UCC > Who We Are

In keeping with the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, we joyfully and unconditionally welcome all people of any age, gender, race, culture, ability or sexual orientation into our community of faith and affirm the worth of all people as unique individuals made in God's image. We are open to the unique gifts that each person brings and invite each one to participate in the life of our church.

Mission Statement

Staff

Hannah Carse, Children & Youth Coordinator
Becky A. Bridges, Secretary
Lesley Lackore, Choir Director
Barbara Atkins, Organist

Facilities

Sunday Worship Activities
Office Hours

Boards

Member Services Board
Worship and Music Board
Christian Education Board
Financial Stewardship Board
Social Justice and Outreach Board
Property Board

History

Mission Statement

We seek to realize Christian fellowship within our local congregation and the church universal by welcoming persons with diverse backgrounds, interests, and beliefs into our community of faith.

We are called by God to accept the cost and experience the joy of discipleship as we pursue our faith journey. This church is a community of people called by God to nurture each other, serve those in need, and transform our lives by listening attentively to God who is still speaking…

To accomplish this mission, we will provide opportunities for members and friends alike to engage in worship and celebration. We will provide a nurturing environment through fellowship, education, faith exploration, and growth in our journey. We will encourage the stewardship of our time, talents, financial resources, and the environment. We will pursue social justice and action, continuing to reach out beyond ourselves.

Staff

Hannah Carse, Children & Youth Director; amesucchannah@midiowa.net

We believe Christian Education is about learning the stories, singing the songs, being in fellowship with our friends at any age and doing it all in Christian love. -Hannah Carse

Lesley Lackore, Music Director

Our music program at UCC-Congregational encourages sharing our musical gifts to the glory of God. From choral masterworks to contemporary song, we explore diversity of expression as we make a joyful noise unto the Lord. -Lesley Lackore

Barbara Atkins, Organist

Becky A. Bridges, Administrative Assistant; uccames@midiowa.net

Facilities

Our church is located downtown at the corner of 6th Street and Kellogg Avenue, right across the intersection from the main post office on the northeast corner. The church office is next door to the east. The street address is: 217 6th Street.

Handicapped Accessible

Our building is handicapped accessible at the west and east entrances and provides a welcoming environment to the congregation and community.

Elevator at west entrance
Ramp at east entrance
Handicapped parking spaces at both entrances

Parking

Visitor parking is available on the street west of the church and in the city lot to the east.

Sunday Worship Activities

Continental Breakfast, 8:50 AM
Christian Education for all ages, 9:30 AM
Worship, 10:45 AM
- Summer Worship (Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, 9:30 AM)
Coffee Fellowship follows Worship

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM; 1:00 PM-4:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM; 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

Boards

Member Services Board

The role of the Member Services Board is to promote the well-being of our congregants by keeping its “finger on the pulse” of the congregation and to actively foster growth in commitment to develop, use, and share with others our time and talents in response to God's mission.

Worship and Music Board

The Worship and Music Board assists the Pastor in overseeing the spiritual well-being of the congregation and provides support to the Pastor for the weekly worship service.

Christian Education Board

The responsibility of the Christian Education Board is to create, foster, and facilitate Christian education programs for all ages and as such supervises and directs the educational programs and activities of the church, as well as initiates and maintains other religious education activities.

Financial Stewardship Board

The Financial Stewardship Board oversees the financial stewardship of the church and as such manages the solicitation, receipt, and deposit of financial contributions.

Social Justice and Outreach Board

The role of the Social Justice and Outreach Board is to support social justice issues in the world and to empower members to respond as Christians with concern and active caring. This board shall advance social justice causes by challenging the church and community to a deeper understanding that our response to these issues is part of our faithful response to God.

Property Board

The Property Board is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the buildings, grounds, and equipment, the insurance and bonding needs of the church, and the oversight responsibilities of the employees performing church maintenance and repair tasks.

History

The First Church in Ames

In the autumn of 1865, two Baptists, three Congregationalists, and three Presbyterians met with Reverend John White to discuss establishing a church in the newly established pioneer community of Ames, Iowa. The group adopted a resolution: "… we, members of different Evangelical churches, in good and regular standing in humble reliance upon Divine grace, and with sincere desires to promote God's glory, do organize ourselves into a church of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be called the First Congregational Church of Ames…"

Church services were held in the depot, with a buffalo robe thrown over a packing box for a pulpit and planks laid over nail kegs for seats. A simple wood frame church building was built at Sixth and Kellogg and dedicated on October 7, 1866. The pulpit was made at the college workshop. A Bible and the first communion set were gifts from Cynthia Duff's home congregation in Syracuse, New York. Oakes Ames, a congressman from Massachusetts and namesake of the town, sent a bell cast in Boston in 1866 that still rings in the steeple today.

A new brick church was constructed at Sixth and Kellogg in 1900. The building was enlarged in 1930, and the east wing was added in 1958. After the 1957 merger of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches nationally, the Ames church adopted the name United Church of Christ - Congregational.

When a campaign was launched to purchase a Kney pipe organ in 1963, the congregation voted to raise an additional 25% of the cost to finance community outreach projects. The tradition of setting aside a percentage of operating and capital improvement budgets to support outreach continues today. In 2003 the congregation added an elevator to the church, and financed a Habitat for Humanity home with the outreach portion of the campaign.