Ripley United Church of Christ

"Serenity"
2025-10-12 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Chicago) | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Oct 12 2025 Bulletin
Announcements:
Ripley Church Meetings:

Board of Deacons: Sunday – Oct. 12th @ 10 am – Office
Board of Trustees: Tuesday – Oct 14th @ 6:30 pm – Office

Note: Anyone with information for the Newsletter – please get articles to Annette by Oct. 20th.

Ripley Mission/Church/Community Involvement:

Quilting – Thursday Oct. 16th @ 9:00 am

Next Saturday Soul Stitching – Saturday Nov. 8th @ 9:00 am

Noisy Offering – Oct. 26th: “PS” – Project Share – TMU
Fall Gathering – Nov. 2nd – Services @ 9:00 AM

Join us for entertainment, featuring Newsletter Trivia and a meal after worship.
Review past newsletters on our website at ripleyucc.org

Open Mic – Parsonage Series @ The Parsonage

Wednesday, November 12th – Open Mic @ 6:30

Featuring Robert Yeltman (robertyeltman.com)

Your Help is needed:

Need a Ride to Church? – Contact Pastor Jim
Can you Give a Ride to Church? – Contact Pastor Jim

Soul Stitching
2025-10-11 09:00 - 15:00 | Ripley UCC Fellowship Hall, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Becky Gaston is getting another top ready to stitch.

Saturday is Soul Stitching! 9 am and after. Check out all that is going on with the Ripley Stitchers on Soul Stitching Saturday! Pop in – grab a needle! No experience needed! Contact is Jane Knoop 319-478-8156 Potluck is shared with luncheon fellowship.

Anita Herker and Becky Gaston getting ready for the next quilt top to be assembled.
February Soul Stitchers : Dawn Karr, Jane Knoop, Annette Knoop, Becky Gaston, Anita Herker, Peggy Finzen, Kim Coulter
Anita Herker and Kim Coulter enjoy fellowship over patchwork.

Patchwork Warms Hearts
2025-10-09 09:00 - 14:00 | Ripley UCC Fellowship Hall, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
The Ripley Stitchers are an amazing group. They gather most every Thursday, listed on the Ripley Website Calendar as
“Patchworks Warms Hearts. On the 2nd Saturday they gather to “Soul Stitch”. Both groups get their day started at 9am by
entering through the North door to the Fellowship Hall in the Church Basement.
Setting up sewing machines for quilt tops that need to be stitched, cutting pieces for colorful designs, laying out quilt tops to
match to battings and backs. Sorting quilts by size to go to Cedar Valley Hospice, Black Hawk Veterans, AFIL, Mercy One, Salvation Army, Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, The Stork’s Nest, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace…..just to name a few of the
recipients of their work!
Not only do they stitch fabric pieces, but they stitch meaning through fellowship. We invite all to pop in, and see what they
are up to. Grab a needle, pull a stitch and bring joy to those who are covered in the warmth of a quilt loving constructed by
the Ripley Stitchers.
Questions? Downsizing ? Donations are welcome!
Contact: Jane
Knoop
319-478-8156
janekoop13@gmail.com

Open Mic Night at The Parsonage! Madison Kolbet
2025-10-08 18:30 - 20:30 | The Parsonage, 513 4th Street, Traer, IA, 50675, United States
The Parsonage Series 2025 Schedule
The Parsonage Series 2025 Schedule
Madison Kolbet

"Hard Times"
2025-10-05 09:00 - 10:00 | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Oct 05 2025 Bulletin with Communion

"On Hell"
2025-09-28 09:00 - 10:00 | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
September 28 2025 Bulletin

Patchwork Warms Hearts
2025-09-25 09:00 - 14:00 | Ripley UCC Fellowship Hall, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Patchwork Warms Hearts

Ripley Stitchers are making a difference of those in need. Small pieces of fabric stitched with purpose. Be a part of their mission as they bring peace through patchwork to warm the hearts of those in need. Today !!

Thursdays Starting at 9am. Enter at the North door. 400 S Main Traer. Questions? Contact Jane Knoop at 319-478-8156

Board of Trustees Meet
2025-09-23 17:30 - 20:00 | Ripley South Office, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675

Memories of Yesteryear!
2025-09-21 09:00 - 11:00 | Ripley Church, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Memories of Yesteryear!
● Reverend Otto F. Moede was Pastor of Ripley 1935-1936
● His Daughter, Louise Lex, who lived in our Parsonage and attended
Ripley during that time, will visit our church on September 21st.
● Louise’s daughter, Andrea, has written a biography of Louise’s amazing life.
Copies will available for sale after the service

“Serving Two Masters”
2025-09-21 09:00 - 10:00 | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
” Serving Two Masters “
”Sept 21 2025 Bulletin
Luke 16:1-13

16Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. 2So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ 3Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ 5So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ 7Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ 8And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. 9And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. 10“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Community Blood Drive
2025-09-18 12:30 - 17:30 | Traer Memorial Building, 414 2nd Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Traer United Presbyterian Church is hosting a community Blood Drive !
Save a life – donate from the heart!

Patchwork warms hearts!
2025-09-18 09:00 - 14:00 | Ripley UCC Fellowship Hall, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675

Board of Deacons Meet
2025-09-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Ripley South Office, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675

John 3:16
2025-09-14 09:00 - 10:00 | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Sept 14 2025 Bulletin

Sleep in Heavenly Peace Field Trip
2025-09-13 | IA
Sleep In Heavenly Peace Work Day – Ames – Sept. 13th

Lunch will be provided on site by the Mission Comm. We will be using the previously given funds to put together a picnic for our volunteers as well as any others that are there for the day.
Bring a lawn chair and enjoy burgers and picnic fare.
If someone would like to bring some cookies or bars that would be great. Let Patty or Laura know.

Open Mic Night at The Parsonage! Robert Maharry
2025-09-10 18:30 - 20:30 | The Parsonage, 513 4th Street, Traer, IA, 50675, United States
The Parsonage Series 2025 Schedule
Featured Artist is Robert Maharry.

“Focus”
2025-09-07 09:00 - 10:00 | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Sept 7 2025 Bulletin with communion

Patchwork Warms Hearts takes a break today!
2025-09-04 09:00 - 15:00 | Ripley UCC Fellowship Hall, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
There will not be a gathering of Ripley Stitchers today as they give their fingers a break!

But know that :

The Ripley Stitchers are an amazing group. They gather most every Thursday, listed on the Ripley Website Calendar as
“Patchworks Warms Hearts. On the 2nd Saturday they gather to “Soul Stitch”. Both groups get their day started at 9am by
entering through the North door to the Fellowship Hall in the Church Basement.
Setting up sewing machines for quilt tops that need to be stitched, cutting pieces for colorful designs, laying out quilt tops to
match to battings and backs. Sorting quilts by size to go to Cedar Valley Hospice, Black Hawk Veterans, AFIL, Mercy One, Salvation Army, Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, The Stork’s Nest, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace…..just to name a few of the
recipients of their work!
Not only do they stitch fabric pieces, but they stitch meaning through fellowship. We invite all to pop in, and see what they
are up to. Grab a needle, pull a stitch and bring joy to those who are covered in the warmth of a quilt loving constructed by
the Ripley Stitchers.
Questions? Downsizing ?
Donations are welcome!
Contact: Jane
Knoop
319-478-8156
janekoop13@gmail.com

Noisy Offering - "PS" Project Share -Traer TMU
2025-08-31 09:00 - 10:00 | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Missions – Noisy Offering Sunday

“A Longer Table”
2025-08-31 09:00 - 10:00 | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Aug31 2025 Bulletin
Reaching out!

Today’s Homily is broadened through community involvement when asked the question:
So- if you are a part of Ripley, why do you keep coming?
If you are not part of Ripley, what keeps you from attending? Are there barriers we don’t see that we need to address?

Ripley Mission/Church/Community Involvement:

Quilting – Thursday Sept. 4th @ 9:00 am

Next Saturday Soul Stitching – TBD

Noisy Offering – TODAY – Aug. 31: “PS” – Project Share – TMU
Sleep In Heavenly Peace Work Day – Ames – Sept. 13th

Details on lunch TBA – sign up in the Kitchen so that we can finalize plans

Fall Gathering – Nov. 2nd – Services @ 9:00 AM

Join us for entertainment and meal after worship

Memories of Yesteryear!
● Reverend Otto F. Moede was Pastor of Ripley 1935-1936
● His Daughter, Louise Lex, who lived in our Parsonage and attended
Ripley during that time, will visit our church on September 21st.
● Louise’s daughter, Andrea, has written a biography of Louise’s
amazing life. Copies will available for sale after the service.

Open Mic – Parsonage Series @ The Parsonage
● Wednesday, September 10th – Open Mic @ 6:30
Featuring Robert Maharry

Your Help is needed:

Need a Ride to Church? – Contact Pastor Jim
Can you Give a Ride to Church? – Contact Pastor Jim

Missions Committee Meets
2025-08-27 18:30 - 20:00 | Ripley South Office, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675

Amity Church Celebrates 150 Years! Ice Cream Social
2025-08-24 16:00 - 19:00 | Amity Presbyterian Church, 1803 Highway D65, Reinbeck, IA, 50669
Amity Presbyterian Church located west of Dinsdale along Hwy D65. The congregation is commemorating its 150th anniversary this year and invites the public to celebrate the milestone this Sunday, Aug. 24, from 4-7 p.m. as part of the church’s annual Sundae Sunday festivities.

“How to Read the Bible”
2025-08-24 09:00 - 10:00 | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Aug 24 2025 Bulletin

“Lighting Fires”
2025-08-17 09:00 - 10:00 | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
August 17 2025 Bulletin

Guest Speaker ! Ryan Currens of The United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities institution
2025-08-17 09:00 - 10:00 | Sunday Service at Ripley UCC, 400 South Main Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Join us on line or in the pews as Ryan Currens, will be our guest speaker during service.
Ryan is currently on staff as the major gifts officer for The United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities institution.
United Theology Seminary of the Twin Cities
United is a theological graduate school that welcomes and embraces life’s big questions. United students hone their intellectual capacity, illuminate their spirituality, and learn the lessons of compassionate leadership through our focus on social transformation, theology and the arts, and inter religious chaplaincy. Located in the heart of the Creative Enterprise Zone in St. Paul, United’s community includes people from a wide range of faith traditions, life stages, and spiritual perspectives. Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Religious Leadership, Master of Theological Studies in Integrative Theology, Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry

Open Mic Night at The Parsonage! Birdy Young
2025-08-13 18:30 - 20:30 | The Parsonage, 513 4th Street, Traer, IA, 50675, United States
The Parsonage Series 2025 Schedule
Featured Artist Birdy Young
.

Ecumenical Service featuring SaltLight Christian Band
2025-08-10 10:30 - 12:00 | Traer Memorial Building, 414 2nd Street, Traer, IA, 50675
Salt Light Christian Band
Join us all as we enjoy music and message by Salt Light.

Who We Are

Gospel-Centered

We play and create music to glorify God and point people to the truth of the Gospel message. Matthew 5:13-16 calls us, as Christ-followers, to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, which we hope to display through our music.
Original Music
Many of the songs we play are originals, written by our lead singer, Darla Erskine, and arranged by the group. Her songs tell stories of common feelings and circumstances that give those listening an opportunity to relate, reflect, and respond in worship.
Family
Though none of us are related, our love for music and for Jesus are two things we have in common. We are more than a band; we truly are a family. It is a joy to be involved in each other’s lives, in every season.

Traer United Presbyterian Church Celebrates 150 years!
2025-08-10 09:00 - 10:00 | Traer United Presbyterian Church, 307 Walnut Street, Traer, IA, 50675, United States
Traer UPC extends an invitation for the Community of Traer to join them as they celebrate 150 years in the Traer Community.

Attend special Sunday Service at 9 am with light refreshments to follow. Winding Stairs Festival Ecumenical Service follows at the Traer Memorial Building at 10:30am.

Winding Stairs Festival Breakfast @ Traer UPC
2025-08-09 08:00 - 11:00 | Traer United Presbyterian Church, 307 Walnut Street, Traer, IA, 50675, United States
Winding Stairs Festival:
UPC – 150th Open House and Pancake Breakfast
Sat. Aug. 9th 8:00 to 11:00 am

If you would like to volunteer to help with breakfast :
○ Volunteers for breakfast are needed: Contact Rhonda @ 319-478-8943

Traer Ecumenical Vacation Bible School " True North"
2025-08-07 17:00 - 19:45 | St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 1102 Walnut St, Traer, IA, 50675
True North VBS will be held Aug 4-7 from 5:00-7:45 at St Paul Catholic Church. All are welcome, regardless of church affiliation. Don’t miss the fun!
