December 1, 2017
The season of Advent begins this Sunday, December 3. It is a time of waiting, preparation, and repentance. The gospel of Mark says,
The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, God’s Son,
happened just as it was written about in the prophecy of Isaiah, “
Look, I am sending my messenger before you
.
He will prepare your way,
a voice shouting in the wilderness:
‘
Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight
.’”
My prayer for United Methodists in Iowa is that, in the midst of the busyness of this season, we would take time to reflect on our own lives as well as the state of our world and make a commitment to be instrument of God’s peace, justice, and mercy.
Global Migration Sunday
The Council of Bishops has asked United Methodists around the connection to observe Global Migration Sunday on Dec. 3. It is a time when we acknowledge the plight of the 65 million displaced people around the world, pray for their safety and well-being, and welcome immigrants and refugees into our local communities. You can find resources for Global Migration Sunday
here
.
Prayers for Peace on the Korean Peninsula
A recent seminar on peace for Korea was held by the World Council of Churches (WCC) at the United Methodist Building in Washington, D.C. Bishop Hee-Soo Jung from the Wisconsin Area was one of the speakers and shared his experience as a Korean. The WCC is asking that congregations around the world pray during this Advent season for peace and a world free from nuclear weapons. Here is a sample prayer.
God of life, lead us to justice and peace as we hear threats of war in the Korean peninsula. So we pray when we start our Advent season, expressing our expectations to the light of the world that has come to us in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. God of hope, lead us to justice and peace! So, we pray when we see the realities of injustices and unsolved conflicts being extended and expanded, and when we worry for the future of the people of Korea. O God, the Giver of all life, our Savior and Comforter, give the people of Korea peace, and give peace to all peoples all over the world. God, grant that our light would shine wherever we are, so that we share the life and the hope you have given us. God in your grace, hear our prayer! Amen.
Giving Opportunities
Advent is a time of giving, as we remember God’s gift of Jesus to our world and our response of love and care for others. Please remember the needs of our world as you make your Christmas lists. Have you ever thought about matching the amount of money you spend on Christmas gifts with money given to charitable organizations?
Cabinet Retreat
From December 2-4, the appointive cabinet of the Iowa Annual Conference will begin the appointment-making process while on retreat. We ask for your prayers as we engage in the important task of discerning clergy leadership for local churches in Iowa. Our goal is that through our work, we will fulfill our conference vision to be
God’s hope for the world made real through faithful leaders, fruitful communities, and fire-filled people
, and our mission to
Inspire, equip, and connect communities of faith to cultivate world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ.
Special Council of Bishops meeting in February
The Council of Bishops, which normally meets twice a year, will hold a special third meeting from February 25-28 in Dallas, Texas. The purpose of the meeting is to continue conversations around the work of the Commission on a Way Forward and the formulation of a specific proposal(s) for the special called General Conference in February 2019. Please pray for the Commission and our bishops during this important time.
May the hope and expectation of this Advent season fill you with anticipation and joy, as, together, we make a difference in our local communities, in Iowa, and around the world.
Bishop Laurie
