I love what I get to do for God!This week, I had two interesting conversations. The first began with an email alerting me that someone wanted to visit Wesley Center on June4. The email included the person’s name, phone number, email address, and a few othertidbits....

This might be a moment to talk about church a little more openly—and more courageously. For years, we’ve all heard the “leaving church” story:  people are exiting, and they’re not coming back. There’s been an overall decline in the  American church since 2001 (the...

Echoes of Resilience: LGBTQ+ Experiences in the U.S. Ames Public Library Tuesdays, June 9 through July 28 6:00-8:30 pm   Series Description: Celebrating the resilience of LGBTQ+ Americans: a film and discussion series putting interpersonal, intergenerational, and...

Endowment Grants - 2026 Funds ApprovedGrant applications were reviewed at the Endowment Board’s April meeting. The Boardhad $91,938 available for grant support this year. The C/W Endowment Fund Bylawsspecify that grants may be awarded for the benefit, welfare, and...

Dennis Byrne Endowment 2026 Fund Recipients  Total money to distribute: $50,513.00  $16,837.67 Sponsored by CUMC/WF (1/3)  $$33,675.33 International related ministry (2/3)  Organization: United Mission to Nepal  Project:  This project will continue in the Bajhang and...

Whenever an anniversary gets celebrated, it’s almost certainly true that we’re celebrating the passage of a period of time that includes real joys and delights, right alongside real hardships and challenges. It’s true for a wedding anniversary. I’ve been heard to...