District Conference
PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR 158th DISTRICT CONFERENCE
"God’s Grace is Sufficient For You"
2nd Corinthians 12:9a
2nd Corinthians 12:9a
August 2 – 4, 2024
South Waterloo Church of the Brethren
Moderator: Laura Leighton-Harris
From the Moderator: Laura Leighton-Harris
Click to read
My theme is from 2nd Corinthians 12:9a - “God’s grace is sufficient for you.”
I invite you to explore with me what this passage is saying to you as an individual, as the body of Christ in our ministry settings, and how we share these words of comfort to others.
Let's reflect on the word “sufficient.” There are many times in life when we will feel “insufficient,” when we will feel beat down and hopeless. In those moments when our thorns feel the sharpest, this is when we need to strive to make our hearts the softest, so that God’s grace, which is sufficient to help us endure our weakest moments, can flow over us and through us, taking away the sting of the thorn and infusing us with a measure of God’s power.
Somehow I've always sort of thought that "sufficient grace" meant "just barely enough" grace, as if God was doling out scant measures of grace and when you had your limit He'd say, "you've had enough, now move along." And then leave you to figure out how to budget the grace you were given to last through your trial or circumstance.
But what 2 Corinthians 12:9 is really saying is that sufficient grace means there is ALWAYS enough grace to meet your needs. Like a deep, bottomless well you can drink from as often and as deeply as you want. If you need more, there is more.
There is always enough. More than enough.
God's grace is infinite. Unending. Unrelenting. Unwavering.
When have you experienced the sufficient grace of God? How can you help others experience it?
How are you experiencing His grace in your life today?
Registration, Meals, & Payment
If you plan to attend conference, please use one of the following methods to make sure your meals are reserved and fees are paid:
Go to the online form on our website - HERE
The link for our online payment service will be within the form. Don't forget to come back and submit the form after submitting your payment. Once complete you should receive two separate emails - one with a copy of your form from Google, and another with your receipt for payment from Square.
Print and mail-in our paper form, along with a check - HERE
Mailing & payment instructions are on the form.
REGISTRATION, MEALS, AND PAYMENT ARE DUE
JULY 19TH
Documents & Links
Program Booklet
2024 Timeline & Dates to Remember
July 19th
Conference Booklets mailed to delegates
August 2-4
Conference!
Conference Schedule
FRIDAY, August 2, 2024
10:00 a.m. Executive Committee Meeting
12 noon Lunch (District Board and Planning Committee)
1:00 p.m. District Board Meeting
3:00 p.m. Ministers and District Board Workshop
5:30 p.m. Supper
6:30 p.m. Milestones in Ministry and Church Life
7:00 p.m. Worship: Laura Leighton-Harris (Moderator) speaking
8:15 p.m. Ice Cream Social & FaithX Presentation
SATURDAY, August 3, 2024
8:00 a.m. Worshipful Work/Business Session
11:00 a.m. Equipping Session: Tim Button-Harrison
12 noon Lunch
1:00 p.m. Worshipful Work/Business Session
3:30 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. Equipping Session: Dava Hensley
5:30 p.m. Supper
6:30 p.m. Worship: Tim Peter (Prairie City Pastor) speaking
SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2024
8:30 a.m. Bible Study: Dava Hensley (Annual Conference Moderator)
10:00 a.m. Worship: Patrick Jackson (Cedar Rapids Pastor) speaking
11:45 a.m. Lunch (District Board)
1:00 p.m. District Board Reorganization
Hotels
As was the case last year, the Iowa Irish Fest will take place in Waterloo the same weekend as District Conference. We encourage you to get your hotel reservation on the early side if possible. Limited housing with South Waterloo Church of the Brethren members may also be provided.
Waterloo
Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Waterloo
1809 Laporte Road, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 427-6046
Boarders Inn & Suites by Cobblestone Hotels - Waterloo/Cedar Falls
LaPorte Rd, 1825,1825, Waterloo, IA, 50702
855-516-1090
Baymont by Wyndham Waterloo
1945 La Porte Rd, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 486-1164
Comfort Inn & Suites Waterloo
2011 Laporte Road, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 234-5452
Hampton Inn Waterloo
2034 La Porte Rd, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 233-2044
Suburban Studios Waterloo
2056 LaPorte Rd, Waterloo, IA, 50702
1-800-760-7718
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Waterloo
2134 La Porte Road, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 233-2500
Holiday Inn Express Waterloo
2127 La Porte Road, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 493-7996
Motel 6 Waterloo, IA - Crossroads Mall
2141 LaPorte Rd, Waterloo, IA, 50702
(319) 233-9191
Cedar Falls
Super 8 by Wyndham Cedar Falls IA - University
7515 Nordic Dr, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 553-6868
Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Falls
7213 Nordic Dr, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 266-6611
Comfort Suites Cedar Falls
7402 Nordic Dr, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 273-9999
Holiday Inn & Suites Cedar Falls
7400 HUDSON ROAD, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 260-2600
Suburban Studios Cedar Falls
300 Viking Rd, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 268-2222
AmericInn by Wyndham Cedar Falls
5818 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls, IA, 50613
(319) 277-6166
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Waterloo/Cedar Falls
3052 Marnie Avenue, Waterloo, IA, 50701
(319) 883-4381
NEW! Farmer’s Market
As a fundraiser for the District, the Stewards Commission invites you to bring items from your garden (fresh or canned), homemade jams/jellies or other specialties, tied blankets, wood carvings, honey, handcrafted soaps and anything else you would like to donate to our Farmer’s Market at District Conference. Please bring your items to the area marked “Farmer’s Market” in the exhibit area either Friday evening or early Saturday morning before our Worshipful Work begins, and the Stewards will take it from there!
The Farmer’s Market will be open on Saturday, August 3rd, from noon-1:00 p.m. and 3:30-6:30 p.m. Come participate in the Farmer’s Market as a generous contributor and consumer knowing that you will be helping to fund the good work of our District. We’ll take payment in the form of cash or checks made out to “Northern Plains District.” Thank you! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kim Hill Smith at 612-224-6154 or khsmith@usiwireless.com.
NEW! Glasses Collection for Dallas Center
Dallas Center church of the Brethren has a witness project to collect used prescription glasses. We are sending these to the True Vine Ministries in Liberia, Africa for distribution by their ministry team. Please consider bringing your old glasses to District Conference and place them in the collections box. No prescription is too strong or too weak. No glasses are too old or too modern. All glasses are appreciated.