Church Updates: September 3, 2026
Here is what's happening this week!
9/3/20263 min read
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
Free Plants:
We still have a few dozen plants in the Narthex. Please take a plant for your home and, if so moved, leave a donation for Mom's Morning Out or GroundWorks Connect.
Mission of the Month
Our September mission if 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.
In Remembrance of Jody Ketel
We invite you to join us for the funeral service of Jody Ketel at Rapid City First United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 5, at 11:00am.
Visitation will be located at Osheim and Schmidt Funeral Home on Friday, September 4, from 5:00-7:00pm.
Cornerstone: September 8
We will be serving at Cornerstone on September 8 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.
4 heads of lettuce
6 tomatoes
4-6 cucumbers
2 large bags of shredded carrots
1 large watermelon
1 or 2 packages of strawberries
1 honeydew melon
10 french bread
Noodles
16 oz sour cream
Cookies
Bars
Prayer Partners for MMO
Mom's Morning Out begins 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!
Job Opportunity
Rapid City First United Methodist Church is seeking a detail-oriented problem-solver with some financial experience and/or education to share duties with our existing coordinator. The person would work with contributions, pay bills, account for expenditures, balance checkbook, execute payroll functions, issue annual tax forms, and assist in compiling annual budget among other financial and accounting duties. This is a part-time position of 8-10 hours per week.
United Women in Faith
