Disciples Together

Regional News of the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest

March | 2024

Thoughts

Rev. Josh Patty

Regional Minister & President

Our shared vision for our regional ministry is Disciples Together. For more than 20 years, those two words have encapsulated a hope to nurture vital ministries shared by congregations and leaders who are passionate about serving together and supporting one another. For many years, our church camp program and the Christian Conference Center have been the most visible part of our Disciples Together vision.

This spring, we will make our Disciples Together vision more visible in two specific ways: Visioning Together and Elders Together. I’m excited about both of these activities which invite us to support each other in our ministries.

Visioning Together is part of our regional listening and imagining for what comes next. It’s an important opportunity for folks throughout our region to pray, listen, and share our observations and passions. Practically speaking, it will help us to better structure and staff our regional ministries. In a larger sense, it invites us to deepen our relationships and support each other.

Elders Together is a 7-month opportunity for spiritual leaders in our region’s congregations to join small groups for learning and support. It is a chance for congregational elders (or similar roles/officers if your congregation does not have elders) to meet each other, share how they serve, and learn more about the tradition and practice of serving as an elder in the Disciples tradition.

These conversations are invaluable ways to affirm and help us grow as Disciples who serve others in Jesus’ name. I think they will offer both encouragement of what we are doing and exciting ideas about future opportunities. I hope that you’ll participate – through your prayers and, if you can, by joining in the Visioning Together and Elders Together groups.

Where in the Upper Midwest is Josh?

Josh's travels take him across our four-state region to share in worship, support, and celebrate your ministries! Here's where Josh's travels have taken him in the last month:

February 25 - Worship, Pleasantville Christian Church, Pleasantville, IA
March 17 - Worship, Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, IA; Visioning Together, First Christian Church, Sac City, IA

2024

Regional Calendar

For more details go to the Regional website:

uppermidwestcc.org

Mar 19 Visioning Together, Capitol Hill CC - 7p

Mar 24 Palm Sunday; Easter Special Offering

Mar 31 Easter Sunday; Easter Special Offering

Apr 4 Praying Together - 9:30a

Apr 9 Visioning Together, Burlington - 6p

Apr 19-21 CCC Work Days

Apr 24 Visioning Together, Ames - 12p

Apr 25 Operations Council

Apr 26-28 CCC Work Days Rain Date

May 2 Praying Together - 9:30a

May 12 Pentecost Special Offering

May 19 Pentecost Sunday; Pentecost Special Offering

May 23 Operations Council

May 31 Summer Camp Begins!

Oct 19 All Congregational Gathering

2024 Regional Prayer Calendar

Regional Video Archives

Praying Together, Mar. 7
Prayer, by Rev. Joshua Patty, following the Perry school shooting
Pondering, post-Christmas sermon by Rev. Joshua Patty

Listening & Visioning Together

What does it mean to be Disciples Together in 2024? What are we doing? What are our priorities?

Our Regional Minister, Rev. Josh Patty, will be holding listening & visioning sessions throughout the region in March, April, and May. All sessions will be in person and on Zoom. More sessions will be added in the coming weeks. Keep on eye on the regional newsletter and the website!

Elders Together

The Region is offering an opportunity to elders and the equivalent spiritual leaders from across the congregations of the Upper Midwest to engage in study, conversation, and relationship building through a program ministry designed especially for elders. This is a monthly Zoom meeting, starting in April and going through October. Groups typically meet during the fourth week. See the region’s website for more information.

Praying Together

Join with Regional Minister Josh Patty for fifteen minutes of prayer on Thursday, April 4 at 9:30 am via YouTube or Facebook. A recording of the prayer time will be available on regional YouTube and Facebook pages.

After Easter Sermon

Rev. Lisa Grace's sermon "Wanting To Be an Easter Peep" will be available to churches in the Upper Midwest for use on any Sunday after Easter. The sermon, based upon John 20:19-31, will be sent via email by March 22.

Summer Internships

Calling all young adults! Applications for summer interns are now open. Are you ready to spend your summer on Holy Ground? Are you ready for an adventure? There's no life like camp life, and summer interns get to be a part of it. For more information and to apply, follo w this link!

Operations Council News

At the February meeting, Operations Council received reports and learned more about our regional Committee on Ministry from the chair, Jill Michel. There was a lengthy discussion of the regional listening and discernment process, including a look at Josh Patty’s presentation for the upcoming Visioning Together sessions. Operations Council also received the resignation of David Lester, lay representative of Des Moines area congregations.

Region Offers Demographics Service in 2024

Our Upper Midwest region has recently subscribed to a demographics service associated with MissionInsite in order to help congregations understand the community around them as well as assist with ministry and mission planning. Rev. Dr. Doug Pfeiffer, Senior Pastor at Park Avenue Christian Church (who has used this service extensively in the last 12 years) can help congregations with reports that offer specific details about local community interests, educational and income levels, ethnic backgrounds, beliefs, as well as implications and suggestions for specific religious and spiritual goals and emphases.

If you are interested in such reports and valuable insight into your local neighborhoods/communities, please contact Pastor Doug (515-720-0689) or Regional Minister Josh Patty.

Spirit & Struggle: Acting Towards a Shareable World

We are living through perilous and divisive times. The idea of "us" vs. "them" is as much a vexing spiritual and theological problem as it is a social and political one. Union Theological Seminary is hosting an event exploring this topic on May 9-10.

For more information and to register, see their website.

Faith Farms and Climate Events

The Iowa Interfaith Power & Light is an organization that works with people of faith and conscience on climate change. They host two separate Faith Farms and Climate events, one for faith leaders and one for farmers. Each event is an opportunity to connect with others over a free meal and guided conversation. See their website for more information.

The faith leader events are in Panora on Thursday, March 21 from 9-11a and Boone on Tuesday, April 2 from 9-11a. The farmer events are in Coralville on Wednesday, April 3 from 6-8p; Grinnell on Monday, April 8 from 6-8p; Panora on Thursday, April 11 from 6-8p; and Boone on Tuesday, April 16, from 6-8p.

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Christian Church in the Upper Midwest | http://uppermidwestcc.org