* Church Announcements (12/04/2024)

- 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 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 - Neil Peck    

     - Sermon title: "The Meaning of Stewardship”

Worship Assistant (9:00 service) - Marla Luitjens

(Online) Piano - Pat Harm

Organist (9:00 service) – Jane Sibley

 

26 Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.

30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

31a God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

 

✞ What do I really take care about?                                        

     - A Preview Question for Neil Peck’s sermon this Second Sunday of Advent (Dec. 8).  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 scriptures will be Genesis 1:26-31.

 

✞ How am I a "steward" – one who looks after God's creation?

     - Another Preview Question for Neil Peck’s sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent (Dec. 8).

 

✞ How will I have peace through being a steward with the gifts God has given me?

     - A Focus Question from Neil Peck’s sermon on the Second Sunday of Advent, December 8.  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

 

“Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”

“In the Bleak Midwinter”

“For the Beauty of the Earth”

 

“My Life is in You, Lord”

“For the Beauty of the Earth”

 

1. Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son!

Hail in the time appointed, his reign on earth begun!

He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;

to take away transgression, and rule in equity.

 

3. He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;

love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in his path to birth.

Before him on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,

and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.

 

4. To him shall prayer unceasing and daily vows ascend;

his kingdom still increasing, a kingdom without end.

The tide of time shall never his covenant remove;

his name shall stand forever; that name to us is love.

 

1. For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,

for the love which from our birth over and around us lies;

Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

 

2. For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night,

hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light;

Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

 

6. For thyself, best Gift Divine, to the world so freely given,

for that great, great love of thine, peace on earth, and joy in heaven:

Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.

 

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

 

Fill Our Mitten Tree with Warmth - Now through Tuesday, Dec. 10, we are collecting mittens and gloves for kids at Hunt Elementary School (This is their biggest need right now).  Bring them to church anytime and surround the tree with warmth. 

 

United Women in Faith (UWF) Unit Christmas Gathering on Friday, December 6, at 12:30pm.  They will be meeting in Fellowship Hall, with coffee, tea, desserts and ice cream, and hot fudge!  The program will be Pastor Roger Madden (and us) singing Christmas songs! All women and guests are welcome to attend.  There is a clipboard outside the church office to sign up. Contact your circle groups for attendance count.  Come and celebrate the Christmas season with music and fellowship! A free will offering will be taken to support UWF initiatives.

 

     This Sunday, Dec. 8, we will have the traditional Chrismons decorating the tree.  We are also asking each family to bring an ornament that represents them to be put on the tree (with the Chrismons).  The ornament can either be new or one you already have.  If you cannot make it on Dec. 8, you can bring your family ornament anytime until Christmas and place it on the tree.  We will display the tree into January.

 

Celebration Bells will be ringing 2 pieces at 9:00am Worship This Sunday (December 8).

 

Music Academy Recitals for the Private Music Students -  You are invited to come to the free Winter Recitals for all of the students taking private string and piano lessons. 

              - Strings Recital (22 students) - Monday, Dec. 9 @ 7pm in our sanctuary

              - Piano Recital (10 students) - Thursday, Dec. 12 @ 6pm in our sanctuary        

 

We are looking for some volunteers who would be willing to bring some treats for after the recitals. We are also looking for a few volunteers to hand out programs or serve treats at the receptions. If you are willing to bring treats or volunteer at either or both recitals, please contact the church office (258-0119), email us (scfirst@msn.com) or Gene Wagner (The Director of the Music Academy). 

 

Special Music on Sunday, Dec. 15th, at the 9:00 Service - The Kucinski Orchestra will be enhancing our worship service. The Kucinski Orchestra is a community orchestra directed by Eleanor May Patterson.  They will be providing music for the prelude and postlude, a piece of their own and accompanying the Jubilate Choir.

 

     - Each service will have scriptures, carols and candle lighting, and Gene Wagner will ring the tower bells following each service.  Also, the 5pm service will have special visit for the kids from a special elf.  We will also offer an online Christmas Eve Service.

 

     Each year, we buy grocery gift cards for student's families, identified by the staff of Hunt School, to help out during the holiday season (since over 90% of Hunt School students qualify for free or reduced priced lunches).  We purchase however many $50 gift cards to a local grocery as we receive in donations.

 

     The Food Bank of Siouxland is the main food supplier for nonprofit agencies in Siouxland (11 counties), including food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, daycares, and senior centers. They were established to provide a year-round source of food to these organizations.

For every $1 donated to the Food Bank provides 5 meals.  To make a donation, you can mail it in, drop it off at church,  or use your bank's "Pay Bills".

 

     Older Adult Ministries invites you to a study entitled "Reckless Love" at 11:00am, in the church library. In "Reckless Love," Rev. Tom Berlin challenges readers to consider, extensively and at a personal level, how radical the biblical command to love God and to love our neighbor really is.

     Deeply rooted in Hebrew Scripture and cited by Jesus in the New Testament as "the Great Commandment," the directive to love God and neighbor may sound simple on its surface.  But any amount of time spent reflecting on it reveals its complexity.  How do we love God and neighbor?  Who is the neighbor we are to love? Can love be commanded at all?

     "Reckless Love" touches on these questions and many more.  Join us  at 11:00am in the church library. If you have any questions please contact Neil Peck, at 258-0119.  We hope to see you!

 

(1) We are 83.3% of the way through our budget year.

(2) We have received 73.1% of our $388,209 budget for the year (for a total of $283,386). 

(3) We have expended 81.7% of our budget for the year (for a total of $313,709). We began 2024 with a positive balance in our account.

(4) Our total revenues for 2024 are 1.7% higher than our 3-year average revenues for the end of October. 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 October.  We appreciate your continued giving to God's work through First UMC.

 

     Pastor Martha and others are very excited for our current Epic Sunday School Adventure “Home Town Nazareth”.

     Because we discovered that rotations work best for our younger Sunday School students, we will be using vintage VBS material which is designed for rotations. We will begin in the chapel for the first station and then divide into two groups: Bible Adventure and Imagination Station (crafts/science).

     We are planning a mini Madrigal for our Sunday School Christmas program (without the feast) so we will be learning some of the medieval Christmas carols in preparation.  If anyone has any appropriate costumes/hats or would like to create or adapt some, please let me know!

 

              - Wed., December 11 (3:35p - 4:45p)- “Celebrate Christmas” for Pre-K thru 3rd graders.

              - Wed., December 18 (3:45p - 4:45p)- “Celebrate S’more” for 4th & 5th graders.

 

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 (December): Shampoo & Conditioner

 

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 8 - P, Q, R & S

December 15 - T-Z

December 22 - A-Be

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 Eleanor Nelson (Age 86), sister of Marv Sorensen.  Died on Nov. 8.

- Death of Robert Kroon (Age 84), father of Jody Nieuwendorp (a teacher in our Music Academy).  Died on Nov. 9.

- Death of Laura Gerkin (Age 87).  Died on Oct. 20.  Sons are Scott & Craig.

- Death of Deena Pyle (Age 79), sister of Janna Dirks.  Died on Oct. 16.

- Death of Elaine Richardson (Age 75), sister of Bev McCue.  Died on Oct. 1.

- Death of Marjorie Solberg (Age 88), mother of JuLee Buchman. Died on Oct. 1.

 

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.

 

Thank you for your prayers and support of our ministries! 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 Suspicious 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!