Happy New Year! May the light and love of the coming of the Christ Child once more into our world illumine your path into this new year. My prayer is that your faith has been nurtured and strengthened through the Advent and Christmas season by many opportunities for worship, service, giving, and connecting with family, friends, and strangers in ways that strengthen our relationships and our faith.
The Season of Christmas
Christmas is not just one day, December 25. Rather, it is a season that includes twelve days, from sunset on Christmas Eve, December 24, to Epiphany, which is January 6. The twelfth day of Christmas, which is called Epiphany, is a celebration that is older than Christmas, and it originally focused on the incarnation, birth, and baptism of Jesus. On Epiphany Day today, we remember the visit of the Magi from the East, who followed a star until it came to rest over the place where the baby Jesus lay. The Wise Men offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In some cultures, the giving of gifts continues throughout the twelve days of Christmas.
Council of Bishops Letter to the Global LGBTQ Community
On Friday, December 28, the Council of Bishops issued a pastoral letter to the Global LGBTQ community in advance of the February 2019 special called General Conference. At their November 2018 meeting, the Council of Bishops approved the writing and sending of this letter. You can read the letter
here
.
A Christmas Letter to the Iowa Annual Conference
A few days ago, I sent a pastoral Christmas letter to the laity and clergy of the Iowa Annual Conference. You can read the letter
here
.
Prayers for Delegates
I invite you to pray for Iowa’s lay and clergy delegates to the special called General Conference in St. Louis in February 2019.
Clergy
Laity
Budget Listening Sessions
Last fall, a newly created Budget Team, under the leadership of Rev. Bill Poland, was tasked with recommending a 2020 budget that is missionally-directed by the three
Strategic Priorities
adopted by the Annual Conference (2013). The Team has also been tasked with proposing expense reductions of $1 million for the 2020 budget. The Budget Team now has specific information to share with the laity and clergy of the Iowa Annual Conference. The recommendations will be voted upon at the 2019 Iowa Annual Conference. You may read the November 30 recommendations
here
.
The Budget Team will hold three Listening Sessions in January. We encourage you to attend one of these sessions to learn more and ask questions.
- Jan. 13, 2019 at North Liberty United Methodist Church from 2:45 – 4:15 p.m.
- Jan. 20, 2019 at Carroll First United Methodist Church from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
- Jan. 26, 2019 at Ames First United Methodist Church from 10:30 – 12:00 p.m.
Bishop Laurie’s January Schedule
- January 6: Preaching at First UMC in San Diego, celebrating their 150th anniversary year
- January 8 – 9: Appointive Cabinet
- January 15: Sessions Committee
- January 19: Operational Team meetings
- January 22 – 24: College of Bishops and North Central Jurisdiction Committee on the Episcopacy meetings in Chicago
- January 28: Legislative Advocacy Day at the State Capitol
- January 29 – 30: Appointive Cabinet
- January 31 – February 1: Eight Year Assessment Pilot Retreat with appointive cabinet and Board of Ordained Ministry Executive Committee
John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer
On the first Sunday of every year, many Methodist-related congregations pray John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer as a way of recommitting ourselves to following and witnessing the love of Jesus through our words and actions. Wesley originally adapted this prayer from the Puritan tradition that was a part of the spiritual lives of his parents, Samuel and Suzannah. Wesley expected that those who called themselves Methodists would pray this prayer at the beginning of every year in worship as a way of remembering their baptismal covenant with God and renewing their faith.
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
Blessings,
Bishop Laurie
