* Church Announcements (07/16/2025

 

- 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).  

 

Preaching - Rev. Roger Madden

     - Sermon title: “What Do I NEED to Do?”

Worship Assistant (9:00 service) - Judy Lilly

(Online) Piano - Jane Sibley

Organist (9:00 service) - Jane Sibley

Ministry of Music (9:00 service) - Antonio Ferraro (violin)

 

38  As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

39  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

40  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

41  "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,

42  but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

 

✞ What am I distracted and worried about and how has it crowded out my devotional life?

    -  A Preview Question for Pastor Roger's sermon this Sunday (July 20).  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 is Luke 10:38-42 (Jesus Visits Martha & Mary).

 

✞ What percentage of my schedule are things I want to do and what percentage are things God wants me to do?

     - Another Preview Question for Pastor Roger's sermon for this Sunday (July 20).

 

✞ When, this week, will I "sit at the Lord's feet" listening through reading, meditating and/or prayer?

     - Focus Question from Pastor Roger's sermon on Sunday, July 20.  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

 

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

“O Jesus, I Have Promised”

“Close to Thee”

 

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

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

“Open Our Eyes, Lord”

 

1. Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;

hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away.

Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!

 

2. All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays,

stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise.

Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,

chanting bird and flowing fountain, call us to rejoice in thee.

 

3. Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,

well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our brother, all who live in love are thine;

teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.

 

1. Thou my everlasting portion, more than friend or life to me,

all along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with thee.

Close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, close to thee,

all along my pilgrim journey, Savior, let me walk with thee.

 

3. Lead me through the vale of shadows, bear me o'er life's fitful sea;

then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with thee.

Close to thee, close to thee, close to thee, close to thee,

then the gate of life eternal may I enter, Lord, with thee.

 

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

 

- Visiting the Holocaust Rails: Desperate Passage exhibit at the Sioux City Railroad Museum.

    Holocaust Rails is a project of Tolerance Week and has been providing Holocaust education to the Siouxland area since 2005.  Last year's flood severely damaged the exhibits and volunteers have tirelessly worked to repair and update the exhibit.  Join us for this informative and interesting tour.  There is no charge for this experience.  We will leave the church at 10:30am if you want a ride.  

     Please sign up on the sheet outside the Church Office or call the church office to put your name on the list for we need a firm number. If you have any questions, ask Lonnie Gustafson in church or call him on his cell phone at 712-223-1218.

 

(Call the church office to see if space is available)

     Dave and Terri Treft would once again like to invite the people of our church too experience a vegetable/flower garden tour at their home on the westside of Sioux City.  Groups are limited to a  maximum 8 people since this makes for a better visit and learning environment.  The Treft’s will freely share with those touring the produce that is ready to be harvested at that time.  This year, they have planted the following: Many varieties of tomatoes, peppers (sweet and hot), eggplant, cabbage, zucchini, cucumbers, onions, beans, peas, and others as well as flowers (sunflowers, milkweed, roses, lots of zinnias and marigolds, and more).    

     To sign up for a tour (Please sign up a friend if one is coming with you) are placed across from the church office for the following dates:  July 23, August 6 & Aug. 20.  All tours will be from 7pm-8pm. Their place is located at 2333 Kellogg Street.  In case of rain, a “rain date” would be the following Wednesday at the same time.

 

     VBS is Free for all children.  Registration will be limited to a maximum of 48 children (children must be 3 years old and/or fully potty trained).  Registration can be completed by filling out a Registration Form at the church or you can call the church office at 712-258-0119.

     Those wishing to volunteer or wanting more information can contact Pastor Martha at 712-898-6854.

 

When: Wednesday, July 16 @ 6:00 pm; or

Wednesday, July 16 @ 7:00 pm; or

Thursday, July 17 @ 6:00pm

Sunday, July 20 @ 3:00 pm

Where: Church Library

Please Call Pastor Martha at 712-898-6854 and let her know which session for training you will be attending.

- Keep Praying for Our Vacation Bible School!    

 

     Anyone who has ever been a school teacher knows that to get a classroom ready for school to start in August, they spend a lot of their own money.  In our partnership with Hunt Elementary School (across the street from our church), we annually raise funds to give gift cards to the Hunt School teachers to help them get what they need in their classroom.  Last year, we raised $2758 and were able to give the 50 teachers and support staff Target gift cards of $50 each. You can give in worship, mail it in, drop it off,  or use your bank's "Billpay" to make a donation for this ministry we do as First UMC.

 

     The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is already helping with the efforts from the devastating floods that have not only hit Texas, but also West Virginia and Maryland last month.  UMCOR is also helping with the severe weather and tornado disasters in Missouri, Wisconsin and Kentucky in May.  And UMCOR continues to assist those in need from the January wildfires in California.  

     Wherever disaster strikes, UMCOR is helping those in need.  And you can also help through UMCOR.  100% of what is given for each of these disasters goes to help the people directly because the March UMCOR (United Methodist Committee of Relief) offering covers the administrative expenses.  

     You can make a donation to UMCOR during church (Make any checks brought here payable to the church and put UMCOR on the memo line), mail it in, drop it off, or use the "BillPay" option on your internet banking.  You can also make a donation directly on the UMCOR website and learn more about what they are doing at (www.umcor.org - click on “U.S. Disaster Response”).

 

     The Music Academy @ First is excited to offer a free Summer Strings Camp for the first time as part of our continued effort to expand our outreach. The camp will take place August 11th–13th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with lunch included each day. This new initiative provides students with the opportunity to reconnect with their instrument after the summer break and may spark interest in continuing their musical journey through private lessons offered by the Music Academy @ First.

     To launch this new program, we have invested in music stands for rehearsals, stand racks for easy storage and transport, and are compensating teachers and advanced students serving as section leaders. We are also purchasing music for chamber groups and providing meals for all participants. Your support can make a difference—please consider making a donation to the Music Academy @ First to help us sustain and grow this valuable opportunity for young musicians.

     If you are making a donation by check or using your bill pay through your bank, please make it out to the Music academy @ First and put “Strings Camp” in the memo line. If you have questions or want more information, please contact Gene Wagner.

 

     Thank you FUMC for your varied ways of helping our Personal Care Cupboard.  Because of you, needy families can be clean, babies can be cared for, and they are grateful.  I wish you could hear their response for your gifts.  You show the loving care just as God shows light in the world.  You, too, are the light in a dark world.  In biblical words: “you are the light of the world”.  You activate your beliefs.  Thank you from our extended communities.  

     You “do no harm”, You “do good”, and You “stay in love with God.”

~The Women of the Personal Care Cupboard

 

     Each year, United Women in Faith purchase new books for the library, under categories that are part of the reading program.

New this year include:

1.  Our Strangely Warmed Hearts by Karen P. Oliveta. This is under the topic “Leadership Development.”  The book discusses homosexuality in church and society and about coming out as an experience of God’s grace.

2.  Invisible Child by Andrea Elliott. This a Pulitzer Prize winner and discusses poverty , survival, and hope in an American city. It takes you thru the life of a family caught in the broken welfare system and racism.

3.  The Loneliness Epidemic by Susan Mettes is under the topic “Nurturing for Community.”  It focuses on roots and remedies for loneliness that is rampant in our culture.

4.  We Go On by John Onwechekma is under the topic of “Spiritual Growth.”  It is written by a pastor about ways to find purpose in all of life’s sorrows and joys.

5.  Echoes of Grace by Guadalupe Garcia McCall is under the “Social Action” category.  This is a story of fiction mixed with the author’s experience with gender based crimes and the most foul crimes against women- femicide.

     We have a wonderful library and we hope you will check in the library and check out some great reading material.

~Peggy Mace

 

July 20 - Antonio Ferraro (violin)

July 27 - Caitlin Marsh & Ezra Marsh (strings)

August 3 - Open

August 10 - The Matney Sisters

August 17 - Open

August 24 - David Chobar (piano)

August 31 - The Siouxland Discovery Chorus

-  Gene Wagner is organizing special music for the 9:00 a.m. worship services this summer. If you are

interested or know someone who would like to share their musical talents in a “Ministry of Music,” please contact to Gene Wagner.

Our Children’s Sunday School is on summer break - VBS is July 21-23.

 

Adult Sunday School (On summer break until September) - They meet in the Heritage Room (next to Fellowship Hall) from 10:10-11:00am.  

 

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

 

Celebration Bells are on summer break.  In September, when they resume, they will 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) are on summer break.  They will resume in September, when they will 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 (July): Toothbrushes and toothpaste

 

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.

July 20 - P, Q, R & S

July 27 - T-Z

August 3 - 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 Jeff Jaynes (age 67), brother of Cindy Wood.  Died on June 19.

- Death of Linda Considine (age 74), sister-in-law of Rev. Martha Anderson.  Died on June 19.

- Death of Jan Deck (age 70), wife of Bill Deck.  Died on May 20.

- Death of Perry Dickey (age 95), father of Mark Dickey.  Died on April 27.  

 

 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 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.