Sturgis United Methodist Church

SERVING NEXT SUNDAY - July 12
Tech: Kelsey Smith
Greeter: Dwight Griffee
Reader: Kelly Schulte
Music: BAND
Fellowship: Cookers for Christ

HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

Wednesday, July 8
10:00 am – Prep for Sack Lunches
11:00 am – Noon – Kids Summer Meals

Sunday, July 12
10:00 am – Worship - Pastor Mark's First Sunday Sermon - Communion Sunday
11:00 am – Fellowship

Thank You Note – Martin and I want to say thank you for the wonderful farewell dinner, the thoughtful cards and notes, the beautiful necklace, the generous gifts, and all the hugs, meals, prayers and well wishes you’ve shared with us. We are grateful for the many ways you have blessed us, not only in these last few weeks, but throughout our 15 years together. Thank you for the privilege of serving alongside you and for the great send-off. You will always hold a special place in our hearts.
- Pastor Jenene and Martin Earl

July Communion Date Change – Please note that our Communion service, originally scheduled for July 5th, has been moved to Sunday, July 12th. We warmly invite you to join us as we come together for worship and communion. Everyone is welcome, and we look forward to seeing you there!

July Church Community Lunch – Join us after worship on July 19^th for our monthly Church Community Lunch! We'll be sharing a potluck meal and enjoying fellowship together. If you're able, please bring a dish to share, but most importantly, bring yourself—your presence is the most important thing. Invite your friends and family, and come enjoy good food and great company. We look forward to seeing you there!

Kids Summer Meals Program – This summer, students can enjoy a free sack lunch through the Kids Summer Meals Program! Open to elementary and middle school students.
Meal Dates:
- July 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29

Meals can be picked up at the church from 11:00 am to Noon. Meals will also be available at the Sturgis Public Library. This is a simple grab-and-go program designed to support local families throughout the summer months. No registration is required. We encourage families to take advantage of this wonderful community resource!

** We welcome volunteers to help prepare sack lunches - meet at 10:00 am at the church for prep.**

Community Invitation: "Connect to Why" – You are invited to attend "Connect to Why," a presentation by Dr. Alisha Vincent, Vice President of the Dakotas-Minnesota Methodist Foundations, on Sunday, July 27, at 7:00 p.m. at Spearfish United Methodist Church. Dr. Vincent works with congregations across the Dakotas and Minnesota, providing stewardship education, coaching, and resources that help churches cultivate a healthy culture of generosity. "Connect to Why" explores a faith-based approach to stewardship, encouraging us to see giving as more than meeting a budget—it is an opportunity to participate in God's work. The presentation, “Ignite a Culture of Generosity in your Church,” focuses on discovering the deeper purpose behind our ministries, inspiring generosity through lives transformed by faithful giving, and strengthening the mission of the church. Everyone is welcome to attend this special evening of inspiration and learning.

Meet Pastor Mark and Lisa Johnsen – It is with excitement and confidence in God’s plan that we announce Pastor Mark and Lisa Johnsen will be joining our congregation in July. After meeting with them, our leadership is filled with hope for our future together. The following is a welcome letter from Pastor Mark:

                Hello New Church Family,
My name is Mark Johnsen, and I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and my wife Lisa. And I want you to know how excited we are to meet you all and begin our ministry together starting in July. At our introduction last week, we shared some of our story with those who were present, but I’d like to share it with you all in this form as well.
                I grew up on a farm near Frankfort, SD where I attended worship at the UM church there from the time I was a baby. I have fond memories of the pastors there who led me through my early faith journey, including confirmation. After graduating from Doland HS, I attended SDSU and received a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Economics. Shortly after graduation I married Lisa, and we moved to Colorado where I began work with the Boy Scouts as a District Executive in Boulder. After several years there, we moved a little closer to home when I accepted a position as the first Executive Director of the Black Hills chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Then after several more years we moved to Sioux Falls where I began a job managing a branch of USbank, and where we spent most of our years raising our two sons. During these same years and moves, Lisa worked managing travel agencies, and acted as territory manager for sales companies including Nabisco and Boyds.
                But during my banking years, I began to get more involved with my local church of Sunnycrest UMC in Sioux Falls in the form of bible studies, while both Lisa and I started helping with the youth group. Then in the summer of 2005 I attended a “Walk to Emmaus” retreat where a pastor named Gary Walters prayed over me and I felt a call to go to seminary. At the time I didn’t know exactly where that would lead, but Lisa encouraged me in my call. In fact, after beginning seminary that fall, just a year later we were both hired as youth directors at First UMC in Sioux Falls. We were grateful that our sons helped us to connect with the youth of that church and how we were able to serve there together until the graduation of our youngest.
                After that, I accepted my first appointment as a UM pastor to Miller, SD. We then spent three years there with that wonderful congregation. But then I received a call from the cabinet to move to a church called Prairie View UMC near Hot Springs. We spent the next four years serving that congregation and building many more friendships there. Next, we were appointed to Rapid Valley UMC where we spent two years; a year and a half of which was under the cloud of covid, which of course was a difficult time for every church. And during that time we felt the desire to be closer to my parents in Redfield, along with our grandchildren in Sioux Falls. So I ended up accepting a call to become pastor of the Brookings United Church of Christ, where we have spent the last five years.
                While it is bittersweet leaving a church that has shown us so much love and grace, as I said earlier, we are very excited to be joining the Sturgis UMC and rejoining the connectional UM system. Until that time, we will be in prayer for you all and our upcoming ministry journey together. May you continue to be blessed, both now and into the future, as we answer the call to love our neighbor and build the Kingdom of God to which Jesus has called us.

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Mark

Hiring: Treehouse Afterschool Program Director – Treehouse Afterschool Program is looking for a dedicated and caring individual to serve as our Afterschool Program Director. This position will be once a week during the school year, beginning when school resumes. They will help lead and support our afterschool program as we provide a safe, welcoming, and meaningful space for children in our community. If interested, please reach out to the Leadership Team or email the church office at sturgisumc@hotmail.com.

Ministries on Summer Break – As summer begins, some of our church programs will be taking a short break for the season. We are so thankful for everyone who participated this year and helped make these ministries such a blessing to our church family! We look forward to gathering together again this fall and hope you will join us when programs resume. Watch for future announcements and start dates in the coming months. Have a safe, joyful, and blessed summer!
Programs on Summer Break:

United Methodist Men’s Fellowship Breakfast
Alter Youth Group
Sunday Morning Children’s Church
Sunday Study Group
Treehouse After School Program

Free Little Pantry – Our Free Little Pantry is available for anyone who may need a little extra help. Please feel free to take what you need, that’s what it’s here for. If you are able, you’re also welcome to give what you can. Donations of non-perishable food, snacks, toiletries, and hygiene items are always appreciated. A suggested list of items is posted on the bulletin board. The UMC - Alter Youth Group has installed the pantry at the entry of the church parking lot. For larger donations, please coordinate with the church office staff.

Daily Scripture Readings – We invite you to spend time each day in God's Word through these daily Scripture readings. These passages are selected to complement the worship life of the Church and provide opportunities for prayer, reflection, and spiritual growth throughout the week. May these readings encourage you, strengthen your faith, and draw you closer to Christ each day.

July 6^th -11^th, 2026

Monday, July 6, 2026:
Psalm 131; Jeremiah 27:1-11, 16-22; Romans 1:18-25;
Tuesday, July 7, 2026:
Psalm 131; Jeremiah 28:10-17; Romans 3:1-8
Wednesday, July 8, 2026:
Psalm 131; Jeremiah 13:1-11; John 13:1-17;
Thursday, July 9, 2026:
Psalm 65:9-13; Isaiah 48:1-5; Romans 2:12-16;
Friday, July 10, 2026:
Psalm 65:9-13; Isaiah 48:6-11; Romans 15:14-21;
Saturday, July 11, 2026:
Psalm 65:9-13; Isaiah 52:1-6; John 12:44-50;

These daily readings are provided through the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings. Source: Daily Readings – Revised Common Lectionary. For additional resources and future readings, visit: Daily Readings - Revised Common Lectionary.

Sturgis UMC Church App – Take Sturgis UMC with you! We are excited to introduce our new Sturgis United Methodist Church app – a simple way to stay connected wherever you are. Keep up with events, announcements, and everything happening in the life of our church, all from your phone. Scan the QR code to download and get connected today!

Connection Cards – We’d love to connect with you! Please take a moment to fill out a Connection Card in the lobby, and once completed, place it in the basket. As a thank you, please feel free to choose one of the books provided.

Want to Promote an Event or Ministry? – Do you have something you’d like to share with the church family? Whether it’s an upcoming event, ministry opportunity, fundraisers, or special announcement, we’d love to help spread the word in our monthly newsletter! To ensure your information is included, please submit all newsletter items by the 25^th of each month. This allows us time to prepare and publish the upcoming issue. You can send your details to the church office at sturgisumc@hotmail.com. Please include dates, times, locations, and contact information. Thank you for helping keep everyone connected!

Help Us Care for Our Church Family If you or someone you know has been hospitalized, moved, become homebound, or transitioned to a care center, please let us know. Staying connected helps us extend prayers, visits, and support during important life changes. You can contact the church office at 605-720-5578 so we can include them in our caring ministries. Thank you for helping us look after one another with love and compassion.

Week of July 6, 2026

Announcements

These daily readings are provided through the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings. Source: Daily Readings – Revised Common Lectionary. For additional resources and future readings, visit: Daily Readings - Revised Common Lectionary.

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