October 1, 2018
Fall is upon us, and our local churches are busy making a difference in their local communities and the world through worship, small groups, Christian education for all ages, and outreach to Iowa’s many towns and cities. I’d like to highlight several upcoming events that might interest you.

Commission on a Way Forward
We’ve already held two of our eight district events around the proposals that the Commission on a Way Forward is bringing to the Special Session of General Conference in February 2019. Here is the schedule for the six remaining gatherings. I encourage you to attend one of these events so that you are well informed about the proposals. You can access the materials used in these gatherings and available for local churches by clicking here . Read about the first two gatherings here .

Worldwide Communion Sunday on October 7
Worldwide Communion Sunday is this Sunday, October 7. It is one of my favorite Sundays of the year because Christians of all denominations all over the world celebrate our oneness in Christ by receiving the bread of life and the cup of salvation on the same day. 

As United Methodists, we also have the opportunity to take a special offering that supports education through World Communion and Ethnic scholarships and Ethnic
In-Service Training. Thank you for your generosity!


National Christians Engaged in Faith Formation Conference in Des Moines on October 9-12
From October 9-12, Iowa will host the National Christians Engaged in Faith Formation Conference called  “curious.church.” The conference will offer a diverse array of educational opportunities, including workshops, keynotes, and worship. The conference will feature authors and speakers Brian McLaren, John Roberto and Mary Scifres as well as United Methodist Bishops Cynthia Fierro Harvey from Louisiana and Tracy Smith Malone from East Ohio. I will also be preaching on Wednesday morning. A closing concert that will feature Carrie Newcomer will also take place. It’s not too late to register! Just click  here .

Orders Gathering on October 30
On Tuesday, October 30, from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, elders, deacons, and associate members/local pastors will be gathering at Marshalltown, First UMC for a day apart. Our speaker will be Rev. Magrey DeVega, who is the senior pastor of Hyde Park UMC in Tampa, Florida. The event will focus on making space for engaging in difficult conversation. Rev. DeVega previously served as a pastor in the Iowa Annual Conference at St. Paul's UMC in Cherokee. You may register  here . 

My October schedule:
In addition to the normal routine of regular meetings with the cabinet and a variety of committees and individuals, episcopal leaders also serve on boards and agencies around the wider UM connection, participate in special events, and travel throughout their episcopal areas. 

  • October 6: Attending the United Methodist Women’s Annual gathering in the morning and meeting with the Conference Episcopacy Committee at Knoxville, First UMC in the afternoon.
  • October 7: Preaching at Knoxville, First UMC and then leading South Central District's Commission on a Way Forward (COWF) gathering in the afternoon.
  • October 8: Leading the Southwest District's COWF gathering at Atlantic, First in the evening.
  • October 9-10: Participating and preaching at "curious.curch." which is a Christians Engaged in Faith Formation Conference in Des Moines.
  • October 11-20: Leading a mission trip, along with my husband Gary, and 11 United Methodists from Iowa (including five district superintendents) to our United Methodist Africa University in Zimbabwe. This will be my third visit to AU, and I am looking forward to staying in the Ubuntu Retreat Center, for which I helped to raise the funds while a pastor in Michigan.    
  • October 23: Spending the day with Gary and our retired clergy at Des Moines, New Hope UMC.
  • October 27: Leading the North Central District's COWF gathering at Webster City, Asbury UMC in the morning.
  • October 28: Preaching at Spirit Lake UMC in the morning and then leading the Northwest District's COWF gathering at Spencer, Grace in the afternoon.
  • October 29-30: Attending the Clergy Orders event at Marshalltown, First UMC. 
  • And October 31: It's All Hallows' Eve (Halloween!)

May God bless you and your ministries during this beautiful time of year in Iowa.  

Bishop Laurie