Our Missions

At Lovely Lane we believe in helping both friends and neighbors. We support many missions throughout the community, the country and the world with our time, our treasures and our talents. These are the ones that we have founded, helped found or serve from our own church building.

Children’s Weekday Ministries

Children’s Weekday Ministries (CWM) serves families in our community with quality early childhood education, and quality before and after school care. Onsite at Lovely Lane UMC, we operate a preschool program for ages 2 through 5 and a before and after school enrichment program (BASE) for children at Pierce Elementary School.  At St. Ludimilla Catholic Church, we operate a second preschool program, also for ages 2 through 5, that enrolls a large number of children from low-income families at a reduced tuition rate.  Lovely Lane supports CWM by providing physical space, utilities, custodial service and financial donations, all of which make it possible to offer reduced tuition rates to low-income families in our program.

Helping Hands Ministry

Helping Hands Ministry people with limited material assistance on an emergency basis, helping with rent, utilities, and / or supportive services and advocacy. Helping Hands volunteers help clients prioritize needs and work with community agencies and funding sources to meet those needs. The organization offers someone to talk to; someone to share concerns with; encouragement and someone to rejoice in accomplishments.

Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice

Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice is a faith-driven ministry, welcoming immigrants into our churches and communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy. Lovely Lane opens our Fellowship Hall for these volunteers and clients one night a month. Each month the program sees eight to eleven new clients. Volunteers at the clinics help by providing hospitality, welcome, and assistance in completing intake forms for the attorneys.

Matthew 25 Ministry Hub

Matthew 25 is an independent, local nonprofit organization in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  It exists to strengthen core neighborhoods on the west side of Cedar Rapids and to provide opportunities for people to act on their values through service. Their three program areas include neighborhood building on the near NW side, the Cultivate Hope, Food Education and neighborhood beautification program, and Youth Empowerment including Book Buddies, school gardens and the Groundswell art and entertainment venue.

Women at the Well

Women at the Well is a United Methodist congregation which is located within the walls of the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women, in Mitchellville, Iowa. They are a diverse community composed of women incarcerated at ICIW, men and women from around the State of Iowa who choose to worship with us, and many volunteers who regularly support our ministries and programs. We gather together to share the teachings of Jesus Christ, and to experience the life-transforming Spirit of God.