Where Located
Mount Ayr is approximately 21 miles West of Interstate 35 at exit 12 (Decatur City). We're located on the east edge of Mount Ayr, on the north side of US Highway 2. Our congregation is currently worshipping in a remodeled office building on the north side of highway 2 in Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Our phone # is (641)464-3435.
If you'd like directions to Mt. Ayr, mapquest is an excellent resource no matter where your location. Our address is: Highway 2 East, Mt. Ayr, Iowa 50854.
Mail for the Mount Ayr congregation may be addressed to:
Mt. Ayr Congregation
c/o Alan and Valle Smith
607 E. Madison
Mount Ayr, IA 50854
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Our Church School
Our church school is held each Sunday from 10:00 am till 10:45. Current classes include the following:
Class |
Lead Teacher |
Adult |
Various (Currently Rob Rolfe) |
Older Youth |
Ron Smith |
Jr./Sr. High (6 - 10) |
Lynda Rolfe |
Junior ( 3 - 5) |
Sue Beck |
Primary (K - 2) |
Di Smith |
Pre-K |
Jan Jordison |
Pre-baptismal classes begin during the church school "hour," beginning the 2nd Sunday in October. If you would like to enroll, please contact the Alan Smith or Barbra Jordison.
If you would like to receive in-home learning (cottage meetings), contact Alan Smith or Ed Anderson.
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Our Worship Schedule
Our congregation meets together at least twice a week for worship and prayer, on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening. Members are asked to fast Sunday breakfast and Wednesday supper at the request of the restoration Patriarchs
Sunday Worship:
Time |
Worship Activity
|
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. |
Priesthood Worship * |
9:45 - 9:55 a.m. |
Family Worship |
10:00 - 10:45 a.m. |
Church School |
10:50 - 11:00 a.m. |
Prelude or Song Service |
11:00 a.m. till over |
Worship Service |
12:00 p.m. till over |
Potluck * |
* Sacrament Sunday only (1st Sunday of each month)
Wednesday Worship:
Prayer services are held on Wednesday nights in the homes of the Saints ~ typically in Leon, Lamoni or Mount Ayr. These are services of song, prayer and testimony. See the bulletin board for service locations..
Additionally, the women, men and youth meet separately (as indicated below) with occassional congregational gatherings for fellowship.
Men's Meetings:
The men of the congregation are invited to meet at the church the first Sunday of each month for prayer, song, and sharing. They begin at 8:30 a.m. in the classroom just off the sanctuary.Youth:
Youth meetings are held throughout the year at the discretion of youth leaders. Michael and Julia Jordison are serving as youth leaders, assisted by Rob and Lynda Rolfe..[top]
Our Pastor
Our pastor is one of five children born to Delbert and Mildred Smith. He and his wife, Valle, have three children -- Nathan and wife Julie of Independence, MO; Erin and huband Peter Cornish of Champaign, IL, and Cara of Independence, MO. They have one grandchild-- Elisha Cornish, son of Erin and Peter.
H. Alan Smith has been an elder in the church since being ordained in 1976. Prior to that he served as a priest and a deacon. He has served as pastor of the church in Mount Ayr, first in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and again when members began meeting at the Church of Jesus Christ, Mount Ayr Restoration Branch. He changed congregations in an attempt to remain true to the beliefs and practices of the church. This is his second consecutive year as pastor with our branch.
Alan is the author of "Our Heritage of Humor," a compilation of humorous writings from the pages of publications of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He has also published a number of books and materials through Paragon Publications, a publishing firm he owns - publishing our congregation newsletter as well.
When not serving as pastor, Alan is the editor and publisher of the Mount Ayr Record-News, a position he has had for more than 25 years. He has won a number of awards for his newspaper enterprise, and his paper is enjoyed by the community as a refreshing witness to small town living.
In Alan's words, "I believe the way a group shows it is the church of Jesus Christ is when it shows fruit of the kingdom in the lives of its members. We need to be reflecting the righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost - which is the definition of the kingdom. I believe that the Restoration movement has been given tools that no other groups have because they have been called to this special work. We invite anyone to come and work with us toward these kingdom relationships in our homes, families, church relationships and communities."
Read one of Alan's newsletter articles, "From the Pastor's Desk."
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Our Beliefs
We are quite simply members of the Church (body) of Jesus Christ.
We believe Jesus Christ is the Salvation of the world, and that He is a personal Savior to all those willing to enter into covenant with Him and honor the commandments which we have been given. He seeks all of us, and desires we come unto him Hiwith the full measure of our faith and repentance to enter into an eternal covenant with Him. For those who will do this, He offers the promise of His Holy Spirit, a resurrection from the dead, and an eternal judgment.
We believe in continuing revelation ~ in a God who does not leave us without inspiration, insight, and on-going counsel. As testimony of this, we rely on 3 volumes of scripture which speak singularly to God's unchanging plan for our salvation.
We believe the authority of Christ's priesthood has been restored to the earth, and with it the promise of blessings to all the inhabitants of the earth.
We invite all who desire Him to partake of His blessings and join us in worship, study, and fellowship. This, that your soul might be enlivened, your salvation secured, and that the association with the saints of covenant might act as a blessing to comfort, sustain and uplift you.
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Current Priesthood Members
Our congregation is blessed to have priesthood after both the order of Melchesidec and the order of Aaron. Active priesthood (alphabetized by FIRST name) include:
Melchesidec |
Aaronic |
||
| Alan Smith * | Elder | Alan Elefson | Priest |
| George Knotts | Seventy | Danny Kinnaman | Deacon |
| Michael Jordison | Elder | David Houston | Deacon |
| Norman Nelson | Elder | Ed Anderson | Priest |
| Rob Rolfe | High Priest | Gordon Winkler | Priest |
| Ron Smith | Seventy | Jim Barber | Priest |
| Sherman Phipps | High Priest | Jowett Bastow | Priest |
| Steven Smith | Elder | Kent Clisby | Priest |
| Rodney Bastow | Priest | ||
* Presiding Elder (Pastor)
- Those desiring administration may contact any of the Melchesidec priesthood listed above
- Those desiring to be baptized should contact our pastor, Alan Smith
- Those desiring cottage meetings to learn more about our church, should contact Ed Anderson
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Current Congregational Leaders
All of our members are relied upon for their leadership abilities, their example, and their willingness to serve. Those currently serving in elected capacities include:
Leadership Role |
Member(s) |
| Pastor (Presiding Elder) | Alan Smith |
| Counselors ~ Mount Ayr | Gordon Winkler, Rodney Bastow |
| Counselors ~ Lamoni | Mike Jordison, Rob Rolfe, Sherman Phipps |
| Scheduling Coordinator | Linda Winkler |
| Worship Center Ministry | Sue Beck |
| Music Director | Jan Jordison |
| Christian Education Coordinator | Barbra Jordison |
| Facility Coordinator | Jared Beck |
| Visiting Coordinator | Ed Anderson |
| Caring Coordinator | Diane Anderson |
| Fellowship Coordinator | Cheryl Phipps |
| Evangelism Coordinator | Michael Jordison |
| Stewardship Coordinator | Cheryl Phipps |
| Women's Leader | Cathy Nelson |
| Youth Leaders (Zion's League & WeeZioneers) |
Michael & Julia Jordison; Rob and Lynda Rolfe |
| Newsletter Publisher | Debbie Bastow |
| Sermon Transcriber | Cheryl Phipps |
| Recorder/Secretary | Kathy Akers |
| Historian | Linda Winkler |
| Building Committee (2-yr term) | Jim Barber, Rodney Bastow |
| Building Committee (1-yr term) | Gordon Winkler, Sherman Phipps, Kent Clisby |
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Member Profiles
We are in the process of interviewing members to learn more about what has shaped their lives. Those currently on-line include:
Mildred Smith Janice Jordison Eunice Myers Kathy Akers
If you would like to recommend a member be interviewed, contact our webmasters.
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