Good Friday at Cedar Christian Church

God continues to do wonderful things with us. The most recent manifestation might well have been all the efforts by so many that helped the members of Cedar Christian Church, Cedar Rapids IA worship in the sanctuary for the first time since the Flood. Many gathered with them on Good Friday.

Happy Easter to all.

Bill Spangler Dunning
Lead Transitional Regional Minister
Christian Church in the Upper Midwest

An Appeal for Volunteers in Iowa

The Floods of 2008 brought destruction to Eastern Iowa. For those of us not affected, the thoughts of those dealing with the after affects of the floods receded as the flood waters receded.

But the recover process is still going on and there is a need for volunteers. The Christian Church in the Upper Midwest along with Disciple congregations in Eastern Iowa have made two videos to explain the depth of the situation in Iowa and how congregations in the Upper Midwest and across the nation can help.

The first video is called "Help Iowans Recover from 2008 Floods."



The second is geared especially towards college age students, inviting them down to Iowa for an "Alternative Spring Break." It focuses on the recovery efforts taking place at Cedar Christian Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. The church building sustained major damage with 8 feet of water entering the building.



If you or your congregation are interested in participating in the work teams, please contact Disciples Volunteering at (317) 289-5061.

Work Groups Needed!!!!!

As you know a Mission Station has been created in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
to accomodate work groups desiring to assist in the cleanup and
rebuild of the areas damaged by flooding and tornados this summer.
The schedule, as of 8-12-08 is below.

I'm wondering if it would be possible to get a whole bunch of other
Upper Midwest folks lined up to go?????????

WE ARE IN NEED OF WORK GROUPS FOR THE FOLLOWING TIME FRAMES.

• August 17-23, 2008 (FCC, Nevada is scheduled...we can easily accomodate 10 more persons)

• August 31-September 6, 2008 (no one is scheduled as of yet)

• September 7-13, 2008 (Capitol Hill, Des Moines is scheduled...we can easily accomodate 10 more persons)

• September 14-20, 2008 (Northwood CC, Indianapolis is scheduled...we can easily accomodate 10 more persons)

• September 21-30, 2008 (FCC, Gibson City, IA is scheduled for 9/22-24...we can easily accomodate a dozen more folks at least for the entire week)

• September 28-October 4, 2008 (Norwalk CC is scheduled for 10/4; FCC Red Oak is scheduled for 9/28-10/1...we can easily accomodate about 15-18 more persons for the entire week)

• October 5-11, 2008 (FCC, Medina, Ohio is scheduled...we can easily accomodate an additional 15 persons

• October 12-18, 2008 (Disciples CC, Cleveland Heights, Ohio is scheduled...we can accomodate an addition half dozen folks)

• October 19-25, 2008 (no one is scheduled as of yet)

• October 26-November 1, 2008 (Legacy CC, Harrison, Ohio is scheduled...we can easily accomodate another dozen folks)

• November 2-8, 2008 (First CC, Zanesville, Ohio is scheduled...we can easily accomodate another half dozen folks)

• November 9-15, 2008 (no one is scheduled as of yet)

The Mission Station will like close for the winter (with the possible
exception of some inside work as it becomes available) on November 15
and likely reopen again in the early Spring 2009.

Looking to build community within the congregation you serve? This
certainly is one way to help in that process...

Interested in helping?

It's simple...just contact the person below to begin the process...

Anne Marie Moyars, Administrative Assistant
Disciples Volunteering - Disaster Response
amoyars@dhm.disciples.org
(317) 713-2666 or toll free (888) 346-2631
Fax Number: (317) 635-4426
Web Site: http://www.discipleshomemissions.org

Project Recovery Iowa

PROJECT RECOVERY IOWA

Iowa Concern Hotline (800) 447-1985
24-hour confidential assistance

What is Project Recovery Iowa?
Project Recovery Iowa is a collaborative program administered by the
Iowa Department of Human Services designed to empower those affected
by disaster through educating them about disaster reactions, teaching
them coping skills, assessing them for individual needs, and linking
them to appropriate community resources. After crisis counseling
services have been provided, individuals may be referred to an
appropriate provider for ongoing care, if needed.

What is Crisis Counseling?
Crisis counseling is a strengths-based, outreach-oriented approach to
helping disaster survivors access and identify personal and community
resources that will aid the recovery process.

It consists primarily of supportive, educational, face-to-face
interventions with individuals and communities in their natural
environments.

Who Do I Contact?
The Iowa State University Iowa Concern Hotline will take initial
calls from any individual statewide seeking information or counseling
assistance. Iowa Concern Hotline will direct calls to the
appropriate crisis counseling provider serving the county. All calls
are free and confidential, and the operators are willing to assist
wherever possible.

Iowa Concern Hotline (800) 447-1985

Mission Stations to Open in Iowa

The week of August 3, 2008, Disciples Volunteering will begin operation of a Disciples Mission
Station in Iowa to respond to the massive flooding there. This work is a partnership between
Week of Compassion, Upper Midwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),
congregations serving as mission stations, and Disciples Volunteering.

At this time, three congregations (Noelridge Christian Church, Cedar Rapids; Marion Christian
Church; and First Christian Church, Coralville, will serve as mission stations, and two other
congregations may soon join them. Work groups are currently being scheduled by Disciples
Volunteering for the period of August 3 - November 16, 2008. Each mission station will be
managed by a Disciples Volunteering Mission Station Manager.

To schedule a work week, please contact Anne Marie in the Office of Disciples Volunteering at
(888) 346- 2631 or amoyars@dhm.disciples.org. If you have questions regarding the recovery
efforts, please contact Carl Zerweck, Director of Disciples Volunteering at (317) 289-5061. A
limited number of WOC partner grants are available.

Disciples Volunteering planning mission stations for Iowa flood recovery (7/3/08)

From DisciplesWorld Magazine:


By Rebecca Bowman Woods, DisciplesWorld news editor



CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (7/3/08) — Disciples volunteers will play a role in Iowa’s flood recovery effort, with mission stations open and ready to receive groups as soon as August, said Carl Zerweck, head of Disciples Volunteering.


Much of the state experienced flooding in June from heavy rains, especially eastern Iowa. The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas were hit especially hard.


In Cedar Rapids, floodwaters swamped downtown businesses, and many residents had to evacuate their homes. At Cedar Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the water rose to around 7 feet on the ground floor of a new building. The sanctuary also flooded. Disciples from area churches have been pitching in to help with clean-up tasks like tearing out drywall and sorting through damaged and ruined items.


Don Hiscox, associate regional minister for the Disciples’ Upper Midwest Region, said on June 23 that at least 60 families with ties to Iowa congregations were affected by the flooding. Week of Compassion has provided $40,000 for the regional office to distribute so far, he said.


On June 26, Hiscox and Zerweck were in Cedar Rapids for meetings with Iowa pastors and church members. Several congregations are interested in becoming mission stations to host work groups from outside the area, Zerweck said. Mission stations are an integral part of the denomination’s rebuilding initiative in the Gulf Coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and in Greensburg, Kan., where a tornado struck last May.


The Iowa congregations must consider whether they can take on the responsibilities that go with hosting volunteers — like providing sleeping facilities, showers, and an area for groups to prepare meals. Several churches are making that decision this week, Zerweck said.


At this point, Zerweck said, governmental and recovery agencies are still formulating long-term recovery plans. That includes deciding whether to utilize volunteers and if so, what their role would be. These details must be worked out before Disciples Volunteering can announce the new mission stations and start signing up work groups.


Unlike the Gulf Coast, where groups can work year-round, Iowa’s winter weather will complicate the rebuilding process. Zerweck said volunteers could be working in Iowa as early as next month, but by November, cold temperatures, ice, and snow will probably force Disciples Volunteering to stop taking groups until spring.


Robert Kunz, senior pastor of Marion Christian Church near Cedar Rapids, said the recovery will be more like a marathon than a sprint.


That’s a hard realization for people in the area. Residents and business owners want to get in and start working, but they can’t do so until the damage has been assessed. And as they go through the grieving process, anger and pain are replacing the initial shock.


Some pastors are out walking the streets, “visiting with people and letting them vent,” Kunz said.


Cedar Christian’s members have been worshiping at First Christian Church in Cedar Rapids. The churches were already sharing a minister, Fred Darbonne. First Christian is also hosting Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church’s congregation since the flood.


Read more...

Photo credit: Volunteers clean up a grocery store owned by a member of Noelridge Christian Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Photo: Noelridge Christian Church

Long-term recovery for Cedar Rapids

From Associate Regional Minister Don Hiscox:

The Press Release copied below is provided by Doug Miller, pastor at Noelridge Christian Church and Brian Crousore of Church World Service.

As you know, the Disciples of Christ are one of the participating denominations which are a part of Church World Service, and will be involved in responding to these cases of need through a Mission Station (similar to the ones in Greensburg, KS and the Gulf Coast area) that will be established in Cedar Rapids in the VERY near future.

At the present time, we are assessing the needs of Disciples of Christ families (and related families) in the Region via a questionnaire to the pastor of those congregations involved.

Present thinking is that the Mission Station in Cedar Rapids will be open for receiving volunteers beginning August 3. If you have quesitons, please don't hesitate to be in touch with Don Hiscox at 515.577.9020 or by email at dh@uppermidwestcc.org

Church World Service, Cedar Rapids churches focus on most vulnerable flood survivors

CONTACT: Bryan Crousore, Emergency Response Specialist/CWS, 515-867-0612Matt Hackworth, Communications Officer/CWS, 212-870-2728

EVENT: Long-term recovery for Cedar RapidsJuly 17 and July 24, 6 p.m.Noelridge Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)7111 C Ave. NE in Cedar Rapids.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA. – As federal figures show more than 4,000 homes have been damaged by flooding in this city alone this summer, churches, synagogues, mosques and other faith-based organizations in the Cedar Valley are anticipating even greater numbers of people who will have an especially hard time recovering.

"In more than six decades of responding to disasters around the world, we've always found it's those with the most limited means who have the hardest time recovering," Church World Service Associate Director Bonnie Vollmering said. "The poorest, the most vulnerable will have incredible needs as Iowa struggles to recover in the long term."

CWS is working with faith-based and secular organizations in Cedar Rapids and other Iowa communities to bring about long-term recovery."Our job is to help the community determine how it will recover, and that includes how to handle unmet needs," CWS Emergency Response Specialist Bryan Crousore said.

Most communities end up addressing the needs of vulnerable populations by forming long-term recovery committees. These groups bring together locals from the faith-based and secular worlds to help address cases of need. The locally based long-term recovery group oversees each case of need, and is most effective at seeking help from, among other resources, national-level disaster assistance groups.

CWS will bring together Cedar Rapids' faith community and several social service agencies in workshops July 17 and July 24 at 6 p.m. at Noelridge Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at 7111 C Ave. NE in Cedar Rapids.

"It's important for the community to come together and figure out how cases of need will be addressed," Crousore said. "There are plenty of communities affected by this flood where needs will far outweigh what kind of government assistance can fix."

There is no charge for this workshop but registrations are encouraged for planning purposes. Register by calling Noelridge Christian Church at 319-393-9532.

The Cedar Rapids Interreligious Council, Churches United, Rev. Msgr. Russell M. Bleich, Episcopal Vicar of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and Noelridge Christian Church are inviting all clergy and lay leaders in the Cedar Valley to attend one of these sessions.

Founded in 1946, Church World Service is a cooperative ministry of 35 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations in the US. Church World Service assists communities in responding to disasters, resettles refugees, promotes fair national and international policies, provides educational resources, nurtures ecumenical relationships and offers opportunities for people to join a network of local and global caring.

Urgent Need for Mission Station

From Associate Regional Minister, Don Hiscox:

As you may know the Office of Disicples Volunteering, Week of
Compassion, and the Region are jointly creating a Disciples of Christ
Mission Station in Cedar Rapids.

And we have an urgent need!!! Please see below a message from Doug
Miller, minister at Noelridge Christian Church in Cedar Rapids.

We have a need for a truck – ¾ ton or larger – and a driver to
transport a trailer from Kansas to Cedar Rapids.

The mission station in Pratt, KS (which was established following the
tornado in Greensburg, KS) will be finished with their shower trailer
very soon, and that trailer needs to be transported to Cedar Rapids
shortly after July 19th.

The trailer is NOT a gooseneck trailer – it is 31' in length.

Reimbursement for travel expenses (gas, lodging, etc.) is available.

Please contact the Noelridge Christian Church if you can do this.

telephone: 319-393-9532
email: seniorminister@noelridgechurchdofc.com

Many thanks for your help!!!

Blessings,

Doug

A camp story about the flood

From Associate Regional Minister, Bill Spangler-Dunning:

When he stepped out on the porch to check in his daughter for Junior mini camp, I immediately had the feeling that we was someone I had known in my past but my mind could not think quick enough to place what part of my past I was remembering. I went on my way doing my normal check-in procedures thinking I may never figure out who he was and how we knew each other.

The memory was lodged in a deep part of my mind, the place I keep people whom I have spent day in and day out with for months. Yet, I still could not place him as he stood on Holy Ground Sunday afternoon.

As luck would have it he had a better memory. As he was heading out the door, he called me by name in a question sort of way to confirm his own memory I suppose. He then said, “You went to Culver-Stockton College, right?” “Tim! Yea that was his name!,” I said to myself loudly and the memories began to flow back in like rushing water. We lived in the same dorm and on the same floor for a whole year together. We sat next to each other and watched tv many nights in the dorm lounge and played a game of pool together now and then. Years ago, he and I had been in the same place and became friends.

Now, he and his wife are members at Noelridge Christian Church in Cedar Rapids. Though I have been there many Sundays over the past 8 years we have never made the reconnect until that moment on the porch this Sunday.

It was all because, Sue Thompson, Youth Minister at Noelridge Christian Church, encouraged Tim and his wife Robin to send their daughter to camp at the last minute. It turns out that the image of “rushing water” is key in this story. You see, Tim’s store that he runs was flooded with over 4 feet of water and because the store is where Tim’s Daughter has formed many memories of her father, she was taking the flood very hard. Sue thought maybe by sending her to camp, to meet other friends, to experience another place and form other memories it might just help her balance out the memories of the flood.

Sometimes it is simply by being in the same place for long enough that we develop relationships that can linger deep in our soul. My favorite word is *Propinquity because I think it is the secret to forming relationships that give us hope in life. I think *Propinquity is what makes us care about others and I believe that it is what makes us the Body of Christ.

I witness everyday moments of propinquity (and RE-propinquity) on our Holy Ground at camp but I know, as the flood and our response has taught us again, this propinquity (Body of Christ) exists far beyond the bondries of camp -- IT is what makes us the church as God intended.

*pro·pin·qui·tyn.1. Proximity; nearness.2. Kinship.3. Similarity in nature.

A Pastoral Letter from our Missionaries - Doug and Liz Searles

As we prepare to leave U.S. friends and take up our new ministry in
Poland, our hearts are full. Our hearts go out to the many of you we
have gotten to know in the Iowa DOC during our ministry there, during
our time in China, and over our months of missionary itineration. In
our minds' eye, we can picture each of your churches and many of your
faces (and we still can taste many of your wonderful dinners). This
makes watching the evening news all the more poignant.

And now oceans of water will separate us. Most often, we like to
think of healing waters, life giving waters, baptismal waters, or the
waters of justice and mercy that flow down and feed the parched
desert lands.

This year, however, between the Myanmar floods, quakes and flooding
in areas we served in China, and the flooding in our beloved midwest
in America, it's hard to see water as anything but a destroyer of
lives, crops and property. We are still awaiting news of a few
classroom teachers we've trained--friends we have left behind in
China. We pray that they are safe, but fear the worst and haven't
yet been able to get news.

Often this May and June, the words of the third verse of "How Firm a
Foundation" have echoed unbidden in our minds:

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go, the rivers of woe
shall not thee overflow; for I will be with thee, thy troubles to
bless, and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."

Sometimes God calls us to pass through deep waters, and we don't have
any absolute assurance that we'll safely reach the other side.
Passing through deep waters almost always is an act of faith, of
physical and emotional courage, and often of the spiritual courage to
recover and act to be a healing presence to others in the midst of
our own immobilizing loss and grief. These are not easy acts, these
acts of courage in the deep waters that surge around us. They are
difficult, testing our faith in and connection to God.

Please know that our prayers are with each and all of you as you act
with heart, with faith, with wisdom, and with courage and commitment
in these times of deep waters.

July 30 we leave for Poland and our new assignment there with the
Evangelical Reformed Church, and jointly with the DoC/UCC Global
Missions. Our new friends in Poland will be praying, too, for
recovery and restoration in your homes, churches, and communities.

"When through the deep waters I call you to go . . . . . I will be
with you," says our God. We give thanks that this is so!

May you feel God's peace~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~in the midst of all storms.
Liz & Doug Searles en route to Poland
and Mackenzie working at Shoals Marine Lab for the summer and Mick
(still willing to travel with us)

We're always happy to hear your news!
thesearles@gmail.com
712 540 4901

Flood Update: Cleanup at Cedar Christian

Volunteers are urgently needed at the Cedar Christian Church on SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2008 BEGINNING AT 9:00 A.M.

Cedar Christian Church

526 - 3rd Avenue SW

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

If you and a carload of your friends can volunteer to assist a fellow congregation in cleaning out the Cedar church building, your help will be greatly appreciated. Dan Mineck, Board Chair at Cedar Christian, says that a hundred volunteers likely won't be too many.

Please call Lynette at 319-389-1065

As you may know, the Cedar Christian Church church building was underwater for several days...and there is extensive water damage throughout the fellowship hall, sanctuary, and new education building. Water stood at approximately 7 feet above ground level, so most everything in the building on ground floor or below is likely destroyed.

Please wear long pants and work boots, and gloves and a mask, and anything else that will keep you safe and protected. While the water has entirely drained out of the buildings, there is still much material in the buildings that has been submerged and needs to be removed...carpeting in the sanctuary, boxes of paper and other material, desks and chairs, soaked drywall, etc., etc. It is hoped that all this material, and the wet drywall can be removed before the mold arrives. The stench of the remains of dirty, standing water is pretty powerful, so please come prepared for a tough day's work.

Your participation in this Disciples Together activity will surely be a blessing to the good folks at Cedar Christian Church. May God richly bless you as you give this day of labor in love for your fellow Disciples.

An Urgent Disaster Response Meeting

Regional Staff has just recently been in conversation with Carl
Zerweck, Director of the Office of Disciples Volunteering.

In order that those of us in the Upper Midwest Region can get a
handle on what to expect, and how we might be able to respond...over
the long-haul...to the devastation many in our Region have
experienced, two very important meetings have been scheduled. Both
meetings will be on Thursday, June 26, 2008, at Noelridge Christian
Church, 7111 "C" Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa...319-393-9532.

Meeting # 1 - The first meeting will be primarily targeted for Clergy
and will begin at 1:00 PM. Carl Zerweck will be available to share
with those clergy present the long-term response possibilities that
may be available and necessary in the aftermath of the tornados and
floods in Iowa and Minnesota. He will detail the plan that has been
implemented in Greensburg, KS, respond to questions, and begin our
thinking together to determine whether or not such a plan might also
work in this Region. It should be emphasized that this meeting is
not just for clergy in the affected area, but all clergy with an
interest in responding are strongly encouraged to participate.

Meeting # 2 - The second meeting will be targeted to laypersons and
clergy from congregations throughout the Region. Again, Carl Zerweck
will be available to respond to questions, and help provide possible
ideas as to how we as Disciples Together can respond to our brothers
and sisters whose lives have been uprooted and tossed into turmoil.
Again, this meeting is not just for those persons who have been
directly impacted by the devastation, but also for persons who want
to learn how they can be of assistance.

The purpose of each of these meetings is to initiate conversations,
share vision and insight, and explore what the possibilities might
be.

Many folks have been asking us how they can help...what can they do???

At the present time, assessment of the damage and of the needs of
each of the communities is being conducted. No one knows yet exactly
what will need to be done, and/or how to go about doing it.

We certainly want to make sure that nothing is done without the full
endorsement and support of the local community, especially those most
affected by the flood and tornadoes.

Please put both of these meetings on your calendar and publicize them
within the congregation with whom you worship. We look forward to
seeing you then and sharing in this important mission and ministry,
whatever it turns out to be.

God's blessings on you and those who have been directly impacted by
the devastation.

Richard Guentert, Regional Minister
Don Hiscox, Associate Regional Minister
Bill Spangler-Dunning, Associate Regional Minister