The 12th Sunday after Pentecost
From Bishop Scarfe
During the regular Monday Zoom meetings with the Presiding Bishop, bishops have been offered healthy tips by our own Katie Mears (Iowa deacon and soon-to-be priest), who is the Domestic Disaster Response Coordinator for Episcopal Relief and Development. Katie has been very conscious that many of us are entering hurricane, wildfire and tornado season alongside the steady pounding of COVID-19. In Iowa, we may have been looking for tornados, and hadn’t even imagined a derecho—a “land hurricane.” Within twenty minutes, we felt and saw the devastation such massive winds could create. And some of us may only now have seen our power come back on. With gratitude we are the focus of the prayers and concern of the Church world-wide. If you have not seen the Episcopal News Service report, I refer you to it with thankfulness for their coverage.
Holly Scherff and Martha Lang are our Diocesan Disaster Relief Coordinators, and they have reached out to the diocese through the clergy listserv, and our Tuesday Zoom meetings for congregational clergy and lay leadership responsible for operations. They would like to hear about your situation and needs. So far we are seeing: people are generous with their time and money. Neighbors have helped neighbors in seeking to remove broken tree limbs and strewn brush; congregations are supporting neighborhoods with donations of food and supplies, and we add the utility workers from across the country to a growing class of first-responding heroes in our society! Kansas City provided the assistance to my own particular neighborhood circumstances.
Episcopal Relief and Development stands ready to provide financial assistance to members of our communities, with grants up to $6,000 that would be channeled through our diocesan congregations. Lura Steele from Episcopal Relief and Development writes: “Episcopal Relief and Development would be happy to help support the congregational response efforts currently underway, or if you would like to partner with some of the immigrant support organizations who have been taking lead on providing culturally-informed disaster aid.”
We have an application form for support on hand at the Diocesan Office. Please contact Holly or Martha at their email addresses.
Last Sunday, we shared online diocesan worship with the people of Grace, Cedar Rapids, whose huge, oak doors were busted open by the strong winds. With all that they may have been facing personally, they fulfilled their promise to take time to lead us in worship, to encourage us through a powerful sermon from John Greve, and to keep our prayers outward upon a world afflicted in so many ways. All of this was produced by our own Meg Wagner, even as her own roof had been damaged and her internet was still spotty from the storm.
Thank you for your compassionate response to one another, and to your neighbors. Your financial support for those impacted by the derecho is appreciated, especially for the replacement of food. Please look out for opportunities to volunteer as requested.
In the peace of Christ,
+Alan
The Right Rev. Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa
Disaster Relief
Food Assistance Replacement: Download and complete the application form, then submit a clear image of the form to: ImagingCenter5@dhs.state.ia.us.
Iowa Individual Disaster Assistance Grant Program: IIAGP offers grants to families whose household’s annual income is at 200% or less of the federal poverty level. Each qualifying household MAY receive up to $5,000.00. Applications may be turned in to a local Community Action Agency, go to www.iowacommunityaction.org to find your local agency.
Resources for Mental and Emotional Health on IowaShare.org
Diocesan Online Worship Continues
This Sunday, worship will be offered by members of St. Mark's in Fort Dodge, Iowa at 10:00am and will be found online on the diocesan Facebook page, the diocesan Youtube channel, and will be available on the diocesan website. Call-in option for members who only have access to phones (participants on the phone will NOT be able to be heard but will be able to hear the service): 312 626 6799 and enter the Meeting ID as prompted: 365 765 527#
AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDE
Welcome from Bishop Scarfe
Virtual Convention information
Draft diocesan budget for discussion
BSNC update
GILEAD grant timeline
Breakouts by chapters for discussions and elections as needed.
Because of the storm damage caused by the derecho across the state, the Joint Chapter Meeting has been rescheduled to August 23.
Please register by August 21th.
SCHEDULE
The convention will be held online October 24th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
10:00 AM Plenary One
12:45 PM Plenary Two
3:00 PM Plenary Three
Invitations with login details and instructions for downloading the convention app will be emailed to all registered attendees on Sept. 23.
If any of your congregational delegates may need access to technology or internet access to participate, please be in touch ASAP so we can help you support them, email mwagner@iowaepiscopal.org
DATES AND LINKS
Delegate Certification & Registration (DUE 9/15)
Delegation Payment (DUE 9/15)
Registration for non-parochial clergy, seminarians, and visitors (BY 10/15)
2021 Draft Budget for discussion
Exhibitor/Vendorinformation
Join the Virtual Choir! Email Mark Babcock to participate.
Visit the convention webpage for more information.
First Fridays Young Adult Check In
You’re invited to join with other young adults on September 4th via Zoom as we engage with the monthly dismantling racism resources offered in the "2020 Vision for Becoming Beloved Community."
The month of August was focused on school equity. Join us to talk about what we have learned by engaging with one or more of the items listed under each of the headings - Learn, Notice, Engage - on the 2020 Vision August page.
For Zoom login information, contact Traci Ruhland Petty tpetty@iowaepiscopal.org
Upcoming Events with Beloved Community Initiative
Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders is a training day that is required of all lay and ordained leaders in The Episcopal Church (including vestries, search committees, diocesan leadership, etc.). Added dates, click to register:
(Mis)Understanding Racism – conversations from the heart
NOTE: These conversations were scheduled to begin on August 13 however, storm recovery forced us to reschedule. We will begin on Thursday September 10 at 6:30.
During these disturbing times, there are many who are working to change our narratives, to create more just communities, to understand the myths that define our personal racism as well as racist systems of injustice, and to work toward becoming beloved community. The Beloved Community Initiative (BCI), a ministry of The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, is actively working toward the understanding which leads to identifying the unjust systems and moving toward healing, which then opens the ways to a more just community.
Through its work, BCI is realizing that many people desire to understand more concretely their own beliefs and assumptions concerning racism, to talk more about their own involvement in racism, to explore why confronting racism (their own and systemic) is important, and to explore personal feelings arising from these deepening understandings.
Beloved Community Initiative invites you to be part of this community building conversation. Beginning with the question, “What is it about racism you do not understand?” small conversation groups of no more than 12 people from across the diocese, will open their own hearts to speak and to listen for deeper understanding. Join us for session one on Thursday September 10 at 6:30-7:30. Two additional sessions – Thursday, October 8 at 6:30 and Thursday, November 12 at 6:30, will allow for continuing the deepening by exploring why understanding racism is important and why it exists even when we know it is wrong.
For more information contact: Ellen Bruckner and Donna Prime
Time to schedule your church audit
Don't forget—Church Audits are due September 1. Annual audits are required by the Canons of The Episcopal Church for all parishes, missions, and other institutions. The primary purpose of an audit is to assure that all church monies and investments are properly accounted for. It helps protect the church assets as well individuals against suspicion of mishandling those assets. A guideline for having this financial review done is available HERE.
Resources
Resources from Beloved Community Initiative:
2020 Vision (for individuals and groups)
Christian formation for all ages