On the southeastern edge of Delano, Minnesota, where the town gives way to farmland, Delano United Methodist Church gathers every Sunday morning at 3310 County Line Road SE. Members describe the congregation in simple terms: a community that works to love God with all its heart and to love neighbors as itself. Worship is held at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday, and the church office is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
A Methodist Presence Since 1870
Methodism in Delano traces back to 1869, when the town's first religious services were held in the old Powers hotel. The following year a Methodist society was organized under Reverend Cressy, with charter members William and Mary Hawker, Luther and Mary Walter, W. H. Landis, Mrs. Maude Chance, J. W. Powell, Miner Ball, and Mother Walter. Worship moved into Lucas Hall, then into the congregation's own building on Third Street, designed by Reverend Copp for $20 and dedicated in 1875 after Miner Ball raised $500 to retire the debt. A Ladies' Aid Society formed in 1873, and a Sunday School led by William Hawker began meeting in a log schoolhouse on the riverbank at Elm and River Streets while the sanctuary was still under construction.
The building was remodeled in 1923, when the church was known as the Methodist Episcopal Church. After the 1939 union with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Methodist Protestant Church, the congregation became part of the Methodist Church, and then the United Methodist Church following the 1968 merger with the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1974 the church received its own pastor, Reverend Hugh Stephenson, ending decades of circuit-riding ministry. The current pastoral leaders are Reverend Christina and Chad Koppes. To mark 150 years of ministry, the congregation established a permanent endowment fund managed through the Minnesota United Methodist Foundation.
Worship with Hymns, Handbells, and Bluegrass
Sunday morning worship at 10:30 is the heart of life at Delano UMC. The service blends scripture readings, prayers, a sermon, and music that ranges from traditional organ hymns to contemporary Christian songs, choir anthems, and on many second Sundays of the month, bluegrass. Singleton Street, a regular musical guest, leads worship the second Sunday of each month.
Music has long been a defining feature of the congregation. The adult choir rehearses Wednesday evenings during the school year from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and sings in worship roughly once a month, with seasonal projects such as the Christmas program and Music Sunday. Accompanist Kris Strobel and Choir Director Kathy Olson lead the program. A children's choir called Kingdom Rock Kids meets Sunday mornings during Sunday School and sings in worship about once a month, with additional appearances throughout the year. Anyone with a musical gift - vocal or instrumental - is invited to share it during a service.
Worship is also lay-led. The League of Extraordinary Ushers welcomes people at the door, hands out the order of worship, and assists with communion. Members of all ages read scripture, lead prayers, and occasionally share a message; confirmation students and youth run the soundboard and computers. A fellowship hour follows the service in the gathering space, with volunteers providing treats and conversation.
Children and Youth from Nursery Through Senior High
Children are present throughout the life of the church. The nursery is staffed every Sunday during worship for the youngest visitors, with a Parents' Time Out offered once a month. During the 10:30 service, children in Pre-K through third grade are dismissed to Sunday School after a brief children's time with the pastor and return at the close of worship. Lessons focus on virtues, key Bible stories, and friendship.
Wednesday nights belong to older students. Grades 4 through 7 meet from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. for an interactive program led by Children and Youth Director Natalie Jones, with one Friday evening gathering each month. Confirmation is a two-year program for grades 8 and 9, meeting Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and led by Pastor Cindi. Senior high youth gather from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. for pizza and a Bible study led by Pastor Cindi with Laura Gilmer and Alejandro Najera-Wolcott.
Two annual milestones mark the year for younger children: a Christmas Program in December and a week of Vacation Bible School the first week of August for students preschool through sixth grade. Backpack blessings, family activities, and a Rally Day kickoff in early September bring families together as the program year begins.
Four Pillars of Discipleship
The congregation organizes its ministry around four pillars. Worship and Music is the weekly practice of paying attention to God through scripture, prayer, sermon, and song. Christian Education spans nursery through adult small groups and seasonal studies. Mission and Service sends the church out into the wider community and the world. Fellowship undergirds everything, with the conviction that members care for one another even when they disagree, building lasting relationships.
Mission:Possible
Mission:Possible is the name for Delano UMC's outreach ministry. Rather than scattering support across the year, the congregation focuses on a rotating set of partner organizations, two months at a time, through a CanDo offering:
- January and February: Camp Scholarships, helping young people attend Camp Minnesota, the summer camp ministry of the Minnesota Conference of the United Methodist Church.
- March and April: Delano Helping Hands Food Shelf, with donations used to fill gaps that other contributions leave behind.
- May and June: Emma Norton Services, a trauma-informed organization supporting women, individuals, and families experiencing homelessness.
- July and August: UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), the denomination's global humanitarian relief and development arm.
- September and October: Love INC (In the Name of Christ), a nationwide aid network with a Delano affiliate that provides clothing, furniture, and connections to local services.
- November and December: Baiwalla, Sierra Leone, supporting the ministry of Reverend Judith Banya, who has built a well, a mission house, a school food program feeding 900 children a day, an adult literacy program, and a secondary school.
Outside the rotation, the church regularly sends volunteer teams to Simpson Housing Services in Minneapolis, where members help serve meals for people experiencing homelessness.
Adult Education and Small Groups
Adults at Delano UMC have several ways to study and connect. Pastor Cindi leads a Monday noon Bible study that walks through books of the Bible - including recent sessions on Daniel, Esther, and Jonah - with no preparation required. Pastor Chad runs Bible and sermon series groups on Thursday evenings at various points in the year. A Women's Book Club and a Men's Pancakes and Parables group meet regularly, and seasonal studies bring the whole church around a shared book. Financial Peace University, the nine-week personal finance course, is offered every other year. New member classes are held for those ready to join.
Giving and the Endowment Fund
Regular giving to Delano UMC supports the annual operating budget and ongoing missions. Gifts can be made online through the church's giving page or in person. The endowment fund, established to celebrate 150 years of ministry, is a permanently restricted, self-sustaining source of funding invested through the Minnesota United Methodist Foundation. Earnings are distributed annually once the principal reaches $25,000. The fund accepts cash, checks, stock, bonds, and beneficiary designations from life insurance policies, 401(k)s, or IRAs, and gifts may be made in honor or memory of loved ones.
Leadership
The pastoral leaders of the church are Reverend Christina (Pastor Cindi) and Reverend Chad Koppes. Staff supporting ministry include Children and Youth Director Natalie Jones, Nursery Coordinator Emily Hilbelink, Choir Director Kathy Olson, Accompanist Kris Strobel, and Church Administrator Evonne Dennis. Music Team meets monthly to plan worship music, and the church is supported by a roster of liturgists, ushers, greeters, and fellowship hour volunteers.
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
Delano United Methodist Church describes itself as a people of Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors, putting faith into action through generosity, joy, and gratitude. Worship is recorded each week and posted to the church's YouTube channel. The weekly Chit-Chat newsletter keeps members informed of classes, studies, and service opportunities, and a public calendar lists everything from committee meetings to fellowship events. Visitors are welcomed as guests and, the church hopes, as family.