Out & About

Dear <<First Name>>,
Here are the latest happenings in the Presbytery of East Iowa.

Prayers for Our Churches

In each issue of Out and About we highlight two churches to keep in our prayers. Please pray for these two churches:

• Davenport, Newcomb, served by the Reverend Gary Burnett, HR
• Ely, First, served by the Reverend Dr. Julie Schuett

Presbyterian Women Fun Fact

by Beth Jensen, Moderator of Presbyterian Women of East Iowa

PWP Fall Gathering 2018 A Success
The weather outside was frightful (oops wrong season), well it did rain and it was overcast and damp all day but inside, the hospitality was wonderful. The ladies at First Presbyterian Church, Marengo treated us to a warm welcome, a tasty coffee hour and a luscious lunch. The whole day was one of loving fellowship, reminiscing, celebrating and praising God. The theme of the day “Celebrating 30 Years of Building Bridges” started at the registration table with balloons and a special candle promoting 30 years of service. There were more balloons in the dining hall plus special favors at each seat and a celebration cake! The program/business meeting included memories from past moderators, Karen Bartel, Virginia Dietz and out of town guest Dottie Skelley. Her husband Paul was our one male present. Memories were read from Marguerite Ackley, first moderator of East Iowa Presbyterian Women. Lois Thedens was the only Coordinating Team member present from the 1988 CT. Rev. Kitch Shatzer led us in worship. She brought an unique perspective to the worship as she had been both a United Presbyterian Women and a Woman of the Church. She helped us look back at our heritage but also encouraged us to look to the future and envision bridges we want to build in the next 30 years. Sue Ingels, Synod of Lakes and Prairies Global Mission participant was our keynote speaker. She visited Indonesia in September 2018 and spoke on how we can build bridges of understanding with our sisters overseas.

16 churches were represented, some coming from as far away as Cascade, Davenport/Bettendorf, Ft. Madison, Mt. Pleasant and of course Dottie and Paul from Kansas. I believe a good time was had by all and that our day was truly a success. Thank you to the Marengo ladies for all their hard work and loving care. I believe we enter the next 30 years filled with hope, enthusiasm and fortitude strengthened up by the Holy Spirit and uplifted by the love of God.

Peace and grace
Beth Jensen, PWP moderator

 

United Church Women of the United Church of Crawfordsville

Submitted by Debbie Lowe, President of the United Church Women of the United Church of Crawfordsville, Written by Wilma McAllister

The United Church Women of the United Church of Crawfordsville have been meeting as a combined group since the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches of Crawfordsville yoked in 1975 and then became a union church in 1978. The UCW currently meets every other month, and is primarily mission oriented.

The most significant mission is the Dorcas Women’s Sewing Group of the UCW/UCC. This group started a new sewing project in July 2011 at the home of one of our members. The first project was to make school bags for the Methodist Ingathering, but soon, not only bags, but cot-sized quilts for needy people were being stitched together. It was a fairly small beginning, but today that mission project meets regularly twice a month at this same home for an all-day sewing (meals provided by the ladies who attend) with an average attendance of 12. An oversized dining table at that home accommodates 4 sewing machines plus the projects and equipment needed to work on them, and additional folding tables give space for cutting, arranging, and tying the finished product. Practically all fabric is donated, but the UCW includes Dorcas expense money in their budget.

In 2017 the group was still making school bags (finished 147), but also gave 74 quilts to 7 different places such as hospitals, school backpack programs, Cradle of Hope, and special needs people. In 2018 by September, we have delivered 18 quilts to Vet’s Hospital and 8 to the Children’s Hospital in Iowa City, 11 to Fellowship Cup and 2 to Cradle of hope in Mt. Pleasant and 7 to people with special needs in our own community. Many more will be completed and distributed before this year is over.

In addition to the quilts, one member makes many T-shirt dresses for little girls and curtains for homes. These are sent through the On His Path missions to places like Guatemala.

We are an active group—have become such good friends—and through devotions at each meeting have become more aware of our place in God’s Kingdom

Interested in supporting the Light Group?

Many around the Presbytery have asked what they can do to support the Light Group following Jerome Bizimana's visit in September.  If you would like to give to the Light Group, the Presbyterian Mission Agency offers two ways to support:

1. Checks
Remit to: Presbyterian Church (USA)
On the memo line write  "E864102  “The Light Group” Peacemaking"
 
Mail to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700 

A receipt will be sent to you when your check is processed. Be sure to keep a copy for your records. It is tax-deductible.

2. If you would like to give online, click here for the direct link from the Presbyterian Mission Agency.

A special thank you to Lisa Ross Thedens for collecting the information from the PC (USA).

Mental Health and the Faith Community

• What do you do when a friend, church member or family member is threatening suicide?
• Have you walked with an individual or family as they seek help for a family member and keep encountering closed doors?
• How do you talk about mental health and faith?

The Synod of Lakes and Prairies is hosting Mental Health and Faith workshops throughout Iowa including one in the Presbytery of East Iowa.  Join other PEIA leaders on November 9, 1018 at Washington, United.

This event for church staff, deacons and members will provide a tool box of responses and resources for addressing mental health in your congregation and community. In the morning Mental Health professionals will bring a case study approach to mental health in general and rural mental health in particular.

Afternoon workshops will include:
1. Join a Community of Practice for Mental Health!
2. Local resources led by Regional Leaders
3. Presbyterians and Mental Health
4. Responding to Mental Concerns in Rural Ministry


For more information, click here.
To register, email Jeannie Stolee or call 319-233-1747.

Preservation Grants for Churches

E4 Faith Formation Conference

The E4 Faith Formation Confernece is Sunday November through Tuesday November 6 at the Embassy Suites in Overland Park, KS. E4 Faith Formation Conference.  This year's theme is Resiliency, and you will see this theme carried throughout worship as well as the workshop offerings over this three day event in November. 

For more info, please click on this flyer.
Registration info can be found following this link.

Open House at St. Andrew, Iowa City

From October 18-21, St. Andrew Presbyterian church in Iowa City will host a series of events to celebrate it's 60th anniversary as well as to dedicate our congregation’s new home. We invite you, as fellow Presbytery members, to join us for any or all of the activities The celebration will kickoff with a Community Open House from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday Oct. 18 — think of it as a church-style House-Warming Party.

In addition to the open house, the church will host other events as we celebrate throughout the Homecoming weekend:

• A Saturday morning tailgate in our lower parking lot, which will be followed by watching the University of Iowa Homecoming game in The Hub and patio area.
• A Saturday evening organ recital featuring Shelly Moorman-Stahlman, a former director of music at St. Andrew and a graduate of the UI organ program.
• Special worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday morning, with the official Building Dedication Ceremony starting at 10 a.m.

A full list of events is available at the church's website and on the St. Andrew Facebook page.

Visit the Holy Land, Israel and Jordan, with Presbyterians from PEIA.

Visit the Holy Land, Israel and Jordan, with Presbyterians from PEIA First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant has arranged a trip to Israel and Jordan and would like to invite others from East Iowa. We will be going March 12-27, 2019 and are looking for a group of 15-20 people. Please see the attached information which includes the proposed itinerary and also the pricing and other information. If you have interest or questions, please email Sarah Hegar or call 319-217-9444.

Holy Land 2019 Proposed Itinerary
Mt. Pleasant Pricing

"Unbelievable" Book Study

led by Warren Jensen

Stated Meeting Chicken

First Presbyterian Cedar Rapids Re-dedicates Its Organ 

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Don't forget to take a look at our jobs postings.

Go to our Employment Page to check out all the job postings.