Office Hours: M–Th 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., F 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | | |
Upcoming Worship Join us this Sunday, October 4, for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost. We have worship at 9:00 a.m. (traditional worship in the Sanctuary), 11:15 a.m. (Worship Café in the Wesley Center), and 12:30 p.m. (African Nationals worship in the Sanctuary). St. Paul’s livestreams the 9:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. worship on Facebook and YouTube. Nursery service is available from 8:30–10:30 a.m.
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Something New Is Taking Shape …The St. Paul’s History Team has been hard at work gathering photographs, stories, and pieces of our past and present for a new Our Story display outside the sanctuary. Soon the wall will begin to transform! A subtle hand-painted mural will create the backdrop, with photographs and stories layered over it to bring our church history to life—from our beginnings to the church community we are today. Keep an eye on the hallway in the coming weeks. You may just see a little history taking shape right before your eyes! We can’t wait to share the finished story wall with you.
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Connections Needs Cooks Every Tuesday, the Connections ministry provides meaningful activities for adults with early-stage dementia and respite for their caregivers. This volunteer-run ministry includes themed activities and a light lunch. Do you like to make soups, casseroles, or sandwiches? We’d love to have your help providing the meal! You could either prepare a simple lunch or just a main dish as often as you are available. Lunches should feed up to 16 people and be dropped off at church by 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. You will be reimbursed for the cost of the meal. If you’d like to sign up to provide a light meal starting in November, please leave a message for Georgana Ridnour (319-210-1787).
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Shower & Haircut Ministry We offer showers, haircuts, food, and clothing to those in our community who are unhoused on Sundays from 3:00–4:30 p.m. We are grateful for all of the donations that our congregation has provided! We are also receiving donations of clothing from the Salvation Army, but with our record numbers of visitors, the needs are great. We are in need of men's and women's belts, warm long-sleeve tops, jeans, sweatshirts and sweatpants (sizes small, medium, or large only), winter coats, and shoes. Please put items in the donation box at the bottom of the stairs near the Youth Hall. We also need more volunteers to join our team! Please contact Kathy or Brad Colton (319-573-1507) with questions or interest. Thank you so very much!
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Mat Weaving Mondays For the past year and a half, a dedicated group of members has come together to weave mats from recycled plastic bags for our neighbors who are unhoused. Since January 2026 alone, we estimate that this group has created 32 mats, giving new life to materials that might otherwise be thrown away while creating something useful for those who need it most. The group would like to invite anyone who is interested to join them in this project! They meet on Monday mornings from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. If that time doesn’t work for you but you’re interested in learning, reach out to Betty Olsen (319-540-2275). She would be happy to meet you at the church at another time to teach you how to make the mats.
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Start Your Holiday’s with St. Paul’s UWFaith Holiday Bake Shop Cross "holiday baking" off your to-do list! Join us at the annual Holiday Fair on Wednesday, November 4, and Thursday, November 5, and stock up on homemade goods:
• Sweet Treats: Fresh pies, breads, bars, candies, and jellies
• Savory Staples: Homemade soups, pickles, and preserves
• The Famous Cookie Walk: Handpick your own custom assortment from dozens of church-baked favorites
Come early for the best selection and take home something delicious!
Celebrating 105 Years of Faith, Fellowship & Fun! When you shop the Holiday Fair, your support reaches across the street and around the world. United Women in Faith uses the proceeds to uplift women, children, and families. Thank you for being part of this 105-year legacy of Love in Action!
1921 – St. Paul’s Holiday Fair – 2026
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Come, People, Join to Ring! St. Paul’s has a long history of including many people in the congregation in the ministry of handbell ringing. A small group of middle and high school students have gathered in recent years to ring regularly in worship. There have been times when the group has expanded with the addition of adult ringers. This year, the ensemble has become inter-generational. Best yet, the invitation is there for anyone of any generation to be a part of this group that rehearses on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour. This could be an opportunity for people from the same household but different generations to participate in something together. Experience is not required, as ringers in this group started with little or no training. Contact Mark Baumann, coordinator of music ministries and director of the group, for more information. Come and ring praise to the Lord!
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Building Bridges: New Immigration Art Exhibit The stories and faces of immigrants in the United States are not new to St. Paul’s. We have a thriving African Nationals congregation, members who regularly participate in protective accompaniments at the Cedar Rapids ICE office, and a mission statement that declares our desire to welcome all and our belief that all belong. Now we are displaying an art exhibit called Building Bridges: Portraits of Immigrants and Refugees. This photo-text exhibit, which will be up through Sunday, October 11, features photographs and interviews with people who have come to the United States as immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. The exhibit helps challenge ignorance and hatred with education and love. It is provided by the Family Diversity Projects, which brought us the Love Makes a Family display last fall.
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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. Tonight 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. All age 10 and over are encouraged to sign up in the church office.
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| |  | Intersections: Iowa’s Cancer Crisis Iowa has the second highest cancer incidence rate in the nation and is one of only three states where the rate is rising. While the United States has a declining overall cancer rate, Iowa's is sharply increasing. More than 170,000 Iowans share the experience of living with a past or current cancer diagnosis, and many more have lost loved ones to cancer. The Environmental Risk Factors and Iowa’s Cancer Crisis project was developed by the Iowa Environmental Council and The Harkin Institute based on feedback from hundreds of Iowans who are asking: What makes Iowa an outlier for cancer? What is unique about our state? Join Kerri Johannsen, Senior Director of Policy and Programs for the Iowa Environmental Council, tomorrow, Friday, October 2, from 11:45 a.m.–1:00 p.m. in the Wesley Center at St. Paul’s for Interfaith Alliance of Iowa’s monthly Intersections gathering. Kerri, an author of this report, will present findings on pesticides, nitrates, PFAS, and radon, and their associations with cancer in Iowa. In addition, she will share actionable ways you can get involved in the movement for change. You may attend for free in person or online via YouTube, but registration is required. Click here to register.
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Mending Café Do you have holes to be patched, buttons to be sewn on, jeans to be hemmed, or elastic to be replaced? Join experienced menders for a Mending Café this Saturday, October 3, from 10:00–11:30 a.m. in the Annex building. We provide sewing machines and mending experience; you provide the project! If you are good with needle and thread and are interested in helping with the Mending Café, please reach out to Jane Nesmith.
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Hildegard Circle returns this Sunday! The Hildegard Circle will meet in the Upper Room/Art Space this Sunday, October 4, at 10:15 a.m. This group is open to women ages 25–50. Come and meet some new friends and reconnect with old ones! Going forward, we will meet on the first Sunday of even months. The next meeting will be December 6, also in the Upper Room. Please join us!
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Voyagers Study of Moses Beginning this Sunday, October 4, the Voyagers Sunday school class will begin a study series on Moses starting with the exodus. We are a generationally mixed class, known to have a laugh or two as we study the Bible. All are welcome! We meet in room 327 after the 9:00 worship. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Crilley (319-310-3367).
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Cedar Rapids Metro Circuit Church Conference Our Circuit of United Methodist Churches will have our annual Church Conference this Sunday, October 4, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s UMC (4700 Johnson Avenue NW in Cedar Rapids). Join us for this time of celebrating ministry, affirming the vision and lay leadership for the year to come, and addressing other important business. All are welcome to attend, and vote is granted to all members and clergy in relationship with St. Paul's.
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All-Congregation & Neighborhood Block Party Join the St. Paul’s & Wellington Heights Block Party this 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 foods, 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 any time. (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 (319-521-1912).
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Looking for Talent 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 contact Bruce Nesmith if you're interested in performing.
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Block Party Parking This Sunday, October 4, please move your vehicles out of the 2nd Avenue parking lot by 12:00 p.m. The St. Paul’s Block Party team will begin setting up at 12:15 p.m. for the 3:00 event, so the 2nd Avenue parking lot will be blocked off. If you are onsite between noon and 6:00 p.m., please park in the 14th Street lot, near the Annex Building, or on the street. Thank you!
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Protective Accompaniment Join members of St. Paul’s, Escucha Mi Voz, Singing Resistance CR, and others for a Protective Accompaniment on the first Tuesday of each month, including October 6, from 7:30–9:30 a.m. Together we sing songs of resistance and stand with immigrants checking in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Cedar Rapids ICE Office (3351 Square D Drive SW in Cedar Rapids, park in the Elks Club parking lot). We hope you’ll join us as we stand with our immigrant neighbors.
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Encore Café Seniors are invited to join the Heritage Area Agency on Aging for a monthly Encore Café lunch at St. Paul’s on the first Wednesday of each month. Enjoy lunch and the chance to socialize in a community setting on Wednesday, October 7, at 11:30 a.m. (Doors open at 11:00 a.m.) There is a suggested voluntary contribution of $5 per meal for those over the age of 60. (Those under 60 are asked to pay $10 per person at the check-in table.) Reservations are requested by 1:00 p.m. the day before and can be made by calling 319-398-2585. (Anyone who comes without a reservation will have to wait to eat until all who registered have been served.) Join us for this time of good food and great company!
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The Vote Is Sacred with Interfaith Alliance The Vote Is Sacred 2026 is Interfaith Alliance's nationwide effort to protect our democracy and empower people of faith to get out the vote in the midterm elections. At the heart of The Vote Is Sacred is a cross-country bus tour, launching October 6 in Omaha and running through Election Day. This month on the road will take place in communities where the freedom to vote is under the most pressure. Join them at St. Paul’s on Wednesday, October 7, from 6:30–8:30 p.m. Click here to learn more. Join us, because the vote is sacred, and democracy needs people of faith!
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UMC Laity Day Join Iowa United Methodist Church Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai and other leaders for a Laity Day on Saturday, October 10, from 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. This free day for laity will be hosted at St. Paul’s and includes lunch and presentations. Speakers include:
• Rev. Dr. Edgar Solis Romero (Director of Connectional Ministries, sharing the four new priorities of the Iowa Annual Conference voted on at Annual Conference 2026)
• Deaconess Irene DeMaris (Executive Director of Iowa Faith & Climate Network, speaking on the Role of Deaconess & Home Missioner)
• Rev. Dr. Ryan Christenson (Associate Director for Congregational Excellence, speaking about our Greenhouse Cohort)
• Rev. Melissa Drake (Director of Leadership Development and Spiritual Formation, sharing about the Laity Culture of Call)
• Bishop Kennetha Bigham-Tsai (Iowa UMC Bishop, speaking about Growing Disciples and Developing and Sustaining Leaders)
Lunch is provided, but a free-will offering is always welcome. Registration is required by October 7. Click here for more information or to register.
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Voter Information Drive Cedar Rapids Precinct 24 votes at First Lutheran Church (1000 Third Ave SE in Cedar Rapids). Due to renovations last year, they were unable to host the election, and precinct voting was moved to the downtown library, which resulted in the lowest turn-out in the city. First Lutheran wants to help empower our neighbors by letting them know their polling place is back at First Lutheran in November and encourage them to take part in the elections. This is entirely non-partisan and no campaigns or initiatives will be favored or promoted. They will canvas the neighborhood on Saturday, October 10, from 10:00 a.m.–noon. (The inclement weather backup date is October 24.) If you want to help inform the neighborhood and encourage civic participation, sign up here!
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CROP Hunger Walk If we work together, we can end world hunger. That's why St. Paul’s is participating in the CROP Hunger Walk to help families who are struggling with hunger on Sunday, October 11, at 1:30 p.m. (registration at 1:00) at Thomas Park (343 Marion Boulevard in Marion). Please join us with your steps and your donations. Participants with limited mobility will assemble tuna meal food packets for a local food pantry at the English Pavilion. Together we will provide more meals for the growing number of people in our community who need them and create greater food security in communities around the world. Watch a short video about the Crop Hunger Walk, and then click here to join St. Paul's team or donate.
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| | | Laity Study: Five Marks of a Methodist Join Rev. Melissa Drake, Iowa UMC Director of Leadership Development and Spiritual Formation, for a Laity Study on the Five Marks of a Methodist with special guest Steve Harper, author of the study! On Mondays, October 12–November 16, from 6:30–8:00 p.m., join her via Zoom from the comfort of your home or wherever life takes you. We will be learning about and practicing the “distinguishing marks” of a Methodist: what John Wesley understood to be the foundation of discipleship that puts us on the right foot to sustain us for a lifetime of relationship with God and one another. We will use the book Five Marks of a Methodist by Steve Harper, who will be present at the first and last sessions, as well as the Five Marks of a Methodist Participant Guide. We will practice embodying these marks as our way of living in the Methodist Movement, reclaiming our joy and passion of being disciples of Jesus Christ in the world today. Copies of the book were distributed at Annual Conference this year. If you didn’t receive one, check with others in the church who attended or contact Melissa Drake. Register here and contact Melissa with questions.
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Fun First Wednesday at Bass Farms Come for a fun-filled evening at the pumpkin patch! On Wednesday, October 14, from 6:00–8:00 p.m., families are invited to join us at Bass Farms (840 Bass Lane in Mt. Vernon). Enjoy mini-golf, the jumping pad, the Farm Frenzy slide, a corn maze, and more—all at no cost to your family. To help keep everyone safe and having fun, we ask that children in 6th grade and under bring a parent/guardian to stay and enjoy the evening together. Please register here for this free event.
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Health & Wholeness Retreat Join Lovely Lane UMC (2424 42nd Street NE in Cedar Rapids) for their Health & Wholeness Retreat on Saturday, November 7, from 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (registration at 8:30). We will hear from local leaders regarding the things that keep us up at night, such as the struggles of parenting children who face bullying, drugs, and exploring their sexual identity. We will create our own sachet bags of lavender and eucalyptus for a time of reflection and relaxation. Throughout the day, we will learn about breath prayer and how we can use this as a tool to help us face the things that keep us up at night. A light breakfast will be served with a soup lunch concluding our time of learning and conversation. If you require childcare, please register by October 31. The cost is $20, but scholarships are available. Please register through Lovely Lane.
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Join St. Paul's Justice Call to Action Mobilization List As a church, we have committed to “resist injustice by doing justice.” That requires action, and we know that many opportunities arise at a moment’s notice. St. Paul’s has an email/text list to let interested individuals know when we have a call to action. These calls may include invitations to write elected officials, make a phone call, join a protest, etc. Sign up here.
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From the Archives …
Stop by the History Center in Room 322 to see this old pin chain representing 35 years of perfect (?) Sunday School attendance—with one link added each year. We don’t know who it belonged to or who donated it and other pins found in the archives, but they appear to attest to some faithful Christian education programming at St. Paul’s over the years.
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God in your mercy, hear our prayer:
For Healing and Grace
In Hospice Care
- Allan Brundell (Tamera Preston’s father)
- Kathee McCright
- Mary Milbrath (Judy Fitzgibbons’ family)
In Memory of
- Michael Barton (Jacob Guelff’s uncle)
- Chuck Gardner
Ongoing Prayers
- Mina Arbore (John)
- Kathleen Baker
- Mark Beckett (Linda)
- Mike Crilley (Chris)
- Kevin Drisko (Gary Lindsay’s son-in-law)
- Jennifer Facion
- Brytta Fitzgibbons
- Dale Fitzgibbons (Judy)
- Paul Hachy (Jean)
- Linda Hadley
- Ed Holstrom (Becky)
- Roger Huggins
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Ongoing Prayers (continued)
- Quinn Jensen (Nancy & Brice AntonJensen’s son)
- Joanne Kimber
- Gary & Ida Laetare
- Judy Lamka (Dave)
- Lloyd & Jonna Lininger (Marty Lee’s parents)
- Sally McAleer (Dan)
- Nancy McKern
- Doreen Meier
- Esther Miceli
- Marianne Mickle
- Patricia Miller (Rev. Sheri Daylong’s daughter)
- Linda Mohr
- Andrew Mork (Diane & Leo Mork's son)
- Harold & Betty Opsahl
- Greg Poe (Barb Hanson’s father)
- Sophia Rose (Dean & Gale Beer’s granddaughter)
- Wendie Shreve (Bob Shreve’s daughter)
- Samantha Sorenson
- Ryan Vick
- Arielle Watson (Stephanie Heifner’s friend)
- Cheri Young (Gene & Carry Young’s daughter)
- Sally Young
| | Have a Prayer Request? Click here or call the church office at 319-363-2058 to share your prayer request with our pastors. | | | | St. Paul’s UMC recognizes that God is the giver of the gift of life itself. Through our tithes and offerings, we demonstrate in a tangible way our love for God and our neighbors. | | | | |
