tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84506972586786393052026-08-14T01:49:02.180-05:00Equipping pastors and congregations in South Central Iowa with the tools to carry on God's awesome love.The Presbytery of Des Moineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15960942511704209161noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8450697258678639305.post-43359318831984504682012-02-29T12:13:00.000-06:002012-04-30T16:10:27.763-05:00

The Presbytery of Des Moines' blog is moving to a new and improved site on Feb. 29, 2012. How appropriate to make this leap of faith to a new website and blog all on leap day. Please make note that our website and email addresses have changed too: General Presbyter and Stated Clerk Rev. Phil Barrett Sudanese Ministries Resource Person Rev. Goanar Chol Director of

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Left to right: Josseline, Marina, Marta, and Carmen. Ismael (a leader in the La Llanes canton) called everyone near and said some beautiful words of gratitude. He mentioned that most everyone has clothing – but when they buy something “new” – it isn’t new. They buy used clothing that people sell on the streets of Berlín. This was a special gift to have something new. I told them a little

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Merry Christmas! The Des Moines Presbytery will host a Christmas Open House at the Des Moines Presbytery Office on Friday, December 2. Everyone is welcome to join us and visit our office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We’ll have appetizers, treats and punch available, so stop by and celebrate the season with the Presbytery staff! From your Presbytery staff: Rev. Phil Barrett, Rev. Goanar Chol, Kim

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For two years now, the Des Moines Presbytery’s Older Adult Ministry Task Force has asked our church sessions to submit nominations of an outstanding senior adult for this award that recognizes mature, service-minded and Christian modeling of faith. This year's nominees and their families were honored at the Presbytery's Nov. 8, 2011 Stated Meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa. 

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The Des Moines Presbytery's Hunger Action Enabler and Social Ministries Task Force Moderator Nancy Lister-Settle writes of her trip to Egypt, October 11-18, 2011. It's not all work and no play here in Egypt. On Sunday, TFD Network Coordinator Nabil Sisostres, and his family took us to Ein Sukhna on the Red Sea for a day of relaxation. Rather, as much relaxation as you can have with two

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The Des Moines Presbytery's Hunger Action Enabler and Social Ministries Task Force Moderator Nancy Lister-Settle writes of her trip to Egypt, October 11-18, 2011. Back in Cairo, we met with one of the first organizations to enlist in the Joining Hands-Egypt network: Association for Protection of the Environment (APE). This group works in Moqattam with the community of garbage collectors, the

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The Des Moines Presbytery's Hunger Action Enabler and Social Ministries Task Force Moderator Nancy Lister-Settle writes of her trip to Egypt, October 11-18, 2011. I've been waiting since February for this visit to our Joining Hands partners in Egypt--those plans were interrupted by the revolution. Last Sunday, when Dave Best and I were preparing to leave, news of violence in Cairo caused a

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Spouses of clergy know they often face unique and specific challenges in their lives and in their roles, roles often not well defined, as partners in a clergy couple. The stresses of these challenges may at times push them up against important ways in which they thought they knew about themselves, their family systems, their friendships, and their own religious and spiritual beliefs.

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What would eight million dollars-a-day do for our economy, our state, and our nation?Israel receives a free gift of $8.0 million a day from the U.S. government and our taxes. And it’s used for oppressive policies against the Palestinian people. Come to the U.S. Policy in Palestine--Israel Conference, Oct. 14 and 15, in Ankeny, Iowa. More information and background on the

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 Last year's award presentation at the Downtown Marriot in Des Moines, Iowa. Nominees are recognized in the presentation and also given a certificate and meal with their family and friends during the Presbytery's stated meeting. The OAM Task Force of the Presbytery of Des Moines invites your church’s Session to nominate one person for the 2011 Outstanding Older Adult Award

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The Stewardship and Mission Interpretation (SMI) Committee of the Des Moines Presbytery will be hosting two missionaries in the next couple of months: The Rev. Douglas and Dr. Elizabeth Searles have served since 1997 in international ministries in India, China and now Central Europe. They are jointly appointed by Global Ministries and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and supported by three

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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

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More than 1,700 Presbyterians gathered in Indianapolis, Ind., July 1-3 for Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s second Big Tent. Find reports, videos, and resources from Big Tent. And here are a few stories: Innovative models for ministry in the modern world. ‘Come and See.’ Then and now: read how women are changing the meaning of “role model” in the church.(Article was written by Kim Coulter,

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Location for all the summer camps sponsored by the Des Moines Presbytery this year is at the Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat Center near Indianola.PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY CAMP (all ages)........$315.....June 26-July 2 (3 p.m./10:30 a.m.) S.P.L.A.T. (Seek, Play, Learn, Act, Teach, ages 6-9).....$189.....June 5-7, June 22-24, & July 27-29 SUMMER FUN CAMP (4th-8th & 9th-12th grades*)..

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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

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“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” ~Matthew 25:40 On Saturday, April 9, 2011, at the First Presbyterian Church, 1204 13th St. in Dallas Center, IA 50063 the Des Moines Presbytery's PW Gathering will be held. Guest speaker is Dr. Roberta Victor of CROSS Ministries. Worship and Holy Communion will be lead by Rev. Julie

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Day 8 - Standing in solidarity with our El Salvador brothers and sisters This was a hard morning. We had to say good-bye to our delegation buddies. We have lived and breathed with them for the past 7 days and it’s going to be hard to be without them. After the obligatory delegation photo in front of the Pastoral House mural that appears on the front of the house, Larry Leper, Denise Core,

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Day 7 – Trinity United Presbyterian Church El Salvador Delegation ,by Larry G. Lepper The day began with a wonderful breakfast prepared by Cecelia of the Pastoral staff. It consisted of scrambled eggs, fried plantains, beans and tortillas. Being Valentine’s Day, there was a card and small turtle toy at each place setting. They were from Betty Dyer to each of us. It was very thoughtful of Betty.

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Day 6 - Sunday at Casa de ZacateThis is the sixth day of our adventure in El Salvador, Betty "Lizbet" Sandy reporting. In case you are wondering why the unusual name, there are two "Bettys" in the El Salvador Delegation. It was confusing to call out Betty and get two responses at the same time. Since Maurice Dyer is here with his wife, Betty, I decided to use my legal given name, Elizabeth which

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Day 5 - The Ministry of the Poor.I have the privilege of blogging today. My name is Maurice Dyer and I have the honor of being a member of the Trinity United Presbyterian Church delegation that has a sister parish relationship with Casa de Zinc. Even though I have been attending Trinity for 52 years this is my first trip to El Salvador. I have heard the stories and seen the pictures of

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Day 4 Trinity Presbyterian & Friendsby Linda O’ConnellIt’s been a full day. After breakfast, we left at 8:30 a.m. to visit the canton of El Corozal to see the new church that’s being built. El Corozal is the sister parish of the Ankeny Presbyterian Church and they provided funds for the building of this church. It was a little over an hour to reach the canton in the pickup truck on roads that

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Day 3 - El Mozote MassacreToday we traveled approximately 100 miles to the northeast to visit the village of El Mozote, where 1,070 men, women and children were massacred on Dec 11, 1981. The Salvadoran armed forces had been trained by the U.S. military. It was considered to be one of the worst atrocities in modern Latin American history. The purpose was to eliminate the rebel presence in the

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Day 2 - Wed., Feb. 9, 2011Today included a visit to the Parque Cuscatlan (Cuscatlan Park) in San Salvador to see the civilian war memorial naming those who lost their lives during the civil war of the 1980's. Then onto La Divina Providencia (a cancer hospital run by nuns) where Monsignor Oscar Romero lived and was martyred in 1980 while presenting the elements during communion. One of the nuns

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Trinity United & Southcentral Regional Partnership Delegation - Day 1Travelling to El Salvador from Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Indianola are Margaret Blair, Betty and Maurice Dyer, Larry Lepper and myself, Denise Core. Also, joining us are two pastors exploring a partnership between multiple Presbyterian churches and a caserio of Berlin - Rev. Betty Sandy from Clifton Heights

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This idea comes from a former music director of the Ottumwa First Presbyterian Church, Gail Masinda.In these days of tight budgets, being good stewards of our resources is more important than ever. My husband John and I are exhibiting/selling our photography at art shows (www.AsWeSeeNature.com), and apparently others in the area know about us. I received an e-mail from a local church asking if we

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