Thanks to all the helping hands we had last week, tables are all set up and everything is out of the two store rooms.

We are ready to start unboxing things we will start working Wednesday night, May 11, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Starting Monday, May 16, we will also do an afternoon shift from 1:30 pm until 3:30. We will do both shifts until the sale the end of June.

A big Thank You to the students from West High that Todd recruited. We would never have gotten done so quickly without them,

Hope you will all find time to help.

Springtime is here and Senior's are graduating! Please send any applications for the First Congregational Graduating Senior Scholarship to the office and/or treasurer as soon as possible. Application is simply your name and relationship to the church, including an essay about what it means to you to be a part of First Congregational in Sioux City.

82,087,117 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the United States as of May 11, 2022. I am one of them. Having had two Covid shots and one booster, I thought my odds of contracting the disease were lessened, but I also knew I wasn’t fully immune. Because I have mild hay fever in the spring, I didn’t think too much of my runny nose. My annual exam on May 12 with my primary physician ended up with a positive Covid-19 test, two subscriptions to fill, and orders for isolation through May 21.

Since the 12th, I’ve been keeping isolated from Jane by living in our downstairs bedroom, eating my meals alone (although my appetite is decreased and my tastebuds are affected), and watching a bunch of DVDs that I purchased on sale, but never had the time to watch. So far this arrangement is working. Jane has tested negative! Thanks be to God!

I watched the service on Facebook Live. Thank you, Todd, for being inspired to write a wonderful sermon with a few days’ notice and a tennis tournament on Saturday! My sermon was written, but they could not have been more different if we had planned it that way. A point to that statement is that each person can interpret the same biblical story differently, but the good news of God’s love is always included!

I am hopeful that I will be cleared by my doctor so that I will be able to lead worship on May 22. Please keep me in your prayers as well as all those who are Covid positive and their families.

Pastor Del

May’s Mission of the Month is Mary Treglia Community House. After a meeting with Mercedes Dimas from Mary Treglia, the Missions Committee decided there is a terrific need for help in resettling Afghan refugees in our area. Mercedes listed a few areas in which we could be of help: financially – many of the refugees that have been brought to this area by an area business has provided little support for these folks and they are in great need of things to set up an apartment as some of them are living in hotels, English as a second language teachers – Mary Treglia is providing ESL classes each Tuesday and Thursday evenings and they can use help with these classes, mentoring – these people need to have someone with whom they can relate, ask questions and get information when needed, transportation – there is a need for transportation to appointments, etc., they all have transportation to and from work, it is just other things. Gift cards to Wal-Mart would be greatly appreciated, if you want to help with providing gift cards, the best way would be to write a check to the church with “gift card” on the memo line. The Missions Committee will purchase the gift cards and get them to Mary Treglia.

If you would like to help in any of these areas, please let someone on the Missions Committee know or if you have questions, please ask.

Members of the Missions Committee are: Ginger France, Peggy Hoffmeyer, Ruth Holder, Jan Nowlen and Donna Popp.

The Missions Committee would like to thank you for the many, many HyVee receipts turned in this school year benefiting Irving Elementary School and the preschool at Mayflower Congregational Church. Our Irving connection, Becky, said our most recent collection at the end of April totaled $10,000, which means a $100 donation to that school! WOW~THANK YOU! THANK YOU!  

Summertime receipts do not need to be saved, but we will let you know in August when to start saving those receipts again to turn in.

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

bubble wrap (any old packaging to help wrap plates, glasses, etc)

bath towels

cake pans

can openers 

3-quart saucepans

pot holders

small plastic glasses

toasters

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

Fill in Minister-Todd Siefker

Worship Leader- Barb Knepper

Live Stream- John Kiernan/Jerrod Kiernan

Sound/Lighting- Kevin Knepper

 Screen- Jerrod Kiernan

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.

Click HERE

Giving last month amounted to $12,291, 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. 

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

Sunday 11:30am-3:30pm

Monday-Thursday 9am-1pm

Monday 9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm

Tuesday 2pm-5pm

Wednesday 2pm-5pm

Thursday 9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm