The Good News - July 9, 2026

July 9, 2026 | The Good News

Message from the Pastor

I know you keep hearing about JAM and some of you may be wondering what JAM is and what do you do at JAM. JAM is the joint annual meeting of the Tri-Conference. The Tri-Conference includes South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska. This year we and Spirit of Peace are the host churches for this gathering. That means that we will be descended upon by the delegates, pastors, and visitors of all the churches in our three conferences. And this year they have added a youth component inviting all youth 6th grade on up to participate in this years JAM. Friday nights worship will be led by the youth, here at First Congregational Church.

On Thursday prior to JAM there will be workshops on things like mental health First Aid, Boundary Training for lay people, and other options. And when JAM starts there will be other workshops that will be shorter in length that may include topics like stewardship and other concerns of our local churches.

Each conference will hold its own annual meeting, which is the place where the business of that conference happens. That often involves voting on a budget or resolutions that local churches might bring forth. Each church in the conference has a specific number of delegates that they can send. We can send five and if you would like to have a voice in the workings of the wider church, we invite you to let the office know in the next week or so, the church will pay for your registration. Since it’s local you don’t have to travel anywhere. FYI early registration runs until July 17th. Registration continues after that, the cost is just a bit higher, so if you want to represent our church, let us know.

Youth registration is also fairly inexpensive and would be a valuable experience for any youth who recently has been confirmed or is thinking about confirmation.

You can find out more information about both here: https://ucctcm.org/jam-2026/.

Besides the formal educational workshops there will be a marketplace and there are often vendors from the wider church who share information. So, there might be somebody with a table about OGHS, one of your offerings, or about a UCC related college, or there might be a bookstore that has books for purchase. I’m hoping there will be at least one table with clergy stoles!

JAM or meetings like JAM, are great opportunities for learning about the wider denomination and meeting people who worship similarly to the way we worship. It’s a great place to network and learn what other churches are doing. And since this year we have the youth component, one the things I would say is that for youth, especially from youth from smaller churches, it is an opportunity to meet other youth who attend UCC churches.

Thursday, July 9:

Men's Fellowship

Sunday, July 12:

Summer Singers, Sunday Series (Our Church History)

Tuesday, July 14:

Church Ladies' Lunch

Thursday, July 16:

Circle Bible Study, Dow Rummel Visit

Remember in Prayer

Family and Friends of Arlene Gall

Linda and John Ortman

Everyone in ICE Detention Centers

That Christianity is not weaponized against the vulnerable

Barbara Mosely DeSouza

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 the email newsletter, or you can email the Pastor for direct support: Pastor@firstcongucc.com

Staff Announcement

Dear friends,

It’s with an open and grateful heart that I handed in my resignation, and my last day will be Sunday September 27, 2026. I will be transitioning into my role as a hospice chaplain in the fall. It’s where God has called me to be. This call brings me much joy and meaning. The folks at The Doughtry Hospice House welcomed me with open arms and always treated me as one of their own.

I want to thank all the members of this church for your kindness and support. I enjoyed hearing your stories and being your Director of Congregational Life. We have some amazing folks here and I know that whoever takes my place will be in good hands. I loved spending time with you every Sunday, and I will take what I learned here with me. God Bless!

Take special care,

Kevin Wehle

“I look forward to seeing more and more people willing to resist the direction the world is moving in, a direction where our personal experiences are irrelevant, that we are defective, that our communities are not important, that we are powerless, that our future is determined, and that the highest level of humanity is expressed through what we choose to buy at the mall.” - Rachel Corrie (1979-2003)

Learn more about Rachel here: https://americanswhotellthetruth.org/portraits/rachel-corrie/

"What you see is just a glimpse of an unimaginable nightmare in Gaza. Every part of our lives has been torn apart, and our dreams have been crushed." - Bisan Owda (born 1997) is a journalist documenting the genocide in Gaza and advocating for the freedom of Palestinians from the oppressive occupation that has killed over 73,001 and wounded over 173,200 since October 7th, 2023.

Learn more about Bisan here: https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/its-bisan-from-gaza/

JAM Delegates Needed: We are in need of five members to represent our church at the Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) September 17-20th. If you are going or are interested in being an FCC delegate, contact a member of council or email the church office at fcc@firstcongucc.com.

Sunday School Announcement: The fun of summer is upon us, but, alas, it won’t be that long until our kids are back to school and Sunday School. We have every position filled for next year except the littles. We need a couple volunteers to teach Sunday school. The curriculum is provided and the necessary copies run for you! Help us out! This old bird has dusted off her wings and will be helping with 3rd-4th grades. It takes a village, even grammas!!!!! Pam O.

Altar Guild: Did you know First Congregational has an Altar Guild? Are you wondering what Altar Guild means? The next time you reach for a hymnal, use an offering envelope and pen, or appreciate having a Kleenex available in your pew — that’s thanks to the volunteers of the Altar Guild. The group meets once a month to not only dust, refill and tidy up the pews and racks but to keep the sanctuary refreshed and welcoming. The group meets the first Thursday of the month at 9:30 and is finished in time for the 10:30 bible study. If interested in lending a hand or being part of this group, contact the church office.

Sidewalk Arts Festival Parking Lot Volunteers: The Sidewalk Arts Festival is coming soon on Saturday, September 12th, and we need volunteers to help run the parking lot. We use the parking lot as a fundraiser for youth events and charge a small parking fee on the day of the festival, so we need help in shifts throughout the day to keep the lot running smoothly. If you would like to help, please sign up in Fick Hall or email the church office: fcc@firstcongucc.com.

Circle Bible Study will meet for coffee and summer fellowship Thursday, July 16th, on the west side of McKennan Park at 10:00 am. Bring a lawn chair and a friend. All are welcome!

Sanctuary Touch‑Up Work Day, Hosted by the Building & Grounds Committee: Saturday, August 1, Coffee & Donuts at 8:00 AM, Work Time 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Our sanctuary is one of the most beautiful spaces in our church—and this August, we’re giving it a little extra love! Join us for a hands‑on, community‑building morning as we tackle a variety of touch‑up projects that will help keep our worship space welcoming.

What we’ll be working on:

Grouting and small repairs around the sanctuary, Fixing and reinforcing the stage area, Replacing worn feet on pews, Touch‑up staining on pews, Repairing the hand railing, and Additional projects depending on turnout.

What to bring:

Work gloves, Water bottle, Rags, and Sanding tools (if you have them).

Memorial Committee:
To request project funding complete the memorial fund request form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CNK29za2On9Rqq15VZwf2Z3efyBq_y3E/view?usp=sharing

Want to Share an Announcement?

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

Did You Know?

We have Amazon Wish Lists to help fill in gaps of things we need! You can place the order on Amazon and have it shipped directly to the church!

Guest Hygiene Needs:

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

Youth Engagement Needs:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2LODEJJB01VL1?ref_=wl_share

What is JAM?

Stands for Joint Annual Meeting.

The Conferences of South Daktoa, Iowa, and Nebraska come together each year to worship, do workshops, have meetings, and connect with each other.

First Congregational Church, Sioux Falls, is

co-hosting JAM this year with Spirit of Peace Church in September and we will need many volunteers to help the event run smoothly.

If you would like to volunteer, please email Kim Springer (from the Conference Offices) for available volunteer opportunities: kim@ucctcm.org

JAM AND YOUTH RALLY

REGISTRATION INFO

Please find below information on registration fees, etc. You will also find this information on the registration form as you register. EARLY REGISTRATION is EXTENDED until JULY 17th!

Registration Fees:

Early registration June 17-July 17 - $100.00 per person

Regular registration July 18-Sep 8 - $ 150.00 per person

Late registration at the door: - $ 175.00 per person

Confirmands/Youth Registration

Early registration - $ 25.00 per person

Regular registration - $ 50.00 per person

Late registration at the door - $ 75.00 per person

Saturday Night Dinner (limited seating 125) -

$ 45.00 per person

*Registrations for Friday and Saturday includes Friday night pizza/salad dinner and Saturday lunch.

To Register for JAM 2026 please scan the QR Code to the right or follow the link below.

IA, NE, SD JAM 2026 Registration

To Register for the Youth Rally Celebration please scan the QR Code to the right or follow the link below.

YOUTH RALLY 2026

Find updates and most current information on the JAM Event Website: https://ucctcm.org/jam-2026/

The Week Ahead

07/12 - Sunday

Worship Service - 9:30 am

Sunday Series - 11:00 am

07/13 - Monday

Meditation for Seekers (formerly known as "Contemplative Prayer") -

6:00 pm

07/14 - Tuesday

Church Ladies' Lunch - 11:30 am

Staff Meeting - 12:00 pm

Stewardship Meeting - 5:30 pm

Tuesday Night Yoga - 6:00 pm

07/16 - Thursday

Gentle Yoga - 10:00 am

Circle Bible Study -

10:00 am

Dow Rummel Visit - 3:00 pm

Al-Anon Meeting - 5:30 pm

07/19 - Sunday

Worship Service - 9:30 am

Fellowship Time - 11:00 am

Weekly Lectionary Scripture

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. If you have ears, hear!" "Hear, then, the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Next Week's Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Helping Hands in Our Community:

Our mission at FCC is to extend the extravagant welcome of Christ to all who walk through our doors. As part of that mission, we do our best to help in any way we can. As a church located in the heart of downtown Sioux Falls, we often welcome guests who have complex needs. Sometimes those needs are far greater than what we have resources for. However, there is a chance church staff know of other resources in town. Because of this we can often direct them to places which are more able to respond to their individual needs. Therefore, if someone comes to you at church or in the church parking lot and asks you for money, rides, etc., we encourage you to bring that individual to a staff member for help and not to give cash in particular. We know that many of you would like to help, so we invite you to give to the Brooks Helping Hands Fund. The Brooks Helping Hands Fund was created to help meet needs in our Sioux Falls Community for those who are not members of the church. We love and encourage the generous hearts of so many in our community and invite donations to the Brooks Fund for those who want to give. In so doing, your giving will have a wider impact.

Thank you so much for your care!

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.

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!