Ministry Together
Clergy Resources from the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest
November | 2021
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Christmas Special Offering Supports Upper Midwest Ministries
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Christmas Special Offering
Received on Sundays Dec. 12 & 19
This annual special offering supports the work of the regional church. 100% of your gifts support the many ministries of the Upper Midwest Region. A special video has been prepared to celebrate our regional ministry this year.
Assisting search committees, paving the way for individuals ready to answer the call to ministry, providing summer camp and other youth programming, the regional church walks along with all congregations in the Upper Midwest supporting our work as Disciples Together.
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Ministers Institute, January 24-25; ARPR Session January 26
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Registration is now open for the 2022 Ministers Institute, exploring "The Arc of Wholeness." The keynote address and workshop opportunities will inspire, inform, and offer opportunities for connection and rest.
You can participate in person at the Christian Conference Center or virtually. Both options will include opportunities for clergy to learn (and earn continuing education hours), worship, fellowship, and relax. The event will begin on Jan. 24 and close on Jan. 25, with an option to stay through the 26th for an anti-racism/pro-reconciliation session, an in-person viewing and discussion of the award-winning documentary "True Justice." (This opportunity is being offered online on Dec. 5.)
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Important Ways to Connect in Regional and General Church
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Celebrations
Congratulations to Rev. Angelo Luis on his ordination to Christian ministry on Sunday, November 14!
Congratulations to Rev. Mike Kindred on his ordination to Christian ministry on Sunday, November 21!
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Prayers for Clergy Colleagues
Prayers for congregations, pastors as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect life.
The month of December please take an additional prayer moment to hold the ministry of presence and compassion of the chaplains. The scope of their ministry through the time of pandemic has been demanding.
The Regional staff offers prayers of thanksgiving for you and yours in this season of Thanksgiving celebrations. As you gather with family and friends, may your plates be filled with delightful, tasty foods, your conversation sprinkled with laughter and joy, and your hearts overflow with gratitude for the blessings in your lives. Your Regional staff is deeply grateful for each one of you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Looking to Serve? Lots of Positions Available
Each month, we list the congregations in the Upper Midwest who are in the search and call process. Currently, the list is long and has several congregations seeking part-time professional ministry.
- Are you retired or between calls and interested in a part-time position?
- Are you serving in a position that would allow you to add responsibilities (and compensation) from another congregation?
- Do you know someone who might be a good commissioned minister serving in a part-time congregational context?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, we would appreciate your help. Our regional staff is having difficulty identifying enough pulpit supply, interim, and settled ministers for these many congregations to consider.
Please contact Josh or Liz to learn more or share your ideas.
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Congregations in Transition
Friends, you will see listed below the congregations in the Upper Midwest in the search and call process. Gratefully many of these congregations have interim leadership, equipping the congregation to move through transition with hope and grace.
However, several of these congregations are small which impedes the search process. If through prayer and discernment you would be ready to serve one of the smaller congregations, please let one of the Regional staff know.
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Cedar Falls, First Christian Church has entered the search and call process. The congregation has called CJ Latham as interim.
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Mitchellville Christian Church will begin the search and call process. Dave Neas is preaching for the congregation through Advent.
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Marshalltown First Christian Church is in the search and call process.
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Altoona First Christian Church called Lisa Grace as interim.
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Albia First Christian Church is in the search and call process.
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Newton First Christian Church is in the search and call process.
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Oakland Christian Church is in the revitalization process, using regular pulpit supply for Sundays.
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Red Oak Christian Church entered the search process.
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Chariton Christian Church called Alice Bolen as interim.
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Indianola Heights Christian Church has arranged pulpit supply with Sheldon Henderson.
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Waukee Christian Church is in the search process.
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New Disciples Christian Church, Cedar Rapids has called Sherry Schwab as interim.
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Park Ave Christian Church, Des Moines called Tim Johnson as interim.
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Lake Harriett Christian Church called David Cobb as interim.
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Plymouth Creek Christian Church is in the search process.
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Lennox Christian Church is in the search and call process.
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Trinity Christian Church, Bridgewater, will enter the search and call process.
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First Christian Church, Hampton is entering the search process.
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New Beginnings Christian Church, Urbandale, is seeking a full-time interim minister.
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Central Christian Church, Boone, has called David Clark as interim minister.
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Justice Documentary Online Viewing & Discussion, December 5
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Are you looking for an Anti-racism/Pro-reconciliation experience for your 2021 continuing education?
The Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team would like to invite you to a viewing and discussion of the documentary “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson's Fight for Equality” on Sunday evening, December 5. This event will consist of two parts online: a watch event at 5 p.m., followed by a 20 minute break, and discussion at 7 p.m. The Peabody and Emmy Award-winning documentary follows 30 years of the Equal Justice Initiative's work on behalf of the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemned. You can learn more about the documentary and even watch it prior to the event at eji.org/projects/true-justice/. To access either or both of the parts of the event you must register for free using the button below.
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Other Continuing Education Opportunities
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Concordia College and more
Bitter Tears: After Boarding School, in Mourning
Online, Nov. 30, 7 PM
This educational event is intended to help non-Indigenous people a foundational understanding about issues related to boarding schools and Indigenous people.
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Christian Church Foundation
Development Conference
Free online, Jan. 19
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Continuing Education Requirement
All Upper Midwest clergy are expected to complete continuing education each year in order to be granted ministerial standing in the following years. Details on our regional website.
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Luther Seminary
Hybrid Ministry in a Post-Pandemic Church
Online, 3 sessions in January.
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Christian Church in the Upper Midwest | www.uppermidwestcc.org
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