Over the past year, our three presbyteries have been engaged in meaningful conversations about how best to shape the future of our shared life and ministry. These discussions have focused both on the Tri-Presbyteries staffing model and on our growing sense of God’s call to pursue mission together in deeper ways… (read the full Moderators’ letter here.)

The application to serve at the 227th General Assembly (2026) as a Commissioner or Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD) is now open! The application closes October 1. For qualifications and more information, visit the application page.

The 536th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Des Moines will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, 907 Grove Ave., Corning, Iowa.

Register for the Meeting here

Read the Call to the Meeting here
View the Meeting Packet here

The Leadership Council of the Presbytery of Des Moines met via Zoom on April 9. In addition to usual “meeting things” such as approving/correcting minutes and adjusting the agenda, this meeting included reports from the three executives and from members of the council in relationship to the committee/commission they represent. Also shared were calendar highlights, e.g., dates of the All-Iowa Presbyterian Gathering—August 23 and the 2026 General Assembly in Milwaukee—June 22-24 online (committee work) and June 27-July 2 in person.

One focus of the meeting’s conversation was the upcoming Presbytery meeting that will take place in Corning on May 20th. The proposed docket for that meeting was discussed and adjusted. It was decided that the meeting’s offering would be directed to the Presbytery’s Harvest Offering program through which it could be used to help a variety of projects related to rural areas and those living there.

Other items discussed included Zoom workshops on compassionate church closures, the most recent Presbytery budget statements, the General Assembly Commissioner election process, and various current events. The meeting had a time of prayer. The next Leadership Council meeting is scheduled for May 14.

On Sunday, June 22, the First Presbyterian Church of Guthrie Center will be celebrating their 150th Anniversary. All are invited to attend any and all of the celebration!

Schedule

• 10 AM – Worship Service
• Light lunch following service
• 1-3 PM – Community open house in the downstairs fellowship hall with cake and ice cream

First Arabic Presbyterian Church and the Sudanese Support Team ask for your prayers as the atrocities of war continue in Sudan. While the situation in Sudan does not often make the headlines in the U.S.A., we are following recent developments:

• The Sudanese Armed Forces report that acts of genocide, murder, rape, theft, forceable displacement and vandalism are being perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group in Sudan.
• As fighting intensified in western Sudan, Doctors Without Borders had to suspend its relief operations in the Zamzam Refugee Camp, ending life-saving humanitarian aid to thousands of displaced people.
• The Sudanese are feeling the impact of the reductions in foreign aid by the U.S.A. In South Sudan, the International Rescue Committee closed a project providing access to quality health care and nutrition services to more than 115,000 people. In Sudan, 90 communal kitchens have been closed in Khartoum (the capital city), leaving more than half a million people without consistent access to food.

(Sources: recent articles in the New York Times, Concern Worldwide, and the Associated Press)

Our Sudanese brothers and Sisters in Christ at First Arabic Presbyterian Church suffer, too, over deep concern for their family members and friends back home. The support from the Presbytery – both through prayer and financial gifts – is truly appreciated.

At the last Presbytery meeting on February 22, representatives from First Arabic Church, along with folks from the Sudanese Support Team, were invited to share their history, stories, joys and concerns. If you missed this presentation, here is a link to the video recording.