Church Updates: November 5, 2026
Here is what's happening at First Church!
11/6/20264 min read
Think Christmas!
The wishlist from Abbott House West, formerly WellFully, is now available.
You can view the list on our website.
For several years, Rapid City First UWF has donated Christmas Gifts for children in Abbott House Foster Homes in Rapid City. Since Abbott House acquired WellFully, this year the wishlist is for children served there.
Donations can be brought to the church and placed in the office in the tote labeled Abbott House West Gifts. Please drop off donations before December 7.
Quest Sundays 5:15pm. to 6:00pm.
Are you curious about faith? Do you have questions about Scripture? Are you seeking a connection to God in your daily life? This is worship that encourages exploration and cuts deeply into your personal experience wherever you are on your faith journey.
Do you know anyone who may be interested in joining?
We are asking you to help spread the word about this new opportunity for our church to reach new faces.
Serving Cornerstone on Nov. 10
We will be serving at Cornerstone on Nov. 10, and are looking for volunteers to help serve, cook, and organize. We have a list of ingredients needed for the meal if you are interested in donating. If you are wanting to serve, have questions, or would like to learn more, contact Pastor Cindy. We serve around 65-70 individuals.
1 large watermelon
1 or 2 packages of strawberries
1 honeydew melon
Finance Committee seeks ‘out-of-the-box’ ideas
On Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the church parlor, Bill Hearne will host a financial brainstorming session on behalf of the Finance Committee. The purpose of the session is to find “out-of-the-box” ideas for revenue streams beyond individual financial contributions from parishioners.
If interested parties are not able to attend the meeting, they can bring their ideas to the church office or e-mail admin@rapidcityfirst.org. If e-mailing, please provide your name and contact information so we can follow up.
The ideas need not be researched ahead of time and should come without any evaluation attached. The time for evaluating and researching is after the ideas are on the table.
Out of the 20 or more ideas received, about six will rise to the surface as possibilities to implement, and strategic planning will begin.
Church Conference Set for Nov. 15 in the parlor
Our annual church conference will be Nov. 15 at 12:30 p.m. in the parlor. This is the annual meeting of our non-profit corporation. At that meeting, we will set the clergy compensation package for the next year, hear from our Conference Superintendent, the Rev. Dan Bader, and have access to various reports, such as the proposed 2027 budget.
Also at the church conference, we will act on the membership status of those members who have remained out of covenant with us for several years despite the church’s several periodic attempts at reactivation. We have lost contact with some of our inactive members. So, we ask you to review the list below. If you have contact information, even a phone number, for any person or persons listed, please inform the office, e-mail the pastors at pastor@rapidcityfirst.org or the office staff at admin@rapidcityfirst.org.
UWF Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, November 17, 2026
1:30pm, church parlor
All ladies welcome!
Memorial service
Learn about bazaar income.
Consider local mission giving and the 2027 budget.
Your input is important
Can't attend? Let leadership team know your ideas for 2026 giving.
Come to the Table Thanksgiving Meal on November 21 at 1:00pm.
Join us for a Thanksgiving meal. Sign-up sheets will be shared in the upcoming weeks. This is a time to gather in fellowship with our church community.
NOVEMBER LEARNING IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH
NURSERY – Nursery programs are offered every Sunday during the 9 am service. This month’s nursery theme is God Gives Me Food. It is based on Genesis 1:29. Children will develop an awareness that God made food and He gave it for us to enjoy. Caregivers are encouraged to pick up a copy of the Parent’s Home Page and continue exploring the learning their child has experienced at church.
CHILDREN’S CHURCH – Children’s Church is for preschool children (ages 3 – 5) and elementary children (K – Grade 4). In November we are going to celebrate the season of Thanksgiving by exploring ways that we can praise God. Part of that praise exploration will be in making music with our voices and instruments. We will practice songs, poems and short plays that we will perform in church on Sunday, December 13. There will be a way for every child to participate – even if they do not wish to be part of the December program.
YOUTH – This fall Youth Sunday Learning will be offered from 10:00 am to 10:50 am in the downstairs youth rooms. Youth Sunday Learning is for students in grades 5 through 12. In November, we will continue studying the book Dares from Jesus – Wild Truth Bible Lessons as well as explore how as a group, we can contribute to our church family’s Advent celebrations.
If you have any questions about what your children are learning on Sunday mornings or if you would like to volunteer to help with Sunday morning programs, please contact Anne Torgerson at anne.torgerson@rapidcityfirst.org.
Do you have contact info for any of these people?
Bryan Gillieron
Lynette Hayford Grajczyk
Fred Haynie
Janell Haynie
Amanda Lewis
Carol Pengra
Marilyn Titus
Jordan McIntosh
David Tabbert
David McMath
Teresa McMath
Amy Pyle
Kristy Franzoy Wiedrich
