Yours in the abundant life of Christ,

+Betsey

The Rt. Rev. Betsey Monnot, Bishop of Iowa

In case you missed it:

Last month, Bishop Monnot invited our use of the new diocesan prayer and the 2023 Convention logo. Individuals are encouraged to use the prayer in your personal prayer lives; and vestries, small groups, and congregations to use in your collective prayer lives. Congregations are welcome to use the Convention logo for your stewardship and/or other communications through next year, and it's available in a variety of sizes and formats. Both the prayer and logo options can be found on the Convention website.

Bishop Loya's Keynote from the Diocesan Annual Convention Banquet is available to read online.

December 13th

Find links to Advent calendars, "AdventWord2023" from Forward Movement, free resources from The Episcopal Church, Advent Toolkit from Episcopal Relief & Development, & more!

Creation Care Workshop

December 2nd

Hosted by the Creation Care Task Force of the Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan, join the Rev. Jerry Cappel, D. Min., Episcopal priest and director of the Center for Deep Green Faith to consider ways that individuals and churches can expand creation care beyond committee actions, material stewardship, and personal life adjustments, onto a more integrated expression of faith and whole church life.

The Case for Love: A Documentary Inspired by Presiding Bishop Curry

Preview & Workshop December 5th

Join Episcopal Parish Network for this special preview of the upcoming film A Case for Love. This documentary, inspired by the teachings and writings of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, examines the question of whether or not love, specifically unselfish love, is the solution to the extreme societal and political divisions and the current rending of our social contract.

This workshop will focus on the film's premise, how it came into focus, what the filming was like, and what we hope viewers take away from it with its national theatrical release on January 23, 2024. The panelists, producers, writers, and film crew, look forward to sharing about this life-changing project. During the question and comment period, they also hope to hear from attendees about how this film and its ancillary materials can best serve the ministry of churches across the country.

In Theaters January 23 Only

In this film produced by Grace-Based Films, the team travels across the country, interviewing everyday people from various walks of life and different ethnicities striving to live out a call to love selflessly. Well-known figures including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, NBC News Al Roker, Episcopal Divinity School Interim Dean Kelly Brown Douglas, Actor Sam Waterston, the Rev. Becca Stevens, and historian Jon Meacham weigh in on how love can bridge the divides we face today. Bishop Curry then helps bring the conversations into context to close the documentary.

PALS: Pathways Along Loneliness & Solitude

December 9th

One more session left! You're welcome to join even if you haven't made the others. With the help of Mary Kay DuChene and Mark Sundby from LeaderWise, time will be spent learning about loneliness for people in general, people in ministry, and strategies to counter loneliness.

Sponsored by the Behavioral Health Ministry Team and the Small Church Group

Simpson Youth Academy Lessons & Carols

December 9th

Check out this event from one of our partners in youth ministry. Simpson Youth Academy's (SYA) Lessons & Carols event is a chance to hear from the students themselves about the transformative experience of SYA, spend some time with students and allies, and partake in a beautiful Advent service. Get your tickets today! Email [email protected]

United Thank Offering (UTO)

Through December 15th

The United Thank Offering—in partnership with the Good Friday Offering—will match up to $100,000 of donations given through Dec. 15 to help sustain outreach ministries in The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which operates across several countries or territories and includes churches, schools, medical facilities, and other ministries.

December 19th Deadline 

for Iowa Episcopalians to submit grant applications for consideration by the bishop. Let us know if you have an application in the works by emailing us at [email protected] —

(One domestic grant application per diocese).

UTO Staff Open Office Hours:

For questions & application help.

Dec. 7, 11-Noon. or 6-7p Central

St. Paul's Cathedral Offerings

Lessons & Carols: December 17th

Epiphany: January 6th

St. Paul's Cathedral offers services for major feast days throughout the year. All are invited to attend in person or online. This is one way for our diocese to connect in worship, especially for congregations who don't have a local observance of these feast days. In addition to feast day services, a Lessons & Carols Advent service is also available. Please join if you are able!

Becoming Beloved Community: Sacred Ground

January 8th

Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based series on race, developed by the Episcopal Church, which addresses the histories of America’s Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American people as they intersect with European American histories. The Diocese of Iowa’s Becoming Beloved Community Initiative has sponsored several previous Sacred Ground sessions (called “Circles”) and participants have found the experience informative, moving, and inspiring.

This winter, a Sacred Ground Circle will be offered on Zoom with weekly discussions beginning Monday, January 8, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. through March 18 (no meeting on March 11). There is no registration fee. For more information and registration, contact Ruth Ratliff ([email protected]).

End of Year Reminders for Congregations & Clergy

• Charitable donations must be received or postmarked no later than December 31, 2023, in order to apply to 2023.
• Approve and return your congregation's 2024 Stewardship Share pledge from the Diocesan office.
• Remit final payments due for 2023 Stewardship Share, Iowa Connections, and Revolving Fund Loans to the Diocesan office.
• Remit amounts collected in 2023 for special offerings (Bishop's Discretionary Fund, United Thank Offering, Episcopal Relief & Development, Good Friday Offering, and Theological Seminary Support) to the Diocesan office.
• Send a copy of your 2022 Church Audit/Financial Review to the Diocesan Office. This annual review is a requirement for all Episcopal Churches due on September 1 each year.
• Adopt a Vestry resolution designating a 2024 Housing Allowance for your Priest.
• Review and renew Licensed Ministries for your congregation that are due to expire on December 31, 2023. 
• Licensed and Supply Clergy: confirm if you wish to stay on the Supply list and also confirm contact info here.
• Non-parochial, retired, non-canonically resident: Fill out your annual Clergy* Reporting Form & Request for License to Officiate

Safe Church, Safe Communities

Open Office Hours

As a human family of God, we are called to create loving and safe environments for all who enter in to our family, which includes our churches and ministries. One way we do this is by engaging in Safe Church, Safe Communities training. This training is required for all who are in leadership roles. If you have questions, concerns or would like to know more about how to get members of your congregation trained, join Amy Mellies, Safe Church Coordinator, for Open Office Hours on Monday evenings and Thursday afternoons.

Episcopal Asset Map

Add Your Christmas Services

Congregations & ministries: don't forget to update your Episcopal Asset Map profile so your community can find your service times, including Christmas services, and what ministries you offer. 

You don’t need a log-in to suggest the change; just find your Episcopal place, click on it, and select “Suggest an Update.” Need help updating more? Check out our video playlist from Episcopal Relief & Development at iam.ec/howtomap

Open Office Hours

Are you looking for resources for children and youth to use in your congregation? Want to bounce some ideas off of someone else regarding Christian Formation? Sign up for a time to talk all things formation related on Sunday evenings or Wednesday afternoons, with Amy Mellies - diocesan Missioner for Children & Youth.

February 2-4

Ski Trip is a annual winter-fun weekend! We'll be at Seven Oaks Ski Resort, Boone, and overnight at St. John's, Ames. We hope that youth (grades 4-12) and adults from your congregation will join us!

Families will register individually for lodging and skiing/snowboarding, instead of by congregation. Chaperones from each congregation will be necessary, so please check in with your congregational leaders before registering.  Registrations are due January 26, 2024.

2024 Calendar

We have a lot of great things happening in the diocese and we hope you and the youth in your congregations can join us!

If you have any questions please contact Amy Mellies at [email protected]. Keep up to date on our website.

Behavioral Health Ministry

Advent Reflection

This time of year can be a bit confusing and complicated. People are rushing to attend parties, school programs, gift buying, meal planning, Christmas decorating, and sometimes overspending. There is such a rush between now and Christmas. Advent invites us to slow down. Advent reminds us to remember that Jesus has both come and not yet. We are waiting, preparing, praying in this Holy in-between...

GILEAD Grants: 2023 Recipient Spotlight

Beware of Scammers

A reminder that scammers will often pose as key personnel (bishop, staff, clergy, etc.) asking for money, gift cards, etc., especially this time of year.

Unfortunately there isn't anything we can do from our office to prevent these, so we encourage you to:

Stay vigilant:

1. Be sure to look closely at the "from" email address before you reply -- All our email communications will come from email addresses ending in @iowaepiscopal.org
2. Verify any requests for money or assistance by contacting our office directly: 515-277-6165.

NOTE ABOUT UNSUBSCRIBING:

if you click "Unsubscribe" below it removes you from ALL diocesan emails (including the e-news, letters from the Bishop, etc.) and our office cannot re-subscribe you. You'll need to re-subscribe yourself by clicking on "start sending me the news!" at this link: https://www.iowaepiscopal.org/news. If you wish to be taken off of a specific email list or have questions, email [email protected]