Iowa Conference UCC

06/23/2026

Musings of a Traveling Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences Minister of the United Church of Christ
By Rev Roberto Ochoa
June 22, 2026

The Gift of Presence

“On the road again - Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends - And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again - Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again - I can't wait to get on the road again” Willie Nelson

My dear friends of the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ and beyond,

Happy Summer! It is my prayer that all the Dads and Dad figures had a great Father’s Day this past Sunday. I praise God for all the fathers that give of themselves for their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and who coach and mentor those without a father figure. And for the mothers and women that serve as father figures, I praise God for you as well.

It was also the celebration of Juneteenth, which marked the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. However, slavery wasn’t completely abolished in the U.S. until Dec 6, 1865, with the passage of the 13th Amendment.

Even so, Juneteenth celebrates the spirit of freedom for all citizens of the United States as much as the Fourth of July marks the celebration of the declaration of independence from England. The freedom for liberty and justice for all of God’s people.

I know it’s summer, because my travels on the road are more frequent, and distances are longer as the weather permits me to drive more often. For instance, in one week I went from celebrating with our churches (Spirit of Peace and First Congregational) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to camp counseling (Kamp Kaleo) in Burwell, Nebraska to preaching and visiting our UCC churches (Zion and First Congregational) in Burlington, Iowa. Truly I feel the spirit of Willie Nelson’s lyrics “On the road again, going places that I’ve never been; Seein’ things that I may never see again” and I feel so blessed for the privilege of being with our UCC folks wherever I go.

What I have valued the most from my travels is the opportunity to be present with our congregations and Association and I have found that most are just grateful for my showing up for worship and fellowship. Heck, I’m grateful for the UCC’ers that show up to meet with me. The gift of presence.

Of the three forms of stewardship that we are encouraged to do, which is often known as tithe, talents, and time, for me the giving of one’s time to be present with and for each other is what resonates most.

Churches thrive on the presence of its members to worship, fellowship, and to be a beloved community. This is what makes our churches, Associations, and Conferences strong in the United Church of Christ. Our making time for one another and inviting others to join us.

I’ve heard many say there are other interests happening on Sundays that have affected worship attendance, including the increase of streamed services, giving the perception that people aren’t interested in coming to church anymore. Yet, whoever said Sundays are the only time to be church? Yes, Sunday was once upon a time “the” day of rest, but in a world that is nonstop 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we have opportunities to create and innovate the meaning of sabbath for the 21st century. For we still need time of rest and spiritual enrichment and most importantly, I believe, there is a renewed desire for people to congregate with one another again beyond the “zoom square” that so many depended on during the Covid years.

The gift of presence is what can make the Church become alive again. That is why I travel so much as your Conference Minister to experience the awesome presence of UCCers in Iowa Nebraska South Dakota and witness firsthand the amazing ministries being done in the name of Jesus Christ by our UCC churches. Together we are stronger in our commitment of making “a just world for all.”

It is in that spirit of presence that I invite you to join us in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sept 17-20 for the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) for an incredible plan of worship, workshops, and fellowship including celebrating our UCC Confirmands. Come and be present for the most ambitious celebration of our faith in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, together as the Tri Conference Ministries. Registration is now open.

“I can’t wait to get on the road again”.

Bendiciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto

*Picture: Sunset at Calamus Reservoir near Kamp Kaleo Burwell, Nebraska

06/18/2026

Please join us on July 12th for the Installation of Daniel Luepke at Trinity United Church of Christ in Marengo, Iowa.

06/15/2026

Musings of a Traveling Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences Minister of the United Church of Christ
By Rev Roberto Ochoa
June 15, 2026

Pride and Family Values.

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1)

My dear friends from the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ and beyond,

During this Pride Month, some of my friends were upset with the introduction of June as also being “Nuclear Family Month” by some state governments. For a lot of folks, it looks like an attempt to minimize the 57 years of celebration of the Gay Le***an Bi Trans Q***r plus communities since the Stonewall uprising in New York City that began the contemporary LGBTQA+ civil rights movement in 1969.

My take is that of course we should honor and celebrate the nuclear families, as much as we celebrate families created by adoption, divorce, widowhood, and the beautiful diversities that make up families. Instead of being upset, we can showcase the family values that exist in our LGBTQ communities in our June celebrations. Many of us came from nuclear families that fell short and hurt us, often in the name of Christianity and the Church when we decided to live our authentic lives. Often this meant the creation of families of our own choosing, that would provide familial love and affirmation when our biological kin could not. I know firsthand how that felt as a young man when my family needed time to process my coming out by refusing to speak to me for over three years. Fortunately, I found those that took on parental and sibling roles during my journey of loss and grief. Most importantly, I found Christ when I needed Jesus the most during this period. I thank God for that.

This past weekend, I was privileged and honored to march with Spirit of Peace and First Congregational UCCs of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in their annual Pride parade. As I marched down on Phillips Ave, downtown Sioux Falls, with Pastors Rev Becky Pagone (Spirit) and Rev Carol Hallman (First Congregational) and their congregations, I noticed the number of families that lined the parade route which was amazing and heartwarming. Families of all types, grandparents, parents, and children waved with excitement with “Happy Pride” and signs of “Love Always Wins” “I Love My Dads” or “I Love My Moms”. I saw t shirts on Moms and Dads offering hugs and I thought, yes, these are our family values…we love and affirm all of God’s children.

The United Church of Christ calls us to affirm that no matter where one is in life, a place can be found in the UCC. That even when we disagree, we make a commitment to inspire to “live together in unity.”

Family values matter in the United Church of Christ, and we are urged to testify values that expresses hope, faith, love, affirmation, and acceptance. Let’s celebrate Family Pride, not only in June, but all year round.

May God’s blessings be upon you and your families through the love of Jesus Christ and the assurance of the Holy Spirit.

Testify to Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwQhsL98qkg&list=RDnwQhsL98qkg&start_radio=1

Bendiciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto

Photo 1: Pastor Becky Pagone (Spirit of Peace UCC) Pastor Carol Hallman (First Congregational UCC) and friends at Sioux Falls Pride 2026
Photo 2: Mexican Folkorico at Sioux Falls Pride 2026
Photo 3: Spirit of Peace UCC with Pastor Becky Pagone and her husband John.

06/09/2026

Musings of a Traveling Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences Minister
By Rev Roberto Ochoa
June 8, 2026

LGBTQAI+ Pride, Open and Affirming and the UCC: a healing ministry of spirit and soul in the Name of Jesus.

“Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that moment,” (Matthew 9:20-22)

Dear friends of the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ and beyond,

HAPPY PRIDE!

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending my 50th college reunion at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. I was privileged to be invited to provide the invocation for the induction to the “Golden Scot” society of class of 1976. Before, the invocation, I confessed to my fellow alums, that had someone had told this arriving 17 year old Gay Chicano barrio kid from Lincoln Heights, East L.A. that I’d be coming back in the future as a minister to do an invocation, I would have laughed out loud and lit up a joint. So incredulous was the thought.

I was also asked to sit on a panel, hosted by Scots Pride, the college’s LGBTQA+ group on campus, to discuss the evolution of the Q***r presence in Macalester through the years beginning in the 70’s. As the elder spokesperson, I was part of a group of students that began the first gay and le***an student organization on campus in 1974. Our session was a fabulous exchange of laughter and some tears when we shared our experiences spanning five decades making Macalester as one of the most affirming and safest colleges for the LGBTQA+ students. A fact that I am very proud of.

Throughout the rest of the reunion, Macalester alums and/or their family members and friends, who saw and heard me on the panel, would come up to me and expressed gratitude of not only being an out gay man but for being a pastor, which inspired and gave them hope about their own spirituality or that of a gay, le***an, bi, trans, non-binary, q***r loved one. Many asking about the United Church of Christ, some inquiring of congregations in their own city or town. My presence meant something to them, often with requests for a hug, which humbled me greatly.

On Sunday, I was fortunate to hear my dear friend of many years, Rev. Dr. Jim Mitulski, pastor of Congregational Church of the Peninsula UCC in the San Francisco Bay area, who was invited to preach at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, the same weekend of my reunion. House of Hope is pastored by Rev Dr Scott Jones, the former pastor of First-Central UCC in Omaha, and whom I have kept in touch with since his call to St. Paul and where we discovered we are mutual friends of Rev Jim. So, it was an additional joy to visit with them both.

Pastor Jim preached on healing and faith, using the scriptural text in the gospel of Matthew, where Jesus informs a woman, it was her action in faith that made her well. He went on to share his experience as a pastor of a Metropolitan Community Church in San Francisco, a predominately LGBTQA+ congregation during the peak of the HIV/AIDS epidemic that killed an estimate 12,000 people between 1981 to 1994 in the city alone. Pastor Jim is currently featured in a 2025 Peabody award winning 10-part podcast series entitled “When We All Get to Heaven” detailing the pain and joyful resilience of MCC when it became the spiritual center for those affected by and dying of AIDS in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay area.

Listening to the first two episodes of the podcast on my drive from St. Paul to Sioux Falls, SD, brought me back to my initial calling to ministry when I was a member of MCC Los Angeles, especially to the Spanish speaking communities. I remember how we clung to the hymn “When We All Get to Heaven” like it was Jesus’ cloak. A renewed faith that was healing our souls, even as our bodies were dying, our spirits were strong in the face of death. A faith which informed us, that no matter what anyone said, God loved us as we are and that AIDS was not a divine punishment. MCC churches became the healing ministries of spirit and soul during the early years of HIV/AIDS.

It was during this time, many churches in the United Church of Christ, were already (since 1972) discerning the church’s role in spirituality and sexuality, began to experience, as many churches would, the effects of HIV/AIDS on gay members within their congregations. What did it mean to be welcoming and affirming instead of tolerating? A movement began to grow and in 1985 the General Synod of the UCC passed a resolution urging churches to declare themselves as “Open and Affirming” as a sign of welcoming to the LGBTQ communities. In 1987, fifteen churches were certified as ONA. In 2026 that number stands at 1,763 UCC ONA congregations.

I want to express my gratitude to all the UCC Open and Affirming Congregations that are in the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences and your ministry of spreading the inclusive and liberating gospel of Jesus Christ. Your presence and ministries to the communities you serve provide hope, even saving lives, for many still feeling marginalized or oppressed for being their authentic selves.

As I reflect on this during this June Pride Month when we commemorate the beginning of the modern LGBTQ civil rights movement because of the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. I remember the coverage of Stonewall, as a young teenager…and recognized my people. In college when we started the Gay Student Collective, others who would come out later would acknowledge the seed of LGBTQ+ affirmation because we dared to be out. When as a young adult, I found a person who affirmed that God loved me as I am, that seed led me to dare touch the cloak…and when I did…I found my faith in Jesus and was healed. My journey of faith would eventually lead me to the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ, as a presence and witness to the healing power of spirit and soul through the unconditional love of God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Have a Blessed Pride Month.

Bendiciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto

For information regarding the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ please follow this link: https://openandaffirming.org/

For information on the Peabody Award winning podcast “When We All Get to Heaven” please follow this link: https://www.heavenpodcast.org/all-episodes

*Pictured below: Rev. Roberto Ochoa providing the Invocation at the Macalester College 50th Reunion and Rev. Roberto Ochoa Freshmen year picture from Macalester College.

06/01/2026

Musings of a Traveling Iowa Nebraska South Dakota United Church of Christ Conferences Minister

Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and JAM
By Rev Roberto Ochoa

Finally, siblings, farewell. Be restored; listen to my appeal; agree with one another; live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. (2 Corinthians 13:11-13)

Pentecost greetings to you my friends from the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences and beyond. It is my prayer that the blessings of God through the love of Jesus Christ and the comfort and wisdom of the Holy Spirit be upon you, yours, and ministries.

As I reflect these past few weeks, I am reminded how the Holy Spirit motivates us in our faith to act out in the love of God to our neighbor and because of that I am so excited for the plans of the upcoming Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) to be held at First Congregational UCC, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, September 17-19, 2026. Our theme this year is “Living Together as Neighbors in Christ” based on Jesus’ greatest commandment to his followers in Matthew 22:37-40.

I am especially pleased to announce that the keynote speaker and preacher for JAM will be the recently elected Associate General Minister for the Love of Church of the National Ministries of the United Church of Christ, the Rev Jennifer Sowell. Her extensive ministry in small town, rural, and urban settings and her love of the local church, made her the ideal candidate as AGM. Rev Jennifer has stated how excited she is to join us in Sioux Falls this September and I have assured her of a warm welcome from us.

Also, the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences will be welcoming the Rev. Brian Frederick-Gray, Director for Justice and Advocacy, Disciples of Christ Home Missions to help lead the Confirmand Youth Rally with the amazing music of the ever-popular Red Sea Pedestrians from Placerville, South Dakota. This youth rally is especially geared to celebrate our recent and currently enrolled UCC Confirmands and have them meet other youths throughout the UCC conferences for a time of fellowship, worship, and play.

Believing the Church is a family affair, the JAM planning team is working with Sioux Falls’ Chamber of Commerce’s Experience Sioux Falls, which provides information on family friendly events and sights happening in Sioux Falls. More information will be forthcoming.

Considering everything that is happening in our communities, nation, and the world, it is my hope that we can take this moment to come together as UCC’ers to affirm our Love of God and support each other as neighbors in Christ through worship, prayer, workshops, and awesome fellowship. Come and join the South Dakota Nebraska Iowa Conferences of the United Church of Christ in our mission of spreading the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ. Where no matter where you are in your journey in Christ, the UCC will seek to find a place for you and where you are welcomed.

Early discounted registration is scheduled to open on June 15th.

In the Spirit of the Holy Trinity: Feel the Spirit, Be the Spirit, Act the Spirit! The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Bendiciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto

05/18/2026

Musings of a Traveling Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences Minister of the United Church of Christ
By Rev Roberto Ochoa

Confirmation Season in the United Church of Christ

On Sunday morning of May 3, 2026, it was my honor and privilege to confirm four young men at my home church, First Congregational Church in Pierre SD. It was a festive celebration as George Olson, Christian Woitte Kellar, Gunner Diedrich, and Ryken Langdeux completed a two-year study and presented themselves with their statement of faith to congregation. Each one of them then received their confirmation stoles by their parents, and with family and friends laying hands on them, I offered a prayer of encouragement as they begin their journey into Christian maturity and faith.

Prior to the confirmation service, I had the additional privilege and honor to provide the sacrament of baptism to George and Gunner with their parents by their side.

Congratulations and blessings to George, Christian, Gunner, and Ryken in their confirmation to our faith.

As this is Confirmation season, I had the honor to visit and preach at Jewell UCC and at Alden UCC for Mother’s Day on May 10th. I was an opportunity to celebrate all the mothers and mother figures at these churches, with the men of Alden UCC serving a Mother’s Day brunch. While in Alden UCC, Pastor Bob Miller and Pastor Kerryn Oliver introduced me to this years’ Confirmands and I enjoyed visiting them.

Congratulations and blessings to Landon Barber, Elijah Kinnetz, Rory Reifschneider, Isabella Schlachter, and Tate Thies who will be confirmed on Sunday, June 7th, 2026.

This past year, I have been able to visit various congregations with confirmation classes, which gives me great hope for the future of our churches in the United Church of Christ, I like to invite all our South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa congregations that are having Confirmation services to send the names and pictures for us to recognize the achievement of our young people in our Fast Five newsletter. Send them to my attention at [email protected] by June 22nd, and we will publish pictures and Confirmand’s name and church in the Fast Five for the week of June 29th! Let us celebrate the great achievements of our UCC youth.

Also, recent Confirmands or those being confirmed for 2027 and your parents/guardians are encouraged to save the date of September 18 and 19th for the Confirmation Youth Rally to be held at First Congregational Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Come and share your mission projects on the theme Living Together as Neighbors in Christ and experience music, creative workshops, youth centered worship and meet other youths in the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences. Look out for more information the first week of June.

May the blessings of God through the love of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit be upon y’all, always.

Bendiciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto

*Those pictured are the First Congregational Church in Pierre, SD Confirmand’s (left to right) George Olson, Christian Woitte Kellar, Gunner Diedrich, Ryken Langdeaux, and Rev. Roberto.

05/11/2026

Counter Surfing for Joy
by Rev. Dr. Jessica Margrave Schirm
Senior Pastor , Grinnell United Church of Christ - Congregational

This weekend I unexpectedly had an entire day at home with no place I had to be. Enneagram One that I am, I was excited to have extra time to do laundry and sort through piles of junk mail and catch up on some work. I also decided to make a few meals that would feed us with leftovers for a couple of days - one of which was a big bowl of chicken pasta salad.

I spent the morning slowly prepping all the ingredients - I cooked the pasta, boiled eggs, chopped veggies, made the sauce and cooked the chicken. Once I had everything ready, I arranged it all on the counter to throw together and chill in the fridge so we could eat on it all weekend long.

I told the smart speaker to play my favorite playlist, I was bopping around the kitchen singing like a goofball, peeling the eggs, throwing everything together and when I grabbed the bowl with the chicken in it - the last ingredient to add to the mix - I discovered it was empty.

“ALEXA STOP!” - I shouted, as if turning off the music would make the chicken reappear. I spun in circles - looking all around our small kitchen as if the chicken was somehow hiding behind a small appliance. I double checked that I hadn’t left it in the fridge. But no, the bowl was sitting exactly where I had put it on the counter just a bit ago - at that time filled with chicken - but now totally empty.

Mysteriously…highly unusually…there were no labrador retrievers in the kitchen with me…coincidence? I think not. Somehow, while my back was turned and my ears and mind were distracted by the music, our biggest lab, Ebony, must’ve counter surfed her way over to the chicken bowl and silently helped herself to all the delicious goodness I’d conveniently left too near the edge. She’s the only one tall enough to reach and is known for her counter surfing antics. I couldn’t help but laugh at her sneaking the chicken out of the ceramic bowl without me even noticing. What a clever, opportunistic scoundrel of a dog.

I made the pasta salad anyway - chickenless of course. And thought all weekend about what it would be like to have the audacity of a black lab who just can’t handle themselves around unattended chicken on a kitchen counter.

I am certainly not - at all - a hashtag type of Christian. I spend way too much time thinking about what it says about God if only some of us get to claim blessings while others get kicked while they are down. I am also certainly not advocating for taking what isn’t ours - especially when stories of privilege, lack of consent and rampant abuse dominate our headlines on the daily. But I am thinking about what it means to intentionally seek out joy, goodness, deliciousness, happiness, delight - whenever we can, however we can as long as it is safe and respectful and consensual to do so.

We do not have to try very hard to find things that will stress us out, wear us out or bring us down. We don’t have to convince our minds to worry or fear. Our lizard brains are hardwired to prioritize remembering which berries and flowers are poisonous over which ones we think are the most tasty and beautiful. So, it takes a little extra effort to intentionally seek out joy when it is so much easier to despair.

We have to take full advantage of our ability to experience the goodness of this life if we have any hope of making it through the awfulness. As the Preacher in Ecclesiastes reminds us, “How good, how lovely it is to eat and drink and find satisfaction in everything we do under the sun during the few days of life God gives us - to embrace everything that comes to us! Regardless of how much wealth or possessions God gives us, we’re also given the ability to find joy in what we have, to accept whatever happens to us, and find fulfillment in our work - this is God’s gift to us.” Or in summary - as all the great bards have said - “Eat, drink and be merry - for tomorrow we die.”

So what are you joyously snatching off the countertops of life right now? What shows are you binge-watching? (Heated Rivalry?! Bridgerton?! The Pitt?!) What books are you devouring? (Dungeon Crawler Carl, Theo of Golden?) What songs are you adding to your favorite playlists? What seeds have you planted in the dirt (literally or metaphorically) that you are anxiously awaiting their bloom? When was the last time you were overwhelmed by something beautiful, or delicious, or awe-inspiring? When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried actual tears and your belly hurt? If you can’t remember when, make it a priority STAT!

If tomorrow we die, beloved ones, let’s at least go out with joyful hearts.

With love,
Pastor Jessica

05/11/2026

It is with great sorrow we share the passing of Steve Langerud.

Steve Langerud, of Grinnell, Iowa, a generous, patient, kind, creative, funny, compassionate, and loving husband, father, brother, son, grandfather, and treasured friend, died unexpectedly at University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City on Monday, May 4, 2026. He was 67.

Whatever you needed, including and maybe especially dad jokes, Steve provided. He lived his life in service to others, whether he was career counseling young people, making creative meals for his friends and family, helping gardens grow, landing a perfectly timed joke to ease tension, sharing his huge collection of music, experiencing life with his cherished granddaughter, or simply listening to and caring about what people had to say. If you needed him, he made time for you and expected nothing in return.

After high school, Steve attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. He studied anthropology, traveling to France for an archeological dig. After graduating, he ventured to Vail, Colorado to work the ski season and bike as much as possible. He returned to UNI for grad school, with the goal of becoming a career counselor. He worked at Grinnell College, the University of Iowa Law School and DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, before closing out his 40-year career at Mayflower Community. His mission was to make an impact on as many people as possible, and he did this in multiple ways at Grinnell, including setting up an alumni network matching current students with helpful alums in similar fields. Steve was a master at connecting people. And he was passionate about your passion.

Steve will be forever missed by his wife of 39 years, Karen; daughter Emma Langerud (Jake Tuel), son John Langerud; adoring granddaughter Marley Wiese; brothers David and Tom; mother Georgia Langerud; extended family members Nick and Atalie Wiese and their daughter, Lennon; and scores of friends.

A celebration of Steve’s life will be held from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Smith Funeral Home, 1103 Broad Street, Grinnell, IA 50112, 641-236-3134.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate designated memorials to any of the following: Mayflower Community Human Needs Endowment Fund, Mayflower Community, Attn: Pam Vosburg, 616 Broad Street, Grinnell, IA 50112; Imagine Grinnell, 1510 Penrose Street, P.O. Box 284, Grinnell, IA 50112; Prairie Burn 100, 641-236-5518; or Drake Community Library, 930 Park St, Grinnell, IA 50112.

For the complete obituary or to share memories and condolences with Steve’s family online at

View Steve Langerud's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

05/04/2026

To all our mothers and mother figures
On behalf of the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences
Of the United Church of Christ
We PRAISE GOD for you
And wish you a Blessed and Happy
Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10th.

A Time to Remember Giving
As we approach May, I am reminded of Mothers Day-assisting my family with planting flowers in paper cups for Mothers Day at the church or planting pansies in a window box for my mother-in-law. Often mothers are the unsung heroes in our families. They work quietly behind the scenes, getting work done and assisting others. In the same way, Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM) works silently in the background too. OCWM funds provide the South Dakota Conference with the funds to provide assistance in many ways but does not claim credit or shout its presence. OCWM assists congregations with the search and call process, leadership development of both lay and clergy, youth ministry, and publicizing Conference, Association and National events. Planning and support for Conference events such as Joint Annual Meeting, or South Dakota Conference meeting is funded by OCWM. OCWM funding pays for the work of the Tri-Conference Ministry staff. We see Rev. Roberto out and about but there are others behind the scenes. Think about who helps keep track of Rev. Roberto’s schedule and assists him with scheduling and arrangements. This is the TCM staff working for us. Executive assistant, Kim Springer, has sent out the notices about the special budget meeting, and set up the zoom sessions for various meetings. Conference Deacons, Rev. Emily Munger and Rev. Lorah Houser Jankord, employees of the SD Conference, make contact and support local congregations. There are more ways that OCWM funds assist local congregations but you get the idea!

Eighty-five percent of the funds given to OCWM remain within the South Dakota Conference. Churches may choose to designate OCWM giving as shared or unshared. Unshared OCWM giving stays entirely within the SD Conference.

Like all the ways that our mothers supported our faith development and worked behind the scenes, I urge you to consider making a donation to OCWM either through your local church or directly to the SD Conference.

Remembering all those who work behind the scenes,

Deb Kraft Chair, SD Conference Board of Directors

*Ms. Deb Kraft is the Chair of the South Dakota UCC Conference Board of Directors and a member of First Congregational UCC in Redfield, South Dakota

If you are led to DONATE to the OCWM in your Conference, you may do so at the following link:
*DONATE TO IOWA CONFERENCE: https://ucctcm.org/donateiowa/
*DONATE TO NEBRASKA CONFERENCE:
https://ucctcm.org/donatenebraska/
*DONATE TO SOUTH DAKOTA CONFERENCE: https://ucctcm.org/donatesouthdakota/