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St. Helena
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A Message from Bishop Alan Scarfe
Dear Beloved in Christ, Several years ago I met for lunch with the then Senator for Iowa, Tom Harkin. Senator Harkin mentioned that he believed that Bishops and Senators had similar constituents. Our responsibility for public discourse covered the same demographics....
Youth Mission Trip Re-Cap
Dear Grace Church, This year, our youth group mission trip to Colorado Springs was very important to us as it was our first real mission trip since 2019 because of the pandemic. Unlike past years, we were a very small group, being only 7 youth and 3 leaders....
A Word from our Senior Warden
Dear Grace Church, What a wonderful start to our Summer Sabbatical we’ve had with Bishop Alan! He generously agreed to be with us until Rev. Amy’s return in September with the exception of the next four Sundays due to a prior commitment. In the weeks ahead we will...
Amazing Grace
Yesterday was an election night, focused mainly on narrowing the fields that will face off with one another on November’s elections. There was quite a crowd of supporters gathered outside the Cottrell home, anticipating a good outcome for Anne, who was running for...
Welcome Home Donation Drive
It may sound strange, but moving out of homelessness into housing can be a daunting process. People experiencing homelessness have typically been through multiple traumas in their lives, so that major life changes and new responsibilities, like moving into housing,...
Youth Sunday
As I rode my bike (Noah in tow) across town this morning to the Montessori school, I was pondering how quickly this year has gone. Twelve months ago we gathered on the labyrinth for a worship service that followed the confirmation of eight of our teenagers the night...
Pentecost Picnic
After three years we are finally getting to have our annual family Pentecost picnic! We hope that you will join us on Sunday June 5th following the 10 am service for this wonderful time of fellowship and good food! For families' with last names ending in A-L please...
Minding the Gap
Dear Grace Church, This week I had all the intention of writing about “Minding the Gap”. This is one of my favorite phrases from the underground transport system in London. It was required because over time though the rail guage sizes remained the same, the carriages...
Bishop Alan Office and Pub Hours!
Bishop Alan has Office Hours and Pub Hours! Office Hours – when he is on campus and happy to connect with you if you drop by – are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00-3:00 pm. Pub Hours – when you can meet him in the basement of the Goose & Gander and share a pint...
Where two or three are gathered
Dear Grace Church, On Sunday morning I shared my secret dream of a perfect retirement – of enjoying regular evenings out at the local pub engaged in lively and meaningful conversation “just this side of tipsy”. Well, I have no such place set aside in Des Moines as yet...
Sabbatical for Everyone
Dear Ones, As I head off on my four-month sabbatical, I am filled with peace and gratitude. I’ve had a chance to reconnect with a lot of folks over the last few weeks, over the phone or text, in small groups, at the door of the sanctuary— it is just so good to see...
Decoding Bishop Scarfe
At a staff meeting in Bishop Scarfe's previous diocese he passed around a chart that he had received in an email. "You all need to study this,'' he said, with a chuckle in his voice, ``Because it really is true" The Diocesan staff spent a good amount of time laughing...