Prayer List - To see prayer concerns, please visit our prayer board here.
Upper Midwest Regional Prayer Calendar - may be viewed here
Aug 26 Midsummer Night’s Gathering 7 pm
Aug 29 School for Congregational Learning
Aug 30, Sept. 6 Prayer at the Fair
Prayer at the Fair: Mark Your Calendars
Sunday, August 30 and Sunday September 6, 9:15 – 9:45 am
State Fairgrounds, Bandshell
Add prayerful celebration to your experience of the abundance of life at the State Fair. The Minnesota Council of Churches annually organizes this ecumenical service of music and readings. For more information contact Gail Anderson at 612-230-3210 or gail.anderson@mnchurches.org.
A Table Before Me: God's Open-Armed Adventure
Come Join the Adventure!
2009 Adventure in Mission– TABLE HOSPITALITY
Every month will include a different focus; every quarter will bring a new activity; every season will provide more challenge to increase your understanding of Mission, deepen your commitment to Mission, develop your capacity for Mission stewardship.
August Mission Focus: Hunger No More
Heavy Rains Inundate Portions of Taiwan
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Dear Friends,
Over the weekend of August 7-9 Typhoon Morakot triggered the worst flooding in Taiwan in 50 years. In just two days, the storm dumped the equivalent of a year's worth of rain - more than 80 inches - before moving on to China and displacing over a million people there. One entire village in the south of Taiwan was consumed by a mudslide. Many are confirmed dead, others are missing, and, thankfully, several hundred have been rescued. The flooding is devastating to the country's agriculture. The clean-up will be tremendous; representatives from Global Ministries' partner, The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, write, "it will be necessary to monitor and control any infections that could arise from dirty water, debris, dead animals and so on." Week of Compassion, in partnership with the East Asia & Pacific area office of Global Ministries, has sent an initial grant of $2,500 to assist with immediate aid. WoC will also respond to any appeals received from Church World Service for further relief and recovery.
Eye on the Atlantic
We are keeping a watchful eye on the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea as activity has picked up significantly in recent days. Hurricane Bill has become a Category 4 storm as it roars through the Atlantic and could well increase in intensity. We are grateful that Tropical Storm Ana spared the island that Haiti and the Dominican Republic share.
North to Alaska
A group of 17 Disciples volunteers answered the call made two weeks ago to accompany Carl Zerweck, Director of Disciples Volunteering, to Eagle, Alaska, to aid in flood recovery. For the next three weeks, they will labor in a remote part of the state that was devastated by a spring thaw. Follow their experience by going to www.weekofcompassion.org. Please remember them and the residents of the Eagle community in your thoughts and prayers.
Around the World, Around the Year: Where in the World Have We Responded This Week?
Disaster Responses:
Taiwan, typhoon
Mississippi, hurricane recovery
Long-Term Development:
Uganda, food security
Save the Date!
2009 School for Congregational Learning
August 29, 2009
Spirit
Past, Present, & Future
Valley Southwoods Freshman High School,
West Des Moines, Iowa
Inspiring Worship
Intuitive Keynote Speaker – Rev. Dr. Richard Hamm Executive Administrator, Christian Churches Together
Insightful Celebration
Invigorating Workshops (Including one led by Pastor Shane)
~Friday August 28th Kickoff~
6:00 PM Picnic ~West Des Moines Christian Church
Reenactment ~ Signing of the Declaration & Address
by Rev. John Bolen
Pastor's Pen - Click here to read Pastor Shane's latest letter
