Third Sunday after Pentecost

Vigil for Justice and Peace

On Trinity Sunday, 7th June, a Vigil of Prayer for Justice and Peace was kept, via Zoom, incorporating people from the Diocese of Brechin and from the Diocese of Iowa.

After George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, and after the peaceful protesters were violently cleared from St. John's Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square in order for the president to take a photo in front of the church while holding up a Bible, our companions in the Diocese of Brechin were also looking for ways to respond in solidarity with The Episcopal Church. Dr. Suzanne Zeedyk, an American member of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Dundee reached out to the interim priest at St. Paul's, Rev. David J. Gordon, to express her shock and asked what they could do as a congregation and as a national Church.

Within a week, Rev. Gordon, along with several others, arranged for a vigil focused on justice and peace to take place via Zoom, to include people from both dioceses. He writes, "I was delighted that so many people from Brechin and Iowa were able to participate in the Service. The liturgy comprised a time to gather, a time to listen, a time to respond, and a time to go forth. It included readings, prayers, hymns and responsories, as well as an opportunity to light a candle as a symbol of hope for the future, and a commitment to bring about God’s Kingdom of love, justice and peace."

Reflections from some of the participants in the vigil:

“I thought about Mr. Floyd’s little girl. Her father’s death will never, even with the passage of time, become a story, a memory from the history of her childhood. Her father’s death will always be immediate. It will always play out, right there in front of her eyes, her father’s throat underneath some white man’s knee. Will her heart reach out toward his cheek, willing the outcome, every time, to be different this time…knowing that it won’t, knowing that she can’t change the ending of the story? During our vigil, I willed myself to sit with that discomfort because I want the world to do that too. Along with so many millions of others marching for change, I want us to decide: enough pain. Four hundred years of entitled racial injustice is enough. I didn’t pray a standard prayer during our vigil. Instead, I just said sorry to that little girl. And I hoped fervently that in her grown-up years, she would take some sort of solace from the images of the millions of people who continued peacefully, determinedly protesting over his stolen breath. My prayer that evening of our vigil was a commitment not to forget the pain of that one single child. It’s time. Enough children have waited long enough.” (Suzanne Zeedyk)

“I didn't know what to expect but I knew I wanted to be part of it not only because I am a black woman but because I wanted to be part of this movement that has started. This in my opinion is not a matter of black and white but a movement that has united the world on one side and injustice on the other side. I did not know many of the faces I saw at the vigil but I felt like we were family, holding the space for one another. I could relate to every word Donna spoke and with my two nephews in American armed forces (the army and the marines) her words touched me personally... I saw hope and that is what most of us have; hope. As Christians, we have hope in the God we serve. We believe He will make it right some day. A very big thank you to the organisers who used the magic of technology to bring us together in one space. It was special for me.” (Theodora Adogu)

“The vigil meant so much to me, and helped with the intense feelings that have come up for me at this difficult time, as a dual national (American/UK). It is always good to worship with a loving community of friends, and this special service was a beautiful opportunity to do so with our friends in Iowa, in a focused way to honour all who have lost so much as a result of hatred and racism, and the sermon helped to evolve my thinking about what I might do to help. I deeply appreciated the bishop’s candor...and loved having two very special people delivering that sermon in a way that only they could.” (Yvonne Magee)

READ BISHOP SCARFE AND DONNA SCARFE'S REFLECTIONS SHARED AT THE VIGIL

Dismantling Racism: Training for Church Leaders

Grounded in The Episcopal Church's commitment to dismantling racism as essential to our formation as Christians, this ONLINE training is open to all persons who would like to deepen their understanding of racism, prejudice, and privilege. The training will consist of 2 sessions from 10:00am-12:00pm and 12:30pm-2:30pm. Sessions are limited to 25 attendees, so you may be placed on a waiting list when the session is full.

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.).

Register for one of the dates below by clicking the button. The June/July dates are now full. If you register now for now of those dates, you will be placed on a waiting list.

FULL: Saturday, June 27

FULL: Saturday, July 18

Saturday, August 15

Saturday, September 19

Diocesan Online Worship Continues

This Sunday, worship will be offered by Calvary Church, Sioux City and music by All Saints Church, Storm Lake 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#

DOWNLOAD A BULLETIN

Online Learning Opportunities

From the Bishop Search & Nominating Committee

Thank you to all who have provided input to the Bishop Search and Nominating Committee since we began our work in early March. The committee has been discussing the information we received through interviews and surveys, and we are beginning work on the Diocesan Profile. The months since March have been an unusual time for all of us. The pandemic response has altered our worship gatherings and increased our use of internet-based meeting technology. In communities across our country and around the world, we have seen protests over racial injustice and police use of force. As individuals and congregations, we are struggling to understand how our world is changing. In light of the events of these last few months, if you have additional thoughts that you would like to share with the BSNC, we would like to hear them. Please share your comments with any member of the Bishop Search and Nominating Committee, or email them to bishopsearch@iowaepiscopal.org.

A Prayer for the Search for a New Bishop 

Holy and Gracious God, we give you thanks for the people of this Diocese of Iowa; for our congregations and ministries, and for these years of our common life with Bishop Scarfe. As we have embarked upon this period of discernment for the election of the Tenth Bishop of Iowa, we pray especially for those on the Search and Transition committees; for the staff and leadership of this diocese; for those who will consider and discern their own call in relation to this search; and especially for those who will be given the duty of electing our next bishop.

We are in a time of much change and anxiety, and it is difficult to see clearly what is ahead for us. The life and the ministry of our churches are shifting rapidly. New winds are blowing in our faith communities, and in the larger communities in which we live. But we know that you are always and already working to reconcile all things in Christ. Grant to the Search Committee the gifts of patient listening to each other and to voices around the diocese. Give them the trust to wait upon your leading. Help them and all of us, to recognize the promptings of the Spirit in all things, and bring us all safely through this time to the joy and energy of new beginnings.

Bless our bishop Alan, and Donna. Give them courage and hope for the culmination of their ministry among us, and guide the discernment for their own new beginnings. Help us to see your hand at work in all that is before us, and to trust ourselves always to your faithful and generous love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Fridays - Young Adults Zoom Check In

Friday July 10, 7pm

YA July-1.png

You’re invited to join with other young adults as we engage with the monthly dismantling racism resources offered in the "2020 Vision for Becoming Beloved Community". The 2020 Vision, from the Beloved Community Initiative for Racial Justice, Healing, and Reconciliation in Iowa, was created for action centered on learning as a way to address racism in ourselves and our communities. We’ll meet via Zoom the first Friday of each month (unless it’s a holiday, then we’ll plan for the following Friday) to discuss what we learned and engaged with from the previous month’s resources.

The month of June is focused on Intersectionality. During June, commit to and do one or more of the items listed under each of the headings - Learn, Notice, Engage - on the 2020 Vision June page. At this (our July) meeting, we’ll share what we did and reflect on our learnings and actions.

For Zoom login information, contact Traci Ruhland Petty tpetty@iowaepiscopal.org 

GILEAD Grant Applications Open Until July 15

Thinking about applying?

Set up a time to meet with the GILEAD Grant Review Committee to discuss your project/idea by contacting Traci Ruhland Petty.

Grants are available in these categories: 

  • Beginning a New Worshipping Community

  • Beginning a New Ministry or Strengthening an Existing One

  • Liturgical Space Renewal

  • Support for Recently Ordained Clergy

  • Formation for Youth or Young Adults

  • Leadership Development

  • Evangelism

  • Expanding Tools & Technology

Learn more

Changes, Cancellations and Postponements

  • As a result of the many shifts required in the Bishop's Visitation Schedule this spring due to the inability to gather in the midst of the pandemic, Bishop Scarfe wants congregations to anticipate a re-working of the schedule as it has been previously arranged. A separate communication to congregations will be forthcoming to reflect those pending changes. 

  • Summer Ministry School and Retreat will not happen this year. Due to COVID quarantine and safety concerns, Grinnell College will not be hosting events in June. Both SMSR and the Small Church Summit that was to be at the same place and time have been re-scheduled for June 25-27, 2021.

  • EPIC Summer Camp is Changing to Online. Read More

Resources

Resources from Beloved Community Initiative:

 
Meg Wagner