savior in Orange City
Nov 9: ENGAGING ALL DISCIPLES 11:00-3:00pm at Christ Church, Clinton with St. John's, Dubuque and St. Mark's, Maquoketa
Nov 10: Bishop's visitation with Christ Church, Clinton
Nov 16: ENGAGING ALL DISCIPLES time TBA at Church of the Saviour, Clermont with Grace, Decorah
Nov 22-23: Board of Directors retreat
Nov 24: Bishop's visitation with Trinity, Denison

The Diocesan Office will be closed on Monday, October 28 following the diocesan convention and on November 21-22 and 28-29. For calendar updates, visit our website.

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

October 2019 E-News