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Easter Services will be 4/4/21 at 6:30 am, 8:30 am & 10:30 am $$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
First Congregational Church300 S. Minnesota Ave. | Sioux Falls, SD 57104 (605) 336-3072 | fcc@firstcongucc.com
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Thinking Faith. Unbounded Welcome. Creative Worship. Generous Service.
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Good News — March 11, 2021
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New Members If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact the church office at fcc@firstcongucc.com or contact Rev. Ryan Otto at rotto@firstcongucc.com. We will receive new members during worship services on Easter Sunday, April 4th, in person and online via Zoom.
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Blessed with woods and forests as my back yard, I have grown up with a healthy appreciation for trees. Hundreds and thousands of varieties that grow together in harmony, the haven for beasts of air and land, the music of the breeze whistling in the leaves, the shade and comfort in the hot summer sun and the canopy to protect from passing summer showers, the brilliance of autumn’s colors, and the sharing of sap to become delicious syrup are among some of my fondest memories and greatest gifts. Today, as I stare out into the uncultivated woods, I found myself pondering nature. We humans have human nature and God has perfect nature and then there is the nature of the earth, better known as mother nature. The nature of the earth that is likened to a mother because all life comes forth from her, she carries and sustains all creatures, and in her loving embrace, she welcomes us back in the end. As I stare into the uncultivated woods, I wonder how many people would choose to treat their mother the way that many treat the earth. Would they pillage her resources? Would they discard waste in her home? Would they strip her of her beauty to make a buck? As I stare into the uncultivated woods, I wonder if the good nature of God, who gives all life, wants humans to take better care of their mother earth and respect her bountiful nature? I wonder if an all loving God loves mother nature as much as I. The Genesis story says that he calls her “good”. If God calls her good, why do so many treat her so badly. If mother nature is good and of God, if mother nature is so beautiful and bountiful, how can we fill her with so much trash and show her so much disrespect. Over the next week, as I continue to sugar the trees that have been producing sap for human enjoyment for hundreds of years, I promise to care for these uncultivated woods, appreciate the mother nature who nurtures and thank God for the gift that some do not. Live Jesus, Martell
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OPENING THE CHURCH: The church is open for regular services at 8:30 & 10:30 am. Social distancing and mask wearing protocol is required by all in attendance. There will also be an online stream of worship at 10:30 am. Sunday School will remain online, and Fellowship time between services will not resume. In this reopening process we realize this is still a time of concern for many. The safety of the congregation is of the utmost importance. However you choose to participate in the life of the church whether it be online or in person, this reopening process is only meant to add another layer of possibilities. THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL MEETING: The Annual Financial and Program meetings together on Sunday, April 25, 2021 after the second service. An informational meeting will be held between services on Sunday, April 11, 2021.
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Chamber Music RecitalJoin us on Sunday, Mar. 14th for a chamber music recital at 3:00 pm in person in the sanctuary or via livestream on the church’s YouTube page! South Dakota Symphony Orchestra’s associate concert master Elizabeth York, hornist Daniel Kitchens and guest pianist Tyler Wottrich will be performing works by Brahms, Mozart and Reinecke.
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Easter ServicesWe will be having three worship services on Easter Sunday, April 4th at 6:30 am (Sunrise Service Location TBA), 8:30 am and 10:30 am. We look forward to seeing those who feel comfortable to join worship in person!
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Easter Sunday worship in 2013 |
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Announcements & Coming Events
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Pastor Ryan’s Last SundayPlease join us for worship on Sunday, April 11th to celebrate the ministry of Rev. Ryan Otto over the past 12 years at First Congregational Church. After the 10:30 am service there will be a celebration to thank Pastor Ryan and to say goodbye as he moves on from his work at FCC.
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Contact Information If you would like to get in touch with the church office via email, please use the email fcc@firstcongucc.com instead of office.register@firstcongucc.com
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Announcement InformationIf you would like to submit an announcement to the newsletter, email Spencer Smith at ssmith@firstcongucc.com or fcc@firstcongucc.com
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Financial EducationOne of the roles of the Stewardship Team is year-long education. As one way of doing this, the team is offering an opportunity for personal financial education. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection has developed an excellent series of booklets. The titles include “Behind on bills?”, “Debt getting in your way?”, and “Want credit to work for you?”. We are offering assistance in obtaining these resources and guiding families in using them. We can develop a way of doing this which is individualized and confidential. If you are interested, you can contact Norman Bliss for more information at (605) 254-3933. While the main focus of the Stewardship Team is helping achieve financial stability for the church as a whole, we recognize that this begins with financial stability for individuals.
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Church NurseryThe church nursery will be open starting on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. If anyone would like to volunteer to help, please contact Becky at bpagone@firstcongucc.com
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Greetings from Placerville Camp!We are excited to send out this email to let you know that we will be opening up for summer programming! YAY!! Obviously with COVID still in full swing, as of right now, there will be some changes from the norm and we hope that by the time summer reaches us, we can change our course of action. First off, all campers and staff will be wearing masks while indoors, except while sleeping. Second, we will be restricting the number of campers that can attend. Youth camps will have a limit of 30 campers so that we can keep a ratio of 1 counselor to 5 campers. Women’s Camp will also have a limit of 30 participants. Third, registration will be on-line only, so a camp brochure will not be mailed out. On-line registration will allow us to keep track of the numbers as registrations are made in real time. We can keep track of numbers better this way. This can be done at placervillecamp.net. On-line registration also allows us to notify campers as guidelines change where we might have the need to adjust our protocols. ~Placerville Camp FCC will support youth participates with covering the cost of transportation ($90) and 50% of the camp cost. If you are planning to use conference scholarships or support from FCC, please contact Becky Pagone via email at bpagone@firstcongucc.com for more information about the registration process.
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Online Parenting Group: Sundays at 9:30 amJoin Becky for the online parenting group to have conversations centered on white privilege and race. Contact Becky Pagone at bpagone@firstcongucc.com
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South Dakota Educational Scholarships Open for ApplicantsTo support all those who God calls to serve in many professions for the work of ministry, the South Dakota Conference offers scholarships each year to high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate students, and seminarians active in their SDUCC congregations.
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Online Keeping the Faith Bible StudyThursday mornings at 10:30 a.m.
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Online Sunday SchoolJoin Becky and Spencer for Sunday School on Sunday Mornings at 9:30 a.m.! Click the button below to go to our Sunday School page.
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Remember in PrayerFamily & Friends of Jim Beyer | Family & Friends of Roan Mulholland, great-niece of Mark & Linda Poppe | Glenn Schoppert | Joyce Burhenn, friend of Marge Anderson | Barbara Chamness | Nelda Vellek | Margaret Neal, sister-in-law of Joyce Anderson | Kyle Engel, father of Maren Engel | June Weber, sister of Mary Scheel | Jane Bell | Tam Baker | Nathan Foote & Family | Jesse Daw | Melissa Olivier | Judy Roddel | Phyllis Bitterman | Robert Pfeifer | Bob Oberembt, father of Pam | Allen Wienk | Bob Schenk, friend of Marge Anderson
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The mission of First Congregational Church 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 Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here. |
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Meet the StaffRev. Dr. M.G. Martell Spagnolo, Senior Pastor Rev. Ryan Otto, Pastor Rev. Kathryn J. Timpany, Pastor Emerita Spencer Smith, Director of Music and Arts Ministry Becky Pagone, Christian Education Director Lisa Hastings, Finance Administrator Paul Vincent, Custodian
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