First Congregational Church

300 S. Minnesota Ave | Sioux Falls, SD 57104

(605)336-3072 | fcc@firstcongucc.com

Thinking Faith. Unbounded Welcome. Creative Worship. Generous Service.

May 16, 2024 | The Good News

May | At a Glance

Friday, May 17: Out and About Baseball

Saturday, May 18: Spring Cleanup Day

Sunday, May 19: Volunteer Appreciation Day Breakfast and Becky Pagone's Ordination Service

Thursday, May 23: Dow Rummel Visit

Friday, May 31: Pride Trivia at Spirit of Peace

Congratulations to Rev. Lorah Houser Jankord on her Ordination this last Sunday!

May 19: Invitation to join with Becky - The Two Rivers Association and the Tri-Conference of the United Church of Christ invites you to the Ordination and Installation of Becky Pagone. Clergy are invited to wear red or multi-colored stoles. The service will take place at 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary with a reception to follow in Jones Hall. All are welcome.

Building and Grounds Spring Cleanup Day

The Building and Grounds Team is hosting a Spring Cleanup Day on May 18th, from 9:30 am - 12:00 pm, to help spruce up the Church for a fresh start to the Summer. Bring gloves, rakes, shovels, and wheelbarrows if you have them.

Painting outside railing
Seeding
Distributing mulch
Planting for the Living Quilt Garden - bring your plants (see below).

Bring your plants on May 18th!

Work has started in the back of our church to create a meditation area featuring a Living Quilt Garden. Similar to a patchwork quilt, it symbolizes our vibrant and diverse community, which is both nurturing and filled with love. To mirror this diversity, we invite all congregation members to contribute a perennial plant or two from their gardens that bring them happiness, planting them in our Living Quilt Garden located outside near the back entrance. This area will be a peaceful spot for reflection, meditation, and prayer.

Volunteer Appreciation Sunday -

Breakfast to be Catered on May 19th!

We are grateful to have a committed community of volunteers who help sustain our church. Join us in honoring and appreciating all our volunteers with a catered breakfast on Sunday, May 19th, from 9:15 to 10:15 am.

Young Adults Tie Dye Party

Join us for a colorful and creative night to gear up for Pride with a tie dye party on Saturday, June 1, at 4:00 pm, in the Gerlinger Room. Drinks will be provided, feel free to bring a snack to share. Bring a white cotton t-shirt or any other garment you'd like to tie dye, and we'll provide all the necessary supplies. Please RSVP by May 26th so we can have enough supplies for everyone. Sign up in Fick Hall.

2024 Mission Trip - Sign Up by June 9!

OutReach is cooking up a Mission Trip to Alamosa, CO on August 11-17, 2024! Calling all High School Students (with chaperones) and Adults for this adventure to lend a helping hand at the La Puente Home. Get ready to pick your project and dive into the journey!

Painting, restocking, rearranging shelves at the thrift store, and performing basic maintenance tasks
Tending to the V.E.G.I. Program Vegetable Garden
Preparing and serving meals at the community center
Assisting at the food bank

Those available for the trip dates and those who are interested are invited to an informational meeting on Wednesday, May 22nd, from 6:00 - 7:00 pm.

Church is covering half the cost of the trip. Participants will need to contribute an estimated $550 to cover food, two hotel stays during travel, and La Puente Program fees. Please sign up in Fick Hall before June 9th to let us know if you can commit to going on the Mission Trip.

Summer Singers

Want to share your love of music without the commitment to a full year of choir? You're invited to sing with our Summer Singers on the second Sunday of every month in the Summer, starting in June.

Email the Church office if you would like more information.

ValleyFair 2024!

Wednesday June 12th

Ages: Grades 6-12

When: Wednesday June 12th All Day!

We board the bus in the morning and enjoy the park for many hours then load the bus for home in the evening. FCC covers the cost of the bus and Valleyfair ticket and water bottles so youth only need to provide/purchase their own food! We need chaperones for the trip, so plan your vacation day at ValleyFair.

Sign up at this link for ValleyFair or in Fick Hall: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd31QI5RY5IJBg54eWeydM4lebhjeXne2nhmXfYVk9UxAk26Q/viewform

Spirit of Peace UCC is hiring! They are looking to fill the roles of Office Manager and Youth Engagement Director. More information can be found using the links below. Resume, cover letter, and list of three references can be sent to LeAnn Minister, Director of Congregational Life, at clife@spiritofpeacesf.org.

https://files.constantcontact.com/cabd8b4d001/39c320e7-d413-473e-920a-56f324ba4083.pdf?rdr=true

https://files.constantcontact.com/cabd8b4d001/63a08e8d-eb66-448b-bda6-b855282b696b.pdf?rdr=true

Sioux Falls Pride has announced that the Pride Festival this year will be held at the Sioux Falls Canaries Stadium. The Parade will take place downtown (10am on 8th Street from Dakota to Reid St). Pride Weekend is June 8th-9th. Sign up to volunteer in Fick Hall.

Pride Trivia: Friday, May 31, 6:30 pm, Spirit of Peace UCC. Beer, wine and other non-alcoholic refreshments and appetizers will be provided. You’re also invited to enjoy our signature drink in a one-of-a-kind PRIDE Trivia cup, available for purchase at the event. Donate today and join us for this exciting event celebrating the kick-off to Sioux Falls PRIDE! All proceeds from the event will be distributed to Sioux Falls Pride and the Rainbow Chorus of Sioux Falls. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/69xJLeV/PrideTrivia

Rainbow Run: Saturday, June 1, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, at Fawick Park. Support the Transformation Project and go all out on your rainbow attire for the Rainbow Run 5K! Ticket sales will help them to pay for programming, community events, building costs, and more. FCC is a sponsor for this event and has 10 free spots for runners. Sign up in Fick Hall! https://www.transformationprojectsd.org/events/rainbow-run-sioux-falls

Rainbow Chorus of Sioux Falls: Thursday, June 6, 7:00 pm. Get ready to embark on a musical journey that celebrates resilience, courage, and the power of unity. Each song has been carefully selected to reflect the themes of bravery, hope, and the triumph of the human spirit. A free will donation will be taken at the concert, and half of the proceeds will be donated to Lost&Found. https://www.rainbowchorus.org/home

What is Pride, and why do we celebrate it?

Watch this 3 minute video for a brief history on Pride Month.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d-9Q7_dbrk

Learn more by visiting these links:

https://www.gottman.com/blog/one-great-reason-to-celebrate-pride-and-why-its-so-great/#:~:text=Celebration%20during%20Pride%20increases%20the,see%20families%20outside%20the%20traditional.

The Transformation Project's Podcast: https://www.becomingvisiblepod.com/2182853

Pride 2024 Reading List

A Queer History of the United States - by Michael Bronski
A Quick and Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns - by Archie Bongiovanni
Real Queer America: LGBT Stories from Red States - by Samantha Allen
Feminist, Queer, Crip - by Alison Kafer

The Pride T-Shirts are

ready for pickup at the

Church Office any time

within our office hours or

on Sunday Mornings!

Pride Worship Service and Dinner at the Multicultural Center

(300 E 6th St) June 12th at 6:00 pm

FCC is bringing sandwiches for the dinner. Please bring donations of buns, meat, and cheese to the church on or before June 12th at 4:00 pm. We will be assembling the sandwiches here and bringing them to the Multicultural Center. There is a sign up sheet in Fick Hall for coming to worship and for bringing/assembling sandwiches.

The Week Ahead

Sunday - 05/19/2024

Worship Service - 8:30 am

Breakfast - 9:15 am

Sunday School - 9:45 am

Worship Service - 10:30 am

Fellowship Time - 11:30 am

Ordination - Becky Pagone - 3:00 pm

Monday - 05/20/2024

Contemplative Prayer - 6:00 pm

Tuesday - 05/21/2024

Staff Meeting - 10:00 am

Building and Grounds Meeting - 5:00 pm

OutReach Meeting - 5:30 pm

Tuesday Night Yoga - 6:00 pm

Wednesday - 05/22/2024

Mission Trip Informational Meeting - 6:00 pm

Thursday - 05/23/2024

Gentle Yoga - 9:00 am

Fumble Through Bible Study - 10:30 am

Dow Rummel Visit - 3:00 pm

Al-Anon Meeting - 5:30 pm

InReach Meeting - 6:00 pm

Sunday - 05/26/2024

Worship Service - 8:30 am

Fellowship Time - 9:15 am

Worship Service - 10:30 am

Fellowship Time - 11:30 am

Monday - 05/27/2024

Church Office Closed

Memorial Day

Stewardship

Talked about the Rev. Michael Vollbrecht weekend from April
Decided on committee assignments
Set annual campaign committee meeting for June

Remember in Prayer

Search Committee | Our Future pastor, still unknown to us

Need Prayer or Support?

The FCC Staff and congregation is available to provide support for you and your family when hard times come. If you would like prayer, you can write prayer requests on your Prayer and Offering bulletin insert on Sunday Mornings, you can reply to this email newsletter, or you can email Becky Pagone for direct support: BPagone@firstcongucc.com

Weekly Lectionary Scripture

John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

"When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Next week's Scripture: John 3:1-17

Strengthen the Church Special UCC Offering

On Holy Ground

The Strengthen the Church Offering reflects the commitment of all settings of the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations as we work to become a church accessible to all Christians.

From Holy Ground - A Prayer to Strengthen the Church

By Rev. Dave Long-Higgins, Conference Minister, Heartland Conference

Loving God,

Ground us anew

In Your deep desire

For a fullness of flourishing

Yearning to rise throughout

Your whole creation.

Plant us deep

In the soil of Your love

Bursting open seeds

Often long-forgotten

Except by You

Bearing a strength

For blessing and healing

In a world of hurt.

Form Your self-giving

In our deepest selves

Giving grace and space

For Your strength of soul

To rise anew in acts

Of joy-filled giving

Bearing unexpected hope

In a world weary with worry.

Grow us in Your Holy Ground

Supplying every needed nutrient

Of body, mind, and soul

In just the right amount

At just the right time

Giving rise to a beauty

And delight not of our making

Yet requiring our consent.

By this, O Love,

Strengthen the covenant

Of Your Christ-formed community

Gifting a renewed energy

To bear Your deep desire

Into a world that hungers

For resurrection risings.

Now, strengthen Your church

With Your self-giving Spirit

That we may strengthen others

For Your holy work of unfolding

Abundant, blessed, beloved, joy!

Yes, O Love, raise us up

From your Holy Ground

For nothing less than this

And let it be more than enough.

Amen.

Through the Strengthen the Church Offering, we help support the work of conferences and the national setting as we become a multi-racial/ multi-cultural church.

Ways to Give

We want everyone to have the accessibility to give, serve, and be a part of this faith community, so here are a few ways that you can consider giving:

Cash
Check/ACH Withdrawal
PayPal Recurring Gifts
NEW! Venmo (https://www.venmo.com/u/fccsiouxfalls)
Volunteering with OutReach Opportunities
Volunteering for serving breakfast, offering childcare, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, building and grounds projects, and more!

The Behavioral Covenant

First Congregational Church adopted our Behavioral Covenant in 2023. You can find the document on our website:

https://www.firstcongucc.com/behavioral-covenant

If you would like a printed copy and do not have access to a printer, please contact the Church Office for a printout.

Church Profile

View our Church Profile from the Pulpit Committee here:

https://www.firstcongucc.com/search-and-call

The mission of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ is:

To create a Christian community based on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth by growing in our relationships with God, each other, and our neighbors through a thinking faith, unbounded welcome, creative worship, and generous service.

Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here.