APRIL 2026 MFSA Iowa MEMO

Spring 2026 Events

MFSA Spring Gathering - April 11
Our Social Principles:  A Call to Action”
Rev. Nate Nims, Keynote Speaker
Featuring Legislative Advocate Jeff Anderson 
MFSA Coordinator Jean Swenson 
Collegiate UMC and Wesley Foundation
2622 Lincoln Way | Ames, IA 50014

Capital City PRIDE, Thursday, April 23  
“PRIDE Storytellers:  Black and Proud”
6:30 p.m., Temple Theater, 1011 Locust, Des Moines.
Tickets at https://capitalcitypride.org/events/. 

National Faith & Climate Forum Saturday, April 25
11:00- 4:30. Two sites: New Beginnings Christian Church,
8631Hickman Rd., Urbandale
Prairiewoods Franciscan Center, 120 E. Boyson Rd., Hiawatha,  Register at https://nationalfaithandclimateforum.org.

MFSA Iowa's 50th Anniversary Celebration
​June 12, 2026

✨​ Join us as we celebrate 50 years of faith, justice, and action
 with the Iowa Methodist Federation for Social Action!
More details coming soon, stay tuned!
As we look forward to Annual Conference, Iowa MFSA will be mailing a Social Questions Bulletin in early May via USPS. If you have moved within the last year, please make sure we have your new mailing address; contact Jean Swenson

Please join the Des Moines Valley Friends Meeting and AFSC to bear witness and show resistance to the authoritarian actions in our country. You are welcome to hold appropriate signage of a message for peace.

Saturday, April 25 at 11:00 am, we will gather at the corner of 42nd St. and Grand Avenue in Des Moines for one hour of silent public worship.

Following the vigil, we plan to provide a light lunch and invite all those attending to join. Info and sign up, optional but helpful to estimate food needs.​
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From Jean Swenson, Coordinator
I was able to attend “American Wilderness, A Service in Solidarity with Refugees and Immigrants” held at First UMC, Des Moines, on Sunday, February 22.  It was a very moving service. 
Shared in the March memo, with permission, is the reflection from Fazal Moneer Adil, Afghan Refugee and author of A River is Made.  Suggested “actions of hope” from the service are also listed.
We were called to Pray, then Act.

Coming Soon: Statewide Zoom Gathering
MFSA will be launching a new monthly Zoom gathering to
connect across the state of Iowa and discuss timely issues together. 
​Watch for details on "Voices Across Iowa"