By Rev Roberto Ochoa
“Do this in the remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19)
Dear friends of the South Dakota Nebraska Iowa Conferences of the United Church of Christ:
Spring is here! Christ Has Risen! Christ Has Risen Indeed!
It is my prayer that the Eastertide Blessings of the Resurrected Hope has surrounded you, your loved ones, and ministries. In times like these, when unsettling national and global news are coming at us so quickly, it can be understandably overwhelming.
Sensing that his disciples and followers were about to experience a grief so shattering, I believe Jesus left behind an incredible promise at the Passover meal. He instituted a tradition by using bread and wine so as a community we would remember that the Christ is always with us. The sharing of our food with others is one of those fundamental tenets of our faith, especially to those that are hungry. The support of food pantries is one of the most common missions of most of our churches in the United Church of Christ.
This past Second Sunday of Easter, I had the privilege of worshiping with the good folks of Winfred Congregational Community UCC in South Dakota. In my sermon on “Skeptical Thomas” (John 20:19-31), I shared that I believe Thomas often gets a raw deal, and that having the ability to discern if proof is required to sustain a belief is not a bad thing. That Thomas declared he must see to believe…and Jesus did come, I don’t believe Jesus attempted to shame Thomas, rather I think Jesus marveled on blessed are those that believe in him by faith. And it is by faith that gets us through the rough patches in our lives and that the United Church of Christ invites all, no matter where their journey in faith may be, to Christ’s table.
Afterwards, the Ladies Fellowship of Winfred UCC…hosted me with an after-worship feast of potluck casseroles, sandwiches, salads and dessert. I was able to hear their stories of Winfred (population 38) UCC’s history as well as theirs. Most of the members had deep family ties to the church which was founded in 1884. I was able to tell them a little about myself, including my roots in Los Angeles, CA, when a member remembered I was in L.A. last year during the worse fires in its history, that also destroyed a UCC church in Altadena. She informed me Winfred contributed to help the fire victims through the UCC. That touched my heart almost to tears…that this church would help those in need of my birthplace, so far away, is pure UCC.
When they learned that lemon meringue was my favorite pie…because I gave a very undignified gasp when I saw it…they made sure I received two additional slices for the road. What can I say…these 25 pounds that I have gained since becoming Conference Minister has been well earned. Thank you Winfred UCC for your amazing hospitality.
Later that day, I had a beautiful drive, listening to my playlist, to attend the Prairie Lakes Association Spring gathering held at the Templeton Church UCC in Wessington Springs which sits on a country road surrounded by farm fields. The meeting featured fellowship, worship, ministries reports, a program on the history of Templeton Church founded in 1883 and by a great dinner. They had a great turnout and quorum from UCCs in Aberdeen, Ipswich, Brentford, Watertown, Redfield, and Wessington Springs. (My apologies if I missed a congregation).
Rev Keith Kraft, pastor of Redfield UCC gave a wonderful sermon on Peter “Petra the Rock” from the Matthew account of Jesus walking on water during a storm…and how Peter’s attempt to walk towards Jesus ended with him sinking…yet Jesus was there to pull him up. I was impressed by Pastor Keith’s metaphor of Peter being the “rock” of our church and that still the imperfections sometimes make us sink when we lose faith in Christ.
During worship, we experience communion together in remembrance of Christ.
The Prairie Lakes Association ministries’ reports went well and there were elections for new officers and SD Conference board/committee representatives. Due to the Association’s favorable financial position and understanding that South Dakota Conference was proposing a deficit budget for 2026, they moved to approve $5,000.00 to the conference to lower the deficit. As the Conference Minister, I am so grateful for this unexpected generous gesture by the Prairie Lakes Association to the SD Conference.
Once the meeting was adjourned, I experienced another example of rural church hospitality by Templeton Church…and this time I had ice cream. Thank you Templeton Church UCC for your hospitality to all of us that attended the PLA gathering.
What I love about my ministry…is the privilege of being invited to our local churches and Associations’ table of welcome in remembrance of Christ. Yes, our tables in the United Church of Christ can be messy at times when we disagree, however I praise God for all our UCC congregations that hang in there together in our covenant to be as one in Christ’s Body with one another.
Spring is here…Christ Has Risen…Let us share the good news to a nation and world divided and offer a hospitality of Jesus’ Hope, Faith, and Love.
Bendiciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto