With all the craziness being reported in news stories, I look forward to the closing few minutes of the evening news when I am able to watch. The reason is that normally there is a story that warms peoples’ hearts…the actions of a Good Samaritan, a young child raising money for a good cause, someone being rescued from a perilous situation, etc. Hymns sung in church can have the same effect. Knowing the circumstances behind the lyrics of these hymns is very interesting. A Google search can assist in this process. One of my favorite “oldies” is “It Is Well with My Soul.” Here’s the story.

Horatio G. Spafford had been a successful attorney in Chicago. He was the father of four daughters, an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and a loyal friend and supporter of D.L. Moody. When Mr. Moody and his music associate, Ira Sankey, left for Great Britain for an evangelistic campaign, Spafford decided to lift the spirits of his family by taking them on a vacation to Europe. He also planned to assist in the MoodySankey meetings there.

In November 1873, Spafford was detained by urgent business, but he sent his wife and four daughters as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Harve, planning to join them soon. Halfway across the Atlantic, the ship was struck by an English vessel and sank in 12 minutes. All four of the Spafford daughters—

Tanetta, Maggie, Annie, and Bessie—were among the 226 who drowned.

Mrs. Spafford was among the few who were miraculously saved.

Later, Horatio Spafford stood hour after hour on the deck of the ship carrying him to rejoin his sorrowing wife in Cardiff, Wales. When the ship passed the approximate place where his precious daughters had drowned, Spafford received sustaining comfort from God that enabled him to write the words of this hymn: ‘When sorrows like sea billows roll…It is well with my soul.”

I can only imagine the grief the Spaffords experienced and, thanks be to God, I have not had to experience the grief of a child. The loss of my parents and two adult sisters was enough. But the grief of losing someone who has only begun his/her life…unimaginable. That is where a church community rallies around families with condolences and other acts of kindness including gifts of meals, lodging of out-of-town relatives, cards, hugs, and other loving

things.

Jane and I will be visiting our younger son and daughter-in-law in the Nashville area and will be out of town July 5—July 12. In future edition of Straight to the Point, I will provide the information of who can be called in case of emergencies.

You are~each one of you~wonderful reminders of what a blessing this church fellowship and our church family have been to us these past 18 years. Thank you so much for all the cards given and well-wishes spoken as we left to move to the Green Bay area to begin another chapter in our lives. Thank you to Missions and Moving-on-Box friends for the lovely reception given for us after church on the 12th. We're glad to have journeyed together and grown together in our faith throughout our years at FCUCC. You are missed! "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love..." Know that you'll always find a welcome in our Wisconsin home!

Jim and Ginger France

1257 Brayden Lane # 41

De Pere, WI 54115

Hi Todd,

I just wanted to know if you would consider putting my wife, Carole, on your prayer list. Her last name is Baker. On May 11 of this year she was diagnosed with ALS. It's in its early stages, but it appears to be advancing at a greater rate than we had expected or hoped.

Some of the congregants will remember Carole from a couple of visits we made to First Congregational UCC since my retirement in 2011 and our marriage in 2015. We certainly covet the prayers of our friends in the First Cong. family.

Regards to the congregation as you greet them for us.

Al Hohl

The final push for Rummage preperations is here and we are down to the pricing stage. Everyone is welcome to join in and help. We work will Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00.

The sign up sheet for the days of the sale is on the table near the front door. We need a few slots filled yet. Please volunteer for whatever time you are free. We need lots of help to make this sale a success.

Rummage sale flyers are also on the table near the front door at church. If you know of any place you could display a flyer please take some and hang them up.

Looking forward to everyone’s participation.

The Sanford Center Summer Program will be our Mission for June, July, and August. We will once again be supplying cereal, snacks, juice boxes and water bottles. You can bring your donations to church and put them in the grocery cart near the front door or deliver them directly to the Geneva Street location.

   They will be operating both locations this year with 24 at Geneva Street and 12 at the Morningside location. The program started June 6 so we need to get things to them as soon as possible.

    If you would prefer to make a cash donation, make your check payable to the Sanford Center and put Summer Program in the memo line. You can mail the check directly to the Sanford Center at 1700 Geneva Street, Sioux City, IA. 51103.

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.

Live Stream- Pam Ridgway/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 $5,579, 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