Straight to the Point
March 16, 2021
COVID-19 UPDATE:
We have reopened the church for in person services!

We will observe all COVID precautions we were practicing prior to the last shut down. Masks required, social distancing, etc. Watch this space for any updates. The worship service will still be live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube.

If you have any questions call Pam Ridgway (712-202-8304) or contact the church office.
Office Hours

Beginning March 1st, Michael Danner is our new office adminstrator. He will be in the Office 9am-1pm Monday - Friday. If any assistance is needed please call, email, or stop by during office hours.
Community Central
Hosted by Lois Darrow
 The checkin will be held on
Wednesday evening at 7 pm. 

We will send a ZOOM invitation.
Admiration Series Book Study:

The Sunday morning admiration series will be reviewing the book:
The Last Week
by
Marcus J Borg and John Dominic Crossan

Started Sunday, Feb 21 2021 but it is never too late to join!
(Copies are available on Amazon)

Join Us:
We invite you to engage and strengthen your faith with these practices:
 
THE PRACTICE OF WORSHIP: Live Streamed on Facebook and Youtube, and recorded
 
We are now up and running to Live Stream our Sunday morning worship service via the church’s page on Facebook and Youtube at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Each service is recorded and then available to play at a time that is convenient for you. If you need help in figuring out how to access the worship service via Live Streaming or to view the recorded services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our church administrator. We will be happy to show you how to use this resource.
 
THE PRACTICE OF LEARNING: Zoom learning sessions each week 9:30 a.m. each Sunday.
This time of social distancing and staying well and warm indoors, is a great time to engage your mind in learning, to do some theological reflection, to ask some hard questions about God and life, and to test our embedded theology to see if that is where you are now, or where you want to be.

With Todd Siefker taking over the responsibilities of sermons on Sunday morning services and the 9:30 a.m. book study, we have temporarily suspended our Wednesday night Admiration Series meetings. Please see our note above for our NEW community check-in time on Wednesday evenings!
****
A Closing note about ZOOM:
If you don’t have the ability or the equipment to use Zoom or Facebook to participate in the practices we have named, please call the office. We will be happy to work with you in order to find a solution that will enable you to fully participate in the life of the church during this time of pandemic We don’t want people to feel excluded or isolated from our church community because of the challenges or barriers of technology.

Link to our Youtube where you can watch our services live and recordings of past services:
Click HERE

Remember to Support FCUCC Financially During this Time!
Updates from Church Treasurer

During this COVID-19 event, having no in-person services has impacted our normal income. Thank you to those who have mailed in checks!

FCUCC Finances for February 2021

Giving in February amounted to $5,764.00, all from mail-in and online giving.

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. Tithe.ly is 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.
2020 Sioux City CROP Walk Named a “Cream of the CROP” Walk
Submitted by Ellen Shaner
 
The Sioux City CROP Walk has ranked in the top 100 walks in the nation, making it a “Cream of the CROP Walk” for the second year in a row.
 
In 2020, the 44th Sioux City CROP Walk ranked #3 out of the 28 CROP event held in Iowa last year and #79 out of the 487 events held across the country. “The 2020 Virtual Sioux City CROP Walk had a different look and feel but that didn’t stop our community from helping fight hunger,” says Shelley Hexom, Sioux City CROP Walk committee member.
 
Due to the pandemic, the 2020 walk was virtual which meant participants could walk anytime they chose between October 4th-18th. 434 participants laced up their shoes to walk and help fight hunger. Together walkers from 23 different churches, schools and community groups raised $19,617 and collected 1,320 pounds of food. A Drive Down Hunger Car Parade was held on October 18th as a fun and safe way to deliver the food donations to the Community Action Agency of Siouxland (CAAS). The donated food and 25 percent of the money raised was given to the CAAS to help fight hunger locally. The remainder of the funds raised was used to help fight hunger around the world.
 
The CROP Walk is Sioux City’s only annual inter-denominational event that raises money to help people both locally and in other countries. Walkers can raise money through in-person donations or online by registering at www.crophungerwalk.org/siouxcityia
 
Sioux City’s CROP walk is the second oldest consecutive CROP Walk in Iowa. Together, CROP Walks around the United States raise millions of dollars for Church World Service’s worldwide work to alleviate hunger.
Directory
Managed by the Office

We are going back to using Instant Church Directory and printed versions of our directory are available by request. Please contact the office if you need help gaining access to our directory or wish to receive a printed version.

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.
Time to Save Receipts
Submitted by Ginger France

Please save:
*HyVee grocery receipts (dated Aug 23 and after)
*Boxtops for Education
There’s a collection box wrapped in balloon paper in the narthex near the office.
Thank you~These will be donated to a local school and shared with Mayflower Congregational’s preschool.
Sanford Center
Submitted by Jan Nowlen

The after school program at the Sanford Center could use donations of the following items:
Chicken Nuggets
Hot dogs and buns
Individual packaged servings of chips,
Treats (no peanuts),
Fruit cups
Juice boxes
Large cans of Nacho Cheese
6 pack boxes of macaroni
  (These two items can be purchased at Sam’s Club)
Large cans of chicken noodle soup

You can drop your donations off at church or at the Sanford Center. If you would prefer to send a monetary donation, please send it directly to the Sanford Center and mark it after school meals. Thank you!

Anne Cleghorn
Sharleen Sorum (Michelle Schwerin's mother)
Dick Morgan and family
Laura Traum
Audrey Ercolini's Family
Madison Darrow
Jan Nowlen
All Teachers and Students
Thank You, Volunteers!

A big "thank you" goes out to our volunteers who have helped with Sunday Services this week. These were:

Fill-in Minister - Todd Siefker
Worship Leader - Ruth Holder
Live Stream - Jim France
Sound/Lighting - John Kiernan
Screen - Jerrod Kiernan
Moving-On Box Ministry
Submitted by Ginger France
In supporting the 'gift' Of moving on, we fill lives with hope and household essentials for those leaving transitional housing at CSADV, Crossroads, Welcome Home, and Women Aware.

MOB Needs:
Towels/washcloths
Detergent
Calendars
Toasters
Frypans/sauce pans
Cookie sheets
Cake pans
The Warming Shelter
The Warming Shelter is one of the local agencies that we try to support. If you would like to donate to them, their currents needs list is below:

Cash to pay utilities and security staffing
Granola bars of any kind,
Tube Socks,
Brown Jersey Gloves (inexpensive ones 10/$10)
Men’s and Women’s underwear( Medium and large sizes).
The Soup Kitchen
Updates from Jan Nowlen

The Soup Kitchen has been hit hard with the expanded need of families and individuals needing food assistance during COVID-19. They have been serving well over 3,000 meals per month and are running critically low on some items and are completely out of others.

Current Needs:
Stick Butter
Bread
Hamburger Buns
Lunch Meat for Sandwiches
Egg Noodles
Sandwich Bags
Dishwasher Soap Pods
Face Masks

Erik's Closet:
Hats
Gloves
Jeans
Underwear
Tennis Shoes
Shampoo
Conditioner
Lotion
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Kleenex
(Travel Sized Toiletried Preferred)

You can drop donations and gift cards off at the Soup Kitchen or Mail them to:

717 W. 7th Street
Sioux City, Iowa 51103

If you want to make a online donation to the Soup kitchen please use the following:
Venmo : @siouxland-soupkitchen
PayPal : siouxlandsoupkitchen@gmail.com
All donations can be issued a receipt for tax purposes.
Rummage Sale
Updates from Jan Nowlen

At this time we have postponed the Rummage Sale, however, those of you who are cleaning and de-cluttering your home during this time, there is plenty of room to store things you wish to get rid of. 
Church Office Hours
9a.m.-1p.m. Monday-Friday


Church Staff:

Michael Danner, Church Office

Todd Siefker, Intergenerational Coordinator

Jim McCrory, Custodian

Michael Danner, Organist

Jessica Orr, Nursery Coordinator
Church Contact Information
(712) 239-3385
office@firstcongregational.net
www.firstcongregational.net


office@firstcongregational.net

tsiefker@gmail.com

building@firstcongregational.net

office@firstcongregational.net

jessica.orr@hotmail.com
4600 Hamilton Boulevard
Sioux City, IA 51104
(712) 239-3385