Women at the Well in Worship
Did you know the church is in prison? Women at the Well is our sister congregation, a United Methodist congregation within the walls of the women’s correctional institution in Mitchellville, Iowa.
One of the pastors involved in this ministry, Rev. Paul Witmer, will be with us in worship on Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2, to share with us about the many years of weekly worship, supportive community, faith nurture groups, and aftercare offered to the women there. Maybe you’ll find your own place in prison—in ministry with these women, our sisters in Christ.
Pastor Paul originally joined Women at the Well two years ago, as their part-time Minister of Congregational Care. He has recently expanded to full-time work, adding the ministry of Reentry to his portfolio.
Paul is ordained in the United Church of Christ and has been in ministry for more than 25 years, most recently with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as pastor of Covenant Christian Church in Urbandale, Iowa. Paul lives in Des Moines with his wife Lynn and together they share a family of 5 adult children, and one grandchild. Paul enjoys music, art and poetry, dabbling in all three at times, often sharing them in the context of worship and ministry. Working with Pastor Lee and Women at the Well has opened Paul up to the amazing ministry being one with a population that most of the world has forgotten.
We will receive a special offering for Women at the Well on June 1 and 2. Please make checks payable to Grace UMC, with “Women at the Well” in the memo line, and we will forward the total that is given.
Women at the Well Workshop
Join representatives from Women at the Well (our sister congregation, a United Methodist congregation within the walls of the women’s correctional institution in Mitchellville, Iowa) on Saturday, June 1 from 1:30-5 p.m., at Grace United Methodist Church for an afternoon of learning around issues of justice and incarceration. We’ll meet in a worshipful opening time, all together, and then grab some snacks and break into two groups:
Reentry Team Training, led by Pastor Paul Witmer, Minister of Reentry and Congregational Care. This training will inspire and prepare participants to work as part of a team with women coming out of prison, accompanying them during that first year.
“Making Room: How the Church Welcomes Those We Might Have Missed,” led by Pastor Lee Roorda Schott. Building on themes from Pastor Lee's book, Foolish Church, we’ll consider how the church can become supportive community for those dealing with incarceration, addiction, mental illness, trauma, poverty, and more. Will we make room for this kind of diversity? What will that call from us? How will it enrich us?
Please RSVP to Pastor Paul at wellreentry@iaumc.org so that we can plan for you. Or you can contact him for more information at 515/313-6916.
Did you know the church is in prison? Women at the Well is our sister congregation, a United Methodist congregation within the walls of the women’s correctional institution in Mitchellville, Iowa.
One of the pastors involved in this ministry, Rev. Paul Witmer, will be with us in worship on Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2, to share with us about the many years of weekly worship, supportive community, faith nurture groups, and aftercare offered to the women there. Maybe you’ll find your own place in prison—in ministry with these women, our sisters in Christ.
Pastor Paul originally joined Women at the Well two years ago, as their part-time Minister of Congregational Care. He has recently expanded to full-time work, adding the ministry of Reentry to his portfolio.
Paul is ordained in the United Church of Christ and has been in ministry for more than 25 years, most recently with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as pastor of Covenant Christian Church in Urbandale, Iowa. Paul lives in Des Moines with his wife Lynn and together they share a family of 5 adult children, and one grandchild. Paul enjoys music, art and poetry, dabbling in all three at times, often sharing them in the context of worship and ministry. Working with Pastor Lee and Women at the Well has opened Paul up to the amazing ministry being one with a population that most of the world has forgotten.
We will receive a special offering for Women at the Well on June 1 and 2. Please make checks payable to Grace UMC, with “Women at the Well” in the memo line, and we will forward the total that is given.
Women at the Well Workshop
Join representatives from Women at the Well (our sister congregation, a United Methodist congregation within the walls of the women’s correctional institution in Mitchellville, Iowa) on Saturday, June 1 from 1:30-5 p.m., at Grace United Methodist Church for an afternoon of learning around issues of justice and incarceration. We’ll meet in a worshipful opening time, all together, and then grab some snacks and break into two groups:
Reentry Team Training, led by Pastor Paul Witmer, Minister of Reentry and Congregational Care. This training will inspire and prepare participants to work as part of a team with women coming out of prison, accompanying them during that first year.
“Making Room: How the Church Welcomes Those We Might Have Missed,” led by Pastor Lee Roorda Schott. Building on themes from Pastor Lee's book, Foolish Church, we’ll consider how the church can become supportive community for those dealing with incarceration, addiction, mental illness, trauma, poverty, and more. Will we make room for this kind of diversity? What will that call from us? How will it enrich us?
Please RSVP to Pastor Paul at wellreentry@iaumc.org so that we can plan for you. Or you can contact him for more information at 515/313-6916.