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 10, 2025 | The Good News

April | At a Glance

Sunday, April 13: OutReach Volunteering at Center for Families

Monday, April 14: Camp Application Deadline

Thursday, April 17: Circle Bible Study and

Maundy Thursday Service

Friday, April 18: Good Friday Service

Sunday, April 20: Easter Sunday and Welcoming New Members

Monday, April 21: Easter Monday, Church Office Closed

Thursday, April 24: Dow Rummel Visit

Saturday, April 26: Spring Cleanup Day and Young Adults Gathering

Sunday, April 27: Annual Program Meeting and Two Rivers Association Meeting

After Palm Sunday (April 13th) begins Holy Week at FCC!

Maundy Thursday Service: April 17th - 7:00 pm

Good Friday Service: April 18th - 7:00 pm

Easter Sunday Services: April 20th - 8:30 and 10:30 am - Easter Breakfast at 9:15 am.

No Sunday School.

Campership Applications – Deadline April 14th!

We are excited to announce that campership funds are available to help send individuals to Placerville Camp this summer! If you or someone you know would benefit from a scholarship to attend, we encourage you to apply.

Deadline: April 14th

To apply for a campership:

Fill out the Campership Application Form

Complete your Camp Registration

You can submit both the campership application and registration form by emailing events@firstcongucc.com, dropping them off in person at the church office, or by speaking with Jen on a Sunday morning. Hard copies of the forms are available at the office if needed. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re excited to help more people experience Placerville Camp this summer, and we hope to see you there!

Volunteer with Outreach

April 13th, 2:00 pm

This event is another volunteer event at the Center For Families! It is located close(ish) to the Denny Sanford Premier Center. We would be doing tasks to aid the families that use the services in this location which include (but are not limited to) organizing dayrooms, cleaning tasks, and meal prep/meal organization. The event will go for one hour and we will have lots of space to be ourselves during this event. We will be helping people who are unhoused to live more comfortably in the space that is provided. The Center for Families only accepts families that have been cleared through a background check and therefore is completely safe for all age groups to join and support a community that might appreciate this extra assistance.

New Members will be Welcomed on Easter Sunday!

We are excited to invite new members to First Congregational Church on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, at second service.

Have any questions? Email the Church Office: FCC@firstcongucc.com

FCC Pride T-Shirts Are Back!!

Represent our community and our mission of extravagant welcome by purchasing and wearing our Pride T-shirt! The deadline for ordering is April 20th, so don't miss the opportunity to put your order in!

https://mrghauff.chipply.com/FIRSTCONG/

Calling all grilled cheese lovers!

All are welcome to join us for a “make-your-own” grilled cheese bar on Saturday, April 26th, at 5:30 pm in the Gerlinger Room! We will have bread and cheese (gluten and dairy free options will be available) available, so bring your favorite toppings and sides! Please sign up in Fick Hall so we know how much to bring. Young and old are all invited!

Spring Cleanup Day! April 26th.

1. We will be picking up tree leaves, trash, any other unwanted material.

2. Filling potholes with concrete in the parking lot.

3. Installing a doggie trashcan/sign/bag holder.

4. Installing new little library house.

We will start at 8:00 am and work until 12:00 pm, come as you can, anytime is appreciated. There will be snacks, donuts and coffee. Please bring tools for the part you wish to participate in such as gloves, rakes, or shovels. If anyone has a concrete mixer and is willing for us to borrow it for the day, please let us know as soon as possible.

Rummage Sale – Shop and Support Camperships! Join us for our annual Rummage Sale, where you can score great deals while helping support camperships for Placerville Camp!

Sale Hours:

Saturday, May 3rd

8:00 am – 3:00 pm

When can you start donating?

Donations will be accepted starting Sunday, April 27th. Please bring your gently used items to Sacred Grounds, where they will be kept until the sale. All proceeds from the sale will go toward camperships, helping send kids and families to Placerville Camp this summer. Your donations and purchases make a real difference!

What can you donate?

Clothing, books, household goods, toys, and more! If it’s in good condition, we’re happy to take it.

If you have any questions, or need more information, feel free to reach out to events@firstcongucc.com. We look forward to seeing you there and thank you for supporting camperships!

Compassion Camp: An Arts-Based Vacation Bible School

Join us for a fun and creative week at Compassion Camp, an arts-based Vacation Bible School brought to you in partnership with Spirit of Peace and Calvary Episcopal Church!

Dates: June 23rd-26th

Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM (Dinner provided each night)

Location: Calvary Episcopal Church, 500 S Main Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104

For Youth Ages 3+

Children will explore faith, compassion, and creativity through art, music, and fun activities. Sign-ups are coming soon, so stay tuned!

Guest Hygiene Supplies Thank you to everyone who has generously given hygiene products, clothing, and blankets to be given to those in our community who are in need!

Currently, we are most in need of:

Deodorant
Shampoo and Conditioner (travel size bottles only)
Shaving Kits
Tampons

If you are making an Amazon purchase, consider adding an item or two from our wish list and have it sent to the church.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/29Y5G3CTWOL3K?ref_=wl_share

Scrip Cards Available

Buy your groceries and support FCC Youth at the same time! Pre-loaded gift cards to Fareway and Hy-Vee are available for purchase in varying amounts. Money from these sales will go towards Camperships to Placerville. See Jen to purchase a card!

On Wednesday April 16th, 2025, FCC will be hosting two other church choirs in preparation for our big Good Friday Service. Our best guess is that there will be about 50 people in total. We would like to be good hosts and offer some refreshments to our guests during the break in the middle of our rehearsal. Would you please help us by bringing cookies, cheese and crackers, small bottles of water or any other snack food you find doable. We will be using the Fick Hall tables and area for this gesture of welcoming.

Update on Paul and Laurie Vincent

"Dear FCC Community,

I’m reaching out on behalf of my parents, Paul and Laurie Vincent. Many of you may remember my dad, Paul, who served the church for many years as a faithful steward of the building and grounds. His heart for community has touched so many lives, and now, my parents are walking through a season where they could truly use some of that same love and support.

After a long and challenging hospital stay, my mom Laurie is finally returning home following a lifesaving bone marrow transplant and serious complications. She continues to care for my dad, who is living with Alzheimer’s, while also needing to travel frequently back to Mayo Clinic for ongoing treatment.

We’ve set up a meal train to help ease the daily burdens, as well as a GoFundMe for those who may prefer to offer financial support for travel and caregiving costs. If you feel led to help in any way, we would be deeply grateful.

With love and gratitude,

Abbie Olson (daughter of Laurie and Paul)"

https://www.giveinkind.com/inkinds/B4V2C6L

Nominating Committee

The nominating committee is reaching out to people to fill in the newly vacated positions in all of our committees before our annual meeting and would be grateful for folks to be prayerful about the gifts they might be willing to offer to the church through committee work.

Circle Bible Study will meet Thursday, April 17th, in the Gerlinger Room at 10:00 am. We will be viewing Lesson 6 of our video series "The Forgiveness of Jesus". Dr. Darrell Bock will present "Released to Forgive / Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath" (Luke 13:10-17). Come join us for coffee, fellowship and discussion. All are welcome!

Easter Lilies and Loving Our Neighbors

This Easter, twelve lilies will grace our sanctuary—symbols of hope and renewal. Instead of purchasing a lily, we invite you to give to the Brooks Helping Hands Fund, which provides gas cards, bus fares, and emergency support to neighbors in crisis.

The fund is currently empty. For months, we’ve had to turn people away. Your gift helps us respond with compassion—just as Christ would.

To donate, please note Brooks Helping Hands on your check or give online through our website.

https://www.firstcongucc.com/give

The Week Ahead

Sunday - 04/13/2025

Worship Service - 8:30 am

Breakfast and Fellowship Time - 9:15 am

Sunday School - 9:45 am

Worship Service - 10:30 am

Fellowship Time - 11:30 am

Monday - 04/14/2025

Contemplative Prayer - 6:00 pm

Tuesday - 04/15/2025

Staff Meeting - 10:30 am

Endowment Meeting - 5:00 pm

Building and Grounds Meeting - 5:15 pm

OutReach Meeting - 5:30 pm

Tuesday Night Yoga - 6:00 pm

Wednesday - 04/16/2025

Confirmation - 6:30 pm

Orchestra Rehearsal - 6:30 pm

Chancel Choir Rehearsal - 6:30 pm

Thursday - 00/00/2025

Gentle Yoga - 9:00 am

Fumble Through Bible Study - 10:30 am

Maundy Thursday Service - 7:00 pm

Al-Anon Meeting - 5:30 pm

Friday - 04/18/2025

Good Friday Service - 7:00 pm

Sunday - 04/20/2025

Worship Service - 8:30 am

Breakfast and Fellowship Time - 9:15 am

Worship Service - 10:30 am

Welcoming New Members - 10:30 am

Fellowship Time - 11:30 am

Monday - 04/21/2025

Church Office Closed

Easter Monday

Remember in Prayer

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 the Pastor for direct support: Pastor@firstcongucc.com

Weekly Lectionary Scripture

Luke 19:28-40

After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, "Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'" So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" They said, "The Lord needs it." Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."

Next week's Scripture: John 20:1-18

The Memorial Committee met on June 9, 2024. At the meeting, the committee approved a project application form. The form is available through the church office and completed applications should be returned to the church office. The current amount in the undesignated memorial fund is approximately $8,900 and individuals and church teams are invited to submit applications to fund small one-time expenses and projects. Proposals will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. Submitting a project narrative and estimated detailed budget, including expense quotes is encouraged.

Find the form here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CNK29za2On9Rqq15VZwf2Z3efyBq_y3E/view?usp=sharing

The Church Office has implemented a new process for advertising events, gatherings, volunteer opportunities, and more. To ensure proper publication of your advertisement, please fill out and submit the form no less than two weeks in advance if possible.

Use this link to fill out the form: https://forms.gle/9RfC94vpbxi33TFw6

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
Tithe.ly
Amazon Wish Lists
PayPal Recurring Gifts
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.

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.