|
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.
Fifty Year Celebration Schedule Update
In 1968 two denominations, the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, merged to form the United Methodist Church. That makes 2018 the 50th anniversary of our denomination. We’d like to celebrate that anniversary as well as recognize folks who’ve been members at Grace for 50 years or more. At minimum we’ll celebrate in worship on Saturday and Sunday, October 20th and 21st. PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE! But we’re hoping to do a bit more! Maybe a potluck…maybe a slide show…maybe some fun and games. We’re looking for a team of 3-4 people to help develop and carry out plans for the celebration. If you’re interested, please contact Rev. Jim Shirbroun asap. |
September Sermons
My sermons on Labor Day weekend
(Sat., Sept. 1 and Sun., Sept. 2) is a “stand alone” sermon, not a part of a worship series. The next 3 weeks are a sermon series which came to me in a dream just over a year ago. I heard these brief phrases…”God is…”, “I am…”, “We are…” repeated over and over. How might you complete each of these sentences? How might your responses affect your life…your family and friends…our world? I hope you’ll consider your answers as we move into this series. Sept. 1/2 “ Words of our Mouths” Psalm 19: 14 Sept. 8/9 “ God is…” Exodus 3:14 Sept. 15/16 “I am…” Psalm 8:3-4, 1 Cor. 12: 4-11, Ephesians 2:10 Sept. 22/23 “We are…” 1 Cor. 12:12-31 Death Over Dinner
It may seem like a strange topic to discuss over dinner, but THOUSANDS of people are having these conversations... and enjoying them!
They're not only becoming better prepared for the END of life…they are learning how to live life better in the meantime! Working with dozens of medical and wellness leaders to cast an unflinching eye at end of life, the designers of "Death Over Dinner" have created an uplifting interactive adventure that transforms this seemingly difficult conversation into one of deep engagement, insight and empowerment. Participants are invited to think about (and voluntarily share responses to some very basic questions about the end of life...Questions such as..."What do we want our final days to be like?" "Who do we want to have around us?" "How can we support the end of life wishes of those closest to us?" You may be a part of one of these conversations at Grace in formats designed especially for us! Throughout September and October we'll be coordinating many such dinners (or lunch or dessert) conversations and we hope YOU will get in on one! Be a participant and/or volunteer to host. For more details...or to make your reservations...contact Rev. Jim Shirbroun at 712.276.3452 or jim@gracesiouxcity.org. |
Spiritual Gifts Workshop
When we are challenged to complete the sentence “I am…” (our sermon topic for the second weekend of September) it might lead us to consider who God has created us to be, what gifts God has given us and how we’re using them.
As a “special bonus” in addition to our time in worship, I’m offering a brief, single-session “Spiritual Gifts Workshop” on Sunday morning, Sept. 16 from 8:45-9:45 and 11:15-12:15. (The sessions are identical, so choose the one which best fits your schedule).
Attending the workshop is not REQUIRED, of course, before or after the sermon, but I believe it will be a valuable addition.
There’s no advance reading required, though I am making a “spiritual gifts sorter” available the two Sundays prior via a display in the Parlor. Filling this out ahead of time will allow us more time for discussion as a group.
When we are challenged to complete the sentence “I am…” (our sermon topic for the second weekend of September) it might lead us to consider who God has created us to be, what gifts God has given us and how we’re using them.
As a “special bonus” in addition to our time in worship, I’m offering a brief, single-session “Spiritual Gifts Workshop” on Sunday morning, Sept. 16 from 8:45-9:45 and 11:15-12:15. (The sessions are identical, so choose the one which best fits your schedule).
Attending the workshop is not REQUIRED, of course, before or after the sermon, but I believe it will be a valuable addition.
There’s no advance reading required, though I am making a “spiritual gifts sorter” available the two Sundays prior via a display in the Parlor. Filling this out ahead of time will allow us more time for discussion as a group.
“Speaking of Faith”
EVERYONE is invited to be a part of our Sunday morning discussion groups, “Speaking of Faith”.
Choose the session which fits your schedule best… 8:45-9:45 or 11:15-12:15. You may even switch back and forth if the early gathering matches your schedule better one week and the later session another week. Or, if you’re REALLY into it, come to BOTH sessions so you hear ALL the discussions.
We’ll be kicking things off using a resource called “Animate:Faith”. We’ll watch a brief video which will introduce a question, provide a thought-provoking perspective and, according to the publishers, “beckon discussions”.
Participants will receive their own, personal “Faith Journals” in which they might sketch, doodle, write. The journal contents will help our discussions and provide a reference point participants may keep and look back on after our discussions.
Our video resources and our conversations will help us gain and share perspectives on God, religion, Jesus, salvation, the cross, the Bible and the church.
Participation is free, though group members may donate toward the cost of materials if they choose.
Here’s our projected schedule, subject to change (particularly if we get so deep into a given topic we choose to continue the conversation a second week!). Note several “gaps” in our study schedule and the “special session” on September 16 when we’ll focus on Spiritual Gifts (see article elsewhere in this issue of the Chimes).
Sept. 9 Animate: Faith…God
Sept. 16 Spiritual Gifts Workshop
Sept. 23 Animate: Faith…Church
Sept. 30 NO Study (Jim away)
Oct. 7 Animate: Faith…Religion
Oct. 14 NO Study…Morningside worship @ Eppley
Oct. 21 Animate: Faith…Jesus
Oct. 28 NO Study… Consecration Lunch
Nov. 4 Animate: Faith…Salvation
Nov. 11 Animate: Faith…Cross
Nov. 18 Animate: Faith…Bible
EVERYONE is invited to be a part of our Sunday morning discussion groups, “Speaking of Faith”.
Choose the session which fits your schedule best… 8:45-9:45 or 11:15-12:15. You may even switch back and forth if the early gathering matches your schedule better one week and the later session another week. Or, if you’re REALLY into it, come to BOTH sessions so you hear ALL the discussions.
We’ll be kicking things off using a resource called “Animate:Faith”. We’ll watch a brief video which will introduce a question, provide a thought-provoking perspective and, according to the publishers, “beckon discussions”.
Participants will receive their own, personal “Faith Journals” in which they might sketch, doodle, write. The journal contents will help our discussions and provide a reference point participants may keep and look back on after our discussions.
Our video resources and our conversations will help us gain and share perspectives on God, religion, Jesus, salvation, the cross, the Bible and the church.
Participation is free, though group members may donate toward the cost of materials if they choose.
Here’s our projected schedule, subject to change (particularly if we get so deep into a given topic we choose to continue the conversation a second week!). Note several “gaps” in our study schedule and the “special session” on September 16 when we’ll focus on Spiritual Gifts (see article elsewhere in this issue of the Chimes).
Sept. 9 Animate: Faith…God
Sept. 16 Spiritual Gifts Workshop
Sept. 23 Animate: Faith…Church
Sept. 30 NO Study (Jim away)
Oct. 7 Animate: Faith…Religion
Oct. 14 NO Study…Morningside worship @ Eppley
Oct. 21 Animate: Faith…Jesus
Oct. 28 NO Study… Consecration Lunch
Nov. 4 Animate: Faith…Salvation
Nov. 11 Animate: Faith…Cross
Nov. 18 Animate: Faith…Bible