* Church Announcements (12/17/2025

- 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).  

 

     - Each service will have scriptures, carols and candle lighting, and Gene Wagner will ring the tower bells before & immediately after each service.  Also, the 5pm service will have special visit for the kids from a special elf.  We will also record our 5:00pm service and have it online later that evening.

- A nursery will be provided for the 5pm service.

 

Online Christmas Eve Service - A recording of our 5pm service will be available on our website (siouxcityfirst.com) and our Facebook page (First United Methodist Church - Sioux City) beginning at approximately 8pm on Christmas Eve (or you could watch it on Christmas Day).  We also ask that you have a candle with you and light your candle, along with the congregation in the video,  as we end the service with “Silent Night”.

 

* Celebration Bells will be ringing at the 9:00 worship service.

Sermon - Our Kid’s Christmas Skits (in video)

     - Also, the Music Academy/Hunt School Handchimers will be sharing in worship (in video)

Service Leadership - Rev. Roger Madden

Worship Assistant (9:00 service) - Carla Rubel

(Online) Piano - Pat Harm

(9:00 service) - Jane Sibley

 

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

 

✞ What do I remember about Christmas as a kid?

    -  A Preview Question for the Kid’s Christmas Skits (December 21).  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 scriptures for their skits are Matthew 1:18-21 & Matthew 2:7-11.

 

✞ How did I learn the Christmas Story as a kid?

     - Another Preview Question looking to our Kid’s Christmas Skits for this Sunday (December 21).

 

✞ How will God’s love be shown through me this week?

     - A Focus Question from our Kid’s Christmas Skits “sermon” on Sunday, December 21.  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

 

“O Come, All Ye Faithful” (with the Celebration Bells)

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

“Love Came Down at Christmas”

 

“O Come, All Ye Faithful”

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

 

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

2. O come, thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things far and nigh;

to us the path of knowledge show and cause us in her ways to go.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

7. O come, Desire of nations bind all peoples in one heart and mind;

From dust thou brought us forth to life; deliver us from earthly strife.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

 

1. Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine;

Love was born at Christ-mas, star and angels gave the sign.

 

2. Worship we the God-head, Love incarnate, Love divine;

Worship we our Jesus, but where-with for sacred sign?

 

3. Love shall be our token, love shall be yours and love be mine,

love to God and to neighbor, love for plea and gift and sign.

 

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

 

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

 

“Kid’s Christmas Skits” video presentation, along with video performances from the Music Academy / Hunt School Handchime groups, will be this Sunday at both in-person worship services.

   - The online Service for this Sunday will include the “Kid’s Christmas Skits”.

 

     Older Adult Ministries invites you to this 4-week Advent Study in the church library. This year's study is entitled "Experiencing Christmas" by Matt Rawle and it invites you to encounter God in the sights, sounds, tastes, and feelings we associate with Christmas. If you have any questions, talk to Neil Peck.

 

     Mitchell House recently opened here in Sioux City in Morningside.  Their mission is to provide a peaceful, dignified, and home-like environment in which those with life-limiting illnesses receive care in order to live fully and comfortably as possible.  Find out more on their website at (mitchellhospicehouse.org).

 

   - The Church offices will be open from 8:30am to Noon on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) & New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31).  

 

     To have any financial gifts/pledges to the church count for your 2025 income tax return, your donation must be in the Church Office or postmarked by December 31, 2025.

 

The 12th Night Handbell Festival is Sunday, January 4 at Eppley Auditorium on the Morningside University campus starting at 4:30 p.m. There is no charge for this concert. There will be 6 handbell choirs participating this year, including our Celebration Bells. There will be a combination of songs played by the combined choirs as well as solo songs played by several of the groups. Come and enjoy an afternoon celebrating the gift of music.

 

     The Music Academy @ First has experienced tremendous growth this year. Our fiscal-year budget (July 1–June 30) is $62,003, and at this point we have raised just under half of that amount. The Music Academy is funded solely through direct donations and grants.

     This year, we currently have 34 private lesson students, with 8 more students already approved to begin in January. We recently completed the fall session of Beginning Piano with 10 Hunt Elementary students, and another 8-week session will begin at the end of January. At Hunt, 22 fourth graders and 19 fifth graders are participating in our handchime groups.

     So far this year, the Music Academy has provided musical opportunities to 85 students from 12 different schools, in addition to several homeschool students. It is inspiring to witness the impact of this outreach mission reflected in the enthusiasm of these students and their families.

     As you consider your year-end giving, I invite you to support the Music Academy @ First and help us continue sharing the life-changing power of music with financially disadvantaged children.  

     Thank you for your generosity.  Gene Wagner (Director, Music Academy @ First)

     email: musicacademy.first@gmail.com

     website: www.musicacademyatfirst.org

 

- Wed., December 17 (3:35p - 4:55p)- "Celebrate Christmas" for K thru 5th graders.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact our Martha Anderson, our Children's Pastor.

 

 - Everyone (age 3 - 8th graders) will meet in the First Floor Gathering/ Craft Room 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 New Waiting Area for You - Just a note to let you know that we have a new 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 first 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.  

 

     Celebration Bells is looking for a new handbell player to fill an open spot in our choir! Practices are on Wednesday nights from 6-7 p.m. We play once a month in worship and will also perform at the 12th Night Handbell Festival on January 4th. If you have a basic understanding of music notation and would enjoy making music in a fun and supportive group, we’d love to have you join us! No prior handbell experience is needed — we’ll help you learn the techniques.

     If you’re interested, please talk to Gene Wagner, director of Celebration Bells.

 

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.    

 

The Music Academy - 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.

- Item of the Month (December): Shampoo & Conditioner

NOTE: There is a big need for diapers in size 1, size 3 & size 6.

 

Our Personal Care Cupboard was awarded a Holiday Grant from MRHD (Missouri River Historic Development) on Thursday, November 20.  This $5000 grant will go toward purchasing product for families using the Cupboard and it comes at just the right time.  For 2025, the Cupboard has seen its usage almost doubled from 2024, to assisting 3182 people so far in 2025 vs. 1723 people in all of 2024.  The funds were dwindling fast and this grant enables us to keep helping families with items they cannot get on SNAP such as household supplies (items like paper towels, cleaning supplies, and hygiene products).  Thank You MRHD.

 

Note of Thanks from the Personal Care Cupboard Volunteers - This Thanksgiving season, we of the Personal Care Cupboard thank you for your gifts.  This week alone, we served 53 families.  That is all thanks to you.  You are following John Wesley’s second charge: “Do Good.”

     If you would like to volunteer to help in the Personal Care Cupboard by either helping people who come in or organizing, please call or email the church office.

 

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.

December 21 - L-Ma

December 28 - Mc, N & O

January 4 - P, Q, R & S

   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 Carrie Barton (age 65), sister of Kelly Carter. Died on Dec. 7.

- Death of Delbert Spiegel (age 84).  Del died on Oct. 17.

- Death of Randall Larrison, brother-in-law of Bernice Metz.  Died on Oct. 3.

 

 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 provides 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.

 

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

 

Clyde & Karen Newton - Our Parents

Geri Morfitt & Family - Bob Morfitt

Don & Mary K. Schenk - Our Parents

Sandy & Family - Del Spiegel

Kaye Rasmus/Jasman Family - Dr. Bob Rasmus

Paul & Prudy Deck - Paul & Marie Deck

Carol Cote - Connie Riedemann & Sarah Cote

Jerry & Vickie Lemons - Our Mothers

Don & Darlene Bach - Our Parents    

Steve & Trish Billups - Grandparents, Parents & Sister

Dorothy Masters - Wayne & Alan

Doris Parsons - My Husband Jack & My Sons, Jim & Donny

Craig & Destany Kirby & Boys - Bob Gwin

Tamme Saul, Kim Wood & Jennifer Harms - Mary Cadwell

Marv & Myrna Sorensen - Del Spiegel

Barry & Julie Enockson - Mary Enockson & John Johnson

Bill Enockson - Mary Enockson

Mary Stoneburg - Paul Stoneburg & Family Loved Ones

Scott & Shelly Gerkin - Tom & Laura Gerkin

Jim & Jane Miller - Nephew J.J.

Joan Peterson - Delaine Peterson

Roger & Linda Groves - Ralph & Hazel Groves and William & Leona Moret

The Paynes - Ken & Marlys Payne and Stephen Howell

Cindy Lewin - Harold & Alice Lewin

Miles III & Roxane Patton - Bob & Ruby Jedlicka and Miles, Jr. & Gayle Patton.

Dorothy Swanson - Chuck Swanson

Bob McIntosh - Nancy McIntosh

Helen Suttie - Don Suttie & Nancy Suttie

 

Corinne Holman - My Newly Found Family

Don & Ruth Kingery - Our Family

Kaye Rasmus - Troy & Emily Jasman and Family

Jeff & JuLee Buchman - Our Grandchildren

 

Mark & Pat Hubbard

Dave & Terri Treft

Jane Sibley, and in gratitude for the joy of contributing to the music program at First UMC.