The best-dressed churches for Christmas

Bybrian.abeling Hours
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On our Iowa Road Trip Facebook page, we recently asked for photos of your church decorated for the holiday season, and here’s a collection of what we received.

Peace United Church of Christ in Gladbrook, Iowa. Photo by Jane Sass
St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Photo by Jenny Smith

Faith Community Church in Palmer, Iowa. Photo by Bonnie Gerdes

Our Savior Presbyterian Church in LeClaire, Iowa. Photo by Carole Oliver

Ss Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Petersburg, Iowa. Photo by Tami Lansing

Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Photo by Angelique Cromwell.

Second Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. Photo by Barb Ashton

Christ United Presbyterian Church in Oelwein, Iowa. Photo by Mark Stewart

Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa. Photo by Tami Lansing

Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa. Photo by Pat Feldmann

Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa. Photo by Kristine Sutton

United Presbyterian Church in Vail, Iowa. Photo by MaroLee Miller

Zion American Lutheran Church in Wyoming, Iowa. Photo by Michelle Hansen.

Redeemer Lutheran Church in Indianola, Iowa. Photo by Connee Larsen.

Outdoor services at Rhythm Church in Mason City, Iowa. Photo by Dee Pearce.

Congregational United Church of Christ in Harlan, Iowa. Photo by Jan Wilwerding.

Conrad United Methodist Church in Conrad, Iowa. Photo by Pat Schiebel.

First Presbyterian Church in Independence, Iowa. Photo by Karen Bahr.

Fremont Lutheran Church in Nyman, Iowa. Photo by Christi Johnson.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Gilbertville, Iowa. Photo by Father Henry Huber. This church has been on my bucket list for the past two years. Father Huber keeps offering the grand tour – and I finally made the trip in 2002, here’s my photo review of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Loving Chapel UMC in Leon, Iowa. Photo by Doug Kouba.

Maquoketa Sacred Heart Church in Maquoketa, Iowa. Photo by Dick Rickerl.

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Osage,Iowa. Photo by Jill Goodale.

United Methodist Church in Lenox, Iowa. Photo by Deb Miller.

St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna, Iowa. Photo by Tami Lansing.

Nativity Scene at St. Boniface Catholic Church in New Vienna, Iowa. Photo by Tami Lansing.

Faith Evangelical Church in Sumner, Iowa. Photo by Kelly Ladage.

Faith Evangelical Church in Sumner, Iowa. Photo by Kelly Ladage.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church in West Des Moines, Iowa. Photo by Brian Abeling.

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, Iowa. Photo by Brian Abeling.

St. Joseph’s in Dedham, Iowa. Photo by Jan Schulte.

St. Mary’s Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Photo by Bruce Peiffer.

St. Luke’s Church in Dubuque, Iowa. Photo by Emily Shol. St Luke’s is also famous for having over 100 stain glass windows made by Louis Tiffany. Here’s my photo review of the Tiffany windows at St. Luke’s.

Alice United Methodist Church in Center Point, Iowa. Photo submitted by Kimmy Johnson

All Saints Catholic Church in Le Mars, Iowa. Photo submitted by Annette Kuiken.
Burr Oak Lutheran Church in Burr Oak, Iowa. Photo submitted by Sharlyn Bibler.
Geneva United Methodist Church in Geneva, Iowa Photo submitted by Jamie Reinke.
Holy Trinity Lutheran Chuch in Newton. Photo submitted by Marilyn Terlouw.
Saint Aloysius in Calmar, Iowa. Photo submitted by Father Henry Huber.
St John’s Catholic Church in Delhi, Iowa. Photo submitted by Mark Kramer.
St. Joseph’s in Marion, Iowa. Photo submitted by Shanna Duggan.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, Iowa. Photo submitted by Lisa Plendl.
St. Patrick’s in Buffalo Center, Iowa. Photo submitted by Cathy Hughes.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Des Moines, Iowa. Photo submitted by Michael Leland
UCC Marshalltown, Iowa. Photo submitted by Lora Bachman. The tree on the left is decorated entirely with homemade ornaments.

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