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[June 30]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Thank you all for your prayers and concerns for the diocese and the people of Honduras. So far, the entire clergy, lay leadershiop and our families are all well I spent the past weekend at one of my churches attending a vigil of prayer and praise where many were baptized and confirmed.

I returned home at five thirty a.m. to learn that President Zelaya had been outsted. the political tension had increased as president Zelaya pressed on with plans for a nonbinding referendum which opponents said would open the gate for him to rewrite the constitution to run for re-election dispite a one term limit. In the weeks leading up to yesterday's coup, supporters and opponents held demonstrations.

Last week Congress and the Supreme Court rules the referendum unconstitutional. On thursday, the presidnet led a group of protestors to an air force installation and seized the ballot boxes, which the procurator's office and the electoral tribunal had ordered confiscated

The armed forces commander, said the military would not participate in the referendum, president zelaya fired him, and the Supreme Court declared the firing illegal.

I predict that you will be hearing a lot more about all what has happened, A month ago the country was shaken by a 7.1 earthquake and now this, what next and how much longer can this empowerish country survive. The actions leading up to this events will take us back in time, which will take us many years to recover and regain confidence in the international eyes.

I want to Call on the Church to keep this diocese and the Honduran people highly in Prayers. I really don't know what the future will bring. The Honduran dlegation is ready to participate with you all at General Convention, However, if the course of actions does not improve in the next few days, I may have to reconsider.

Once again, So far, we are doing well, I will continue to update you all as of the course of events in this my country,

Faithfully in Christ Love

+Lloyd Allen

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[June 26, Cool Congregations Newsletter] This last year the six families who completed the year at our pilot congregations of St. Luke’s Episcopal in Cedar Falls prevented 88,850 pounds of carbon emissions from going into the atmosphere – that’s a 21% reduction in the total footprint of the 6 families as a group.

The Biggest Losers :) were Larry and Barb Cardamon, a retired couple, who reduced their emissions by 28% or 16,801 pounds of carbon, mostly through behavioral changes! Together, they managed to save $212 this year on gas and electricity.

They lowered their electric use by 26% by:

Lighting - They changed most of their light bulbs to compact fluorescent, turned off lights when not in use, and used task lighting to light their counters, books, and corners rather than the set of
four overhead lights on their ceiling fans. 

Phantom Load - They plugged in groups of electronic equipment like their entertainment centers, kitchen counter appliances, computer stations to power strips and turned off the strips when they were not using them. Phantom load is the energy that electronic appliances draw when in standby mode.

Air Conditioning - Last summer they set their AC to 78 degrees, from 4pm – 7am (They participate in MidAmerican Energy's Summer Savings program saving $30/yr), then kept the house shut and used the ceiling fans to keep the house cool during the day. Plus they shut their window quilts to keep out the hot sun on the south side.

They lowered their heating gas use by 8% by:

Thermostat – They set their heat to 65 degrees by day and 58 degrees at night. They took several weeks to work their way down one degree at a time from their former 70 degree daytime temp. The gradual change allowed them to get used to the new practice and spend more time in their new addition where the sunshine warmed the room.

Space Heating - They like to sit and watch TV in the evening in their living room where they shut the door in the winter and use their electric fireplace as a space heater. The thermostat for the whole house is in that room, so as it heats up, the thermostat reads a higher temp and the furnace does not kick on for the rest of the house.

Window treatments - They closed their window quilts at night to keep the heat in during the winter.
 

 

[Jun 10] The June eNewsletter of Church Insurance is available with articles about Church Inventories. When it comes to necessary precautions, the church inventory is of the most paramount importance. MORE>>

 

 

Bishop Meshack Mabuza of our Companion Diocese of Swaziland requests prayers for the people and especially the leaders of Zimbabwe. Use this link to a NY Times Op Ed piece that Bishop Mabuza calls our attention for more information about the situation there. MORE>> 

 

 

[ENS, May 29] CareForTheTroops is a not-for-profit interfaith effort designed to address the spiritual and psychological needs of military families while working with congregations to make them more welcoming and understanding of the issues they face. The comprehensive website, www.CareForTheTroops.org, provides tools, resources and links aimed to equip congregation to reach out and support the military and/or their family members.

 

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[Apr 29] Diocesan Coordinator for Disaster Relief & Recovery, The Rev. Pat Genereux reminds churches to be alert to your community's needs. MORE>>

 
 

 

[Apr 29] Daughters of the King have created a resource for Prayer Vigil during the Triennial and General Convention in July. MORE>>

 
 

 

[Apr 15] Designed to assist American families to refinance or modify their loans to a monthly mortgage payment that is more affordable, this program is free through HUD. Don’t be taken in on a scam. You do not have to pay to be assisted through HUD. If you’re trying to modify or refinance your loans to a monthly mortgage payment that is more affordable, visit the Making Home Affordable website at http://makinghomeaffordable.gov/. You can also call the Homeowner’s HOPE hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE for free foreclosure counseling assistance.

 

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Bishop Scarfe has prepared a video address for spring meetings of the regional mission chapters. The video is available on YouTube and is in two parts, so be sure to view both Part I and Part II:

Part I:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehSBUAfye60&feature=channel

Part II:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoHeP1E2kcM&feature=channel

 

  

[Mar 24] Deputy appointments to the 22 Legislative Committees of the 76th General Convention have been announced by House of Deputies President Bonnie Anderson. Four Deputies from Iowa will serve on committees:  Ellen Bruckner (Christ, Cedar Rapids) will serve as Vice-Chair of the Structure Committee; Maggie Tinsman (St. Peter's, Bettendorf) will serve on the  National and International Concerns Committee; Raisin Horn (University of Iowa Chaplaincy, Iowa City) will serve on the Prayer Book, Liturgy & Church Music Committee; and Kathleen Milligan (St. John's, Dubuque) will serve on the Ecumenical Relations Committee.

Bonnie Anderson's letter can be viewed here, and the Legislative Committee Rosters can be viewed here.

 
 

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[Mar 6] Beginning with services on Palm Sunday, April 5th, a brand new missionary work is starting in Indianola. The Rev. Canon Ron Osborne will be leading services for a brand new congregation in the Music Room at Emerson School, 1109 E. Euclid, Indianola. For more information, visit www.indianolaepiscopal.org. 

 

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[Feb 19] During the last several months Iowa Religious Media Services has added 24 new resources into the collection. Among them are:

Confronting Death: A Christian Approach to the End of Life by Walter Wangerin, Jr. is an excellent resource for adult Sunday School classes, study groups Stephen Ministry, and working with those who are grieving. Includes study guide.

The Ten Commandments of Communicating with People with Disabilities ia a program is suitable for high school age and up that will guide your church to create the welcoming atmosphere.
 
City Signals: Principles and Practices for Ministering in Today's Global Communities highlights urban themes in church history, then focuses on solid theology, principles and practices of global urban ministry. 

Check the rest of the latest resources by clicking the "new resource" button on the IRMS web site www.irms.org. IRMS is committed to serving you by continually adding the best, most relevant new resources to our collection. Your nominal investment in an IRMS membership is the best stewardship of your resource dollars in this tight economy.

 

 

[Jan 30] The Gaza Medical Emergency Fund is the current priority of the Diocese of Jerusalem. After three devastating weeks and with the continuing influx of patients, there is an urgent need of financial assistance for the services already rendered during a time of crisis and for ongoing surgeries and rehabilitation costs for civilian patients who have no resources. The Gaza Medical Emergency Fund will be used to transport some patients from Gaza (from the Al Ahli Hospital) to the hospital in the West Bank for additional treatment and care. It will assist with the deficit incurred when many of the hospital staff in Gaza had to work long hours, with many residing at the hospital, in order to care for the overflow of wounded civilians who came to the hospital seeking help in desperate times. Please join this Christian hospital in ministry with your financial support. Go to this website for information about how to make your donation: http://www.j-diocese.org/donations?th=2 or visit the Diocese of Jerusalem homepage for more information: http://www.j-diocese.org/index. Also, Please keep the ministries of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and those who are working tirelessly for the people of the Middle East in your prayers.

 

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Consider what outreach you already provide to senior citizens, teens, young adults, “Boomers,” the unchurched, new immigrants to Iowa, prisoners, homeless, mentally ill, and others and let the us know, as we are collecting these stories as examples and for a resource of how to reach out to the Next Generations of Faith. Send your stories or list to: communications@iowaepiscopal.org 
 
 

Regional Chapter are to meet twice a year. This year the Bishop is requesting that all regional chapters meet on March 29th for the Spring meeting and September 13 for the Fall meeting. If these dates do not work for the people in your chapter, please try to schedule your meeting close to these dates. Be sure to mark your calendars so that you can avoid scheduling conflicts with these important gatherings. And remember, it is very important to have representation of both clergy and non-clergy leadership from your congregation at these meetings.

 

 

[January 12] Episcopal Churches in the US are required to submit an Annual Audit to their Diocesan office. The form to use for this audit can be found at: http://www.iowaepiscopal.org/uploads/pdf/FinancialReviewForm.pdf 

 

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[January 12] Public Broadcasting System's website gives information about a film called "T-Shirt Travels". This site contains several short videos from different people in Zambia which shed light on the problems facing Zambia today. This link is brought to your attention by Iowa's Diocesan Global Missioner, Melody Rockwell and the Diocesan Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation (E4GR) Coordinator, Leslee Sandberg. Visit http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/tshirttravels/people.html 

 

 

[January 12] Jenifer Gamber of the Diocese of Bethlehem has been making posters for congregations in Pennsylvania for the past year and is now offering them to congregations in other dioceses. The Welcome Posters are a set of seven (7) 11" x 17" posters that correspond to the liturgical seasons of the church year meant to help churches welcome newcomers to their church and to remind current members about the seasons of the church year. A number of the posters feature the work of Episcopal artists. Subscriptions cost $35 a year. Subscribers receive seven posters in pdf file format customized with their own church name. The posters can be printed in house or by a local printer. A printer in Bethlehem can mail out printed sets for an additional cost. The 2008-2009 set of posters are at www.episcopalposters.org. There are also coordinating postcards available for Christmas, Easter and the beginning of the school year.
 

[Dec 16] Audio clips of Bishop Ullestad and Rusty from Waverly addressing Diocesan Convention. Listen (high speed internet access is required)

[Dec 4] The 2009 Schedule for clergy minimum salaries, supply clergy, IRS standard rate for mileage reimbursement, and insurance MORE>>