DMARC E-Bulletin

for the week of June 23, 2008

Here are this week’s announcements. Please help publicize these events in your congregation’s bulletin, newsletter or bulletin board or pass the information to someone who can benefit from it.

DMARC Announcements

Correction to Weekend Food Collection Dates

There has been some confusion about some of the dates for weekend collections. Below are the correct dates for the remainder of 2008.

MONTH	COLLECTION WEEKEND	DROP-OFF MONDAY
July	July19-20	July 21
August	August 16-17	August 18
September	September 13-14	September 15
October	October 18-19	October 20
November	November 15-16	November 17
December	December 13-14	December 15

Summer Hours

DMARC offices will close at 3:30 p.m. until after Labor Day.

New Staff

Join us in welcoming our new Communications Specialist, Matthew Phelps. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, drop in and introduce yourself.

Sack Saturday Opportunities

Are you looking for a way to get more involved in the community? Each month the Des Moines Area Religious Council seeks volunteers to participate in Sack Saturdays. Participants are asked to commit two hours to greeting shoppers at local grocery stores and encouraging either their purchase of sacks of food items costing $5.00, individual items of food (such as peanut butter, cereal, pasta, soups) or cash. The food items collected are used to supply local food pantries in the Des Moines area. Money collected is used to purchase additional food items. This is an ideal opportunity for church, business or civic groups to work together to help meet a need in our community.

Please contact Cindy Morton, DMARC Red Barrel Coordinator at 277-6969 or 238-4593 to sign up for a sack Saturday.

Iowa Cubs Baseball

The Iowa Cubs have partnered with DMARC to provide a fun way to help those in need. At select Sunday games, anyone donating three food items will get one free general admission ticket. For an additional $3.00, tickets can be upgraded to reserve grandstand seating. Mark you calendars for the following dates: June 29, July 20, August 3 and August 31. The gates open at 11:35 a.m., and games begin at 1:05 p.m. Cash donations will also be accepted, but do not qualify for tickets.

DMARC PREFERRED PERSONAL PRODUCTS DONATION SITES:

Need items include: diapers, baby wipes, baby powder, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, bars of soap, razors and feminine hygiene products.

BIDWELL RIVERSIDE CENTER, 1203 Hartford Ave., DM 50315 244-6251 Contact Josh/Cassie

CITY OF WEST D.M. HUMAN SERVICES, 318 5^th St., WDM 50265 222-3660 Contact: Tammy Lage

DOWNTOWN FOOD PANTRY SITE, 701 Grand Ave., DM 50309 243-1381 Contact: Sherry Kepner

FOREST AVENUE COMM. CENTER, 2011 Forest Ave., DM 50311 248-6241 Contact: Danita Parker

IOWA HOMELESS YOUTH CENTERS 1219 Buchanan St., DM 503126 265-1222 Contact: Nikki Dempsey

RED ROCK COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, Nevlyn Resource Center, # 305, 406 SW School St., Ankeny, 50021 965-09433 Contact: Sharon Brooks

ST. MARY FAMILY CENTER , 1815 Hubbell Ave., D.M. 50316 262-7290 Contact: Susie Paloma

SALVATION ARMY SOCIAL SERVICES, 1300 6^th Ave or 1216 E 25^th Ct., DM 50314/ 50317 282-3422/ 266-3156 Contact: Shireen Braman/ Joanne Norelius

All preferred sites report collections to DMARC which allows us to track distribution and to better serve those in need.

________________________________________________________________________

OTHER DONATION SITES:

BEACON OF LIFE (WOMEN)

BETHEL MISSION

CENTRAL IOWA SHELTER SERVICES

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF IOWA

CROSS MINISTRIES

EVELYN DAVIS EARLY LEARNING

HOUSE OF MERCY

LUTHERAN SERVICES OF IOWA

YOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICES AND SHELTER

Upcoming Events

The Des Moines Area Religious Council makes every effort to provide accurate and useful general information in its E-bulletin, but accepts no liability for the use of the material by individuals or organizations. We gladly distribute information from individuals, congregations and other agencies but our inclusion of such material should not be construed as being sponsored or endorsed by DMARC.

JUNE

June 16 - August 8

SUMMER PLAY AND LEARN GROUP

Play and Learn is designed for you to stay and play with your child. It runs from 9:30 [ 11:00 a.m. weekdays throughout the summer and is intended for children from birth to 5 years old–older siblings are welcome. A healthy snack is provided.

MONDAY Burke Park, 601 E. University

TUESDAY Ashfield Park, 720 E. 19^th St.

WEDNESDAY Legion Park, 4^th and Vine in West Des Moines

THURSDAY Union Park, 7625 Thompson Ave;

FRIDAY Pete Crivaro Park, 192 E. 14^th St.

For more information call Katie McKenzie at 202-1838 or Melissa Nelson at 280-3239.

Saturday, June 28

WORKSHOP: GANDHI, NONVIOLENCE AND US

Participants in this workshop will explore nonviolence as Gandhi understood and practiced it. The workshop runs from 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. and is located at Old Brick, 26 E. Market St., in Iowa City. The facilitator is Chris Klug who has traveled to India more than a dozen times since 1983, leading groups to learn about Gandhi and nonviolence. Refreshments will be served including a simple lunch. Through experiential activities, participants will apply Gandhi’s philosophy toward personal life and political activism.

To find out more, email peaceiowa@iowatelecom.net.

Monday, June 30

CHRISTIAN CHURCH REGIONAL GOLF OUTING

The Christian Church is the upper Midwest is sponsoring a regional golf outing at Countryside Golf Course in Norwalk. There will be a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. The cost is $40.00 per person. Fee includes a dinner of delicious Iowa Chops after 18 holes of golf.

To register, contact Patty at Glen Echo Christian Church, 274-9134.

JULY

Tuesday, July 8

DIALOGUE ON DIABETES

Located at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Dining Rooms A/B

6:00 - 6:45 p.m. Diabetes support group sponsored by the American Diabetes Association

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. “The Dish on Local and Organic Foods” featuring Erin Berqquist, RD, LD Clinical Dietitian, Iowa Health, Des Moines.

Monday, July 14

SACRED HEART PARISH GOLF OUTING

Sacred Heart Parish is hosting a 4 person best shot tournament at Willow Creek Golf Course beginning at 7:00 a.m. to support Parish nursing. There are three ways to participate—be a golfer, a sponsor, or a “Phantom Golfer.” The cost is $75.00 per person for golfers. Phantom golfers can enjoy the event from home for $50.00 and participate in a $100 gas card drawing. Anyone can have a sign on one of the holes for $125 advertising a company or in honor or memory of someone.

To register, send checks to Sacred Heart Parish Office, 1627 Grand Ave., WDM, IA 50265

Wednesday, July 16

BACK TO SCHOOL HEALTH FAIR

Children and Family Urban Ministries is hosting a back-to-school health fair at Moulton Extended Learning Center from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. The health fair will include such benefits as school and sports physicals, health screenings, school supplies, fun activities for kids and a neighborhood barbeque. Students will visit their classrooms, meet their teachers and hear about the year ahead. Volunteers are needed. On July 17, students return to Moulton Extended Learning Center.

To get involved with the fair, contact Kristin Maahs at krismaahs@msn.com or 243-2967.

Saturday, July 26

DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP: REBUILDING AFTER YOUR RELATIONSHIP ENDS

The group will meet on six consecutive Saturdays at Westminster Presbyterian Church from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. It’s led by licensed mental health counselor Dr. Susan Schiltz-Day. The registration deadline is July 15.

For more information or to sign up contact Sherryl McAvoy at 993-3977 or heartworks@webmcavoy.com

AUGUST

Tuesday, August 12

DIALOGUE ON DIABETES

Located at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Dining Rooms A/B

6:00 - 6:45 p.m. Diabetes support group sponsored by the American Diabetes Association

7:00 - 8:00 p.m. “Medications Update: From Here to the Horizon” featuring Angela Boord, PharmD, CDE, Education Pharmacist

Saturday, August 16

WORKSHOP: TEACHING THE BIBLE

The Center for Renewal at Grandview College presents “Teaching the Bible.” This is designed for those who teach the Bible in any capacity in their congregation. The session will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a keynote address from the Rev. Dr. Ritva Williams, New Testament professor and chair of the Religion Department at Augustana College. Following will be ten, hour-long workshops that will give those who use the Bible among children, youth and adults the opportunity to explore biblical insights and to receive practical teaching tips. Participants can attend three of the ten workshops.

A pdf version of a brochure on the workshops is available at www.renewingchurch.org or contact Jane White 263-6008.

Announcements

Host Family Needed

A loving host family is needed for a deaf exchange student during the 2008-09 school year. Garba is from Nigeria and will spend August 2008 through early June 2009 attending high school in Iowa. East High is our preference as they integrate deaf students into normal classroom settings and provide great support for the student and family. If you are interested in hosting yourself or helping develop leads please contact Michael McMahon at 515 292 7103 or email Michael@iris-center.org.

Free Blackboards

One is 4’ x 8’ and the other is also 4’ x 8’ with an extension that is 4’ x 4’. They are available free to any church or preschool that could use them. Please call St. Mark Lutheran church at 515-223-4208 to arrange a pickup time.

Outdated Devotionals Needed

St. Mark Lutheran Church in West Des Moines is coordinating the collection of Aids/Hospice kits for patients at the GONJA Hospital in Tanzania. They would like to send outdated daily devotional guides with the kits. If you have some, please drop them off at St. Mark at 1115 Grand Ave. in West Des Moines on Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. or call the office at 223-4208 for more information.

Employment Opportunities

PARISH MANAGER

Sacred Heart Parish is seeking a new Parish Manager. The position reports to the Pastor. Responsibilities include supervising all business operations, the physical plant, as well as budgeting and development opportunities. Call Fr. Hess at 225-6414.

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Iowa Caregivers Association is seeking a Project Coordinator. Visit http://www.iowacaregivers.org/ for more information.

Volunteers Needed

WESLEY COMMUNITY HOSPICE

Hospice volunteers are needed to share conversation, hold a hand, bake a cake, give a hug and touch a heart at 3520 Grand Ave. For those not previously trained, training is available on June 19 and June 26 from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Call Kathleen Fleming, RV, Volunteer Coordinator at 271-6775 or email at kfleming@wesleyservices.org.

NIGHTFALL ON THE RIVER

Des Moines Parks and Recreation is gearing up for another summer series of outdoor concerts featuring a mix of music including jazz, blues, folk, and more. The concerts will be held on July 3, 10, 24, and 31 from 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. A variety of volunteer tasks are available including assisting concert goers’ entry, helping with concessions, and overseeing activities for children under 12. Volunteers receive a free pass into the concert, free non-alcoholic drinks and dinner during break. Visit www.dmparks.org

Do you have an announcement you would like to have appear in our E-Bulletin? You can submit a press release or the details of your event to info@dmreligious.org, and we will make every effort to include it in our next release. Please limit submissions to 60 or fewer words.

The deadline for the next issue is Monday, July 7.