MARCH 2010 IOWA CHAPTER MFSA MEMO
Spring Regional Gatherings on Palestine/Israel:
MFSA’s Spring Gatherings will focus on Palestine/Israel, using new materials from the Presbyterian Church called, “Steadfast Hope, the Palestinian Quest for Just Peace.” Kathleen McQuillen, Iowa Program Coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee, will be the resource person. The schedule of time and places follows. Find the one nearest you and plan to attend.
Sunday, February 28 2:00 PM Collegiate UMC in Ames
Sunday, March 7 2:30 PM Storm Lake UMC
Saturday, March 13 10:00 AM Atlantic UMC
Saturday, May 1 10:00 AM Fellowship UMC in Muscatine
Sunday, May 2 3:00 PM St. Luke’s UMC in Dubuque
(Note change of date for Dubuque from what was in the SQB.)
Promoting Women’s Human Rights…Cheryl Thomas will speak on “Promoting Women’s Human Rights: At Home and Abroad,” on Monday, March 1, 7:00 PM in Lekberg Hall on the Simpson Campus, in Indianola. For more information, please contact Marilyn Mueller at: Marilyn.mueller@simpson.edu.
March for America!
The local chapter of Reform Immigration for America is taking a bus to Washington, D.C. to join thousands of others as they march for comprehensive immigration reform, with good jobs and full citizenship for ALL of America’s families. In addition to the march on March 21st, there will be visits to Congressional offices on the 22nd. The bus will leave Des Moines at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 20th with pick ups in Iowa City and the Quad Cities. It will return on Tuesday morning, March 23rd. Cost of the trip is $103.00, plus food and incidentals, and is due by March 12th. For more information, or to register, contact Erica Palmer at: 773-875-1493, or at: epalmer@reformimmigrationforamerica.org. (MFSA has endorsed RIFA.)
Seeing with New Eyes:
Dr. Erik Camayd-Freixas will present the Postville Story, based on his experience as a federal interpreter following the May 12th 2008 Postville raid. He will share his reflections on the implications the Postville raid has and will have on immigrant rights and American values.
Times and places are: Monday, March 8 7:00 PM The Canticle in Clinton
Tuesday, March 9 7:00 PM St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center in Cedar Falls
Wednesday, March 10 7:00 PM Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids
Thursday, March 11 7:00 PM Clarke College in Dubuque
Reconciling Rally: St. Timothy’s UMC in Cedar Falls will hold a “Reconciling Rally” on Sunday, March 21st, 3:00 – 5:00 PM. Audrey Krumbach from Reconciling Ministries Network will be the special guest for this “Celebration of Inclusivity in Iowa.” She will also be at St. Tim’s that Sunday for the 10:15 AM worship, celebrating two years of Reconciling Ministries there. Please spread the word and join the celebration!
Emilie Townes and Tex Sample:
Horizons of Faith will feature Emilie Townes and Tex Sample on “Justice for the Common Good,” March 12 – 14 at First UMC, 7020 Cass Street, in Omaha. For more information go to: HorizonsOfFaith.com.
Bishop Dingman Dinner: Catholic Peace Ministry is announcing the annual Bishop Maurice J. Dingman Dinner on Saturday, March 13, at 6:00 PM at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2926 Beaver Ave. in Des Moines. The featured speaker is the founder of “Just Faith Ministries,” Jack Jezreel. This year’s peace award winners are Helen Oster (posthumously) and Chris Gaunt. Tickets are $35.00. For more information, please contact Jeffrey J. Weiss at: jjwcpm@yahoo.com, or at 515-255-8114.Ecumenical Advocacy Days: The Conference Board of Church and Society is announcing Ecumenical Advocacy Days, to be held March 19 - 22, 2010, in Washington, D.C. The theme is, “A Place to Call Home: Immigrants, Refugees, and Displaced Peoples.” A featured speaker will be Bishop Minerva Carcaño. Learn more about the conference at: http://advocacydays.org. Three scholarships for $500 are available from the Conference Board. For an application form, please contact Judy Kading at: judykading@yahoo.com, or call 641-740-7066.
Welcoming the Stranger: Plan to attend a cultural awareness and action seminar sponsored by Charter for Racial Justice Committee of the UMW. Date is Saturday, March 27th, 8:30 AM – 2:45 PM at Staves UMC, 2747 E. Madison Ave. in Des Moines. Registration of $6.00 includes lunch and morning coffee, and is due no later than March 1st. For a flyer and registration form, please contact Judy Kading at 641-740-7066, or at: judykading@yahoo.com.
SAVE THE DATE! Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 17th, for MFSA’s Spring Statewide Gathering at Epworth UMC in Des Moines, beginning at 10:00 AM. Ruth Anne Petrak will lead the devotions. The program topic will be Afghanistan. Keynote speaker will be Jeffrey Weiss, Director of Catholic Peace Ministry. For ten years prior to taking that position, Jeffrey was Peace Education Director in the Iowa Office of the American Friends Service Committee. For the past ten years he has also been a part-time Professor at Des Moines Area Community College, teaching Political Science and Sociology. The past few years he has conducted workshops on many topics, including terrorism, Iraq, Israel/Palestine and the state of mass media in the United States today. Watch for more details in the next Memo, and plan to attend!
Please Send Information:
Friends, we would like to publicize events around the state that might be of interest to MFSA folk. Please send information to Eloise about events in your area by the last week of each month for inclusion in the next month’s memo. Also, please notify her if your address changes: ecranke@mchsi.com
Questions about Membership? Contact our Membership Secretary:
Contact Mike Biklen at:
515 East Eleventh St., Muscatine, IA 52761, by phone at: 563-263-1439 or by e-mail at: wmbiklen@juno.com
Where to Send Your Membership?
Memberships and other contributions should be sent to:
Brian Carter
7218 El Rancho Ave.
Windsor Heights, IA 50324
CD’s and DVD’s of the MFSA Awards Event at Annual Conference are available from the Conference Office, 2301 Rittenhouse Street, Des Moines, IA 50321-3101. It includes the presentation of awards, Dr. Wright’s address and Bishop Trimble’s remarks. Cost is $5.00 for the CD and $20.00 for the DVD. An order form can be found on the Conference web site: www.iaumc.org.