All congregation members from the Northeastern Iowa Synod are invited to attend the synod’s first “Creative Collaborative Congregations (C3) Ministry Fair” Saturday, June 1, at Wartburg College, Waverly.
This new event is an opportunity for lay people, pastors and deacons from across the synod to gather in fellowship, learn together, share ideas and get inspired with skills to strengthen their congregational ministries. This year’s Ministry Fair replaces the Synod Assembly, which will take place every other year and will meet again in 2025.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
The ministry fair will feature 30 workshops, round table discussions and a variety of displays to support congregations in their ministries and administrative activities. Everyone will be able to attend two workshops in the morning beginning at 9 a.m. and two in the afternoon, concluding at 3:45 p.m. Check-in for the fair will begin at 8:30 a.m.
LEARN & SHARE AT THESE WORKSHOPS
Below is a list of the scheduled workshops and presenters. Read more about each workshop here.
- Discover the Possibilities with Mosaic
Jackie Cooper and Twila Shock - Faith Formation That Can Last Past High School
Tiger McLuen - What Is a Mutual Ministry Committee and Why Do We Need One?
Pastor Steve Brackett - Rocks and Roots: The Outdoors as a Spiritual Playground
Pastor Frank Johnson - Ukraine – Moral Trauma
Pastor John Sheahan - Dinner Church Ministry
Pastor Sarah Nye and Karis Nye - Jesus said: You Feed Them. How?
Pastor Kim and Diane Wills - Providing Spiritual Care for Those Who are in the Hospital or in Hospice Care is an Important Role for Congregations
Pastor Liz Retz - The Dwelling: The Church That Started as Three Showers and a Trailer
Paula Letsche and Audra Cherry - Enabling Your Congregation to be Stronger and Your Youth to be Safer
Pastor Al Erickson and Kathryn Koob - Faith Formation & Volunteer Recruitment: Thinking Outside the Box
Deacon Jackie Schilling and Lisa Acton - Coaching as a Creative Process: Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Spirit for an Uncertain Future
Pastor Kristi Grieder - The Messy Reality of Ministry to Parents
Tiger McLuen - Racial Disparities in Incarceration in Black Hawk County
R. Allen Hays - LSI Immigrant & Refugee Community Service
Mike Knipp - Reflecting on Your Congregation’s Legacy
Pastor Dione Stepanek - Talking Out Loud About Addiction
Substance Abuse Network Panel Discussion - What’s Campus Ministry Got to Do With It?
Pastor David Glenn-Burns - Intro to Stephen’s Ministry
Joyce Schoulte, Gwen Dettbarn and Pastor Mike Ashman - Strategic Ministry
Brittney Swanson - Qualities of an Effective Leader to the Next Generation
Tiger McLuen - A Sound Experience to Rest & Renew
Heather Egts - Art as Spiritual Practice: A Hands-On All Ages Faith Practice
Pastor Kate Johnson - Divina Moments: Many Ways to Listen for God
Pastor Joy Edeker - Dying Generously: Planned Giving as Part of Your Legacy
Mike Klinefelter - Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Calling a Pastor or Deacon
Pastor Steve Brackett - How to Bring Solar to Your House of Worship
David Voigts - Lay Ministry Training for Congregations/Individuals
Bishop Kevin Jones and the Rev. Dr. Kristin Wendland - Learning from Our Hungarian Lutheran Siblings in Christ
Pastor Susan Friedrich and the Rev. Dr. Mark Yackel-Juleen - Tips and Tricks for Church Communications: Making the Most of Your Emails, Website and Social Media
Steph Boeding
JOIN THE WORSHIP BAND!
Anyone who plays a musical instrument is invited to sign up to be part of the worship band led by Pastor Dave Efflandt who serves St. Paul’s Church & School in Waverly and has a music education degree.
The band will play at the 11:30 a.m. worship service. Band members will receive the sheet music ahead of time and will have an opportunity to rehearse prior to the worship service. Efflandt says the music won’t require much practicing ahead of time, so he encourages people of all abilities to join. Bishop Kevin Jones plans to bring his tuba, and others have signed up to bring an accordion, trumpet, bass clarinet, flute and percussion. Join the fun!
Sign up for the band when registering for the ministry fair.
Pastor Dave Efflandt
Join Bishop Kevin Jones and his tuba in the worship band!
SERVICE PROJECT FOR FOOD PANTRIES
The Hunger Network invites congregations to bring birthday cake kits and packages of sanitary products to be distributed to food pantry ministries in this synod.
The birthday cake kits contain items needed to celebrate a birthday or special day, including a cake mix, candles, canned frosting, a can of soda (to replace oil and eggs), and a birthday card in a foil cake pan. Additional items can also be added, such as paper plates, sprinkles and other cake decorations, streamers, and party hats.
People are also encouraged to bring a variety of sanitary products (tampons, pads, panty liners, etc.) in their original packages. The kits and supplies can be brought to the Neumann Auditorium lobby from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WORSHIP OFFERING
This year’s worship offering will support the Synod Companion – Hungary Fund. The synod’s Global Mission Network is organizing a group trip to Hungary June 21-28, 2024, led by Bishop Kevin Jones. The group will meet with Bishop Tamás Fabiny of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary and present a gift from the Northeastern Iowa Synod to support their ministries. Any funds raised beyond the gift amount will be used to help bring visiting pastors and Bishop Fabiny to Northeastern Iowa in the near future.
Registration for this event has ended.
READ MORE about the C3 Ministry Fair in the Star newsletters …
