“Continuing in the Spirit”

The History of Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation 1991-2011

Cover—It is a photo of Shirley Held’s weaving of a stained glass window. The weaving hangs in the Gathering Space at CUMC/WF.

The History of Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation, 1991-2011

Table of Contents

Welcome – Rev. Scott Grotewold Preface and Acknowledgements – Dorothy Schwieder

Part I Wesley Foundation pg. 60

CUMC/WF Pastors: Rev. Jim Shirbroun

Rev. Scott Grotewold pg. 7 Part VI Rev. Melissa Warren pg. 9 Activities and Programs Rev. Jim Shirbroun pg. 8 Music Programs pg. 65 Rev. Kathye Harrington-Taber pg. 10 Dee Dreeszen Vignettes Soup Supper pg. 68 Former Pastors: Deborah Blaedel Dr. David Stout pg. 6 United Methodist Women pg. 71 Rev. Jim Stiles pg. 6 Bertlyn Johnson and Ruth Provow Rev. George White pg. 7 The Academy & Grow With Us pg. 73 Rev. Cindy McCalmont pg. 8 Carolyn Cornette Rev. Linda Butler pg. 9 Intergenerational Mission Trips pg. 74 Rev. Julie Wehner pg. 10 and Apple Pies Patty King Part II Vignettes pg. 75 Staff at CUMC/WF, 1991-2010 pg. 11 Epilogue Part III Culture of the Call Award pg. 78 Cluster Histories Afterword Congregational Care pg. 14 Dorothy Schwieder pg. 80

Lucy Futrell and Dorothy Schwieder Part VII Vignettes pg. 18 Our Members Serve the UMC pg. 81 Christian Education pg. 19 District and Conference Tim Gossett and Dianna Nelson Maureen Wilt Vignettes pg. 20, 24 Our Members Become Pastors pg. 83 Reaching and Receiving pg. 26 Maureen Wilt Bev Shirbroun Vignettes pg. 29 Part VII Worship Ministries pg. 30 Endowment Fund pg. 84 Stephani Scherbart and Carolyn Cornette Shane Jacobson Sending to Serve pg. 34 Budgets pg. 86 Carolyn Cornette Rev. Scott Grotewold Vignettes pg. 42 Part VIII Part IV Appendix Building Programs and Our Places of Worship Wesley Foundation Activities pg. 87 Building Programs pg. 44 Rev. Jim Shirbroun Rev. Scott Grotewold Decorations and Art Work pg. 57 Dick and Mary Young Library pg. 58 Marilyn Green

Vignettes pg. 59

Part V 3

Welcome When I was in seminary, one week’s assignment was to read through the history of the Old Testament—in chronological order of events. (There was a text that assisted in that task.) One day, I remember being struck by an incident in the life of King David as recounted in 2 Samuel 24:1. God is angry at Israel (again!) and demands that David take a census of the people of Israel. But then – a couple of pages later – the author of the book of I Chronicles gives his version of the very same census (21:1). Here, it says, “Satan . . . incited David to count the people of Israel.” Not only that, but Chronicles seems to inflate the numbers of just about everything. Now, was it God or Satan who incited David to take the census? These authors seem to disagree. What’s behind the disagreement? Probably a number of things, but here are a couple: Chronicles was written some time later than Samuel (fifty to perhaps 250 years later), so there’s evidently some revisionist history at work. Also, 2 Samuel records the leadership of David, king of Israel (the northern kingdom), while the newer history tends to favor Judah (the southern kingdom). Which is to say: history can be remembered and interpreted differently, depending on who’s telling it. I also noticed in my study of the Bible that there were occasions when huge spans of time went by – perhaps a hundred years or more – without any events being recorded. Since the Bible tells of the movement of God through the people of Israel, does that suggest that there were hundreds of years when God’s Spirit simply did not move among the people? Hardly! It just suggests the prioritizing of those who scribed the history. And so we present this latest installment of the history of the people known as Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation of Ames, Iowa. It, too, is a subjective history by persons trying their best to be objective in its telling. Even contemporaries may remember or interpret some details differently. Certain events over the last twenty years are given more emphasis than others, and no doubt some things that should have been remembered have been left out altogether. Perhaps in another fifty or 250 years, the story will be told in a completely different way. Yet one undeniable truth remains: through it all, God’s Spirit has been moving among us and continues to inspire and lead us as we seek to be faithful disciples transforming the world. Rev. Scott Grotewold

Preface and Acknowledgements This history of Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation is the fourth in a series of histories, published beginning in 1976. The first, The Story of Collegiate United Methodist Church and its Wesley Foundation, covers the first sixty years: 1916 to 1976. It documents the first building programs, describes the origins and development of programs and activities within the church and includes biographies of early pastors. The first volume is particularly valuable, given that it describes the origins of programs, like Koinonia, that are still ongoing at CUMC/WF. The second history, Faithful to the Spirit, 1976-1986, documents the next ten years of Collegiate/Wesley Foundation’s history, and the third, Reflections on the Journey, 1986-1991, essentially covers events at CUMC/WF between 1986 and 1991. In 2011, we celebrate our ninety-fifth year as a congregation and as Wesley Foundation. The Church History Committee presents this fourth volume to continue the story of CUMC/WF’s membership and activities. As with the second and third histories, we hope this volume both builds on and usefully extends earlier works. We have continued traditions started with the first history, but we have also added a few new twists. CUMC/WF’s recent institutional history is told in many excellent historical accounts. These include the church building projects, the five cluster histories, the soup supper, and Wesley Foundation. But we felt there should be material of a more personal nature, as well, whether spiritual, inspirational, or even humorous. You will find these vignettes scattered throughout the book. And since history is a continuous story, we have taken the liberty of occasionally reaching back to the years before 1991 for our material. As with all publications, Continuing in the Spirit will have omissions and mistakes; we hope these lapses will be excused. The Committee wishes to thank the many people who have contributed mightily to this history. Dozens of church members have researched topics, scanned past Communicators, and interviewed other members to compile the material you see here. Our senior pastor, Scott Grotewold, has done yeoman committee duty with his tremendous institutional memory and extraordinary knowledge and understanding of CUMC/WF’s congregation. We also owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Natalie Rekemeyer, CUMC/WF’s Administrative Assistant, who handled the desktop publishing for this history and took the majority of individual photos. Her knowledge of computer programs, her patience, and her willingness to help with any part of the project is greatly appreciated. In short, her knowledge was indispensible to the project. We regret we were not able to include the names of additional members who have served on committees, acted as sponsors, sung in choirs, taught classes and contributed in the thousand different ways that make our church the strong, vibrant institution it is. How does one acknowledge a debt to everyone who contributed to and preserved an institution and its members, and made the stuff of memories that can be resurrected later in telling our story? In the end, humbled, we can only express a simple but deeply felt “thank you.” Ruth Points, CUMC/WF historian for many years, wrote in 1986 that she hoped members who read the second church history, Faithful to the Spirit, would feel “the energy, the enthusiasm, the vigor and vitality of members of CUMC/WF.” Our hope is the same in 2011. The Church History Committee Deborah Blaedel, Carolyn Cornette, Roger Coulson, Rev. Scott Grotewold, James Okey, Maureen Wilt, and Dorothy Schwieder, editor Dorothy Schwieder, Editor

Ordained Clergy Past & Present

Ordained Ministers at Collegiate UMC/WF 1991-2010 David Stout (Senior Minister of CUMC and Director of WF,1983-1992) (The Rev. Dr. David Stout’s biography appeared in a previous edition of the CUMC/WF history. The following is an addendum to that biography) In 1992, after nine years at Collegiate/Wesley, Dr. David Stout was appointed as Senior Pastor of the West Des Moines United Methodist Church, where he served for six years. In 1998, Bishop Charles Jordan asked him to serve on the Cabinet as a Conference Superintendent assigned to the Des Moines District, which was his position until he retired in 2004. In Dr. Stout’s retirement, Bishop Gregory Palmer asked him to assume three successive interim appoint- ments to congregations faced with special situations: Des Moines First UMC (2004-2005), Marshalltown First UMC (2005-2006), and Indianola First UMC (2007). During this time he also served as adjunct professor of Homiletics (preaching) at the United Methodist seminary in Kansas City, the St. Paul School of Theology. Now fully retired and still living in West Des Moines (since leaving C/W in 1992), David and spouse Betty (formerly the Director of Christian Education at C/W) spend spring through fall at Stouthaven, their home on Lake Ponderosa near Montezuma, Iowa. Between 2007-2010, the Stouts have traveled in Peru, Bolivia, Tanzania, China, and Tibet. They enjoy spending time doing genealogical research, and spending time with their two sons, respective spouses, and five grandchildren.

Jim Stiles (Associate Minister of CUMC and Associate Director of WF, 1983-1994) (The Rev. Jim Stiles’ biography appeared in a previous edition of the CUMC/WF history. The following is an addendum to that biography) Jim Stiles served as Associate Pastor of CUMC/WF for eleven years – nine years with David Stout and two years with George White. He then assumed the pastorate of the UM Church in Spirit Lake, where he remained for nine years. In 2003, Jim and Jan moved to Mason City, where Jim continues to serve as pastor of the First United Methodist Church. In 2011, they moved to Washington, IA, where Jim is pastor of the UMC there. For the last sixteen years, Jim has taken his church’s confirmation class to Washington D.C. He credits Rev. Lester Moore’s triennial trips to D.C. from C/W as his inspiration to take the annual education trips he does today. Each July, he takes his church’s high school students and adults to the Appalachia Ser- vice Project to do home repair; the 2010 trip marked Jim’s twenty-seventh such trip. Jan continues to substitute teach and, according to Jim, “loves it.” Their daughter Jami, her husband Craig Shelbrock and their two sons, Easton and Trey, live in Plainfield, IL. The Stiles’ son, Jeff, his wife, Heather, and their two daughters, Anya and Kiera, live in St. Louis, MO, where Jeff is a cross-country and track coach at Washington University. The Stiles’ promise that when they retire, they are returning to Ames and Collegiate/Wesley.

George White (Senior Minister of CUMC and Director of WF, 1992-1994) George White’s association with CUMC/WF began when he was an undergraduate at ISU, where he graduated with a degree in Agricultural Journalism. While at ISU and involved with the Wesley Foundation, Rev. White answered a call to the ministry; a WF staff person traveled with him to Garrett Theological Seminary (now Garrett-Evangelical) in Evanston, IL, for a pre-enrollment visit. While preparing for the ministry at Garrett, George met Martha, who was studying to become a Christian educator; they were married in 1964. Rev. White served churches in New Market, Coralville, and Mt. Pleasant before being asked by Bishop Charles Jordan to serve on the Cabinet as a Conference Superintendent assigned to the Cedar Rapids District from 1988-1992, when he was appointed to Collegiate/Wesley. In 1994, Rev. White was appointed as Senior Pastor of St. John’s UMC in Davenport, IA and served that church for 17 years until 2011. It is the third-oldest Methodist Church in Iowa and celebrated its 175 anniversary in 2011. George is also writing a biography of one of his pioneer ancestors—a Methodist preacher in Southern Illinois in the early 1800s. George entered the retired relationship in the Iowa Annual Conference in 2011. George writes of himself and Martha, “God has blessed us with continued good health and much happiness.” Their three daughters were married in 1995: Joy Wright (living in West Branch, IA), Hope McAtee (Rock Island, IL) and Faith Blair (Coralville, IA). They have six grandsons (born between 1996 and 2006), one granddaughter (born in 2003) and a step-granddaughter (1990). George adds, “We feel blessed to live close enough to see them frequently.”

Scott Grotewold (Senior Minister of CUMC and Director of WF, 1994 - present) The grandson of a Norwegian immigrant Methodist preacher, W Scott Grotewold is the oldest of four children. He graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1971, Simpson College in Indianola in 1975, and The Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado in 1979. He met Susan Dankel in his last semester at Simpson; they were married in December, 1975. Susan is a secondary school English teacher. In 1977, while at seminary, Scott took a year’s field experience as an intern at the United Methodist Church in Patterson, and First UMC in Winterset; it became his first appointment. In 1981, he entered a residency program in chaplaincy at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. By this time, Susan and Scott had added two sons to the family: Sam and Benjamin. In the years following, the family moved to several Iowa cities as Scott was appointed to serve in a variety of ministries: Associate Pastor at First United Methodist Church, Fort Dodge (1982-1987) Director and Campus Minister at Wesley Foundation (United Methodist Campus Ministry) at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls (1987-1992) Senior Pastor, Kimball Avenue United Methodist Church, Waterloo (1992-1994) With experience as both campus minister and lead pastor of a church staff, Scott Grotewold was appointed as Senior Pastor of Collegiate United Methodist Church and Director of Wesley Foundation beginning July 1, 1994. As of this writing, he has the second-longest tenure of any pastor at Collegiate/ Wesley, exceeded only by Rev. Sam Nichols, who served twenty-five years, from 1935-1960. Susan is in her eighteenth year as a teacher in the Boone school system, currently teaching seventh grade reading at Boone Middle School. Sam is a graduate of Simpson College, works for the New York Road Runners, and lived in New York City for ten years; in 2009 he married Sabrina Tillman and they moved to San Diego, CA. Son Benjamin is a graduate of Iowa State University and lives in Lincoln, NE.

Cindy McCalmont (Associate Minister of CUMC and Associate Director of WF, 1994-1997; Minister of Spiritual Formation and Pastoral Care for CUMC/WF, 1997-2006) A native of Virginia and the eldest of three children, Cynthia Maupin graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Nearing college graduation in 1985 and looking for an opportunity to explore the possibility of ministry as a career, Cindy responded to a listing by Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation in far-away Iowa which was seeking a Cam- pus Ministry Associate. She responded and was hired, moving to Ames for the first time that summer and serving in the position for the traditional two-year term (1985-1987). In addition to experiencing a call to ministry during her tenure as CMA, Cindy met Scott McCalmont (a masters’ degree student in Electrical Engineering at ISU), married him, enrolled in seminary, and discovered that she was pregnant. In the summer of 1987, Cindy and Scott moved to Durham, North Carolina, where Scott pursued his doctorate and Cindy enrolled in the School of Divinity, both at Duke University. Daughter Virginia (Ginny) was born late that fall. Cindy was ordained a Deacon in the Virginia Conference of the United Meth- odist Church in 1990 and graduated with her Master of Divinity degree in 1991. The family moved back to Iowa and Cindy was appointed to her first church as pastor in the United Methodist Church in Paton. Scott commuted to Ames, where he was employed in research at Iowa State University. Transferring her Annual Conference membership to Iowa in 1992, Cindy served the church in Paton for three years. In June, 1994, she was ordained an Elder and was also appointed to be Assoc. Pastor of Collegiate/Wesley; the family moved to the church-owned Annear Street parsonage in Ames. In recognition of her ability and passions, in 1997 Cindy’s staff title became Associate Minister of Spiritual Formation and Pastoral Care. She continued in the position for a total of twelve years. In 2005, the McCalmonts moved from the Annear Street parsonage to a home they purchased on Oakland Street. The Annear Street parsonage was sold. On Easter Sunday, 2006, Cindy informed the congregation that she had been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. In order to treat the disease, Cindy was placed on medical leave beginning August 1, 2006, a decision which necessitated the end of her appointment at Collegiate/Wesley. In April of 2007, Scott McCalmont accepted a job offer in California and the family moved to San Jose, where they continue to reside. There Cindy is involved in another of her passions, writing. Ginny graduated from The University of Iowa in spring of 2010.

Jim Shirbroun (Associate Minister of CUMC and Campus Minister/Associate Director of WF, 1997- present) Jim Shirbroun was born in Coon Rapids, Iowa, in 1958 and attended ISU, where he met his spouse-to- be, Beverly Nervig of Marcus. He graduated from ISU in Animal Science and Agricultural Journalism. He then worked as Assistant Editor of Pig American Magazine at Watt Publishing Company in Mt. Morris, IL for two years, when he answered a call to the ordained ministry and enrolled at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. He graduated in 1985 with a Master of Divinity degree. Ordained an Elder in the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1990, Jim has served in the following capacities: Associate Pastor at Immanuel United Methodist Church in Des Moines (1985-1989) Minister with Youth at Ankeny First United Methodist Church in Ankeny (1989-1991) Youth and Singles Pastor at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids (1991-1997) In 1997, Jim was selected as Campus Pastor for Collegiate United Methodist Church/ Wesley Foundation and appointed to the position by Bishop Charles Jordan. The family lives in the church-owned

parsonage on 20th Street in Ames. Bev and Jim’s three sons all attended Ames public schools and graduated from Ames High School. Eldest son Mark (now married to Jen Dobson) and middle son Greg graduated from Luther College. At this writing, youngest son David is attending American University in Washington, DC.

Linda Butler (Associate Minister: Pastoral Care, Spiritual Formation, CUMC/WF 2007-2010) Linda M. Butler grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Amherst College, Woodstock, CT, with a BA in Elementary Education and Behavioral Sciences. For seven years following college, she was a junior high math and science teacher in schools in Connecticut and New Jersey. In 1981, Linda began a ten-year career in business as an account executive for New Jersey Bell, Electronic Data Systems, and Infonet. In 1991, Linda responded to a call to the ordained ministry and entered Drew Theological School in Madison, NJ, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 1994 and – that same year – was ordained a Deacon in the Northern New Jersey Conference. In March of 1995, Linda married Rev. Jim Davis, a retired UM clergy; they moved to Iowa three months later, as Linda began serving a two-point rural charge in Nashua. Linda was ordained an Elder in the Iowa Annual Conference in 1997. In 2000, Linda was appointed to start a new congregation in Sioux City, which took the name “Spirit of the Hills UMC;” after three years, that faith community was absorbed into several established churches, and Linda was appointed to St. Luke UMC in Newton, where she served through February, 2007. Beginning March 1, 2007, Linda Butler was appointed as Associate Pastor: Pastoral Care, Spiritual Formation at Collegiate/Wesley. During her forty-month tenure at C/W, Linda was especially noted for her community involvement and bringing the congregation to a greater understanding of its role in social justice ministries. She and her spouse, Jim, deepened the congregation’s involvement with AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy), Justice for Our Neighbors (a free new-immigrant legal clinic), After-Care (a support group for recent parolees), and involvement at Women at the Well (the UM congregation at the Women’s Prison in Mitchellville). Beginning in July, 2010, Linda was appointed to serve as the pastor at St. Timothys United Methodist Church in Cedar Falls. Melissa Warren (Associate Minister of CUMC/WF, 2010-present) Melissa Warren received her call to minister at the age of 11, while sitting on the steps of the Bradgate UMC, her home church. She attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, graduating in 1993, then attended Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL, for her seminary education and Master of Divinity degree in 1996. While at Garrett-Evangelical, she was an intern at Euclid Avenue UMC, under the leadership of Rev. Greg Dell. Ordained with Deacon’s orders in 1996, she served at several churches (Sherrill [1996-1998]; Ankeny, First UMC as Associate Pastor [1998- 1999]; Greeley [1999 and adding Colesburg in 2000]; Dubuque, Faith [2001, adding Center Grove and Rockdale in 2002 and serving until 2005]) and in specialized ministries (Hillcrest Services, Dubuque [1998-1999]). From 2005—2010, she was Spir- itual Care Coordinator for Hospice of Dubuque, and continued to serve Faith UMC for the first of those five years. From this background and these experiences, Melissa has developed interests in preaching and social justice, and she has gifts of compassion, listening, presence, counseling, and spiritual formation. Melissa was appointed to be Associate Pastor at Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation beginning in July, 2010. Julie Wehner (Director of Christian Education for CUMC/WF, 2009-2010) Julie Wehner was born and raised in Independence, Iowa. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Iowa State University, and was involved as an undergraduate at the Wesley 9

Foundation at ISU, serving on the planning team for student activities and as a Peer Minister during her final year. Julie credits this first-hand experience in church ministry as what led to her call to professional ministry. Julie went on to earn a Master of Social Work at the University of Iowa and worked for several years in secular jobs. She attended Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City and earned a Master of Divinity degree. An ordained Elder in the Iowa Annual Conference, Julie served as director of an ecumenical ministry to elderly and low income people in Springville; as pastor to two congregations – Fremont and Cedar – in Mahaska County; as Associate Pastor at West Des Moines UMC; and as counselor at a mental health service and at a home for pregnant girls and young women. In June of 2008, Julie began a half-time position at Collegiate/Wesley as Director of Christian Education (overseeing the program and supervising the positions of Children’s Specialist and Youth Specialist) and directing the Christian Ed ministries for adults. Shortly after, she was hired as a night chaplain at Mercy Med- ical Center in Des Moines, and in early 2010 felt that – because of the number of hours required to do both jobs – she needed to make a decision. She resigned from CUMC/WF, effective June 2010, and continues to work at Mercy Medical Center.

Kathye Harrington-Tabor (Minister of Christian Education for CUMC/WF, 2010-present) Beginning August 1, 2010, Rev. Kathye-Harrington Tabor became the first ordained Deacon to serve at Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation, hired (and appointed) to serve as full-time Minister of Education. The hiring combined what had been most-recently three part-time positions (Director of Christian Education and Adult Ministries, Children’s Specialist, and Youth Specialist) into one position. Kathye came to C/W from a similar position at Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, where she had been for five years. Kathye grew up in Michigan, graduated from Michigan State University, and got her Master in Christian Education and her Master of Divinity degrees from Gar- rett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. She served in education ministries at several churches in the Chicago area before moving to Des Moines in 2005. She and her husband, Paul, are the parents of three adult children, John, Tim, and Faith (and her husband Fred)

Timeline of the Staff Members

About the “Staff Graph” (pp. 12-13)

During the twenty years covered in this history, over fifty persons have worked in paid positions on the professional staff. (This does not include many more in very “part-time” positions such as student receptionists, peer ministers, and the vision action team. Such as a list of these persons, their position titles, the tenure of service, and the “category” of their work (e.g., “clergy,” “building,” “office,” etc.) can be found on page 13. In an attempt to provide a graphical and visual lay-out of the staff that was present at any given time over the last 20 years, the graph on page 12 is offered. Next to the employee’s name on page 13, a particular colored “bar” is assigned. (Cindy McCalmont, for example, is represented by a solid-yellow bar, while Nan Geske is represented by a yellow bar with vertical stripes.) By choosing a year and a season, one can find who was on staff at that time such as who was working together, staffing the office and doing the programming. For example, if you want to know who was on staff in early 1999, you can find that approximate time at the top of the graph. Then, looking down, you will find that Revs. Grotewold, McCalmont, and Shirbroun were the clergy staff, but that the Campus Ministry Associate position was not filled during that era. Dianna Nelson (solid light-blue) was serving as the director of the entire Christian Ed program for that school year, when she would then move to the position of Children’s Specialist, where she would serve for the next ten years, leaving staff in mid-2010. It is hoped that this graph will assist persons in their memories and appreciation of staff configurations across the years.

COLOR KEY: Staff at Collegiate / Wesley, 1991-2011

The History of the CUMC/WF Congregational Care Cluster

Solos time to laugh.’ “We laugh.” Solos was started in the fall of 1991 after Dolores likes to entertain and it is now a tradition Pastors David Stout and Jim Stiles held a series that Solos meet for a picnic at Dolores’ home of meetings on dealing with grief. Following the during the summer. She relates that it is “very meetings, the two pastors asked Lucy Duitscher informal and fun.” Dolores and her late husband, and Pat Girton to organize a group to meet once a Joe, had often entertained and after Joe’s death, month. That group came to be known as Solos, Dolores explained that “I didn’t feel as comfortable which is an acronym for “Surviving our Loss of entertaining a group of couples as I do entertaining Spouse.” The purpose was fellowship and support these singles. I’m slowly overcoming that part of my for everyone who was experiencing a need for personal grief reaction thanks to my Solos friends.” healing from the loss of a spouse. The group held Solos meets once a month except during the potluck dinners, usually followed by a program. winter. We meet at the church and share a meal, These were fun, varied and interesting; sometime usually prepared by a committee. A short program games were played. Always, there was a lot of follows. The group is smaller now than in the 1990s sharing. but still provides much fellowship and support for One of our most memorable meetings was in one another. Lucy Futrell 1997 when Solos had about thirty-six members. Koinonia Groups Irene Swanson was chair and she and her committee turned the Fireside Room into what The Koinonia groups were started in 1963 when resembled the inside of a large plane. Included Rev. Wilbur Wilcox requested that the members of were flight attendants (in proper attire) who made a Collegiate administrative board read Robert all the required announcements regarding our flight. Raines’ book, New Life in the Church. After lengthy Posters and travel information were available. The discussions, five Koinonia groups were formed evening was a great success, and, oh yes, we were during the summer and fall of 1963 for the purpose served airplane food. The committee also provided of Bible study and the discussion of Raines’ book. entertainment and many members took pictures. Koinonia is a Greek word meaning Christian The event was reported in the Ames Tribune and fellowship with spiritual communication and included a photo of the group. participative sharing in religious commitment. Dolores Brown has written about her personal Members of each group shared leadership feelings toward Solos which expresses the feelings responsibilities and decision-making about meeting of other members as well. She explained that after places, programming and activities. Activities varied losing a spouse, members “have learned that each in the groups. Bible study was the main focus but person reaches the time to be ready to socialize the groups also studied religious and secular with others on their own schedule. A verse in literature, family relations, and social concerns; Ecclesiastes states ‘there is a time to weep and a groups also discussed philosophical issues, television programs, movies and records. In 1974, Rev. Lester Moore and others decided there should be one Koinonia Group that included a full range of ages. This new group of sixteen members included both undergraduate and graduate students and Iowa State University faculty; members’ ages ranged from their early twenties to persons near retirement. Reflecting on this group some thirty-five years later, Rev. Moore believed that five members were still a part of the Gene Olson, Ruby Buck, Dorothy Schwieder, Pat Girton, and Loretta Maloy, SOLOS members sit together at the group. Thanksgiving Dinner. 14

Since the formation of the first Koinonia group, flowers to homebound members started, but the many other groups have been formed and practice has been a part of Collegiate/Wesley for memberships have changed in the original groups many decades. Charlotte Jamison as people have moved away and new members Communion for the Homebound have been added. The groups continue to meet the needs of members, as expressed in the 1986 Communion for the homebound started as a church history: a need for close Christian subcommittee of the Stephen Ministry program. fellowship, in-depth friendship, a sense of caring, a Rev. Cindy McCalmont led the Stephen Ministry sense of belonging, a sharing of experiences, an at the time and many of the people serving awareness and understanding of other persons, communion to the homebound had taken Stephen an exchange and interaction of ideas and the Ministry training. relating of Christianity to the needs of the world. Mary Beth Oostenbrug was the first chairperson. Each group continues to choose subjects for study Thrya Cox, Sherry Davidson and Angie Ackerman including different books of the Bible, prayer and followed. Fran Berger is currently chair of this theological subjects. The description given of the committee. Koinonia Groups in the 1986 church history is still Basically, the associate minister provides the true in another way as well: They are groups names of the people wishing to have communion at where “great friendships have been formed and home. Requests may be made from other sources, much spiritual growth realized.” Lucy Futrell however. Currently, seventeen people serve Altar Flowers communion on a three month rotating basis. One Easter and Christmas holidays are the busiest person is a winter substitute. A master plan is times for the Altar Flowers team. Before each completed every quarter and sent to committee holiday, the church office puts out a form with the members. No one serves more than two people. opportunity to honor or memorialize a person or Changes can be made when the plan is circulated. persons through the purchase of flowers. Those in A reminder call is made or e-mails sent out the our congregations who wish to participate, then buy week before the visit. Each year, the chair checks a plant for the person they are honoring, or in to see which committee members want to continue whose memory the plant is being given. to serve. The team orders the number of plants needed The communion backpack is located in the and then arranges them on the altar in the mailroom in the upper right hand closet. A small sanctuary: Easter lilies for Easter and Poinsettias bottle of grape juice, the current Bible readings, a for Christmas. Some donors take their plants home condensed communion service and bread are to enjoy while others choose to give them to placed in the backpack before the first Sunday of someone who is ill or is unable to attend church. each month. The backpack also contains a plate and a chalice. The backpack is returned by the following Sunday. In 2008, Rev. Linda Butler held a communion service and short program of direction for the new servers. In September, 2009, a meal was provided after the service and the schedule for the year was For plants being delivered to church members, discussed. the Altar Flowers team have a committee of Many of us feel we have received as much from volunteers to take the plants directly to the prayer and visitation as do the homebound mem- members’ homes. The team hopes that the flowers, bers of our congregation. Fran Berger along with a short visit, will bring some cheer into Wedding Committee these members’ lives. Any Sunday during the year, the team encourages members to provide flowers The Wedding Committee of CUMC/WF has of remembrance or honor for the altar. Garden always been a sub-committee of United Methodist flowers are always welcome during the summer Women. In the 1980s, eleven to twelve receptions months. were served per year. Since 2000, however, times have changed and the “wedding and punch” It is not clear when the practice of taking altar

receptions in the church have, for the most part, The committee chair received instructions from the been replaced with larger events that are typically church office as to the type of lunch or reception hosted in a venue other than the church. In the the family had requested. Sometimes a small past, on rare occasion, a catered meal would be luncheon for family members was served before served to the guests before the wedding cake was the service; other times, a luncheon was served cut. following the service for the entire congregation. According to the reception guidelines all The small luncheons were usually served in the wedding/anniversary receptions at the church will Fireside Room out of the Fireside Room kitchen; be served by the UMW. This group of women receptions following the service were typically purchase and care for the glass, silver and table served in Wesley Hall. Over the years, certain coverings needed to serve a formal reception. luncheon recipes, such “Chicken Overnight Some of the silver has been given as memorials to Casserole,” became standard fare. Loretta Maloy women who served many receptions over the years Audio Tape Delivery and spent many hours in the church kitchen The audio tape delivery service team is volunteering their time. It is always a pleasant responsible for delivering church service tapes to memory to think of these women as we set out the people unable to attend church. The church office silver trays, punch bowl, or silver service. Many provides the names of members wishing to have weeks before the wedding, the chair of the wedding tapes delivered. The tapes are then picked up from committee meets with the bride and often her moth- the Audio Tape Service committee (which is er or fiancé to plan the reception. One of the UMW separate from the delivery committee); the delivery circles is notified of the plans and the circle arrang- committee consists of eleven members who rotate es for members to serve the reception. This is done weekly in providing this service. on a rotating basis. Fees are based on whether the couple are church members or not Recently the Audio Taping Committee has start- and the number of guests to be served. Receptions ed recording the service on Mp3 players so that the smaller than seventy-five may be held in the service exists on digital media and listeners have Fireside Room. All others are held in Wesley Hall. the pleasure of using head phones. Jerry Bergren It is always a delight to help serve a wedding reception. The chair arrives one to two hours ahead The Stephen Ministry of the wedding time to start setting up and to start On January 10, 1999, the first class of Stephen the coffee. Her committee arrives soon after and Ministers at Collegiate United Methodist/Wesley generally works the four to five hours it takes to Foundation was commissioned during the Sunday serve the reception. The food is supplied by the worship service. The Stephen Ministry was started families. The reception table includes the wedding here as a memorial to Tim Longman, son of Mary cake, punch, coffee, sugar and cream, nuts and Beth Oostenbrug; Tim was killed in a car accident mints, candles and perhaps flowers. A wedding in France following his graduation from high school. custodian helps prepare the church that day. Pastor Cindy McCalmont and Mary Beth attended Often, if the bride were to turn around during the Stephen Ministry training in Seattle, Washington, ceremony, she would find the kitchen help standing and along with Arleen Faeth (a C/W member who in the very back of the church. This would be to had been previously trained), formed the nucleus “take a quick head count,” but in reality to enjoy of the organization here. Mary Beth funded the the wedding for a moment. Mary Harms ministry as a memorial to Tim. Funeral Luncheons and Receptions The commissioning of the first class of Stephen Ministers marked the completion of fifty hours of Throughout most of the past 20 years, the training for each minister. The training covered a UMW handled the serving for funeral luncheons variety of areas designed to increase the ministers’ and receptions. In 2009, this responsibility was tak- Christian caring skills. These included topics such en over by a church team. The protocol has as The Art of Listening; Feelings: Yours, Mine and remained the same, however. Ours; What to Do in The First Helping Contact; The food was prepared by the committee mem- Effective Use of the Traditional Resources of bers, usually five women, along with donations of Christianity; Confidentiality; and a number of other cakes, cookies and salads from the congregation. topics relevant to lay caring ministry. 16

Those members commissioned on January 10 meet as a Peer Supervision Group, facilitated by were Rosalie Amos, Janet Beer, Deborah Blaedel, Rev. Butler. But within a few months, the group Dennis Byrne, Sherry Davidson, Pat Fox, Lucy decided not to continue meeting due to many other Futrell, Judi Gose, Patti Guenther, Donna Kienzler, commitments. It was then decided to take a hiatus Joan Lane, Mary Ann Lundy, Marty Miller, Donna due to lack of trained Stephen Ministers able to Moorman, Margaret Morris, Ruth Provow, Beverly participate in the Peer Supervision part of the Reddick, Natalie Rekemeyer, Laura Shanks, program. Beverly Shirbroun, Marian Solomon, Kara Taber, Rev. Butler consulted with staff at Stephen Nancy Wylie and Mary Young. The training team Ministry headquarters in St. Louis, who suggested members were Arleen Faeth, Cindy McCalmont programs for CUMC/WF such as Caring for Inactive and Mary Beth Oostenbrug. Members and Christian Care Giving and Journey- Following the commissioning, members began ing Through Grief. Congregational Care Program their ministries of caring within our congregation Cluster members are now using The Christian as and community. They met with members who were Care Giver as a study book and guide for the caring experiencing life stresses such as depression, grief, ministry needs at CUMC/WF. Two members are loneliness, and job loss. looking at how our church might implement this Along with the fifty hours of training for the Ste- program. phen Ministry, the group was also required to meet The Stephen Ministry headquarters staff together regularly in Peer Supervision Groups. recommended that our church members These meetings provided group members the op- periodically consider the readiness for one-on-one portunity to give support to one another and provide Stephen Series by attending workshops and a way to maintain their skills. The Peer completing the Stephen Ministry readiness profile. Supervision Groups were active for two years. Linda Butler While the Stephen Ministers were caring lay Compiled by Lucy Futrell, Dorothy Schwieder persons who provided one-to-one care to church members in need, they were not to be viewed as professional counselors or therapists. Nor were the Stephen Ministers to be viewed as replacing pastoral care; rather, the Stephen Ministers supported and supplemented the church’s clergy. For many years, the Stephen Ministers served “Care and Counseling” our church and community well. Following the first During my time at CUMC/WF, Don Gruber, Gary commissioning in 1999, additional church members Putnam and I were here together for eleven years. took the fifty hours of training; in total, sixty people [That might have been the longest period when the became Stephen Ministers. The commitment to clergy staff did not change]. I was always amazed serve this ministry is typically for two years, but whenever I did a time study to discover that the C/W members often served far longer. majority of our time was taken up by counseling One difficulty with the program, however, was students; almost half of my hours at the church maintaining the Peer Supervision Group. Without were involved with the problems of students. I know that group functioning, the referrals coordinator did the Annual Conference never realized that all three not know who was available to be assigned to a of us were so deeply involved in the life of the ISU care receiver. Efforts were made in 2007 by Rev. student body. Many of the “powers that be” were Linda Butler, Nanette Heginger, Lori Schippers and always complaining that the Conference was Thyra Cox to revitalize the Stephen Ministry, along subsidizing the local congregation. with a Peer Supervision Leader, also a member of One of the most rewarding things that happened CUMC/WF. In 2007, ten church members made to me personally as pastor was the response to my application to take training for the Peer Supervision year long project of lifting individual families in pray- Group. er during my personal This training ended, however, when the Peer devotional time. I had written to each family telling Supervision Leader resigned. Two years later, in them of my intention and asking if there was any- February, 2009, seven Stephen Ministers began to thing they would like me to include in my prayers. I 17

could not have imagined the response. It was over- “ Proud to be at Collegiate/Wesley” whelming. Should have kept doing it. Philip and I started attending services at C/W in Rev. Lester Moore Advent two years ago. We were attracted by the music, and we were comfortable with the liturgy “Sunday Night Supper at the Church” which was intermediate between my Lutheran background and Philip’s Reformed. We have felt In 1943-l944, more than one hundred college welcomed at Collegiate/Wesley from the beginning. students regularly participated in the Wesley It felt like we were being singled out as a gay activities. Since the dormitories had no Sunday couple, until one Sunday we noticed a couple of evening meals we students prepared and served a new (heterosexual?) people sitting in the back of 10 cent meal consisting of a main dish, dessert, the church. After the service we saw at least three and milk to all who attended. Two of my friends and separate people—clergy and I were made responsible for those meals for one lay persons—headed for the entire year. We took turns sharing the monumental new people to make sure responsibilities for shopping, preparing, and, also, someone talked to them be- helping with clean-up afterward…. The duty re- fore they left the building. quired time on Since then, we’ve noticed Saturday for shopping and most Sunday afternoon this extravagant welcoming to as a common occurrence in prepare the main dish and dessert for the evening. the church. Even after joining the congregation and starting with the choir, we are still encouraged to attend events—Wednesday Night Soup Supper, Sunday lunch at Hy-Vee, choir and adult classes. We are proud to be members of a congregation that reaches out to the community in so many ways. It’s wonderful to be in a church that thinks of mission as Shirley Held, 1954, 50+ Years of Memories helping local people, as well as helping people far away.

Peter Lundeen and Philip Dykema “A Reason to Dance” In large measure I owe the direction my life has taken to the experiences I had in CUMC/WF as an undergraduate student at Iowa State College more than fifty years ago (1949-1953). As a student I had more than ample opportunities for activities in the church. Interaction with church staff was dynamic. They were great role models, giving us guidance and sometimes gentle prodding. Reverend “Nick,” as we affectionately called G. S. Nichols, was a lode star. I recall a photographer capturing Reverend Nick dancing with us at Wesley about the time CUMC/WF was named as one of the great churches in Amer- ica by The Christian Century magazine. We had reason to dance! Rosalie Amos, 1949, 50+ Years of Memories

The History of the CUMC/WF Christian Education Cluster

Christian education is a life-long process of member of the congregation, Trish was already faith formation. In a community where education very familiar with the educational ministries of is central, it shouldn't come as a surprise that CUMC/WF. At that time, the Director of Christian education ministries have been a significant part of Education position was a 10-month/full-time many congregation members' lives over the years. position, with primary responsibility for children's Over the past couple of decades, Collegiate/ and adult Christian education ministries plus shared Wesley has expanded its range of Christian responsibility (with the Associate Pastor) for the education ministries for children, youth, and adults. youth ministries. In mid-2000, all these ministries were brought 1998-2010 Dianna Nelson served as an interim together as Nurturing in the Faith Cluster. In 2011, Director of Christian Education for one year when it proved that the name for the cluster was too no suitable replacement for Trish Hallihan could be difficult to remember, so the name was changed found. In 1999, Tim Gossett (see below) was hired to the simpler Christian Education Cluster. It's safe for the full-time position, and Dianna entered a to say that more people have been involved in half-time position as Children’s Specialist. During leadership of these ministries than is true of any her time in that position, Dianna worked with a other aspect of the church. Hundreds of persons team of staff and congregation members to create have served as teachers, youth leaders, small the Workshop Rotation Model (or WoRM) currently group leaders, Confirmation mentors, board in use within the elementary children's Sunday members, staff, nursery caregivers, summer school classes. She oversaw the remodeling of the mission trip leaders, and so on. We cannot possibly second floor classrooms for WoRM, and worked list everyone in these pages, but we celebrate the closely with the building team on matters related many gifts that have been shared with others in to the nursery and classrooms as plans for the Christian education settings! building expansion were undertaken. Staff 1999-2008 Tim Gossett had worked at C/W 1992-1994 Mary Alice Gran. Mary Alice is a from 1989-1992 as the Campus Ministry Associate, Diaconal Minister with certification as Minister of and then went to seminary, graduating in 1996. He Christian Education in the United Methodist went to work at a church in Plymouth, MI. In 1999 Church, and she has very fond memories of her he was invited to return to CUMC/WF for a full-time time at C/W. She left this congregation to take a position as Director of Christian Education and position as Director of Children’s Ministries at the Youth Ministries. He worked closely with Dianna on General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, a the WoRM plans, and he was part of the design position she held until her retirement in 2010. team for faithspring. Tim started a middle school mission trip during his first summer at Collegiate/ Collegiate/Wesley is filled with loving, caring Wesley, a tradition that has continued to this day. In people. The uniqueness of the campus setting plac- 2005, he changed to a half-time position as Director es Collegiate/Wesley at a strategic place for build- of Christian Education and Adult Ministries. ing leaders who will transform the church. The challenge (when I was there) was to embrace 2004-2006 Cynthia Lidtke was a member of the change and to grow new leaders. It is a challenge congregation who took on the challenge of being that remains with most congregations today. While the first half-time Youth Specialist. She was there, I learned more about myself than I ever instrumental in founding the Y-SALT mission trip, a expected. I think back with great fondness for the week-long middle school trip that was open to relationships developed and for the learnings that youth from all United Methodist Congregations in prepared me for my current work at GBOD. God is Iowa. amazing! - Mary Alice Gran 2006-2010 Nan Geske, also a long-time 1994-1998 Trish Hallihan came on staff about member of the congregation, served as the next the same time as Rev. Scott Grotewold. As a Youth Specialist. During the time, she felt a call to ministry and entered seminary. Nan continued to 19

When I first worked at Collegiate/Wesley right out children from week to week so that there is a of college, I discovered a congregation that loved constant presence in the classroom. to learn, engage in social action, and think deep- WoRM was introduced to a planning team and ly about problems in the world and how we can to the staff in 2001 by Dianna Nelson and Tim live out our faith wherever we are. It's a rare and Gossett. Several individuals helped to create the special place, and I was overjoyed to be able to name, “Discover U”; the 5-year scope and sequence was created by Dianna, Tim, and the return to Ames. I have so many wonderful mem- clergy. The five annual themes focus around ories of my years on staff, from seeing important aspects of God: “God Loves,” “God people be transformed by new understandings of Saves,” “God Forgives,” “God Guides,” and “God the Bible to watching youth develop and mature Sends.” through their participation in summer mission Several individuals besides the education staff trips. Collegiate/Wesley is one of the few helped to create the unique look of the classrooms congregations in Ames that embraces and hallway, particularly Bill Boon, John Jacobson, contemporary biblical scholarship and progres- and Sarah Lewis. The interior room painting for sive theology, and that makes it both an exciting several rooms was completed by Melody Nichols and challenging place to be in ministry. Hardly a and Kelly Steininger. Bill Boon designed and painted the “Creation Station” (art workshop); day goes by that I don't think about the church members of the Builders Adult SS Class designed and its members, and it will always be the and painted the Holy Word Theater (video congregational “gold standard” in my heart. workshops). Members of the Spiritual Formation Tim Gossett Adult SS Class did the base coat painting in The PlayHouse. After seeing the exciting changes taking place, Eryn O'Hare Shriver, Michelle Spohnheimer, and Diane Maxwell decided to create offer creative programming for youth and took both and paint the designs in the classrooms for young the middle school and high school to new locations children. on their summer trip. Funding for the renovations, new computers, 2010 Dianna Nelson retired; Nan Geske painting, and furnishings was raised through a graduated from seminary and was appointed to combination of budget requests, several generous Woodward United Methodist church; Julie Wehner individual donations, and a fundraiser. In the resigned. A new full-time Christian Education summer of 2001, many individuals in the Director was to be hired. Rev. Kathye Harrington- congregation volunteered at a food tent during Taber filled the job. the Farm Progress Show, which was held near Workshop Rotation Model (WoRM) Ames that summer. In 2001-2002, the workshop rotation model The rooms, starting from the east, and the (WoRM) was introduced to the congregation. second floor of the education unit include: Work began on painting the rooms and creating the curriculum. The first “Rotation” took place in the •Tree House—originally created as a workshop fall of 2002. environment for geography workshops and other types of rotations that require little space, this The Workshop Rotation Model is a way of doing room gives the feel of being inside a tree house. Sunday school that is highly creative and built Later, the room became the classroom space for around multiple learning styles. Often called the 6th grade Sunday school class. “Rotation Sunday School” or just “Rotation” for short, this model has children studying a Biblical •PlayHouse—this multi-purpose room can be text for about one month, with each weekly session used for drama, puppets, and other workshops taking place in a different workshop environment. that require more space. Moveable stage plat- Students rotate each week to a new classroom, forms were designed and built by Craig Beer. while the teachers stay in one place for an entire •HolyWord Theater—this room is designed for rotation and teach the same lesson to various age showing video clips and movies, and thus is groups. In addition, “Shepherds” stay with the occasionally used for events such as youth

group lock-ins. In addition to the movie screen and projector, the room contains bean bag chairs and a microwave for popcorn. •Creation Station—this room is a great space for art projects and workshops of various types. The west wall features the word JOY painted in primary colors, while the north wall contains the cryptic letters BeCre8v (Bill Boon's license plate!) in secondary and tertiary colors. The stools were painted by middle school youth and contain various examples of Christian symbolism. This room also received some remodeling to accommodate a wash station. ministry sites we worked at, and others have •The Commons—The Commons is the largest chosen different career paths as a result of the room. This space serves two purposes. First, the profound experiences they had on the trips. children gather there at the start of the Sunday Congregation members lend support through school hour for announcements, music, or other donations, making quilts (Holy Tearers), or going group activities. Second, the space can be used on the trip as a leader. for rotations involving games, dance, and other Middle School Mission Trips activities requiring more space. Two university students worked on the painting and design of the Beginning in 2000, middle school youth made room. yearly mission trips to Iowa communities, major American cities and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. The computer lab, located in the west hallway The young people carried out mission trips to of the main floor, opened in October of 2002. A Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Minneapolis and team of volunteers chose the computers, evaluated Omaha. In 2004, 2005 and 2006, the middle school software, assembled desks, and set policies. Two youth visited Southeast Iowa, being part of Y-SALT ISU students designed and painted the room, which (Youth Serving and Learning Together). The was intended to be available for use by anyone program was created by Cynthia Lidtke and Tim throughout the day. Gossett and was offered to other youth groups In the summer of 2004 and 2005, Brittany Prat- around the Iowa Conference of the United er, a congregation member with extraordinary art Methodist Church. During the first year, the home talents and a student at the Kansas City Art base was the United Methodist Church in Institute, created and painted the hallway murals. Keosauqua. During the next two years, the home The scenes include glimpses of the creation story, base was Heartland Christian Camp, a Free a look at ancient architecture, favorite stories Methodist camp in Birmingham, Iowa. Various Brittany remembered, and contemporary art expressions. Brittany painted the entire mural using an everyday wall paintbrush and common latex wall paints, and hidden in the frame around the Drama Room you'll find her name. To the best of our knowledge, this mural represents the largest single piece of art in Ames. Summer Mission Trips 2008 MS Mission Trip. The summer trips that youth take each year are significant experiences in the life of the youth and kinds of cleanup, painting, and repair jobs were of the congregation as a whole. Youth and leaders undertaken. In 2008, the group traveled to work together for months on fundraisers (such as Minneapolis where they worked in a surplus store the Spud Lunches and Stock Sales for the senior and a homeless shelter, packaged dehydrated food high trip, and the Valentino’s Night for the middle to be shipped overseas, and weeded a Peace school trip). Several youth from the congregation Garden. Evenings were spent at the Science have later taken staff positions at one of the 21

Museum and Valley Fair Amusement Park. and 2010, the group participated in the Appalachia In 2009, the middle school youth traveled Service Project. to Hazelton. There they helped with post-tornado Vacation Bible School clean-up including dismantling a barn and other Our summertime event for children has been farm outbuildings. The youth also helped in efforts done in several different ways and at various times to remodel a small town church into affordable housing apartments. High School Mission Trips Between 1986 and 1998, the high school youth traveled to Appalachia to take part in the Appalachia Service Project (ASP). Initially these annual trips were a joint effort of Collegiate/Wesley and First Methodist Church of Ames. ASP is a home repair and construction ministry of the United Methodist church, and each summer the group was in a different location: Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia. In 1999, the high schoolers traveled to San Antonio. 2008 HS Mission Trip to inner city Chicago.

The high school students’ involvement in ASP of the summer. In 1991, we partnered with Colle- continued until 2004. Between 2000 and 2004, they giate Presbyterian worked at several sites each summer in Kentucky, to produce the musical “Oh, Jonah!”. Additional mu- Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. sicals were done in several years after that. Even- In 2005, the CUMC/WF high schoolers took ing events have part in the Sierra Service Project, ASP’s sister been tried, as well as Sunday mornings for the organization. The group has several locations in the month of June. Some of the themes our VBS has West. The students will remember this trip to a explored include Heifer International, Habitat for Native American reservation in Arizona as they Humanity, a first-century recreation of a Judean experienced unexpected and torrential rains marketplace, and “Green” living. Separate throughout much of the week. The weather made programs have often been held sleeping outside very difficult; high winds ripped off for older much of the roof work of one of the teams. elementary students, including programs which Between 2005 and 2010, the high school focused on living in poverty and mission trips were to Pittsburgh, Chicago and an local foods Indian reservation in Montana. In Pittsburgh, the produced through community group stayed in a dorm-like building owned by the sustainable Pittsburgh Project (a ministry of the Presbyterian agriculture. In 2007 and 2008, Church USA) and did repair work at inner-city we partnered homes. In Chicago, the students took part in with First United Methodist DOOR (Discover Opportunities for Outreach and Church of Ames and met at Reflection). This Mennonite ministry is housed in an FUMC. historic church in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Chicago. The Mennonites work with many Other Noteworthy Christian ministries and government-funded assistance Education Activities for Adults projects, and each day the CUMC/WF youth Academy—Run by a board of directors from the experienced a different work environment. congregation, this annual event featured topical In Montana, the students participated in a speakers on a variety of topics at times other than project on the Crow Reservation in southeast Sunday mornings. 1995 focused on the topic of Montana, organized by Youth Works. In addition, homosexuality and was the basis for the congrega- they went sight-seeing along the way at Devil’s tional study that led to the reconciling statement. Tower, the Badlands and the Black Hills. In 2007 The Academy continued until approximately 1999.

Book Studies—Numerous small group book Forum—Jeff Berger and Tim Garner studies have taken place over the years during Glimpses—Sarah Nusser, Natalie Rekemeyer Advent, Lent, summer, and at other times. The most notable of these was the congregation-wide Parenting—Roger Coulson The Heart of Christianity study, which had more M&M—Natalie Rekemeyer, Bev Shirbroun than a dozen groups, based on the book by Marcus and Lynn Kaizer Borg with curriculum written by Tim Gossett and a Spiritual Formation—Janet Stephenson companion sermon series by the clergy. CUMC Co-op Preschool Disciple Bible Study—Disciple is a 34-week in-depth study of the Bible that requires daily The CUMC Co-op Preschool was an outgrowth reading and participation in a 2 ½ hour weekly of a Mother's Morning Out program initiated by session on the part of the participants. Created by Ruth Points in the 1960s. Initially, it was to serve the United Methodist Publishing House, Disciple only Church members and was seen as a way to has expanded to include several additional in-depth educate parents about children, achieve goals of studies and short-term studies. Nancy Wylie was the Methodist preschool curriculum, and prepare the first Disciple leader, and several other classes parents to be Sunday School teachers. By the late have been led by staff and congregation members. 1980s, in order to reach a broad community base, the school had dropped most of the Christian Companions in Christ—This in-depth study of language from its constitution and advertising. Christian spirituality has been offered a few times at However, the church continued to consider it a Collegiate/Wesley since its release in about the ministry, with one member of the church serving year 2000. on the preschool board. Roundtable—This has been in existence since In 1995, for liability reasons the Iowa Annual the 1980s and continues to today, meeting one Conference of the United Methodist Church Thursday noon per month for a meal and book questioned the use of the church's EIN number on discussion. Notable authors have included John the preschool payroll. A study was undertaken to Shelby Spong, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus determine if the Preschool was currently meeting Borg, NT Wright, Peter Gomes, John AT Robinson, the definition of a church ministry. While Sally McFague, Don Miller, AJ Jacobs, and Steven recognizing the quality of the programming and Protherol. parent training offered by a co-op situation, the Short-term Sunday School classes—Starting in church determined that the current structure of the 2001, various short-term classes were offered on school did not meet the definition of a ministry of Sunday mornings as an addition to our regular list the church. In January of 2000, Church officials of classes. Topics and teachers have varied widely. asked the Preschool to incorporate on its own. These classes have especially appealed to It then became a non-profit and was renamed individuals who are not regularly participating in an Adventures Preschool. The Preschool continues ongoing class. to be housed at CUMC/WF. Thursday Themes—This series of weekly Conclusion speakers from the congregation and community The ministries of education at C/W are took place in 2007, and was intentionally advertised numerous and varied, and the previous lists and to the community. descriptions leave out many other activities—youth Adult Sunday School Teachers fellowship, lock-ins, 30-Hour Famines, ski trips, Although many individuals have served as Confirmation, special workshops, and much more. class leaders and coordinators over the years, the In addition, dozens of individuals are involved following individuals were the primary teachers or regularly or occasionally as youth fellowship coordinators for our ongoing classes. leaders, Confirmation mentors or teachers, Rotation Sunday School shepherds or teachers, Biblical Studies—Lester Moore, Bill Boon, nursery volunteers, substitute teachers, drivers, Mary Jean Baker mission trip leaders, and chaperones. And, of Book Club—Donna Kienzler course, parents, guardians, and family members Builders—Susan Grotewold are involved with the faith formation of children and

youth within the home. We are all fortunate to live children. Dorothy and Havard Hedrick were the in or near a community that values education so sponsors. highly and to be part of a community of faith that is One Saturday evening in early fall of 1957, committed to a passionate, thinking, and inclusive there were seven or eight families in attendance. form of Christian education. When the potluck meal was laid out, everyone had Tim Gossett, Dianna Nelson brought beans—one bowl of green beans and the rest various versions of baked beans! “A Labor of Love” Don arrived late for the meal and recalled that With much love and skill, Shirley Held has wo- there were three kinds of beans left so he “still had ven paraments for CUMC/WF. Shirley weaves with a good variety.” thin thread and produces wonderful and Don and Marilyn Loupee intricate items and pictures. She had a showing in “A Special Trip to D.C.” Wesley Hall of woven portraits of her family members. Remarkable! One of her works hangs in Youth trips have been a highlight for hundreds The Gathering Space and is the cover art for this of young people at Collegiate/Wesley Foundation. history book. But they didn’t always go smoothly. In the late Carolyn Cornette 1970s, Rev. Lester Moore suggested taking the senior youth group to Washington, D.C. Les had “A Special Congregation” spent time in Washington as an assistant to a Shortly after Scott Grotewold arrived at C/W, congressman from Iowa, and felt that our students his sermon was interrupted by an unusual visitor. needed to experience the city. Beverly Kruempel, A bird had somehow gotten into the sanctuary Bob Jameson, Rev. Moore and Youth Coordinator and was swooping back and forth over the Janet Stephenson accompanied the students. congregation. Scott noticed heads bobbing back Collegiate/Wesley Foundation had purchased a and forth as the bird circled the room. Hoping to used school bus which was picked up the day the regain the attention of the congre- group was to leave for Washington. They left Ames gation but not wanting to ignore after the students got out of school and planned to the problem, he remarked that spend the night in Davenport; they then planned to “God’s eye is on the sparrow.” drive to Pittsburgh the next day. Janet remembered He said he knew he had come to that they got as far as Newton, and, “Our lights an academic community when were getting dim.” The bus’s battery was recharged shaking hands after the service no in Newton but the problem resurfaced before fewer than six persons said, “That reaching Davenport. After pulling off at a garage wasn’t a sparrow; it was a swift.” near Walcott, church members in Davenport Janet Stephenson organized a rescue mission to bring the Ames contingent to the Davenport church. The next day “Those Wonderful Potluck Dinners” it was discovered that the bus’s alternator was Potluck dinners have been a staple of churches wired in backwards so it was draining the battery, everywhere. Usually there is a good mix of different rather than charging it. dishes. On one occasion at CUMC/WF, however, The next day we were late in our arrival at that didn’t happen. Pittsburgh what with the bus repair in the morning. Marilyn and Don Loupee remembered such an It was probably about 11 p.m. when we descended incident at the Mr. and Mrs. Club, a group created a steep hill leading down to the city. The bus was for young married students with backfiring all the way and when we entered the families. It provided a much need- tunnel that leads to downtown Pittsburgh, the noise ed evening out for returning vet- was deafening. Coming out of the tunnel the lights erans and their families after of the city and the rivers were spectacular. It was WWII. There was a potluck sup- amazing! per and a program; child care was provided The group made it to Washington, D.C. and had a fine time touring the various government during the program so that par- institutions and visiting historic sites. The group ents had a social time without 24

unexpectedly met Lloyd and Shirley Frederick after “ I don’t know what happened…all of a sudden the a Sunday Evensong at the National Cathedral— page was done and I hadn’t played a note on it!” and who invited the group to their apartment. There “I was concentrating so much, I didn’t have time to the students took showers, the only ones during the think.” whole week. Dunbarton UMC was our sleeping quarters while in the D.C. area, and, being an older “I just have to remember that I can’t breathe when I building (it was a hospital during the Civil War and turn the page.” Abraham Lincoln visited wounded soldiers there), “I played the wrong notes, but I played with convic- the plumbing was somewhat lacking. tion!” Janet remembered: “It was an adventurous trip, “What happened in measure 46? All of a sudden it but we did take youth to Washington D.C. three was time to play and it was sooner than it had ever more times—riding in that school bus. Bev been!” Dee Dreeszen Kruempel, Bob Jameson, Les, and I, along with other adults managed to bring the students back to Ames in good shape. Looking back, I think that we must have been crazy. We always had a great time.” An interview with Janet Stephenson, 1996 “Those Beautiful Bells” An almost-native of Ames, an Ames High and ISU graduate, I began directing the bell program at C/W after four years of teaching middle school art in Geneseo, IL. When I returned to Ames in 1974, I inherited a 3-octave set of Schulmerich handbells and a bell tradition of excellence from Betty Jo Wilcox, one of my mentors growing up in the church. Bells came to C/W in 1960 and as a seventh grader, I was fortunate to be selected to play in the first youth choir. Five choirs encompassing sixth graders through senior citizens now ring 5 octaves of handbells and 3 octaves of choir chimes, providing music at first service one Sunday a month and most Sundays in Advent. The Chancel Bell Choir joins with the Collegiate Brass (and Music Men on even years) for the Bells & Brass Concert in December. All five bell choirs present a spring concert. Outside of working with the bell programs, I enjoy gardening, homeownership, pets, playing the pipe organ, and performing with Musica Antiqua, an early music group and one of C/W’s Artists in Residence groups. I worked at the Parks Library, at ISU, for thirty-five years, retiring in 2010. For some time I have kept a file of quotes of the funny things bellringers say. Following are a few examples: “I was playing the right note, just not at the right time.” “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is on page 2.” “One hand is smarter than the other.”

The History of the CUMC/WF Reaching and Receiving Cluster

The Reaching and Receiving Cluster was The Easter breakfast takes place in Wesley formed in mid-2000. In early 1999, the process for Hall after the Youth Sunrise service. In the past restructuring CUMC/WF committees into clusters few years, the service has been held at Reiman was begun. The Reaching and Receiving Cluster Gardens. The breakfasts have great food and (RRC) is involved with evangelism, outreach and provide a church family feeling on Easter morning. hospitality within the church. Team leaders include Barbara and Bruce Munson, Currently, the following teams are under the Kris Meinhard and Debby Wilson. umbrella of RRC. Childcare Ministry Team Summer After-Church Social Team Sue Griffith and her family have for several years Barbara Munson, Debby Wilson,& Bev Shirbroun been leaders of this weekly summer event, assisted by a number of other volunteers. They provide refreshments and hospitality to congregants after the 9:30 a.m. summer worship service. Summer Picnic Team The summer picnics originated with the CUMC/ WF softball team in early 2000. The team held a potluck for two years, and at the end of their playing season, they invited the opposing team to join them as a sign of hospitality. Those events planted a seed, and, since 2005, various persons, including This team works with Dianna Nelson to Sue Griffith, Nanette Heginger, Leslie Weible and organize and discuss various aspects of our Jann Howell, have planned and been instrumental childcare needs at Collegiate CUMC/WF. in holding great summer potluck picnics for all Welcome Team members of CUMC/WF. These events have been held at a variety of places. One picnic was held at This is a new team that started in August of Izaak Walton League Park. In 2008 and 2009, the 2008. The team’s structure follows many of the ide- picnics were held at Moore Memorial Park. Starting as from the book, Race to Reach Out. The team in the summer of 2008 and continuing since, Pat consists of hosts in each section of the sanctuary and Jim Pearson invited church members to an All and a host at a Welcome Table in the Gathering Church Picnic at their lake home in Panora. Paul Space of the church. The hosts meet and greet Brackelsberg provides boat rides. Great food and both our visitors and members each Sunday, fellowship have been a part of the picnics through helping them to feel welcomed and cared for. the years. On Monday nights the hosts meet to be assigned visitors to contact during the next forty-eight hours Greeter Team after the meeting. The contacts are made by For the past several years, Karen Huiatt has phone, e-mail, regular mail, or through a personal been the leader of the greeter team. Every quarter she assigns persons to be at the various entrances Seth, Orville and Leah Berbano of the church to welcome and share hospitality with those who enter our CUMC/WF doors. This ministry has served a very vital part in helping to bond members and visitors each Sunday.

Easter Breakfast Team:

visit. The hosts in the first years were Sally Jones, rolls. A free-will offering is taken to cover expenses. Bob and Helen Farr, Susan Long, Janet Beer, Advent Festival Team Evelyn Beavers, Bob and Bonna Pinneke, Bill and Phyllis Boon, Loraine Safly, Tim Garner, Lucy This team has had many different names Futrell, Fran Berger, Megan Edwards, Dick and through the past decade. In December, 2008, the Mary Young and Nanette and Buzz Heginger. Hel- team hosted an Advent Celebration Workshop. It en and Stan Davidson joined the team in the was a time for all age groups to create craft fall of 2009. “masterpieces.” Some of the activities included cookie decoration, ornament making, and making Before the creation of the Welcome Team, gift wrapping paper. At one point, it was held during various other ministries of receiving were Fishers the Sunday School hour and now it is held on a and the Welcome Task Force. At various times, weekend afternoon, most often on a Sunday. Kim “Bring a Friend” Sundays have been held in the Mosiman served as chairperson for a few years. early fall. In March of 2003, meetings were held Being very creative which focused on a church growth project, which herself, she involved a church-wide emphasis on evangelism designed and planned many imaginative crafts (that and hospitality. Dick Young and George Wylie were would last a lifetime) for the families to make. instrumental in organizing this project. In October, 2003, there were various training sessions for Softball History members on how to make our church a more Beginning in the welcoming one. In December of 2003, the program, early 1970s, CUMC/ “Igniting Ministry” was shown on cable TV with a WF fielded a team CUMC/WF tag on them. This was spearheaded by in the city’s slow- George Wylie. The cluster also started giving pitch softball church visitors gifts of pencils and umbrellas, printed with league, later known the Igniting Ministry logos. Clergy also delivered as the Ames Inter- mugs to the visitors. faith Softball Thanksgiving Dinner Team League. Many friendships were Since the 1970s, our church has held a forged on the ball diamond and the team enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner on the Thursday before its share of success. The games were played on Thanksgiving, in order to accommodate travelers ISU’s fields. Over the years, the coaching duties and ISU students, who will be on break were handled by Marwin Bogue, Scott Silet, Scott Thanksgiving week. For twelve years, Sue and Elston, Mike Taber, Jesse Coats, Chris Anderson Randy Griffith (1999-2010) have been in charge of and Joel Coats. Dee Dreeszen served as manager/ the dinner. It originally began when a Koinonia reporter. group planned the dinner and prepared the food. Since 1998, the meal has been catered by Hy-Vee. In 2008, the playing venue was changed to The evening provides a wonderful time for Nevada as the rent on the University fields had be- members to gather for a delicious Thanksgiving come exorbitant and the Ames’ city diamonds were meal with their church family. The meal includes booked. Subsequently, low participation turkey, potatoes, gravy, dressing and beverages. resulted and led to the team’s ultimate demise. It Side dishes are provided by the congregation. was a “blast” while it lasted. Traditionally, our Wesley Foundation students bring A notebook of the teams and their season’s records is deposited in the CUMC/WF archives. Rainbow Vision Team This team strives to remind members of our congregation of the unfinished work to implement fully the congregation’s commitment to the Statement of Reconciliation. Our em- Thanksgiving Dinner phasis is on the inclusion of all sexual 27

orientations and gender identities as a contrast to Through the years since the RRC was created, the United Methodist Church’s position of exclu- some of the chairpersons have been Sue Griffith; sion. The age groups serving on the team range George Wylie; Karla Drapal and Grace Swanson, from high school through senior citizens. Members co-chairs; Nanette Heginger, Bev Shirbroun and also represent CUMC/WF’s commitment to inclu- Jeanie McElvain. Various church persons who have sion of Lesbian, Gay, been a vital part of the RRC are Sara Compton, Bisexual and Transgendered Christians through our Bette Coulson, Bev Grabau, Tom Jordan, Jane work on various community groups that are supporting this group. The team also works for this Coffee House on cause at the Annual Conference and General the Terrace Conference levels of the United Methodist Church. Other activities of the team included hosting discussion groups in the homes of church members and, in recent years, hosting communion outside the building in which Annual Conference is meeting. Orientation Classes Early in 2000, new member orientation classes were held. These were directed by George Wylie. New members would attend four sessions during the Sunday School hour in which they learned Kennedy, Karen Klaiber, Doug Provow, Doris about the history of our church and its ongoing Stukenberg, Fran Berger, Brent Bruton, Jan Cum- mings, Marti Miller, Rochelle Communion at Annual Conference Ginder, Linda Schuh, Josie Six, Lynne Smith, Barbara Mengeling, Eldon Weber, Joyce Coffman, Kim Linduska, Karen Huiatt, Jo Ann & Rick Hansen, Sue Cronin, Jenn Plagman-Gavin, Jann Howell, Jen Rapp, LeAnn Meehan, Teresa Simpson, Bruce Munson, Deborah Blaedel, Leanne & Jeffrey Harestad, Trish & Darin Johnson, Jill Brand, Linda Westgate, Dee Dreeszen, Linda Church, Kim Mof- ministries. We now have New Member Coffees fitt, Barb Pedersen and Barb Holt. that are held on Sunday afternoons. The persons attending are able to visit with our senior and Previous Outreach Activities Available at associate ministers and learn about CUMC/WF. CUMC/WF Additional Events Some groups that had been connected to outreach are no longer active, including “Guess Two additional events have also been Who’s Coming to Dinner.” This activity was an idea sponsored by the RRC, both of which are intergen- suggested by Linda Westgate. It involved persons erational parties for all persons of the church to gathering at different homes for fellowship and attend. The first, Family Fun Night, includes games food. such as ping pong, cards, dominos and relays. Food is provided. After the church remodeling was A graduate student group was formed in 2001. completed in the summer of 2008, the RRC began The graduate students met at church members’ hosting Summer Coffee House on the Terrace homes including Barbara and Bruce Munson and events. Live music was provided by musicians from Cindy and Scott McCalmont. our church for these evening events. Desserts were There was also a “Laf-a-Lot” Group. This group made by cluster members and were free to those shared their talents and hobbies each month, along attending the event. with enjoying singing, eating, and sharing jokes. At

each monthly meeting, they each brought a joke to will find such a welcoming church home while at the share with the group. University of Louisville. Bev Shirbroun, Dee Dreeszen, Kris Meinhard Music has always been part of our family. I think we began doing the Christmas Eve service approximately ten years ago. Rev. Scott Grotewold “Two Generations at CUMC/WF” asked if we might play a tune or two. It has become When you are about to enter high school the something of a tradition now that we gather as a last thing you want to hear is, “We’re moving!” family and arrive somewhat painstakingly to the Well, that was my reality. I was reluctant to music one might hear on Christmas Eve. I’d like to embrace my new community, new church and new think the quality improves as the years pass. We’ll friends. Thinking back, I guess any fourteen year let you be the judge. None the less, thank you old would have felt the same. Even as I write this Collegiate for all the traditions and memories past,

I’m remembering my two older siblings were in present and those that lie ahead. college and my younger two siblings were, well, Lynn Gruber Kaiser younger. How could I know that this would be the perfect place to make the transition into adulthood? My father, Donald Gruber, was a minister in this very church for twelve years. I soon became involved with youth group choir as well as bell choir. I think Dee Dreeszen hasn’t changed in thirty years. Even back then we had soup suppers; they were called “Agape Love Feasts.” I remember a tradition of youth trips to Washington, D.C. with Rev. Lester Moore. What memories were made. I remember my parents leaving my senior year to go on a pastoral exchange to England. Joe and Dolores Brown became my surrogate parents. Their daughter, Carolyn, and I graduated early from high school so we might spend the rest of the year in Europe. All these experiences helped prepare me for college. My love of music brought me degrees from Simpson College and Arizona State University. It was in Arizona that I met my future husband, Ed. We were blessed with three sons: Alex, Drew and Nick. When our children were very young we made the decision to move to Iowa. A sense of Alex, Drew, Lynn, Ed & Nick Kaizer community, better education for our children and a desire to be closer to family took on a great sense of importance. Raising our three boys in this community of faith has been a blessing. This church has been an important part of their lives. I smile to think that these hallways, nooks and crannies that I explored as a young person, are the same that my sons have grown up with. While the church itself has physically expanded and grown, the same guiding principles that make Collegiate special haven’t changed. Alex and Drew who are now at Truman State University have found a Unit- ed Methodist church family to call “home.” I believe the formative years here at Collegiate gave them a strong foundation of faith. I’m hopeful Nick

The History of the CUMC/WF Worship Ministries Cluster

The Relating People to God Cluster (RPTG) Last Supper. Kappa Phi was a service club for was formed in mid-2000 when C/W committees Christian university women. were organized into five different clusters. The Sanctuary Decorations Team Relating People to God Cluster is mainly comprised of tasks that were accomplished by the former The Sanctuary Decoration Team and Hanging Worship and Music Committees. The number of of the Greens Team have merged into one team teams included under the cluster have varied over which is the years with some teams being moved to different currently led by Amanda Heeren with help from clusters and others being melded together into Mike and Patty teams with broader tasks and new names. Some King, the build- Ginny & Cindy McCalmont teams are devoted to the regular Sunday worship ing mainte- services in the main Sanctuary with some overlap nance staff for special services that include Ash Wednesday, and friends. Good Friday, Maundy Thursday, and Christmas Lent, Easter, Eve. The teams included in the RPTG cluster are: Thanksgiving, Liturgical/Seasonal Sanctuary Decorations; and Christmas Communion Stewards; Ushers Teams, 8:30 and 11 are the focus, a.m.; Audio Tape Service; Prayer Chain Leaders; but each Sun- Acolytes; Manger Gifts Service; and Music day may bring Coordinator. In 2011, the Cluster name was a chance to returned to simply “Worship Ministries Cluster”. change the Sanctuary to Special Services relate to the Rev. George White arrived as senior pastor of service CUMC/WF in 1992. The following year he formed of the day. a committee chaired by Bertlyn Johnston to identify Wood, rocks, unchurched people in Ames. One hundred flowers, plants, volunteers made some 20,000 telephone calls. As candles, fabrics and food are some of the items a result, two new services were offered at CUMC/ used. Since 2007, beautiful banners have added to WF. The “Care and Share” service on Saturday the worship services. The vision and perseverance evening in Nichols Chapel lasted only a few of Sarah Lewis, the artistry of Sarah Rasmussen of months. The second, “Sights and Sounds,” a Clear Lake and wood Sunday evening contemporary service in Wesley working help from Keith Rhoades along with special Hall, continued into the next year. memorial gifts have In 2001, faithspring received a grant from the made possible beauti- Board of Discipleship for outreach supplies to begin ful silk banners that a Sunday evening service; faithspring began in the hang from the side rails fall of 2001 and continues today. faithspring is held of the balconies during in the C/W Annex. All age groups are represented the appropriate liturgi- in attendance but the target audience is university cal seasons. age students. A contemporary service is held, Banners with images followed by supper. Rev. Jim Shirbroun is in charge of flowers that emerge but all ministers are involved. every spring from earth’s tomb were giv- For Maundy Thursday service, the Kappa Phi en in memory of Vivian Alumnae continued until 2007 their tradition of Olson and hang after serving a meal based on the foods of the traditional Easter. Red silk ban- Jewish Seder, with worship consisting of readings ners hang for Pente- from the New Testament of Jesus’ words at the 30

cost ston, Gerald Sielert, Roger Walton, Ray Sunday. Silk banners, each picturing a major Chris- Russell, Don Gardner, Karen Halloum, Howard tian symbol—lamp, butterfly, shell, fish, boat, globe, Shanks, Tom Evans, Tom Wickersham, Karen Hu- beehive, dove, vine, pitcher, cross, rainbow, wheat iatt, George Wylie, Ron Nelson, Dick Young, John with grapes—decorate the Sanctuary during the Johnson, Steven Schroeder, Ben Hucker, Chuck Green Season, the season following Pentecost, Benn, Don Loupee, Les Lewis, Stan and were given in memory of Janice Schloerke. Davidson, Bill Cook, C. J. Gauger, Bruce Munson, Rays of thin, gauzy fabric bursting from the chancel Roger Coulson, Thamon Hazen, Eldon Weber, Bob cross give a color and dramatic impression which Twetten, Ted Landsberg, Paul Lingren, Janell Eby, enhance worship on Easter Sunday and throughout Susan Grotewold, Paul Rietz, Bill Boon, Marv the season of Eastertide; this was first imagined by McElvain, Jeff Berger, Paul Anderson, Debby Mike King. These rays are so beautiful that many Wilson, Deb Adams, Frank Amos, Wayne brides wish to have them there for their weddings. Spohnheimer, and Dave Matulac. The Administrative Board has formed guidelines for The Ushers Team is presently led by two the “rays” including how long they would be up, and people. Steven Schroder organizes the ushers how much was involved in putting up and taking for the 8:30 a.m. service and Ted Huiatt for the them down. Advent and Christmas continue to 11:00 a.m. and summer services. For many years bring the Advent candles and the beautiful wreaths. Dennis Byrne organized the 8:30 a.m. service but Sarah Lewis’s vision also resulted in adding the Steven took over in 2010. They usually have a few large tree and hurricane lamps for the window sills. regular ushers help with these services, but also Paraments for the altar, pulpit and lectern that recruit additional members on Sunday, if needed. are appropriate for different liturgical seasons were They have varied tasks which include handing out woven with much love and skill and given in 1997 bulletins, assisting worshippers, collecting and to CUMC/WF by Shirley Held. She weaves with thin presenting the offering, assisting with communion, threads and produces intricate, beautiful weavings. handing out and collecting attendance sheets and For the past several years, the high school tidying up the Sanctuary before and after the youth have planned and led the Easter Sunrise service. Service. Communion Stewards Team Acolytes Team Janell Eby is the current team leader for the The Acolytes team is usually run by a parent of Communion Stewards. This team obtains and one of the current acolytes. Many of the acolytes prepares the communion elements for Communion are members of the Confirmation class, but the ac- on the first Sunday of the month and special olytes are recruited from the third through eighth services where communion is served. She also grades. LeAnn Meehan is the current team leader coordinates with the office to set up a schedule of and she recruits acolytes in the fall and spring communion stewards to clean up after the service. and draws up a schedule. When a youth is not The schedule for the liturgists, communion servers available, the ushers will step in as acolytes or and lay readers is recruited by Natalie Rekemeyer, another adult or youth will volunteer. the Administrative Assistant in the office, for regular worship services, themed services and special Ushers Team worship services. Through the years, the ushers have been Audio Tape Service Team extremely faithful as have their leaders. Dennis Byr- ne, Ed Augustine, Jim Sheets, Richard Miller, Todd The Audio Recording Service has been active Vollstedt, Ted Huiatt and Steven Schroder have since 1956 when the system was set up by the chaired the group. Ushers are too numerous to Methodist Men. It was created to fulfill the need mention everyone, but names help recall the past for people unable to attend church, to still listen and many of those who ushered in 1991 to Sunday Services in their homes. The first continue to do so; these persons include: Jim recordings were reel-type tapes. Originally, there Herriott, John Burns, Paul Lundy, Steve Maloy, Ed were five to six people receiving the service. Augustine, Robert Humphrey, John Jacobson, Jane In 1977, the use of cassette tapes was begun. Jacobson, David Orth, Stan Carpenter, Ron Moor- A monophonic cassette recorder was used and the man, Bruce Greenfield, Bernie Skold, Robert John- audio was tapped from the PA system located 31

behind the organ. Tape players were purchased for and chairs for the yearly Chancel Choir special with each user, and earphones were acquired so that orchestra and is headed by Stephani Scherbart and the hearing-impaired could better enjoy the tapes. Paul Anderson. A fast tape duplicator, producing one copy at a Another activity within the Worship Cluster is time, was purchased. The current sound system the Choir Robe Guild, led by Dee Dreeszen. The has been in use since 1991. By that time, the Guild is responsible for the care, maintenance and sound system controls and taping equipment were storage of the Chancel Choir, Chorister, and located in the rear balcony. In 1986, approximately Acolyte robes. Dee has overseen this task for many seven members used the recording service years and coordinates the cleaning of the robes continuously. and has recruited volunteers, Phyllis Brackelsberg In 2008, because of the foreseen obsolescence and Shirley Snell, to replace all the plastic zippers of cassettes and the technical advantages of digital in the robes to more durable metal zippers, a task technology, upgrading to digital record and that is almost accomplished. reproduction was begun. The services are recorded in the balcony as before. By December, 2009, ten tapes and four digital players are prepared each week, for thirteen users. Two additional tapes are produced each week for general use. Also, each week the Bible readings and sermon are extracted from the digital recording and placed on the church web site, for the use of everyone. Recording and reproduction are done by a team of ten members, alternating on a monthly basis. Only the 8:30 service is recorded. Members alternate on a monthly basis. It appears that this system of organization has been in use since the The Keyboard Care Volunteer schedules the initiation of cassettes in the 1970s. Some of the routine tunings for all the keyboard instruments in original team members were still serving in 2009. the church, including the Sanctuary pipe organ and Team leaders in past years include Ira Ward, Ber- the pianos in the main church building and the nie Skold, Harold Dolling, Al Ritchey, Tom Annex and helps handle any emergency repairs. Richards and Paul Anderson. The present leader is Paul Anderson, the current volunteer, also Allan Baker. He is assisted by Paul Anderson, evaluates all potential gifts of keyboard instruments Orville and Seth Berbano, Ron Nelson, Dan and to the church. Jonah DeGeest, Marjorie Howe, John Lane, Paul Manger Gifts Service Lundy, Jan Cummings and Frank Amos. Some Worship teams continue to deal with Music Ministry Team specific special services or activities. The White Gift The Music Ministry team is comprised of a team Service, now the Manger Service, which began at leader, currently Stephani Scherbart, and the Christmas time in the 1950s continues today. Gifts directors of the choirs and other musical groups in to share with children and families that might the church (see the Music Section of the history). otherwise not have Christmas were wrapped in They meet twice a year to schedule groups to white paper and brought to the altar. The practice perform during the first service and the team leader still continues, but the gifts no longer need be done acts as a liaison for the directors to the Worship in white. Coordinators of the Manger Gift Service Cluster. The Soloists team is a list of volunteers, continue to find the script, recruit players young and either instrumental or vocal, that would like to old, and coordinate music, usually involving choirs, perform during the summer or on other Sundays or bells and brass, all with the help of children and special services when a choir is unavailable. This youth specialists and music directors. Coordinators list is compiled yearly and provided to Carl Bleyle since 1991 have been Dallas McGinnis, Candace and Stephani Scherbart so they may schedule Strawn, Jane and Jeff Prater, Pat Allen, Jane special music. The Choir Special Facilities team is Kennedy, Mike King, Mike and Jill Brand, Kim only needed once a year to set up to the platforms Mosiman, Cathy Compton, Claire Morris, Cynthia

Lidtke, Natalie Rekemeyer, Liz Geske, Scott Grotewold, Tammy Hockley, Melissa Warren and Gossett Family Amanda Heeren with assistance of many others including Lisa Ladd, Jim Okey, and Dianna Nelson. The manger remains much as it was when Mrs. “Cap” Timm had shepherds and wise men come down the center aisle. Each year is a bit different, but almost always the service involves a live baby Jesus. Since 1991, over twenty different babies have portrayed Baby Jesus. Stephani Scherbart, Carolyn Cornette

The History of the CUMC/WF Sending to Serve Cluster

The word “mission” means many different religion, and the economy were major areas of things to different people. Some think of soup study. Children’s mission study complemented kitchens, some of missionaries in foreign lands, the adults’ study and added special benefits for some of schools, hospitals, the help of volunteers, children. One special project was “Kids to Kids,” or shelters. Others think of a plan, a statement, a project through American Friends Service that an idea, a reason for acting. Some think of a asked children to prepare kits for children in committee focusing on the needs of others in the Angola. Appalachia USA was a separate children’s church, the community or the world, and some think program. Janet Stephenson was a participant in the of individual works by caring individuals. We can Africa study, having been present at the opening say joyfully that at CUMC/WF all of these things are dedication of Africa University in Zimbabwe. true. While we have a mission statement and have Commission on Church and Society had committees, clusters, and task forces, we have had and do have strong individuals supporting The Commission on Church and Society mission work. concentrated on projects much closer to home such as Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) Food The mission of the United Methodist Church Pantry, MICA Project Home Mission, Ames Inter- is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. CUMC/WF faith Council, Ames Ecumenical Housing Board, has inherited a rich tradition of outreach and and Sudanese Refugee Resettlement. Those discipleship. Our very being as a congregation is projects are explained below. Through the 1990s through the sacrifice of those who came before us. Les Moore, Eleanor McKee, Dennis Byrne and Certainly the members concerned with mission, Arlene Faeth provided leadership for the whatever they are called and however they are Commission on Missions while Frank Amos, Lee organized, have the potential to make disciples, Bergren, Les Moore and Don Gruber chaired the have the potential to illustrate to all our desire to Commission on Church and Society. follow the teachings of Jesus, to do justice, to love Mid-Iowa Community Action Food Pantry our neighbor, and care for the least among us. The (MICA) following history chronicles the missions, collective and individual, of CUMC/WF from the fall of 1991 For more than twenty years, September has through the summer of 2009. These are the been the month for CUMC/WF to help fill the missions that since 1998 have been gathered to- Mid-Iowa Community Action Food Pantry. And gether under the cluster, “Sending to Serve.” Collegiate/Wesley members take that responsibility seriously. Originally, the arm of Collegiate/Wesley In the 1990s the mission arms of the church that took responsibility was the Commission on were “Commission on Missions” and “Commission Church and Society with Irma Matchett-Frank on Church and Society”. leading the project. After the Food Pantry came Commission on Missions under the umbrella of Sending to Serve Cluster, The primary responsibility of the Commission Les Moore, Shelley Dilks, Carolyn Cornette and on Missions was an all church mission study, which Mary Stratton have led that effort. In addition to included four education sessions during February the Food Pantry we have also supported Mid-Iowa of each year. Each session began with a salad/ Community Action by sponsoring two to four sandwich supper followed by a study session. Each families under the direction of Project Home year’s concentration was on a particular culture Mission; this involves giving to provide professional such as Islam or a country such as South Africa, assistance to families to promote self-sufficiency by Japan, Philippines, Eastern Europe, Indonesia, establishing realistic goals and developing skills to Africa, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, reach those goals and grow healthy relationships. Guatemala, and Brazil. Also included were Church- Jeff Berger’s initial efforts brought the issue of es of Europe, and Global Economics family needs in Story County to the attention of the Seeking a Christian Ethic. Geography, culture, Family Life Council and Roger Coulson and Dick 34

Van Deusen saw the potential for Project Home Thanksgiving Ingathering. CUMC/WF was an Mission. Paula Anderson, Mark and Pam Shill enthusiastic supporter from the beginning and and Deb Adams, as members of the Family Life continues to be. The Ingathering focuses on Council, worked with the project. Deb Adams collecting donations for Heifer Project International, continued to be the liaison when Project Home Self Help International, Personal Energy Transpor- Mission came under Sending to Serve. Deb Adams tation (PET), Tool and Blankets (which is now was extremely faithful to Collegiate and to Project Blankets +), and kits for United Methodist Home Mission. During CUMC/WF’s 88th and 89th Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and the Iowa- birthdays, fund raisers for Project Home Mission Nigeria Partnership. Our own members have been and Keep the Manger Soft for the Christ Child were important to these international organizations. Ron held as a way to involve adult Sunday school clas- Orth served as District Coordinator of Heifer Project ses and children giving to MICA families during the International and J.T. Scott and Wesley Buchele Christmas season. served many years on the board of Self Help Ames Interfaith Council International. Items for various UMCOR kits such as School Kits, Layettes, and Health Kits (in 2009 Collegiate/Wesley continues to be a member Birthing and Dorm Kits were added) are made of Ames Interfaith Council and has been ably ready for purchase at the “Mission Store.” The represented by Marian Solomon and Frank Amos. Mission Store, a concept of Ann Herriott and one Collegiate/Wesley also has a board member on for which she was acknowledged by the United the Ames Ecumenical Housing Board. Ames Methodist Church and honored by CUMC/WF, Ecumenical Housing Inc. began when fifteen continues as a special day for children. Children churches made a commitment to form Ames bring their saved coins to the store to buy the Ecumenical Housing Inc. to supply affordable collected items that are needed for each kit. The housing to low income, older adults in Ames. Each kits are assembled and most are sent to children church contributed a sum of money. A member of in Nigeria. Among the Mission store coordinators each of the founding churches, a representative were Dick and Marty Miller, Jennifer Compton, from Story County Housing, and two persons from Liz Geske, Karen Fowser and Dean Sampson, the community make up the board of directors who always with the help of Trish Hallihan or Dianna oversee Keystone Apartments and Stonehaven Nelson. Congregations are invited to take their Apartments. John Lane, Larry Herbold and Ted assembled kits and their donations of money to a MacDonald have served on that board. regional church for the Ingathering and enjoy a day Sudanese Refugees of fellowship, including an auction of quilts and wood pieces. Doris Hohl’s quilt of 1991 was a In 1991 four Sudanese refugees needed favorite. Ann Herriott, Phyllis Brackelsberg, resettlement to Ames and Mike King, Tom Donna Butler and Joan Lane contributed many Sappington, Frank Amos, Jim Okey and the Phil hours cutting and sewing layettes and book bags O’Berry’s started the Refugee Sponsorship Project. Jim Okey provided a home for the four refugees Mission Store while they were in Ames, about two years, until they moved to areas with more Sudanese and more employment opportunities Related Mission Projects Many mission projects were part of Collegiate/ Wesley during this time, even though they were not under a special mission banner. Those were Thanksgiving Ingathering, CROP Walk, Emergency Residence Project, Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance, Alternative Gift Market, Youth Mission Trips, Intergenerational Mission Trips, and White Gift Service. Thanksgiving Ingathering In 1979 the Iowa Conference began the

and organizing others to help. Sue Griffith has food, bus, and phone. In addition, many members purchased the supplies for the health kits for many like Max Cummings and Jim Shirbroun’s Wesley years. These efforts seem to go on all year and students give time and labor to help maintain involve many people, so many that it is very hard buildings and grounds. to name the many wonderful people who do the Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance work. Help has come from the “Holy Tearers” and individuals: Pat Girton, Loretta Maloy, Karen For years Collegiate/Wesley ministers Klaiber, Virginia Anderson, Laura Cook, Bertlyn maintained a substantial Community Assistance Johnston, Pat Benson, Marilee Shadle, Shirley Fund to help those in need when they appeared Snell, Julie Schubert, Lisa Ladd and Darlene Walk- at the church door. In 1997 twelve faith groups er. UMCOR kits have also been collected at the and organizations, including CUMC/WF, pooled Iowa United Methodist Annual Conference with the resources to begin Good Neighbor Emergency help of Pat Benson and Laura Shanks. Assistance to provide help for individuals in need and to be a centralized resource of last resort to CROP Walk provide cooperative emergency assistance to Frank Amos and Ron Orth are names that eve- individuals. Donna Moorman was a founding ry member knows when CROP Walk is member of the organization and served on the mentioned. Both walk and collect pledges and Ron initial board, followed by Pauline Lawrence and and Darlys Orth sold baked goods as well. Ron is Tim Gossett. All spent countless hours and Pauline the champion at collecting pledges, but tremendous wrote hundreds of “thank-you” notes. CUMC/WF support continues through the leadership of Frank continues to have a board member; most recently Amos. Amy Olson Doolittle. Although our senior pastor Emergency Residence Project still maintains an emergency assistance fund, Good Neighbor is a major resource on which the CUMC/WF was one of several churches who community depends. Collegiate/Wesley members responded to the need in 1985 for a homeless feel a strong responsibility for this project and are shelter. Don Hobson, David Stout, Janet some of its strongest supporters, if not the Stephenson, and Mike King played initial roles in strongest. the forming of Emergency Residence Shelter (ERP). Mike, with help from Patty King, was the first Alternative Gift Market manager, and Janet Stephenson, Michael King and J.T. Scott, an early supporter, Dennis Byrne, Jon Banwart have served on the board and as Pat Girton, Esther Hollenback, Vivian Olson, and important community supporters of ERP. In addition Eleanor McKee are names important to Alternative to having a board member Collegiate/Wesley has Gift Market and they have had help from Jane continued to support with food, money, and various Herbold, Jean and Bob Humphrey, Patty and Mike King and Marian and Ted Solomon. C/W joined with other congregations in the 1990s to provide a Frank Amos, Jim Shirbroun & West Steel at CROP Walk way for concerned shoppers to “buy gifts to benefit those in need and do it in honor of someone on their Christmas list.” Among the possible gifts were animals, tools, blankets, help to provide safe drinking water, and much more. In some years Mary and Dick Young designed special gift cards to go with the purchases. Youth Service Projects Our youth, middle school and high school, have done countless Appalachia Service Projects (ASP), Youth Serving and Learning Together (Y-SALT), types of assistance, such as building a bicycle and/or similar work weeks. Their mission is to help storage shed, painted inside by vacation Bible others, to build friendships, to repair homes to school children. Most recently the offerings have make them safer, warmer, drier, and to grow in been in the form of gift cards for items such as gas, their Christian faith. Sara Meinhard, Jessica Allen and Toby O’Berry wrote August, 36

1991, “All of a sudden we realized how much the one trip, most of them ASP trips. Many other little things meant to these people. All along we had congregation members made at least one mission taken these things for granted.” And after another trip with students. The “Holy Tearers” have always trip, Megan Edwards and Ashley Drapal wrote, sent hand-made comforters with the youth to give “Thank you for allowing us to grow as Christians.” to the families with whom they work. The youth ASP groups of high school students, led first by have also worked closer to home; Trinity United Rev. Jim Stiles and from 1992 directed by Ted Hu- Methodist Church in Des Moines, Wesley Woods, iatt, have worked in rural Virginia, West Virginia, Bidwell-Riverside and in Ames helping the various Kentucky, Alabama, Texas and Tennessee. In projects that we support in other ways. They spent 2000, Tim Gossett, as Director of Christian Educa- several Saturdays repairing flood damaged homes tion added dif- in Des Moines after the 1993 floods and also ferent kinds of assisted families in other locations who were experiences by affected by the 2008 floods. Youth fund raising has taking the high followed traditions and also been innovative. Fund school students raisers included spud lunches, car washes, garage on the Sierra sales, cookie walks, bake sales, silent auctions, Service Project spaghetti dinners, parking cars for VEISHEA, a toy Trip to Navago, rummage sale, and stock sales. For several years Arizona. In Valentino’s Italian Restaurant has given the middle more recent school youth a chance to raise mission trip funds years, ASP has by working as servers at the restaurant on a not been the designated evening and allowing the group to keep sole destination all tips they received—a great fund raiser and a fun for high School evening for the church members to gather. Building mission trips. a garden shed and a garage for a congregation There are poor member and ERP were training projects and get in areas of the acquainted exercises as well as fund raisers for an High School ASP country other Trip 2010 ASP trip. Under the supervision of Mike Parsons than Appala- and Ted Huaitt, students did the construction and chia, and trav- congregation members provided the materials. eling to them Intergenerational Mission Trips helps to educate our youth. Intergenerational mission trips or ISALT as they Other destinations have been Mississippi, Idaho, were sometimes called have been successful as Pennsylvania, Montana and well: trips to Kansas City to work in a food pantry, inner city Chicago. soup kitchen and women’s shelter, a trip to Minneapolis to “The Urban Immersion Service Tim, also as Director of Christian Education Retreat” which focused on helping groups become initiated the first middle school trip and that was to better equipped to get involved in the needs of their Thunder Bay, Canada. Tim also took middle community, trips to Juarez, Mexico. The first trip to schoolers to Detroit and three years of Y-Salt Juarez was planned by Rachel Cox, a high school with the help of Cynthia Lidtke. Recent trips led senior, to build homes. There was also a trip to the by Nan Geske, Youth Specialist, and Rev. Kathye Heifer Ranch in Perryville, AR. Planners of the Harrington-Taber, have taken middle schoolers to ISALT trips were Linda Westgate, Rev. Cindy Kansas City, Minneapolis and Hazelton. McCalmont, Patty and Mike King, and Tim Gossett. Mike Parsons, Jill Vauthrin Brand, Jim Cable, The entire congregation has supported and enjoyed Cal Halliburton, Susan Long, Larry Stevenson, Rod the fundraising for these intergenerational trips. Johnson, Susan Rayl, Mike Stoops, Paul Lutzgraff, Patty King and her group of kitchen angels have Mark Shill, Randy Larabee, Don and Helen Drake, made hundreds of apple pies, “fresh apples and Dennis Byrne, Frank Amos, Betty Barton, Jane and real crusts”, to be sold. The pies are ready for Gerry Kennedy, Mark Blaedel, Tony Netusil, baking or freezing and are delicious. Cynthia Lidtke, John and Julie Larson, Dee Manger Gift Service (White Gift Service) Dreeszen and Lori Schippers went on more than

The White Gift Service (now named Manger months to Children and Urban Family Ministry at Gift Service) began with Jean Humphrey, the youth Trinity United Methodist Church in Des Moines. Tim of the church, and an evening nativity service at Gossett, Linda Westgate, Marti and Scott Elston, Christmas-time. Worshipers were asked to bring Don and Helen Drake and Sandy and Howard items wrapped in white paper. Though the service Meeks have chaired this project. They have pre- changes with the year, such items of food, pared food and served food which was prepared by many, many Collegiate/Wesley members. The Builders Sunday School Class serves several meals each year. Douglas Allen has been a consistent server, as has Dennis Byrne. Chili is always good! UMCOR Collegiate/Wesley members respond well to disasters in Iowa, the nation and world wide. In addition to supporting UMCOR, the official channel for response, CUMC/WF independently responded to support Hurricane Katrina victims, and sent food, clothing, household items and money support to victims of the 2008 federal immigration raids at the meat-packing plant in Postville, Iowa. That raid Steve Ryan in Juarez, Mexico incarcerated undocumented men, leaving families with no work and no resources. Sunday School Offerings clothing, household items and monetary gifts con- Even though more will be noted in another ar- tinue to be collected and ea, we must note that children in Sunday School continue to be given to MICA families or to others are not left out when we write of mission giving. who are recipients of our long term projects. Children’s offerings are collected and saved until New Structure—Sending to Serve Cluster they choose their special mission project. They In 1998 UMC proposed a new structure and have purchased animals for African families “Commission on Church and Society” and from the Alternative Gift Market, supported “Commission on Missions” became the “Sending missionaries, bought shoes and toys to go with to Serve Cluster”. As this change took place, many volunteers to Cuba, bought soccer balls for children of the existing mission projects and many new in Nigeria and purchased waiting room toys for the projects joined under the Sending to Serve Cluster Free Medical Clinic in Ames. umbrella. Sending to Serve Cluster leaders, Jane Interfaith Economic Justice Initiative/AMOS Herbold, Darra Johnson, Renate Dellman, Marian As the records show, the mission group has Solomon, Ted MacDonald and Carolyn Cornette considered charity giving to be important, but has have encouraged congregational support for all also tried to do justice, as with Beverly Reddick’s projects and helped to identify new projects and very good work on the Interfaith Economic Justice discontinue Initiative which laid the foundation for AMOS. With others. Beverly Reddick’s help, a developing team of Children and Becky Musselman, Marian and Ted Solomon, Urban Family Eldon Weber, Doug and Faith Finnemore, Patty Ministry: and Mike King, Darra Johnson and Brenda Allen Colle- introduced the congregation to AMOS. In 2008 giate/Wesley CUMC/WF became a member. AMOS, a Mid-Iowa provides one Organizing Strategy, is designed to make social evening meal changes in Ames and Story Country. Mary Jean a month on and Allan Baker, Carol Alexander Phillips, Dana alternate Dinnes, Jim Davis and Rev. Linda Butler have Youth unwrapping Manger gifts. worked on environmental issues, healthcare, 38

immigration, and/or economic justice issues. Collegiate is providing the space in the Annex Covenant Relationship with Global Missionary and providing much of the support in the way of in Cambodia volunteers for Suited for Work, a clothing closet for those moving into the work force and in need of We have established a covenant relationship interview and job related clothing. CUMC/WF, with Katherine Parker, who was a member of C/W represented by Cindy McCalmont, Sarah Nusser, and is now a UMC Global Missionary in Cambodia. Kay Silet, Marti Elston and Jeanie McElvain, was a In so doing, we hope to build a long term relation- founding partner in 2001 for Suited for Work. Those ship which would include using the considerable members and other dedicated workers including skills of this congregation for service in providing Heather Greenlee, Mary Harms, Mary Eichner, water to rural areas of Cambodia. Margaret Knox, Dolores Brown, Tim Garner, Lee Women at the Well Bergren, Teresa Larson, Mary Jean Baker, Lynell Dougherty, Fran Theile, Doris Stukenberg, Thrya Marian Solomon was one of four women who and Rachel Cox, Sandy Meeks, Margaret Shep- saw the need and developed a United Methodist pard, Donna Butler, Faith Finnemore, Jane ministry that became Women at the Well inside Herbold, Maureen Wilt, Betty Rozeboom, Mary Jo Mitchellville Detention Center for Women. Jim Da- Banwart, Karen Klaiber, and Jan Cummings, with vis and Marian Solomon continue to lead and sup- the help of many more occasional workers, have port in that ministry. With Jim Davis’ help and ex- outfitted many new job seekers and employees. In pertise, CUMC/WF established in 2007 an 2009, because of a changing economic climate, the Aftercare/Re-entry Team program to support wom- needs are changing and our focus is changing to en and/or men re-entering society from incarcera- clothing for service and industrial employment, but tion. Beginning team members of that program the dedication to help remains the same. were Jim Davis, Beverly Kruempel, Gerry and Jane Kennedy, Carolyn Cornette, and David Orth. As of 2011, three women and one man have been in the program. We are an active sponsor of Justice for Our Neighbors, another mission of the UMC, and one that makes legal help accessible to all immigrants who otherwise could not have help. Hope Blankets “Tied With Love, Hope Blanket” is a label that is placed in the corner of each tied, fleece Hope Blanket that is given to members of the C/W family, specifically, new babies, confirmation classes, VaLinda Parsons, Bev Shirbroun, Sunny Hsu, graduates, those facing illness, or loneliness or Lucy Futrell, Debby Wilson working on a Hope Blanket. just needing a caring hand. The blankets are also shared with anyone who a Collegiate/Wesley Soup Supper member feels needs the care of a blanket. Debby “Wednesday Night Soup Supper” will be noted Wilson and Beverly Shirbroun and their group hear on its own page, but must not be overlooked here, powerful stories of the joy the blankets can give. as it is a true mission of caring. Deborah Blaedel, While many are tying, Bertlyn Johnston has been with much help, has made Soup Supper a knitting wonderful mittens and matching caps for household word for CUMC/WF. This meal is truly children who need them. She collects the yarn and inclusive: everyone is invited and everyone, no knits hundreds of items. She does them for Bidwell- matter their circumstances or special needs, Riverside children, for Postville children and for contributes and is appreciated. others in need. Mary Drier, Evelyn Richmond, Marty Steelman, and Ruth Provow were among Conference and Other CUMC Offerings those who knitted prayer shawls that were given to Some things change and some stay the same. comfort others within the church and also in the CUMC/WF members recognize that there will be community. many different offerings. Each year envelopes are Suited for Work available for the general United Methodist Advance

Specials and Iowa Conference Advance Specials. mission arm of CUMC/WF for many years and its General UMC and Iowa Conference include these: members are still depended on in every mission One Great Hour of Sharing, Human Relations Day, area. World Relations Day, World Communion Sunday, Projects That Have Been Replaced or Set Aside Native American Ministries Sunday, Peace With Justice Sunday, Golden Cross Sunday, Rural Life Other mission projects such as Children’s Sunday, and United Methodist Student Day. Holiday Bazaar, Circles of Support, Wishing Tree Traditionally, three special mission offerings are and Habitat for Humanity, another mission that taken in the spring. These three special ones will began in Church and Society and moved to be in addition to general UMC offerings and Iowa Sending to Serve and was enthusiastically Conference offerings and in addition to Easter, supported by Dennis Byrne, Chris Iiams, Fred Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts. The Sending Walker, Dick Young, Mike Parsons, Justin to Serve Cluster determines these offerings and Greenlee, and others have been put aside, chooses one local project, one state or regional, replaced or morphed into a new project. and one international. Missions which have CUMC/WF Members in Service to Community received our special offerings through the last and World eighteen years are McCurdy School; Heifer Many other avenues of mission are familiar to International Project; Access Women’s Shelter; Collegiate/Wesley members. Many have done Red Bird Medical Center in rural Appalachia; Youth individual international and domestic mission and Shelter Services; Self-Help International; Child work, some UMC missions and some under other Safe; Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference leadership. Gordon Bivens was a volunteer in Mission to Mexico; Ron Orth to Alaska; Brian Standley to Madras, India, after having been also to Alaska and Nicaragua; Allison Prater to Russia; Emily Nieman to Democratic Republic of the Con- go; Craig Beer to Saint Martin Island; Craig and Janet Beer to Alaska, to Brazil, to Costa Rica, some of these trips while members of Community Phyllis Brackelsburg, Bev Shirbroun, Sherry Davidson & United Methodist Church in Ogden and some as Jane Prater Collegiate/Wesley members; Dolores Brown to Guatamala; Beverly Kruempel to Philippines; and Betty Barton and Brenda Allen to Cuba. Judy and Dean Sampson worked at Sager-Brown, the Church; Iowa-Nigeria Partnership; El Salvador UMCOR clearing house in Louisiana, Gene Olson earthquake relief; Volunteers in Mission; Burned and Dean and Louise Walters went to McCurdy Churches in South; Liberia Methodist Mission; Hab- School in New Mexico. Others have made itat for Humanity; People Place; Children of Prom- independent mission ventures such as that of Dr. ise; Emergency Residence Project; Good Neighbor Dean Harms and Mary Harms, who have spent a Emergency Assistance; Project Home Mission; week each year for several years in Honduras, Women at the Well; Missionary in identifying and treating eye problems of the Cambodia; Willow, Alaska church; Door of Faith population, and Carl and Virginia Anderson who Mission; Interfaith Economic Justice Initiatives; have worked in Tanzania. J.T. Scott, an agricultur- Midwest Distribution Center of UMC; Turnagain al economist, spent much time with Christian Unit- UMC, Anchorage, Alaska; Honduras Eye Mission ed Global Mission-Russian Community Farm Pro- of Dr. Dean and Mary Harms; Orphanage in The ject in a village in Russia helping with field trials, Congo; Nothing But Nets; Ames Free Medical Clin- marketing and other projects necessary to make ic; pARTners, and Sci-Lab in Jaling, Nigeria. the village self-sufficient. Wes and Mary Buchele UMW spent valuable time in Africa working with Self Help Because United Methodist Women have their International, and Darra Johnson helped build a own history pages, their enormous contributions to dining hall for an orphanage in rural Kenya. Martin mission areas are not outlined here. They cannot, and LaRue Clark, who came to this congregation in however, be passed over. UMW was the strongest 2009 had extensive service as volunteers with

Farmer to Farmer, which was part of Volunteering CUMC/WF continues to share the spaces of Overseas Cooperative Assistance. Martin was our building with community non-profit organiza- teaching about member owned and member tions that need meeting areas. In addition to those controlled agriculture cooperatives and marketing, listed as residing in the Annex are these that use and often LaRue was sent as an assistant. One or the main building: Alcoholics Anonymous, Alanon both of them served from 10 days to 3 ½ months and Alateen, Gamblers 12 Step, Narcotics in Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Poland, Czech Anonymous, TOPS, Girls Scouts of America and Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Croatia, Ames Children’s Choirs. and Ethiopia. Food@First Other Volunteer Efforts The newest mission project is that of setup, Collegiate/Wesley members give generously of serve and clean-up for Food@ First. Food @ First their time to myriad volunteer efforts within the is a free evening meal served several days each community, county and state. Mention is made of week at First UMC in Ames. CUMC/WF does the these three because affordable housing and health setup, serving and cleanup on the fourth Friday of care issues have been part of a recurring theme each month and the Fifth Friday when it occurs. of missions of CUMC/WF. Collegiate/Wesley Eight persons are needed each evening, and Karen members give or have given hours and much Klaiber has worked each month to enlist the help expertise to helping the Ames community in these that is needed. Susan Grotewold assumed this areas. VaLinda Parsons, working with the Story responsibility beginning in 2011. County Dental Task Force, procured equipment, Builders helped obtain grant funding, and was the first director of the Story County Community Dental Fourteen of Collegiate/Wesley’s members are Clinic. The goal of the clinic, which opened in “Builders.” Builders are United Methodists from February, 2003, was to provide dental care access churches all over the conference who agree to to low-income, uninsured or Medicaid-recipient send $40 or $50 twice a year when requested by residents within Story County. The clinic is now the Bishop. That money goes to churches in Iowa administered by MICA and the clinic's services and who have been approved to receive significant clientele have expanded to anyone, anywhere, who financial support for building new facilities, meets income/need guidelines. Also, the hours additions to existing facilities, major remodeling, have expanded greatly since there is now a full- new parsonages or land purchases. time paid dentist on staff, and dental support staff Continuing the Mission who are paid employees with regular clinic hours. Within the mission framework of CUMC/WF Dana Dinnes, Cheri Thieleke, and Orville Berbano some names were important in 1991 and are still are consistent and valued volunteers at Ames important in 2009. Ted Huiatt, Marian Solomon, Free Medical Clinic, which is open each Thursday Frank Amos, Dolores Brown, Mike Parsons, Helen evening. Dana takes patient vital signs, intake and Don Drake, Jane and Gerry Kennedy, Mike information, and when time permits, does much of King, Janet and Craig Beer and Dennis Byrne, whatever needs to be done. Cheri is a Physician’s who are true examples of being in mission for Assistant and well received by returning patients. others, have been and continue to make mission She is the constant friendly face. Orville uses his for others a central focus in their lives. And many expertise doing what is needed in the laboratory. too numerous to name have added their time, their Craig and Janet Beer and Leah and Orville expertise, their enthusiasm, their experiences, their Berbano are just some of those who have spent creativity to all we do to make every mission project hours helping in various ways at Mary Greeley a success. The “Rainbow Covenant” is a challenge Medical Center. Ted Huiatt, Jerry Knox and Janet given to congregations by the UMC. Congregations Stephenson have contributed much effort and time create their rainbow colors by giving generously to Story County Community Housing corporation and to diverse areas and gain extra miles by (SCCHC)-A Community Land Trust. SCCHC is supporting a missionary. Collegiate/Wesley has a county-wide, community-based, non-profit done well. Through the years we have created a corporation working to create and maintain vivid rainbow and have garnered many miles! The affordable rental and family-owned housing. For business of making disciples of Jesus Christ is in many years Marian Heady served as an advocate the being of every member of Collegiate/Wesley for her retirement community. 41

Carolyn Cornette Conference bus that went back and forth across I- 90, picking up or delivering persons who were going to Storm Mountain Center and were brought to the various rest areas for pick up. We hired the driver to bring us the rest of the way to Ames. Lat- er, Bob Saul and Dave Stephenson went back to the camp to pick up the bus. Janet Stephenson “Wesley Foundation in the Forties” Maurice Larson and I went to Wesley Foundation with some eighty or ninety others in the fall of 1947 when we were freshmen. The group went on hay rides, had picnics in Brookside Park with a big bonfire and often they would have square Loretta Malloy, Pat Girton, Lisa Putz, Karen Klaiber & dances after the meal. They would teach anyone William Rekemeyer work at Food@First. that wanted to participate. Sometimes they had to rely on a phonograph record. Soon a group of them got together and called themselves The Pro- minaders. We even participated in a VEISHEA Pa- rade and once we went on deputations and “Intergenerational Work Trips” provided entertainment for the inmates of the Men’s In the 1970s, CUMC/WF made several Reformatory at Eldora. intergenerational work trips to the Black Hills of Of course, the men checked out the women South Dakota. The destination was the Storm who also attended Wesley Foundation Mountain Retreat Center near Rapid City. The site activities. Later on I was (and is) owned and operated by the South married one of those that attended, Ruth Gladson. Dakota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Doug Provow church. The mode of transportation? The same school bus used for the high schoolers trip to Washington, D.C. The first summer we made the trek was very warm and when we stopped at a gas station, the thermometer read 106 degrees. We slept on the floor at the Kimball United Methodist Church (Mary Ann Lundy had connections there). Fortunately we slept in the basement where it was cool. Florence Waltmire and Victoria Brown, both in their eighties, were part of the group. The next day we toured the Badlands and arrived at Storm Mountain where we had fresh cinnamon rolls for breakfast every day. We worked at the camp in the mornings and did touring and hiking in the afternoons. Younger children made bird feeders and the rest of us either worked on the grounds or tore down or reroofed cabins. One of our afternoon trips took us to Jewel Cave National Monument. On the way back to the camp, persons sitting in the back noticed a steady stream of oil exiting the bus which left a black striped trail all the way back to Storm Mountain. There, the bus died. To get back to Ames, we were fortunate to hitch a ride with a South Dakota Annual

Building Programs and Our Places of Worship

A History of Building Work and Decisions (1994 needs of church ministry groups. This group -2010) worked for more than a year before it reached the In writing the history of a congregation for any conclusion that new construction was needed to span of time, the upkeep and maintenance of its address the needs, especially because no space physical plant is a necessary and expected chapter. existed that could make all the different levels of The sixteen years included in this documentation the building accessible via an elevator. We would have, however, been a time of remarkable have to build such a space. expansion and growth rivaled, I think, only by the Worksheets asking such questions as size of building projects of 1925-26 and 1955-56. While group, purpose, size of room utilized, and hopes what follows is mostly chronological, the reader and expectations for the future were filled out for will note that there is some overlap—when new every group that met in the church building. projects were begun before others were completed. Members also filled out worksheets gathering The Annex information on dimensions, uses, and special features for every room in the church. Data and Shortly after I became Senior Pastor of recommendations from the Office of the Architect Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley of the general United Methodist Church were used Foundation in July, 1994, I became aware of a to develop a plan of action designed to achieve the number of varied discussions about the existing goal of building an addition to our existing church building and the needs or desires of different building. groups within the church with regard to the physical plant. Specifically, many of these had to do with On January 13, 1997, the annual Church a lack of convenient space for after-worship Conference established a Building Committee to formally explore the prospect of construction. Roger Walton, an engineer with the Iowa Department of Transportation, was named as chair. In June, after a series of discussions and interviews, the architectural firm of Wells Woodburn and O’Neill of Des Moines was hired to assist us, with Brent Schipper as principal architect for the project. Later that year (1997), Roger Walton announced that he was moving to Cedar Rapids and resigned from the Building Committee. Mike King— a CUMC/WF member who first became involved in the early 1980s as an undergraduate at ISU—was selected to be the new chair. As the committee fellowship, poor space for the Nursery, insufficient did more work, they began to develop an idea to space for a growing adult Sunday School program, enclose the courtyard – excavating to create larger spaces that were inaccessible to persons with fellowship and classroom space on the lower level, handicapping conditions, and the sense that we building a fellowship area on the ground level that were not using some of the spaces we had as could be accessed directly from the sanctuary and effectively as we might. The existence of asbestos other points, and a student lounge and library on an in the 1956 addition and a recurring water seepage upper level. If the courtyard area was excavated, problem in the lower level also concerned people. an elevator in the area of the Meditation Chapel Because addressing these concerns involved could provide accessibility to nearly all levels of the both program and facility, in late 1995, the building. Initial drawings were developed to give Administrative Council established a Space Use church members an idea of what such an addition Task Force to consider room utilization and space might look like.

A March 29, 1998, Church Conference related to the building (such as utilities, repair, and approved entering into a capital campaign with a maintenance) would be covered by CBC, and after goal of $4 million, which was an estimate for the 99 years – or if they should abandon the building addition as it was envisioned. Over the next before then – it becomes the property of CUMC/ months, the appropriate steps were taken toward WF. A “New Building Use Task Force” was such a campaign: the Building Committee met with established with representation from many CUMC/ the Fort Dodge District Committee on Building and WF groups to determine what should be done with Location, a Finance and Promotion sub-committee the CBC church building. was established to interview fund-raising After thorough planning—including several companies to assist us in the campaign, and the “advance giving” suppers and every home being architects continued to work to finalize a design. contacted to invite them to attend the Together We Meanwhile, rumors began to circulate that Grow kick-off event—the official campaign began Campus Baptist Church – our neighbor with on March 7, 1999, with a worship service in Benton adjoining property to the southwest – was planning Auditorium in ISU’s Scheman Building with brunch to sell its building and land and build a new church following. Events for children were held at the in the area of the I-35/Highway 30 intersection. It CUMC/WF building. In the weeks following, pledg- was also rumored that the land might be sold to a es and commitments from all church local developer to build an apartment building or households were sought. suite hotel on the land. By April 1, it became clear that the campaign Recognizing that such an expanse of adjoining would receive about $1.9 million in commitments, property becoming available for purchase would not including a $270,000 gift designated for likely never happen again in any of our lifetimes, I asbestos removal in the CUMC/WF building. began meeting informally with Charles Albers, (Because major building renovation was no then pastor of Campus Baptist Church (CBC), to longer a part of the plans, this amount was set into express an interest in the property and in working a reserve fund for some point in the future where with the CBC congregation to reach an agreement asbestos removal might become a possibility.) that would be mutually beneficial. During the It was expected that the $1.9 million would be summer of 1998, Resource Services Incorporated received over a three-year period ending on March (RSI) of Dallas, Texas, was hired to assist with our 31, 2002. Possession of the Campus Baptist financial campaign. RSI helped us to see that a properties would take place on December 1, 2000; goal of somewhere between $1.8 and $2 million it was hoped that no loan would be necessary to be for the campaign was more realistic for our able to make payment at that time, and indeed, congregation. By then, it had also become clear there was over $1.5 million in hand by that date. A that our first priority needed to be the purchase of new program cluster/team structure had replaced the Campus Baptist property rather than a building the former committee structure at CUMC/WF, so it program. A Church Conference affirmed this intent was proposed that there be an on-going “Western on September 10, 1998, and formally empowered a Property Team” to make decisions and function Negotiations Team to negotiate with CBC on behalf as a governing board for the newly acquired of CUMC/WF. properties. Another reason for the team to be It was determined that the stewardship cam- distinctive from the CUMC/WF Board of Trustees paign would take place in the spring of 1999 and and Property Committee was so that a separate set would be called “Together We Grow.” Campaign of financial records could be kept for the Annex, to teams were organized and recruited. On January see if it could be financially self-supporting or if it 10, 1999, a Church Conference approved the would prove to be a drain on church resources. proposal that had been negotiated with CBC: a This team took over the responsibilities of and elim- purchase price of $1.5 million for the building and inated the need for the New Building Use Task grounds, including the former Hy-Vee building— Force. owned by CBC and currently housing Jocko’s Auto The former CBC church building began being Parts. That building would be leased for $1 to CBC called “The Annex,” and it was soon clear that there for 99 years so that they would be able to maintain was much work to be done. The structure had a campus ministry presence in the area; they come to be built over time in at least three separate named the building “The Lighthouse.” All expenses 45

building projects, and as such had a dozen room painting and remodeling. Special mention has furnaces and 23 different floor levels or landings. to be made of Bill Cook, Bruce Munson, and Don Because of their anticipated move, CBC had not Loupee, who have given countless hours improving done any renovation or anything beyond necessary the building to the point that it has now outlived building maintenance for a long time. Don Loupee its seven-year prognosis and even Don Loupee estimated that the building had about seven years refuses to speculate about how long it might of life left “before it slides into College Creek.” be able to serve CUMC/WF and the greater The Western Property Team determined to community. Bill Cook has served as Chair of the prolong the life expectancy of the building however Western Property (Annex) team since its inception possible, as well as make it economically self- in 2000, with Bruce Munson as its only Vice-Chair. sustaining. It was the desire of many to turn the In recent years, the Annex Team has found ways to building into a campus for community non-profit give some of its surplus funds to projects within the groups—so that the issue of property taxes could general budget of CUMC/WF, while keeping its own be avoided and so that the building could be of real budget solidly within the black. Though it was service by providing a reasonable rental rate for its hoped at the time of purchase that the Annex tenants. If it worked, this plan could underwrite the and the “Western Property” would be able to be operating costs of the building, allowing CUMC/WF financially self-sustaining, the ability to support the to use parts of the building for its ministry without whole of CUMC/WF in the amounts that it has is a additional cost. In fact, this is exactly what has gratifying and wonderful surprise. happened. Early major tenants that provided rent When all was completed with the purchase to help us get a financial foothold were Creative of the property, it was found that an area of land Artists Studio of Ames (CASA—which continues to just to the east of the Annex building—roughly be the largest tenant) and The Church of Jesus triangular in shape, about ¾ of an acre, and much Christ of Latter Day Saints, who rented for several of it down in the College Creek ravine—was owned months while their church was undergoing by Iowa State University, though now completely renovation. Among other non-profit groups who landlocked. Because the land seemed best utilized are housed in The Annex are (as of this writing): by CUMC/WF and the Annex tenants—to “square Volunteer Center of Story County, Friendship Arc, off” the property, allow for overflow parking, a Story County Land Trust, Beyond Welfare, Our location for a future bus garage, or a place to melt Children’s Homestead, the Ames office of the snow—the Annex team sought to purchase the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and an office property from Iowa State University. This took near campus for the Korean United Methodist meeting with several ISU groups and ultimately Church of Ames. Suited for Work, a clothing closet the Board of Regents of the State of Iowa to for people going to job interviews or back to work, accomplish, but in 2008, the property became ours. is housed in the building—a joint venture between (There was also a small, .15 acre patch at the east Beyond Welfare and CUMC/WF. end of the CUMC/WF property near Hayward A new CUMC/WF worship service, faithspring, Avenue that was included in the negotiations.) began in the fall of 2001; it meets at 5:30 p.m. in CUMC/WF members Lad Grove and Gary Taylor the Annex auditorium on Sundays during the ISU deserve special mention for their work to move academic year when classes are in session. The through the process and acquire the land. As of Senior High youth group has its meeting space in this writing (Spring 2011) the land still has to be the Annex. The auditorium and a community room rezoned through the City of Ames if any building are great spaces which have served CUMC/WF were to be erected on the land. and others for meetings and receptions. The With the new property paid for and some Western Property Team (also called The Annex additional funding promised through commitments Team) consists of members—many of whom have to the Together We Grow campaign, the Building served since its inception—who have worked Committee set six priorities for use of the remaining faithfully to find renters for open spaces, funding and future visioning at the main CUMC/WF accomplished needed projects, and even attended building: to many custodial duties. The building has been •Air-conditioning of the sanctuary upgraded in a number of ways, including new furnaces, new roofs, new flooring, new plumbing, •Insulating the stained glass windows that had

not been previously insulated (that is, all those The columbaria would be floor other than the three large picture windows); to ceiling, and each side would hold 114 niches, with •Making the CUMC/WF building completely each niche able handicap-accessible; to accommodate up to two •Removing all asbestos from the facility; brass urns. The •Upgrading building lighting; columbaria were to be made of walnut, matching nicely the •Moving and upgrading nursery facilities. butternut wood of which the In 2000, two separate Church Conferences pews in the chapel are made. approved plans that had been developed. The first Information and discussion (January 23) approved installation of a lift in the sessions were held on two Meditation Chapel area, reducing the size of the Sunday mornings in late June meditation chapel but allowing the main level of the to hear any questions and church to be accessible within the building. The concerns about the proposal. second (October 16) made plans for stained-glass The team was aware that the window repairs and coverings and plans for the issue of church columbaria installation of air-conditioning in the sanctuary, the had been divisive in some oth- current nursery, and Wesley Hall. All of the projects er were accomplished by early summer of 2001. settings; in others, a columbarium is seen to be The Building Committee for the Together We a most sacred and fitting use of church space. Grow campaign projects was dissolved in January, The team was proposing an installation and 2002. The three-year “giving” phase officially ended dedication by All Saints Sunday, November 2, in March of that year. Roughly $70,000 remained in 2003. Construction timelines suggested a the building projects bank account—not including four-month lead was needed. On July 9, 2003, the asbestos removal fund. an all-Church Conference was held, where the proposal passed with a 71% majority. The The Columbarium columbaria were installed on October 29 and 30, That very fall (2002), several interested parties 2003, and the dedication service was held as approached the pastors about the installation of a planned on All-Saints Sunday. columbarium as a part of the church/foundation The cost of the columbaria was about $80,000. building and grounds. “Columbarium” is Latin for Much of this was received through special “niche of the dove;” as the dove is a symbol for the donations to the project, with the balance received spirit, a columbarium is a place for the keeping of through the sale of niches. A niche (with urn) costs the cremated remains of persons. $1000, and a second urn in the same niche costs This expression of interest was followed in an additional $250. This includes the cost of February, 2003, by a gift of $25,000 intended to engraving a bronze plaque. Since the cost of the spark the establishment of a team to develop a pro- columbaria has been paid in full, additional receipts posal. The are being put into an endowment to care for the Administrative Council was supportive of the explo- upkeep of the columbaria in perpetuity. The ration. The team moved quickly. Both inside and presence of the columbaria has proved to be a outside locations for a columbarium were blessing for many families, particularly those who explored. That spring, the team met with two com- have lost loved ones suddenly and at an age where panies that specialize in the provisions for burial or inurnment had not yet been installation of columbaria, and chose Eickhof Col- made. It has enhanced Nichols Chapel as a place umbaria of sacred memory. of Crookston, Minnesota, The New Plan including them as part of the proposal to design and install the columbaria at CUMC/WF. Meanwhile, with the Together We Grow campaign successfully behind us, conversations By June, a proposal was developed to install a soon began focusing on when progress might be matching pair of columbaria—one on each side made toward completion of the unfulfilled priorities (east and west) of the chancel in Nichols Chapel.

set by the Building Committee. In addition, the and Location was held at the church to hear plans concerns that had led to the discussions six years for the project and to give their consent, as required earlier—lack of Sunday School and fellowship by The United Methodist Book of Discipline. space—remained unresolved. In December, 2005, a Charge Conference In the fall of 2003, the Administrative Council accepted the master plan and formally established gave approval for a Site Plan Team to receive a list a new Building Committee. Larry Cormicle, who of building needs and wishes, followed by a plan had been serving as Site Plan Team Chair, became of action. In thanks for the support CUMC/WF had Building Committee chair. Members of the Site Plan shown to Beyond Welfare, an Annex tenant, Team were offered the opportunity to continue in Beyond Welfare board member and Ames membership or seize the moment to cycle off the consultant Terry Pickett offered his services. He group; all church members were offered the chance developed a process to prioritize church needs to self-select and join the Building Committee if which would result in a detailed concept which they wished. As it turned out, with but a few chang- CUMC/WF could then use to determine its next es, the membership of the two groups was largely steps. the same. Only Stan Carpenter (who was serving An all-church retreat led by Pickett was held as Chair of CUMC/WF’s Administrative Council) on January 31, 2004. After reviewing the Mission, declined to continue serving on the Vision, and Values statement of the church/ Committee. Shane Jacobson was the lone addition foundation, the 80 persons in attendance used to the Committee. Otherwise, the members of the various methods to devise a list of about 120 Site Plan Team and Building Committee were Larry needs, hopes, and dreams for the church building Cormicle, Allan Baker, Mary Jean Baker, Bill Cook, and grounds. Dee Dreeszen, Tim Gossett, Mike King, Don Loupee, Marilyn Loupee, Dianna Nelson, Jim Okey, Over the rest of 2004, the Site Plan Team Ron Schram, Howard Shanks, and Scott worked on its own and with Pickett to “grade” the Grotewold. list: Is the project of high, medium, or low priority? Must it be done, could it be postponed, or might it Based on the forecast of the feasibility study, be accomplished through inclusion in a “must- the Building Committee first determined to limit the be-done” item? In early 2005, several architecture scope of the initial project to a new wing, joining the firms were interviewed, and it was determined to east (sanctuary) and west (Wesley) wings on their work with Brent Schipper (our architect for the north ends—effectively enclosing the courtyard and uncompleted plans of 1999, now of Architects making the general floor plan into a square. Main Wells Schipper Kastner) to take the priorities list features of “The Link” (as it came to be known at developed by the Site Plan Team and come up with the time), would be a gathering space, new main a proposed master plan for our properties. As the floor rest rooms, a new student lounge, an elevator master plan was developed with input from the providing access to all floors of the building and congregation over the next few months, there was moving the Media Resource Center to new space consensus that we should proceed with a new downstairs, just off Wesley Hall. There would be financial campaign to see how much we would be limited reconstruction of rooms, adding walls only able to invest in new construction. Depending on to accommodate moving the nursery to the space what components of the master plan were built or then occupied by the student lounge, and dividing implemented, cost estimates ranged from about the former Media Resource Center into two staff $1.5 million to $8 million. offices. A small restroom would be included in the nursery and a family restroom in the area just In September, 2005, after interviewing several outside of it. The west wall of the music center fund-raising companies, the Site Plan Team hired would be removed, eliminating a general meeting Cargill Associates of Dallas to lead a financial room but expanding the size of the music rehearsal campaign in early 2006. First, however, Cargill space while also adding storage and a small office. conducted a feasibility study which determined The electrical wiring in the sanctuary would be that $2.3 million was likely to be raised from the completely replaced; after over eighty years it was congregation and friends through a three-year brittle and a potential fire hazard. This would mean campaign for a building project. A meeting of the that the chandeliers would have to be removed and Fort Dodge District Committee on Church Building sent away for refurbishment. Finally, the $270,000

expected $2.8 million would not cover the construction costs of several desired and intended features. Among these: • A terrace on the Lincoln Way side of The Link with access from the Gathering Space would not be able to happen; • The plan for an attractive copper-shingled wall on the south (courtyard) side of The Link would have to be abandoned. Instead, cement board panels would be used. • The nursery would not be able to be air-conditioned. gift from the Together We Grow campaign would • We would not be able to install the child-safe be used for the removal of all asbestos from the glass-panel system around the sanctuary at the building (found in all the tiled floors and sprayed-on balcony level that we had intended. ceilings of the 1956 building, but only in the tiled • Lesser-grade, lower-efficiency lighting would floor of Wesley Hall in the 1926 building). New floor have to be used. coverings, ceilings, and lighting would be installed after asbestos removal. • Rather than limestone caps that would match the exterior stone work of the 1926 and 1956 Beginning in the new year, 2006, an extensive buildings, metal caps would have to be used. team of church members was named to carry out the capital campaign, now called “Venture in Faith.” • The removal of asbestos would have to be Throughout the spring, a dozen church households cancelled, because funding for new flooring, hosted gatherings in their homes, inviting church lighting, and ceilings in those areas was no members and friends in the top 20% of givers to longer available. learn about the project and make an advance gift. Not wanting to abandon these desired features, By the time of launching the public part of the the Building Committee proposed an “Add One building fund campaign, over $1 million had already Year” campaign, encouraging those who had been committed. The campaign, culminating in May made a pledge to the three-year Venture In Faith of 2006, resulted in a total of $2,272,333 in pledges campaign to extend their giving to a fourth year to be paid over a three-year period. With about at the same annual rate. $300,000 already in hand through gifts given to the Although the church’s Finance Committee church—primarily for an elevator fund—plus the and Administrative Council were supportive to the $270,000 designated for asbestos removal, a idea of such an additional campaign, a Charge project total of $2.8 million dollars was set. The Conference had already been scheduled for March, receipt phase began on May 31, 2006, and would 2007, to approve the expenditure of the Venture in “officially” continue until the end of May, 2009. Faith funds in order to build and remodel according For the rest of the year, 2006, the Building to the proposed building plans. But there had not Committee worked with the architect (still Brent been the time to publicize and carry out the Add Schipper who by now had formed his own firm, One Year campaign before the Church Conference ASK [Architects Schipper-Kastner] Studio) toward took place. In its approval of the spending of funds, a building schematic. A team of contractors was the Charge Conference also allowed the Building also interviewed and hired: Story Construction Committee to modify its plans should additional would be the general contractor, with Nelson funds become available through the additional Electric handling the electrical work, and Converse campaign. Conditioned Air doing the heating and cooling work. Within the next month, the Add One Year With their input, building and construction plans campaign generated an additional $375,000 to the were developed. anticipated building fund. The receipt of these funds In February of 2007, the estimates of would officially be in a fourth year, running from the construction costs began to reveal that the end of the 49

Venture in Faith receipt phase in May, 2009, until must have also been painted during this time— the end of May, 2010. The total amount now ex- especially the gold trim in the upper reaches— pected to be available for the construction/ because of the way the light caught the trim and remodeling project was $3.2 million, but the brightened the rafters. estimated cost of the At about this time, we marked the first year of project was $3.1. It was determined that if there receipts for the Venture in Faith campaign. They were any additional funds remaining at the end of totaled $1,338,981. the receipt phase, the money would be placed in a fund toward the In order to remove the asbestos from a room, re-shingling of the sanctuary (1926 building). All literally every stick of furniture, all supplies, and of the desired features were added back into the everything else needs to be moved out. In our project. It would be months before most of the case, this would involve virtually every room in the additional work would be initiated and could easily entire building, save the sanctuary. Plastic sheeting be incorporated into the building plans. Asbestos was then hung and the air flow controlled so that no removal, however, would be one of the first orders asbestos particles became airborne. To save time of business and had to be bid immediately; a and money, an entire area of the building would company licensed to do this specialized kind of be done at once, rather than room-by-room. A work was hired. schedule was proposed for moving out of the building and then back in, taking the whole summer At the April 29, 2007, morning worship services, but planning on being back in the building and a symbolic moving and consecration service closed the service as we moved into the auditorium worship space at The Annex for six weeks of Sunday worship services. Following worship and a barbeque luncheon, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on the front lawn of the church. Hymns, liturgy and scripture accompanied state- ments by Larry Cormicle, Brent Schipper, and Mike Espeset, President of Story Construction. The The Sanctuary during the re-wiring of the lights. next day, demolition be- ready for use by the time Iowa State students were gan by tearing down the back on campus in late August. brick wall reading “Methodist Student Cen- Mike King took responsibility for scheduling ter” (the block “moving parties” and making arrangements for letters were salvaged), a the storage of furniture. It has to be said that only portion of the west wing, Mike had a perspective on what a monumental and “The Tunnel,” the undertaking moving everything from the building oldest remaining part of the physical plant. into storage really was, or how to accomplish it; the project would not have met its deadlines without his Nelson Electric began work on the rewiring of organization skills and the sanctuary electrical system. In order to safely guidance. Mike and his spouse, Patty, scheduled remove the chandeliers and give the electricians what rooms needed to be cleared and when, saw to the height needed to do their work, a scaffolding it that the schedule was kept, and kept track of system was installed that covered the entire main where the boxes of belongings were stored until floor of the sanctuary and at a height of about they were needed or could be moved back into the 20 feet. Ultimately, the new lighting provided an building after the asbestos was removed, new increased candlepower in the sanctuary of about flooring and ceilings were installed, and the room 20%. The weekly Sunday morning services were was painted. All available space in the Annex and able to return to a noticeably brighter sanctuary on Wesley Place was utilized, and space for storage June 10, 2007. Many people thought the sanctuary was rented in The Lighthouse (the C/W-owned 50

building used by Campus Baptist Church for its the later restoration would come from the endow- campus ministry). Between the sanctuary re-wiring, ment. During the previous years, some designs the asbestos removal, and the remodeling, virtually for the every room in the church/foundation building would installation of stained glass windows to replace the be rendered as unusable from one to nine months translucent original between April, 2007, and March, 2008. windows Throughout the late spring and summer of has been commissioned, and in 2006, a design by 2007, church staff was displaced as well. The main The Stained Glass Store in Des Moines had be- church office, all its equipment and files were come the favored one of the committee. In the moved to the main floor of Wesley Place for four spring of 2006, the Administrative Council was months which, in turn, disrupted the house-dwellers approached for their approval of the design for the from having their common kitchen, dining, and windows, but the Council felt that there needed to living space. Most other church staff—including be time to “sit with” the more modern and abstract clergy and other programming personnel—saw designs and become familiar with them before their books and papers stored and unavailable reaching a decision. As a way of introducing them during this time, and they used one shared comput- to the congregation, worship bulletin covers with er in Wes- the design were used throughout the summer of ley Place 2006. For the next year, no action took place concerning the windows or anything else regarding Mike King and otherwise did the Chapel. much of What came next with the Chapel renovation their desk was unexpected. It was known that there was work and asbestos in the floor and ceiling of the Chapel, but planning when that removal was underway, it was found that from their asbestos had been sprayed into the areas behind homes. the wood-paneled walls, covering the studs and the Nichols back of the paneling. The room’s walls would have Chapel to be stripped all the way down to the brick. Nichols Chapel went from being one of the least-touched Throughout rooms in the plan to being the most-affected, most- the remod- deconstructed room in the entire building—yet eling plans, the funding plan did not make allowances for the Nichols dramatic remodeling now needed. Chapel had remained The Nichols Chapel committee sprang into untouched action with the deliberation yet efficiency needed. although a Steve Prater, Nichols architect at Chapel Iowa State Team had University, been estab- volunteered lished in to design a the months following the installation of the new plan for columbarium. The responsibilities of the team the Chapel. included making decisions about the chapel and Several do- planning for its eventual refurbishment. The team nors agreed was largely made up of persons whose spouses to give had been inurned in the columbarium. Dolores $10,000 Brown was its dedicated chair. Since proceeds each—in ad- from the sale of columbarium niches were to go to dition to any an endowment fund once the columbarium had Venture in been totally paid for, it was thought that expending Faith gifts— campaign funds for the chapel was unnecessary; to keep the 51

Chapel remodeling on a timeline along with the rest new members and visitors—as well as our own of the church/foundation project. In addition to members—probably chose to stay away from the some memorials which had already been designat- mess that is a building under construction. A ed for the project and some quickly-solicited gifts, a rainbow-hued sign reading “We Are Open” fund of $77,000 was soon amassed. adorned the fence throughout the project. In June of 2007, a Charge Conference was Scott MacDonald, a CUMC/WF member and called in the Annex worship space. They approved high school student striving for his Eagle Scout the remodeling of Nichols Chapel according to the award, arranged for designing and planting the design developed; they set the budget at the level courtyard as his project for the award. He engaged of the existing and available funds, $77,000 plus retired professor of landscape architecture Bill the amount for the removal of asbestos, which Boon to help with the design, and family members, would come from the Building Committee’s funds church members, and fellow scouts to assist with designated for that work. The chapel plan included the landscape work and planting. the installation of new stained-glass windows (the One of the requests made by the donor of design done by The Stained Glass Store), replacing asbestos removal funds in 2001 was that when the the rose-colored carpet down the aisle with paving work had been completed, the Pine Room stone, replacing the tile under the pews with carpet, downstairs would be renamed the Norman Room, and replacing the paneled walls with wainscoating in honor of a couple from Humboldt, Iowa, who and plasterboard. The step up into the chancel ar- had been friends and mentors of the donor. In a ea—the location of the columbarium—would be ceremony in March, 2008, members of the Norman removed in the interest of handicap-accessibility, family joined with Collegiate/Wesley members to but the ceiling over the chancel area would be formally rename the room. (What had been called slightly lowered and lighter-colored stone tile would “The North Pine Room” is now called “The Pine set off and highlight the area. A new ceiling would Room.”) enhance acoustics. New and directed lighting would brighten the chapel and call attention to its The apartment in the church/foundation’s lower special features. level—traditionally the residence of the Campus Ministry Associate—also had extensive remodeling 2007-2008 Building Construction work accomplished at the time of the building As is the general rule in construction projects, remodeling. In addition to the asbestos removal, delays occurred and church staff and programs there was new flooring and ceilings and surface were not able to move back into the church/ painting throughout. Also, new windows were foundation building when originally planned. The installed. A gift from the CUMC/WF Endowment main church office had hoped to return to its space fund paid for the purchase and installation of the in early July, 2007; they did not return until mid- windows. August. Other staff were delayed even longer. Bi-weekly construction meetings were held in Sunday School was able to be held beginning in the project trailer that sat at the Lincoln Way end the fall, but many classes—particularly the adult of the driveway on the west side of the church. age-level classes—were held in different rooms Representatives of the architect’s office, the and settings throughout the fall and winter months, contractors, the sub-contractors that were involved not returning or settling into their planned spaces during the current part of the project, and the until nearly spring, 2008. The campus ministry— church/foundation looked at the next three weeks’ which saw its past space under renovation to schedule, heard reports, and made decisions about become the Nursery and its future space under the details of the project. Ably representing the construction – spent most of the 2007-2008 year congregation were Mary Jean Baker, Larry meeting among stacks of furniture and boxes in Cormicle, Tim Gossett, Mike King, Don Loupee, the Fireside Room. Rev. Linda Butler and Rev. Scott Grotewold. Attendance at Sunday morning worship and CUMC/WF was especially blessed to have Larry weekday activities dropped off somewhat during Cormicle, a construction engineer by trade, now the construction period. The Lincoln Way frontage on the faculty of Iowa State, for his vast and deep was enclosed by a chain-link fence and filled with knowledge to navigate the complex waters of construction equipment and supplies. Prospective intricate details and quick decisions.

It was anticipated that construction would be the re-placement and re-installation of church completed in February of 2008. In reality, details furnishings, doing deep cleaning and refinishing of were still being finished in the first week of April— wood walls and other needed work as they moved the week before our long-scheduled consecration from room to room. A Furnishings Team chaired by service on April 6. That day, Bishop Gregory V. Patty King worked with memorials funds and other Palmer of the Iowa Area of the United Methodist contributions to purchase and arrange for suitable Church was present to preach at the single worship furnishings for different rooms (especially Room 44 service at 9:30 a.m. Following that, a Consecration and the Norman Room downstairs, and the Service began in the sanctuary at 11:00; the Gathering Space, Nursery, and Fireside Room congregation was invited to disperse to a variety on the main level). The Wesley Foundation took of locations in the newly-opened and remodeled responsibility for furnishing campus ministry spac- facility, and the Bishop, District Superintendent es, with approval of their actions coming from the Dennis Tevis, District Field Outreach Minister Jon Furnishings Team. Artists and church members Gaul, and the CUMC/WF pastors went to each area Dick and Mary Young donated several pieces of for a brief consecration service: the new Library, artwork for the church. The centerpiece is a 20’ x 5’ the new elevator, the new Gathering Space, the paper sculpture created by Mary especially for new Student Lounge, the new Nursery, and the its location in the Gathering Space; Mary, in her remodeled Fireside Room (which represented all mid-eighties, made the paper and built the piece on the remodeled spaces). A Spud Lunch benefiting her hands and knees on her basement floor during the youth summer mission trips was held in Wesley the spring and summer of 2008. On Memorial Day Hall. weekend, 2009, a Sunday afternoon worship The end of May, 2008, was the end of the service was held in Nichols Chapel memorializing second year of the “Venture in Faith” receipt phase. all of the new furnishings and artwork that had An additional $599,096 had been raised, for a two- been given by and in memory of Collegiate/Wesley year total of $1,938,077. members. That summer and into the fall, the congregation The end of May, 2009, marked the official end spent time becoming familiar with the new spaces, of the three-year Venture in Faith receipt phase, and looking for ways to inhabit them. Summer and also the official beginning of the one-year after-church fellowship was held in the Gathering Add-One-Year campaign. VIF had taken in Space and on the new terrace, and the $342,518 in its third year, for a grand total of congregation realized what an asset it was! Tables, $2,633,464. The balance of the loan to pay off chairs, and umbrellas in stands helped the terrace the project at that point was about $431,000. to convey an invitation to join us. At night, the lights Concrete Work inside the Gathering Space and Student Lounge In the planning and activity of a major warmed and softened the appearance of the construction project, other needed projects take building from Lincoln Way. a back seat. In time, the cry of such projects can Once the new construction was opened, the no longer be avoided. In fact, they become more use of the building and its connection to the existing obvious because of the freshness of surrounding facility was so integrated and seamless that the areas. name “The Link” quickly faded from use and the One such project was the replacement of the new spaces began being referred to by their concrete and stairs at both entrances on the north individual names. (Lincoln Way) side of the building. The concrete On the Sunday of All Saints’ Day weekend— had been crumbling on the stairs at both entrances, November 2, 2008 – the completion of the Nichols and it was determined that patching was no longer Chapel remodeling was consecrated with a worship a viable option. Further, both entrances had a service held in the Chapel. Over eighty people were step down at the door threshold, and this was in attendance. determined to be a tripping and falling hazard. Mon- With the major endeavor of construction and ey for the project was nowhere to be found, howev- remodeling done, smaller teams helped to get other er. necessary projects moving toward completion. Deb Adams, a faithful member of the Board of Mike King and his moving teams arranged for Trustees who had battled cancer for several years,

suffered a recurrence in late 2008, and in the days possible. Ben Hucker designed the project, Henry before her death in January, 2009, requested that Moody was project manager, and other members— the bulk of her estate be given to the church to help notably Don Loupee, Jon Banwart, and Ron replace the east sidewalk and steps. She also Schram—provided much labor and materials. requested that, if it be possible, the bridge that had been discussed linking the terrace with the east step platform be installed. More Recent Projects Eleanor McKee, a member of Collegiate/ The fourth year of the “Venture in Faith” Wesley who had died in 2005 and had no surviving campaign—the “Add One Year” supplement— family, left her estate to the church. The estate officially ended on May 31, 2010. The year’s had been in probate for several years, with church receipts were $277,619.41, making a four-year members Fred Walker and Bill Cook as executors. total of $2,911,083.25. Including the gifts already Finally, in the summer of 2009, the estate was on-hand, it means that a remarkable 97% of the settled. It was proposed to Eleanor’s Koinonia total project cost was covered through member and group that the amount needed to replace the west friend giving, but still left about $100,000 of debt on steps and sidewalk be the first use of Eleanor’s es- the mortgage. tate, with other projects (for example, replacement In the early summer of 2010—with the financial of the east sanctuary entrance doors) to utilize the support of a gift from the C/W Endowment, a few remainder of any estate funds. This was approved. memorials, and other gifts—the Board of Trustees Brent Schipper designed the steps; Story approved the construction of “The Gilgal” in the Construction’s small-project office was hired to church’s front yard. Because the CUMC/WF do the work, and ISU student Ben Hucker took building is built on a natural spring, getting water to responsibility as the church’s representative for the drain away from the property before it bubbles project. The project was started in August, 2009— through a lower-level floor has often been difficult. later in the year than hoped for—and completed in The City of Ames had recently begun encouraging November. Unfortunately, during the winter months the installation of rain gardens, so retired landscape of early 2010, a severe ice storm caused some architect professor and C/W member Bill Boon overzealous ice chipping to be done on the front had the idea for and designed a rain garden/water- steps because salt could not be used on the new retention pond on the church property as one steps; the concrete had not cured and was not fully possible way of addressing the drainage problem. hardened, and there was some damage done that Rainwater from the courtyard, some church had to be repaired. downspouts, and some other parts of the property runs into the Gilgal, giving it the chance to seep In the same time frame, the Trustees/Property into the ground or evaporate rather than run directly group decided to replace on the east side of into the city’s storm sewers. the church/foundation building some sidewalk (concrete), a dumpster pad (concrete), an adjacent- Bill’s inspiration for the project was the 4th and-deteriorating parking area (asphalt) and the chapter of Joshua, where the twelve tribes of entrance into Wesley Hall (weather-permeable Israel—just before entering the Promised Land— paving bricks). They used donated labor whenever each erected a stone in the middle of the Jordan River. (A “gilgal” is a circle of stones.) This circle of stones provided the place for council meetings and discussion. In the midst of the two-construction period (mid-August, 2010), Ames experienced its second “100-year flood” in a 17-year period, delaying the completion of the project for a month. (It also contributed to damage to the new library and the floor in Wesley Hall, ultimately requiring replacement of the carpet in the library with ceramic tile.) In the fall of 2010 and throughout 2011, Bill Boon and The Sanctuary steps in process. Doug Provow planted yews and perennial flowers so that the Gilgal will grow more lush and secluded 54

over time. construction, followed by the repainting of “Raise the Roof!” the sanctuary, which has suffered some water-seepage and resulting stains ($350,000). By the end of 2010, the list of projects of needed work on the church/foundation building had 3. Building drainage: Tiling, sump drainage, and grown and some had become so necessary that greater-capacity downspouts to greatly reduce they could no longer be ignored. Of most pressing the chances of flooding ($50,000). concern was that the 25-year expected life span 4. Wesley Hall Kitchen: A complete overhaul, of the roof had been met and the price-tag for its with new cabinetry, proper sinks, better lighting, replacement would be huge. One obstacle that new floor and ceiling, a paint job, and new stood in the way of proceeding toward the initiation appliances where needed ($80,000). of any new project was the remaining $100,000 in 5. Bus Garage: Removal of the existing garage; mortgage debt from the 2007-08 construction and placement of a concrete pad, building of a three remodeling. -stall garage with one stall/work space to be Rather than hire an outside financial heated; expected to be in the area west of the consultation group, Rev. Scott Grotewold offered existing garage ($80,000). to organize and lead a new capital campaign, titled 6. West Entrance: Enhancing this main entrance “Raise the Roof!” The goal for the campaign was into the church through installation of a covered set at $1 million, to be contributed over a three-year drop-off and reconfiguring the driving pattern. period. A priority order was given to the list of projects hoped to be funded. Donors would have 7. Worship Technology: Installation of screens the opportunity to designate their commitments to and better sound; camera broadcast for live the campaign to one or more of the prioritized streaming ($30,000). projects. As they come into the office, undesignated 8. Wesley Place Repair and Renovation. A frozen gifts would be placed in fund for the highest-priority pipe in January, 2011 caused much water incomplete project still on the list. The projects damage to a restroom, the kitchen below, would then be completed one-by-one on a pay-as- and other areas. Updated electrical, kitchen you-go basis. Any funds remaining at the refurbishment, and other work was needed completion of the project list would be placed into as a result ($40,000). a Deferred Maintenance fund, to be held for then- 9. College Creek Ravine Landscaping. A major needed or future major maintenance projects. The transportation hub is being constructed in the projects, priorities, and estimated amounts at the lot to the south of the church, across College time of the campaign, held in Spring, 2011: Creek. How we present this façade to users 1. Debt Repayment. Eliminating all remaining and the community is important ($15,000). mortgage and other debt, making the church/ Congregation members were invited to attend foundation debt-free once again ($110,000). one of a half-dozen campaign meals at Lucullan’s 2. Roof Replacement: Installation of insulation Restaurant and funded by Susan and Scott and new roof surfaces on all pre-2007 Grotewold; a special invitation was sent to the top 20% of giving households. Those in attendance were shown a video about the project (made by Wil Ranney, Director of Communications) and invited to make an advance commitment to the campaign. On Easter Sunday, 2011, it was announced that 57 households had made advance commitments of $671,000. By the end of the “commitment phase” of the campaign in May, we had received commitments totaling $936,000—somewhat short of the $1 million goal, but more than $120,000 greater than the $815,000 estimate for the nine projects on the list. In addition, about $20,000 was committed to a mission project—the renovation of historic Trinity UMC in Des Moines, where we help to serve in

mission through the meals program of Children & it was hoped that the project could be completed Family Urban Ministry of Des Moines. during the summer of 2011—and then the fall of As planned, the first thing to be accomplished 2011. Benchmark of Cedar Rapids, premier roofing was to pay off the line of credit that had been drawn consultants, was hired to draw up specifications at US Bank for the building remodeling project. This and plans. This process continued until it was was accomplished in late 2011, meaning that determined to move the project ahead to Spring, CUMC/WF is now eligible for a worship Service of 2012. Bids were let for the project in late 2011, and Dedication. (We held a Service of Consecration in Schwickert’s Tecta America of Mankato, MN was 2008, when the building was opened for use; a hired at the low bid. Including consultant fees, the Service of Dedication can be celebrated when a cost of the re-roofing is over $400,000—a substan- project’s debts are completed.) It makes sense tial amount over the pre-campaign projections. The that a Service of Dedication be held once the project is expected to commence in mid-April 2012 church has been completely re-roofed and that and continue through the entire summer. The team debt is retired also. in charge of the re-roofing project is Patty King, Chair, Curt Bruett, Bill Cook, Dee Dreeszen, Randy Due to congregational interest, the giving of Larabee, Roger Lawrence, and Scott Grotewold. designated funds, and the receipt of memorial gifts (Ann Herriott, Phyllis Brackelsberg, Jerry Jarnagin) Insurance money from the water damage at specifically for the project, the renovation of Wesley Wesley Place (see #8 in campaign priority list Hall Kitchen was able to be put on the “fast track” above) and some gifts of the Wesley Foundation toward completion. Through the able leadership of allowed necessary work to begin at the house. The Patty King as team chair, Mike King as project upstairs bathroom where the damage began was manager, and the rest of the committee (Jo completely replaced by the time students arrived for Banwart, Betty Barton, Deborah Blaedel, Mary fall, 2011 classes. The knob-and-tube wiring Harms, Karen Klaiber, Kitty Lamont, Megan Leill, throughout most of the house was replaced. The Kris Meinhard, Bruce Munson, Dianna Nelson, kitchen was unusable throughout 2011, but was Lisa Putz, Lori Schippers, and Scott Grotewold), renovated during the holiday break at the end of the the project was meticulously planned and efficiently year, in time for the start of classes in January, carried out throughout the summer of 2011. Dave 2012. Board of Trustees Chair Jonathan Brand and Helland Construction was the primary contractor a crew of volunteers did that work. with Schropp Cabinetry providing the millwork; As of this writing (January, 2012) the rest of the former member, Terri Larsen of Des Moines, was projects on the priority list from the Raise the Roof! design consultant. The peeling wall paint, worn Campaign are in various stages of visioning and floor linoleum, unsightly ceiling, and outdated planning, with implementation awaiting the receipt features are a thing of the past. It is anticipated of campaign gifts and funding following the that the beautiful new kitchen will serve the church accomplishment of the re-roofing project. and its functions for many years to come. Scott Grotewold As ideas come to or are suggested to the Board Decorations and Art Work of Trustees, improvements to the building drainage system are implemented. Increased-capacity pipes Since 1991, many decorative changes have and sump pumps, improved grading in the been made to CUM/WF. Painting and redecorating courtyard, and tiling along the entire west wall of have been done and many additional pieces of Wesley Hall and Wesley Hall kitchen are intended beautiful art now cover the walls of CUM/WF. to alleviate the flooding problem. The natural spring Early in the 1990s, the walls of the sanctuary, continues to exist, however; the building most which had formerly been a pastiche of pastel affected is 85 years old and no solution has proven colors, were painted in a consistent, unifying cream completely effective for a full twelve consecutive color. The columns were accented with gold leaf on months yet. The Board of Trustees, the Property the capitols and the space took on an appropriate Committee and the congregation-at-large are dignity. ever-hopeful. A few years later, a painting by Iowa artist and Progress on replacement of the roof took longer ISU faculty member, Betty Miller, was purchased than the team in charge had expected. Originally, for the parlor. When the student lounge was

supplied with new furniture, paintings by church refreshingly appropriate worship space. members Mary Young and Holly Kellogg were Much needed, the lighting in the nave of the included. Another of Mary Young’s paintings hangs sanctuary was rewired and a new railing (which in the Annex, a property acquired by the church in does not block vision from the balcony) was added. the mid-2000. New restrooms and a more conveniently located Around 2003, Brittany Prater, in a tour de force nursery were installed on the main floor. Asbestos extending over two summers, painted the corridor was removed from the education wing ceilings and walls of the upstairs of the education wing with floors. Thanks to Don Loupee and other volunteers, Biblical scenes, scenes that presented the story of the pews in the sanctuary were re-spaced to a the Garden and the Flood as well various scenes more comfortable distance. Dick Young representing the life of Jesus. The murals are History of the CUMC/WF Church Library exciting and helpful to children in visualizing the stories. With only a few books, Ruth Points, Christian Education Director at CUMC/WF in the 1970s, Encouraged by a gift from Dolores Brown, a started a library in her office. As the library grew, columbarium was effectively installed in the Nichols more space was needed, so book shelves were Chapel in 2004 and is sufficient to provide for many placed in Room 123. Later, Room 117 became years need. Between 1991 and 2009, several exits the library, with Elizabeth Windsor, a retired have been made handicap accessible with the professional librarian, in charge. The books addition of door openers and ramps. were catalogued using the Dewey Decimal system. In 2008, a major addition and revitalization of Subject cards, author cards, and checkout cards the church facility took place. The addition of a were typed, pockets were placed in the books and connecting link between the narthex of the all books were organized on the shelves. New church and the education wing provided a popular books were purchased as money became available gathering space. Mary Young was commissioned to and members donated books to the library. create a mural for the space. She produced a twen- The continued accumulation of books made it ty-foot, three dimensional paper mural from the necessary for a committee to be formed to help pulp of thousands of IBM punch cards. In addition, keep the library in order. Many church members the Art Committee selected an additional ten paper served on this committee through the years. pieces and watercolors of Mary Young for display in Because of the closeness of the group, several various classrooms and corridors. These included a people stayed on the committee for years. dynamic five foot red Medallion of paper over the Many church members used the library and on fireplace in the Fireside Room. Additional paintings Sunday mornings, books appropriate for children by Mary Lou Wright and Dick Young were included were taken to the education floor for check out. It and a small woven panel by Shirley Held, along was not uncommon for over 100 books to be with an enlarged photograph of the woven panel, checked out during the morning. Books are again graces another corner of the Gathering Space. An available on Sunday mornings for the children and outdoor terrace just off the Gathering Space was a return box is available. fitted with tables and chairs and has become a popular place to gather after church services in the When plans were being made for the summer. renovation of the church in mid-2000, the library committee expressed its desire regarding the In 2007, the Nichols Chapel was refurbished. location of the new library. It is important that the Architect Steve Prater, a C/W church member, library should be easily accessible and visible. drew up plans for the work. The Chapel was As developed, the plans for the library is not in the redone with a new floor and walls, new lighting and estimation of easily accessible or visible. Because appropriately styled kneelers. Three stained glass of this, we do not feel it is used as much as it was windows with the theme, “Youth, Middle Age and earlier. We hope over time this problem will be Old Age” were created and installed by artists corrected. from the Stained Glass Store of Des Moines. The previously installed columbarium at the sides of In the past decade, everything in the library has the Apse was effectively retained and the unstable been entered on the computer by using the shelf pews were stabilized, resulting in a light and list cards. When everything was moved to the new location, bar codes were placed on books and other 57

items and everything was arranged properly. Some cake for each celebrant. Knowing that Deborah adjustments were necessary as the new room is had baked a fresh coconut cake just for me (my not as large as the previous library room and some favorite, but a lot of work) was very special. And, of the book shelves would not fit in the room. the cake was delicious. At present, all books and items are checked out At Soup Supper, the soup is tasty and the and returned by using the computer or filling out the optional potluck food is great for singles, families necessary information on the clip board located on and any who want to share a meal. the cabinet by the computer. Each person fills out a But Soup Supper is more than just soup, pot- library card which is kept on file on the cabinet by luck and cake. It is fun, friends, church family, co- the computer. The library card is scanned and the operation, giving and receiving. I feel the hand of bar code on the items is scanned to check out or God working through each of the people who work return an item. and attend Soup Supper. This is truly a God- For many years, the library committee community at work. Come and be fed. consisted of six to eight people to keep the library Dolores Brown in order. Now because of the lack of use, and the “Our Baptism Song” convenience of the computer check out and return system, only a few people are needed to handle the In the summer of 1993, Julie Schubert was library work. As people get accustomed to the new one of the soloists singing in the Sunday morning location and the new checkout and return system, worship service. Rev. Jim Stiles was baptizing two we hope the library will be used more. Many good babies that morning and had a song that Lucy books, videos, CD’s, DVD’s and other items are Futrell had brought him after hearing it used in available for use in the church. Marilyn Green her son, Steve’s, United Methodist Church in Clear Lake. Jim asked Julie if she would like to sing the song, “God Claims You,” to the babies being baptized that morning. She said she’d be glad to do it, having no idea then what a tradition was being started that day. “Birthdays and Soup Supper” Since then, Julie has sung “our” baptism song On a Wednesday night in November, 2010, (now in The Faith We Sing hymnal) to over 100 I experienced the most wonderful feeling of love, children over a course of seventeen years. It acceptance and empowerment. has been a source of constant pleasure for Julie and has brought parents and members of the It was my birthday celebrated at Wednesday congregation to tears over and over again. night Soup Supper. Hearing over 100 people singing “happy birthday” to me was a memorable The song took on even deeper meaning when experience. One hundred people called me by an elderly member of our congregation, David name. Crawford, asked Julie if she had a song she could sing at funerals. She thought for a moment, then Birthday celebrations are a regular part of broke into song: “David, David, God claims you. Soup Supper. Deborah Blaedel often makes a God helps you, protects you and loves you too. We this day, do all agree a child of God you’ll always be. David, David God claims you, God helps you, protects you and loves you too.” David, touched and pleased by this blessing, was blessed once again when Julie sang the song at his funeral not many months later.

Julie Schubert, Deborah Blaedel, 2010

Wesley Foundation

The Wesley Foundation at Iowa State… A Recent History

Worship Students have always been a part of worship at Collegiate/Wesley. Beyond the Sunday morning experiences, they have, through the years, also planned, led and participated in a number of other worship experiences. The early 1990s found students worshipping (and leading worship) at Vespers, late on Thursday nights in the Fireside Room. Midweek chapel (worship in the middle of campus in the middle of the day in themiddle day of the week) debuted in the Memorial Union Chapel in the late 1990s (and continues to today). This thirty minute worship experience, open to all but designed with students in mind, features sung prayers in the Taize style. faithspring worship was born in 2001 after a year-long planning process to determine when and where it would take place as well as the target audience and “style” it would take on. Planned with, by, and for students, faithspring features graphics, lyrics and video clips on three large screens, a live band, a “café” for refreshments during worship and a very interactive setting. A group of students and staff meet weekly to evaluate and plan faithspring. The annex worship space has been faithspring’s home since the beginning with occasional detours to campus. Students are periodically featured as preachers at faithspring; in addition to their roles as planners, they also serve as technical crew members, worship leaders, band members, communion servers and greeters. In 2002, the Board of Discipleship of the Iowa Annual Conference awarded a $9,750 grant to faithspring for advertising, weekly supplies, worship expenses and other program-related needs. In the 1990s, students would completely plan and lead the Sunday morning worship experiences one Sunday each year. Around 2003, this evolved into students participating in Sunday morning worship leadership throughout an entire month. Now, while we still celebrate “Students in Worship Leadership Emphasis Month” in February, students are frequently involved as liturgists, musicians, planners, communion servers and more in Sunday morning worship and, of course, faithspring. Study Study and discussion groups have covered a wide variety of topics over the past nineteen years, and have taken on various forms and have met in many locations. In the early 90s, Associate in University Student Ministries Tim Ellsworth’s responsibilities included leading

a study on War and Peace and facilitating a Sunday School class focusing on personal problem solving and relationships. Study groups in the mid-1990s included “Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time;” “BVD: Beliefs and Values Discussion” led by Rev. Scott Grotewold; “Joy” led by CMA Eryn O’Hare; and “Questions of Faith” led by Tim Wilcox, while Rev. Cindy McCalmont led a discussion with students on “How to Pray”. In 1995, several Wesley students joined members of Collegiate UMC for a 6-part study entitled “The Church Studies Homosexuality.” Every congregation in the Iowa Annual Conference has been asked to conduct the study. In the late 1990s, Rev. Jim Shirbroun began WERNAC (“Why ER Needs A Chaplain”), a study looking at the spiritual implications of NBC’s hospital drama, “ER”. Covenant Discipleship Groups were also a part of the mix beginning in the late 90s, along with “Living the Questions”. Sunday morning discussion groups were reinstituted about this same time, making use of a variety of curriculum resources. Lately, students discussed the interface of life and faith using “FaithLink” a download- ed resource focusing on very current events. In September 2000, a new book study was launched focusing on Marcus Borg’s “The God we Never Knew: Beyond Dogmatic Religion to a More Authentic Contemporary Faith”. The group has since read and discussed several books by Borg, John Shelby Spong, Eboo Patel and more. Barbecue Bible Studies were instituted in 2002, a “summer replacement series” to all our school year studies. “Think, Pray, Vote”, a study designed to help students make faithful, informed decisions on election day, began in 2004 and was repeated in 2008. In 2007, two groups of Wesley students studied the United Methodist Social Principles. This has happened several times since. The ministry area of Spiritual Disciplines has recently brought forth several short- term studies on methods of prayer and the holy scriptures and worship practices of various enduring world religions. In addition to studies and discussion groups throughout each semester, retreats have dotted the Wesley Foundation schedule throughout the years, taking students away from busy schedules and known surroundings for the peace and quiet of cabins in the woods. The Midwest Student Christian Gathering, held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, was a favorite event (which is no longer held). Wesley students have also been involved in several attempts to establish an Iowa chapter of the United Methodist Student Movement. In the previous decade, Wesley students traveled to Chicago and New York for “service-learning trips” where they studied the interface of faith and everyday life such as poverty, international relations and immigration.

Fellowship Games, movies, the occasional trek to Des Moines, a Christian “nightclub,” KaleidoQuiz, hayrides, murder mysteries, a root-beer kegger and more general silliness have been the hallmarks of fellowship at the ISU Wesley Foundation for the past twenty years or so. No discussion of fellowship activities at the Wesley Foundation would be complete without mentioning the

seemingly ever-present FOOD! Sunday Suppers have been around for MANY decades but, in 2001, changed venues from Room 44 (downstairs in the main building) to the Annex where the supper now follows faithspring worship. Prepared for many years by volunteers, Sunday Suppers are now catered (with wonderful dessert donations from parishioners and tremendous coordination by Barbara and Bruce Munson). Wednesday Night Soup Suppers, an all-church tradition since the late 1990s, has supplemented MANY Wesley students’ diets. In May, 1999, the first Finals Week Breakfasts saw the light of day. Campus Pastor Jim Shir- broun (and a number of wonderful volunteers) have kept this “well-buttered machine” running for twenty-six semesters and counting…serving breakfast each morning before students head off for their exams. A favorite (for chef and consumers alike) seems to be the “custom-made omelets” on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. During spring semester of 2009, Wesley Foundation staff debuted the Midnight Breakfasts, where the doors of Wesley Hall are thrown open to anyone who’s hungry between 11:30 p.m. and 1 a.m. Now a monthly event, Midnight Breakfasts have hosted over 500 students in one evening. Service/Mission Students have participated in semester break mission work trips to the states of Kentucky, Florida, North Da- kota, Arkansas (Heifer Project Ranch) and Louisiana (Hurricane Katrina) as well as to the cities of San Fran- cisco, Oklahoma City (twice), Chicago, New York, Kansas City, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids (flood relief). In the late ‘90s, a relationship was developed with Trinity UMC in Des Moines with Wesley Students making one or two trips a week to help serve meals and tutor students. Monthly “Saturday Service Projects” were instituted a bit later. Through them, students are educated about and become involved in local service organizations such as the Emergency Resi- dence Project, Youth and Shelter Services, Boys and Girls Club, Mid-Iowa Community Action Food Bank and more. Wesley students have also participated in the ISU Homecoming “Blitz Build” for Habitat for Humanity. Beginning in 2008, Wesley Stu- dents “adopted a highway” where they clear litter from the ditch- es along both sides of one mile of Highway 69. Recently, through the “Social Justice” and “Acts of Mercy” ministry areas of the Vision/Action Team, students have studied a wide variety of issues of need and determined and planned ways to individually and corporately act. Outreach/Communication The Wesley Foundation has “taken its act on the road” in many different ways over the past two decades. In the early to mid ‘90s, “Deputations” involved teams of students visiting local churches in Iowa to assist with worship leadership and otherwise share the stories of our campus ministries.

Wesley students still periodically head to churches around the state. Whether it’s our faithspring band leading worship, a group of students making “College Connections,” sharing college and campus ministry life with youth groups and Sunday School classes or students delivering a Sunday morning message, we’re keeping the United Methodist connection strong by traveling to churches around the state. We also invite them to visit US! Confirmation classes, youth groups and Sunday school classes have visited faithspring worship and enjoyed tours of our buildings; scouting and other youth groups have stayed overnight. We’ve also hosted several gatherings of youth delegates and pages during Annual Conference meetings. Inspired by a United Methodist pastor who visited each of Iowa’s universities twice a year, taking students from that local church to lunch, our Wesley Foundation started “Pass the Pasta Pastor” in which pastors are encouraged to invite ISU students from the churches they serve to go to lunch… “on us”. We’ve also begun to encourage students to invite their pastors! For the last thirteen years or so, each year every local UM church in the state, as well as the home of each incoming Iowa State student who indicates a United Methodist preference, has received our “Summer Mailing,” which outlines our campus ministries and invites students to participate. This year we’ll add a Facebook page for incoming students so they can begin to “meet” one another before they arrive! A few years ago we began to sponsor a monthly, online newsletter. The “Wesley Foundation Update” brings news about all four Wesley Foundations in Iowa to United Methodists across the state. Wesley students have received printed newsletters for decades. They now also receive VEISHEA emails at least once each week and are invited to find out Parade more via Facebook and Twitter as well as our website, first established about six years ago. In June, 2007, students from the Wesley Foundation entered the VEISHEA parade for the first time in perhaps fifty years. Our entry (conceived, designed, constructed and staffed by students) celebrated the past, present and future of the Wesley Foundation, emphasizing our ministry with students, faculty and staff at Iowa State. A sign on the back of the entry remembered the victims of the recent shooting at Virginia Tech. We’ve continued to participate in VEISHEA parades since that time. In November, 2008, Mat Wymore, Ruth Powell, Cathy Cooney and Sam Cotter took the Maintenance Shop stage in “Got Questions? So Do We” a play written and produced by Campus Ministry Associate Chris Hockley. In September, 2009, forty cold watermelons were sliced and served to the Iowa State University Cyclone Football “Varsity” Marching Band by members of the Wesley Foundation. Later in 2009, a Wesley Welcome Team, modeled on the Reaching and Receiving cluster of Collegiate, was established to be more effective in reaching out to welcome and follow up with student visitors. Music Surrounded by a wonderfully strong music ministry, it’s no wonder the Wesley Foundation itself is blessed with many opportunities for students to share their gifts of music. Wesley Singers, a student-led choir made up of Iowa State students, has been a staple throughout the years although Jubilee Singers, an intergenerational choir,

has recently been the place where a number of students have participated, in addition to the Chancel Choir. Bell choirs under the direction of Dee Dreezen also have a very long history at Collegiate/Wesley and Collegiate Bells is no exception. A band of vocalists and instrumentalists has been with faithspring since its inception, providing music nearly every week. A student jazz band, “Jazzin’ for Jesus,” was started in 2007 by student Lisa Larson. Koinonia Community House/Wesley Place Koinonia House, an intentionally ecumenical Christian community, was housed next door to the church until 1996. For twenty years, students covenanted to gather for evening meals, house meetings, weekly Bible study and to keep up on their particular “JOY” (chore). After sitting empty for one year, the newly named Wesley Place, entered “a new dimension of ministry” as it became housing for Peer Ministers, students who take responsibility for specific areas of campus ministry. This move was approved as a two year experiment. Patty King, Eryn O’Hare and Susan Rayl were named to a task force to develop Peer Minister job descriptions. Three young women (Kimberly Daniels, Annette Nielson and Michelle Mayfield) became Peer Ministers in a revised, expanded structure of student ministry. Student Leadership In 1997, after a hiatus of several years, the Wesley Foundation once again began recruiting and training Peer Ministers to assist with campus ministry. In January, Kimberly Daniels, Annette Nielson and Michelle Mayfield moved into Wesley place as Peer Ministers. Just a few months later the Peer Ministry team expanded to six as Shannon Apple, Jilly Hutzell, Matt McAllister and Nathan Eslick joined Kimberly and Annette. About this same time a Vision/Action Team was formed to involve more students in developing the vision for the Wesley Foundation. A new crew of Peer Ministers was brought on board in 2004: Emily Blaedel, Ahren Grebner, Alyssa Emanu- elson, Amanda Heeren and Ryan Seeberger Eventually the Peer Ministry program underwent a name change as well as a slight change in focus, morphing into the “Reach Team” with students focusing primarily on evangelism and outreach. Rachel McCulloh, Melanie Hinnah and Emily Nieman were Reach Team members in the fall of 2005. In the fall of 2006, Lisa Larson, Mark Eckman, Kimberly Ferguson and Rachel McCulloh also became Reach Team members. The evolution of name and form of the student leadership team continues. Today the Vision/ Action Team concept has resurfaced. Six students currently oversee ministry areas of Worship, Spiritual Disciplines, Acts of Mercy, Community, Outreach and Social Justice.

Activities and Programs

THE MUSIC PROGRAM AT CUMC/WF CUMC/WF continues to be blessed with an outstanding music ministry--both vocal and instrumental—provided by a great many talented and dedicated members of its church family. Vocal Music Program Chancel Choir is the adult choir and sings each Sunday during second service as well as at both services each Easter Sunday. In addition, the Choristers Choir choir performs a larger choral work with orchestra each year, usually in the spring. Since 1974, the School hour. The children perform about twice a choir has presented twenty-nine different works; for year during the 11:00 a.m. service. Sue Griffith is example, Haydn's "Mass in B-flat Major" in 2005 the director. and Schubert's "Mass #3 in B-flat" in 2008. Dr. Carl Another music group for young children, Bleyle serves as director of the Chancel Choir as although not vocal, is the Krystal Bells. The bells well as church organist. are of different colors and are similar to handbells. Also, the Chancel Choir continues to offer vocal The children ring their bell when a flashcard with scholarships to ISU students who provide solo and their matching colored dot appears. CDs of small ensemble presentations throughout the year orchestral music are played with the leader during the first service, summers, and for the choir following instructions on the back of the flashcards. specials. Many of these students have gone on to Sue Griffith also serves as leader for this activity. major careers in vocal performance and music Although not a formal group with regular education. rehearsals, the Chapel Choir is for high school In the fall of 2005, a new adult choir was added youth. A group is often formed to sing at special to the roster of choirs. Jubilee Singers was found- services, such as the Easter Sunrise Service and ed by Mary Pevestorf for adults wanting to sing in a the Manger Gifts Service. choir but not every Sunday. David Waggoner took The Choristers Choir, the Cherub Choir, and over as director when Mary retired, serving two the Kristal Bells also participate in the Manger Gifts years (2006-2008) followed by Tammy Hockley Service. (2008—2010). This choir rehearsed on Wednesday evenings and sang approximately Currently on hiatus, Wesley Singers was active once a month during the 8:30 service. Jubilee for many years in the vocal program of the church. Singers joined the Chancel Choir on Easter and Its recent directors included Nathan Eslick, Mark represented the church in the Good Neighbor Perschnick, Mark Anderson, Shelby Sievers, Elise concert held in the fall. The lack of a director has Flagg, and Cathy Compton. Members were caused Jubilee Singers to be in hiatus since 2010. students at Iowa State University, both undergradu- ates and graduate students, and the group usually The Choristers Choir is open to children in sang once a month during the 8:30 service. Many grades two through five. They rehearse once a students who would participate in this group week and sing an average of seven times a year currently are members of the faithspring band that during the 8:30 worship service. Sara Compton, plays and sings for faithspring—a contemporary Barb Mittman, Anne Shelley, Joseph Matson, and service on Sunday afternoons in the Annex. Tana Tesdall have served as directors for the Stephani Scherbart group. Instrumental Music Programs Cherub Choir, for children in prekindergarten through first grade, meets during the Sunday Handbell Choirs 65

A tradition since 1960, the Handbell Choirs continue to add vitality to the music program. Five choirs (about sixty ringers), encompassing grades six through twelve, and college students through senior citizens, provide special music for worship services at least one Sunday a month, most of the David Stephenson, Max Morris, Paul Anderson, Sundays during Advent, and the Manger Gifts Steph Scherbart & Bion Pierson Service. In addition, the Caroliers Bell Choir takes its ringing and singing program of Christmas carols to care facilities, and the adult Chancel Bell Choir joins with the Collegiate Brass (and, on alternating years, the Music Men) in a Christmas concert of performed as substitutes or additional players. sacred and secular favorites called "Bells & Brass." Though most performances have been in Ames, On Christmas Eve, former ringers of the Chapel some have been elsewhere in Iowa and as far Bell Choir (high school) who are in town for the away as Illinois and Pennsylvania. The repertoire of holidays meet in the afternoon to prepare a prelude Collegiate Brass includes hymns and other sacred for the 11:00 p.m. service. All five choirs present a music, spirituals, patriotic tunes, folk songs, show spring concert, which wraps up the busy year. Dee tunes, movie music, Renaissance dances and Dreeszen is the director for the handbell program. madrigals, traditional jazz/swing/blues, and The biggest change affecting this program seasonal music. Paul Anderson and David was the renovation of the rehearsal space to Stephenson arrange much of the group's music. provide a work area and storage room as well as Collegiate Brass has performed at CUMC/WF an enlarged room for rehearsals. A second window church services, weddings, dinners, picnics, talent shows, Christian education classes, music camps, fund raisers, receptions, and Memorial Day and other celebrations. In addition to playing in over 450 worship services, over 75 weddings, and many special concerts with other groups at CUMC/WF, Collegiate Brass has carried its music ministry to other congregations in Iowa as well as many times to the Iowa Annual Conference. Collegiate Brass, Brenda Allen, Bonne Orth, Kay Craig, Isabelle Davidson & Jane Kennedy during more than twenty-five years of serving CUMC/WF and the Ames community, has expressed faith through music. Paul Anderson air conditioner also was added. faithspring band Dee Dreeszen The faithspring band was started in the fall of Collegiate Brass 2001 to be the music leadership for the newly In February 1984, Rev. David Stout organized formed contemporary worship service called a brass ensemble to accompany a special service faithspring. It provides upbeat Top 40 contemporary commemorating 200 years of Methodism in the Christian music for this service, which is held at United States. David Stephenson (trumpet), Bion 5:30 p.m. on Sunday evenings. The band consists Pierson (trumpet), and Paul Anderson (tuba, of electric and acoustic guitars, keyboard, drums, euphonium) were joined by a graduate student, Da- bass guitar, and vocalists. Melody Nichols served vid Stookesberry (trombone), to play brass as the first director of the group from 2001 to 2005; music and hymn accompaniments at the service. Jason Janssen took over duties as director in the This group became Collegiate Brass, and since fall of 2005 and has continued ever since. then has provided music for over 600 church The faithspring band also has visited and led services and community events. music at other churches and events. These Stephani Scherbart (horn) joined the ensemble appearances have been at UM churches in several in 1986 and Max Morris (trombone) joined in 2001. other Iowa communities, a UM church in Illinois, Approximately sixty brass musicians have another church in Ames, a youth conference at

Simpson College, and at a meeting of UM clergy. including the sung hymns. Except for John Burns, The group typically ranges from six to ten Mark Gardner, and Jeff Halliburton, the 2009 WHJE members, including several Wesley Foundation has the same personnel as when it began in 1994. students. During its first years, the faithspring band For four years, WHJE included Mark Anderson, was multigenerational--with a drummer in middle Alex, Drew, and Nick Kaizer, and Greg Shirbroun. school, a guitar player in high school, and a retired WHJE now has Bion Pierson, Max Morris, Jonah ISU professor playing keyboard along with its WF DeGeest, Kyle Tesdall and John Basart, all of members. Each year, membership of the band whom have joined WHJE in the last five years, changes some, based mostly on college student along with Mark Blaedel and Seth Berbano, who interest. Jason Janssen joined three years ago. WHJE has employed a number of very able substitute musicians over the Wesley Hall Jazz Ensemble years, including Jim Nelson, Jean Olson, Mark The Wesley Hall Jazz Ensemble actually had Snell, Nathan Snell, Dave Stephenson, and Dallas its beginning a few years before 1994. Traditionally, Thies. John Burns and Paul and Paula Anderson had put Most of the music played by WHJE comes from together a small band of church members of all ag- the United Methodist Hymnal, The Faith We Sing, es and abilities for the purpose of marching and Songs of Zion. In addition, several old camp the various Sunday School classes to their new songs such as "Brighten the Corner Where You classrooms during the fall kickoff (Sunday School Are," "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder," and "Bringing in the Sheaves" are from an extensive collection of old hymnals and songbooks belonging to Terry Adams, a local musician. In addition to many CUMC worship services and Sunday School Jamborees, the WHJE has played some "external" concerts in the community as well as for an entire wedding service, birthday parties, anniversary parties, and memorial services. In 2009, WHJE celebrated fifteen years of music ministry at CUMC/WF. Paul Lundy Artists-in-Residence Musica Antiqua (an early music, Medieval/ Renaissance, ensemble) and the Music Men (a Jamboree). After this event in 1993, Rev. Jim Stiles male vocal quintet) continue as artists-in-residence asked if the group could play a special tune at the at CUMC/WF. Using church space for rehearsals, next Jamboree during the Wesley Hall part of the the ensembles reciprocate by sharing their talents program. So the next fall, eight members of the "put with the congregation in worship services. -together" band played a swing version of "I Am a Members of CUMC participate in both groups. Promise." This was one of Rev. Stiles' favorite Dee Dreeszen tunes for children. Sara Compton arranged the Music Section Compiled by Avis Andre vocal/piano score into parts for the band.The original band consisted of Paul and Paula Anderson, John Burns, Mark Gardner, Jeff Soup Supper Halliburton, Paul Lundy, and Roger Volker. Before the next performance, which was "Fat" Sunday in Soup Suppers were launched on October 3, 1995, Orville Berbano and Rich Grieve had joined 1997, in a high-ceilinged classroom of a former the group. It was then that the name "Wesley Hall Franciscan Convent nestled in the hills that Jazz Ensemble" (WHJE) was adopted. The name overlook the Mississippi River in Dubuque, Iowa. came from the "Preservation Hall Jazz Band," The place was Shalom Retreat Center; the event whose traditional jazz style the group emulated was the first annual all-church fall retreat of (sort of). WHJE provided only part of the music for Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley the "Fat" Sunday services in 1995, but since then Foundation. The space felt sacred: our single has provided all of the music for both services, rooms were simple, bathrooms shared, food

lovingly prepared by Franciscan Sisters and served his high school graduation, in a car accident in to us in a dining room where spiritual pilgrims had France. She told us of her grief, of course, but she gathered for nourishment for many decades. The also told us of the faith that helped her, somehow, grounds around the building included gardens survive. Barbara and Bruce Munson were there and where the nuns planted, tended and harvested had also experienced the tragic loss of a first-born food used in our meals, as well as fruit trees plant- son; their Erik had unexpectedly taken his own ed and tended for the same purpose. Also near the life a few years before while in graduate school. retreat center, though, where we walked Hearing of these unimaginable losses created in silence between sessions of presentation and an atmosphere in our group that was somber discussion, were two cemeteries: one was very and intimate. Bruce Munson, probably the most old and included Civil War graves, and the other characteristically silent one among us, told of his told the story of the seekers who had come from experience of church at that time: a small group of Germany in 1881 to found the Franciscan people in the church who had known the Munson’s Motherhouse, of the many lives of those who had for years, who had known Erik as he was growing come after them following their sense of call to a up, who knew of his love of birds and nature, held life of faith and service. his family and walked with them through the We were a small but lively group of United impossibly dark days following Erik’s death. These Methodists, arriving by car and church van for a people knew the Munson’s and had known Erik well weekend retreat. Many of us were on our first enough to know that a traditional funeral would not retreat, not knowing what to expect and not well- provide solace to these mourners in their deep acquainted with our fellows, but away from the grief. They transformed the sanctuary into a nature routines of our daily life that anchored us to the preserve for Erik’s funeral, the prelude music that mundane tasks of the world. We were looking of bird song rather than organ or human voice, the forward to the weekend, but not sure what to florists’ bouquets relegated to the reception space expect. Cindy McCalmont, Associate Pastor of in Wesley Hall and the altar one of fallen logs, Collegiate, had organized the retreat. There were prairie grasses, and cattails. Bruce told us that he no scholarly presenters with lofty degrees and long had always been a church goer, but for him and resumes. Cindy believed in the sharing of our his family this was a unique experience of being stories; she had asked individuals in the group supported by a family of faith. As the session ended to lead us by telling of their own experiences, and we quietly made our ways to our individual including discussions of loss, prayer and Sabbath. room, there was no chatter of voices or ringing We were invited to share our own lives with each of cell phones to interrupt our own quiet other around these discussion topics. We agreed contemplations. to be in covenant with each other, to trust each oth- The next morning, our first session was titled, er in the sharing of our stories. “Sabbath.” We were speaking then of the Sunday Our last session of the day on Saturday morning service and, specifically, of the time before evening began with Mary Beth Oostenbrug telling worship begins when the prelude accompanies our us of the death of her son, Tim, the summer after preparing ourselves, prayerfully and silently, for the hour that follows. A Catholic among us chided us for our lack of proper behavior and respect at this time: she pointed out that greeting each other as we arrive, whispering or talking noisily about our families and lives, was disruptive to those around us and not proper behavior in the sanctuary on Sunday morning. We had become acutely conscious, after Bruce’s sharing the night before, of the need to know and be known to each other as a family of faith; clearly, though, Sunday morning before worship was not the time for fellowship. When, then, could we gather together to get acquainted, to share our stories, to learn about each others’ lives and where we connect with each other? We talked about some of the challenges 68

of creating space for such an opportunity in the Making soup for this increasingly large group busy life of the church. But in this sacred space, became a shared experience, with sign-up sheets attended and surrounded by saints living and dead, at the beginning of the supper table for volunteers this need became a holy one and took on a life of to make soup. A few did not feel able to make soup its own: I stood up and offered, once back in Ames, but wanted to do their share. They were reminded to prepare homemade soup and bread; others that they were doing their share by simply being agreed to potluck the rest of the meal, Cindy would there, but could contribute through the church tackle the challenges of space and scheduling and office to reimburse those who wished to make we would start that very week. soup but felt unable to incur the financial cost of We passed the word around as well as we the ingredients. Several individuals quietly could in the next couple of days and met Wednes- replenished this fund as it became depleted. A few day, October 7, 1997, a group of 42 people. We other details worked their way into our routine: we agreed early on that this would not become another would generally offer two different soups, both to event to which we felt tasked; our commitment please individual palates and to meet the needs of would be one of desire rather than obligation. I the vegetarians among us. We would celebrate don’t remember our actually making the decision birthdays with cakes and song, honoring the sacred not to have organized signup lists for preparation worth of every individual present. We would begin or kitchen clean-up, but it quickly became apparent with grace and ask God’s blessing on our gathering that they wouldn’t be necessary: glad hearts saw, at table, but avoid any other programming at the individually, what needed to be done and stepped meal. The blessing would be offered by individuals in to do it. We did establish three simple rules: among us, sometimes including our pastors but 1) Everyone is welcome. 2) Contributing potluck definitely not limited to them. We would make no dishes to share is optional; and 3) No guilt is attempt to direct people’s choice of where to sit or allowed. That seemed to be all we needed as with whom, but would try to always welcome the our numbers grew regularly in those early weeks. stranger or newcomer in our midst and would try to There was no money allotted in the church budget take the opportunity to get to know others in the for the extras that wouldn’t be provided by the gathering. We would help those with physical potluck system: the drinks, cream and sugar for disabilities to obtain their choice of food and take it the coffee, butter for the bread. We discussed the to their chosen table. We would help those with possibility of having a free-will offering to offset mental disabilities with the task of making soup and these extra expenses, but decided against it: serving the rest of us. We would send leftover soup collecting money in any way would also involve home with anyone who wanted it. someone having to gather the money, count the And so the weeks and months and years of money, secure the money, allot the money, as well weekly Wednesday night Soup Suppers at C/W as the possibility of even this minimal exchange of have rolled on, breaking only for the summer, a money keeping some people away or diminishing week or two at Christmas and one week of Spring the sense of everyone there having (equal) sacred Break. In our seventh year, Dolores Brown and worth. Without discussion or any dissension, those Sherry Davidson were inspired to create a "Souper people who saw the need met the need at their own Suppers" cookbook with recipes volunteered by expense and, again, with glad hearts. many of our "souper" cooks, earning almost $3,000 to be used for updating cookware and kitchen

utensils in the Wesley Hall Kitchen and replenishing lively kids playing on the stage; the DeGeest kids, the fund for groceries to make soup. Now in our some still needing stepstools to reach the sprayer, twelfth year, Kris Meinhard and I still bake bread doing dishes in the kitchen, Jonah playing hymns every Wednesday. Bruce Munson sets up every on the old piano in Wesley Hall; Josh Dobbs week and keeps statistics for our amusement: teaching us about his experience of through 2011 we have had 427 Soup Suppers at Autism, his making our lemonade every week and which we have served 47,100 meals and 16,500 insisting that no one should ever be excluded be- cups cause of any kind of disability; Jackie Barnard of coffee, with keeping watch over the kids and making sure approximately 309,000 items washed in the dish- they’re safe, Paul Brackelsberg doing clean-up in washer! The clean-up crew varies each week, but the kitchen; Debby Wilson making an extra plate of usually deviled eggs for the kitchen crew and making sure includes a core of “regulars.” While some people they each get their share. There are signature eat their meal and leave for choir practice, another foods we all look forward to every week: Julie church group, or home by 7:00 p.m., others linger Schubert's Stuffed Shells, Ruby Buck's Sauerkraut, through Helen Farr's clean-up and later, visiting, knitting, playing cards Custard Pie, Diana Nelson's Broccoli and Fava or informally discussing events in the life of the Bean Salads, Barbara Munson's and Mary Young's church. always interesting Tossed Green Salads and Wes To some of us, the meal is a pleasant respite Buchele's Quinoa. There's the camaraderie in the from cooking in the middle of the week. For others, kitchen as people arrive and are greeted with warm it’s a convenient way to grab a bite to eat before hugs, soup makers finish their tasty creations, Kris choir practice or youth group. To newcomers to and I cut warm bread and hand out appetizer Collegiate, it’s a way to quickly get acquainted with tastes, Steph Scherbart, Janet Stephenson and other individuals and families within the church. others help put candles in birthday cakes and To some, it’s a free, nutritious meal in an inviting, do other last minute welcoming setting. Several couples have included preparation. After regular attendance at dinner, Soup Suppers as part some gather at table of their courtship. to continue dinner Many have become conversations and regular attendees after others—faithful a spouse has died. We servants like Janet come to be with Stephenson—wipe our friends. We come down tables; Levi Sponheimer, Chuck DeGeest—Bleyle family to enjoy the wonderful, with Josh Dobbs home-cooked meal. Benn, Jim Herriott, We come because it Wes may be the one time in Buchele, Doug the week where we Meinhard, Mark Blaedel, the Greenlee family, Bleyle-DeGeests, Orville Berbano Kris Meinhard, the bread are known and accept- baker ed simply for who we and sons Samuel and Seth, Vicki Lynn and others are. We come for the clear tables and do dishes. Kris Meinhard scrubs sharing at table. pots, wipes down the stove and counters and makes sure the kitchen is put back in order, ready Or we come for the atmosphere: the call to for the next church event. A contingent of faithful table of the ringing tone of the struck triangle and friends first acquainted through Ames' Community deep timbre of the brass gong made for us by Don Life Program often come early, sometimes stay late Loupee out of parts of plumbing and stairwell left and make sure no one ever feels excluded for any over in the renovation and remodeling of space in reason. the church; the microphone provided for and set up every week by Chuck Benn so we can all hear The food we eat is created from and attached the announcements of birthdays, soup choices, to our own personal histories; those histories are community fundraisers and our table grace; the shared at table and connect us to each other. The 70

group that meets on Wednesday nights is a family: show our support to fellow members and show our some of us are there every week and some have concern in helping each other. come only once or twice, but for many of us, it is a Presidents of our unit who have given Kingdom of God event. It is a gathering of saints. leadership are Pat Benson, Irma Matchett, Marilyn It is weekly Communion. It is a memorial to Erik Green, Rosalie Amos, Elaine Johnson and Amanda Munson and what his death taught us about our Heeren. need for each other. Deborah Blaedel UMW members attend annual District United Methodist Women meetings. For some time the district meeting has The roots of United Methodist Women reach been held at Dayton Oaks, Iowa, a spiritual retreat back to March 23, 1869, when eight women center. The meetings provide not only a rewarding gathered at Tremont Street Methodist Episcopal time of spiritual growth but also a time to commune Church in Boston. On that date over 140 years with the environment and enjoy the wild flowers. ago, the women formed the Women’s Foreign During the year some UMW members sew layettes Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal and book bags that are taken to the district in- Church. The Society’s first missionaries, Isabella gathering. These are forwarded on to UMCOR Thoburn (her family belonged to CUM/WF) and (United Methodist Committee on Relief) for their Clara Swain, left for India in November, 1869. use. From 1869 to 1893, our foremothers organized UMW members attend the state project of the eight foreign and home missionary societies: The School of Missions. We have women who attend first was the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society both the week-long and the weekend schools. of the ME Church and the last was the Woman’s These members return to the church and share the Home Missionary Society of the Methodist information and spiritual knowledge they have Protestant Church. Since 1893, through various gained. denominational unions and mergers our name has UMW sponsors several action groups within the evolved from the Woman’s Missionary Society in church including Contemporary Books and Holy 1916, to Wesley Ladies Aid Society in 1924, to Tearers. The UMW also sponsors the church’s Women’s Society of Christian Service in 1940. Our library in continuing to purchase books name of United Methodist Women was adopted in recommended for the reading program of UMW. 1973. At a special service at CUMC/WF in May, 1973, all members of WSCS became charter Contemporary Books meets monthly in members of the UMW. Rosemary Amos, a member members’ homes. Each year the group selects the of our congregation, has served as a missionary for books to be read the following year; one member the UMW. leads the discussion. Books typically deal with subjects of religion, social issues, and human Through the years, although names and interest. The books are eventually catalogued into structures have changed, the purpose of these our library for the entire congregation to enjoy. organizations has remained the same. Like our pre- decessors, members of the UMW have made The Holy Tearers meet to do sewing for a lifetime commitment to Christ’s mission in the missions. The members make between five to nine world. For over a century, members have united comforters each year for use in the mission field. to pray together, to raise funds for missions, and Our youth groups have taken comforters to share to improve the lives of women, children and youth on their mission trips all over the United States around the world. The mission of UMW is also to be including cities such as Chicago and Detroit and a community of women whose purpose is to know Tennessee. An intergenerational mission group God and to experience freedom as whole persons took comforters to share when they went to Juarez, through Jesus Christ; and to develop a creative, Mexico. The Response magazine carried a story supportive fellowship. (along with a photo) of the group’s work for missions in July/August 2006. The UMW membership is separated into three fellowships which continue to provide women with UMW raises money for United Methodist leadership in learning to fulfill a better life, and missions, supports scholarships and provides collect monies for missions/national, state and financial support for local organizations. The Call local. Fellowship groups are a time to meet and to Prayer and Self-denial is supported by women of the church. As members of UWM, we continue to 71

be ever mindful of the areas in the world that are gifts have been purchased for the graduating high destitute for food and shelter school seniors of our church. UMW provides financial support for three Every year the UMW holds a special service different missions of the United Methodist Church in during the Sunday morning church service to Iowa. The Bidwell-Riverside Center started in 1893 acknowledge church members who have died when faithful Christians in Des Moines witnessed during the previous year. Names of the deceased, the pain and poverty of needy citizens there. The both male and female, are read at the service. mission began as two groups which merged in UMW also includes a group that offers support 1954. Since its beginning it has been an ardent to the grieving family by furnishing a luncheon/ servant of the mission of Jesus Christ. The Center reception at the time of the memorial service. endeavors to minister to each and all in the spirit of The UMW sponsors two prayer chains. The unconditional love. UMW supports the mission with group began when Ruth Moore and Kathy Harris donations of used clothing, cash and also collects started Prayer and Share in 1977. In 1978, they soup labels which are redeemed with proceeds changed their name to Prayer Chain; by 2004 going for a van used by the mission. they had gone to e-mail as an additional way of A second church mission, Hawthorn Hill, was contacting members. The Prayer Chain is a group originally known as Esther Hall. It initially provided of caring people who will pray for you in times of a rooming house for young women in Des Moines. need. As members of our congregation and their In 1978, the name changed to Hawthorn Hill. In families need our prayers, they are notified and 1997, it was sold to Iowa Methodist Hospital but each person, in turn, sends the message of a recently, in 2008, the UMW took back the operation member in need of our prayers. of the home and it is now a shelter for homeless Given the changes of the past forty years, women with children. It is now called New where has the UMW been and where are we going Directions. in the future of CUMC/WF? In the past forty years, The third facility, Shesler Hall in Sioux City, was the mission of the United Methodist Women has started in 1901. Its purpose has been to provide undergone a radical change from the days when community living for women with special needs. It Methodist women belonged to the WSCS. That continues to be supported by UMW. group was created so we could come together for UMW also contributes financially to a number of education and worship. It was a time to grow and additional scholarships and organizations. These learn more about ourselves and our church; it was also a time to study the meaning of the Bible and how it applied to our families. Our group was called upon to help prepare the meals that were needed for the functioning of the church as a whole. In these years, the church did not offer an abundance of groups for women to attend or to grow spiritually Change is inevitable and is needed for the growth of all people, male or female. With time we have seen that many activities did not provide the support that women had in the past. The need for serving meals, holding bazaars, conducting spir- Jan Cummings, Donna Butler, Laura Cook, Ginny An- derson & Bertlyn Johnson itual studies, and organizing fellowship groups has diminished. The roles of women have evolved so include the Rev. Nichols Scholarship fund (Rev. now they are holding offices within the church, such Nichols was a former pastor at CUM/WF), the as chair of the Board of Trustees and the Crusade scholarship and funding to send a Kappa Administrative Board. As years have passed, Unit- Phi delegate to the national conference. We have ed Methodist Women has evolved and changed. provided both financial assistance and material We are now using our three fellowship groups as a goods to the local groups of Youth and Shelter time for worship, learning and sharing for our mem- Services, Emergency Residence, Mid-Iowa bers. The fellowship groups will Community Action and Good Neighbor. Each year continue with the support of the local, state and national missions of UMW. 72

Bertlyn Johnston, Ruth Provow Hucker, Karla Mae Elling, Rev. Linda Butler, and Academy and Roundtable Wil Ranney was organized. As a second step, an all-congregation meeting was held together with Academy, which Rev. David Stout began in the Vision Scribes, so all church members could 1984, was the designation given certain occasional express ideas for CUMC/WF’s future. A third step short-term educational opportunities for adults was to organize small groups where members beyond those that could be covered in traditional could consider proposed ideas, adding to them as Sunday School efforts. Each year study included well as confirming them. The Vision Scribes then individual books of the Bible as well as a wide categorized and prioritized the ideas presented. range of topics of interest such as “Looking Toward This constituted the vision statement. A final st 21 Century—the Crisis of Cost in our Health Care meeting was held with the congregation to System and How You Can Make a Difference,” thoroughly review the document. “Faith Questions,” “Talking to Children About God,” “Coronation Mass,” and “The Reconciling Church.” The adopted vision statement pointed the way The Academy was fortunate to have the strong toward spiritual growth, welcoming, service, and leadership of Betty Elliott, Doris Landsberg, Gordon identifying CUMC/WF aims and objectives for the Bivens, Mary Stratton, Bettie Kiser, Tony Netusil, next few years. Between 2007 and 2009, some Lucy Duitscher, Jeff Berger and Rev. Grotewold. implementation of goals has occurred: a pictorial directory of church members; handicapped In response to the Academy program, “The accessible entrances; replacement of Lincoln Way Church Studies Homosexuality,” Lucy Duitscher stairs, sidewalks, and entrance doors. Other chang- wrote: “Gay and lesbian--I’ve hesitated to use es include improved communication within the those words, but at the Academy program on church; a process for identifying, greeting, and homosexuality I learned these words are good. I maintaining contact with visitors; and increased discovered that for me it is old, learned emotions involvement in social and justice ministries. that surround these words that make me uncom- fortable. Lord God, Creator of us all, help me to be There are still objectives to be realized aware of the words I use. Help me by word and regarding Grow With Us: more small groups for deed to show love and acceptance to all around interaction; alternative Sunday morning worship me.” experience; a parish nurse position; a program connecting ISU students to CUMC/WF households; Though the name, Academy, is no longer in more opportunities for personal contact with new use, similar opportunities for adult education and residents, students, international students, students growth in Biblical knowledge are still present of other religions, and persons in the neighborhood; through The Roundtable. Rev. Stout initiated programs for all to continue spiritual journeys; the program, known originally as the Faculty international mission projects to which we can trav- Roundtable, where ISU faculty connected to el and offer our skills, expertise and labor; CUMC/WF would gather for discussion and study. partnering with others to encourage affordable The program has continued, dropping the word housing; and compiling a list of volunteer drivers. “faculty” from its title, and now includes a wider We also hope to develop a marketing strategy, range of people. The Roundtable, presently led by including a new logo to help carry out these Rev. Grotewold and open to all, meets once each objectives. Carolyn Cornette month around a noon meal and turns its attention to discussing topics of conviction and theology. Intergenerational Trips and Apple Pies Carolyn Cornette Collegiate/Wesley Foundation is known for its many mission programs. One of these programs Grow With Us is the intergenerational work trips. This mission As CUMC/WF was breaking ground in 2007 for has been on-going since early in 2000 and has our church remodeling and construction project, the sponsored trips to U.S. cities and to Mexico as well congregation was beginning a process called, Grow as carrying out work programs in Ames. Original With Us, which would determine the congregation’s planners of the intergenerational trips were Rev. shared vision for the future. As the first step in that Cindy McCalmont, Tim Gossett, Linda Westgate, process, the “Vision Scribes,” a committee of Roger Darra Johnson, Tom Jordan, and Mike and Patty Coulson, Karen Fowser, Carolyn Cornette, Ben King. Although fund raising for the trips has

included holding Mexican dinners, a Sub sandwich Methodist Men’s Coffee fundraiser, Worldly Goods’ sales, a soup lunch The Methodist Men’s Coffee was started in fundraiser, and silent auctions, the major means the fall of 2008. The men meet every Wednesday of fund raising has been the making and selling of morning in the Fireside Room. The coffee time is apple pies. very unstructured: the men can come at any time During the past decade, intergenerational trips during the morning but the coffee and cookies are have been made to some five different locations. ready at 9:30 a.m. There are about twenty men The first was in early 2000 to take part in the Urban who come regularly. The group represents some Immersion Service Retreat to the Twin Cities. 1,000 years of experience and humor. One fellow The purpose was to help groups become better said he never laughed so much as when he’s shar- equipped to get involved in the needs of their ing the coffee time. It is amazing how much the community. This mission was followed by a trip to men know about Ames and all the changes that Heifer International ranch in Arkansas, where have occurred in our community. Doug Provow participants did yard work, painting, gardening and assembling kits, typically layette and school kits. “Our Own Church Cookbook” In 2005, 2006, and 2007, intergenerational trips were made to Juarez, Mexico. The first of these Sherry Davidson and I had no idea of what we was planned by Rachel Cox, a high school senior. were getting into when we decided to publish a In 2005 and 2006, members built three houses with cookbook for CUMC/WF. Our original plan was windows for families in Juarez; in 2007, two houses just to copy the large scale soup recipes for Soup were built there. The houses were built with Supper cooks to use. It had been many years, concrete blocks. leaving openings for windows. however, since the original CUMC/WF cookbook But not all projects had the funds to purchase the had been published. So, being optimistic and windows. With strong support from the sale of the apple pies and other fund raisers, the intergenerational mission chose to purchase the windows, which were installed later by the home owners. Another special feature was the participation by the Collegiate/Wesley’s Holy Tearers, who made quilts for the Juarez families. The intergenerational mission group has also worked at the Emergency Residence Project in Ames, including picking up furniture for donation. The making of apple pies to fund the intergen- Carol Alexander Phillips, Darra Johnson, Carolyn Cornette, erational trips has become a tradition at CUMC/WF. Lee Bergren & Deborah Blaedel making pies. Members of all ages take part in making delicious oven ready pies. From 2002 to 2011, the number of perhaps unrealistic, we decided to put out a more pies made each year ranged from 130 to 215, with complete cookbook. funds raised at $1,200 to $1,500 each year. We began the project in the fall of 2004, and Through the decade that the intergenerational our goal was to have the cookbook ready for Christ- missions have been ongoing, many church mas purchase. Little did we realize the intricacies of members have been involved. The mission trips the publishing business and the work entailed in have typically involved twenty to twenty-five collecting recipes from the congregation. people, working to improve the lives of families and We decided to opt for more time by photocopy- individuals both in Mexico and in Ames, as well as ing a “teaser” called “Souper Supper Sampler.” This in other U.S. cities. Dozens more church members was a brochure of four pages, folded in half, and are involved in making and buying the wonderful containing seventeen recipes. The Sampler, with its apple pies that are sold for fund raising. lovely border of reddish poinsettias, was to be used Patty King as a Christmas card. It sold for $1 which allowed the purchaser to take $1 off the cookbook price when it was published. As mentioned before, Sher-

ry and I were optimistic entrepreneurs and we envi- nursery. Scott then exited stage left toward the sioned orders coming from all over the world for the south hallway, assuming the children would follow Souper teaser. him offstage. Unexpectedly, however, the children, The Souper Supper cookbooks were available taking Scott at his literal word, made a hasty exit for Valentine Day sales in 2005, and the project was stage right and headed down the east stairwell to a success. We sold all copies from orders state- the back door of the nursery (then located off Wes- wide, and felt the teaser was an effective sales pro- ley Hall). They bumped their way right through a motion. Proceeds were used to buy new dark off-stage space strewn with stage props and equipment for the church’s kitchen. Proceeds were down an even darker staircase. Watching from the also used to carry out our church’s commitment that front pew, I had visions of a multi-body pile-up at “In our quest to follow the example of Christ, we will the base of those unlighted stairs! After making my employ no circles of exclusion and we own hasty exit, I found the children all safe, but commit ourselves to loving acts of invitation, frantically knocking on the back door of the unlit and locked nursery. After much convincing that we didn’t really need the blankets… “It’s just a play!”… we all crept back upstairs and quietly rejoined the audience. Another year, another miracle! Dianna Nelson

“Moses and His Helpers” One of my favorite memories from the Rotation Sunday School program came while teaching in the drama room during the story called Wandering in Roger Coulson, Doug Provow, George Ladd, Gerald Hunter, the Wilderness. One Sunday while working with Bill Mengeling & Bob Farr at the Men’s Fellowship Group. first graders, I had a spunky little blonde girl playing hospitality, and reconciliation, providing ministry to, the part of Moses, leading her band of costumed for, and with all persons without exception.” We in- classmates as they wandered up and down the vite everyone to come and be fed. hallways (for forty years!), getting hungrier and thirstier. In one corner of the drama room, a high Sherry and I learned a lot about publishing. We school helper sat costumed as a desert nomad worked well together and look forward to eventually near a blue bowl of water serving as the pool at publishing Souper Supper II. Marah. As the thirsty crowd approached this oasis, Dolores Brown I “A Christmas Miracle” instructed Moses to taste the water and see if it was good to drink. The helpful nomad offered Mo- Years ago, Paula Anderson assured me that ses and others tiny cups of water dipped from the despite what rehearsals look like, there is always a pool. Because there was a trace of baking soda in Christmas Program Miracle. I have found that to be the true. I do recall one year, though, when I actually bottom of each cup, Moses and the others assured feared for the safety of the children! The script had us that the water was “horrible!” Reviewing the Bi- been written by middle schoolers. They set the ble Story, I encouraged a skeptical Moses to touch Christmas story in modern times, with “Maria” and the pool with her wooden staff. After a dramatic “Jose,” a young couple from Chicago, arriving in flourish of her staff and an equally dramatic plea to Ames and seeking help at CUMC/WF. God, Moses accepted another cup of water from Partway through the program Scott Grotewold the had called forward any younger children in the nomad. This time, because the cup was clean, audience to spontaneously “rehearse” for a the water was sweet and pure. Little Moses’ eyes Christmas scene. As the children gathered up widened and she laughed aloud. Just delighted, front, the characters of Maria and Jose arrived and she began waving her staff above her head, and explained to Scott that Maria was in labor and her exclaimed “I DID it, I DID it!!” “Who did it?” I asked. baby would be born any minute. As written in the After a pause, but still grinning, Moses replied, “Oh script, Scott replied that he would get help and that yeah…God did it.” Dianna Nelson the children would get some baby blankets from the 75

“ Three Generations at CUMC/WF” sung with the Music Men vocal quintet for 25 years, Our family’s history at CUMC/WF began in the performing for church services, weddings, memorial summer of 1962, when the Burns family—John, Pat, services, Bells and Brass concerts, as well as daughter, Paula, and performances in the community. son, Jim—moved to During the years all generations of family Ames from Des Moines. members have been involved in the programs We were long-time mem- and ministries of the church from MYF, mission bers of First Methodist trips and bell choirs to classes and various commit- Church in downtown Des tees—Nominations, Education, Worship, Music, Moines, where, in the late White Gifts Service, Nichols Scholarship, Senior 1950s, Rev. Wilbur Wil- Breakfast and Endowment. Pat and Paula are cox, was our minister. members of United Methodist Women. We were close to him Though Julie and Mark were both married at and his family. Collegiate neither lives near Ames. They come In 1962, he was minister at CUMC/WF, so we were back to worship when visiting, and we all still feel pleased when he paid our family a visit only a few that CUMC/WF is our family’s church home. We days after we moved in, to personally invite us to have immeasurable gratitude for the significant part attend Collegiate. that Collegiate United Methodist Church/Wesley For the next five decades, Collegiate formed the Foundation has played in the lives of our family foundation of our spiritual life, as the family grew to members. The close ties and bonds seem to be- include another generation. Paula married Paul An- come even more significant with the derson in the Collegiate sanctuary in 1971 and then passing of time. What a came the 3rd generation: children Julie and Mark An- blessing it is as we travel our faith journey! Paula derson. The Paul Anderson family twice played the Anderson part of the Holy Family in the White Gift Service. We helped with the lighting of the Advent Candles and sang for many Christmas Eve family services. Throughout the years, music has played a major role in our family’s faith journey. Jim and sister Paula sang in the youth choirs in the 1960s. Julie and Mark sang in the youth choirs during the 1980s and 1990s, later as Iowa State University students joining Paul and Paula in Chancel Choir. Paul and Paula continue singing in Chancel Choir. In the 1960’s Paula began playing in the newly established bell choirs under the direction of Betty Jo Wilcox and continues to play under the direction of Dee Dreeszen. Julie and Mark also played in bell choirs. Pat Burns sang in the Jubilee Singers. Paula was accompanist for Choristers Choir, Chapel Choir, and Wesley Singers. Mark was director of Wesley Singers while he was a student at Iowa State. There were three generations—John, Paul, Paula, and Mark—playing in the Sunday School Jamboree Band and the Wesley Hall Jazz Band. Paul has performed with the Collegiate Brass, a brass quintet, at church services, weddings, memorial services, United Meth- odist Annual Conference, Bells and Brass concerts, in over 600 performances for more than 25 years. Paul has written almost 700 musical arrangements for the Collegiate Brass. Paul has

“Culture of the Call” Award — 2011

In the Spring of 2011, the Foundation for Evangelism of The United Methodist Church named Collegiate UMChurch as the second recipient of its “Culture of the Call” award. Only one congregation per year is named to this “Hall of Fame” recognition. The acknowledgment of CUMC’s practice of loving members and friends into ministry is on a par with the recognition by The Christian Century back in 1950. The award is based only on persons associated with a congregation who are under 35 years of age entering the professional ministry in the last 15 years, or since 1996. The idea that Collegiate/Wesley has carried on its nearly-100-year history of tradition of nurturing future pastors, educators, and missionaries is a testament to its value to the Church of Jesus Christ. (A list of persons who have entered professional ministry after first being associated with Collegiate/Wesley can be found on page 83.) Because only congregations—and not campus ministries—are eligible for the award, the award does not carry the name of the Wesley Foundation with it. In his nomination of the church for the recognition, Rev. Scott Grotewold wrote, “Collegiate has organized itself around the process of discipleship. Its clusters and teams are encouraged to move members and friends toward service and a life of giving to others. The congregation at its heart understands its mission to welcome and engage with young adults who come to Ames from all over the world for an education. An growing core of people make it their special task to take students ‘under their wing,’ giving them a ‘home away from home,’ and identify those with special gifts or potential for full-time Christian service. Un- doubtedly, many more student-disciples have been developed to be leaders for their future congregations, whether or not they enter professional ministry.” Below is the announcement of the award as it appeared in the Summer, 2011 issue of Forward, the magazine of the Foundation for Evangelism. On the following page is an article about the award lauding Collegiate in the September/October 2011 issue of Interpreter, the primary program interpretation publication of United Methodist Communications.

Afterword

“Continuing in the Spirit: The History of Collegiate United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation, 1991-2011, covers twenty years of our history. Or, to put it another way, roughly a generation. During that time, we have witnessed many changes. New members have arrived and others have moved away. We have welcomed new pastors and said goodbye to departing ones. Babies have been baptized, young people have grown up, and we have mourned the passing of beloved family members and dear friends. A generation sees us through the milestones of life, and we have seen that here at CUMC/WF.

The years have also seen change in the physical structure of our church. We have expanded with the purchase of the Annex, enjoyed a beautifully renovated chapel, and appreciated a remodeling project which created a Gathering Space, additional office facilities, and more spacious quarters for Wesley Foundation. Our church and Wesley Foundation, always a comfortable, warm, and welcoming place, has become even more so during the past generation.

Still, many things have remained the same. Our congregation has held fast to cherished traditions: the rich, full sound of organ music on Sunday morning; the beautiful ringing tones of the Bell Choir; the magic of Christmas Eve, with the sanctuary bathed in the soft glow of candle light; and those wonderful church potlucks. We honor that which was given to us by those who came before. Most of all, we remain committed to spreading Christ’s message, and being filled with gratitude for his love.

What will the future hold for CUMC/WF? Undoubtedly, more change. But when a new generation sits down to write the next history of our church, we are confident it will reflect the spirit of Christian love, our members’ vitality and commitment to serve others, and the welcoming nature of our congregation. They, like we, will be blessed to be a part of Collegiate United Methodist Church/ Wesley Foundation. Dorothy Schwieder, editor

Members in Conference & District Leadership

CUMC/WF Members’ Service at Conference, District and Jurisdictional Levels Members of CUMC/WF have not only given generously of their time to activities within Collegiate/ Wesley, but have also been heavily involved in church activities outside our own institution. The following are the names of CUMC/WF members who have served in conference, district, and jurisdictional level committees. We apologize for any omissions. Compiled by Maureen Wilt Conference:

Annual Conference Secretary: Janet Stephenson Annual Conference Sessions Committee: Patty King, Lisa Larson CCOM Executive Committee: Bev Kruempel, Roger Volker CCOM General Membership Associate Council Director: George Wylie CCOM Personnel Committee: Bev Kruempel, Ron Orth CCOM Program Review Committee Consultant: George Wylie Communication Director: George Wylie Council on Finance and Administration: C.J. Gauger, Dana Williams Iowa Annual Conference Journal Committee and editor of the Book of Resolutions: Patty King Board of Discipleship: Tim Gossett, Janet Stephenson, Betty Stout Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry: Janet Stephenson, Ken Kruempel, Scott Grotewold, Lester Moore, Ted Solomon Board of Ordained Ministry: Cindy McCalmont, Roger Coulson, Kay Silet, Linda Butler, David Stout Commission on Alcohol Problems: Lester Moore, Janet Stephenson Commission on Status and Role of Women: Patty King, Mike King Committee on Clergy Misconduct—Division of Elders: Cindy McCalmont Conference Nominating and Leadership Development Committee: Lester Moore, Mike King, Craig Beer Council on Ministries: Bev Kruempel, Lester Moore Council on Ministry, Division of Wesley Foundation: Ken Kruempel, Scott Grotewold Council on Youth Ministry: Tim Gossett, Barb Mittman IAC Planning and Research Committee: Roger Volker, Jim Davis Age Level Council, Family Advocate: Carol Volker Age Level Council: Dale Farnham Board of Pensions: J.T. Scott Campsite Board, Wesley Woods: Eryn O’Hare CCMC Nominating Committee: John Jacobson Christian Venture Commission: Barb Mittman Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns: Frank Amos Delegate to General Conference: Lester Moore, Janet Stephenson Delegate to Jurisdictional Conference: Lester More, Janet Stephenson, Lisa Larson, West Steel 81

Commission on Equitable Compensation: Lester Moore Committee on Archives and History: Doug Provow Committee on Investigation: Kay Silet Committee on Religion and Race: Orville Berbano Cornell College Trustee: Janet Stephenson General Board of Church and Society: Anna Blaedel Iowa United Methodist Foundation Board: Lester Moore Iowa Wesleyan College Conference Trustee: Lester Moore Jurisdictional Responsibilities—Episcopacy: Janet Stephenson Legislative Advocacy Standing Committee: Janet Stephenson Restorative Justice: Jim Davis Standing Committee on Program: Eryn O’Hare, Julie Wehner CATMOS Human Sexuality Committee: Betty Stout CCMC Executive Committee, Planning and Research Chair: Jim Davis Conference Resolutions Committee: Tony Netusil Council on Children’s Ministries: Donna Niday Council on Family Ministry: Roger Coulson Division of Thanksgiving Ingathering: Ron Orth Iowa Christian Educators Fellowship: Tim Gossett, Trish Hallihan Iowa Women in Ministry: Cindy McCalmont Joint Review Committee, Lay Observer: Roger Coulson Jurisdictional Mission Council Representative: Patty King Methodist Federation for Social Action: Jim Davis Standing Committee on Parish Development: Jim Davis Standing Committee on Promotion and Marketing: Lester Moore Chair on Committee on the Superintendent: Roger Coulson

District: Church Location and Building: Paul Lundy, Dean Walters, Ted Solomon, Jim Stiles, Scott Grotewold, Lucy Futrell District Committee on Ordained Ministry: Scott Grotewold, Patty King, David Stout, Jim Stiles, Barb Mittman

People Who Went into Professional Ministry after first being associated with Collegiate/Wesley

Allan Anderson Dave Higdon Tom Pickles Lisa Baker Art Hill Ruth Points Anita Bane Edythe Hill Wil Ranney Michael Biklen Brenda Hunter Hobson Jim Reitz Anna Blaedel Melanie Homan Lane Riggle Kimberly Daniels Bowles Jeff Huber Lynn Ryon Keith Briggs Vincent James Frank Seydel Carroll Brown Alana Jacobsen Dolores Santos-Sheets Steve Buchele Deb Johnson Alfred Schneck Jaymee Glenn-Burns Jill Johnson Dana Williams Scopatz Melissa Cavillo Charles Kellogg Jim Shirbroun Clark Christian Ron Kerr Nan Smith Ryan Christianson James King John Squire Burton Collier Corrine Kleppe Deb Stowers Steve Cree Jeff Kodis Ted Stowers John Darlington, Sr. Carol Kress Fred Vanderwerf Bob Dean Everett Laning Dean Walters Jon Disburg Dave Leachman Julie Wehner Chris Ebbers Don Leo George White Dick Eis Stan Long Weldon Whitenack Allyson Prater Ellis Paul Lundy Ryan Beeman Wieland Tim Ellsworth Jerry Mark Tim Wilcox Denton Ericson Susan Englehorn Marrier Steven Williams Ellen Fairchild Jeanne Martin Mark Young Ken Finneran Cindy McCalmont Ward Young Tim Gossett Brian Milford Herb Gould Steven Miller Robert Griffin Dick Mootheart Eric Guy Clarence Morrison Douglas Harding Janet Nord Harold Harryman

Persons Currently Preparing for Ministry

Chris Hockley—Pacific School of Religion, Berkley California Nikki Ross Bishop—Dubuque Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa Adrienne Ashford Thorp—Iliff School of Theology, Denver, Colorado Farrukh Bhatti—Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois

CUMC/WF Endowment Fund

The Endowment Fund of Collegiate United by the gift in that year. The church entity (cluster, Methodist Church & Wesley Foundation was team, board, or committee) most closely-related to conceived in 1985 by the administrative board to the gifted project administers the expenditure of the allow persons to include the church in their wills, as granted funds—not the Endowment Board. beneficiaries for insurance policies, or with gifts of The fund began to mature with several larger property. The fund was incorporated in the State of gifts in the mid-2000s. By the end of 2010—through Iowa in 1986. gifts, investments, and market growth—the value of The by-laws were adopted by a vote of a the fund had reached more than three-quarters of a Charge Conference on June 16, 1987. According million dollars. Annual distributions currently ex- to the by-laws, the primary intent of the fund is ceed $4,000. Gifts from the fund have helped the to “solicit, accept, hold, invest, re-invest, and church improve facilities and programs and have administer gifts, bequests, devices, benefits of impacted the community. The chart on the next trusts, and property of any sort without limitation page shows the growth of the fund over the last ten as to amount or value . . . for the benefit, welfare, years, including the three substantial bequests re- and betterment of the property and program of ceived, as well as the ways the church/foundation Collegiate/Wesley.” has used the annual gift from the fund. The income from the fund may be used for a Because of the recent growth in fund value, variety of purposes, including purchasing real the Board of Directors are presently focusing on property, property improvement or repairs, starting investment management, by-law reviews, and new church/foundation programs, publicity of appropriate pay-out and distributions. existing programs and activities, and support of The Board of Directors in 2010 was chaired an approved Conference benevolence (mission) by Shane Jacobson and vice-chaired by Jeremy ministry. Galvin. The treasurer is Dean Phillips and secretary In its first years, the Board of Directors (elected is Carol Volker. Other Board members include by the Collegiate/Wesley Charge Conference) Lester Moore, Gary Taylor, Shawnna Murphy, Lo- determined that any earnings by the fund ought to raine Safly, Mike Bowman, and Rev. Scott be rolled back into the fund, so that the principal Grotewold. could grow. Over the course of the 80s and 90s, Shane Jacobson & Scott Grotewold the fund grew modestly with gifts from the congregation. Investments in the fund allowed for growth. In 2002, the Board decided to use $1000 of its earnings to supply Sunday morning worship services with color bulletin covers on communion Sundays as publicity for the Endowment Fund. Beginning in 2005, when the fund achieved the quarter-million dollar milestone, it was determined to give an amount of approximately 1% of the year-end balance of the fund as a gift to the church/ foundation to support one of the allowed purposes of the fund. Typically, the pastor presents to the Board several needs in the program life or property of the church. The Board discusses the needs and determines which of the needs should be funded

CUMC/WF Endowment Fund 2000—2010

Church Other Grants Use of Expenses Unrealized January 1 Gifts to Given from Grant (see note Gain or (Loss) December 31 Year Market Value Fund Note Fund Funds K) to Investment Market Value 2000 $ 144,511.13 $ 812.00 $ 2,503.28 $ 147,826.41 2001 $ 147,826.41 $ 1,485.00 $ (176.60) $ (5,493.94) $ 143,640.87 2002 $ 143,640.87 $ 1,802.00 $ (1,000.00) see note A $ (19,782.85) $ 124,660.02 2003 $ 124,660.02 $ 2,254.00 $ 21,671.15 $ 148,585.17 2004 $ 148,585.17 $ 89,143.95 see B $ 27,275.31 $ 265,004.43 2005 $ 265,004.43 $ 4,717.08 $ (1,500.00) see note C $(1,185.56) $ 25,968.59 $ 293,004.54 2006 $ 293,004.54 $ 143,067.78 see D $ (1,500.00) see note E $ 43,932.38 $ 478,504.70 2007 $ 478,504.70 $ 4,947.08 $ (5,000.00) see note F $ 50,969.97 $ 529,421.75 2008 $ 529,421.75 $ 6,619.08 $ (5,000.00) see note G $ (166,626.45) $ 364,414.38 2009 $ 364,414.38 $ 4,067.00 $ (1,000.00) see note H $ (294.25) $ 90,658.71 $ 457,845.84 2010 $ 457,845.84 $ 209,932.69 see I $ (7,200.00) see note J $ 101,674.55 $ 762,253.08 Totals (2000-2010) $ 468,847.66 $ (22,200.00) $(1,656.41) $ 172,750.70 Notes: A. The grant was used by the Relating People to God Cluster (Worship) for printing of color bulletins. B. The primary source of contributions during this year was a bequest from the estate of Edith Hewitt. C. The grant was used by the Relating People to God Cluster (Worship) for the purchase of additional, needed The Faith We Sing hymnals. D. The primary source of contributions during this year was a bequest from the estate of Mary Adams. E. The grant was used by the Relating People to God Cluster (Worship) for the purchase of additional, needed pew Bibles. F. The grant was used by the Board of Trustees and Property Committee for renovations in the church apartment occupied by the Campus Ministry Associate (primarily the replacement of windows). G. The grant was used by the Board of Trustees and Property Committee for landscaping supplies for the church/foundation courtyard (supporting the Eagle Scout project of Scott MacDonald). H. The grand was used by the Sending to Serve Cluster to support the Community Assistance Fund administered by the pastors, as the fund had experienced a high number of requests for assistance during the year. I. The primary source of contributions this year was a bequest from the estate of Adel Throckmorton. J. The grant was used by the Board of Trustees and Property Committee to help with the cost of the installation of the Gilgal (rain garden and water retention pond). $2900 of the $7200 granted from the Endowment Fund was from the 2009 grant, but held until the installation of the project. $4600 was the amount of the 2010 grant. K. The expenses incurred by the fund in 2001, 2005, and 2009 were for the printing of pew envelopes for the fund and for promotional brochures.

CUMC/WF Comparative Budgets 1986-2010

To make this comparative study of budgets spanning 25 years, some adjustments were necessary. For example, money given to missions was not included in the church budget for most years. Therefore, the 2010 budget year (when it was shown) does not include the funds given to missions. In other areas, subjective decisions were made to determine where to include line items from one budget to another. Eve- ry attempt was made to be as accurate as possible, so that when readers were making comparisons across the years, they are able to compare apples-to-apples.

Comparative Budgets 1986-2010 expressed as percentage of the budget

Appendix

The Wesley Foundation Timeline Tim Gossett marries WF student Kathryn Fountain 1991 through 2009 and moves to Ohio for seminary. Fred Vanderwerf 1991 becomes Campus Ministry Associate. Janet Stephenson receives the Ruth Marshall 1993 award for "outstanding contribution to the efforts Highlights listed for Fall 1993 (by Campus Ministry of campus ministry in Ames." Associate Fred Verderwerf) include: January • Cell Group Bible Studies (on-campus and led Plans are announced for two Wesley retreats by students) one for the Koinonia Community, the other for • Intramural Volleyball Conciliate (the student planning team). • Annual Hayride Tim Ellsworth joins the campus ministry staff as Assoc. in University Student Ministries (AUSM… • Des Moines Flood Relief Trips pronounced “awesome”). Tim’s early responsibili- • New Wesley Foundation t-shirts ties included leading a study on War and Peace 1994 and facilitating a Sunday School class focusing on personal problem solving and relationships. June February Senior Pastor Scott Grotewold is appointed to Collegiate/Wesley as Rev. George White moves Eight ISU faculty who are also CUMC/WF members to his new appointment in Davenport. Rev. Cindy have Sunday Supper and discussion with ISU McCalmont joined the CUMC/WF staff as Minister students in a Faculty-Student Dialogue. of Spiritual Formation and Pastoral Care as Rev. March Jim Stiles moves to Spirit Lake. Scott and Cindy Wesley Students participate in a spring break will share primary campus ministry responsibilities. mission trip to Kentucky. July August The church apartment receives a facelift in Two new signs are placed along Lincoln Way, preparation for the arrival of a new CMA who will one highlighting the Wesley Foundation. be living there (Eryn O’Hare). A fourteen year old church station wagon is August replaced by a fifteen passenger van. While Two new Campus Ministry Associates join the C/W available for use by all ministry areas, the van, staff. Eryn O’Hare and Tim Wilcox will join newly eventually dubbed “Bob” (de Vaney?) will take appointed pastors Cindy McCalmont and Scott many Wesley students far and wide in the Grotewold in coordinating campus ministry. following years. September November Students participate in the 4th Annual Emmaus In the previous six months Koinonia House has Retreat. been furnished with new bedroom furniture and 1995 a new boiler and heating system were installed. Landscaping was done by summer residents. Spring Semester 1995 plans include the following: Twelve students currently live there. Study groups (“Meeting Jesus Again for the First The Wesley Foundation produces a “CUMC/WF Time” and “BVD: Beliefs and Values)”. th 75 Anniversary Cookbook” which sells for $8.50. Discussion led by Rev. Scott Grotewold, “Joy” led 1992 by CMA Eryn O’Hare and “Questions of Faith” led Rev. David Stout moves to West Des Moines, CMA 87

by Tim Wilcox. Students enjoy a bike ride to, through and home Deputation to Rippey-Fairview (where former CMA from Ledges State Park. Rev. Eric Guy was appointed). An average of 27 students are participating in Desperados (Peer Ministry Program) Vespers (student-led worship) on Wednesday nights. Conciliate (Student Planning Team) Chris Price will be the director of Wesley Singers Vespers (Student-led worship) (student choir) for 1995-1996. Popcorn Under the Pews (movie discussion) Koinonia House, an intentionally ecumenical February Christian community housed next door to the church, is home to eleven students and one person Students lead worship on February 12, “University in need of temporary housing for the Fall semester. Student Sunday”. Students covenant to gather for evening meals, March house meetings, weekly Bible study and keep up Eight students and both Campus Ministry Assoc. on their particular “JOY” (chore). attend spring break in Washington, D.C., studying October homelessness and violence through the United Graduate students and working young adults are Methodist Office of Seminars on National and meeting twice each month and have taken the International Affairs. name “Twenty-Somethings”. Rev. Cindy McCalmont leads a discussion with Nineteen students attend the 5th Annual Emmaus students on “How to Pray.” Retreat. April Students attend “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Ste- Ten representatives of our Wesley Foundation phens Auditorium. attend the Midwest Student Christian Gathering An average of twenty-two students are attending in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. “Sunday Night Suppers” home-cooked meals “Communion in the Union” was held on Wednes- provided by Collegiate parishioners when the days in the Memorial Union Chapel. Open to all. ISU dining centers are closed. The third “not-always-annual” Wesley VEISHEA Several Wesley students join members of CUMC/ party was held in the CMA apartment. WF for a 6-part study entitled “The Church Studies May Homosexuality” in October and November. Every congregation in the Iowa Annual Conference has “Send Out Vespers”, the last Vespers (student-led been asked to conduct the study. worship) of the year brings reflections on past memories and memories yet to be made at the November Wesley Foundation. Wesley students take their first Deputation of the June year to Lehigh and Otho United Methodist Church- es. Deputations involve teams of students visiting Campus Ministry Associate Tim Wilcox left the local churches in Iowa to assist with worship lead- position to get married and to enroll in seminary. ership and otherwise share the stories of our cam- July pus ministries. Rev. Dean Walters joins the Collegiate /Wesley December staff. Among the responsibilities for this 1/2 time Wesley Foundation Board sponsors a Progressive position were “special communities within the Wes- Dinner for students. ley Foundation.” Seven students live in Koinonia Community over the summer. 1996 August March The 4th Annual Pizza Taste off determined the “best Students from the Iowa State Wesley Foundation pizza in Ames” (no record of winner). join students from Illinois State’s Wesley Foundation for a spring break trip to Titusville, September Florida March 8-17 where they worked with Habitat for Humanity. 88

September Koinonia Community House which will now be Students took the first of several infamous canoe known as Wesley Place. The name change also trips down the Des Moines River, including an brings a change in programming. Previous overnight stay at Ledges State Park. residents needed to have no formal connection to CUMC/WF. In the future, at least for the time being, Students attend the first Annual Statewide United residents will be Peer Ministers with the Wesley Methodist Student Retreat at Camp Wesley Foundation. Woods in Indianola. The retreat is a response to the formation of a new, denomination-wide United June Methodist Student Movement. Rev. Jim Shirbroun assumes the role of Campus October Minister. Undergrad Wesley students attend the 6th Annual August Emmaus Retreat. The “Twenty-Somethings The Peer Ministry team expands to SIX! Shannon Graduate Student and Professional Young Adults” Apple, Jilly Hutzell, Kimberly Daniels, Annette Niel- group also went off on retreat. son, Matt McAllister and Nathan Eslick. November October Koinonia Community, upon celebrating its twentieth The Wesley bunch invites students from Collegiate anniversary, will enter “a new dimension of Presbyterian to join them on a horse-drawn hayride ministry” as it becomes housing for Peer Ministers, and bonfire on Halloween. students who take responsibility for specific areas November of campus ministry. This move is seen and has been approved as a two year experiment. Patty A Deputation team heads to Dayton to lead two King, Eryn O’Hare and Susan Rayl are named to a worship experiences. task force to develop Peer Minister job descriptions December for four to eight students expected to be named to Students trek to Des Moines for Christmas the team in Fall 1997. shopping followed by dinner at Spaghetti Works. December Yet another Progressive Dinner is hosted by Wes- Wesley Students “Adopt A Family” in their ley Foundation Board members and other members Christmas Mission Project, raising $326.29 (with of Collegiate/Wesley. help from the Wesley Foundation Board). Students 1998 purchased clothing and toys for the children of a local family in need. January 1997 Midweek chapel (“worship in the middle of campus in the middle of the middle day of the week”) begins January in the Memorial Union Chapel. Three young women (Kimberly Daniels, Annette March Nielson and Michelle Mayfield) are Peer Ministers in a revised, expanded structure of student ministry. A mighty handful of students trekked to Grand Forks, North Dakota to do flood recovery work February including insulation and drywall installation. Students are invited to participate in interviews with Twelve students head to West Liberty to lead a candidate for a full-time Campus Ministry. worship in two locations. April April Students participate in the Midwest Student Students bake and sell cookies to raise money for Christian Gathering in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. the Building Project, generating over $100. This year’s theme is “How to be Single, Sexual and Christian”. A “Cerebral Cyclone” (brainstorm) session is held to generate student ideas and enthusiasm for fall Students go on a deputation to Knoxville UMC programs. (home of Jilly and Cari). August The Wesley Foundation Board votes to rename 89

The University Student Sunday School Class be- Carmen Lampe-Zietler, Director of Children and gins using FaithLink, a current events curriculum Family Urban Ministries (CFUM) at Trinity UMC resource which comes to us via internet download in Des Moines, is the guest speaker at Sunday each week. Supper. September The Vision/Action Team, a new group involving WERNAC (“Why ER Needs A Chaplain”) debuts. students in planning, carrying out and evaluating Students watch the NBC hospital drama (ER) and our campus ministries, is born. discuss the spiritual implications thereof. February October The Breakfast Club is born. Students begin to travel Twelve Wesley students threw a Harvest Party for to Des Moines weekly to assist with the Breakfast children of Arbor Hills. Activities included pumpkin Club at Trinity UMC, leaving at 6 a.m. and returning painting, goofy games, food and more. by 9:15 a.m.! Fifteen students are gathering each week in four Wesley students gather with students from St. Covenant Discipleship groups. Thomas Acquinas Roman Catholic Church for a United Methodist/Roman Catholic dialogue. Emmaus ’98 has the theme “Seeing Jesus Again for the First Time”. Nathan Eslick is the student director of “Wesley Singers”. More than twenty Wesley Students November planned and led Sunday morning worship for Eight ISU Wesley folk joined forty others from the “University Student Sunday”. four Iowa United Methodist Colleges and three oth- March er Wesley Foundations at “Under Construction”, the latest renewal attempt of the Iowa United Students participate in a spring break mission trip Methodist Student Movement. A new ministry is to Kansas City. spawned when students attending one of the April workshops learn of two Des Moines United Wesley students head to Nevada First UMC to lead Methodist ministries serving children. a youth group meeting. Students went to Marshalltown’s Hope UMC to May lead worship. A gift from a generous “Wesley Alum” makes a year December -ending “Spring Fling” possible, complete with Plans are finalized and last-minute registrations mini-golf, pizza and more. taken for the Winter Break Mission trip to St. Louis The first ever “Finals Week Breakfasts” are held. and Kingdom House, an exciting, vital inner-city Each morning of final exam week campus pastor ministry sponsored by the United Methodist Jim Shirbroun (and helpers) make a variety of big Church. breakfasts (pancakes, French toast, bagels, eggs The “Squirrels” (the name changes but always and ham and custom-made omelets) to give includes the word squirrels), the music team from students extra strength and nourishment for their Vespers plays their version of “What Child is This” arduous week. at the all-church White Gifts Service. August 1999 A “Welcome to Wesley” picnic is held to welcome January new and returning students to our campus ministry An article in the ISU Daily detailed Collegiate/ and congregation. Wesley’s purchase of and plans for a 1.7-acre site September near the corner of Lincoln Way and Sheldon Ave. Monthly service projects are instituted. “Saturday (just southwest of CUMC/WF’s existing property). Service Projects” educate students about and Included were mentions of future additions to the involve them in local service organizations such main facility, including a new student lounge. as the Emergency Residence Project, Youth and Students gather for a Super Bowl Party. Shelter Services and Boys and Girls Club. Food collections are made for the Mid-Iowa Community

Action food bank. April October Wesley students are encouraged to invite their Wesley students participate in an ISU Homecoming favorite faculty or staff person to a “Student, Faculty “Blitz Build” for Habitat for Humanity. and Staff Dinner.” Students have the opportunity to participate in Students design, build and operate a mini-golf yet another service project with children at a Des course for VEISHEA visitors. Moines United Methodist Church “Gatchel After August School”. Back to school brings a new plan to help students November get to worship. Our new bus (“Gus”) makes the “Finders Keepers”, a fall retreat, focuses on finding rounds to Richardson Court, through the Greek (and keeping): time with God, a meaningful, housing and apartments and then to the Towers growing faith and ways to put your faith into action. each Sunday morning. Our Wesley Foundation sponsors a booth at “Faith The weekly Wesley Foundation newsletter, long Works” at the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. A known as “Campus Ministry News,” gets a new project of the Campus Ministers Association (a name ”Faith at the Center.” group of religious leaders from a variety of faith September communities around ISU and Ames), Faith Works Students staff the Wesley Foundation booth at is designed to expose students and others to short ISU’s ClubFest to share the news about our and long term opportunities with service agencies campus ministries. of many types, including the UMC. Our booth featured a young woman from the US2 domestic A new book study is launched focusing on Marcus mission program of the UMC. Borg’s “The God we Never Knew: Beyond Dogmatic Religion to a More Authentic Students are invited to attend a UM Conference Contemporary Faith.” ministry exploration event, “Here I am Lord, Now What?” in Newton. October December We hold our third (or fourth?) annual horse-drawn hayride and our gazillionth Fall Retreat. The first-ever Wesley Christmas card, featuring photos of activities throughout the year, is sent to Volunteer student leaders are sought to serve parents and home congregations of Wesley on one of five teams to help plan, implement and students. evaluate our campus ministries. The teams are: Relating to God, Nurturing in the Faith, Sending to 2000 Serve, Hospitality and Inreach and Publicity and January Promotion. A Vision/Action Team retreat is held to help launch Students are invited and encouraged to join spring semester activities. other members and friends of Collegiate/Wesley February in a time of discernment and decision around the congregation’s proposed “Statement of More than forty Wesley students (via Collegiate Reconciliation”. The statement is approved in a Bells, Wesley Singers, liturgists, speakers and landslide. The central portion of the statement many behind the scenes workers) led worship on reads: “University Student Sunday”. Collegiate United Methodist church welcomes March and affirms all persons without regard to gender, Students are invited to participate in an all-church ethnic background, sexual orientation, national book study on “The Meaning of Jesus-Two Visions” origin, age, physical or mental ability, marital facilitated by Rev. Jim Shirbroun. status, economic condition, or anything else Wesley Students participate in a spring break which threatens to divide God's family. In our mission trip to the City Rescue Mission in quest to follow the example of Christ, we will Oklahoma City. (Did we take “Gus”? When was employ no circles of exclusion and we commit the white bus purchased?) ourselves to loving acts of invitation, hospitality, 91

and reconciliation, providing ministry to, for, the congregation to join them. and with all persons without exception. Dr. Luther Felder, Assistant General Secretary of November the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry We hold a kegger (relax, it’s root beer!) and pizza of the UMC, visited Collegiate/Wesley for a party in the attic of Wesley Place. We discover consultation. Dr. Felder toured campus with student three things. 1) that’s a LOT of root beer! 2) that guides, sat in on several Wesley Foundation much root beer is HEAVY 3) none of us really activities, held discussions with students, C/W LIKE root beer. staff and parishioners and the Wesley Foundation Board. In addition to listening to us, Dr. Felder December updated us on campus ministry happenings around Students head to Des Moines to go Christmas the denomination. caroling at the airport. The planning process for a new worship experience Wesley students worked with a Sunday night soup has begun and students and other parishioners are kitchen, a “Cheer Giving” holiday basket program being asked to help name it. Early planning calls for (providing food and gifts to needy families) and seating worship participants at round tables and enjoyed hot chocolate on the Magnificent Mile amid inviting all to enjoy a meal following worship. diamond encrusted shoppers and million dollar Some of the suggested names are: Fresh Bread, apartments during their winter break mission trip to Openings, Hope’s Table, Abe and Sarah’s Chicago. Their primary focus of operations was the Roadside Diner, Journey’s Table, faithspring, United Church of Rogers Park, the northernmost Cross Currents and Ignite. lakefront neighborhood in Chicago. August 2001 faithspring, our new alternative worship experience January is born. Held on Sunday nights, faithspring features casual seating, a café (serving popcorn and “Wanted: Six Courageous Questioners” is the lemonade throughout worship), a live band, big headline on an article seeking participants in the screen with graphics, lyrics and movie clips and newest Wesley book study, this time reading and communion each week. faithspring happens in discussing John Shelby Spong’s book “Why Collegiate/Wesley’s Annex at 130 S. Sheldon. Christianity Must Change or Die.” September Web-servants are sought to upgrade the Wesley Foundation website. Students are reading and discussing “Stealing Jesus” by Bruce Bawer. February Collegiate/Wesley is the site for a statewide We hold a Valentine’s Party for children from Arbor Leadership Retreat for students from other Wesley Hills (apartments just West of the church), and Foundations and church-related colleges in the Emergency Residence Project. state. March The events of September 11 spawn many deep A spring break mission trip “Dousing Fires of Hate” discussions, both formal and informal, among which would have headed South to repair churches students at our Wesley Foundation. damaged in recent hate crimes must be cancelled. October Instead, students return to the City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City which has moved into a Participants in University Student Sunday School wonderful new facility since we were last there. Class are discussing Islam. Our primary project, in addition to serving several Leah Olusiyi, a delightful leader of the United meals, was setting up a children’s library. Methodist Church in Nigeria, was our guest preach- April er at faithspring. Students plan and lead the Easter Sunrise Worship November experience. The Board of Discipleship of the Iowa Annual Students from the UM Student Center (Wesley Conference awarded a $9,750 grant to faithspring. Foundation) host a Seder Meal, inviting youth from The money will be used for advertising, weekly

supplies, worship expenses and other program- A new service opportunity is born as Wesley related needs during 2002. In granting this request students head to the Boys and Girls club once a the Board of Discipleship expressed its excitement week to do “great, fun stuff” with kids there. for this unique ministry within our conference and April hoped we will share our experience with other churches who might wish to start a similar service. A Letter to the editor of the ISU Daily in response to vandalism of LBGTAA Awareness Day posters on 2002 campus includes an invitation to a time of prayer January for love and understanding at the United Methodist Wesley student Nathaniel Ginder is leading a study Student Center (Wesley Foundation). In his of the book, “Jesus at 2000”. letter which contains a portion of CUMC/WF’s Reconciling Statement, Campus Minister Jim Students nearing graduation are invited to Shirbroun writes, “I am proud to be part of a participate in “GOMO: Getting Out/Moving On”, congregation and campus ministry where gay and a Wesley Foundation sponsored small group lesbian persons and those who know, love and designed to help them deal with the stresses of support them can find strength, guidance, hope and transitioning from life at ISU to whatever is next. a community of faith”. We begin a pilot group for “Companions in Christ,” The Saturday Service Project this month introduces a new spiritual growth curriculum resource from the many students to the “Suited for Work” clothing United Methodist Church. closet. Participants empty rooms of winter clothes, Students are encouraged to visit a “very new, very paint the rooms and move in the spring clothes. cool” website called “MethodX the Way of Christ” “Student Voices” is the sermon series as faithspring designed by the folks at the Upper Room, a closes out its first year. Bringing the message week discipleship and spiritual growth ministry of the by week are: Ryan Christenson (graduating ISU UMC. student headed to seminary), Ginny McCalmont “Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Taking and Emily Morris (from CUMC/WF’s 8th grade the Bible Seriously but not Literally” is the title of confirmation class), Lindsey Beglinger (graduating the newest Bible study being offered to Wesley ISU student) and Mike and Jilly Brand (graduating students. ISU students.) February An alumni donation makes two year-end “Pie Parties” possible. In addition to sharing dessert, We take advantage of our very own movie theater participants are asked to share their vision for the in the Annex at “Reel Faith”, a movie viewing and year ahead at our United Methodist Student Center. discussion series which brings together students and other Collegiate/Wesley folks during Lent. The spring version of GOMO (Getting Out/Moving Featured films are: Chocolat, The Mission, On) finds CUMC/WF members Bev Kruempel and Groundhog Day, Spitfire Grill and Romero. Stephanie Hamilton sharing career and financial planning insights with students and Rev. Cindy The HUGE screen in the Annex is not only good McCalmont talking on “Saying Goodbye-Keeping for worship and movies. Students discover how in Touch.” stunning the Olympics look there too! May Several Wesley students have put together a Len- ten calendar challenging others to take a Barbara and Bruce Munson host a “Graduate day-by-day look at their lifestyles and make Celebration Dinner” for all Wesley students moving contributions to a great mission project at the to the end of their ISU undergrad experience. same time. Non-student Wesley Foundation Board Summer plans include our first-ever “Barbecue members match the funds raised by the students Bible Studies,” canoe trip, camping and more. and the money is given to a school building project in Chile. June March The Wesley Foundation has a booth at ISU’s “Summer Orientation Resource Fair” throughout the faithspring features Taize style worship one Sunday month of June. Students and campus ministry staff night. greet incoming freshmen and their parents and 93

share with them about our campus ministries. Meghan Wymore, Jonathan Brand, Amanda August Heeren and Ellyn Moore attend the United Methodist Student Forum at Albright College New and returning students begin to hear about in Reading, Pennsylvania. upcoming trips to Chicago (for ministry exploration), New York (service/learning over Spring Break) and 2004 Albuquerque (a huge student gathering for worship, January workshops and more over Winter Break). The Wesley Foundation’s third “Murder Mystery” September is featured in the Iowa State Daily. Campus Pastor A five-week sermon series at faithspring entitled, Jim Shirbroun is quoted as saying, “This is a way “Finding Home” includes the sermons “Strangers for students who may not feel comfortable coming in a Strange Land” by Rev. Jim Shirbroun, into a church setting to become involved in a “Wandering” by Rev. Scott Grotewold and “Lord I fun activity without any pressure. It is a unique Want to be a Christian, But How?” by Rev. Cindy stand-alone event that is fun, social and maybe McCalmont. a potential on-ramp for those who do choose to see what else we have to offer here."

March November Wesley students head to Perryville, Arkansas, the The computer lab, a cooperative project between home ranch of the Heifer Project for a week of the Wesley Foundation and the Christian Education service-learning. In addition to working with department at Collegiate/Wesley, opens. gardening, composting and livestock projects and 2003 learning about the mission and ministries of Heifer Project in the US and around the world, the January students spend the night in the Global Village, We host our first-ever “Murder Mystery” with twenty experiencing the way people around the world five guests! live, including factors which limit housing, food, August water, education and more. Katherine Parker joins the Campus Ministry Staff as May Associate in University Student Ministry for the “Friends in Faith”, a program designed to quickly academic year 2003-2004. provide students new to Wesley and ISU with a October personal connection within our family of faith, begins. Coordinators of Friends in Faith are After the success of our first Murder Mystery, we seeking ISU students and non-student adults who do it again! This time Katherine Parker and Jim would like to be matched with one or two incoming Shirbroun write it themselves, spending over twenty ISU students during the coming fall semester. four hours in the process (and swearing “never again!”). Thirty five people attend. June An ISU Daily article unpacking the religious Adrienne Ashford comes on board as our CMA. significance of All-Saints Day and distinguishing Students design a PowerPoint presentation which it from Halloween includes quotes from several is burned onto cds and sent out with our summer religious leaders in Ames including Campus Pastor mailing. The presentation is a “virtual tour” of our Jim Shirbroun who said, “It's a celebration of those facilities and explanation of many of our exciting persons who have been really important in our ministries, complete with photos, of course. individual faith journeys and [the congregation's] August faith journeys," He said every congregation may do something different, but at the Collegiate United Peer Ministers Emily Blaedel, Ahren Grebner, Alys- Methodist Church/Wesley Foundation, church sa Emanuelson, Amanda Heeren and Ryan members name the person they want to honor and Seeberger go on a pre-semester retreat. The five light a candle to celebrate his or her life and the will be working with new CMA Adrienne Ashford impact he or she had on the congregation. and Campus Pastor Jim Shirbroun focusing on building community and hospitality. December

faithspring, our alternative worship experience, faithspring sermons for October included: “The Soul enters its fourth year with a series entitled “What of Politics” and “Hope for the Future” by Rev. Jim Does it Mean”. Sermons in the series will include: Shirbroun and “What if Jesus Were Running for “What Does it Mean to be Saved?...be Born President” by Rev. Cindy McCalmont. again?...Believe?...Pray?.. be a New Creation?”… CUMC/WF member Mary Beth Oostenbrug A special “All Music” faithspring, featuring music by invites students to be part of a Women’s Spirituality the faithspring band, will happen September 5. Group to explore dimensions of personality, For the third year or so, Wesley Foundation communication, relationships, life goals, careers students deliver bottles of ice cold water to the and spirituality. Iowa State University Cyclone Football “Varsity” November Marching Band in the middle of a hot rehearsal. Our Saturday Service Project finds us making September fleece scarves for children who are part of the Wesley students collect over ONE TON of food for ministries at Trinity UMC in Des Moines. the Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) Food Bank Christy Hanthorn, a Senior at ISU, delivers the in their Saturday Service Project “Super Market faithspring message on “Music”. Stakeout.” The non-perishable items are then stacked outside the Student Lounge for a few days 1 Timothy 4:12, the Wesley Foundation Traveling for CUMC/WF folks to see before being delivered Worship Team, goes to Creston to lead worship. to MICA. Elise Benzing is the student director of Wesley Wesley students are reading and discussing Singers. “The Heart of Christianity” by Marcus Borg. 2005 1 Timothy 4:12, the Wesley Foundation traveling January worship team, meets under the direction of Peer Adrienne Ashford, Campus Ministry Associate, Minister Amanda Heeren to discuss and plan for went to Brazil for the World Social Forum. their upcoming appearances in churches around Iowa. Students are invited to come to one (or more!) “Desserts for Eight”. Participants not only enjoy Due to the arrival of some freshmen students with good, gooey desserts but meet other students and “puppet experience” to the Wesley Foundation, learn about the spring lineup of activities and the CUMC/WF Puppet Troupe is resurrected. events at our Wesley Foundation. WERNAC (Why ER Needs a Chaplain) is Emily Nieman is facilitating “Intersections” which pre-empted this week due to a viewing and she describes as “a discussion/Bible study/spiritual discussion of the Presidential Debate. disciplines group” in the Wesley Place attic. October Elsa Swenson and Dana Squier share leadership of “Think, Pray, Vote” is a four week series designed “Balance,” a Bible study “discussing and exploring to help ISU students become better informed, talk how to find and create balance in our lives”…also in over the issues and examine the interface of faith the Wesley Place attic. and politics leading up to the November elections. February Our Wesley Foundation “Faith as Seen on TV” The Wesley Foundation participates in its first ever ministries are featured in the ISU Daily. Alyssa KaleidoQuiz, a twenty six hour trivia contest Emanuelson and Ryan Seeberger shared their sponsored by ISU’s student-run radio station KU- thoughts about WERNAC (Why ER Needs a RE. They finished in the middle of the pack, Chaplain)” and our viewing and discussing “Joan a very good showing by a newbie team! of Arcadia.” The campus ministry staff (Adrienne and Jim), Campus Ministry Associate Adrienne Ashford will to raise awareness of and show solidarity with facilitate “--isms and –ations,” to discuss social brothers and sisters around the world who have issues and their relationship to the Christian faith. very little to eat—are eating rice and beans each Possible topics include: racism, globalization, day during Lent and invite others to join them. environmentalism, starvation, and immigration. Midweek chapel on Ash Wednesday includes the

imposition of ashes. A group of Wesley students will visit a local mosque The “God As…” sermon series at faithspring for the Friday prayer service. features sermons entitled, “God as Trunk Monkey”, “God as Lover” and “God as Sheriff”. May Meghan Wymore coordinates three “Worship Road Students graduating from ISU are recognized at Trips” to Calvary, Korean UMC and First UMC in all three Sunday worship experiences (8:30 and Ames. 11 a.m. and faithspring at 5:30 p.m.) The faithspring planning team seeks additional Summer student input regarding controversial issues for the upcoming sermon series, “Hot Potatoes”. Barbecue Bible Studies continue to bring students together for food, fellowship and spiritual growth Amanda Heeren coordinates a group of students to during the summer. go to Boone UMC to hear Bishop Gregory Palmer preach. The month of June finds the campus ministry staff “working the booth” at Summer Orientation March Resource Fair, welcoming incoming ISU students A Pizza Taste-Off seems like a great way to scam and their parents to our “backyard picnic” setting, nearly every pizza place in town out of at least one providing cool lemonade, a place to sit and, of free pizza and, therefore, feed a bunch of hungry course, lots of information about our ministries. students for FREE so we resurrected this once- After a month of searching, discernment, prayer traditional program with great success. and discussion, the theme “Find Your Path, Share Six Wesley students (Jocelyn Wiarda, Andy the Journey” is adopted by the Wesley Foundation Thomas, Valerie Morrison, Amanda Heeren, for the fall Semester. (It remains our primary Dan Groepper and Emily Blaedel) along with CMA “slogan”). Adrienne Ashford and Campus Pastor Jim September Shirbroun traveled to San Francisco for the spring break mission trip. Participants experienced three The Reach Team of Rachel McCulloh, Melanie widely different service projects, various worship Hinnah and Emily Nieman report that in the first styles and settings, contact with many cultures, lots month of classes over 120 different students have of great food, amazing sightseeing opportunities worshipped at Collegiate/Wesley for the first time. and nearly every form of transportation known. Wesley students staked out Kmart asking shoppers Students from the Wesley Foundation at the for donations of items for health kits to send to University of Iowa joined in. survivors of Hurricane Katrina. Then they The “Hot Potatoes” series at faithspring includes assembled twenty-six of the kits and sent them these sermons: “Our Father” (God language), off for the Gulf Coast. “Word for Word” (Interpreting God’s Message) The Wesley team handed out 600 custom-labeled and “Thinking about Drinking.” bottles of water and 1,000 imprinted Post-It notes at April ClubFest, ISU’s annual student organization “trade show”. Ryan Seeberger, ISU student and ever-present leader of/participant in nearly everything the Wes- October ley Foundation does, begins “Club Annex”, a Our first “Faith in Focus” series, featuring films and smoke-free/alcohol-free “night club” featuring the television shows for viewing and discussion, is latest music, great light shows, a huge dance floor covered in an article in the ISU Daily. Included in and inexpensive refreshments for college-aged the series are episodes of Murphy Brown (political (and beyond) in the CUMC/WF Annex. correctness), The West Wing (racial and religious Retired ISU physics professor Fred Wohn tolerance) and two documentary films…”Coming facilitated “Science and Religion”, a four week Out, Coming In” (gay Christians) and “The Doors discussion group. Are Open” (what is an inclusive church and why should we care?). Wesley student Ahren Grebner begins a running group. November

Plans are underway for the 2nd annual intergenera- “Questions of Faith” is offered as a short-term study tion mission trip to Juarez, Mexico in which several group for students. Wesley students will participate. Rachel Cox, ISU freshman, is leading others in a Participants in an all-church African meal donate casual discussion of the book “Blue Like Jazz”. over $1600 to support student Emily Nieman’s The Wesley Foundation sponsors Dead Week Volunteer in Mission trip to the Democratic Stress Relievers each night during Dead Week, Republic of the Congo. including a Dessert Buffet, Movie Night, Bowling Dead Week Stress Relievers are: Chocolate Buffet, and Indoor and Outdoor Games. Wallace & Gromit marathon, Game Night, Finger May Painting and Club Annex. Thanks went out to George Wylie, CUMC/WF 2006 member, who broke (on purpose!) approximately January twenty five dozen eggs for omelets and French Emily Nieman, former “Dweller” (Wesley Place Toast served during Finals Week Breakfasts. Two resident) and Wesley Reach Team member, travels of the eight students who participated in the Wesley to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to do Spring Break Mission trip shared their experiences mission work. doing Hurricane Katrina relief work in the Collegiate/Wesley Communicator (newsletter). “United Methodism 101: (re)learning United Methodism”, a study for those who either never August attended confirmation or forgot all they learned, Four students make up the Reach Team for Fall is offered to students. ’06…Lisa Larson, Mark Eckman, Kimberly Fergu- February son and Rachel McCulloh. Their primary tasks are: Outreach to students not yet involved in Wesley Adrienne Ashford leads Wesley students in a activities, Inreach to build community among those four week study of “Enough,” aimed at helping already involved and follow-up with new student participants find the meaning of “enough” in a worship visitors. society which tells us more is better. Publicity projects for fall include table tents at the A great team of Wesley students (and one alum!) Memorial Union and dining halls, window displays provided supper (chili and hot dogs!) for the Supper in the Union, signboards around campus August— Club, a meal program sponsored by Children and October, and information packets delivered to Family Urban Ministries at Trinity UMC in Des each residential fraternity and sorority and each Moines. They discovered having a “preacher’s Community Advisor in the residence halls. kid” in the group is helpful when looking for light switches in a dark sanctuary. We begin “Living the Questions,” a study of progressive Christianity featuring top preachers, ISU staffers provide LGBT Ally Training in our theologians, bible scholars and authors (who student lounge. appear via DVD). Rachael Cox volunteers to teach yoga to other Freshman Lisa Larson starts a student jazz band, students. eventually known as “Jazzin’ for Jesus.” March Cathy Compton and Elyse Flagg are student ISU Wesley students are joined by others from the directors of Wesley Singers. University of Northern Iowa to travel to Moss Point, September Mississippi, to assist with relief work in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. After long days of difficult, dirty New additions to the lineup of activities and events work students relaxed over, among other things, at the United Methodist Student Center include a their own adaptation of the classic game “Apples “A Closer Look at Christianity…For Experts and to Apples”, dubbed “Apples and Oranges”. Beginners”, a study of World Religions called “Not Alone”, a service-learning study entitled “Living Peace and Justice” and “Living the Questions.” The Wesley Foundation sponsors “Improv @ the April Annex,” bringing a national improvisational comedy

team to entertain students and community students) is posted on our website. members. “The World Religions Tour”, our Winter Break We begin “Lunch with Adrienne and Jim”. Students Service-Learning Trip, takes us to Chicago. A are invited to bring their lunch to the Memorial culmination of our “Not Alone” study of enduring Union’s Maintenance Shop and enjoy food, world religions, participants learn more about fellowship and informal discussion once a week. Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism Insights from our Wesley Foundation lectionary and more, including worship in these traditions. Bible study group are shared each week with 2007 the faithspring planning team which works to January incorporate them into the music, ambience and messages at faithspring CMA Adrienne Ashford and students coordinate and staff a very successful blood drive. October February Campus Ministry Associate Adrienne Ashford coordinates a display of the “Shower of Stoles” Wesley students enjoy an ice skating party. at Collegiate/Wesley and ISU’s Memorial Union. An outreach subcommittee for the WF met to The Shower of Stoles is a collection of over 1,000 discuss options for projects that would enhance liturgical stoles and other sacred items from gay, and build upon the outreach activities already lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons from being performed by the church. The project goals twenty six denominations in six countries. Each as outlined by the committee are to: stole contains the story of an LGBT person who Increase connection between students and the is or has been active in the life and leadership of church (i.e. Wesley Foundation, Collegiate their faith community and, among other things, Methodist, and Planned student events). lifts up those who have been excluded from service because of their sexual orientation/gender identity. Improve communication and collaboration between The display was in conjunction with the eighth student’s “home” church, Wesley Foundation, and anniversary celebration of the adoption of the the students attending ISU statement of reconciliation by CUMC/WF. Increase student involvement and total number “Faith in Focus”, a short-term Wesley Foundation of participants by focusing on United Methodist study, invites students to watch and discuss two strengths of openness, caring, and friendship documentaries (“The Education of Shelby Knox” Possible projects include: Wesley Student and “Hell House”) and an Academy Award winning Ambassadors, Celebrating Connections (Bishop movie (“Crash”). Visit & Hog Roast) and ISU Student Local Pastors November Visits. The discussion spawns the establishment of the “Special Projects-Outreach” ministry area and Our Wesley Foundation is in the news (ISU Daily) the position of a “Special Projects-Outreach once again. The article, with the rather peculiar Coordinator”. headline, “Church plays host to forum to dissect world religions”, told of our five-part series looking Two groups of Wesley students are engaged in a at enduring world religions. Quoted in the article study of the United Methodist Social Principles. were students David Prater and Megan Harvey. Adrienne Ashford establishes a monthly Perhaps the first-ever incidence of Turkey Bowling e-newsletter to churches in the Iowa Annual in the halls of Collegiate/Wesley occurred at the Conference which features the happenings at all Wesley Foundation Thanksgiving Party. There four Wesley Foundations in Iowa. were no injuries (well, except to the turkey). April December Students from the Wesley Foundation enter the The now-traditional Wesley Foundation Christmas VEISHEA parade for the first time in perhaps fifty Card (filled with photos and sent to parental homes years. Our entry (conceived, designed, constructed and home churches of active students) goes digital and staffed by students) celebrated the past, as the “card” filled with photos from our many present and future of the Wesley Foundation, activities throughout the year (featuring 80-100 emphasizing our ministry with students, faculty

and staff of Iowa State. A sign on the back of the It appeared everyone (even the “victim”) had a entry remembers the victims of the recent shooting great time at our Murder Mystery (our 7th or 8th… at Virginia Tech. who can keep track?)! Best costume went to Lisa April 29 is a day of remembrance and celebration Haney who shared best actress honors with Aman- before construction and renovations begin on our da Willems. Best Actor went to Mat Wymore. Nikki building. Students are among those participating in Ross ended up with the most cash at evening’s end formal and informal ways in the groundbreaking. and Cathy Cooney and Lisa Haney were the only two guests to correctly deduce (guess?) the nasty June murderer, Nathan Ross! Naomi Sea Young Wittstruck joins the Collegiate/ November Wesley Staff as Campus Ministry Associate. Nanette, Buzz and Eli Heginger invite the Wesley August crew to their place for a bonfire and great food. As Iowa State students began pouring into Ames 2008 (either for the first time or returning), we welcomed them, as usual, to Collegiate United Methodist January Church/Wesley Foundation with our sincere Rev. Linda Butler joins the CUMC/WF pastoral staff smiles, solid programs, dedicated staff, passionate as Minister of Spiritual Formation and Pastoral worship...and a few chairs and a television set Care. crammed into one end of a storage room. Due to The new semester of faithspring worship begins asbestos abatement and renovation throughout our with a four week sermon series entitled existing building and construction of a wonderful “Summoned.” Based on the powerful contemporary new addition, THAT was our Student Lounge...site hymn, “The Summons,” this series will look at of Bible studies, discussion groups, fellowship God’s call in our lives, as modeled in the life and activities, planning meetings and more! teachings of Christ. Each week a different verse September of the hymn will be examined and discussed. Naomi Sea Young Wittstruck, our Campus Ministry “The Phoenix Affirmations” book study begins. Associate, preaches at faithspring. The twelve central affirmative principles of Christian The GARGoyles (Graduates and Recent faith covered are built on the three great loves Graduates) group has its first ever meeting at the Bible reveals: love of God, love of neighbor, Steven Schroder’s home. and love of self. They reflect commitments to environmental stewardship, social justice, At our September Saturday Service Project we did artistic expression and openness to other faiths. a bunch of work for ERP (Emergency Residence Transcending theological and culture wars, Project), Ames’ home-less shelter and for the inclusive and generous in spirit and practice, these Matthew 25 house, a transitional home for men principles ask believers and seekers alike to affirm recently released from prison. their Christian faith in a fresh way. CUMC/WF Director of Christian Education February Tim Gossett facilitates the first gathering of Connections, a Sunday School class for grad Ruth Powell and other students organize a “Buzzkill students, post-grads and anyone in their 20s and Volleyball Tournament” to raise awareness and 30s. The group meets in Wesley Place. money for “Nothing But Nets”, a malaria prevention program through the United Methodist Church. The Wesley Foundation has a "trash team" that meets every Sunday morning at the mini-bank Rev. Linda Butler kicks off our new faithspring parking lot at 8:00 a.m. before worship to help sermon series…“MythBusters”, a look at “myths” clean-up trash that has accumulated over the of Christianity. Linda will be sharing “Fun Myths weekend from the church grounds. THANKS! Roman Catholics Have About Protestants and Vice Versa”. October March A group of students from the Wesley Foundation will be visiting and attending worship at Burns Unit- Naomi Sea Young Wittstruck coordinates FIJT ed Methodist Church in Des Moines. (Faith, Immigration, Justice and Transformation),

our Spring Break Service-Learning trip to Chicago. At Annual Conference sessions in Ames, Bev & We connect with anyone and everyone associated Ken Kruempel are given the Francis Asbury Award with immigration issues in the city (and also enjoy for their long support of Campus Ministry. Over the some wonderful sightseeing and great food). last year, students at the Wesley Foundation at Io- The Wesley Foundation is on Facebook! wa State have been working, along with the Wesley Foundation Board, to officially "Adopt A Highway". We host our first-ever Midnight Breakfast (are we On June 21, a small but mighty crew claimed and goofy or WHAT?!). cleaned two miles along Highway 30 east of Ames. Naomi Sea Young Wittstruck takes a job with the The expected cans, bottles, cups and miscellane- Conference Center. ous garbage was topped off by the very UNex- pected, a pair of (plastic) Canada Goose feet. The April feet, which have already starred in a "Time with the We start off the day (April 6) with one BIG worship Children" message in Sunday experience at 9:30 a.m. (instead of the usual 8:30 morning worship, just might find a home in a place and 11). Our Bishop, Gregory Palmer, is with us to of appropriate visibility and honor in the new celebrate the consecration of our new (and newly Student Lounge. remodeled) building! After worship, at around One Wesley Alum (recent graduate Lisa Larson) 11:15, the Bishop moved throughout the building and two current Wesley students (Sam Cotter and blessing the various areas. Students were asked to Ben Hucker) took the Good News of Christ and gather in our beautiful new Student Lounge to stories of the Wesley Foundation on the road in a share the blessing of that space. different way. The three were the "preachers of the faithspring worship, typically in our Annex, moved day" at Woodward United Methodist Church during to the new Student Lounge and continued our pastor Ben Carter Allen's absence. sermon series on “Reality Christianity”…a look at July the challenges of living life as a follower of Christ. Campus Ministry Associate Chris Hockley joins the Lisa Larson becomes our “Special Projects- staff. Outreach Coordinator” working on such projects as our monthly “Wesley Update Newsletter” (distributed via email to every church in the Annual August Conference), Pass the Pasta Pastor (inviting “home -church” pastors of ISU students to join those We add a Facebook page for alumni, too! students and our campus ministry staff for lunch), After years of delivering cookies to the dorm rooms a Fall Kick-Off Hog Roast and more. of students who have requested them (via our “Faith @ the Center”, our weekly student summer mailings, Summer Orientation Resource newsletter, bills the Student Lounge as the best Fair and other contacts) we’re required by the study space on campus, touting its amazing University to deliver cookies only via the hall desk features... to their mailboxes. Thanks to the completion of our construction and • LOTS of windows (with a great view) LEATHER renovation, we can welcome students into beautiful, furniture (ahhhhh!) comfortably furnished, completely accessible new • wireless internet access & cable tv a computer spaces. We can now invite students to come over station and study, or talk, or watch tv anytime between • free electricity (charge up on us!) free popcorn 8:00 a.m. and midnight. Instead of apologizing for (just ask Jim!) the dust and cramped accommodations, we can celebrate...instead of moaning, we can rejoice! We have an entry in the VEISHEA parade for the second year in a row. Once again, many students Campus Pastor Jim Shirbroun wrote…”The make our participation possible. transformation in our facilities and what it means for ministry was so clearly capsulized, Hot on the heels of our initial Midnight Breakfast we for me, in a few experiences in this first 10 days do it again…this time to an even bigger crowd. of this new semester, Fall 2008. One student, June sitting on our new terrace during our Welcome

100

Back to Wesley picnic asked, ‘Where would we The asbestos abatement, renovation and new be sitting right now without the Terrace? Where construction at Collegiate/Wesley were completely did these events happen before?’ The answer funded by generous donations from the C/W is the back yard which, as beautiful as it is, isn't congregation. No apportionment dollars were visible and welcoming.” spent. This is just one example of this The second experience occurred the next night at a congregation's gifts to the Iowa Annual Conference meal welcoming students, new and returning, to the through campus ministry. Wesley Foundation. The Terrace and Gathering September Space provided a tremendous setting on a beautiful Members of the ISU Atheists and Agnostics Society summer night. About seventy five people moved and representatives of Collegiate United Methodist inside and out, mostly sitting at our "umbrella Church and Wesley Foundation set up booths tables". outside the Parks Library on Friday to voice their They talked and talked and talked, some catching disapproval of Pulpit Freedom Sunday. Pulpit up on existing friendships, some beginning new Freedom Sunday is part of a program sponsored ones...relationships which could last a lifetime. The by some conservative Christian groups (called setting was such an improvement over recent years The Pulpit Initiative) which protests restrictions on with people standing rather awkwardly around, no church officials endorsing political candidates. Rev. place to sit or put their food. A few folks learned the Jim Shirbroun, Campus Pastor, was quoted in the low wall along the front of the Terrace makes a article, saying churches which participated in Pulpit great table, enabling one to stand, eat and watch Freedom Sunday are in danger of losing their tax the world go by. exempt status. “If they receive tax exemption, they Periodically we would invite people walking along shouldn’t spend money on supporting political Lincoln Way to come up and get some food...and candidates or political parties”, he said. periodically they did! Two young men (who'd just Campus Ministry Associate Chris Hockley and been passing by) asked, around BIG bites of sub Campus Pastor Jim Shirbroun are quoted in an sandwiches, when our worship times are. Without ISU Daily article entitled, “Intertwining Religion the Terrace, we might never have connected with and Politics in America”. them, never introduced them to the place and “Think, Pray, Vote” returns to the W/F schedule to people of our congregation and campus ministries. help students make faithful, informed decisions on Already thrilled with the facility, the visibility and the election day. Student Sam Cotter had this to say crowd, I went into the Gathering Space to check out about Think, Pray, Vote: our lists inviting students to sign-up for our various “Signs in popular culture indicate that we are a activities. Three young women, all new to our faith faith-searching nation. Our television shows community, were getting ready to leave. One said, aren't afraid to carry religious or spiritual “I probably shouldn't tell you this, because I'm Unit- themes. I see my peers searching for belonging, ed Methodist, but we DID drive around looking at community, and assurance of faith, just as I am. other churches.” Then, spreading her arms wide As news coverage of the political scene contin- she said, “But this one, more than any other, shout- ues to dissect the values of both candidates and ed out to us and said, 'You should come in here'!" voters, our media has not forgotten the role faith Just last night I saw a student studying in our new plays in the lives of candidates and voting Student Lounge. I soon found out the first week had constituents. been a struggle of home-sickness and study woes. I am blessed to be part of a study here at The wide windows of the Student Lounge helped Collegiate UMC/Wesley Foundation (CUMC/WF) this student discover a place to relax, to connect, that is helping me address the role that my faith to find some hope and to talk, briefly, about life. plays in my political beliefs. Think, Pray, Vote is What a great joy to have this tremendous addition an engaging discussion where I have the chance to our main facility. The sacrifices and struggles to discuss my own experience with God and pol- were worth it! It all works together, along with those itics, and hear about the experiences of of us who call Collegiate/Wesley our home, to others. The image of God and the message of shout loudly to those who might be looking for a Christ are sometimes twisted, adapted, or family of faith, "You should come in here". ignored to meet political agendas. It is refreshing 101

to take a realistic look at this year's election, and Rev. Janet Wolfe is our guest speaker at to do so as a thinking person of faith. faithspring. Worship is followed by a hog roast Recently, at the Memorial Union, CUMC/WF had on the front terrace of the main building. flyers that said "God is not a Republican or a Lisa Putz shared these thoughts about her Democrat." This statement caught the eye of experiences at Collegiate/Wesley in our many passing by. I was encouraged by the “Faith @ the Center” newsletter: enthusiasm people had in approaching this “Last spring break I went on the service learning year's election in a new way: putting partisan trip to Chicago. We toured the southern part of politics aside and looking at what is best for the city, taking part in service specifically our country and our world.” related to immigration. The trip was fantastic and CMA Chris Hockley facilitates “Paths” which he amazing and I returned ready and eager to start describes as exploring the "spiritual personalities" initiatives regarding immigration and/or social each person has and how, because of that, we justice within Ames. As is common, however, the relate to different worship practices and spiritual last few weeks of school caught up with me and disciplines differently. all of a sudden all ideas of social justice within Carli Johnson-Scott, a freshman at Iowa State, Ames got put on the backburner. Fortunately, shared these thoughts about the Wesley soon after my ideas got pushed aside, I got a call Foundation: from the Wesley Foundation Board chair saying that the Wesley Board wanted to have a social “I must say, coming to a new place where I justice group within the church. Things fell into know almost no one has been an interesting place, and now I am co-leading the Students for experience so far. As I have discovered, the Social Justice Group with another member of the people here at the Wesley Foundation are so Chicago spring trip crew, John Sheldahl. amazing and incredibly welcoming that I have probably immersed myself more in this church Social Justice is something that affects everyone. than any others in the past. I went the first Even though I am fortunate to have many Sunday after I moved into my dorm and found opportunities available to me doesn't mean that out about some various Bible studies for college I can forget about the millions of people who students. don't. Students for Social Justice is a group that works on remembering about and helping those I have been attending "Paths" for four weeks less fortunate than ourselves. During our time now. Through the past few weeks we have been together we discuss different social justice issues discussing and discovering our spiritual types in and learn how we can make a difference within our relationship with God and how we go about Ames. We are called to serve others. I encourage getting closer to God. Because of this study, I all to do so. Whether it is something large or have learned more about myself as a Christian small, the important thing is that you are reaching than in my entire life. I finally understand why out to others. So go-start reaching!” certain parts of worship just bore me and why I am so in touch with other parts. If I had any October advice for someone who hasn't been a part of The Board of Higher Education and Campus a real supportive community or just need some Ministry requested an “identity statement” from people to talk to and confide in, join a Bible each Wesley Foundation. Here, in part, is the study. There are so many and I have no doubt statement prepared by the campus ministry staff they are all equally as life-affecting as "Paths." of Collegiate UMC/Wesley Foundation. Chris is a great minister I have gotten to know “The Wesley Foundation (United Methodist Student and has so much to teach that it's an experience Center) at Iowa State University is in co-ministry you just can't pass up.” with Collegiate United Methodist Church. Our “One Piece of You” invites students to come share unique setting, a campus ministry with the loving a song, visual arts, something they’ve written, stand arms of a congregation wrapped around it is, it -up comedy or some other gifts. It’s not a contest seems to us, “the best of both worlds”…a family of (no prizes and no “gongs”), just a night of creativity faith with people of all ages PLUS activities and and talent. events planned (and carried out) with, by and for ISU students. 102

Vitality, tradition, inclusiveness and creativity are faith as they help others. We’ve done projects in crucial elements in this mix. Progressive theology, Chicago, San Francisco, Mexico and Mississippi a strong call to mission, meaningful and varied recently.” worship and an openness to all are some of the November results. Mat Wymore, Ruth Powell, Cathy Cooney and Music…There are all kinds of music at Collegiate/ Sam Cotter take the Maintenance Shop stage in Wesley & all kinds of opportunities to listen to or “Got Questions? So Do We” a play written and MAKE it! We have vocal and bell choirs just for produced by Campus Ministry Associate Chris students. Our faithspring band is a great place for Hockley. those who like things a bit rockier and a freshman started a Jazz Band several years ago! “Sneak Peek, Input and Pie Parties” are held to obtain and develop student programming ideas for If listening is your thing, you’ll typically hear Fall 2009 (and to eat pie). traditional worship music on Sunday mornings at 8:30 or 11, but there’s a change in style every once The Wesley Foundation sponsored a silent in a while. candle-light vigil lamenting some of the recent legislative actions regarding LGBT issues around Food, Friends and Fun…The “three f’s” are part of the country and standing in solidarity with our just about everything we do, but SOME of our sisters and brothers. activities REALLY emphasize them. Every week students may dig into Wednesday night Soup December Suppers, Lunch @ the Union and Sunday Supper. Students take advantage of our glass “billboards” There are Game Nights, Friday Fun, Intramurals facing Lincoln way (aka the windows of our Student and “once-in-a-while specials” like Progressive Lounge) by painting invitations to Finals Week Dinners and even Murder Mysteries! Breakfasts. Worshipping God…You’ll find at least four worship Year-end reflections came from two students. First, opportunities most weeks… Nikki Ross shared some thoughts about midweek • Sunday mornings @ 8:30 and 11 chapel: • Sunday nights (faithspring) at 5:30 “I have attended midweek chapel for over a year now and I love it. It is right in the middle of the • mid-week chapel Wednesdays from week-in the middle of the day. For me it is the 12:15-12:45 at the Union quiet center of my week. It is a time to sing a Contemporary, Alternative, Indigenous, Informal, few songs, pray, hear a devotional, and be in Laid-back…whatever you call it, faithspring is community with others. We follow the Taizé style worship for those who, once in a while or all the worship, which focuses on sung prayers. It is a time, want something different from traditional very relaxing style that calms the mind, body, and worship. faithspring features a live band and 3 big spirit. We also have a time of sharing our joys, screens for lyrics, images and video clips. Seating concerns, and answering how it is with our souls. is around tables or on couches and there’s even We then lift each other up in prayer all week. It popcorn and other refreshments. Most important, is so good for me to be able to share what is on faithspring is designed to help students worship my heart and to know that others are continuing God in deep, meaningful ways. faithspring happens to pray for me all week. Midweek helps me to at 5:30 Sundays during the school year. remember God during my busiest time of the week and to change my focus from all of the Growing in Faith…Bible studies, small group stress of school to the joys of living for God in discussions, covenant discipleship groups and Christian community.” more help students @ the ISU Wesley Foundation continue and deepen their relationship with God. Cathy Cooney had this to say about our Morning Prayer Time: Putting Faith into Action…Saturday Service Projects, Spring and Winter Break Service/Learning “Until recently, my morning routine consisted of Trips, Intergenerational Mission Experiences and a throwing on some clothes, eating an omelet, and variety of on-going volunteer opportunities in and heading off to class. Then our campus ministry around Ames allow Wesley students to live out their began offering a morning prayer time from 7 to 8

103

in Nichol's Chapel. I don't go every day, and I in the Black tradition and Taize worship. Students never stay very long (maybe 5 or 15 minutes), may also, of course, opt for the Sunday morning but it still brightens my day. I've found that this sermon series at Collegiate United Methodist time of silence and conversation with God is a Church/Wesley Foundation…”Living the Dream in great way to start a crazy day of college life. I Nightmarish Times.” also love the fact that it's not rigidly structured or Students from the Wesley Foundation at Iowa State something that I feel obligated to attend every went on a winter retreat. Participants heard from day. I am welcome to come at 7 or at 7:50. I can students heading up each of six ministry areas stay for 2 minutes or for 30. If the desire to sleep (Acts of Mercy, Worship, Spiritual Disciplines, in wins out and I miss a day or two, that's fine as Community, Social Justice and Outreach) about well. But those days I go to prayer time in the activities and events coming up this Spring chapel, I enjoy those few moments of serenity in Semester. Our faithspring band led worship. We quiet conversation with my Lord. I offer you the also participated in a service project, making "Hope opportunity to do the same.” Blankets" to be given to those welcoming babies The Wesley Foundation at Iowa State has recently into their families, confirmation class members, heard from two former participants who are working high school graduates, persons dealing with health to change the world. Amanda Thordsen continues issues or the death of loved ones. We also, of to serve in Haiti providing food, education and course, ate lots of food, stayed up VERY late, shelter for children and working in HIV/AIDS played some goofy games, went on a hike, and education, treatment and prevention. Chris Deal generally learned more about ourselves, one is in Uganda with a Rotary Ambassadorial another and God. We came back even more Scholarship studying in a Master's of Renewable pumped up about the great semester ahead. Energy program. While there, he's coordinating a April couple of service projects "on the side" including one aimed at providing a sustainable source of Members of Collegiate United Methodist Church mosquito nets for schools in rural Uganda to and the Atheist and Agnostic Student Association prevent the spread of malaria. unite in a silent protest Wednesday against Tom Short, a Christian preacher who frequently speaks Dead Week Stress Relievers featured Gingerbread on central campus. House Construction, Rockband, Movie Night, Board Game Night and more! Two students share their thoughts and feelings about our Wesley Foundation in the monthly We're in the midst of "Finals Week Breakfasts" “Wesley Foundation Update” (a "well-buttered machine in its 22nd semester", according to Campus Pastor Jim Shirbroun). Kimberly Ferguson writes: The menu for the week includes pancakes, “Looking back, my college experience has been custom-made omelets (2 mornings!) French defined by the people I have come to know and toast and "Bagel and Donut Bonanza"). the communities in which I have been involved. One community that has been especially 2009 formative for me is the community which I have January found at Collegiate United Methodist Church & The Wesley Foundation at Iowa State is beginning Wesley Foundation. This community is very spring semester with several "settling in" activities special to me, and the people there will always including games, movies, bowling, "deep thoughts" be close to my heart. discussion and a midnight breakfast. Once the As a member of the Wesley Foundation, I lead semester gets rolling students will be involved in a ministry area striving towards social justice Covenant Discipleship groups, worship planning, in our community, country, and world. My leadership and participation and a wide range of conversations and interactions with the people activities in the categories of Spiritual Disciplines, I have met through my faith community have Outreach, Justice, Community and Acts of Mercy. helped me better understand who I am and Our first faithspring (alternative worship experience) what inspires me. This community has given me of the semester featured a look inside 1st century the opportunity to build close relationships with worship. The next two weeks will focus on worship peers as well as people of older generations. I have communed with university professors, 104

authors, retired pastors, non-violent resisters, a need or sensed others could benefit. With each prisoners, city government officials, freedom step his skills and the strength of our ministries marchers, accomplished artists, and many other grew (and created new opportunities for us to make inspiring individuals. use of his leadership). Sam says, The people of my faith community encourage “A lot of leadership development is simply taking me to think for myself, to question the status- advantage of opportunities and offers which come quo, to speak for the marginalized, and to your way. The Wesley Foundation has given me act always with justice and mercy in mind. I many opportunities to get involved in leading and inevitably must leave the community which has participating in worship, studies and fellowship supported me so much these past few years. No activities at church. Through their guidance and matter where I choose to plant my roots after promptings, the Wesley Foundation clergy have graduation, I will take with me these important helped me develop spiritually as I have presented values encouraged through the relationships I ideas in worship and small groups. I have been have built in my faith community at Collegiate challenged by the opportunities to speak in United Methodist Church & Wesley Foundation.” worship and lead small groups and I have Cathy Cooney shares: always had the support of the faith community.” “The WF has been a central part of my college Sam has, to list just a few examples, initiated, experience. There's always something new and planned and facilitated on-campus discussion exciting going on, from a community service groups entitled "Spiritual People Discussing project to meditating by walking the labyrinth to Non-Religious Topics.” Sam is one of six students having fun at our annual Murder Mystery Party. on our Vision/Action Team, plays keyboards in our I've also made incredible friends here and found worship band, started our "Adopt-A-Highway" a true family of faith that always gives me the program and was part of an all-student preaching support I need. I wouldn't trade my experience team from the ISU Wesley Foundation which led with the Wesley Foundation for the world.” worship when a pastor of a nearby congregation May was on vacation. Each year (for many years) the WF’s in Iowa have He has been the driving force between our Midnight shared stories with the Iowa Annual Conference Breakfasts outreach program, preaches periodically around four aspects of our campus ministries… at our faithspring worship, is the Vice-Chair of our gifts we bring to the churches and people of the Wesley Foundation Board and so much more. His Conference. These are summarized in the state- wonderfully inviting and caring manner have led ment that our Wesley Foundations develop spiritual to the involvement and inclusion of many other leaders…in a community of faith...transforming the students. world....through Christian witness. This year we Two students (Jenny DeTar and Carli Johnson- were asked to focus on Leadership Development. Scott) and Campus Ministry Associate Chris Here is the story we shared: Hockley attended the United Methodist Student Sam Cotter came to the Wesley Foundation at Iowa Forum in Louisiana where they made new friends, State already a leader, to be sure. He'd been active shared information about our ministries and came in school, church and community activities for many back with good ideas for next fall. The theme of years. Yet it's no understatement to say his leader- the forum was “Breaking Barriers and Building ship skills have grown tremendously while he's Bridges." Carli and Jenny were part of an Iowa del- been a part of the Wesley Foundation. Sam says, egation of 8 students and 2 campus ministers. They “I have had opportunities for involvement and joined several hundred United Methodist leadership since my first year at Iowa State. The students from the United States and other countries pastors noticed my interest and involved me in to learn from one another, share their diversity and activities. A simple request or personal invitation develop their spiritual leadership in a pluralistic from a pastor or church friend was hard to turn world. down!" Summer Sam has taken a leadership role in nearly every A small group got together following Sunday ministry area and activity the Wesley Foundation worship to care for our "highway miles", picking up offers...then developed more ministries when he felt at least six BIG bags of trash. 105

The "FaithLink" Sunday morning study group We're keeping our sisters and brothers at the decided to keep meeting throughout the summer, University of Northern Iowa Wesley Foundation inexplicably voting to meet BEFORE morning in our prayers as they work to recover from the worship (at 8:30!). The class has begun a 5-week damage to their facility. study on food issues and our faithful responses... August hunger, obesity, local and sustainable agriculture, An old tradition of delivering bottles of cold water The Iowa Cubs outing was rained out but the group to the Iowa State University Cyclone Football went for "plan b"...they saw the movie "UP" and 'Varsity' Marching Band ended a few years ago otherwise wrecked havoc on Des Moines. when I realized how much plastic waste we were Wesley participants hosted “Operation generating. Jim’s spouse, Bev, helped us find a B.R.U.N.C.H.” (Bring Righteous Unity, Come NEW tradition…WATERMELON!! Four local Hungry) in June for the Collegiate/Wesley grocery stores (Fareway and HyVee) donated ten congregation. The pancakes and hashbrowns watermelons each and six students helped Chris FLEW out of the kitchen, feeding at least seventy and Jim haul, slice and distribute the melons. (Note five people. Another B.R.U.N.C.H. is happening in to self: 40 watermelons leave a LOT of rinds to be July. composted!). The watermelon crew and the band Campus ministry staff, students and volunteers had a wonderful time. from the Collegiate/Wesley congregation are We hosted our first Midnight Breakfast of fall 2009 "working the booth" at Iowa State's "Summer expecting MAYBE sixty students to join us. We Orientation Resource Fair.” Incoming students and lost count somewhere around ninety eight! Our their parents come to the Resource Fair at the end pancake makers started at 11:30 p.m. and didn't of 1.5 days of Orientation. We greet these often stomp cranking them out until after 1 a.m. The bleary-eyed, over-informed people and tell them omelet staff had the same schedule, producing ALL about our campus ministries. close to seventy omelets in ninety minutes. Each Wednesday night from six p.m. to 8 p.m. finds Students could also make-their-own waffles. us on the Terrace for "Barbecue Bible Study.” September Participants bring something for the grill. After we Our SECOND midnight breakfast of 2009 found eat we dig into scripture using a wide variety of nineteen volunteers (including the entire pastoral methods. staff of Collegiate/Wesley) serving over 200 We're going on a "Spiritual Mountaintop" nature students the night before the big Iowa State/Iowa hike to the Ledges State Park this Saturday, June football game (we shall not speak of the game 20 (leaving the church at 10 a.m. and returning itself!) around 3 p.m.). The NEXT Saturday, it's back to the Educational opportunities with our Wesley Ledges, THIS time by inner-tube! We're tubing Foundation Campus Ministry for fall ’09 include: down the Des Moines River and, we hope, stopping at the Ledges (otherwise it's Saylorville time, once • Dream, Think, Be, Do…a revision of the Living again). the Questions series, specifically designed to appeal more to young adults. We've spent six hours in two mini-retreats planning our faithspring alternative worship • FaithLink…our Sunday morning discussion experience. We've come up with some challenging, group held during the Sunday school hour. faith-forming and relevant topics and themes. • Christ Clips…watching and discussing the We've assembled our annual summer mailing to all spiritual implications of a wide variety of Iowa UM clergy and each incoming student with movies. United Methodist connections. • Social Justice book study…We’re reading Our Student Leadership (Vision/Action) Team will “Acts of Faith” by Eboo Patel. embark on a three day retreat Aug. 14-16 to make • Faces of Jesus is a display of dozens of final preparations for the Fall Semester and we'll images of Jesus…some old, some new, have a couple of "pre-classes" flings with a visit to some traditional, some very NON-traditional. the Iowa State Fair, a "Welcome Back to Wesley" Observers are asked to leave “sticky note” picnic.

106

comments sharing their thoughts, feelings and insights about the images. The interactive gallery resides in our Student Lounge (second floor of the new “North Wing”). Admission is, of course, FREE. Everyone is welcome during building hours (roughly 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.) when there are no groups meeting in the Student Lounge. Cathy Cooney, Vision/Action Team coordinator of our Spiritual Disciplines ministry area, facilitated a spiritual gifts inventory in September followed by “Sound Track of the Spirit”, a look at the music which moves us and helps us express our spirituality, in October. Lisa Putz, Vision/Action Team coordinator of our Outreach ministry area, initiates a program to encourage local churches to invite teams of students from our Wesley Foundation to come make connections with their youth groups, offering a “menu” of potential topics. Within a week, the first church contacts us and we begin planning the event. Plans are being made for our winter break mission trip to Tennessee. A new Wesley Welcome Team is formed. Students gather weekly for hospitality-focused centering, encouragement, training, discussions of experiences with greeting the previous week, strategizing for improvement and assigning of follow-up contacts.

107

108