July Preaching Schedule July 6/7 Proverbs 25:21
“Is This a Joke?” July 13/14 Luke 6:48 “Stirred, But Not Shaken” July 20/21 Acts 8:36 “Who is Preventing What?” July 27/28 Jeremiah 17:8 “Deepening Our Roots” 
Denominational Update |
PASTOR JIM SHIRBROUN
Jim is the spouse of one (Beverly), the parent of three (Mark, Greg and David), the parent-in-law of one (Jenny) and Grandpa of two (Elliot & Callen...Mark and Jenny sons).
Jim received his Bachelor’s degree (in Animal Science and Ag. Journalism) from Iowa State in 1980 and graduated from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1985 with a Masters of Divinity degree. He has served the following United Methodist congregations: Immanuel (Des Moines), First (Ankeny), St. Paul's (Cedar Rapids) and Collegiate/Wesley (Ames). Jim loves to cook (beyond the thousands of omelets he's prepared for students in the last 20 years). He has been collecting and researching antique horse bridle bits since he was a teenager and has one in his collection which is 3,000 years old. Jim claims his hobby is semi-biblical, citing James 1:26 and 3:3. |
(The following article is LONG and includes many details about United Methodism. It’s important information, but I recognize not everyone has the same degree of interest.
Every June, delegates (laity and clergy) from each congregation in our state gather in Des Moines at our Annual Conference meetings. Our Iowa Annual Conference is one of 56 annual conferences in the United States and 76 outside the U.S. in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. The conference is a time to review ministry, adopt policy and resolutions, and strengthen spiritual life.
This year, from June 7-11, delegates gathered to:
This year’s Iowa Annual Conference gathering was “the same as most other years”…and yet very different.
The primary aspects which set Annual Conference 2019 apart from “typical” years (in Iowa and elsewhere) were the elections of delegates from Iowa to our Jurisdictional and General Conference gatherings and the passing of a resolution officially disapproving the actions of General Conference 2019.
General Conference (with the exception of the special, called event in February of this year) happens every four years, so delegates are elected by each Annual Conference in the preceding year. The General Conference is the highest legislative body in the United Methodist Church. General Conference 2020 will happen in Minneapolis from May 5-15.
The voting membership at General Conference consists of an equal number of clergy and lay delegates elected by the annual conferences. General Conference convenes every quadrennium (four years) to determine the denomination's future direction. It is the only body that can speak officially for the denomination.
Jurisdictional Conferences are gatherings of delegates in smaller geographical areas (there are 5 jurisdictions in the denomination in the US). Jurisdictional conferences also happen every four years. A primary responsibility of Jurisdictional Conference delegates is the election of Bishops. Our North Central Jurisdictional Conference gathers in Fort Wayne, Indiana from July 18-20, 2020.
Thanks to Doug Johnson, Joan Hohl and Lonnie Hohl for representing Grace UMC at Annual Conference. We were joined by our Christian Education Director, Krista Waite who was a delegate for Morningside College.
Every June, delegates (laity and clergy) from each congregation in our state gather in Des Moines at our Annual Conference meetings. Our Iowa Annual Conference is one of 56 annual conferences in the United States and 76 outside the U.S. in Africa, Europe and the Philippines. The conference is a time to review ministry, adopt policy and resolutions, and strengthen spiritual life.
This year, from June 7-11, delegates gathered to:
- worship
- pray
- study
- converse
- commemorate
- mourn
- celebrate ordain
- commission
- recognize elect remember
- legislate discuss vote and SO much more!
This year’s Iowa Annual Conference gathering was “the same as most other years”…and yet very different.
The primary aspects which set Annual Conference 2019 apart from “typical” years (in Iowa and elsewhere) were the elections of delegates from Iowa to our Jurisdictional and General Conference gatherings and the passing of a resolution officially disapproving the actions of General Conference 2019.
General Conference (with the exception of the special, called event in February of this year) happens every four years, so delegates are elected by each Annual Conference in the preceding year. The General Conference is the highest legislative body in the United Methodist Church. General Conference 2020 will happen in Minneapolis from May 5-15.
The voting membership at General Conference consists of an equal number of clergy and lay delegates elected by the annual conferences. General Conference convenes every quadrennium (four years) to determine the denomination's future direction. It is the only body that can speak officially for the denomination.
Jurisdictional Conferences are gatherings of delegates in smaller geographical areas (there are 5 jurisdictions in the denomination in the US). Jurisdictional conferences also happen every four years. A primary responsibility of Jurisdictional Conference delegates is the election of Bishops. Our North Central Jurisdictional Conference gathers in Fort Wayne, Indiana from July 18-20, 2020.
Thanks to Doug Johnson, Joan Hohl and Lonnie Hohl for representing Grace UMC at Annual Conference. We were joined by our Christian Education Director, Krista Waite who was a delegate for Morningside College.
Sunday Morning Adult Groups
We’ve enjoyed MANY deep discussions and sharing of insights over the past year in our 8:45 a.m. Sunday Morning Book Studies.
In January, a new 11:15 a.m. option, brought another Sunday morning opportunity to talk about that week’s worship experience AND learn and grow together as we had conversations about a W I D E range of topics.
BOTH opportunities will be returning in the fall. In the meantime, we’ll be searching for great books to explore together and a new lineup of topics to drive our conversations. We hope you’ll be a part of these wonderful opportunities to find our paths and share the journey of faith when they return in September.
In January, a new 11:15 a.m. option, brought another Sunday morning opportunity to talk about that week’s worship experience AND learn and grow together as we had conversations about a W I D E range of topics.
BOTH opportunities will be returning in the fall. In the meantime, we’ll be searching for great books to explore together and a new lineup of topics to drive our conversations. We hope you’ll be a part of these wonderful opportunities to find our paths and share the journey of faith when they return in September.