* Church Announcements (05/27/2026)

 

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

      - 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 available in the Hunt Elementary School parking lot.

- Sunday school for all ages @ 10:10am (On summer break. Will resume in September.)

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

- Worship Any-day @ Anytime online (and Sunday’s by 9am) on our Website (siouxcityfirst.com).  

 

Preaching - Neil Peck

     - Sermon title: “Are You ‘Spiritually’ Thirsty?”

Worship Assistant (9:00 service) - Marce Wagner

(Online) Piano - Pat Harm

Organist (9:00 service) - David Chobar

 

37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.

38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within them."

39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

 

✞ When I am physically thirsty, do I drink enough physical water?

   - A Preview Question for Neil Peck’s sermon this Sunday (May 31).  In-person worship is at 9am (Traditional Worship) and 11:15am (Casual Service).  The service is also on Facebook on Sundays at 10am (Facebook page: First United Methodist Church - Sioux City), and also anytime on our website (siouxcityfirst.com).  The scripture will be John 7:37-39 (Living Water Symbolizes the Holy Spirit).

 

✞ When I am "Spiritually" thirsty, do I "drink" enough "Living Water"?

     - Another Preview Question for Neil Peck's sermon for this Sunday (May 31).

 

✞ How will I let the Holy Spirit (Living Water) well up in me and allow it to flow out to others?

     - A Focus Question from Neil Peck's sermon on Sunday, May 31.  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

 

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

“Breathe on Me, Breath of God”

“Shall We Gather at the River”

 

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

“Breathe on Me, Breath of God”

 

Hymn #400  "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

Hymn #723  "Shall We Gather at the River"

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

 

     This will be one of 12 concerts on the choir's 60th annual summer tour and will feature 18 teenage ringers playing more than 150 handbells and handchimes.

     In 1963, The Wesley Bell Ringers, a music ministry of Christ United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, UT, began with 9 youth ringers and 25 bells. From the very beginning membership in the choir has been open to any youth dedicated to learning the art of handbell ringing and caring for their fellow ringers.

     Fast forward 60 years! The 18 current ringers are the most recent of more than 520 youth who have participated in the choir. The experience and dedication have never changed. The choir developed a reputation for musical excellence that continues to open doors to exciting opportunities. The previous 59 summer tours have taken the choir to all 50 states and all but one of the Canadian provinces. The choir has participated as the featured choir at numerous handbell festivals around the United States, and performed for The National Music Educators convention.  Performances with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and The Utah Symphony Orchestra have been repeated honors over the choir's history.

      Admission to the concert is free, but there will be a free will offering taken.

 

     On Sunday, June 7, after their concert, we are housing the Wesley Bell Ringers overnight. We need host families for the 18 ringers (9th graders through college freshman) and 8 adults in the group.  Once they arrive at the church, their chaperones will assign tour personnel to host homes.  Ringers are not allowed to stay by themselves in a host home, but chaperones/directors are.  Ringers (same sex) can share a bed (double or larger).  Adults are also allowed to stay at a host home with ringers, as long as there is a separate room for the adult.  If there is a host home with a single bed, we will assign that host to an adult (chaperone or director).  Air mattresses and sofa beds are ok too!  If you are willing to be a host family, please contact the church at 712-258-0119 or call/text Gene Wagner at 712-898-6789.  What we need to know is how many are you willing to host, the number of rooms, the size of the beds, your preference for guests (boys, girls, chaperones/directors), and if you have any pets.

 

     We are providing a supper for the bell ringers and their chaperones.  If you would be willing to help in the kitchen and/or provide treats, please call/text Jill Beck at 712-389-2769.  Cash donations are always appreciated.  If you are writing a check, please mark in the memo line of your check "Wesley Bell Ringers".  A sign-up sheet is available on the shelf outside the church office.  

 

     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.

 

May "Monthly Mission" is SafePlace -  SafePlace serves 22 counties in helping survivors of domestic violence and their children become empowered in their quest for dignity and self-respect. The purpose of SafePlace is to provide a central agency where survivors can receive assistance, support, and a sense of stability. Find out more about their ministry on their website at (safeplacesiouxland.org).

     You can make a donation during church, mail it in, drop it off, or use the "BillPay" option on your internet banking.  In addition, we also ask that you keep them in your prayers each day this month.

 

(1) We are 33.3% of the way through our budget year.

(2) We have received 26.5% of our $419,235 budget for the year (for a total of $111,228).  

(3) We have expended 34.2% of our budget for the year (for a total of $143,440). We began 2026 with a positive balance in our account.

(4) Our total revenues for 2026 are 1.7% lower than our 3-year average for the end of April. This figure includes our Conference Apportionments.  

       Thanks to you, our financial status continues to fund ministry.  Please remember that we do not receive our offerings in equal 1/12 increments (especially in the summer).  All current bills are paid as of  the end of April.  We appreciate your continued giving to God's work through First UMC.

 

Our Children’s Sunday School is on summer break - VBS is July 13-15.

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

 

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

 

The Jubilate Choir (High School - Adult) is on Summer break until September.  When they resume, the will rehearse on Wednesdays at 7pm in the Choir Room. They sing weekly at the 9am Sunday worship service except when the handbell choir plays.  Pray about singing in the choir and if you have any questions or comments, talk with Gene Wagner.  

 

Celebration Bells are on summer break.  In September, when they resume, they will rehearse on Wednesdays at 6 pm in the Bell Room (upstairs of the Education wing). They play once a month at the 9am Sunday worship service. If you are interested in playing bells, just show up and/or let Gene know.  

 

The Music Academy @ First - Keep up to date with our Music Academy @ First on their website at <musicacademyatfirst.org>

 

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.

You may also make monetary donations through the church anytime during the year.

- Item of the Month (May): Deodorants.

NOTE: There is need for 3T & 4-5T pull-ups.

 

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.

May 31 - H, I, J & K

June 7 - L-Ma

June 14 - MC, N & O

 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 Carol Oostenbrug (age 91).  Carol died on May 22 and her funeral service is here at the church on Friday, May 29 at 11am.

- Death of Darlene Churchman (age 93), wife of a former pastor here, Rev. Duane Churchman (from 1989-95).  Darlene died on April 20. Duane died in December of 2014.

- Death of Ernie Cain (age 75). Died on April 4.  Keep wife Deb and family in your prayers.

 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).

 

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.

 

Your church provides a free Puzzle Exchange service for anyone who wants. Stop by the church library and see if there is a puzzle that interests you.

 

 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.

 

 - John Wesley’s (The founder of Methodism) 3 Simple Rules in being a Christian!

 

  Nancy Harrington (07/16/2025)

  Dorothy Jansen (07/31/2025)

  Ruth Ketelsen-McLarnan (08/16/2025)

  Barbara Kimmel (12/17/2025)

  Don Wood (12/17/2025)

  Linda Gundersen (02/08/2026)

  Ernie Cain (04/04/2026)

  Carol Oostenbrug (05/22/2026)

 

  Kathleen Saxe (08/18/2025)

  Sarah May (09/08/2025)

  Delbert Spiegel (10/17/2025)

  Joseph Dunn (12/07/2025)

  Julee Zugel (05/07/2026)

 

  Marlene Hansen (03/30/2025)

  Robert Stowe, Sr. (05/31/2025)

  Marilyn Hollenbeck (07/24/2025)

  Jon O'Brien (07/26/2025)

  Larry Hopkins (08/05/2025)

  Floyd Leaver (08/15/2025)

  William Ouellette (08/21/2025)

  Michael Kamradt (08/27/2025)

  Helen Phillips (09/13/2025)

  Lois Crawford (09/18/2025)

  David Shellhammer (09/30/2025)

  Daniel Strom (10/02/2025)

  Deona Lilly (10/04/2025)

  Randy Hutcheson (10/18/2025)

  Diane Peters (11/12/2025)

  Dennis Moore (01/02/2026)

  Shirley Nelson (02/07/2026)

  Carolyn Stultz-Kempema (02/20/2026)

  Vernon Peterson (02/25/2026)

  Juanita Graybill (03/13/2026)

  William Price III (03/18/2026)

  Janet Bohlke (04/09/2026)

  James Schlumbaum (04/13/2026)

  Lesley Perera (05/06/2026)