Straight to the Point (STTP) Newsletter for the Week of October 29, 2025

Straight to the Point

October 29, 2025

All Saints/Remembrance Sunday

This Sunday, November 2^nd. Don't Forget to adjust your clocks to "fall back"! In this service we will honor those church members who’ve died since last November by lighting a candle in their honor. Family members are encouraged to participate in this by lighting a candle and saying the name(s) of those who have passed on to life eternal. We will also light candles for other family and friends who have died in the past year who were not members of our church.

This service calls us into remembrance of those who have gone before us, and how their lives can inspire our own in becoming of the “saints” of the present and future.

No Choir this Sunday

We will plan to meet again on the 9th of November.

With lax attendance it might be necessary to cut down to having choir once a month when everyone can plan to come or have choir members text to confirm attendance in advance. I want a system that makes sense for the numbers we have and that members can commit to. Let me know your thoughts! -Michael

Neighborhood Market at First Congregational UCC

The Market opens November 8. Set-up begins 7am. Doors open to the public 8am.

The Missions Committee at First Congregational Church 4600 Hamilton Blvd. is opening up the upper level of their building to the public for a rummage sale. Help support this good cause! Money from table rental goes to various non-profits in the area.

Registration is limited to 30 tables at $10/table. Participants are responsible for set-up/tear down and making change for their transactions. All profits from sales are yours to keep.

You can register and pay for your table by contacting the office at 712-239-3385 during church office hours: Mon-Fri 12p-4p. First come, first served. No refunds will be issued upon payment. Same day registration accepted depending on availability.

Note: NOT open to multi level marketing businesses (pampered chef,etc.). Handmade goods, food are welcome.

Hy-Vee Receipts

Hy-Vee receipts can be saved again. I need to turn them all in by March 29. There is a box with balloons on it outside of the office. Gas and prescription receipts are not acceptable. The proceeds of these collected receipts go to Irving School. This is an easy way to contribute again to our community. If you have any questions, please contact me:

Donna Popp

Dpopp1980@gmail.com or

712-251-5535

Letter from the Treasurer

Friends and Members of First Congregational;

It’s another year to look forward to at First Congregational in Sioux City! We are proud to continue our missions into 2026 and beyond. While we continue to support local charities financially, including the Warming Shelter, the Sanford Center, the Food Bank of Siouxland, Mary Treglia Community Center, Women Aware, the Siouxland Soup Kitchen, Safe Place, Siouxland Foster Closet and Sleep in Heavenly Peace, we also support local charitable organizations by donating our space in the upper portion of our building.

Our upper floor houses facilities and storage for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Support Siouxland Soldiers, and Martha’s Mission. These organizations provide such help as beds and bedding for needy children, food for military families and supplies for teachers.

Our Missions are very important to our community and we continue to support these causes for the foreseeable future. Our Missions committee uses raised funds from the rummage and bake sales, as well as designated Endowment Interest Funds to donate to charities each month and each year around Thanksgiving.

That said, while many of our members give generously, we can always use more support from the congregation for the overall health of the church, but also to support our building, staff, and charitable giving costs throughout the year.

Any help that you can give is important, significant, and appreciated. Some folks may wish to volunteer their time and talent, whereas others contribute financially and most of our congregation does both.

Please consider your giving for 2026 and pledge to provide our church with the needed funding and support to continue our fine missions through 2026 and beyond. We accept payment via Tithe.ly (get.tithe.ly) for online giving, and of course, checks and cash are accepted as well. Thank you!

Jeff Stellish, Treasurer, First Congregational UCC

Pastor Bret's Family

The Family of Gary Fridley

The Family of Amy Washburn

Steve Lundberg

Verlee Owens

Ty Quade

If you have any prayer requests, please notify the office!

Directory

Managed by the Office

We are using Instant Church Directory. Printed versions of our directory are available in the narthex or by request. Please inform the office of any directory updates that you would like to include for yourself or your family. You can also pick up one of the directory update forms on the table outside the church office or find it on our website.

To access the directory online visit members.instantchurchdirectory.com and you should be able to create a login using the email listed in the church directory. If you need any help accessing the directory or would like a copy emailed to you, contact the church office for assistance.

FCUCC Finances for September 2025

Updates from Church Treasurer

Giving last month amounted to $10,981.23 from mail-in, online giving, and Sunday offerings.

Total expenses in August were $24,968.94

$30,000 drawn from Endowment for expenses

$14,349.38 paid to us from Endowment Interest

(broken down as:

-$1,437.64 to Building and Grounds

-$6,455.87 to Missions

-$6,455.87 to Council/General/Operating

You can help us stay on track by mailing in your check or setting up an automatic payment from your bank. You can also contribute through a simple app called Tithe.ly.

Tithe.ly is our online, app and web-based giving system. It's convenient because it: