Missouri Union Presbytery

Title: Church & Society Mtg
Location: FPC Columbia
Description: MUP Mission Team
Start Time: 2:30 PM
Date: 2008-07-13

Title: Sr. High Mission Trip
Location: MUP Senior Highs to WV
Description: Reach Workcamp, leaving from FPC Jeff City
Start Date: 2008-07-12
Start Time: 6:30 AM
End Date: 2008-07-19

Title: Finance Comte
Location: MUP office
Description: 2009 Budget
Start Time: 1:30 PM
Date: 2008-07-10

CLP Jim Cruickshank, a commissioner to General Assembly from Missouri Union Presbytery, ate popcorn at the Presbyterian Network to End Homelessness Luncheon, held at the Camera 12 Theater in downtown San Jose (California). The menu featured hot dogs and other cinema fare. Photo by Joseph Williams

Members and Friends of the Presbytery of Des Moines,

Many Iowans are starting the process of clean up for individuals, businesses and communities. In an effort to coordinate responses, the following options are available to sign up for sending volunteer teams to help victims for 1-day trips or multiple days.

1.  Requests for Help. Most communities are handling these needs differently. In the Des Moines area, contact www.UnitedWay.org or call 2-1-1. In Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area, contact www.CorridorRecovery.org or the United Way of Johnson County. In the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area, contact the Iowa Concerns Hotline for specifics on community contacts. In the South East Iowa area, contact Des Moines County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) www.co.des-moines.ia.us/.  In general, if the person needing help is elderly, they should contact their local area Agency on Aging to request assistance.

2. Volunteer Teams to help multiple days. The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Services is working to gather information from affected communities and Emergency Management Officials in the 99 counties. So, Aid Matrix is being used by Iowa counties to coordinate donations and volunteers. In fact, the Presbyterian Church (USA) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is a member of the Iowa Disaster Human Resources Council (IDHRC) which has created an account at www.aidmatrixnetwork.org/fema/states.aspx?ST=Iowa to enable monies to be donated through our national Web site. Iowa Homeland Security Emergency Management Division is coordinating this system.

3. Volunteer Teams to help for 1-day trips. In Des Moines, the United Way is coordinating volunteers and groups at www.unitedwaydm.org or 2-1-1. Right now, three additional ’clean-up’ days are being organized by the United Way in Des Moines. In Iowa City, the United Way is coordinating. In Cedar Rapids, www.corridorrecovery.org is organizing teams.

4. Finally, if you are a church and want to receive volunteer teams and coordinate their cleanup efforts for communities, you can sign up through the national Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to have teams scheduled to your area. Remember though, you need to be able to house these teams for multiple-day trips. Contact Coordinator Penny Noles at 866/732-6121.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Des Moines Presbytery office received a special request from the City of Waverly for immediate help to clean up and remove sandbags and equipment from basements of businesses. Their whole downtown was flooded. If you are interested, Contact either Carol Bruxford at 319-352-4526 or The United Way at wsrunitedway@gmail.com or 319-352-8701.

For questions on the information above, contact the Presbytery Office for clarification. As always, continued prayers are needed for all affected by floods. 

Thank you, Kimberly Coulter, Director of Communications

 Action:  The Presbytery establish a  program providing for up to $500.00 Grants for congregations to do special projects that would make their church better known within their communities.  Grants would be made available for a wide range of projects and activities,  but could not be used for church maintenance or other items normally covered in a church budget. The total funds available for these grants would be $10,000 coming from the Thomson Designated Fund.

 Rational: The Small Church Task Force recommended the establishment of this Grant program to encourage any congregation in our Presbytery to seek new projects within their communities as a way to encourage church re-vitalization.  Taking on new local mission not only serves to bring renewal to the congregation, but can also increase their visibility and make a positive contribution to the future growth of the congregation.

(Monday, June 16, 2008 8:01 AM) “I have been spending most of the last few days in Clarksville and will probably be there tomorrow as well (I’m leaving in a few minutes to work there today).  I’m so glad to see that some of the other Presbyterians are joining us in this struggle.  This morning (June 16) the news stated that Winfield and Clarksville may go above the ‘93 flood stage and we’ve been building sandbag levees like crazy to save some of the historic homes and the downtown businesses plus the “lives/livelihoods” of the Clarksville residents.  A big thank you to those who are participating today, and to those who hold us in their prayers.   Jane Woods

Please continue to pray for all those impacted by flooding in the upper Midwest.

(Alexandria, MO–Thursday, June 19, 4:00 PM)  The levee at Alexandria is holding so far and the water has started to drop very slowly. There is some surface water on the streets, but not enough to do any significant damage. Levee problems are still possible as long as the water stays high – probably another 30 hours. But there is optimism all around.   Sunday services will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the St. Francisville Community Center – where services were held in 1993.   D. Castrodale