Attention Choir Members!

Choir is meeting at 9:30am every Sunday in May. We will perform Sunday May 14th and Sunday May 28th. After May we will take our usual summer break and resume in mid-September. Please let Michael know if you (or someone you know) are interested in singing a solo over the summer!

The Sixth Sunday of Easter. “Coming to You.”

[Jesus said to his disciples:] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

Jesus does not abandon his followers. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus comes to abide with his disciples of every generation. As Pentecost draws near, we are reminded that the risen Christ dwells in us as the Spirit of truth. We receive this Spirit in baptism and pray that in our gathering around the Lord’s table the Spirit will transform us to be the body of the risen Christ in the world.

Jesus made this statement: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” How can we live out Jesus’ love? 

The American philosopher, political activist, social critic, actor, and public intellectual Cornel West is the grandson of a Baptist minister. He focuses on the role of race, gender, and class in American society and the ways by which people act and react to their “radical conditionedness.” According to West, “Justice in what love looks like in public.” 

Holocaust survivor, author, and 1986 Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel wrote this: “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” 

Some hold the old cliche, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry,” as truth about love. Love as a verb reflects the idea that love is action—demonstrated and realized. The Beatles told us, “All we need is love. Love is all we need.” An established doctrine of the Christian faith asserts that God is love.” That’s good news.

Jesus spoke on love extensively and strongly. When asked to identify the greatest commandment, Jesus did not choose one. He distilled them all into one with two parts: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself.

How do we demonstrate love for our Triune God? First Congregational United Church of Christ in Sioux City very definitely shows love for God as we eagerly share time, money, and other resources with our neighbors. Thank you!

Fundraiser at Buffalo Alice

The fundraiser at Buffalo Alice for the Siouxland Soup Kitchen this past Sunday was a HUGE success! Thank you to those who attended and supported this fun event. The silent and live auction items brought fun “bidding wars.” The total raised was $8100! Thank you!!!

The Siouxland Soup Kitchen. 

The Siouxland Soup Kitchen was founded in 1987 with a simple mission: To provide a free hot meal to anyone in need. Serving between 100-150 meals per night, they remain committed to this mission. Through the generosity of community donors and volunteers, The Siouxland Soup Kitchen serves diners from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Monday through Friday, Noon to 1 PM on Saturday, and 3-4 PM on Sunday. Regardless of what brings people through the doors, all are welcome.

Donations are accepted from Noon to 4 PM Monday through Friday at the back door of the Soup Kitchen where there is a doorbell for your convenience. Volunteers are always welcome, but they ask to be contacted to schedule a day and time.

Do you have questions or concerns about how things are going at First Congregational UCC?

Included in my duties as your Bridge Pastor is listening to those questions and concerns and doing what I can to answer the questions and/or to facilitate a resolution to the concerns.

If you are not able to visit me during my regular office hours, please call my cell phone and we can arrange a time and location that works best for you. Thank you. (712) 490-6510.

If you are someone you know would benefit from a pastoral visit, please call the office, and let Michael or me know.

In Christ,

Pastor Del

Mission of the Month: Food Bank of Siouxland

  Mission of the month for May will be the Food Bank of Siouxland. Needs in the community increase constantly. If you wish to contribute to the Food Bank, please issue a check payable to the Church and put Food Bank in the memo line.

Rummage Sale

The rummage sale has been set for October 13 and 14. We will start the Wednesday work nights on August 23. Please mark your calendar.

We have room to store items you may have for the October rummage sale. Items may be brought church and will be stored in the northernmost room across from the former Perry Creek Pre-School room (now housing Support Siouxland Soldiers) on the second floor.

Moving-On Box Ministry

In supporting the 'gift' of moving on, we fill lives with hope and household essentials for those leaving transitional housing at Safe Place.

Current MOB Needs:

Toilet paper - Urgent Need!

Small plastic glasses

Dish rags and towels

Dish soap

Laundry soap

All-purpose cleaners

Plastic wrap

Toilet cleaner and brush

Kleenex/tissue paper

Plastic totes

Trash Bins

Bob Nicholson 

Pam Ridgway 

Harper Searcy

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

Thank You, Volunteers!

A big "thank you" goes out to our volunteers who helped with services this week.

Fill-in Minister - Rev. Del Olivier

Worship Leaders - Ruth Holder

Ushers - Jeff/Simon

Live Stream - Pam Ridgway/Jerrod Kiernan

Sound/Lighting - John Kiernan

 Screen - Jerrod Kiernan

FCUCC Finances for April 2023

Updates from Church Treasurer

Giving last month amounted to $8,779 from mail-in, online giving, and Sunday offerings.

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:

• Accepts debit, credit or bank account info
• Can be set up for a one-time payment, or automatic regular payments
• Can be changed at any time (there are no contracts or commitments)

Go to http://get.tithe.ly to sign up online, or download the app on any iPhone/Apple or Android device.



Remember to Support FCUCC Financially During this Time!