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November 2016 News & Updates
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2017 A Year of Revival in the Diocese of Iowa
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In emphasizing mission during this coming year and beyond, and as our personal preparation for our part in that mission, I am calling us all to gather across the Diocese in 2017 in a series of evening Revival worship services, known as Revival 2017. It is my prayer that these will be opportunities for all of us to rekindle the gifts of the Holy Spirit that were given to us at baptism, to hear in a fresh way how much God loves us, and to let the Spirit guide us - each and all of us - in the transforming work in our society which awaits us.
The Revival is ambitious. It will replace my regular visitation schedule which will resume in 2018. I intend with God's help, to visit twenty areas throughout the year - inviting one or two congregations to come together on a Friday evening, and then going to another on Saturday night and making that congregation the location for a regional confirmation on the Sunday morning. In the course of the year, and by the time we gather again at Convention in October 2017, I will have been with every congregation in revival. Revival 2017 will need volunteers for prayer, music, logistics and hosting, liturgy participation and nominations for those to give testimony and share in the various prayer stations envisioned for the evenings. A steering team for preaching and worship leading is being developed, and I am grateful to Kathleen Milligan, Elizabeth Popplewell, Lydia Bucklin, and Meg Wagner for their assistance in this. My hope is that the leadership team at each location be staffed locally. This is important for follow up.
Watch for information to help with planning and advertising for the Revival 2017 at your location.
In the peace and love of Christ,
+Alan
The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe
Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
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#bluestone #revival2017
At the end of the 164th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Iowa these blue stones left Des Moines and began their journey to congregations all across the state. They are a reminder of our baptismal waters and baptismal living. Everyone was encouraged to share the stones with others and take pictures of them out in the world where you are living out your baptismal promises. We invite everyone to use
the hashtags #bluestone #revival2017 to
post your pictures of your stone and ministry on social media.
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Information from the 164th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Iowa
Visit
iowaepiscopal.org to see actions taken by convention, election results, and more!
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FREE Food
* Faith
* Climate Workshop in Mt. Vernon Nov. 6
Food * Faith * Climate: Connecting the Dots is
a program of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light.
The workshop will look at:
*
how our food system contributes to
climate change
.
*
what our faith traditions say about sustainable food systems
*
how we can make more climate-friendly choices
*
food practices in our own households
When:
Sunday, November 6, 2016 1pm - 2:30 pm
Where:
Cornell College, 600 1st St. SW, Mt. Vernon, IA
How:
Registration required at
IowaIPL.org/act/register-events
Fee is waived thanks to the generosity of Cornell College Offices of Civic Engagement, Intercultural and Spiritual
Life, First Presbyterian, Seeds of Faith
Lutheran, Sustainable Environmental Resource Initiative, and the United Methodist Church of Mt. Vernon.
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Connect with
Evangelism Matters
through live webcast, on-demand November 18-19
Congregations, dioceses, groups, and individuals can connect with
Evangelism Matters
without traveling to Texas for the groundbreaking event. The Board of Directors will connect with the conference virtually.
Lizzie Gillman, Elizabeth Popplewell, Lydia
Bucklin
, Tom Early, and Meg Wagner will be attending in person.
Evangelism Matters is for those seeking a place to share, learn, and grow the Church's capacity and passion for evangelism. Rising at a critical moment in the life of The Episcopal Church and as a part of the Jesus Movement, this conference will engage participants through inspiring presentations, valuable workshops and resources, and shared experiences in a community setting. The conference is hosted by the
Diocese of Dallas, and the
Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas, TX.
Co-sponsored by Forward Movement and the Presiding Bishop's Office, this two-day conference will equip and empower evangelists for the journey ahead-communicating the Good News of Jesus in the Episcopal tradition.
Live webcast
Key portions of
Evangelism Matters (like the plenary sessions led by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers) will be live webcast to allow for individual and group viewing.
The live, free webcast will be accessible here
http://www.evangelismmatters.org and it does not require advance registration or password. Those seeking to watch in Spanish may follow the Facebook live feed here:
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Congratulations to our friends in Swaziland!
Our Swaziland companions had a lot to celebrate at the 2016 Swaziland Environmental Authority Temvelo Awards on October 27.
Our heartfelt congratulations go out to Mr. Mncedisi Masuku for winning the Young Eco Hero Award for 2016 and to our companion Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Ellinah Wamukoya for winning the Eco Faith Based Award 2016.
The Temvelo Awards acknowledge, recognize and honor businesses, organizations, communities and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional environmental stewardship by dedicating themselves and their talents to the protection of the environment. The Temvelo awards program provides competition and incentives to expand and improve environmental protection efforts.
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Mark your calendars for youth events!
Youth Ski Trip
January 13-15, 2017
at
Camp Hantesa, Boone, Iowa
Group Registration materials are on the website!
Deadline to register your group: December 18, 2016.
EYE 2017
July 10-14 in Edmund, OK
Mark your calendars for the Episcopal Youth Event, July 10-14 in Edmund, OK at University of Central Oklahoma. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gather with 1200+ other faithful young people form across the Episcopal Church for three very full days of worship, sharing, praying, learning, singing, and working between the arrival and departure days. Applications for youth currently in grades 9-12 are already available
here.
Click the icons to request to join the new "Diocese of Iowa YOUTH" group on Facebook and to follow
@dioiayouth
on Instagram!
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Christ Episcopal Church in Burlington Celebrates 175th Year
To celebrate 175 years in Burlington, Christ Episcopal Church is hosting a lecture series to not only share the history of the parish in Burlington, but also its Anglican heritage.
Sunday, November 6, 2016, 7:00 pm The History of Christ Episcopal Church in Burlington, Iowa The Rev. George Rogerson, Deacon
Sunday, November 20, 2016, 4:00 pm Christ the King Sunday The celebration will conclude with a special Eucharist beginning at 4:00 pm commemorating the Anniversary of the Dedication of Christ Church. The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, 9th Bishop of the Diocese of Iowa, will preside. A reception will follow in the parish hall.
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Episcopal Relief & Development Responds to Hurricane Matthew
Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting disaster response efforts in Haiti and several Episcopal dioceses in the United States following Hurricane Matthew, which blasted through the Caribbean as a Category 4 storm before moving up the Atlantic coast and causing damage from Florida through southern Virginia. In the US, churches in affected areas are leveraging their existing ministries and community relationships to provide specialized services and care for people who are displaced from their homes.
At the Convention Eucharist, $1648.56 was given to Episcopal Relief and Development.
Read more about ERD's response.
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Featured Resources
ADVENT DEVOTIONS: Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry joined the leaders of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in preparing Advent Devotions for the upcoming liturgical season.
The Advent Devotions can be downloaded for websites, bulletin inserts, church programs, and used as discussion points.
The devotions are titled "Liberated by God's Grace" and available
here.
#ADVENTWORD:
A Global Advent Calendar. Be part of the Anglican Communion's Global Advent Calendar. It's an innovative way to engage in the season of Advent with people all over the world. Simply respond to the daily meditation emailed to you with images and prayers that speak to your heart. Your images and prayers will appear in the Advent Calendar with others from around the world. Join us as we anticipate the coming of Christ, the fulfillment of our deepest longings. Sign up for #adventword here.
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SAVE THE DATE!
The 2017 Baptismal Living Day will be April 1st at St. Mark's in Fort Dodge. Mark your calendars and plan to be with us!
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Episcopal Church Young Adult Service Corps: Applications accepted for 2017-2018 placements
Young adults (21-30 years old) have an opportunity to transform their own lives
while engaging mission and ministry in the Anglican Communion by joining the Young Adult Service Corps. Now, applications are available for 2017-2018 placements in the Young Adult Service Corps, commonly known as
YASC.
Currently YASCers are serving throughout the Anglican Communion, working alongside partners in administration, agriculture, communication, development, and education. They are serving in Brazil, Costa Rica, England, France, Haiti, Hong Kong, Japan, Jerusalem, Panama, Philippines, and South Africa.
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Communications Survey
We are seeking your feedback on communications in the diocese. Please take some time to fill out a brief survey to let us know how we can better deliver the information and resources that you want and improve communications throughout the diocese.
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Diocesan Calendar
| November 3 |
Ways and Means Meeting 4:00 pm |
| November 6 |
Iowa Connections Deadline |
| November 9 |
Bishop's Advisory Group on Formation 10:00 am |
| November 9 |
Ministry of all the Baptized 2:00 pm |
| November 18-19 |
Board of Directors Retreat |
| December 9-10 |
Commission on Ministry |
| December 10 |
Ordination of Tom Early to the Transitional Diaconate, The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Des Moines 1:30 pm |
| December 14 |
Board of Directors Executive Committee Meeting |
The Bishop's staff will be on retreat November 30-December 1. The Diocesan office will closed on Nov. 24-25 (Thanksgiving holiday), and Dec 26- Jan 2 (Christmas Break).
Clergy Gatherings in 2016
| November 12 |
West Chapter Clergy Gathering 10:30-12:30 pm, All Saints, Storm Lake |
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Bishop's 2016 Calendar
| November 6 |
Cedar Falls, St. Luke's |
| November 12* |
Storm Lake, All Saints (West Chapter) Confirmations, 5:00 pm |
| November 13 |
Council Bluffs, St. Paul's |
| November 20 |
Davenport, St. Alban's |
| November 20 |
Celebration of the 175th Anniversary of the Dedication of Christ Church, Burlington 4:00 pm |
| December 4 |
Fort Dodge, St. Mark's and Webster City, Church of the Good Shepherd |
| December 11 |
Keokuk, St. John's |
| December 18 |
Ottumwa, Trinity Church |
| December 24 |
Spirit Lake, All Saints then Des Moines, The Cathedral Church of St. Paul |
| December 25 |
Indianola, All Saints |
* Regional Chapter Conversation/Confirmation Weekends
Bishop's 2016 Chapter Weekends
November 12, 2016 - West Chapter - Storm Lake, All Saints
November 12 Clergy Gathering 10:30-12:30 pm, Bishop's Regional Teaching 1:00-4:00 pm
Confirmations 5:00 pm
Each chapter weekend is a time for these three things:
- Chapter Clergy Gathering: Bishop Scarfe will meet with the clergy of the chapter he is visiting.
- Bishop's Regional Teaching: a Chapter-wide learning event including all the Clergy and all the members of all the congregations (especially vestries) of the chapter.
- Regional Confirmations: The host congregation invites those in their chapter who have candidates ready but who do not have a scheduled visitation that year, to be confirmed or received during worship.
Please pre-register for Chapter weekends by clicking here. |
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