2011 Lunch & Learn Series is Set!

Here is the line up for our Des Moines Presbytery’s Lunch and Learn Series. We'll be changing to the 2nd Thursday of each month for 2011. The first one was Feb. 10, 2011 and we had two people in the Presbytery Office and two participated via web conference!

Pastors, church staff, lay leaders and volunteers are invited to join us. From Noon – 1 p.m. we’ll offer a communications and educational discussion/training to our congregations. If you currently work at a church, either as a pastor, staff member, volunteer or lay leader join us for an informal discussion and information sharing time each month.

Each month a topic has been identified around which the majority of the discussion will revolve. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, samples, and insights related to the topic. In addition, you’ll be able to network with others and share recent projects or accomplishments, or ask those “burning questions”.

For those who live far away, you can participate by Webconference and conference call with the proper computer and a separate phone line. Contact the office to receive instructions for your church.

All lunch sessions are free. Just bring your brown bag lunch and we’ll provide the beverages (a microwave and frig are available too). RSVPs are recommended, especially if you want to participate by Webconference. Here are the 2011 Dates and Topics:

• February 10 – Social Networking: Making it Work for Your Church. Kim Coulter, director of communications for the Des Moines Presbytery, recently spoke at the COM/CPM training for the Synod of Lakes and Prairies and she’ll be recapping her presentation on using social media for church.
• March 10 – Web Sites: How to Make Your Church Presence on the Internet. Kim Coulter will give instructions and tips on creating a Web site or blog from scratch for free or little investment except time.
• April 14 – Transformed by Walking in Solidarity with Our Brothers and Sisters in El Salvador Kathy Mahler, the Des Moines Presbytery’s mission co-worker to El Salvador, will give us an update on the ministry of Our Sister Parish and Compañeros.
• May 12 – Advocacy Opportunities for Your Church in Iowa. Nancy Lister-Settle (Dallas Center, First) and Marcia McAdoo (Ankeny) went to Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 25-28 in Washington, D.C.
• June 9 – Stories from a Nursing Home in Egypt. Denise England, PC(USA) mission co-worker to Egypt, will reflect on her work as a geriatric nurse and with the latest uprising in Egypt.
• July 14 – Iowa Religious Media Services shares some of their best Christian education resources. Executive Director Sharon Strohmaier will also give a sneak peek of the RE:image Conference on Sept. 17.
• August 11 – Session Clerks are the Back Bone of the Church. Polk Davison, clerk of session from the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines is one of the longest serving clerks in our Presbytery. Let’s pick his brain about the responsibilities of being a clerk!
• September 8 – Activate your Faith… what can it look like in your church? Rev. Jan Scott will show us what Covenant Presbyterian Church in West Des Moines has done to encourage their members and friends.
• October 13 – Communicating Multigenerationally. Dr. Matt Bruinekool, professor at Drake University, will talk about the experiences, values and expectations shaping the various generations within your congregation. Learn to take advantage of the opportunities provided in this diverse landscape of people.
• November 10 – What they didn't teach me in seminary: how to moderate the session, and run a congregational meeting. General Presbyter and Stated Clerk Phil Barrett will help us with Roberts Rules tips and more!
• December 8 – How to lead the ministry in administration.
Presbytery Office Manager Betty Dyer and Communications Director Kim Coulter will share what they learned at the recent Synod of Lakes and Prairies Administrative Assistants Retreat.

Mark Your 2010 Calendar: Lunch & Learn Series

The Des Moines Presbytery’s Lunch and Learn Series begins again January 21, 2010 and you’re invited to attend! From Noon – 1 p.m. we’ll offer our communications and educational series to congregations in our Presbytery. If you currently work at a church, either as a pastor, staff member, volunteer or lay leader join us for an informal discussion and information sharing time each month.

Normally, these are held in our office on the third Thursday of the month. And each month a topic has been identified around which the majority of the discussion will revolve. Participants are encouraged to bring questions, samples, and insights related to the topic. In addition, you’ll be able to network with others and share recent projects or accomplishments, or ask those “burning questions”.

For those who live far away, you can participate by Webconference and conference call with the proper computer and a separate phone line. Contact the office to receive the instruction document to see if this is an option for your church.

All lunch sessions are free. Just bring your brown bag lunch and we’ll provide the beverages. RSVPs are recommended, especially if you want to participate by Webconference, (A microwave and frig are available too.) Here are the 2010 Dates and Topics (the 3rd Thursday of the month, except April):

• January 21 – New Regulations for USPS Bulk Mailing, with Des Moines U.S. Postal Service staff member Reggie Bell, elder at Clifton Heights Presbyterian Church, Des Moines.
• February 18 – Christian Education Curriculum – What’s the P.O.I.N.T.? and Is Presbyterian Youth Triennium For You? with Des Moines Presbytery’s POINT Person Sara Lamb, Christian Education Director for First Presbyterian Church, Winterset.
• March 18 – Creative Worship Ideas, with Rev. Suzanne Gorhau, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Centerville.
• April 22 – Recap of Transformation Conference (April 16-17): Plugging in Without Shorting Out or interactive Web site ideas.
• May 20 – Guidelines for Emergency Planning: Everything from snow days to health emergencies.
• June 17 – Language Art Skills: Writing and composition of the important day-to-day messages at church and in the community.
• July 5-9 – Live videocast viewing of the 219th General Assembly in the comfort of our Presbytery’s office conference room.
• July 15 – Survivor Challenge: How to get inactive members to participate once again.
• August 19 – Involve Children and Adults in Mission Projects, with Des Moines Presbytery’s Hunger Action Enabler Nancy Lister-Settle of First Presbyterian Church, Dallas Center and Restoring Creation Enabler Susan Stroope of Central Presbyterian Church, Des Moines.
• September 16 – Stewardship Ideas – We don’t want to scare the people.
• October 21 – Help Wanted: Training of new session members and current elders, with Stated Clerk and General Presbyter Phil Barrett
• November 18 – New Year’s Resolutions: Meditation and Devotions to God. Ideas for designated prayer time for church staff and members.

Lunch & Learn Sessions are Winding Down for 2009

The Communications' Lunch & Learn Series is winding down for 2009. Many members of our Des Moines Presbytery congregations have benefitted from attending these informational communication workshops, held monthly on the third Thursday from Noon - 1 p.m. If you currently work at a church, either as a staff member, volunteer or lay leader, you are invited to join us this Thursday, Sept. 17. Bring your brown bag lunch to our Presbytery office at: 2400 86th St., Suite 20, Urbandale, IA 50322. We’ll provide the beverages. The fee is FREE!

New option: Attend by Webconference and teleconference! If interested in this option, please call the Presbytery's Director of Communications Kim Coulter at 515-276-4991, to discuss whether your computer and phone are compatible. You'll then be given the passcode and login information in time for Thursday's Lunch & Learn Session.

This week's topic has been changed to "How to use Photographs in your Church Ministry". Participants are encouraged to bring questions, samples, and insights related to using pictures to tell your churches' stories or maybe using images in worship. In addition to the featured topic, there will be time to network and discuss off-topic items. Such as to share recent projects or accomplishments, or ask those “burning questions”.

2009 Dates and Topics:

September 17 – How to use Photographs in your Church Ministry
October 15 – Public Relations 101 – How to Get Church News Noticed
November 19 – Annual & Statistical Reports, Newsletters and E-announcements (bring samples)

Come one, Come all, to Lunch & Learn

The third in our Communications Lunch & Learn series for our Presbytery members is (Re)Visioning Your Church. The Rev. Jim Howland will be on hand to help us touch on the importance of the church being connected to the virtual community and how that impacts our vision of “church” and the transformative aspects of it. We’ll meet from Noon to 1 p.m., March 19, to discuss the (re)visioning process from our Presbytery’s Coach of the Transformation and Visioning teams.

If you are a pastor, staff or a volunteer on the church session and would like to hear about this re-visioning process, you are encouraged to attend the meeting at the Presbytery of Des Moines, 2400 86th St., Suite 20, Urbandale, IA. (We are located behind the Perkins on the corner of 86th and Hickman in the Westview business complex.) Don’t forget to bring a brown bag lunch. A microwave and a refrigerator stocked with beverages are available for your use. Mark your calendars! Below is a list of future lunch and learns:

2009 Dates and Topics (the 3rd Thursday of each month)

• March 19 – (Re)Visioning Your Church
• April 16 – Web Site Writing and Optimization so Search Engines will find you
• May 21 – Evaluating your Churches Communications Efforts
• June 18 – Blogging 101 and Podcasting for Pastors
• July 16 – Learn about Khadamat Sudaniya’s Ministry
• August 20 – Social Networking Online with Youth (Facebook, MySpace and Twitter)
• September 17 – Annual & Statistical Reports, Newsletters and E-announcements (bring samples)
• October 15 – Public Relations 101 – How to Get Church News Noticed
• November 19 – How to use Photographs in your Church Ministry

Reminder of Thursday’s Lunch & Learn session, February 19

This will be the second in our Communications Lunch & Learn series for our Presbytery members and the topic is on Christian Education and learning what curriculum is available for all ages. We’ll meet from Noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, February 19. The Presbytery’s POINT Person Sara Lamb will be giving us her picks for Vacation Bible School programs. (P.O.I.N.T. stands for Presbyterians Organized in Nurture and Teaching and is a network of Presbyterian educators who offer Christian education expertise and curriculum interpretation skills to churches in their area.)

If you are involved with your church’s Christian Education programs, a youth leader or serve on your church’s education committee, you are encouraged to attend the meeting at the Presbytery of Des Moines, 2400 86th St., Suite 20, Urbandale, IA. (We are located behind the Perkins on the corner of 86th and Hickman in the Westview business complex.)

Don’t forget to bring a brown bag lunch. A microwave and a refrigerator stocked with beverages are available for your use. Sara asks that everyone bring their favorite curriculums to share.

Mark your calendars for future lunch and learns:

• February 19 – P.O.I.N.T. Tips and Tricks on Christian Education curriculums and VBS


• March 19 – (Re)Visioning Your Church


• April 16 – Web Site Writing and Optimization so Search Engines will find you


• May 21 – Evaluating your Churches Communications Efforts


• June 18 – Blogging 101 and Podcasting for Pastors


• July 16 – Learn about Khadamat Sudaniya’s Ministry


• August 20 – Social Networking Online with Youth (Facebook, MySpace and Twitter)


• September 17 – Annual & Statistical Reports, Newsletters and E-announcements (bring samples)


• October 15 – Public Relations 101 – How to Get Church News Noticed


• November 19 – How to use Photographs in your Church Ministry

Communications Lunch & Learn Series is Free!

Mark your calendars! The Presbytery’s Lunch and Learn Series begins January 22, 2008, from Noon - 1 p.m., congregations in the Presbytery of Des Moines, are invited to attend these informational learning sessions at the Urbandale office. The fee is FREE!

If you currently work at a church, either as a staff member, volunteer or lay leader, you are invited to join these informal discussions and information sharing groups. On the third Thursday of the month bring your brown bag lunch to 2400 86th St., Suite 20, Urbandale. We’ll provide the beverages.

Presbytery of Des Moines pastors, church staff and volunteers have given their subject input. 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 those “burning questions”.

All lunch sessions are free. RSVPs are recommended by not required, 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’ Conference Room, 2400 86th St., Suite 20, Urbandale, IA 50322. Directions and Parking.

2009 Dates and Topics (the 3rd Thursday of each month except January):

• January 22 – Do Calendars Tell a Story? (please bring samples of your church’s calendars)
• February 19 – P.O.I.N.T. Tips and Tricks on Christian Education curriculums and VBS
• March 19 – (Re)Visioning Your Church
• April 16 – Web Site Writing and Optimization so Search Engines will find you
• May 21 – Evaluating your Churches Communications Efforts
• June 18 – Blogging 101 and Podcasting for Pastors
• July 16 – Learn about Khadamat Sudaniya’s Ministry
• August 20 – Social Networking Online with Youth (Facebook, MySpace and Twitter)
• September 17 – Annual & Statistical Reports, Newsletters and E-announcements (bring samples)
• October 15 – Public Relations 101 – How to Get Church News Noticed
• November 19 – How to use Photographs in your Church Ministry

Lunch and Learn Sessions continue in 2009

The Presbytery staff is in the mode of discerning topics for the 2009 Lunch & Learn session. (This communications educational series was offered to all pastors, church staff and volunteers in the Des Moines Presbytery during 2008.)

And we need your help! If you participated in this year's monthly series, we need to know what you liked or disliked. Also, we're asking for your topic ideas for 2009 sessions. These can be anything related to communications or our various committee's and their mission work? Only the sky's the limit (no pun intended).

Click here and fill out the online survey. It should take approximately 3 minutes to complete. Thanks for your time and thoughts!

Mark your calendars! They will be held on the third Thursday of the month normally (except January), for an hour, starting at Noon, at the Presbytery office, 2400 86th St., Suite 20, Urbandale, IA:

• January 22
• February 19
• March 19
• April 16
• May 21
• June 18
• July 16
• August 20
• September 17
• October 15
• November 19

Attend Final Lunch & Learn for 2008

The final Presbytery Lunch & Learn session in the 2008 series is on New Media: Blogs, Podcasts, Wikis and more. We'll meet this Thursday, November 20 at Noon for an hour to help you learn more about these different tools that are available on the Internet and most are free. Also, we'll take a look at those of us currently using these as a way to spread the Good News. If you are interested in these online tools or currently are using them to grow your church, then this session is for you!

Also, come early and we'll take a quick survey on what topics you'd like to see for 2009. Or comment below your topics of interest you'd like to see on the slate for our 2009 sessions.

The lunch & learn meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at the Presbytery office, 2400 86th St., Suite 20, Urbandale, IA. (We are located behind Perkins on the corner of 86th and Hickman in the Westview business complex.)

Reminder: Don't forget to bring your sack lunch. There is a microwave and refrigerate available; beverages are provided.

Oh, and don't forget to mark your calendars for the 2009 Lunch & Learn dates (the 3rd Thursday of each month, except January):

• January 22
• February 19
• March 19
• April 16
• May 21
• June 18
• July 16
• August 20
• September 17
• October 15
• November 19

Upcoming Discussion Groups are Planned

Fall programming is under way in our churches and here in the Presbytery, we'll be offering a few discussion groups that you might be interested in joining:

The Presbytery's Lectionary Study Group that meets weekly on Tuesdays, would like to remind everyone that next Tuesday, October 7, the group will help the Rev. Gus Nelson with a critique of the outline of a book, Why Bother with the Church? The group will meet from 9-10 a.m. at the Presbytery of Des Moines office in Urbandale. (This will be before our normal lectionary text discussion time at 10:00 a.m.) The outline is online for your review.

Attend the Brown Bag Planning Event for Advent. Those interested in planning for the Advent season experience are meeting Tuesday, October 14, 12:15 p.m. at the Presbytery Office in Urbandale. Bring your own lunch and let's put our heads together to plan some great events for this holiday season here in the Des Moines Presbytery. We'll look at the lectionary text and any ideas that you bring along to share. For any questions and to RSVP, contact Rev. Mark Davis at 515-770-5601 or markdavis@heartlandpresbyterian.org. (If this date doesn't fit your schedule, please let Mark know.)

Finally, Communications Director Kim Coulter would like to remind everyone of the Lunch and Learn Series at the Presbytery office. The next gathering will be Thursday, October 16, from Noon-1 p.m. We'll be discussing annual reports and the do's and don'ts of these yearly documents. This is just in time for our session committees planning their year-end reports for their church members. Bring your lunch, reports and questions and we'll offer support and help as well as beverages.

Hopefully, we'll see you at the Des Moines Presbytery office, 2400 - 86th Street, Ste. #20, Urbandale, IA 50322 in the next few weeks!