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

Youth are Invited to Fall Retreat

Have you ever attended the Presbytery's annual Fall Youth Retreat? This is a two-day event, where 9th - 12th graders and their leaders gather to learn and experience living a life like Christ.

This year's event will be held November 21-22, 2008, at The Jericho Hills Camp in Lucas, Iowa. The theme for the retreat, A Quest of Faith, is based on The Lord of the Rings Trilogoy.

The trilogy is a moral fantasy pitting good against evil in a world where Wizards are the stewards of mankind, Ents shepherd forests, Dwarves mine mountains, Elves preserve beauty, and Orcs, Trolls, and Uruk-hai serve a dark master. The three-part epic shows darkness battling light, evil struggling against good, pride fighting humility, and despair wrestling hope.

This retreat will help us discuss some of the deeper themes of the movies. What does this film say about the struggle for virtue, the temptations of power, the providence of God, and the power of story? Join our young people from 64 churches of the Des Moines Presbytery for a faith-energizing retreat and a chance to enjoy, play hard, and work out a quest for yourself as a follower of Jesus!

Promotional materials are now online. To learn more, see our brochure/flier for details. A registration/permission form can be downloaded online and sent to the Presbytery Registrar. Also, those needing help with finances can apply for a scholarship. The application is online.