Northminster Presbyterian Church, Ames, Iowa

02/20/2026

Join Northminster (Ames) in making a difference for children in Haiti! 🇭🇹
On April 17, you’re invited to gather friends and neighbors as we package 150,000 nutritious meals for Haiti’s kids and help combat food insecurity
🕑 Choose a 2-hour shift that works for you:
• 2–4 PM
• 4–6 PM
• 6–8 PM
This is a powerful, hands-on way to serve — and it’s something the whole community can be part of.
Learn more and sign up to volunteer here:
https://presbynciowa.org/.../feeding-haitis-kids-with.../
Let’s come together to share hope — one meal at a time. 💛

Gather some friends and join the community as we package 150,000 nutritious meals for Haiti’s children.

11/11/2025

Shared Blessings was the recipient of a $2000 grant from the Theisen's Store in Ames. The grant was a $500 gift card to the store and a $1500 check to Northminster Presbyterian Church.

Shared Blessings is a ministry of Northminster Presbyterian Church that distributes toilet paper, diapers, cleaning supplies, and other items Ames and surrounding communities. We are grateful for Theisen's support.

09/10/2025

Worship for September 14th, 21st, and 28th will be held in the Northminster Founder's Hall, the original sanctuary built in 1962. We'd love for you to join us as Northminster members share some of their memories. 9:30 a.m.

04/09/2025

They were asking about our upcoming New Member Class.😀

01/28/2025

11/19/2024

In January, a 6-week workshop on compassion will be hosted at Northminster.

Explore compassion as a tender yet powerful way to encourage well-being and overcome divisions. The group will develop insights, learn practical skills, and grow in trust to discern unique ways to cultivate compassion in their lives and communities.

The group will meet for 6 Monday evenings, beginning January 13, 2025.

More details and sign-up are at the link below. https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSc6kuvmUkEBT1.../viewform

10/13/2024

Everyone had an excellent time at our youth group's bonfire and movie night gathering!

09/13/2024

A great first week of youth group! We discussed our joys and concerns about the upcoming school year and reflected on Philippians 4, "Rejoice, I say it again Rejoice..."

06/30/2024

~ Week 25 / Radiate ~

This week as the birthday of our nation is celebrated, our author asks us to note the word "Metta" which translates to: boundless friendliness, goodwill, and loving-kindness".

We are challenged this week to radiate this loving kindness. The United States is a beautiful melting pot full of diverse people that often challenges us to practice this meditation of "Metta". We are all apart of this nation after all.

We were reminded today that we are all children of God, and what that means is that we all belong and are loved by Him. Whitehouse connects this love to the image of a wheel. She writes:

"Imagine yourself sitting the hub of a wheel where all the spokes meet. There at the center, you're radiating beams of light in all directions. Keep this image of love in your mind during the week ahead"(Whitehose 166)

What does it mean to radiate this light? How as a prideful nation can we understand and love our neighbors near and far? How can we lift every voice this month? Wonder how you might radiate a Christlike love!

A mediatation to try this week is to repeat the following words:

"May I be safe. May I be well. May I be happy. May I be peaceful and at ease."

(thinking of neighbors near and far) "May you be safe. May you be well. May you be happy. May you be peaceful and at ease."

Blessings!

06/23/2024

~ Week 24 / Bless ~

The word "bless" is used everywhere. Whenever someone sneazes and even when I end these devotionals! Our author brings forth a wonderful point that due to its common use, the word "bless" has become passive. This week, she has us turn to a different word, the aramaic translation "ashray".

Ashray translates to more than just "blessed". It means "to turn your self around, to repent". Whitehouse questions if this is a part of your daily practice? Are we turning ourselves around as blessed people, and serving others with peace and love?

This whole theme for this week can be blanketed under the topic of justice. To all of us, this can mean different things. It can lead to step out of comfort zone for our neighbors, but sadly, these different views can also restrain us from helping and blessing others.

Instead of shouting my voice into what sometimes seem like an endless void of injustice, I instead will leave all of you with this wonderful statement that Whitehouse writes at the end of this week's chapter. I believe that she summarized our christian duty perfectly and I challenge you to wonder how you can bless other people this week. We were also reminded today my Guy Helmer's message that we are already perfect through Jesus. There is no point in fearing that you may be inadequate. You are perfectly imperfect! We are God's children and peace makers!

"Maybe like you, I am thirsty for justice. Maybe like you, I'm not afraid of getting my hands dirty... I'm trying to learn how to be a justice-seeker, how to be energetic and not fall into despair, I'm trying to read, study and listen. I'm trying to figure out how my life can mean something, how my life can offer a scrap of a blessing to someone else. I'm clumsy, I'm awkward, I'm inadequate, and I'm extremely imperfect, but just for today, I promise to get up. I vow to keep on walking, to pray with my legs" (Whitehouse 155)

If you need a place to start friends, try The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:1-12.

Ashray, Blessings

06/16/2024

~ Week 23 / Lavish ~
A story that is found in each of the gospels is the story of the woman with the alabastar jar. She is told by Jesus how beautiful her faith is. She was on her hands and knees cleaning our Lord's feet with her tears and even used her most expensive perfume.

This story is extremely important in Jesus' ministry. While this was occuring, his disciples were sadly annoyed and shocked that this woman would "waste" this perfume. It most likely was the most expensive thing that she owned. However, Jesus states that she had made an offering that fully embodied her love for God.

In this moment, the disciples were only concerned with the monetary value of her offering, but Jesus only saw her faith based loved. This week, find that lavish love in you. Whitehouse states that "Love is not just a feeling. Love is a practice"(Page 150). In this instance, the woman used her body to show this.

Find time this week to give to your neighbor this practice of love. Whether its calling a family member or writing a letter to someone in your life. Especially on Father's day, take time to show this faithful, lavish love. It is priceless and allow yourself to come alive in this practice.

Blessings!