* Church Announcements (08/13/2025

- In-person Worship, Sundays @ 9am Traditional Worship (Our Main Service) and 11:15am Casual Worship (Our Smaller Service)

      - Holy Communion is served, at both services, the first Sunday of each month.

      - There is a Staffed Nursery at both services for kids 5 years and younger

      - Additional parking is now available in the new Hunt Elementary School parking lot.

- Facebook Worship, Sundays @ 10am on our Facebook Page (First United Methodist Church - Sioux City)

- Online Worship Any-day @ Anytime on our Website (siouxcityfirst.com).  

 

Preaching - Neil Peck

     - Sermon title: “Fixing Your Eyes on Jesus”

Worship Assistant (9:00 service) - Judy Wanned

(Online) Piano - Gene Wagner

Organist (9:00 service) - David Chobar

Ministry of Music (9:00 service) - Antonio Ferraro (violin)

 

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

✞ Who has had a Godly influence on your life?

    -  A Preview Question for Neil Peck’s message (August 17).  In-person worship is at 9am (Traditional Worship - our main service) and 11:15am (Casual Worship - our smaller service).  The service is also on Facebook on Sundays at 10am (Facebook page: First United Methodist Church - Sioux City), as well as anytime on our website (siouxcityfirst.com).  The scripture is Hebrews 12:1-3 (How to Live Your Faith)

 

     - Another Preview Question for Neil Peck's message for this Sunday (August 17).

 

✞ How will you share your faith and be part of the great cloud of witnesses for someone this week?

     - Focus Question from Neil Peck's message on Sunday, August 17.  Watch the Online service (anytime throughout the week), listen to and/or download the Sermon Podcast, read the latest detailed newsletter, see whose birthday or anniversary is coming up, and much more on our church website at www.siouxcityfirst.com

 

“How Firm a Foundation”

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

“Faith of Our Fathers”

 

“How Firm a Foundation”

“Faith of Our Fathers”

 

Hymn #529    "How Firm a Foundation" (Verses 1, 2, & 5)

1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

What more can he say than to you he hath said,

to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

 

2. "Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

for I am thy God and will still give thee aid;

I'll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand

upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

 

5. The soul that on Jesus still leads for repose,

I will not, I will not desert to its foes;

that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.

 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face,

and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

 

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

 

✞ All announcements are also available on our website under “Church Announcements” and in the Sunday church bulletins.

 

     Thank you to all of you!  We can’t express the joy we felt last Sunday singing for you.  Everyone was so friendly and made us feel so welcome!  We love singing and being together, and are not able to do it often, so the opportunity to be together with you was a gift to us!  We appreciate you letting us come to share our gospel message of music with you!  Also, we want to thank you for the generous “love offering”.

 

- Visiting the Palmer Candy Shop (405 Wesley Way)

  “How sweet it is” - Come and get an “inside” look at the Palmer Candy Shop. There is no charge for this experience.  We will leave the church at 9:45am if you want a ride.  

     Please sign up on the sheet outside the Church Office or call the church office to put your name on the list for we need a firm number. If you have any questions, ask Lonnie Gustafson in church or call him on his cell phone at 712-223-1218.

 

(Call the church office to see if space is available)

     Dave and Terri Treft would once again like to invite the people of our church too experience a vegetable/flower garden tour at their home on the westside of Sioux City.  Groups are limited to a  maximum 8 people since this makes for a better visit and learning environment.  The Treft’s will freely share with those touring the produce that is ready to be harvested at that time.  This year, they have planted the following: Many varieties of tomatoes, peppers (sweet and hot), eggplant, cabbage, zucchini, cucumbers, onions, beans, peas, and others as well as flowers (sunflowers, milkweed, roses, lots of zinnias and marigolds, and more).    

     To sign up for a tour (Please sign up a friend if one is coming with you) are placed across from the church office.  The tour will be from 7pm-8pm. Their place is located at 2333 Kellogg Street.  In case of rain, a “rain date” would be the following Wednesday at the same time.

 

July Monthly Mission was Hunt Elementary School Teachers - We raised $3000!  This will enable us to give 60 teachers and support staff Target Gift Cards of $50 each.  THANK YOU for helping them use their God-given gifts in helping the children of Hunt School.

 

     The Friendship House (located at 1101 Court St.) offers people with mental illness an opportunity to socialize in a setting that is not treatment-oriented while offering the opportunity for learning and problem-solving to occur with the assistance of staff or members. The program was created in 1981 in response to the needs of the people of Woodbury County. Since that time, the Friendship House has authorized membership to more than 1000 people. Approximately 140 different members use the Friendship House each month, with an average of 40 members visiting each day.  Volunteer opportunities are also available.  You can find out more information about Friendship House on their website (siouxlandmentalhealth.com/friendship-house).

     You can donate at church, mail it in or use your bank's online "Billpay" to make a donation for this Monthly Mission.

 

August 17 - Antonio Ferraro (violin)

August 24 - David Chobar (piano)

August 31 - The Siouxland Discovery Chorus

-  Gene Wagner is organizing special music for the 9:00 a.m. worship services this summer. If you are

interested or know someone who would like to share their musical talents in a “Ministry of Music,” please contact to Gene Wagner.

 

     The French Ministry of the United Methodist Church has been active here in Sioux City and LeMars for the past 8 years.  They started in 2017 worshiping in our church (First UMC) with Pastor Roger and Rev. Dr. Michel Lundula (who is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and speaks fluent French as well as English) leading and overseeing it.  Many of these worshipers are from Africa and French is their native language.  They include families who have come to Siouxland to be professors at Morningside University, work at Seaboard-Triumph Foods, Bo-Deans, Wells Blue Bunny, and throughout the area.  In 2020, they moved their worship to Wesley United Methodist Church’s gymnasium.

     With a worship attendance each week of around 100 people, the Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church has approved the building of a church to house the French Ministry of Siouxland.  It will be located at the corner of Outer Drive and 41st Street, here in Sioux City.  It is considered a Missionary Church and the funding for the new building is through the Legacy Fund (whose use is determined by the Conference Board of Global Ministries to start new churches and ministries within the Conference.)

     If you have any questions, feel free to contact Pastor Roger.

 

Our Children’s Sunday School is on summer break.

 

Adult Sunday School (On summer break until September) - They meet in the Heritage Room (next to Fellowship Hall) from 10:10-11:00am.  

 

Youth Group is on summer break - (Grade 5 and up) meets on Wednesdays from 6-7pm with Pastor Martha & Marce Wagner.

 

Celebration Bells will start rehearsing on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 6 pm in the Bell Room (upstairs of the Education wing). If you are interested in playing bells, just show up and/or let Gene Wagner, the director, know.

 

The Jubilate Choir (High School - Adult) will be starting rehearsals on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 7 pm in the Choir Room. Pray about singing in the choir and if you have any questions or comments, talk with Gene Wagner.

 

The Personal Care Cupboard continues to operate on Wednesdays from 5pm-6pm and Thursdays from

2pm-3pm. If you are interested in volunteering once or regularly, contact the church office.

- Item of the Month (August): Razors and shaving cream

 

Fellowship Time Schedule - Here is the schedule, based on the last name, for families serving. Copies of

the Fellowship Time Schedule through the end of the year are available to pick up by the bulletin board

outside the Church Office.

August 17 - D, E, F & G

August 24 - H, I, J & K

August 31 - L-Ma

   Fellowship Time is each Sunday morning following the 9:00 a.m. worship service. This is a time for

folks to leisurely visit with friends and visitors. This is also a very important time to create a warm and

friendly atmosphere where folks will want to return and become more involved in the life of the church.

 Each Sunday, we need the following from the scheduled host families:

1. Make one 50 cup coffee pot of coffee (coffee is furnished) and put out coffee cups.

2. Have available a total of two gallons of juice or punch (not red).

3. Each family that does not bring juice are to bring about 2 dozen cookies and/or goodies so we have

enough to serve a total of about 100 people.

4. Have at least 3 or 4 persons to be present to serve and greet folks as they come.

 

 We ask your family group to furnish the items. The Fellowship Time is free of charge to all, so we will

not be putting out a money donation basket.

 

 The Hunt Elementary School parking lot is located across the street from the front of the church on Nebraska Street.

 

Our Deepest Sympathy (Please keep their family and friends in your prayers):

- Death of Dorothy Jansen (age 97).  Died on July 31.  Services are August 31 in North Liberty, Iowa.  Her obituary is found Gay & Chia Services website <gayandciha.com>.

- Death of Glen (Wayne) Stapleton, brother of Bev McCue.  Died on July 23.

- Death of Nancy Harrington (age 92).  Died on July 16.

- Death of Cloy Albert (age 93), father of Carol Cote.  Died on July 10.

- Death of Jeff Jaynes (age 67), brother of Cindy Wood.  Died on June 19.

 

 Simply put one sentence in your will that says, “After all my bills are paid, I want 10-percent of my estate (a tithe) to go to First United Methodist Church of Sioux City, Iowa.” Your gift will be added to the principle of our Endowment Fund. The principle is never touched but the investment earnings are used each year for ministry through First UMC. This simple gesture will help support your church for future generations to learn about Jesus.

 

First United Methodist Church is offering the opportunity for individuals to have a loved one's name placed on our Memorial Wall. The Memorial Wall is located in our church's courtyard on the Chapel wall.  It is intended to provide opportunities for First UMC members and friends to remember their loved ones near their church home.  The purchase price is $200 per inscribed plaque. You can reserve a space (or spaces) by filling out a "Plaque Inscription Agreement" form (You can get the form in the Church Office).

 With the addition of our online worship and opportunities through the internet, as well as the media in our worship services, we are seeking volunteers for our church “Media Team.” Pastor Roger oversees the Media Team and we will train you in whatever area you feel gifted in serving your church as a part of the Media Team during the service. We are not seeking one person to do all of this but a few people to do any of these.

 

 Do you buy jigsaw puzzles, work them once and then store them in the closet never to be worked again? Are you interested in new puzzles to do but don’t want to spend the money on them? Your church is now providing a free Puzzle Exchange service for anyone who wants. You take a jigsaw puzzle and leave a puzzle (if you have one to leave. If you do not have one to leave, then just take a puzzle). Stop by the church library and see if there is a puzzle that interests you and/or drop off those puzzles you’ve been storing in the closet for others to enjoy.

 

 You can "Like" us, receive our daily "Prayer Prompts from Pastor Roger", find out about upcoming events, and see what has happened, on our church Facebook page. Pastor Roger will also be reminding us of the previous week's sermon message as well as give us a question or two, later in the week, for the upcoming Sunday's message.

 

     We have had members mail in donations, use their internet banking and set us up as a “Bill Pay” option to send their donations, and even had members drop off their donations in the Mail Drop - which is located right by the Maroon Canopy Entrance in the Main parking lot. As you can see in looking above at all that continues to happen at your church, First United Methodist continues to “Make a Difference” in the lives of others. If you have a prayer request or information to share, you can call the church (258-0119) or email us (scfirst@msn.com).

 

Did you Get a supposed Text or Email from “Pastor Roger”?  If you ever receive an email, text, or phone call “from Pastor Roger,” or anyone on the staff, asking “I need your assistance today” or "What's the best time for you to be free today?" or “I need you to buy a gift card for me.” - DO NOT CLICK ANY LINK AND DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER LISTED.  You can delete the email/ text or report it as spam. This does not come from Pastor Roger.

     If you ever have questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us at the church directly (712-258-0119) to confirm if you think something is suspicious.

 

Weather Cancellation Notifications - In case of severe weather, we will publicize on our web site (siouxcityfirst.com) and     on our answering machine whether we are or are not having church, Sunday School, or small groups as soon as we know.