A few weeks ago we pushed for 1000 Facebook page followers. Many thanks to everyone who "liked" us!
For being our 1000th follower, Hannah will get a handsome MFSA mug, like the one pictured below.
FEBRUARY 2012
Dear Friends,
Words of wisdom from Martin Luther King, Jr. in recognition of Black History month:
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on
programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”
“I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic
stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and un-
conditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated
is stronger than evil triumphant.”
Lots of important events in the next couple of months, so mark your calendars, and join us!
Eloise
Love Your Neighbor: The Training: Set for February 25!
This training will be held on
Saturday, February 25th, 10:00 – 2:30, at Collegiate UMC in Ames. The training will include skills for organizing and storytelling, as well as information about how participants can help the UMC become a more fully inclusive church which does not discriminate based upon sexual orientation and gender identity. A representative of RMN, Kristian Clauser, along with our own Cody Nielsen, will lead the training, building on earlier
Called to Witness and
Believe Out Loud trainings. It will also include new elements which bridge our theological, political and ideological differences so that we may all reclaim common values and work together to build a more inclusive UMC.
REGISTER NOW! You can register for the training at:
register@cwames.org. Hope to see you there!
MFSA Sets Regional Gatherings:
The Bishop’s Study, “Journey Through the Wilderness—Welcoming the Stranger” has been chosen as the topic for MFSA’s Spring Regional Gatherings. The four writers have graciously agreed to lead the programs in each of the four locations. Dates and locations are:
Sunday, March 11, 3:00 – 5:00 PM, Nora Springs UMC, Denny Coon, program leader
Sunday, March 18, 2:00 – 4:00 PM, Medora UMC, Roger Betsworth, program leader
Saturday, March 31, 10:00 – Noon, Asbury UMC in Cedar Rapids, Mike Biklen, program leader,
Sunday, April 22, 2:00 – 4:00 PM, Atlantic UMC, Barb Dinnen, program leader
MFSA SPRING STATEWIDE GATHERING SET:
MFSA’s Spring Statewide Gathering will be held on Saturday, April 14, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Burns UMC in Des Moines. The program will feature a panel of Conference leaders discussing the topic, “Economic and Social Justice Issues Facing the General Conference and the Iowa Annual Conference.” Those on the panel include Karen Dungan, Jerry Swinton, Denny Coon, Betty Stone, Jessica Ireland. Opening devotions will be led by Nate Nims. Following lunch (suggested donation $8.00) a short business meeting will be held.
Oppose SF390:
The Iowa Beyond Nuclear Coalition is calling on citizens to contact State Senators immediately to oppose SF390. This bill would make it possible for MidAmerican to charge customers for a complex of new modular
nuclear plants whether they are built or not. The Coalition is concerned about these potential charges, along with concerns about the environmental impact of another nuclear plant. Senators can be contacted by email:
first.last@legis.state.ia.us, or by phone: 515-281-3371. For more information, please go to:
www.IowaPIRG.org,
Emma’s Revolution:
There will be a
CD Release and Legal Wedding Celebration Concert on
Saturday, February 11th, at 7:30 PM, at First Unitarian Church of Des Moines, 1800 Bell Avenue. Tickets are $15.00 in advance, or $20.00 at the door. For more information, please go to:
concerts@ucdsm.org.
The Energy Problem: Choices for an Uncertain Future:
Citizens can join this discussion on
Saturday, February 11, from 9:15 – Noon, at the Central Library, Meeting Room One,
in Des Moines. To participate, please register at:
www.dmpl.org, or call 515-283-4957. Limited to 25 registrants.
Juvenile Justice Week of Faith and Healing:
Congregations are urged to join in prayer and activities to support Iowa’s incarcerated youth and their victims during the week of
February 12 – 18. Information and suggestions are available at:
www.ic4jj.org under Resources Page. Sponsoring organization is Iowa Coalition 4 Juvenile Justice.
Children of Abraham Dialogue:
The Children of Abraham dialogue group and the Coe College Office of the Chaplain invite you to the first event of 2012. It will be held at Hickok Hall, at Coe College, 1220 First Ave., NE, in Cedar Rapids, on Sunday, February 12, (snow date, Feb. 19), from 2:00 – 4:00 PM. Topic for the discussion is, “Heaven, Paradise and the World to Come.” Presenters include Father Fred Shaheen, St. George Orthodox Church, Imam Taha Tawil, Mother Mosque of America, Rabbi Todd Thalblum, Temple Judah.
Social Justice Week:
Dave Cushing, director of adult formation for the Catholic Parishes in Waterloo and coordinator of the Cedar Valley Catholic Social Justice Network, will lead a discussion on Living Social Justice in Everyday Life, as part of Social Justice Week activities. The event will be held on Monday, February 13, 7:00 PM at Social Hall, St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center in Cedar Falls. For more information, please contact Shannon Duffy at 319-266-9863.
Our New Energy and Climate Reality:
This free presentation by State Senator Rob Hogg will be held at 7:00 PM on Monday, February 13th, at the Public Library, 515 Douglas Ave., in Ames. The event is sponsored by 350.org and Iowa Climate Advocates. It will focus on our new energy and climate reality, and what we must do for the sake of our economy, our environment and future generations.
Building Bridges for Worker Justice:
A one-day conference designed to bring together Iowa immigrant rights advocates, labor union activists, faith leaders and community service providers to discuss the challenges workers are facing in our growing low-wage economy, review basic workplace legal protections, and discuss ways our communities can promote justice for all Iowa workers. It will be held on the 2nd floor, Old Capitol Mall, 2520-D University Capitol Centre, U of I
Campus, on Saturday, February 18th, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Keynote speaker is Kim Bobo, Executive Director, Interfaith Worker Justice. To register, or for more information, please call the Labor Center at: 319-335-4144, or email
labor-center@uiowa.edu.
Celebrate Mardi Gras!
“Laissez les Bon Temps Transform…Let the Good Times Transform” will be a Mardi Gras event to remember, complete with costumes, jazz music, hors d’oeuvres, dancing and more! In addition there will be a unique component: A one-of-a-kind prayer ritual at the beginning and end of the event to help prepare for the transformative time of Lent. The event will be held on
Saturday, February 18th, 7:30 – 10:30 PM, at the Catholic Pastoral Center, in Des Moines. All are welcome! It is co-hosted by the Center for Social Ministry and Catholic Charities of Des Moines, and all proceeds will support those organizations in their work on social justice related issues, education advocacy and service. Suggested donations are: $40/individual or $75/couple. Reservations can be made online at:
www.CatholicCharitiesDM.org. For tickets or more information, please contact Susie Paloma at the Center for Social Ministry, 515-782-3054, or:
centerforsocialministry@gmail.com.
2012 Environmental Lobby Day:
The Iowa Environmental Council invites you to participate in the 2012 Environmental Lobby Day, at the Capitol, first floor rotunda, on Wednesday, February 22, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. There will be a short press conference at 10:30 AM. Join with a broad coalition f Iowans to talk with your elected representatives about the importance of protecting Iowa’s air, water and land.
Social Justice Lenten Retreat:
The Cedar Valley Catholic Social Justice Network and Waterloo Catholic Worker invite you to their annual
Social Justice Lenten Retreat, to be held on
Saturday, February 25th at Sacred Heart Parish in Waterloo. The theme of this year’s retreat is,
“Hungering for Justice—Fasting in Solidarity,” led by Brian Terrell, of Strangers and Guests Catholic Worker Farm in Maloy. Cost of the retreat is $20/adults, $15/students. For more information or to register, please go to:
www.waterloocatholics.org/adultfaith/sjlentenretreat.htm.
Race Exhibit:
The exhibit,
“Are We So Different?” can be seen from
February 6 – June 9, at UNI Museums, Cedar Falls. This traveling exhibit, created by the American Anthropological Association in collaboration with the Science Museum of Minnesota examines the everyday experience of race, the contemporary science that is challenging common ideas about race, and the history of this idea in the United States.
http://www.uni.edu/museum/exhibits/upcoming.html#race.
Good Reading:
Check out Jim Winkler’s column,
“Acknowledging Living Heroes,” in the January 17
th,
Faith in Action, from the General Board of Church and Society. Go to:
www.umc-gbcs.org. View FIA archives and click on “Faith in Action” to find the January 17
th edition. Better yet, subscribe to “Faith in Action” to receive many excellent articles, full of inspiration, information and challenge each week.
Bishop Dingman Dinner:
Bishops Thomas Gumbleton and Joshua Casteel will be keynote speakers at the annual
Bishop Maurice J. Dingman Dinner, sponsored by the Catholic Peace Ministry in Des Moines. Bishop Gumbleton is the retired auxiliary bishop of Detroit; Casteel is a former Army interrogator and conscientious objector who is author of Letter from Abu Ghraib. Contact Jeffrey Weiss at: 515-255-8114 or at:
jjwcpm@yahoo.com.
MFSA Now Receives PayPal!
You can now renew your membership, contribute to the Organizer Fund and/or support the Iowa Chapter of MFSA online through PayPal. Click on the DONATE button on our website,
Young Adult MFSA on Face Book:
Are you a young adult, or do you know a young adult who would be interested in the work of MFSA? Check out MFSA’s Young Adult Face Book Page at Iowa MFSA YAs. For more information, please contact Josh Steward at:
revjosh@hotmail.com.
Looking Ahead:
Saneena Nazir, Director of the International Human Rights Law Group’s Pakistan Program, will be in Des Moines, March 15 and 16. Ms Nazir is a Pakistani-American human rights advocate, with a long-standing area of specialization in women’s human rights and Islam. Watch for details in the March Memo.
Interested in a More Active Role?
MFSA is always seeking to renew and expand our leadership pool, but we don’t always know who would like to be more involved. If you have an interest in serving in a more active role at some time, please let me know (
ecranke@mchsi.com) and we may call on you for assistance or leadership in the future.
Mall-Walking for Peace:
Every other Sunday you are invited to join others walking for peace at
Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids. Many participants will wear anti-war T-shirts (eg., “Out of Iraq and Afghanistan Now”), though this is not required.
For more information, please contact Dorothy Higdon at: dndhigdon@earthlink.net.
Please Send Information:
We want to publicize
events around the state that might be of interest to MFSA folk. Please send information about events in your area by the last week of each month for the next month’s E-Mail Memo. You can contact me at:
ecranke@mchsi.com
Questions about Membership?
Contact Mike Biklen at 515 East Eleventh St., Muscatine, IA 52761, or by phone at: 563-263-1439, or by e-mail at:
wmbiklen@juno.com.
Contributions can also be sent to Mike.
A REMINDER: When corresponding with me, please use this address: ecranke@mchsi.com. If you simply respond to the Memo address, I probably won’t see your message in a timely way, as I use that address only to send this Memo, and rarely check it.
