Welcome Statement

First Congregational United Church of Christ, Watertown, SD Welcoming Statement

Based on welcoming statement from Prince of Peace Lutheran, Philadelphia, PA

Who is welcome here?

If you are Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Black, White, or multi-racial . . .

If you are three days old, 30 years old, or 103 years old . . .

If you are male or female or transgender . . .

If you are a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or not registered to vote . . .

If you are single, married, divorced, separated, or partnered . . .

If you are straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual . . .

If you are Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Jewish, Buddhist, atheist, agnostic, or a life-long Congregationalist . . .

If you have never set foot in a church, attend only on Easter and Christmas, or attend every Sunday . . .

If you are fully-abled, living with a disability, or a person of differing abilities . . .

If you have or had addictions, phobias, mental illness, or physical illness . . .

If you own your own home, rent, live with your parents, or are homeless . . .

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!

This congregation is committed to being a loving and welcoming community.

In faithfulness to God, and to the best of our ability, we work to provide programs, ministries, fellowship, and pastoral care to all who seek God in this place.

We dedicate ourselves to living the UCC church’s motto:

“No matter who you are, no matter where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!”

Pastor's June Message

As summer arrives, many of our church members will once again
make the trip west to the Black Hills, to our beloved Placerville
Camp. June always feels like the beginning of camp season in
the UCC, and over the next couple of months many people from
our congregation — children, youth, adults, families, volunteers,
and counselors — will spend time at Placerville in one way or

another.
Placerville has been an important place for generations of
people in the South Dakota Conference. Friendships are built
there. Faith is nurtured there. People disconnect from the
noise of everyday life for a little while and reconnect with God,

with creation, and with each other.
This year, camp season is especially meaningful for our family
because my daughter Grace will be working at Placerville this
summer. We’re very excited for her, and very grateful for
everyone who helps make camp happen each year.

To all of our campers, counselors, staff, and volunteers: blessings
on your summer adventures. May your time at camp be filled with
joy, laughter, friendship, rest, and moments that remind you that
God is still speaking through creation and community.
June is also Pride Month, and on June 27th our church will once
again participate in Pride in the Park here in Watertown. We’ll
have a booth at the event where we’ll offer glitter blessings, share
information about our church, and give away copies of Pastor
Dustin’s chapbook, What the Bible Really Says (and Doesn’t

Say) About LGBTQ+ People.

We’ll also be looking for volunteers to help staff the booth
throughout the event. If you’d be willing to help represent our
church and our message of welcome and inclusion, please let
Pastor Dustin know.

As an Open & Affirming congregation, we believe God’s love is
for everybody. We believe LGBTQ+ people are beloved children
of God, fully worthy of love, belonging, and celebration.
Participating in Pride in the Park is one small but important
way we live out that commitment publicly and visibly in our

community.

Summer has a way of reminding us what matters most: community, rest, joy, connection, green things, and love.
My hope is that all of us — whether at camp, at Pride, or simply enjoying the long June evenings — find
moments this month to experience a little more of God’s presence and grace.
Blessings,
Pastor Dustin