Welcome to worship with the Iowa Annual Conference. Bishop Laurie and the Appointive Cabinet have planned this worship service for your inspiration and encouragement while providing a moment of rest for our local church leaders.

Merry Christmas!
Bishop Laurie and the Appointive Cabinet

Click the link below to open the worship bulletin.
​Find links to the side to view online worship, record your attendance, ​share joys & concerns
​and make your offering.

Click the link below to open the worship bulletin.
​Find links to the side to view online worship, record your attendance, ​share joys & concerns and make your offering.

PRELUDE SONG "Welcome to Our World"
Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You've been promised, we've been waiting
Welcome Holy Child 

Hope that You don't mind our manger
How I wish we could have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger
Make Yourself at home
Please make Yourself at home

Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven's silence
Welcome to our world 

Fragile finger sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born 

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breathe our air and walk our sod
Rob our sins and make us holy
Perfect Son of God 
Welcome to our world

WELCOME PRAYER (by Rev. Sarah Are Speed)
​“As we gather our hearts in this space, I invite you to close your eyes and take a deep breath. Inhale what is good. Exhale what is hurting. As we settle into this service of prayer and reflection together, we begin with a poem written by Rev. Sarah Are Speed. Listen now to this honest reflection, and allow this honesty to mark this space as one set apart.” 

We are raw nerves, exposed and tender. 
We are weary bones, hunched and fragile. 
We are silent prayers, lips saying your name. 
We are wedding rings we can’t take off, even though time has passed. 
We are the same pew, but it feels different now. 
We are a brave face when we have to be strong. 
We are tears in the shower when grief roars its head. 
We are setting the table, but there are empty seats. 
We are stuck in the swell, caught in the storm. 
We are moving on, caught in our guilt. 
We are okay some days, but some days we’re not. 
We are familiar with the night, we know it by name. 
We are night-walkers, dream-makers, star-chasers. 
We are close to home, but home has changed. 
We are close to the surface, but the waters are rising. 
We are all of this, plus everything else, and we are here. 
We are here. Grief is here. God is here. The night is here. 
And all of this is true, and we are not alone. 
Take my hand. Take these words. Let them be your life raft. 
Let this be the longest night, and let it be whatever you need it to be. 
We are here. Grief is here. God is here. Take what you need. Amen.

GUIDED PRAYER & REFLECTIONS
- Write five words that describe how you’re feeling in this moment.
- Write down the names of people you carry in your heart today.
- Write down one area of your own life where you could use God’s help, comfort, or guidance.
- Write down a prayer for your faith journey.
- Write down a prayer concern you have for our world.
- Take a minute to write any lingering prayers you have at this moment.

​Click the link below to open today's bulletin.
​Find links to the side to view online worship, record your attendance, ​share joys & concerns and make your offering.

Click the link below to open today's bulletin.
​Find links to the side to view online worship, record your attendance, ​share joys & concerns and make your offering.

Click the link below to open today's bulletin.
​Find links to the side to view online worship, record your attendance, ​share joys & concerns and make your offering.