Recap of Synod School 2011 from the Keeping In Touch News

The following stories are from the Synod of Lakes and Prairies newsletter, Keeping In Touch, August 11, 2011 issue. The story links are found on the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s News Service website at www.pcusa.org.

Two of the articles below are of special importance to the Des Moines Presbytery and are about our own Director of Communications Kim Coulter (Clive, Heartland) and another story of a former member of the Knox United Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, the Rev. Burns Stanfield family.

Consider attending Synod School next year at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, July 22-27, 2012. (Thanks to Synod Communications Editor Duane Sweep for permission to repost.)

• Hands down, Mr. Methuselah was the crankiest man at the Synod School held the last week of July at Buena Vista University. www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/3/presbyterian-puppetry.
• Synod schoolers learn about Rock ‘n’ Roll faith connection:
www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/2/not-fade-away.

Synod school teacher demonstrates new media role in evangelism: A short video, a little bit of show and tell, and a lot of discussion – it’s the way Kim Coulter led her class on social media here at Buena Vista University during the 58th Synod of Lakes and Prairies' Synod School. With an opening video that proclaimed, “If Facebook were a country, it’d be the world’s third largest,” Coulter made the argument that social media can play a role in the church. The complete PNS story is at: www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/9/friending-church.

• Synod schoolers learn that science is both theoretical, concrete:www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/5/world-changing-ideas.
• Drama takes many forms, multiple roles in congregations:www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/10/all-churchs-stage.

Presbyterian family share stories of Kenya during Synod School: When Lorraine Stanfield turned 50 last spring, she didn’t want a party. She wanted her family to go with her to Kenya to serve people – and maybe take in a safari near the end of the two-week visit, which the family did. The Stanfields, of Milton, Mass., offered a workshop describing highlights of their trip during Synod of Lakes and Prairies’ Synod School, held during the last week of July at Buena Vista University. The complete PNS story is at: www.pcusa.org/news/2011/8/4/teaching-what-they-learned.

• Synod schoolers urged to join ‘Each One Reach One’ anti-poverty initiative: www.pcusa.org/news/2011/7/28/no-more-mommy-voice.

All Iowa Presbyteries Affected By Recent Flooding

According to the Aug. 16 map released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, all six presbyteries with all or portions of their geography in Iowa have a county with a federal disaster assistance designation for either public or individual assistance. In total, 19 of the 25 counties in the Presbytery of Des Moines received disaster assistance designation, 11 of 19 in Prospect Hill, 11 of 24 in North Central Iowa, six of 16 in East Iowa, four of six in John Knox, and three of seven in Missouri River Valley.

A total of 32 counties in Iowa are now eligible for individual federal assistance to help communities recover from recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, according to an Aug. 17 FEMA announcement. Assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties may register for assistance anytime at the FEMA Web site. (Reprinted from the August 23rd, Synod of Lakes and Prairies Keeping In Touch e-newsletter. To subscribe, contact Editor Duane Sweep, dsweep@lakesandprairies.org.)

Prayers are needed for church members in the Des Moines Presbytery who experienced water damage:

• Ankeny Presbyterian Church
• Knox United Presbyterian Church in Des Moines
• First Presbyterian Church in Monroe
• First Presbyterian Church in Newton
• United Presbyterian Church in Newton
• First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa
• East End Presbyterian Church in Ottumwa
• First Presbyterian Church in Ottumwa
• Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ottumwa
• First United Presbyterian Church in Winterset

If you know of others who are suffering and are having a hard time cleaning up water damage from either floods or excess water after the rains in July and August, please contact the Presbytery of Des Moines Office at 515-276-9991, pbydesmoines@presbyteryofdesmoines.org. There are teams standing by to help clean and muck out.

We are also willing to store clean-up buckets at our Presbytery Office. If you have any, you can bring them to 2400 86th St., Ste. #20, Urbandale, IA 50322. The ‘recipe’ is online at: http://gamc.pcusa.org/ministries/pda/making-gift-heart-kits/#bucket or www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kits_emergency.

Monroe Church Helps Warm Students

Through an interesting set of twists and turns, people from Monroe Presbyterian Church learned that the Mitchellville Elementary School has a rate of 60% of students on free and reduced lunch. This fall, Principal Joe Nelson sent out a notice asking if any child needed outerwear for the season. The response was amazing to the invitation to receive warm weather clothing. The distance from Monroe and Mitchellville is short, yet the knowledge of this need was news to the Monroe church members.

Monroe, with a population of about 1,800, and Mitchellville, with a population of 1,700, are approximately 20 miles apart. Both are within the bounds of Des Moines Presbytery and located less than 50 miles east of the city.

On Sunday, Dec. 13, the Sunday School kids did their annual Christmas program. It is a custom to receive a special offering during this service with the funds going to a family or a cause. This year the Christian Education Committee supported having the Mitchellville Elementary Clothing Fund as the recipient of our offering.

Principal Nelson presented a moment for mission on Sunday, Dec. 6 as a part of making the congregation aware of the need in this near-by community. In addition to the monetary offering, members and friends of the church gathered hats, scarves, mittens, other head gear as well as some coats and other warm weather gear.


On Friday morning, Dec. 18, the delivery of the items took place along with a check for just under $300 for the clothing fund. Principal Joe Nelson thanked us profusely for the gifts and told us an amazing fact, “By 3:30 p.m. today, all of these hats, scarves, and mittens will be gone. For some of these kids, this will be one of the few Christmas gifts they receive.” Nelson went on to explain they don’t have any storage for these winter items as there isn’t a need to store them. The items are immediately used.

RAGBRAI is Riding through Our Presbytery!

The following of our Des Moines Presbytery churches are supporting riders July 18-25, during the Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa:

Monday, July 20 – The First Presbyterian Church, 907 Grove Ave., Corning, will have a lunch stop and pie stand. Last time the bikers came through they sold 600 slices – that’s 100 pies! Yum!

The ride will stop in Greenfield overnight where the First Presbyterian Church of Greenfield, 102 S.W. Kent St. (Hwy. 92), will host a chicken and noodle dinner from of 5-8 p.m. Menu includes: chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, watermelon and drinks. Cost is $8 with a wristband and $9 for all others.

Tuesday, July 21 – The Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Howard St., Indianola, will have an overnight stay for a team of 70 Cedar Rapids riders and are providing a lunch food item of corn-on-the-cob from 11-2 p.m. That same day, they’ll provide 700-800 dinners from 4-8 p.m. Menu includes: pulled-pork sandwiches, corn-on-the-cob with chips and ice cream.

Wednesday, July 22 – The First Presbyterian Church, 737 Braden Ave., Chariton, will be serving a pork loin dinner when RAGBRAI riders stay overnight in their town. The meal will include sliced pork loin, baked potato with the trimmings, green beans, roll, pie and drinks for $8. The charge will be $9 without the registered wristband. They are planning to serve 600. Organ and piano music will be offered to those waiting in the sanctuary.

Thursday, July 23 – The riders will stay overnight in Ottumwa and the First Presbyterian Church, 228 W. 4th St., Ottumwa, will host the local Good Samaritan Society which is serving 500 pork loin dinners at the First Presbyterian Church. Yum!

Communications Lunch and Learn Opportunities

The Presbytery's Communications Lunch and Learn Series begins February 21, from Noon - 1 p.m., churches in the Presbytery of Des Moines, are invited to attend these informational sessions at the office at 2400 86th St., Suite 20, Urbandale, Iowa.

If you currently work at a church, either as a staff member or volunteer, you are invited to join these informal discussions and information sharing groups.

Each month a topic is identified around which the majority of the discussion will revolve. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, samples, and insights related to the topic of the day. In addition to the featured topic, each session will include time to network and discuss off-topic items; such as to share recent projects or accomplishments, or ask your “burning questions” (whether they are related to the topic or not).

All lunch sessions are free and no RSVP is necessary, just bring your brown bag lunch and be ready to participate! (A microwave and frig are available too.)

Time and Location:
Times for all lunches are Noon - 1 p.m. at the Presbytery of Des Moines Office, 2400 86th St., Suite 20, Urbandale, IA 50322
Directions and Parking

2008 Dates and Topics (the 3rd Thursday of each month, except June)
February 21 – Brochures (please bring samples of your church’s brochures)
March 27 – Newsletters & E-mail Announcements (bring samples)
April 17 – Writing and Distributing Press Releases
May 15 – Web Sites: Basic (design, troubleshooting, etc.)
June 26 – Watch LIVE Podcast of the 218th General Assembly from San Jose, Calif.
July 17 – Stretching Your Church Office Staff/Volunteers
August 21 – Maximizing Your Database for Church Marketing: To ACS or Not
September 18 – (Re)Transforming Your Church
October 16 – Annual Reports (bring samples of your annual reports)
November 20 – New Media: Blogs, Podcasts, Wikis and more