Iowa Conference UCC

It is with great sorrow we share the passing of Steve Langerud.

Steve Langerud, of Grinnell, Iowa, a generous, patient, kind, creative, funny, compassionate, and loving husband, father, brother, son, grandfather, and treasured friend, died unexpectedly at University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City on Monday, May 4, 2026. He was 67.

Whatever you needed, including and maybe especially dad jokes, Steve provided. He lived his life in service to others, whether he was career counseling young people, making creative meals for his friends and family, helping gardens grow, landing a perfectly timed joke to ease tension, sharing his huge collection of music, experiencing life with his cherished granddaughter, or simply listening to and caring about what people had to say. If you needed him, he made time for you and expected nothing in return.

After high school, Steve attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. He studied anthropology, traveling to France for an archeological dig. After graduating, he ventured to Vail, Colorado to work the ski season and bike as much as possible. He returned to UNI for grad school, with the goal of becoming a career counselor. He worked at Grinnell College, the University of Iowa Law School and DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, before closing out his 40-year career at Mayflower Community. His mission was to make an impact on as many people as possible, and he did this in multiple ways at Grinnell, including setting up an alumni network matching current students with helpful alums in similar fields. Steve was a master at connecting people. And he was passionate about your passion.

Steve will be forever missed by his wife of 39 years, Karen; daughter Emma Langerud (Jake Tuel), son John Langerud; adoring granddaughter Marley Wiese; brothers David and Tom; mother Georgia Langerud; extended family members Nick and Atalie Wiese and their daughter, Lennon; and scores of friends.

A celebration of Steve’s life will be held from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Saturday, May 16, 2026, at the Smith Funeral Home, 1103 Broad Street, Grinnell, IA 50112, 641-236-3134.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate designated memorials to any of the following: Mayflower Community Human Needs Endowment Fund, Mayflower Community, Attn: Pam Vosburg, 616 Broad Street, Grinnell, IA 50112; Imagine Grinnell, 1510 Penrose Street, P.O. Box 284, Grinnell, IA 50112; Prairie Burn 100, 641-236-5518; or Drake Community Library, 930 Park St, Grinnell, IA 50112.

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Musings of a Traveling Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences Minister of the United Church of Christ
By Rev Roberto Ochoa
April 27, 2026

Intergenerational Missions – UCC Affiliated Camps and Retirement Communities

“The glory of youths is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair”* [*gray hair = wisdom – my interpretation] Proverbs 20:29 (NRSVue)

My dear friends of the Iowa Nebraska South Dakota Conferences of the United Church of Christ and beyond, continued Eastertide greetings.

One of the things that makes me proud of being part of the United Church of Christ is our commitment to mission for our local communities and the world. Every local church I have visited usually has several active missions that are important to them. Food pantries, clothing donations, backpacks for children, volunteer opportunities for local shelters, preventative domestic abuse centers, safe spaces for LGBTQ+ communities; or hosting AA/NA gathering groups are some of the examples of mission works I have witnessed in action. Global contributions to provide relief for natural disasters, world hunger, shelter, and medical care are all part of the UCC DNA.

Two missions of the United Church of Christ I’d like to highlight this week are the church camps and retreat centers and retirement living communities.

THE CAMPING MISSION:
Most who know me are aware of my commitment to faith formation camps and retreat centers. These camps have been essential for spiritual growth and well-being not only for our young, but for all generations. UCC affiliated church camps offers opportunities for sabbath and respite for all ages. This summer, I encourage all to explore the three UCC affiliated camps of Placerville Camp in Rapid City, SD; Kamp Kaleo in Burwell, NE; and Pilgrim Heights in Montour, Iowa. Supporting our camp programs is a mission that strengthens the future of the church. It provides a way for us to experience the beauty and wonder of God’s creation that are inspirational and life renewing. Below are links to find out what programs each camp is offering:

Placerville UCC Camp and Retreat:
https://www.placervillecamp.net/
Kaleo on the River: https://kampkaleo.com/
Pilgrim Heights: https://www.pilgrimheights.org/

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY MISSION:
Last week, I had the privilege of attending a conference gathering of employees and supporters of the Retirement Housing Foundation (RHF) in Long Beach, California. I was able to meet all the personnel dedicated to offering the best low-cost retirement housing communities for retired and people with disabilities. The RHF was founded in 1961 by two UCC clergy and one lay person, in an effort to make housing affordable for a growing aging population.

RHF serves 19,000 residents in 29 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including seven retirement housing communities in Iowa (two more opening in Clear Lake and Ottumwa in 2026) and four in Nebraska.

Iowa also has a UCC affiliated retirement community in Grinnell which originally began as a home for congregational retired clergy and missionaries called Mayflower Community. The Mayflower Community has since grown to offer independent, assisted living and nursing care units for those of an abundant age, including many retired UCC clergy. The Mayflower Community is a mission of the Iowa Conference of the UCC. I also have had the privileged of hosting a breakfast with our retired clergy and have enjoyed listening to their stories of ministries in the UCC. What an honor!

In Sioux Falls, South Dakota*, the Dow Rummell Village, is a retirement residential community that was created with the assistance of the South Dakota Conference in 1964. This expansive community also provides independent, assisted and nursing care units for their residents. Several retired UCC clergy and church members reside there. Dow Rummell is a planned site to host several workshops on aging and wellbeing for the Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) of the South Dakota Nebraska Iowa Conferences, September 17-20, 2026.

For more information on these UCC affiliated retirement communities and on how you can offer support to ensure affordable housing for our aging population, below are the links:

Retirement Housing Foundation: https://rhf.org/
Mayflower Community: https://mayflowerhomes.com/
Dow Rummell Village: https://www.dowrummel.com/

These are just a few ways that the United Church of Christ honors the teachings of Jesus Christ to care and love our neighbor, for a just world for all.

Bendiciones y Paz,
Rev Roberto

*Please note this was originally published with the error of Sioux City. It should be Sioux Falls, as is corrected.

Musings of a Traveling South Dakota Nebraska Iowa Conferences Minister

Hospitality – UCC Rural Style – The Potluck Casserole Feast
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