* Church Announcements (09/23/2026)

Preaching - Rev. Roger Madden

Sermon Title: “It’s the Walk, Not the Talk”

Worship Assistant (9:00 service) - David Chobar

(Online service) Piano - Pat Harm

Organist (9:00 service) - Jane Sibley

28 (Jesus asked) "What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.'

29 "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

30 "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.

31 "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.

32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."

 

✞ When have I told someone "Yes" I would do something and then I did not do it?

 

✞ What has God been calling me to do that I have been neglecting?

 

✞ How can I respond this week, through my actions, to what God is calling me to do?

 

“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”

“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”

“He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought”

 

“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”

“He Leadeth Me”

 

“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”

“He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought”

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

 

Older Adult Ministries will begin a 5-week study TODAY (Wednesday, Sept. 23) at 11:00am in the church library. The study is entitled, "The Holy Spirit: God’s Presence and Power at Work In Us”

     In “The Holy Spirit,” Adam Hamilton explores what Scripture teaches about God's Spirit—from the Hebrew Bible through Jesus' promises in the Gospels, the powerful Pentecost experience in Acts, and the rich teachings found in the New Testament letters.

If you have any questions please contact Neil Peck (our Director of Older Adult Ministries) at 712-258-0119 or stop by and see him. Hope to see you on the 23rd.

 

Upcoming “Celebrate@First” Gathering for Hunt School (and other) kids:

Lonnie’s Daytripping Thursday, October 1 at 10:00am - Career Academy Construction Building - Auto Body (3000 Highway 75 North - next to Miller Brothers Furniture) - Join us for this unique and interesting tour.  You can meet in the churches north parking lot to carpool at 9:30am.  Please sign up on the sheet across from the church office or call the church to sign up.  If you have any questions, please contact Lonnie Gustafson. 

 

The deadline for pre-ordering nuts is Sunday, October 4th. There will be a “pre-order” form in this Sunday’s bulletin to indicate how many pounds of nuts you want us to order and reserve for you. If the minimum is not ordered, then NO order will be placed and you will be notified. These “pre-order” forms must be returned to the church office.

If you have any questions or want to call in your order, please call the church office at 712-258-0119 or Trish Billups at 712-490-8217. Thank you for supporting the United Methodist Women and Felicity Circle!

 

Total cash raised ($70,720) + yet-to-be-paid pledges ($4,610) as of September 21 = $73,330.

THANK YOU to all who have contributed and pledged to contribute to this needed and worthwhile project!

Note: Any additional funds received over our goal will go toward making sure the interior stained-glass windows will open and close properly (we have many that do not) for in addition to the new outside storm windows protecting the interior stained-glass windows, we need to have operational interior windows.

 

Okay, let's talk CROP Walk numbers!!

     Last year, First UMC had 23 walkers and we ranked #1 for the Sioux City group with the most participants. BUT back in 2011 we had 63 walkers, in 2012 we had 62 walkers and in 2010 we had 54 walkers! Five other years in the past our church had over 40 walkers, so we should certainly be able to have 50 participants in 2026. Remember that you do NOT have to walk the entire 3.5 miles, just walk from Grace UMC north to DQ or to Cecilia Park and back. Or walk all the way to CAAS and make arrangements to have someone pick you up there! If you're busy on Oct 18, then walk the route on Saturday or the Sunday before (and advise us of your alternate plans so we can still count you as a participant). Think outside the box and increase the numbers to help fight hunger on Sunday October 18th.

     You can make a donation to this annual event in worship, mail it in, drop it off, or use your bank's "Billpay". A sign-up sheet to walk is outside the church office For more information, contact Jo Lear 712-251-6015 and Rolene Beauvais 712-223-9965.

 

(1) We are 66.6% of the way through our budget year.

(2) We have received 55.8% of our $419,235 budget for the year (for a total of $234,279).

(3) We have expended 66.7% of our budget for the year (for a total of $279,943). We began 2026 with a positive balance in our account.

(4) Our total revenues for 2026 are 0.1% lower than our 3-year average for the end of August. 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 June. We appreciate your continued giving to God’s work through First UMC.

 

Children’s Sunday School Classes - Sundays from 10:10am - 11:00am.

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 - We have a 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 main 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.

 

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.

 

 

     With the new school year starting, the Music Academy @ First will be starting the Beginning Piano Lesson program for 4th and 5th grade students at Hunt Elementary. The lessons will be on Mondays right after school gets out, beginning at 3:45. Each round of classes lasts 8 weeks. The first round of classes will be from September 28 - November 9. A second round of classes will be from January 25 - March 22, 2027. There will be a new group of students with each round. Our goal is 12 students with a minimum of 6 teachers. There is a volunteer piano teacher instructing 2 students at one time. If we have more than 6 teachers, then some will have just 1 student. We have enough pianos for every student to play on a piano.

We are looking for volunteers who have musical experience to teach the beginning piano lessons. These lessons cover very basic piano skills. Volunteer teachers need to pass a background check. You can help teach 1or 2, or both 8-lesson sessions. If you want to take a look at the piano book we are using, please see Gene Wagner. If you are interested, talk to Gene Wagner, contact the church office, or fill out a yellow Worship Response Sheet. Please pray if God is calling you to help in this ministry to make a difference in a student’s life.

 

      As all of our church activities begin again this fall, you are invited to visit our three active ladies circles and decide if you would like to join the fellowship of one of these groups. Felicity Circle meets at 10 AM on the second Tuesday of the month, Unity Circle meets at 12:30 PM on the second Wednesday of the month, and Harmony Circle meets at 9:30 AM on the second Thursday of the month. All meetings are at the church, not in homes. We hope to see you there!

 

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.

September 27 - L - Ma

October 4 - Mc, N & O

October 11 - 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.

 

 

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).

 

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.

 

Your church provides a free Puzzle Exchange service for anyone who wants. Stop by the church library and see if there is a puzzle that interests you.

 

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).

 

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.