* Church Announcements (04/09/2025

- 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.

- 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’s My Sign?”

Worship Assistant (9:00 service) - Carla Rubel

(Online) Piano - Pat Harm

Organist (9:00 service) - David Chobar

 

NOTE: In Worship During Lent, we are following the final day of Jesus' life as shared in the Gospel of Mark (Chapter 15).  Beginning with Jesus before Pilate (March 16), then the crowd choosing Barabbas over Jesus to be released (March 23), the soldiers mocking Jesus (March 30), Jesus to Golgotha (April 6) and then Jesus as "The King of the Jews" (April 13).  You can “catch up” with any you missed by going to out website and clicking on “Online Worship Services.”

 

25 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.

26 The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.

27 They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left.

29 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,

30 come down from the cross and save yourself!"

31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself!

32 Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

 

✞ What different "roles" do I live (or "signs" do I wear) in a week?

     -  A Preview Question for Pastor Roger’s sermon this Sunday (April 13).  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 will be Mark 15:25-27 & 29-32.

 

     - Another Preview Question for Pastor Roger's sermon for this Sunday (April 13).

 

✞ This week, how will I live as one who is a "          (your profession or role)            in Christ"

     - Focus Question from Pastor Roger's sermon on Sunday, April 13.  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

 

“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”

“All Glory, Laud and Honor”

“Are Ye Able”

 

“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna”

“Above All”

1. Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang,

through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang.

To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to his breast,

the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best.

 

2. From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd,

the victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud.

The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state,

nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait.

 

3. "Hosanna in the highest!" that ancient song we sing,

for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King.

O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice,

and in his blissful presence eternally rejoice!

 

1. "Are ye able," said the Master, "to be crucified with me?"

"Yea," the sturdy dreamers answered, "to the death we follow thee."

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, like thee, divine.

Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty.

 

2. Are ye able to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes,

that his pardoned soul is worthy of a place in paradise?

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, like thee, divine.

Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty.

 

4. Are ye able? Still the Master whispers down eternity,

and heroic spirits answer, now as then in Galilee.

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, like thee, divine.

Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love, and loyalty.   

 

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

 

The Kucinski Symphonic Ensemble will be here THIS SUNDAY (April 13) at the 9:00 Service - The Kucinski Orchestra is a community orchestra directed by Eleanor-May Patterson, who is an adjunct string professor at Morningside University.  Eleanor teaches piano and strings for the Music Academy @ First and is also on the Advisory Board for the Music Academy. 

     They will be providing the prelude, a piece of their own, and the postlude.  You may make a freewill offering for them by placing it in the labeled offering plates at each entrance, or by giving it to Gene Wagner, Neil Peck or Pastor Roger.

 

      9:00 a.m. - Traditional Worship (Our main service) & 11:15 a.m. - Casual Worship (Our smaller service)

Thursday, April 17 @ 7pm - Maundy Thursday service (No online service)

     - This service will include music, readings and Holy Communion.

Friday, April 18 @ 7pm - Good Friday Tenebrae Service  - There will also be an online service available all day on our website (siouxcityfirst.com).

Easter Sunday (April 20), 2 Worship Services at 9am Traditional (our main service) & 11:15am Casual (our smaller service) – Kid’s Easter Egg Hunt with fun and games between services.

                          

     We will have an Easter egg hunt, picture backdrop, games, crafts and fun. It will take place between our 2 worship Services (10:10am - 11:10am).  Contact our Children’s Pastor, Martha, if you are interested in helping out.  Note: Candy (mini-size) donations are still welcomed for the Easter Egg Hunt

 

     Please drop off individually wrapped candy to the Church Office by Sunday, April 13. (Mini-size). You can also make a cash donation towards the purchase of Easter candy by placing your donation in a white pew envelope on Sunday mornings.

      Kids favorite candies are: Sour Patch Kids (or bunnies), Starburst, Skittles, Twix, M & M’s, and Hershey’s solid chocolate eggs or kisses.  We will have an egg hunt Easter Sunday morning (April 20) between services and on Wednesday afternoon (April 23) for our Hunt “Celebrate Easter” party.

 

     It is that time of the year again to decorate our sanctuary for Easter Sunday (April 20) with lilies.  The plants are 6" pots and have 4-6 blooms.  The cost is $20 per plant.  If you would like to provide an Easter Lily(ies) in memory or honor of a loved one, please phone the church office (258-0119) from 8:30am-noon, Monday-Friday, stop by the church office, email us at (scfirst@msn.com), or fill out an order form on Sunday at church.  Order forms are available by the church office.

 

April 28 is Music Sunday - The theme for the worship services will be "The Gift of Prayer".  At the 9am Traditional Worship, we will celebrate with the musical gifts of Jane Sibley, Pat Harm, David Chobar, the Jubilate Choir and the Celebration Bells. At both in-person services, and our online service, we will focus on God's gift of prayer through scripture, readings, and Pastor Roger's sermon.

 

Did You Know, in 2024, UMCOR helped with: 32 floods, 26 hurricanes/ tropical storms, 11 fires, 16 tornadoes, 25 migration events, 1 landslide, 7 public emergencies, 33 earthquakes and 16 other kinds of disasters?  And 100% of what was given for each of these disasters went to help the people directly because the UMCOR (United Methodist Committee of Relief) offering covers the administrative expenses.  You can find out more about them at their website (www.umcor.org).

     You can still make a donation during church, mail it in, drop it off, or use the "BillPay" option on your internet banking.  

 

   Come join us for a Lenten journey entitled, "The Final Days. A Lenten Journey through the Gospels" by Pastor Matt Rawle.   This six-week study is offered twice each week: Wednesdays at 11:00am in the church library and then, the same lesson, offered Sundays at 10:10am in the Heritage Room as part of our Adult Sunday School Class.

   If you have any questions, please contact Neil Peck at 258-0110, or call the church office. 

             

     The Music Academy @ First's mission is to provide free quality musical training to financially disadvantaged children, by using the power of music and musical instruction to improve the lives of these at-risk youth. Our long-term aim is to strengthen our community by reaching out to one child at a time.

We are coming to the end of the 3rd year for the Music Academy @ First. It has been a year of growth. In our Beginning Piano Lesson program with Hunt Elementary students, we had 14 students between the 2 sessions of lessons. Over the last 3 years, we have given beginning piano lessons to 77 Hunt students.

     Also, in our partnership with Hunt A+ Arts Elementary School, the 4th and 5th grade handchime groups Gene teaches at Hunt has really expanded. In the fall there were 12 students in the 4th grade group and 18 in the 5th grade group. They performed at the December Holidazzle Concert. The spring groups grew to the maximum size. We had 23 in the 4th grade group and 22 in the 5th grade group. They performed in March at the Band and Handchime concert at Hunt. Overall, we had 75 students participate.

Our Private Lesson program also continues to grow. This year we have had 41 students take private lessons, including 24 string lessons, 14 piano lessons, and, for the first time, 3 brass instrument lessons.

     To put things in perspective, this year we had 130 students from 7 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 2 high schools. Since the start of the Music Academy, there have been 338 students participate in the programs of the Music Academy @ First.

     The focus for the April monthly mission is expanding the gift of music.  At the Music Academy @ First, we believe in the power of music to transform lives. As we look ahead to next year, our mission is to expand our private lesson program by including band instruments and recruiting teachers to make this possible. We are also considering adding another day for private lessons, allowing more students to participate. You can mail in, drop off, or use your bank's "BillPay" to make a donation for this important and vital ministry we do at First UMC.

     Check out the Music Academy on our website: www.musicacademyatfirst.org or our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/musicacademyatfirst.

     Remember that providing free music lessons to children in need is not only about teaching them to play instruments but also about offering them a positive and enriching experience that can have a lasting impact on their lives.  Providing free music lessons to children who can't afford them is a wonderful and socially responsible initiative that can bring joy and opportunities to many young individuals

     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.

 

     The following people were recognized last Sunday, April 6, for their dedication and passion to volunteer their time to teach the Beginning Piano Lessons: Emily Jasman,  Mary Groen, Eleanor May-Patterson, Tom Padgett, Nancy Rosston, Jane Sibley, Judy Lilly, Janet Gross, Pat Harm (sub), and Roger Madden (Sub).

     I am truly grateful for their dedication and passion as volunteers teaching beginning piano lessons to students from Hunt Elementary. Because of their generosity, these students had the opportunity to explore music and discover their potential—an opportunity they wouldn’t have had otherwise due to financial limitations. Thank you volunteers for sharing your time, talent, and heart with these students! Thank you! - Gene Wagner, Director, Music Academy @ First

 

Recital for the string students: Monday, May 12, 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary

Recital for the piano and band students: Thursday, May 15, 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary.

Mark your calendars and come see the Music Academy @ First in action.

 

     First United Methodist Church will be hosting the Wesley Bell Ringers on Monday, June 9th. They will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary and will stay with host families from the church (if you are interested in being a host family, contact Gene Wagner). The Wesley Bell Ringers are one of the premier youth handbell choirs in the United States.  They are sponsored by Christ United Methodist Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. The group was formed in 1963. The choir performs throughout northern Utah during the Christmas season and each summer, travels across North America sharing their beautiful music.  Since its foundation in 1963, over 500 youth have participated in the choir. If you are interested in being a host family, contact Gene Wagner. More information to come.

 

              - Wed., April 23 (3:35pm - 4:55pm)- for Pre-K thru 3rd graders & 4th-5th Graders.

 

If you loaned the church any garments (dress, hat, cape, etc.) that were used for the Children’s Christmas Madrigal, you can pick them up at the church office.

 

    Pastor Martha (Our Children’s Pastor) has discovered that rotations work best for our younger Sunday School students, so she is using vintage VBS material which is designed for rotations. We will begin together for the first station and then divide into two groups: Bible Adventure and Imagination Station (crafts/science).

 

New Sunday School Class for 3rd Grade: Come receive a Bible and learn how to use it! Call Pastor Martha at 712-898-6854 for more information.

 

Adult Sunday School - They 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.

 

Celebration Bells 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 Jubilate Choir (High School - Adult) rehearse Wednesdays at 7 pm 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.   

 

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 (April): Household Cleaners

 

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.

April 13 - A-Be

April 20 - Bi-C

April 27 - 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 Rob Hasler (age 70), brother of Carla Rubel.  Died on March 8.

- Death of Ila Dickey (Age 92). The mother of Mark Dickey.  Ila died on Feb. 13.

- Death of Dr. Ted Roman (age 90).  Ted died on Jan. 26.

- Death of Eunice “June” Zediker (Age 102), mother of Avery Zediker.  June died on Jan. 9.

 

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 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.