Regional Gathering

Save the date! This year's Regional Gathering is on October 17 at the Christian Conference Center. This year's theme is We Call Ourselves Disciples. Join with Disciples from across the region to sing, fellowship, learn, and be Disciples Together.

Regional Minister Joshua Patty is offering a series of video messages this Lenten season. “Remember Your Baptism” invites us to celebrate our participation in Christ’s church (even those who have not yet been baptized). Feel free to include any or all of these short videos in your worship services, education classes, ministry devotional materials, and/or share them on social media. Find the link to the first video here, and the full playlist here.

On Pentecost, the Spirit did not stay in one place. It moved outward - across languages, cultures, and every barrier people believed separated them. In that moment, a new kind of community was born, shaped by courage, generosity, and love. That same Spirit is still moving today. In a world where many people feel uncertain, divided, or disconnected from one another, the Church is called to be a different kind of presence. Half of the Pentecost Offering helps support New Church Ministry, and half stays in the Upper Midwest to support our new and emerging congregations, such as The Stable, a fully on-line church. For more information and resources.

Have a passion for the Christian Conference Center? Want to give back to the place that gave you so much? Here are some upcoming volunteer opportunities. For more information, contact Eric Lahart, Executive Director of the CCC, at eric@newtonccc.org.

Praying Together

Join with Regional Minister Josh Patty for fifteen minutes of prayer on Thursday, May 7 at 9:30 am via YouTube or Facebook. A recording of the prayer time will be available on regional YouTube and Facebook pages.

Summer Camp 2026

Summer camp registration is open! Early bird registration ends on May 1. For more information. 55+ and want to enjoy a few days of rest and relaxation at camp? Then Senior Adult Retreat is right for you! For more information on Senior Retreat.

Post-Easter Sermon

Rev. Lisa Grace will be recording a sermon for use any time after Easter. Instructions on how to access it will be sent via email to clergy and congregations no later than April 2.

Pastoral Word on the Crisis in Iran and Its Wider Impact

Executive Director, Week of Compassion

In recent days, we have watched with deep concern as the conflict involving Iran has escalated. I write to you today from the perspective of Week of Compassion...The Middle East is already a fragile region...our partners are working in communities where families already struggle to access basic necessities...It means that a crisis that may seem distant is having very real consequences for the most vulnerable...one of the first and most immediate impacts is on food...Our partners are concerned that humanitarian access will become more difficult in the days ahead. Read the full letter here.

Maintenance Guide for Preparing Your Property for Spring

Disciples Church Extension Fund

Winter's departure brings a new host of maintenance issues to be addressed before welcoming the new season. DCEF has put together a maintenance guide which can be printed off and used as a checklist. Find the guide here.

Iowa State Fair Hymn Sing

The Iowa State Fair is just around the corner - August 13-23. The Hymn Sing events are held twice daily (11:30a and 6:30p) each day of the Fair. Each session needs at least one song leader, a pianist, and a few greets. If you and/or your congregation would like to volunteer to lead one or more of these sessions, please contact Don Hiscox at 515.865.1770 or don.b.hiscox@gmail.com.

Thriving in Community: What We Learned about Being the Church Together

In this webinar sponsored by Lexington Theological Seminary, Erin Cash and Kory Wilcoxson will share what they learned about building community while writing their book Thriving Church.” The webinar is on April 29 from 6:30p-8p. For more information and to register.

This is a peaceful gathering. The moderators reserve the right to remove anyone who is deemed disruptive to the peaceful gathering.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87558728717...

National Faith + Climate Forum

April 25, 2026



Join 2,000+ people of faith at the National Faith + Climate Forum on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Attend at a host congregation near you or join from home via live stream. This year’s theme: The Future We Choose: Faith in Action for a Thriving Tomorrow. Last year 19 Disciples churches hosted and 120 Disciples participated—be part of this growing movement! In the Des Moines area? New Beginnings Christian Church is a host site. Register for the Forum here.

Ecumenical Conversations

Disciples and United Church of Christ

Leaders from the Disciples and the UCC met to strengthen our historic partnership. That partnership is rooted in a shared ecumenical spirit and a history of collaboration in mission and ministry. Over many decades, the two churches have maintained close relationships through theological dialogue, joint mission initiatives, and participation in ecumenical and interfaith organizations. One of those is Global Ministries, the joint international mission body. Read the full news release here.

Ecumenical Conversations

Disciples and Evangelical Lutheran Church of America

Leaders from the Disciples and the ELCA met in February for their latest session of their ongoing bilateral dialogue. Under the theme "Reforming and Restoring Through Scripture," the gathering continued a decades-long commitment to deepen mutual understanding and shared witness. The presentations generated sustained conversation on authority, the role of creeds, the place of the Old Testament, and the function of scripture. Read the full news release.

General Assembly 2026

July 10-11 (online)

This will be the first year of holding GA online, and details are still emerging. Watch the introductory video here. More than just a series of meetings, General Assembly is a covenantal table set for education, discussion, worship, business, fellowship, and action. Each congregation is invited to boldly claim their covenantal place at the table by inviting everyone to attend online and by prayerfully designating 3 delegates to vote at General Assembly. Registration is open! For more information.