- A community of faith called into being by God through Jesus Christ. We assemble to worship and learn the Word of God. We are witnesses for Jesus Christ: Reaching out, inviting others to Him, and spreading the Gospel to all people. We are a spiritual, supportive, and serving congregation.
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since February 18, 2001
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Worship Time
Sunday School for all ages
9:00 AM
Worship Service
10:00 AM
Staves History
In 1916, Douglas
Acres was a sparsely-settled section of Northeast Des Moines. There were few
autos, no street lights, city water, bus service or pavement ... AND NO
CHURCH.
Some of the people who lived in the area wanted a
church. After some planning, they met together as a group in Wright's grove at
East 29th and Madison. At this meeting a pastor and a conference superintendent
of the United Brethren Church were present, and a Sunday School was organized
which later became Galilee Church.
Meetings were held in homes
of members, the John Adams School, and a store building. During this time the
dream of a permanent church building inspired the congregation to begin a
building fund.
A site for a church at the Northwest corner of
East 28th and Madison was given to the congregation. The group began looking for
a building to move to this location. A brown frame school building at East 15th
and University was purchased for $258.00 and was moved. While being moved, it
got bogged down in the muddy flats near the corner of Easton Boulevard and
Hubbell Avenue and had to be left until the ground dried.
The
second building to occupy the Northwest corner of Easth 28th and Madison was
built in 1926 at a cost of $8,337.00 and was renamed the Sarah J. Staves
Memorial United Brethren Church in memory of a prominent United Brethren
laywoman. At the time of incorporation it was shorted to Staves Memorial.
Following the Union of the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodist
Church in 1968, our church became known as the Staves Memorial United Methodist
Church.
In 1957 construction of our present building was begun
on a site given by Dr. Frederick D. Staves, the son of Sarah J. Staves. Much of
the finish work was done by members of the congregation. The dedication was held
on April 13, 1958. The Chapel was dedicated in memory of Grace D. Staves on
March 8, 1959, to bear tribute to a life of Christian witness. Ground breaking
for the Educational wing was on August 30, 1970. The Building was consecrated on
February 20, 1972.
The blessing of God and the
energy of many dedicated Christians has made possible a place to gather and
worship ... and a fellowship in which to find God.
