* Church Announcements (10/21/2026)

- 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.

- 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 - Rev. Roger Madden

     - Sermon Title: “What % Do I Love God?”

Worship Assistant (9:00 service) - Marla Luitjens/Birmingham

(Online service) Piano - Pat Harm

Organist (9:00 service) - Jane Sibley

                   

34  Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.

35  One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:

36  "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

37  Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'

38  This is the first and greatest commandment.

39  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

40  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

✞ What are my heart desires?  Are they God's?

   - A Preview Question for Pastor Roger’s sermon this Sunday (October 25).  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 Matthew 22:34-40 (The Greatest Commandment).

 

✞ How do I replenish my soul?  How do I use and stimulate the mind God gave me?

     - A couple more Preview Questions for Pastor Roger’s sermon for this Sunday (October 25).

                                                 

✞ What is one way this week I can increase my % in loving God with: My Heart, My Soul, and My Mind?

     - A Focus Question from Pastor Roger's sermon on Sunday, October 25.  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 Can We Name a Love”

“O Come and Dwell in Me”

“I Surrender All”

Hymns for 11:15am Casual Worship (Our Smaller Service):  

“Here I Am to Worship”

“I Surrender All”

Hymns for Online Service:

“How Can We Name a Love”

“I Surrender All”

         

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

Celebration Bells will be ringing 2 pieces at 9:00am Worship This Sunday (October 25).

     Older Adult Ministries invites you to come to a Thanksgiving Fellowship Dinner on Wednesday, November 18 at 12:00 p.m. to be held in our Fellowship Hall. You must have a reservation, no later than November 11, so that we can get an accurate count for the caterer. A sign-up sheet is available near the bulletin board across from the church office or you can call the church. Cost of the meal will be $15.00 per person, payable at the door. If you have any questions please contact Neil Peck, Director of Older Adult Ministries, either at church or at 712-258-0110.

     MENU: Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry salad, rolls and butter, pumpkin pie for dessert, and coffee, water and lemonade for drinks. 

NEW Older Adult Ministries study begins on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 11:00am in the church library.

The study is entitled "When Christians Get it Wrong”.

     In this study, Rev. Adam Hamilton explores a different way of understanding the issues that keep people away from Christianity and keep Christians from living a more compelling faith.

     If you have any questions please contact Neil Peck (our Director of Older Adult Ministries) at 712-258-0119 or stop by and see him.

Leadership Board will meet on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the Music Academy office.

     Did you know that there were around 250 or 300 homeless people in Siouxland on any given day last year? There are entire families living on the streets. Women, children. It's not a good situation. Another little-known fact is that slightly over 25% of Siouxland's homeless are veterans, ranging from those who served in Vietnam to the Iraq/Afghanistan war.  Realizing this, off to Cone Park will go the volunteers again on the first Friday in November (Nov.6). They will take pledges, pack up their tents (and cardboard boxes in a few cases) and away they will go. We are raising money during October to be able to give it to The Siouxland Sleepout on Nov. 6.  Their website is <siouxlandsleepout.com>.

    If you are not attending worship, you can mail in, drop off,  or use your bank's "Billpay" to make a donation. 

Our 50th anniversary CROP Walk on Oct 18 was a perfect sunny afternoon - what a blessing!  Thanks for your prayers, your donations and your participation!  We didn't meet our goal of 50 walkers, but our total of 33 is an awesome amount (and after all the tallying is completed, we think FUMC will be the group with the most walkers in the Sioux City event)! Donation envelopes will be opened and money counted on Oct 25, so next week we'll share some of those results. Here is a list of the 33 participants for First United Methodist - THANK YOU, WALKERS!  Jo & Bruce Lear, Ethan Lear, Megan, Paige & Parker Windeshausen, Ellen & Mark Dickey, Judy & Richard Lilly, Bev & Colin McCue, Dawn & George Kibby, Geri Morfitt, Janice Howard, Janet Young, Patty Jenkins, Gene Wagner, Lonnie Gustafson, Kellie, Zach & Zane Ensz, Pam, Melody, Aleesha & Hazel Banks, Rolene & Brian Beauvais. These four walked at a different time: Pastor Roger, Trish Billups, Kathy & Gary Davis.  

     The Music Academy @ First is off to a great start this year! At Hunt A+ Arts Elementary, 14 students are taking Beginning Piano, while 24 fourth graders and 24 fifth graders are participating in handchime groups.

     Our private lesson program currently serves 57 student lessons: 25 strings, 23 piano, 5 guitar, 1 organ, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, and 1 percussion.

     We are grateful to our dedicated teachers, volunteers, families, and supporters who make these musical opportunities possible! If you would like to support the work of the Music Academy @ First, please consider making a donation to make a difference in the lives of students.

     - Gene Wagner, Director of the Music Academy @ First

Music Academy @ First - Keep up to date at their website at (musicacademyatfirst.org).

     THANK YOU to all who have contributed and pledged to contribute to this needed and worthwhile project!

Note: Any additional funds received over our goal will go toward making sure the interior stained-glass windows will open and close properly (we have many that do not) for in addition to the new outside storm windows protecting the interior stained-glass windows, we need to have operational interior windows.

 - Everyone (age 3 - 8th graders) will meet in the Chapel and then divide up into classes

     Pastor Martha, our Children’s Pastor, has another year of exciting programs for the kids (age 3 thru 8th grade).  Lonnie Gustafson will be teaching the Middle School once again. Each Sunday will include fun and memorable Bible Lessons. If you would like to volunteer to help in this upcoming unit, contact Pastor Martha at the church.

Sunday School Kid(s) Parents/Guardians - We have a waiting area in the Library for parents and guardians to wait while your kids are at Sunday School on Sunday mornings.  The Library is located on the main floor across the hall from the drinking fountain.  It is stocked with bottled water and there will be some goodies.

                                                                                                   

We would like some more volunteers to teach or assist in our children's programs. Please let Pastor Martha (our Children's Pastor) know if you can help. You will need to complete a background check if you have not already done so. Even if you can only volunteer a single Sunday, we can use your help! Call/text Pastor Martha at 712-898-6854.

         

Adult Sunday School - Our adults gather in the Heritage Room from 10:15-11:00ish each Sunday for a DVD Study into our faith.

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

Celebration Bells rehearse on Wednesdays at 6pm 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 Jubilate Choir (High School - Adult) rehearse 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.  

     As all of our church activities begin again this fall, you are invited to visit our three active ladies circles and decide if you would like to join the fellowship of one of these groups.  Felicity Circle meets at 10 AM on the second Tuesday of the month, Unity Circle meets at 12:30 PM on the second Wednesday of the month, and Harmony Circle meets at 9:30 AM on the second Thursday of the month.  All meetings are at the church, not in homes.  We hope to see you there! 

   

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.

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.

October 25 - A-Be

November 1 - Bi–C

November 8 - D, E, F & G

 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.

- Death of Cheri Wood (age 80).  Cheri died on Oct. 15.  Services pending to a later date.

- Death of Clifford Van Berkum (age 94), brother of David Van Berkum.  Clifford died on Oct. 4

- Death of Charley Kriglstein (age 94).  Charley died on Sept. 24.  A private family service will be later.

- Death of Delores Rucker, sister of George VonHaden.  Delores died on Sept. 11. 

- Death of Deborah (Irwin) Bauer, the daughter of Bob Irwin.  Deborah died on Sept. 1.

- Death of Gary Scott (age 87), brother of Jo Lear.  Gary died on August 7.

 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).

     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!