IOWA CONFERENCE FAST FIVE ENEWS
Welcome to the Iowa Conference Fast Five Enews page. Here is where you can find all the information to connect you with what is happening, events, news, and church updates that are taking place in the Iowa Conference.
If you have information to share in regards to the Iowa Conference, please email Tami Spindler or newsandevents@ucctcm.org. Be sure to include all the details…..who, what, when, where, and why. We ask that you have your items submitted by 1:00 pm on Thursdays.
For information in regards to what is taking place in the Tri-Conference Ministries please subscribe to the Fast Five Enews, if you have not done so already. This Enews is sent via email every Monday.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Iowa Conference Office and Mailing Address:
4126 Ingersoll Ave.,
Des Moines IA 50312
Iowa Conference Phone: 515.277.6369
(This is also the TCM Office and Mailing Address.)
Iowa Conference Deacons:
Rev. Dr. Charles Kniker
Rev. Chad Savage
Rev. Dixie Laube
Rev. Bob Molsberry
Contact and Share with Us
If you have issues with links, questions about events, or would like to share a comment/feedback about the Fast Five we would be happy to help or hear from you. Please email Tami at newsandevents@ucctcm.org or tami@ucctcm.org.
Please send in your events, stories and church updates to newsandevents@ucctcm.org or tami@ucctcm.org by Thursdays at 1:00 PM. Be sure and to include the Who, What, When, Where and Why.
Share a Reflection with Us
If you have a Reflection you would like to share in the weekly Fast Five Enews,
please email Tami to sign-up.
Ways to Support the Iowa Conference
Join us in the vibrant and transformative ministry of the Iowa Conference. Your generosity helps us BE Church together as we live into God’s extravagant welcome and advocate for justice so that all may know love, safety, belonging and dignity.
To learn more about ways you can Support the Iowa Conference follow the link: Ways to Support the Iowa Conference
If you plan to support through check or mail, please use the remittance form for churches or the remittance form for individuals. Please print and mail to the address on the left. All checks need to be made payable to the Iowa UCC.
IOWA CONFERENCE
UPCOMING EVENTS AND INFORMATION
You are in the right spot if you are looking for an upcoming event taking place or information in regards to other happenings in the Iowa Conference.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
To see all the Upcoming Events in the Tri-Conference please follow the link below to the Tri-Conference Calendar.
Tri-Conference Calendar and Events
Liturgical Calendar
To see the 2026 Liturgical Calendar please follow the link below.
FEED OUR COMMUNITIES
Below you will find a link to the Iowa Conference churches and community food bank information that has been provided so far. We will continue to update this list of information as it is provided.
Iowa Conference Food Bank Information
If you have information to share about your churches or communities food bank, please email Tami Spindler with name of church/organization, address, primary contact name and where to send contributions.
Pastoral Openings in Iowa Conference
We are seeking to fill pastoral openings in our Iowa Conference area churches. If you are a pastor seeking a call, please follow the link for more information. Iowa Conference Pastoral Openings
Questions in regards to these church profiles or the Search and Call process, may be sent via email to searchandcall@ucctcm.org to get set up with Conference staff support
PLEASE JOIN US
for the
Eastern Iowa Association Fall Meeting
Date – Sunday, September 27
Time – Program 2:00 pm, Business Meeting 3:15 pm
Location – Faith UCC, Muscatine
Rev. Anthony Mattox, Jr. will be presenting a program on Reimagining Church
Theologian-in-Residence 2026
Ames United Church of Christ
Remaining Human in the Age of AI
October 15th – 18th, 2026
Featuring the 41st Ames UCC Annual Theologian-in-Residence speaker Dr. Meghan Sullivan
Co-Hosts: Ames United Church of Christ; Iowa-Nebraska-South Dakota UCC Tri-Conference; Iowa Conference UCC; Central Association of the Iowa Conference UCC
Free and Open to the Public
Available in-person and online through Ames UCC zoom
Purpose: The purpose of the Theologian in Residence program is to stimulate thinking, dialogue and action concerning issues of interest to faith communities.
Friends,
Faith UCC in Iowa City is hosting a Centering Prayer mini retreat on Saturday, October 3 from 9:00 AM to Noon (flyer attached). Centering Prayer is an ancient meditation practice in the Christian Contemplative tradition of finding God in stillness. We will go over the basics of this simple prayer method that invites us to consent to God’s presence and action within. We’ll learn how to deal with thoughts and distractions, a natural part of any meditation practice.
For more information or to RSVP, call Faith UCC at 319-338-5238 or email us at faithucc2014@gmail.com. We are located at 1609 Deforest Avenue in Iowa City.
The retreat will be led by Paul Witmer and Kathleen Schiltz.
Paul Witmer is a UCC/DOC pastor who served at Covenant Christian Church, Urbandale before responding to a call to serve as lead pastor of Women at the Well, a prison congregation serving women at the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women, Mitchellville. Paul is also a trained spiritual director and commissioned presenter of centering prayer who leads retreats and teaches contemplative practices.
Kathleen Schiltz has been a practitioner of Centering Prayer since 2009. She was a teacher, director of religious education and an elementary school counselor for 37 years. After retirement she completed the PrairieFire spiritual director training program in 2017. She became a commissioned presenter of centering in 2025. Besides hosting day long, weekend and 8-day retreats, she loves participating in them also. She resides in Des Moines, IA.
A small group also meets every Thursday at 4:00 PM at Faith UCC for silent prayer and meditation. All silent meditation practices are welcome.
Pastor
Faith UCC – Iowa City, Iowa
www.faithuccic.org
YOUTH & OUTDOOR MINISTRIES
To learn more about Pilgrim Heights Camp and their current camps/registration and all they have to offer, please visit their website.
TCM UPCOMING EVENTS AND INFORMATION
Looking for information regarding TCM (conference wide) upcoming events and information? You are in the in the right spot!
Order your Calendar Here: https://www.uccresources.com/products/2027-ucc-desk-calendar-and-plan-book
FROM OUR RESOURCE DEACON
In need of resources that will assist you as clergy and lay leaders or have resources that might be helpful to other clergy and lay leaders? Contact our Tri-Conference Resource Deacon, Rev. Shonda Deranleau via email or give her a call at 641-344-8948.
Dear Friends in Christ,
The Board of Discipleship of the Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church invites clergy and lay leaders from all Christian denominations to participate in the Five Day Academy for Spiritual Formation: Deepening Spiritual Community — for Such a Time as This, October 18–23, 2026, at Wesley Woods Camp and Retreat Center in Indianola, Iowa.
Sponsored by The Upper Room Academy for Spiritual Formation and the Iowa Conference Board of Discipleship, the Academy is an ecumenical experience designed for spiritually hungry pilgrims—both clergy and laity—who desire to deepen their relationship with God and renew their sense of calling. Since 1983, the Academy has helped thousands of participants discover greater balance, inner peace, and spiritual vitality.
Our 2026 faculty include:
- Dr. Elaine A. Heath
- Jerry Haas
Each day follows a monastic pattern that includes:
- Morning, afternoon, and evening worship
- Inspiring faculty presentations
- Periods of silence and reflection
- Listening Circles
- Shared meals and fellowship
- Free time for rest, hiking, reading, and prayer
Whether you are a pastor, spiritual director, church leader, or someone seeking a deeper walk with Christ, this retreat offers a transformative experience of contemplation, healing, and renewal.
We would be honored to have members of your congregation and leadership community join us for this life-giving week of spiritual formation and fellowship across denominational lines.
If you have questions, please email: Academy4SF.Iowa@gmail.com
Liz Winder
Director of Communications
Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church
liz.winders@iaumc.org
Boundary Awareness Training
Please find below links to several upcoming Boundary Awareness Training opportunities.
September 2026 Boundary Awareness Training: A Contemplative Approach | The Damascus Project
November 2026 Boundary Awareness Training: A Contemplative Approach | The Damascus Project
ONGOING EVENTS
Contemplative Prayer Group
We meet in 6 seek sessions on Monday mornings at 9:00 am CDT. Rev. Kendy Miller, Associate Conference Minister, leads this group.
Upcoming Sessions: Our current session has ended. Please check back to see when a new session will start.
For questions or more information, please contact Kendy.
Small Town and Rural (STAR) Coalition
Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 3:00 PM CST on ZOOM. Please contact Pastor Bryce Duling (brycemduling@gmail.com or 515-451-5474) for more information.