* Church Announcements (01/07/2026)

- 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: “What An Act of Grace!”

Worship Assistant (9:00 service) - Judy Lilly

(Online) Piano - Pat Harm

Organist (9:00 service) - David Chobar

 

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.

16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

✞ How has God's grace been shown to me?   ("God's Grace" is God's unmerited, undeserved, and loving action.)

     - A Preview Question for Neil Peck’s sermon this Sunday (Jan. 11).  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 scripture will be Matthew 3:13-17.

 

✞ How have I shown God's grace to someone? ("God's Grace" is God's unmerited, undeserved, and loving action.)

     - Another Preview Question for Neil Peck's sermon for this Sunday (January 11).

 

✞ How will I share my faith this week with someone so that they may also know God's grace for them? ("God's Grace" is God's unmerited, undeserved, and loving action.)

     - Focus Question from Neil Peck's sermon on Sunday, January 11.  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

 

“When Jesus Came to Jordan”

“Fairest Lord Jesus”

“Amazing Grace”

 

Hymns for 11:15am Casual Service:  

“Fairest Lord Jesus”

“Amazing Grace”

 

1. Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature, O thou of God and man the Son,

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

 

4. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine.

 

1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.

 

2. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;

how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

 

3. Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;

'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

 

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

 

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

 

     Come and listen to David as he shares information on how to deal with and protect yourself from all types of scams. We will meet in the church library.

 

A new 5-week study begins on Wed., Jan. 14 in the church library at 11:00 a.m. with 5 topics taken from Rev. Adam Hamilton podcast, "Making Sense of Faith".  His topics for this study will be: "Why Would Anyone Believe in God." "What Did Jesus ACTUALLY Teach."  "When Cancer Strikes Twice." "Three Things Every Person Needs." And, "Why Holding Grudges is Destroying Us." If you have questions, contact the church office or Neil Peck.

 

(1) We are 91.7% of the way through our budget year.

(2) We have received 79.8% of our $402,145 budget for the year (for a total of $317,551).  

(3) We have expended 93.4% of our budget for the year (for a total of $375,524). We began 2025 with a positive balance in our account.

(4) Our total revenues for 2025 are $9,249 below our 3-year average for the end of November. 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.  The month of December traditionally brings in about 18% of our offerings for the year and we are currently processing those.  All current bills are paid as of  the end of November.  We appreciate your continued giving to God's work through First UMC.

 

     Every January, we put all our loose coins (along with paper money and checks)  towards our annual Quarter Challenge and once again, we are going to do an "Inter-Congregational Challenge."  Everyone whose last name begins with A-M (We call this "Team Lonnie") will be against everyone whose last name begins with N-Z (whom we call "Team Neil").  We have separate offering places each Sunday for each team.

     Which group will raise the most funds?  You can make your donation in church, drop it off at the church office, send a check or use "Billpay" through your bank.  If you use a check or "Bill Pay," please include in the memo line "Quarter Challenge."  More importantly, all the money raised will go toward supplying non-food items for our Personal Care Cupboard.   The Personal Care Cupboard assists families with personal care items you cannot get on food stamps.  In 2025, we assisted over 1000 families and the needs are even more.  You can find our more information about The Personal Care Cupboard on our website at (siouxcityfirst.com).

 

- Wed., January 14 (3:35p - 4:55p)- "Celebrate Winter" 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.  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.

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

 

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.

January 11 - T-Z

January 18 - A-Be

January 25 - Bi-C

 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 Don Wood (age 80).  Died on Dec. 17, His wife is Cheri.  Services are pending for a later date.

- Death of Barb Kimmel (age 78). Died on Dec. 17.  Husband is Tom.

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

 

 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.

 

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