The 15th Sunday after Pentecost
Diocesan Online Worship Continues
ALL of the diocesan worship opportunities that are available online will be found 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#
This Sunday, worship will be offered by members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Emmetsburg, Iowa at 10:00am
Services of Prayer for the Nation
You are invited to join us in prayer for the nation at two special online services hosted and co-led by the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Des Moines and Trinity Cathedral, Davenport, at 4 pm on Sunday, September 13 and Sunday, October 11. The services will incorporate readings, collects, and music with invitation and blessing to be given by Bishop Scarfe.
*Miriam's service will only be available on Facebook and by phone
Due to the limitations around in-person gathering, please receive these announcements as your invitation to “attend” via the online streaming links. In-person attendance is necessarily limited to the few participants (ordinand, presenters, family, and the Bishop).
Faithful Innovations
Since the diocesan-wide Faithful Innovations Training Workshops could not be held in-person this year, we'll be offering a "taste" of some of the Faithful Innovations practices via short (less than 1 hour) Zoom sessions over the next few months. All are welcome to join in this "Listening at Lunch" session, the first of which will be on Thursday, September 24 at Noon - your congregation does not need to have signed up for the trainings in order for you to participate in these sessions. Email Traci Ruhland Petty: tpetty@iowaepiscopal.org for the Zoom login information or if you have questions.
Disaster Assistance
Helping children cope with disaster: If your family has experienced changes due to the derecho, or due to COVID, your child may struggling to cope as a result. This pdf provided by the American Red Cross covers common responses of children to stressors/disasters/stress by age-group that may help you identify coping struggles in your children.
Mortgage Payment or Rental Cost Assistancefrom the Iowa Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, up to $1,000 per applicant.
FEMA: The program gives homeowners, renters, and businesses in the following eligible counties access to various federal assistance programs: Benton, Boone, Cedar, Jasper, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Scott, Story, Tama and Linn County. Residents in those counties are now no longer eligible for state disaster assistance, but can instead apply for federal assistance.
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
This is NOT Sunday School
ChurchNext and Forma have teamed up to offer a new learning experience called, "This is NOT Sunday School." This free, weekly online resource is intergenerational, making it a perfect tool for families and people of all ages.
Each free session will be available 4 days before the upcoming Sunday starting September 16 through December 20. Each week’s session features video teaching by a professional from the Christian formation network, Forma, as well as downloadable lessons and readings.
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 by 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. The Board of Directors has set aside funds to help congregations have what they need to ensure their delegates are able to fully participate in convention. Email mwagner@iowaepiscopal.org to discuss your needs.
DATES AND LINKS
September 14: Resolutions due
September 15: Last day to register and certify delegates and to pay. Registration for non-parochial clergy due.
October 14: Last day for visitors and vendors/exhibitors to register
October 17: Practice Session at 10:00am, Resolutions Hearing at 11:00am, Budget Hearing at 1:00pm
October 22: Resolutions Hearing at 7:00pm
October 24: Convention 10:00am-5:00pm
2021 Draft Budget for discussion
Exhibitor/Vendor information
Join the Virtual Choir! Email Mark Babcock to participate.
Visit the convention webpage for more information.
Upcoming Events with Beloved Community Initiative
Addressing Racial Bias in Churches: now Sept. 26
Saturday, September 26 9:30am-12:00pm
This is a next step for vestries and other leadership circles who want to be serious about examining their own church or faith community for bias. We'll examine some of the structural racism (schools, local government, law enforcement) that exists around us. We'll also look honestly at how bias and prejudice can affect our own interactions and ways of being church. Bias impacts each and every person, organization, and system--including churches. As spiritual communities with members of varied races, cultures, ages, gender identities, ability status, etc. we all have work to do!
Dr. Ursuline Bankhead will lead an interactive presentation and discussion with small group breakout opportunities to: ground us in the concepts of bias; identify how bias impacts each of us personally and as members of a spiritual body; and, to recognize bias within our own spiritual communities. We'll look at how to recognize, think about, and address bias from a spiritual perspective, both personally and organizationally, and the interactions between these perspectives.
Participants will also have the opportunity following this workshop to engage with a small cohort of church leaders for two follow-up sessions with Dr. Bankhead on addressing bias in your particular context.
Related Resources for vestries
Resources
Click on the picture to access our COVID-19 resource page:
Resources from Beloved Community Initiative:
2020 Vision (for individuals and groups)
Christian formation for all ages