Men’s Lenten Breakfast
Ripley UCC Lenten and Spring Plans – 2026
● Lent 2026 Activities:
○ Lenten Project: Tama County Maternal Health (formerly the Storks Nest)
Focusing on anyone who is pregnant, postpartum, or for a child 1 year
old or less.
○ We are donating items or dollars for infants and toddlers
■ Donated items and a donation basket will be set up in the Sanctuary.
Leave your donations anytime during the Lent season
○ Their new initiative is called the Family Cabinet
■ They hope to provide community support for expectant mothers,
caregivers, and growing families in need. Their gifted items are
focused on pregnancy through first birthdays, and available at no
cost to the community.
■ Hoping for new and like new items. Learn more by picking up a
brochure in the Sanctuary.
○ Any Free Will Offering funds leftover from our Wednesday Night Meals
will be donated to our Lenten Project.
○ Ash Wednesday: Feb. 18th, 2026 – Sanctuary – 6:00 pm
○ Wednesday Night Meals and Reflections – Fellowship Hall
■ Feb. 25, March 4, 11, 18 and 25
● Supper starts at 6:00 pm followed by a devotional at 6:30 pm
■ Sign up in the kitchen to provide the meal
■ Enjoy the food and fellowship for a free will donation – but don’t let
that stop you from coming. If you don’t have any extra to give, come
and enjoy supper anyway.
● Cooks are welcome to take any or all their expenses for the meal
from the free will donation basket
● Remaining free will donations will be given to our Lenten Project.
○ Men’s Lenten Breakfasts – Details TBD
■ Feb. 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, April 1st
■ Ripley is signed up to host March 25th
● David Calderwood will organize the morning
● If anyone would like to give the message please let him know
○ Maundy Thursday April 2nd – Details TBD
○ Good Friday April 3rd – Details TBD
○ Easter: April 5th – Breakfast at 8:00 am and Service at 9:00 am
March 21st – The Traer Quilt Experience
Binding Faith and Community through Patchwork
Past – Present & Future
The Ripley Stitchers are working with the Traer Historical Museum and the Traer
Public Library to bring a Quilting Experience to the community in honor of National
Quilting Month-March & National Quilt Day – March 21st.
○ Ripley UCC Quiltshow and Exhibit 10am – 4pm
■ The Quilters will be showcasing their mission work.
■ The Ripley Family is invited to bring “special” quilts to share with
the community as part of our quilt show and include the story of
the quilt.
■ Exhibits will be featured throughout the church showcasing
patchwork.
■ Children’s activity / Make and Take .
■ Quilt recipients are being invited to participate: Sleep in
Heavenly Peace , C.H.A.T. , Americans for Independent Living,
Cedar Valley Hospice, Maternal Health and Wellness(formerly the
Stork’s Nest)
■ Donation Drive for fabric and sewing supplies no longer needed.
■ Ripley Missions Committee along with the Traer United Methodist
Church will be organizing lunch. serving 11am – 2pm
● Lunch for Purchase includes:
○ Choice of Chili, Chicken Noodle or Creamy Chicken
and Wild Rice Soup
○ Ham and Turkey Sandwiches
○ Pie/Bars for dessert – See a sign up in the Kitchen
○ The Traer Historical Museum is participating 10am – 4pm
■ Will be featuring quilts in windows for month of March
■ Opperman Quilts and additional quilts on display
■ Quilt process exhibit
■ The Quilt Block Coloring Experience
● Art project for select grades at NT and Hudson
● The museum and Ripley will be displaying entries on March
21st
■ Hosting speaker Cherie Dargon at 1:30pm. Author of the
“Grandmother’s Treasure’s” Series
○ The Traer Public Library is participating 10am – Noon
■ Sponsoring a Wooden Quilt Block Painting contest
■ Quilt show honoring the late Cynthia Stary Dranja’s quilts.
■ Additional quilt related options in the planning stages