Windsor Heights Teams Deliver Meals to Local Schools

The kitchen was busy all Friday morning with chopping, baking, and mixing as Mission to the City groups from Windsor Heights prepared meals for various organizations throughout the city.

One Community Group brought a meal to the teachers and staff at Harding Middle School as a way to thank the teachers for their hard work. Their Community Group works closely with many Harding students through Youth For Christ, a ministry for middle school and high school youth. Another Community Group prepared a meal for Des Moines Christian School and blessed the elementary education department on their last day of the school year.

M2TC teams served lunches to teachers at Des Moines Christian School and Harding Middle School. 

The biggest helpers were the littlest ones of the crew. A team of moms and their kids made homemade cards and multiple meals for the Ronald McDonald House, which provides comfort and care to sick children and their families.

Kids got in on the Mission to the City action, too. 

Throughout the morning, various teams also made coffee and smoothie runs to local businesses in the Windsor Heights area by blessing workers with a free morning pick-me-up.

Teams made free coffee runs to local businesses. 

Christmas Eve at Walnut Creek Church

Join us at one of our three Christmas Eve services. This year Walnut Creek Church will be hosting two services at our Downtown location and one at our Windsor Heights location:

Walnut Creek Church – Downtown

December 24 @ 4pm and 6pm

323 East Locust Street, Des Moines (Use South entrance on Walnut Street)

(515) 418-9994

Walnut Creek Church – Windsor Heights

December 24 @ 6pm

900 64th Street, Windsor Heights

(515) 418-9994

#m2tc | 5,400 Meals Packaged for Families In Central Iowa

A Walnut Creek Windsor Heights team packages 5,400 meals for Meals From the Heartland during M2TC.

In a little under two hours, a team from Walnut Creek Windsor Heights packaged 5,400 macaroni and cheese meals with the organization Meals From the Heartland. Teams from Mission to the City have served here in previous years packing meals as well.

Meals From the Heartland is a nonprofit based in Des Moines that empowers people to help the starving around the world, in the United States, and in central Iowa. In 2014 the organization packaged 10,658,144 meals. Their 2015 goal is 15 million meals. They rely largely on the help of volunteers from churches, businesses, and organizations.

The meals packaged by the M2TC team will be sent to families in central Iowa through local food banks and school programs. In addition to packaging meals, the team helped landscape the property and clean and sanitize the packaging facility.

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By Jackie Wallentin

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights

#m2tc | It's Fun to Stay at the YMCA

Chris Meyer of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights paints the YMCA gym during M2TC Friday afternoon.

To begin the Mission to the City weekend, two groups from Walnut Creek Windsor Heights spent Friday morning and afternoon serving their local Walnut Creek YMCA with some much needed renewal and repair.

More than 25 M2TC volunteers donned their painting clothes and touched up the walls in several rooms, as well as the curbs, lines, and crosswalks in the entire parking lot.

“I want this to be a family-friendly environment where people feel comfortable, that it’s kind of a home-away-from-home for them,” said Britt German, YMCA executive director.

The maintenance manager, Kevin Morrill, put the volunteers to hard work. Kevin is one of eight people who solve maintenance issues for 14 YMCAs in the greater Des Moines area. Since Kevin and the others are spread so thin, they do not usually have time to remove scuffs, organize closets, or paint the gymnasium.

“I’m impressed by everyone’s motivation to go the extra mile. They work quickly without having to be told what to do more than once,” said Kevin. “Members of the YMCA are going to notice the changes and love it, I guarantee it.”

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By Brigitte Haugen 

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights 

"Return" Series Launches Church-Wide

Walnut Creek launches a new message series – "Return" – church-wide this weekend. The 11-week series through the Book of Malachi will continue through March, and we invite you to join us.

Over the course of the next 11 weeks, we will take a look at our relationship and responsibility to God and others in the church. God commands sincere worship with genuine faith and humility. The message Malachi had for a troubled people then is still relevant now.

Free "Return" study guides are available at each location. You can also follow the message series through our mobile app and online.

Share your thoughts and what you're learning during the series on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram with the #ReturnSeries hashtag. Each Friday we'll give away a Walnut Creek sweatshirt and beanie. Join the conversation to enter for a chance to win!

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By Jackie Wallentin 

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights 

Record Number Attend Women's Coffeehouse

Peggy Kenoyer shares her testimony of God's redemption in her marriage and family at the 2014 Women's Coffeehouse held Friday at Walnut Creek Windsor Heights. Photo by: Jen Engdahl

The ninth annual Women’s Coffeehouse brought over 600 women to Walnut Creek Windsor Heights on Friday evening. The Women’s Coffeehouse aims to encourage women of all ages in their faith through fellowship, music, and personal testimonies of God’s great love and faithfulness. 

The verse of the night, stamped on bookmarks that were given to all attendees, was 2 Timothy 4:7-8: "I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me in the future the crown of the righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day." 

The first speaker of the evening, Peggy Kenoyer of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights, shared how God woke her up as an 18-year-old bride. What seemed like a huge mistake to Peggy turned out to be the best blessing the Lord could have given her. Her husband Larry and three sons have greatly impacted her life, causing her to cling to the Lord and mature. 

Chelsie Towne of Walnut Creek Downtown unpacked how God healed her heart after a destructive high school relationship. She was eventually blessed through the opportunity to share that healing with young women in Cambodia. 

Dena Bennett of Walnut Creek Downtown was the last speaker of the evening. She revealed her story of a broken home and a life ruled by relationships, atheism, and worldly pleasures. After reading C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity, Dena admitted that belief in God was not only logical, but that God was now the only one she wanted to chase.

Tables overflowed with treats donated by women of the church, and over 100 door prizes were donated by local businesses as well. The evening was a way for women to invite their friends, neighborhoods, coworkers, and family members to hear about the power of the Lord.

The night began with worship music led by Laura Brill, Jillian Aurelio, Hannah Wright, and Dayna Meyers. Between speakers, Allie Crummy, accompanied by Ricki Meyer and Liz VanderSchel, performed two original songs. 

“It was good to be reminded that God is looking out for me in all the steps I take, big or small,” said Jen Cameron of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights. “I loved Allie’s song about God being our refuge, a place where we leave the battle outside and come in to safety and rest. It’s not often how I choose to quiet my heart.”

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By Brigitte Haugen 

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights 

Double the Trunk-Or-Treat Fun

Lily and Nora Cornell 'fish' for candy at the Under the Sea trunk at the Windsor Heights Trunk or Treat event.
Photo by Glen Cornell. 

Young Spidermen and Princess Elsas gathered candy and other festive treats at the Trunk-Or-Treat events held at Walnut Creek Windsor Heights and Johnston Thursday evening. More than 125 families came to both events to celebrate Halloween the Walnut Creek way.

Trunk-Or-Treat is a family-friendly alternative to traditional Halloween trick or treating. Parents brought their children in full costume gear to the church parking lot for a safe night of fall fun as their children went from car to car collecting Halloween treats.

At the Windsor Heights location, nine Community Groups volunteered to host a trunk and decorate their car with a theme. Trunk themes included: Candy Land, Monster's Inc., Frozen, pirates, sharks, camping, under the sea, and Hall of Fame athletes.

Making their scariest or silliest faces, guests took pictures at a photo booth inside. Children also enjoyed face painting, a bounce house, games, and festive treats.

"Our first annual Trunk-or-Treat went extremely well. The volunteers did an excellent job decorating their trunks and even having a few interactive games for all the kids. It's going to be quite the challenge to come up with better trunk ideas for next year," said MaryBeth Meyer of Windsor Heights, who organized the event.

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By Jackie Wallentin  

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights 

Party in the Parking Lot Welcomes Windsor Heights Community

Following the Sunday services at Walnut Creek Windsor Heights, Party in the Parking Lot kicked off outside.

Walnut Creek Church Windsor Heights hosted Party in the Parking Lot on Sunday to celebrate the beginning of fall and the new series, "Revealed: The Image of the Invisible God," through the book of Colossians. Sunday morning marked the first message in the new 17-week series.

Over 200 people enjoyed the sunny afternoon of free food, games, inflatables, and kids activities. Windsor Heights members were able to meet and welcome many new couples and families. Earlier in the week, Community Groups passed out hundreds of fliers in the surrounding neighborhoods to invite people to the event and church.

"Party in the Parking Lot is a positive way to open up to the community. The event gave people a chance to have a good time, see the body of our church at work, and hopefully meet people and have good conversations," said Lauren Jacobs of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights. "I think it went well, and I know God will use it!"

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By Jackie Wallentin

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights

Party in the Park Serves Windsor Heights Community

More than 450 people gathered at Colby Park on Friday, May 30 for Party in the Park. 

Walnut Creek Church hosted a Party in the Park on May 30 to celebrate the end of Mission to the City. During the weekend mission, hundreds of fliers were passed out for the evening of fun, which was an opportunity to bless the Windsor Heights community.

Throughout the night, which was held at Colby Park, over 450 people came to enjoy free food, an outdoor movie, lawn games, face painting and a castle-themed bouncy house.

To end the night, friends and families gathered on blankets to watch Disney's newest animated hit "Frozen," while the kids sang along to their favorite songs from the movie.

"Our neighbors came and it was fun introducing them to our closest friends. It was a great way for us to invite our neighbors without pressure," said Sam Karaidos of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights. "It was just a relaxing evening with great people and great food."

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By Jackie Wallentin
Walnut Creek Windsor Heights

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights Throws Community Super Bowl Potluck Party

Walnut Creek Windsor Heights hosted a Super Bowl party as a unique opportunity to unite members from across congregations and invite people in to enjoy community and a meal together.

“This party was a great opportunity to fellowship across services and locations, and reach out with your kids,” said Jessica White of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights.

The focus wasn’t only on the game. Instead of watching the Superbowl halftime show, Pastor Terry Amann introduced a video produced by the Seattle Seahawks called, “The Making of a Champion.” In the video, numerous Seahawk players and coaches share their testimonies and the gospel in a clear way.

Jessica said her favorite part of the party was its goal, to reach out to people together: “The party offered a door to meet new people who might not come to church for any other reason,” Jessica said. “You tell people there’s food and football, and they’re interested.”

While most of the kids spent the evening jumping in the castle-themed bounce house, Superbowl fans gathered around the full food tables throughout the game. Guests were asked to bring a side to share, and Jon Touchette of Walnut Creek Windsor Heights was encouraged by everyone’s willingness to contribute. He made his own crowd favorite, fried spinach.

“We were concerned about not having enough food, but as always, we had more than enough,” Jon said. “It was a cool reminder of the generosity of people. People always want to come together to help with events like this.”

To watch the video, visit makingofachampion.org.

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By Jackie Wallentin
Walnut Creek Windsor Heights