547 Harney Street, Custer, South Dakota 57730, United States
Never place a period... where God has placed a comma. -Grace Allen
Worship Service - suspended until further notice
Friends,
The church council met on November 22nd and made the difficult decision to suspend in-person worship for the time being.
We believe that in-person worship is important, and we don’t make this decision lightly.
However, the number of active cases of COVID-19 continues to rise throughout the state of South Dakota and here in Custer County. The active case numbers in Custer County are
currently at an all-time high, and are projected to exceed 100 active cases in the coming days. Even with a gathering size of only 20 people, there is a 60% chance that someone in that group will have an active, infectious case of COVID-19. The church council believes that the risks of in-person worship are simply too great at this time. We don’t want to be
responsible for anyone getting seriously ill — or worse.
During this time, worship services will continue to be recorded and put on the church website and Facebook page. If you don’t have the ability to access these online worship services, please call Pastor Dustin at 308.430.2634 to be added to our worship mailing list and we’ll mail a transcript of the worship service to you.
In the meantime, we urge you to wash your hands often, wear a mask in public places, and avoid unnecessary gatherings and outings in public places. The only way that we will get this pandemic under control is if we all do our part to stop the spread.
The season of Advent begins. We wait with great expectation for the coming of the Christ-child. May you know hope, peace, joy, and love during this Advent season.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Bartlett
SEASON OF DISCERNMENT
Custer Community Church members,
In January and February, I hope you will join Custer Community Church for an intentional Season of Discernment. Like many churches, 2020 presented a variety of challenges to our community and congregation, and so as we begin 2021, we will do so with an intentional time for our congregation to be in discernment together about its future. Because true discernment is a spiritual practice of creating hospitable spaces, asking awakening questions, holding silence, reflecting theologically together, and listening for the voice of our still speaking God, we will do this work as a congregation with Rev. Ellis Arnold, Associate Conference Minister, serving as a host for four conversations over a period of two months. All who are committed to creating a community, embracing mystery, telling our stories, praying with and for one another, and thinking about, playing with, and dreaming about what God is calling us to next, are asked to make a commitment to participate. The hope and expectation in the process of discernment will lead to clarity regarding the next most faithful step for Custer Community Church.
Those who are committed to the work of discernment are asked to make a commitment to be at all four sessions. Each will take place on Zoom and are scheduled for Wednesdays, January 13th, 27th and February, 10th & 24th, from 6-7:30 pm Mountain Time. We ask that you access zoom via computer or smart phone so that we can see one another via video in addition to being able to hear one another. We hope that if you do not have technology for Zoom in from your own home, that you will reach out and partner safely with someone else in the congregation so that you can log in alongside them and participate together. Before each session, participants will be asked to do some “homework.” For the first session, please come prepared to share with others a brief story in response to this prompt: Tell us about a time when you most clearly felt the Spirit of God.
While the congregation is engaged in its own Season of Discernment, Pastor Dustin will also be engaged in a Season of Discernment. As recommended by the UCC South Dakota Committee on Ministry, a group we have been working with closely since February 2020, Pastor Dustin has been granted Discernment Leave from January 1 – March 1, during which time he will be relieved of his usual responsibilities so that he can focus on his own discernment work. The Council’s expectation is that in early March, those from the congregation who have been in discernment group mentioned above will meet with Pastor Dustin regarding the next faithful step for the Church and make plans for moving forward.
During the Season of Discernment, the Council has made arrangements for Custer Community Church to partner with Spirit of Peace UCC for Sunday morning worship and other church activities such as Sunday School and Bible study. This partnership with Spirit of Peace will allow Custer Community Church to BE Church and allow the chance to build relationships with the Wider UCC. It will also allow us to continue to be a worshipping community while Pastor Dustin is on leave. Rev. Charles Owens, pastor of Spirit of Peace, is available for pastoral care for our congregation, and in the event of death within the congregation, Pastor Pam, will be available to officiate.
There are three ways you can connect with Spirit of Peace virtually:
1: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Send an email to your moderator, Barb, at barb.paulson67@gmail.com and let her know you’d like to be added to the list.
2: Like our Facebook page. Visit us at: https://www.facebook.com/spiritofpeacesf. Worship is live at 10:45am every Sunday. I write a reflection called “Pastoral Ponderings” that is posted each Monday morning.
3: Subscribe to our YouTube page. If you missed worship on Facebook Live you can always see it later in the day by visiting: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_YqDkQf5J4fz6qjg9zmBsg.
As we enter into this Season of Discernment, there is much that remains a mystery about the future of the congregation, but one thing is for certain: God is still speaking. May we have courage, strength, excitement, and anticipation as we listen in to what God has to say.
With hope,
Barb Paulson, Moderator
Our Object
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
The object of this church shall be to bind together the followers of Jesus Christ for the purpose of sharing in the worship of God. Making God's will dominant in the lives
of people individually and collectively, especially as that will is set forth in the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
Mission Statement
“To build a family of faithful
believers through community service, inspiring worship, and a welcoming and inclusive space where people of all ages can grow.”
To Share
Mission Statement
To Share
In our effort to share who God is in our community, we strive to instill a deep
desire to increase one's faith by worship, small groups, and community.
Our ministry is not necessarily about the local congregation rather, it is more
in witnessing to the wider community about the power of Christ. We are proud
to be affiliated with the larger United Church of Christ.
We have the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us. We have the teachings of Jesus to guide us. We have the love of God to inspire us.