Churchwide Announcements

Stay up to date on everything happening at St. Paul's HERE

Immigration Stories

A World on the Move: Immigration Stories to Lodge in Your Heart Join United Women in Faith for a potluck and stories of immigration from the Bible, first-person accounts, novels, and children’s literature.

On Thursday, October 1, from 5:30–7:30 p.m., come to the Wesley Center for a discussion of immigrants’ stories. Bring your own stories, learn from others, and leave with a better understanding of immigration in the United States. There will be no lecture, just heartfelt stories shared in small groups. Please bring a dish to share; drinks and dishes will be provided. This evening is open to all and will be ideal for ages 10 and up. Sign up in the church office or in the Gathering Space on Sundays. If you want to read ahead, feel free to check out a book from the UWFaith cart.

Block Party

Join the St. Paul’s & Wellington Heights Block Party on Sunday, October 4, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. on the church grounds.

We’re celebrating the fall season, our congregational ties, and World Communion Sunday, a day of unity and community! The event will include congregational talent on stage, games for kids of all ages, a collaborative art project, a social justice project booth, kids’ crafts, free fall food treats reflecting our congregation’s cultural diversity, and time to chat and catch up with friends old and new!

No need to register; just plan to attend and support our beautiful community at St Paul’s and our Wellington Heights neighborhood! Do you have mini pumpkins you could donate for the kids’ art project? Please drop them off at the church starting in September. (We need about 50.) If you’d like to join the fun as a volunteer, please sign up here. Questions? Feel free to contact Ministry Council member Laurie Worden at 319-521-1912.

We’d love to showcase your talent on the Block Party stage! Talent of all sorts is invited. We hope to find musicians, singers, dancers, poets, family-friendly comics, and storytellers. Please get in touch with Bruce Nesmith if you’re interested in performing

Bass Farms 



When: October 14th | 6:00 –8:00 PM

Where: Bass Farms – 840 Bass Ln, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314



Cost: FREE- RSVP Requested

Register Here



Join us for a fun-filled evening at the pumpkin patch!

Enjoy mini-golf, a jumping pad, the farm frenzy slide, a corn maze, and more — no cost to your family.

*To help keep everyone safe and having fun, we ask that kids in 6th grade and under bring a parent/guardian to stay and enjoy the evening

Youth Music

Students in grades 6–12 are invited to join Youth Music on Sunday mornings after worship for a variety of musical experiences that encourage participation in worship and help students grow in their gifts.



Youth have opportunities to play handbells and other instruments, sing as a group, participate in drama, and more. Our welcoming and inclusive environment helps students develop their musical skills, deepen their faith, and build meaningful friendships while serving in worship.

Youth Music is led by Dr. Mark Baumann, CAGO, Coordinator of Music Ministries.

Youth Co-Op

Youth Co-Op is a safe, welcoming, and collaborative youth ministry for students in grades 6–12th. Our current partner churches are Lovely Lane, St. Paul’s, Salem, and Trinity St. James UMC. We are committed to creating a space where all students are embraced—regardless of race, ethnicity, abilities, gender identity, expression, or sexual orientation. Our ministry provides opportunities for fun, service, learning, and faith exploration in a supportive environment led by caring adults. Students are encouraged to attend when their schedules allow—whether weekly, monthly, or occasionally. Friends are always welcome!

Register for Youth Co-Op

Please take a moment to fill out this form so we can keep in touch with your student.

Giving us these details gives us permission to contact you/your student. It also helps us know how to best connect with you. If something doesn't apply or you don't want to give us certain contact info, feel free to skip those fields. We promise not to spam your information.

Register HERE

Wednesdays

Wednesdays (Weekly)

6:15–7:30 p.m.

Location: St. Paul's UMC

Each week begins with sharing our highs and lows, followed by games and activities, and concludes with a lesson that helps students connect their faith to everyday life. Youth build meaningful friendships while growing in their relationship with God in a welcoming and supportive community.

September 30th | 6:15 p.m. | St. Paul's

Temple Run

Get ready for an intense game of tag + scavenger hunt + Bible riddles! Teams will race through St. Paul’s, complete challenges, solve Bible-themed riddles, and try to avoid getting tagged along the way.

Bring your game face, a friend or two, your best teamwork skills, and be ready to run!

October 7th, 21, 28 | 6:15 p.m. | St. Paul's

Strange Stories of the Bible

The Bible is full of strange stories—and we're diving into some of the weirdest ones! This month, Youth Co-Op will explore Scary, Gross & Weird Stories of the Bible, starting with one involving a prophet, a group of young people, and two bears.

We'll read the story, dig into its context, ask some big questions, and wrestle with what it means when a Bible story leaves us thinking, “Wait… WHAT?!”

Come ready to be curious, ask questions, and maybe leave with more questions than answers!

October 14th | 6:00-8:00 p.m. | Bass Farms

See more info above.

Sundays

Sundays (2nd & 4th Sundays of the Month)

Time: 3:00–4:30 p.m.

Location: Varies



Twice a month, Youth Co-Op gathers for service projects, community-building activities, fellowship, and opportunities for spiritual growth. These gatherings encourage students to put their faith into action while having fun and making lasting connections.

Accessibility Building Audits

Join us as we put what we learned on our summer learning trip into practice!

Throughout the semester, we’ll visit each of our partner churches to complete an accessibility building audit. See the schedule above for dates and locations.

Together, we’ll walk through each building, identify barriers, and think about ways we can make our churches more welcoming and accessible to people of all abilities.



For some extra fun, come dressed in the week’s theme!

October 11 | 3:00 p.m. | Lovely Lane UMC

Dress-Up Theme: Favorite Meme

November 8 | 3:00 p.m. | Trinity St. James UMC

Dress-Up Theme: Pajamas

Halloween Party

October 25 | 3:00–5:00 p.m. | St. Paul’s UMC

Get ready for an evening of Halloween fun with the Youth Co-Op! Come dressed in your favorite costume and join us for games, food, and plenty of treats.

We’ll play a few rounds of Sardines throughout the church, enjoy some food and candy, and make homemade caramel apples. We may even head outside for s’mores and toasted marshmallows.