Iowa Conference Conversations Iowa Annual Conference UMC

Twelve families, including 19 children, aren’t going hungry over the weekends because of the generosity of the people of the Colfax United Methodist Church and other congregations in the community. “We just knew that there was a need,” says Rev. Terry Pollard, “and we’ll take care of it for however long it needs to be.” He was amazed when in just two sort days his church raised almost double the financial goal they’d set…and they do more than just raise a few benevolent dollars. “We have several people in our church who get together to pack food for the families to pick up on Friday mornings,” Pollard said, “and that helps get them through the weekends.”

“We’ve got to acknowledge that this is Holy Week, and that it’s going to be different, but that we’re still going to go through it together.” That’s how Rev. Nate Nims, Senior Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church describes the sacred journey from Palm Sunday to Easter. Even in a time of physical distancing the Grace community is connecting with each other, whether by children waving their colored palm activity sheets in their homes during the service or the contacts made among friends in “bridge the gap” groups. Worshipping together, via Facebook has led to 500,000 interactions, thousands of viewings of posted videos, and a 400% increase in their website traffic. Even though physically distanced in the midst of the Coronavirus health crisis, “we’re trusting that God will still be God” says Rev. Nims, and “those things that we have taken for granted just won't be taken for granted anymore…the connections that we have with one another are so important.”

“A record number of people have been cared for this month by the Grimes Storehouse,” reports Pastor Ben Wedeking…and he expects that the need will continue to increase. The Grimes Storehouse is “a community food pantry that feeds the whole person, and it does so partnering with other churches in the community. From sewing face masks to extending a helping hand with individual needs, Grimes UMC is poised, notes Pastor Ben, “to rise up and be the hands and feet of Jesus” for a community, and a world, in crisis.

“Because pastoring can be a very isolating experience,” Rev. Terra Amundson notes, a chaplaincy program has been established on each district. “It’s a way,” she says, “that we can care for one another” and something she hopes can be a “new way of being.” Rev. Amundson is the Dean of the Appointive Cabinet of the Iowa Annual Conference.

Good Idea webinars and opportunities for Unscripted Expressions of Encouragement and Support will begin this week for laity and clergy of the Iowa Conference. Rev. Dr. Jaye Johnson, Director of Congregational Excellence describes the twice-weekly Good Idea webinars that will feature topics of interest and best practices and the Unscripted Expressions that will provide opportunities to share concerns and hopes in our current uncertain times.

Through its compassionate outreach in the midst of the COVID-19 health crisis and the online worship presence, First United Methodist Church in Iowa City sharing the positive assurance that "hope is never going to be cancelled and the love of God is never going to be cancelled."