Caring Connections: Recent Episodes
Iowa Annual Conference UMC
Caring Connections is a podcast series with Bishop Laurie Haller and guests that will encourage, support, and share stories of how Iowa United Methodist churches are reaching out to each other and to their neighbors.
Bishop Laurie Hall conversation with Rev. Heecheon Jeon, the Central District Superintendent, focuses on his role as Dean of the Appointed Cabinet, what the experience of being a Superintendent is like, how he cares for the people of the most compact district of the Conference, and how he cares for himself in this demanding ministry.
Bishop Laurie Haller's conversation with Rev. Carol Kress, who has served as the Superintendent of the North Central District of the Iowa Annual Conference.
Bishop Laurie Haller interviews Dr. Arthur McClanahan in this episode of Caring Connections. McClanahan is retiring as the Iowa Annual Conference's Director of Communications after 15 years. An ordained United Methodist clergyperson who has served congregations in New York and Connecticut, he believes that communications is all about making connections, telling the Story and helping people to find their place in The Story.
Bishop Laurie Haller has a conversation with Rev. Kiboko Kiboko, who is the outgoing superintendent of the East Central District of the Iowa Anual Conference.
Bishop Laurie Haller invites Rev. Terra Amundson, Superintendent of the Southwest District, to reflect upon her time as the spiritual leader of that region of the Iowa Annual Conference in this week’s episode of Caring Connections.
"What ultimately draws you and me to God is divine love and the conviction that God cares about human beings. Without God’s grace, as shown to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are nothing. God approaches us before we even know it and loves us into faith."
Bishop Laurie Haller writes, “As you and I continue to live a quarantined life in order to contain the spread of COVID-19, we place our complete trust in the God who made you and me as unique one-of-a-kind individuals, created for good works. The best “work” we can do now is to continue to practice social distancing; to continue to stay connected with one another, especially those who are living alone, or are isolated; to continue to tend to our own spiritual life; and to continue to offer our resources through prayer, financial giving, and offering our time, to help those who are unemployed, those who are sick, and those who are feeling hopeless.”
I encourage you to continue loving your neighbor, checking up on family, friends, neighbors, and church members, and participating in online worship. There are also ample opportunities to reach out to those who have lost their jobs or are suffering economically.
"We are learning new ways of being the church virtually," says Bishop Laurie Haller in this week's episode of Caring Connections. "Not only is worship now online, but prayer groups, Bible studies, covenant groups, and youth groups are all meeting online. And many people have committed to calling individuals in their congregations, especially the elderly, just to keep in touch. In the past six weeks, thousands of people in our state have discovered The United Methodist Church through you."
"The power of the Holy Spirit moved across the state of Iowa, our country, and our world on Easter Sunday. Moving from the depths of despair on Good Friday to celebrating the joy of new life in Christ that Jesus offers to each one of us, we renew our commitment to being the voice, hands, feet, and heart of our risen Lord in this coronavirus world...one the most beautiful moments of Easter came when I was live-streaming the early worship service at Broadway United Methodist Church in Council Bluffs. At the end of the children’s time, the one child who was present because of social distancing, gave this prayer, “Dear God, thank you for this church. Thank you for this special day. Thank you for Jesus. Amen.”
As we move through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, how can you be a servant to someone else? Who needs to hear from you on Maundy Thursday that this is the day when Jesus gave us the new commandment to love one another? Who needs to hear from you on Good Friday that Jesus forgave his accusers? And who needs to hear from you the words, “He is risen!” on Easter Sunday?
In the midst of our lamentation for our world and its people, we claim the promises of God...God's love never ends; God's mercy is forever; God's great faithfulness is fresh every day.
Even when times are bad and the coronavirus continues to spread through our world, prompting all of us to change and adapt in order to help others and protect ourselves; even when hopes and dreams are dashed for the short term; still God’s love is faithful and good. And even on April Fool’s Day, God’s extravagant grace sustains and upholds us because we, too, are fools for Christ.
"In the midst of this very difficult time not only here in Iowa but around the world, God’s people are rising up to share Christ’s love in new and unique ways," says Bishop Laurie Haller in this second episode of the Caring Connections podcast
"In the midst of our anxiety, we are not alone. We are in this together," says Bishop Laurie Haller. She adds, in this first episode of Caring Connections, I truly believe that this can be our finest hour."