* Church Announcements (04/23/2025

- 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

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

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

 

Preaching (On-line & 11:15 services) - Rev. Roger Madden

     - Faith Story title: “Her Master’s Voice”                          

Worship Assistant (9:00 service) - Rev. Roger Madden

(Online) Piano - Pat Harm

 

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

✞ When did I last pray to God?

    -  A Preview Question for Pastor Roger’s message (April 27).  In-person “Music Sunday” musical worship service is at 9am (Traditional Worship - our main service).  There is also our “regular” services at our 11:15am (Casual Worship - our smaller service), the service 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 is Philippians 4:6-7.

 

✞ When I pray, do I do all, most, or only some of the "talking"?

     - Another Preview Question for Pastor Roger's message for this Sunday (April 27).

 

✞ How will I "listen" to God this week?

     - Focus Question from Pastor Roger's message on Sunday, April 27.  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

 

- See end of this email for the Music Sunday order.

 

“Sweet Hour of Prayer”

“The Prayer”

 

1. My faith looks up to thee, thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!

Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away, O let me from this day be wholly thine!

 

2. May thy rich grace impart strength to my fainting heart, my zeal inspire!

As thou hast died for me, O may my love to thee pure, warm, and changeless be, a living fire!

 

3. While life's dark maze I tread, and griefs around me spread, be thou my guide; bid darkness turn to day,

wipe sorrow's tears away, nor let me ever stray from thee aside.

 

1. Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;

abide in him always, and feed on his word.

Make friends of God's children, help those who are weak,

forgetting in nothing his blessing to seek.

 

2. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;

spend much time in secret with Jesus alone.

By looking to Jesus, like him thou shalt be;

thy friends in thy conduct his likeness shall see.

 

3. Take time to be holy, let him be thy guide,

and run not before him, whatever betide.

In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,

and, looking to Jesus, still trust in his word.

 

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

 

THIS SUNDAY - April 27 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 a “Faith Story”.

 

(1) We are 25.0% of the way through our budget year.

(2) We have received 21.5% of our $402,145 budget for the year (for a total of $86,749).  

(3) We have expended 21.7% of our budget for the year (for a total of $87,257). We began 2025 with a positive balance in our account.

(4) Our total revenues for 2025 are 1.7% higher than our 3-year average for the end of March. 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 March.  We appreciate your continued giving to God's work through First UMC.

 

     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.

 

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.

 

     On Sunday, May 18, we will be honoring our High School graduates at both of our worship services.  We would also like to acknowledge college and post-grad students who will be graduating.  If you have a graduate, please let the church office know by May 8.

 

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).

 

Adult Sunday School - They meet in the Heritage Room (next to Fellowship Hall) from 10:10-11:00am.  Their last day for this program year is Sunday, May 4.

 

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.  They are on summer break beginning May 1.

 

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.

 

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 27 - D, E, F & G

May 4 - H, I, J & K

May 11 - L-Ma

   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.

 

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

 

     “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.” (Victor Hugo) I would like to say a huge  THANK YOU to all those who have given of their time and musical

talent this year. I appreciate the time you give, your dedication, and  hard work to share your musical gifts.   Thanks for being part of the ministry of music here at First.   - Gene Wagner

 

Jill Beck, Judy Lilly, Joan Peterson, Cindy Becker, Bonnie Lohry, Myrna Sorensen, Andrea Buckley, Peggy Mace, Terri Treft, Maeby Buckley, Amy Madden, Mary Vondrak, Cindy Lewin, Liz Madden, Judy Wanned, Jane Lilly, Maureen Nelson, & Kristel Widman.  Jane Sibley, Organ

 

Sopranos:  Jill Beck, Andrea Buckley, Janice Howard, Carol Sitzmann,  Nancy Wiese, & Cindy Wood

Altos: Linda Groves, Judy Lilly, Peggy Mace, & Marce Wagner

Tenors/Basses: Lonnie Gustafson, Gail Linke, & Roger Madden

Accompanists: Pat Harm and Kucinski Orchestra

Violin: Eleanor May-Patterson & Antonio Ferrara

 

 David Chobar, Pat Harm, and Jane Sibley

 

Beginning Piano Teachers: Mary Groen, Janet Gross, Pat Harm, Emily Jasman, Judy Lilly, Roger Madden, Eleanor May-Patterson, Tom Padgett, Nancy Rosston, & Jane Sibley.

Private Lesson Teachers: Mallorie Egbers, Grace Goeller, Pat Harm, Eleanor May-Patterson, Jody Nieuwendorp, Jenna Santos, Jane Sibley, & Viktor Sundleaf.

Hunt Elementary Handchimes Teacher: Gene Wagner

 

Prelude - David Chobar (organ) - “Morning Has Broken” arr. Hal Hopson & David Lasky

Welcome

Pat Harm, piano - “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” arr. S. Temple

Call to Worship (Based on Psalm 25)

Hymn #452 (Standing)  - “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” (Vs. 1, 2 & 3)

Hymnal page #493 (in unison) - “Three Things We Pray”

Celebration Bells - “Take it to the Lord in Prayer” arr. Sandra Eithun

Opportunities to “Make a Difference”

Jubilate Choir - “Down to the River to Pray” - arr. Mary McDonald

The Mystery Bag  

David Chobar, piano - “Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire” by Sally DeFord

Prayer is Conversations with God - Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Jane Sibley, organ - “Sweet Hour of Prayer” arr. P. Harris

Message - “When Did You Last Pray to God?”

   ✞ Did I do all, most, or only some of the "talking"?

   ✞ How will I "listen" to God this week?

Guided Prayers

Roger Madden, solo - “The Lord’s Prayer” by Albert Hay Malotte

Pat Harm (piano) & Jane Sibley (organ), duet - “Surely the Presence” arr. John Carter

Celebration Bells - “Prayer (Be Still My Soul)” arr. Erik Whitehill

Benediction

Hymn #395 (Standing) - “Take Time to be Holy” (Vs. 1, 2 & 3)

Postlude - David Chobar, piano - “What Wondrous Love is This” arr. Cindy Berry