Sturgis United Methodist Church

SERVING NEXT SUNDAY - June 14
Tech: Kelsey Smith
Greeter: Richard Cleveland
Reader: Batt Baird
Music: BAND
Fellowship: Community BBQ Luncheon - Honoring Pastor Jenene and Martin Earl

HAPPENING THIS WEEK:

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

Sunday, June 14
10:00 am – Worship
11:00 am – Fellowship - Community BBQ Luncheon - Honoring Pastor Jenene and Martin Earl

Community BBQ Luncheon Honoring Pastor Jenene and Martin Earl – Join us following the worship service on Sunday, June 14, for a community BBQ luncheon as we celebrate Pastor Jenene and Martin Earl and thank them for their many years of faithful service to our congregation.
This will be a special time of fellowship, gratitude, and well wishes as they prepare for their move to Rapid Valley. We invite everyone to stay after the service and help us express our appreciation for the impact they have made in the life of our church and community.
We hope you will join us for this time of celebration and blessing.

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 last week, 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

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:
- June 3, 10, 17, & 24
- 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.**

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

Meals for Our Pastors – As Pastor Jenene and Martin, and Pastor Mark and Lisa, prepare for their upcoming moves, we would like to support them by providing a couple of meals each week for two weeks each. If you would like to help, please sign up on the form in the Fellowship Hall to provide a meal or gift card to a local Sturgis restaurant. Additional information regarding meal drop-off, dietary needs, and scheduling is available on the sign-up sheet. Thank you for helping care for our pastors during this time of transition.

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.

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.

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 June 8, 2026

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