Ames First United Methodist Church

06/23/2026

The Celebration of Life service for Peggy Palmer-Johnson, mother of former Ames First UMC associate pastor Bethany Willers, will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 11:00am. It will be at Walnut Hills UMC located at 12321 Hickman Rd in Urbandale.

The service will livestream on the Walnut Hills United Methodist Church pages on both YouTube and Facebook, with the streaming beginning about 5 minutes before the actual service starts.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whunmdsmiowa

Here is the link to the obituary.
https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/west-des-moines-ia/peggy-palmer-johnson-12015104?fbclid=IwZnRzaASmvm1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe3hqboFJzk2mcugZ5YMX8TfiEE3BulQvBGMGHnlObFHlWF_OaFtscfSLB_mI_aem_HvvLcFXPXDRVrwybFawR7Q

Celebrate the life of Peggy Palmer-Johnson, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Neptune Cremation Service — Des Moines.

06/22/2026

Here is Pastor Amanda’s message from this weekend:

This is a recording from the Ames First United Methodist Church ser...

06/19/2026

✝️ Join us for worship this weekend!

🕯 Saturday, June 20 at 5:30pm in the chapel.

🌅 Sunday, June 21 at 10:00am in the sanctuary and on livestream.

📖 Pastor Amanda will lead this weekend with her message “Hearing the Voice.”

🎷 Dean Swyter will provide special music for the anthem on Sunday.

Watch the livestream at: bit.ly/amesfirstumclivestream

06/18/2026

Thank you to the team of matmakers last Wednesday! Ruth, Karen, Cathy, and Charli (photographer!), invite everyone to join them on! Second Wednesday and second Saturday of each month at 10am. These mats are made of plastic grocery bags, woven tightly to use for a waterproof layer for the unhoused. Completed mats go to Midwest Mission in Jefferson to distribute or are given locally to those in need.

06/18/2026

There's a BIG Fundraiser being planned to support The Ames Warming Place on August 8. This is not a church event, but a community-wide event being planned by various members of The Warming Place Team. Trivia Night will be held at Spark by Hilton. Please share! To reserve a table: https://ameswarming.place/

06/17/2026

UWF Bake Sale is this Saturday! Sale will be at the south/main entrance. There will be coffee brewing and place to sit, chat, and enjoy some of your newly purchased goodies too! 9am-12pm.

06/16/2026

Such great news! Thank you Overflow!

Happy Mission Monday!✨

Overflow was pleased to make a $5000 donation in June for the purchase of a commercial washer and dryer for Ames Warming Place.

Ames Warming Place is a collaborative effort of many Ames agencies and ministries to care for the vulnerable in our community. In early 2026, Ames Warming Place provided more than 400 nights of safe and warm sleep. They are preparing to welcome even more of our neighbors during the coming 2026 - 2027 winter.

06/15/2026

Here is a special clip and message from the Up With Puppets led service yesterday:

This is a recording from the Ames First United Methodist Church ser...

06/14/2026

We had a beautiful service this morning at annual conference where we welcomed persons in full membership and elders, those commissioned as provisional elders, those who have completed course of study, and those transferring from other conferences including Pastor Nikki who we have had serving Ames First since 2018 “on loan” from the Illinois Great Rivers Conference. Congratulations Pastor Nikki! Welcome fully to the Iowa Conference! We are so grateful for your ministry!

06/12/2026

✝️ Join us for worship this weekend!

🕯 Saturday, June 13 at 5:30pm in the chapel - a Hymn Sing!

🌅 Sunday, June 14 at 10:00am in the sanctuary and on livestream.

📖 Our Up With Puppets ministry will take over the Sunday service while our pastors are at Annual Conference! Come and enjoy the music and fun as they share the message of “Do All The Good!”

Watch the livestream at: bit.ly/amesfirstumclivestream