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.

April 11, 2024 | The Good News

April | At a Glance

Saturday, April 13: Out and About April Gathering

Sunday, April 14: Thrive Together (visitors) and New Member Sunday

Saturday, April 20 - Sunday, April 21: Stewardship Workshop Weekend

Thursday, April 25: Dow Rummel Visit and Food to You Volunteering

Saturday, April 27: Watercolor painting with Rodger Ellingson

Sunday, April 28: Annual Program Meeting

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and we cannot ignore the disproportionate impact sexual violence has on incarcerated LGBTQ+ people, particularly the heightened risk of sexual violence faced by transgender women held in men’s facilities.

Dee Farmer, a Black transgender woman, was detained in a men’s facility within the federal Bureau of Prisons. Within two weeks she was beaten and sexually assaulted by her cellmate.

In 1994, Farmer v. Brennan, Ms. Farmer’s case against the BOP reached the Supreme Court. The justices held that under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, prison officials can be held accountable for harm if they are aware of a substantial risk of serious harm to an incarcerated person, such as sexual violence, and are deliberately indifferent to those risks. Ms. Farmer’s case has been cited thousands of times in Eighth Amendment cases, it is a significant case for both LGBTQ+ rights and the rights of incarcerated people.

Ms. Farmer’s experiences are still far too common, and this epidemic of sexual violence against incarcerated LGBTQ+ people is something we must all work together to address. This month and beyond let’s continue to support survivors and to enforce the affirmative duty of officials to protect those in prisons from violence.

For more information about the experiences of LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV with the criminal legal system, check out www.ProtectedAndServed.org

Join us for Fun Fridays at FCC from 6:00 - 8:00 pm (come for the whole time, or only a portion)! After a resounding InReach team endorsement, we're opening our doors several times per month for church members to spend time together. While we won't provide childcare or dinner, feel free to bring your own snacks or dinner with you. Sign up to host and suggest activities in Fick Hall. Let's beat the winter blues together on Friday, April 12. See you there!

New Member Sunday

We are welcoming new members to FCC on Sunday, April 14th!

If you are interested in becoming a member, please email the church office (FCC@firstcongucc.com), or see Becky.

For more information on membership, visit: https://www.firstcongucc.com/visitors-and-new-members

Out and About April Gathering

Swedish Meatball Supper, April 13, 6:00 pm at Linda and Mark Poppe's house (1405 Larkspur Trail). The Poppe's will provide the meatballs and potatoes and ask that you bring a side, salad, or dessert to share. Sign up is in Fick Hall. All are welcome!

Circle Bible Study will meet Thursday, April 18th, in the Gerlinger Room at 10:00 am.

We will be viewing Lesson 5 of our video bible series; "The Life of Jesus". Prof. Susan Hecht will present "Disease Conquered / Jesus Heals the Sick" (Matthew 9:27-34). Come join us for coffee, discussion, and fellowship. All are welcome!

Workshop Weekend - April 20, 21 - Save the Date!

Join us for "The Spirituality of Generosity" workshop, a transformative journey into the essence of giving. In a world overshadowed by self-interest, cultivating generosity becomes a revolutionary act of justice and kindness.

Visit this link for more information: https://www.firstcongucc.com/stewardship-weekend

Food To You Volunteer Opportunity

OutReach has coordinated with Food To You for FCC Volunteers to serve again on May 2nd. For those who would like to come earlier, arrive by 4:15 pm, and work until 7:30 pm to box and distribute food. All other volunteers should arrive by 5:10 pm and work until 7:30 pm. The food of the month is Peanut Butter! Bring by Fick Hall in the shopping cart jars of peanut butter to donate, or bring money to donate to Food To You and they can purchase more jars. Sign up to volunteer in Fick Hall.

Placerville Camp Financial Support

New for 2024!

Register and pay through First Congregational Church directly. No need to pay Placerville online or by mail. FCC will support 25% for each camper and bus fare for youth campers.

Registration Deadlines:

Conference Scholarship: Submit form by April 12^th, 2024 to FCC. This is financial support in addition to support received from FCC.
Registration: Submit Registration by April 22^nd to FCC. Payment not required at that time. (After April 22^nd, camp costs increase $50 more per camper)

Everyone can go to Camp! Do not let financial barriers hold anyone back. Please contact Becky Pagone.

Spring Cleanup at Dow Rummel - Volunteers Needed!

Friday, May 3, from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Bring rakes, gloves, and leaf blowers if you have them, and come do some spring cleaning at Dow Rummel Village. Please email volunteer@dowrummel.com by April 19th if you can make it. They will provide lunch and snacks in the afternoon.

Memorial Committee Updates

The Memorial Committee met on February 22, 2024. At the meeting, the committee reviewed the Memorial Committee section of the by-laws and discussed plans as to how to distribute undesignated funds from the Memorial Fund. Two projects were voted upon favorably to receive a portion of the available funds. The pipe organ will be upgraded to include a switch that allows for a smoother transition between keyboards, and a light will be installed which will eliminate the need for a corded light. This project was suggested by our organ tuner and Amanda Carlson, our organist. The second project is the one-time purchase of a new computer to be used for our YouTube broadcast of services. Staff informed the committee that the current computer is outdated but had lasted longer than expected. The new computer will be compatible with our new sound board to improve broadcast capabilities. The committee plans to meet quarterly moving forward and will develop a proposal process open for all teams to expend available funds.

Volunteer Project Weekend at Placerville

The last weekend in April is a work weekend at Placerville. Food and lodging provided. Let Kerry know by email (placervillecampucc@gmail.com) that you are coming the week before to plan for food.

Watercolor Painting Time

Join Rodger Ellingson on Saturday, April 27th, at 9:00 am for a Plein Air Watercolor time on the church grounds. We will provide watercolor paper, paints, water, cups, and brushes. Please bring a chair with a cup holder to hold supplies. If you would like to attend, please sign up in Fick Hall or email the church office.

FCC Pride T-Shirts Are Back!!!

We are excited to announce that Pride

T-Shirts for FCC are now available for purchase! The vibrant and meaningful t-shirts allow you to proudly display your support for our church and our mission of extravagant welcome. Don't miss out on this opportunity to show your pride and unity; whether you wear them at the pride parade, during church services, or even at the grocery store.

The deadline for ordering these special t-shirts is April 24th, at midnight CST. Please ensure you place your order before the deadline to secure yours.

https://mrghauff.chipply.com/FIRSTCONG

Ordination for Becky Pagone

Celebrate Pastor Becky's Ordination with us on May 19th, at 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary! There will be a reception to follow in Jones Hall.

The Week Ahead

Saturday - 04/13/2024

Out and About April Gathering - 6:00 pm

Sunday - 04/14/2024

Worship Service - 8:30 am

Breakfast - 9:15 am

Thrive Together (visitors) - 9:15 am

Sunday School - 9:45 am

Worship Service - 10:30 am

Fellowship Time - 11:30 am

Thrive Together (visitors) - 11:30 am

Tuesday - 04/16/2024

Staff Meeting - 10:00 am

Building and Grounds Meeting - 5:00 pm

Endowment Meeting - 5:00 pm

OutReach Meeting - 5:30 pm

Tuesday Night Yoga - 6:00 pm

Wednesday - 04/17/2024

Chancel Choir Rehearsal - 7:30 pm

Thursday - 04/18/2024

Gentle Yoga - 9:00 am

Fumble Through Bible Study - 10:30 am

Al-Anon Meeting - 5:30 pm

Sunday - 04/21/2024

Worship Service - 8:30 am

Breakfast - 9:15 am

Sunday School - 9:45 am

Worship Service - 10:30 am

Fellowship Time - 11:30 am

Remember in Prayer

Search Committee | Our Future pastor, still unknown to us

Quentin Ambort | Children with cancer and their families | Foster children and families |

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

Luke 24:36b-48

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

Next week's Scripture: John 10:11-18

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!

Contact the Church office if you would like any information on how to get involved in any of these ways: FCC@firstcongucc.com

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.

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.