Church Updates: September 10, 2026
Here is what's happening at First Church.
9/10/20263 min read
A 9/11 Memorial Service
Rapid City First will be open at 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2026 for 3 hours to honor all those whose lives were impacted on September 11, 2001. Come for a quiet moment to never forget that love wins.
SEPTEMBER LEARNING IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH
NURSERY – Nursery programs are offered every Sunday during the 9 am service. This month’s nursery theme is I See God’s Love at Church. It is based on Psalm 122:1 "I like to come to church!" Children will learn to associate God and Jesus with loving people and enjoyable activities at church. 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). During our August camp, we introduced The Fruits of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22-23. In September, we will take a deeper dive into the fruit of Love (September 13), Joy (September 20) and Peace (September 27).
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 September, we will begin studying the book "Dares from Jesus – Wild Truth Bible Lessons."
Our topics will be:
Get Past It! The truth about reconciliation – Jesus dares us to mend broken relationships (September 13)
Take Them in Pairs! The truth about retribution – Jesus dares us to not seek revenge (September 20)
Go Long! The truth about investing – Jesus dares us to store away good stuff (September 27).
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.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
We are sure that neither death nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth
nor anything else in all creation,
Will be able to separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Affirmation from Romans 8:35, 37-39, United Methodist Hymnal 887)
The United Methodist Church encourages our pastors and members to preach, teach, and talk about suicide and the factors and mental health issues that lead to it. We seek to provide care for those who are at risk, survivors, families, and others who have lost someone to suicide, “seeking to remove the oppressive stigma around suicide.”
Depression, pain, suffering, and thoughts of suicide are felt by many, but often remain unspoken. If you have struggled with any of these issues, others will benefit from hearing your story. When you become aware of someone who is at risk for suicide, courageously tell the story of your pain and how you were able to survive.
Finally, help those contemplating suicide find the resources they need to “have life, and have it to the full.” Tell your pastor. Call a counselor. Seek help.
Belle Fourche is sponsoring an “Out of the Darkness Walk” on Saturday, September 19 at 8:45 am in Hermann Park.
In the U.S., the suicide prevention hotline is 988
https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/what-united-methodists-can-do-about-suicide
Mission of the Month
Our September mission of the month is Cornerstone Women's and Children's Shelter, which is a non-profit organization here in Rapid City.
The Women's and Children's Home opened in March of 2005. The home provides a safe place for women and children. Families are the fastest growing segment of homelessness. The shortage of affordable housing and an increase in poverty are two reasons we are seeing such a demand for rooms in the home.
Many of these mothers have three or four children under the age of 5. According to Claretian Publications, in no state does a full-time minimum-wage job cover the cost of a one-bedroom unit at fair market rent.
The Mission provides shelter and assistance to an average of 350-400 women and children annually and provides a yearly average of 9,500 overnight stays to our guests.
The home allows these women and children a chance for stability and healing while becoming self-sufficient and independent.
Prayer Partners for MMO
Mom's Morning Out began on September 8 and runs throughout the school year.
Are you interested in being a prayer partner for one of our teachers?
Let the church office know!
