Black Church at Grinnell
A group of students interested in planning a monthly Spirit-filled Christian worship service in an African-American tradition. Guest preachers are invited from Baptist, Pentecostal, and other congregations recommended by the students. The Young, Gifted, and Black Gospel Choir (YGB) will sing as well as the Praise Group. Black Church at Grinnell meet in Herrick Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Sunday of every month during the academic year.
Everyone is invited to attend. Questions or to get involved contact Rabbi Sarah Brammer-Shlay, 641-269-4981.
Catholic Students Association (CSA)
A group of students interested in maintaining or rediscovering their Catholic faith through meeting other Catholic students, discussing important issues surrounding the church, and participating in volunteer activities.
For more information contact 641-269-4981 or email CSA.
Chaverim
Chaverim, the Jewish student organization, is a diverse community in which students celebrate and learn about Judaism. We hold religious services on campus as well as educational, cultural and social programming. We also participate in interfaith dialogue, multicultural activities and promote diversity on campus. All of our activities are open to everyone.
Chaverim is intended to be a place of safety and openness, and a vehicle for intercultural exchange and growth. Please continue to help us make it be that.
Weekly Chaverim Activities
Shabbat is held in Rosenfield Center (JRC), Room 209
Shabbat Services: 5:30 p.m.
Shabbat Table: Fridays, 6:30 p.m.
Upcoming Chaverim Activities
Festivals and other holidays are celebrated throughout the year.
Contact Information:
Email Chaverim or Rabbi Sarah, 641-269-4981
Grinnell Meditation
Grinnell Meditation is a mindfulness practice group for anyone who wants to connect to the present moment and cultivate awareness. These weekly (On Mondays at 4:15) meetings will be no shorter than 30 minutes, no longer than 1 hour, and will have the following format: 5-10 minutes of basic instruction and approximately 20 minutes of sitting meditation. There will be an optional discussion group afterward for those who wish to stay.
Email CRSSJ if you have any questions.
Hindu Festivals
For information regarding the celebration of holy days, please stop by the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice or email CRSSJ.
Circle
Circle is a space for those who are curious about exploring pagan or nature-centered spiritual paths. Paganism is a term that encompasses a broad range of spiritual beliefs and practices that exist primarily outside of the world’s dominant organized religions. Some pagans might gravitate towards a more organized form, such as Wiccan or Heathenry, while other pagans hold a more solitary or eclectic practice. Some pagans might be drawn to a tradition that connects with their ancestral heritage, while others might seek a path all their own. Pagans may worship a central deity or deities, or no deity at all. Most pagans pursue a direct and individual relationship with the divine. Nature-centered spiritual paths also take many forms. Some are rooted in paganism; some are adjacent to or exist within various religious traditions or denominations. Nature-centered spirituality sees the spiritual interconnectedness of all living things and the expression of natural phenomena such as the changing seasons. Circle meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month in the CRSSJ with additional gatherings planned as desired. Circle is led by Carolyn Herbst Lewis. Email Lewis with questions or to join.
Muslim Student Association (MSA)
The Muslim Student Association meets weekly for discussion, fellowship, and to plan for special events. For information, please contact 641-269- 4981 or email CRSSJ.
Quaker Friends Silent Meeting
This group gathers every first and third Sunday during the academic year in the CRSSJ Prayer Garage at 913 8th Avenue in Grinnell at 11:00 AM. Everyone is welcome! For more information please contact Bob Cadmus at 641-990-2199.
Inter-Faith Dinner Conversations
The Inter-Faith Dinner Conversations is a group that holds discussions on interreligious topics and current issues in our world. This group meets twice a month. Everyone is welcome from any background, tradition, or religion. For more information, please contact the CRSSJ at 641-269-4981 or email CRSSJ.
NOT ACTIVE GROUPS:
Seventh-Day Adventist
Christian Science Organization (CSO)
Orthodox Christian
The CRSSJ can support spiritual groups that are wanting to form on campus. If you would like to start a group, continue a group that used to be active but is not currently active or if you'd like information on getting transportation to a church outside of Grinnell, please contact 641-269-4981 for more information.
Grinnell Area Religious and Spiritual Communities
The town of Grinnell has a diverse religious and spiritual community. For a full list of organizations, see the town listings (login required) or go to the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce website. A variety of religious and spiritual organizations exist on campus and are run by students. If you wish to look beyond campus and the town of Grinnell, see regional listings, or contact the CRSSJ at 641-269-4981 and stop by 913 8th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Calvary Baptist Church
1625 Penrose Street, Grinnell, IA 50112
Membership: GARBC
Telephone: 641-236-5525
Calvary Baptist Church
Church of Nazarene
1233 Bliss Street, Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-236-4136
Email: grinnaz@yahoo.com
Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice
913 8th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112
Grinnell College
Telephone: 641-269-4981
First Friends Church
1115 West Street, Grinnell, IA 50112
First Friends Church
Programmed Quaker Church
First Presbyterian Church
1025 5th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-236-6059
First Presbyterian Church
Friends Silent Meeting
1233 Park Street, Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-269-8393
Grace Community Church
511 6th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112
Membership: Christian and Missionary Alliance
Telephone: 641-236-6621
Grinnell Christian Science Society
611 6th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112
Worship: Sunday 10:30 a.m., Wednesday testimony meeting 7:30 p.m.
Reading Room open 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Wednesday
Grinnell Christian Church
1331 Hobart Street, Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-236-5667
Grinnell Christian Church
Grinnell Church of Christ
1402 Third Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-236-1955
Grinnell Church of Christ
Grinnell Jewish Community
913 8th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-269-4981
Grinnell Meditation Group
913 8th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-269-4981
Grinnell United Church of Christ — Congregational
902 Broad Street, Grinnell, IA 50112
Membership: United Church of Christ (UCC)
Telephone: 641-236-3111
Grinnell United Church of Christ — Congregational
Grinnell United Methodist Church
916 5th Avenue, Grinnell, IA 50112
Memberships: United Methodist Church (UMC) and UMC Des Moines District
Telephone: 641-236-3757
Grinnell United Methodist Church
Immanuel Lutheran Church
229 11th Avenue West, Grinnell, IA 50112
Membership: Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) and LCMS Iowa East District
Telephone: 641-236-6691
Muslim Prayer Group
913 8th Avenue- Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-269-4981
Website: Chaplain’s office
Prairie Lakes Church
925 East Street, Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-630-1500
Worship: Sunday, 10 a.m
St. John’s Lutheran Church
1224 East Street, Grinnell, IA 50112
Memberships: Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and ELCA Western Iowa Synod
Telephone: 641-236-4946
Website: St. John’s Lutheran Church
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
1002 Broad Street, P.O. Box 623, Grinnell, IA 50112
Telephone: 641-236-7486
Website: St. Mary’s Catholic Church
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
6h Avenue and State Street, Grinnell, IA 50112
Memberships: Episcopal Church of the USA and Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
Telephone: 641-236-6254
Website: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Regional Religious and Spiritual Groups
Iowa has a wide variety of spiritual and religious communities. If you wish for more information or want to add to this page, please contact 641-269-4981 or stop by the CRSSJ at 913 8th Avenue.
Bahai Communities
Iowa Bahai Center
Website: Bahai Faith in Iowa
Buddhist Communities
Iowa City Zen Center
Iowa City Zen Center
1025 Fairchild St., Iowa City, IA
319-354-1997
Iowa Buddhist Vihara
Iowa Buddhist Vihara
Iowa State University
Ames, IA
Iowa Buddhist
Cedar Rapids Zen Center (Zen Buddhism)
Cedar Rapids Zen Center
1618 Bever Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA
319-247-5986
Catholic Communities
Catholic Hispanic Ministries
601 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50309
Telephone: 515-237-5051
Email: K. Cameron
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Communities
Newton Branch
1405 N 11th Ave E, Newton, IA 50208
Website: Newton LDS Community
Hindu Communities
Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Iowa
3392 155th Lane, Madrid, IA 50156
709 White Post Drive, Webster City, IA 50595
Telephone (Madrid Branch): 515-832-3355
Website: Iowa Hindu Temples
Email: sahai@mchsi.com
Hindu Temple Association of Eastern Iowa
Iowa Hindu Temple
1700 Naoma Dr. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA
319-396-3196
Jewish Communities
Agudas Achim Congregation (Reform and Conservative)
Agudas Achim Congregation
2225 Mormon Trek
Iowa City, IA
319-331-8813
Ames Jewish Congregation (Reform and Conservative)
Ames Jewish Congregation
3721 Calhoun Ave
Ames, IA
515-233-1347
Iowa City - University of Iowa Hillel
Iowa City — University of Iowa Hillel
319-338-0778
Temple B’nai Jeshurun
5101 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312
Website: Temple B’nai Jeshurun
Beyt Shalom
3012 S. 119th St., Omaha, NE
Tifereth Israel
924 Polk Boulevard, Des Moines, Iowa
Telephone: 515-225-1137
Website: Tifereth Israel
Beth El Jacob
954 Cummins Parkway, Des Moines, Iowa 50312
Lubavitch of Iowa’s Judaic Resource Center
943 Cummins Parkway, Des Moines, IA 50312
Telephone: 515-277-1718
Website: Judaic Resource Center
Email: jrcspark@aol.com
Temple Judah (Reform Jewish)
Temple Judah
3221 Lindsay Lane SE, Cedar Rapids, IA
319-362-1261
Latter-Day Saints - Mormon
LDS Meetinghouses and locations
Muslim Communities
Cedar Rapids Mosque
2999 1st Ave S.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404
Website: Cedar Rapids Mosque
Iowa City Mosque: Al-Iman Center of Iowa
1812 West Benton Street, Iowa City, IA 52246
Website: Iowa City Mosque
Muslim Community Organization
1087 25th Street, Des Moines, IA 50311
Telephone: 515-266-7951
Website: Des Moines Muslim Community Organization
Email: mkhan@iastate.edu
Orthodox Communities
Greek Orthodox Church of St. George
1110 35th Street, Des Moines, IA 50311-3797
Telephone: 515-277-0780
Website: Greek Orthodox Church of St. George
Email: priest at St. George, secretary at St. George
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
621 Franklin Street, Pella, IA 50319
Telephone: 641-780-6477
Website: St. Nicholas
Email: Priest at St. Nicholas
St George Orthodox Church
St. George Orthodox Church
3650 Cottage Grove Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, IA
319-363-1559
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church
501 A Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA
319-364-5460
St. Raphael of Brooklyn (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church)
St. Raphael Orthodox Church
722 E. College St, Iowa City, IA
319-337-3443
Sikh Communities
Sikh Temple of Iowa
1115 Walnut St, West Des Moines, IA
515-255-5755
Unitarian Universalist Communities
The First Unitarian Church of Des Moines
1800 Bell Ave., Des Moines, IA 50315
Website: Des Moines Unitarian
Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist
Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist
4980 Gordon Ave NW, Cedar Rapids, IA
319-362-9827
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames
1015 N. Hyland Ave, Ames, IA
515-292-5960
Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City
Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa
10 S. Glibert St., Iowa City, IA
319-377-3443
Interested in something you don’t see above?
Active groups on campus vary from year to year based on student interest and leadership. Anyone interested in starting a group should contact the Chaplain’s office at ext. 4981 or stop by the CRSSJ. We are happy to advertise your meeting times and locations through multiple campus venues.
Finding a Space
The Chaplain’s Office offers assistance to anyone looking for places for worship, for involvement in religious student groups, and spiritual or renewal opportunities in and around Grinnell.
Our goal is to help students find resources for worship, prayer, or renewal in whatever tradition they currently practice as well as assist them in exploring traditions and opportunities for beginning a faith or spiritual journey.
Let us know how we can help you get connected.
The following groups have been active in the past but are currently not meeting.
Buddhist Discussion Group - (Inactive at this time)
Welcomes anyone who is interested to learn or share about Buddhism. A weekly meeting seeks to prove a comprehensive tour of Buddhist traditions, meditation skills, and scripts.
Pagan Discussion Circle (PDC)
Paganism is not a single religion, but a diverse collection of beliefs. Most pagans draw from a number of different traditions, including Celtic, Native American, Greek, Asian and African spiritualities. Most pagans are very earth-oriented. Some pagans worship a central deity called Goddess. Others worship a God and a Goddess, a single non-gendered deity, or an entire pantheon. Many pagans believe that divinity is found within oneself. Nearly all pagans believe in the importance of finding your own path and creating an individual spirituality. For information on meeting dates and locations email PDC.