Advent here@first 2016

united methodist church

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FIRST Fall 2016

A sanctuary of Christian hope, love and encouragement in the heart of Sioux Falls 1

here@

FIRST

FALL 2016 Distributed by First United Methodist Church

EXECUTIVE STAFF

IN THIS ISSUE

Senior Pastor Bob Ruedebusch Executive Assistant Pam Knuth

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Grow @ First

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Connect @ First

Minister of Children, Youth & Family Andrea Johnson

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Financial Update

Middle School Coordinator/ Outreach Director Ali McCormick

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Serve @ First

Children’s Coordinator/KidStop Director Kassidi Smith

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CONNECT @ FIRST High School Coordinator Curtis Mittendorf

Connections Director Lynne Jones

Care @ First

WORSHIP @ FIRST Modern Worship Director Pastor Taylor Johnson Traditional/Unity Worship Director Kelby Fode Organist Marcia Klimes

CARE @ FIRST Minister of Pastoral Care Pastor Bill Schmeling Congregational Care Coordinator Pastor Donna Kuper

SUPPORT STAFF @firstchurchsf

Director of Administration Tami Prostrollo Financial Administrator Donna Kuper

@firstchurchsf

Receptionist Jeri Floyd

SiouxFallsFirstUMC

Administrative/Foundation Assistant Jill Johnson Librarian Cynthia McConniel

www.sfumc.org

FACILITY MANAGEMENT

firstchurchsf

Facilities Director Jacob Forstein

@firstchurchsf

Custodians Don Jones, Donna Plank, Tovia Forstein United Day Care Director Judy Jacobs

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EQUIPPING the SAINTS with Senior Pastor Bob Ruedebusch

O

ne Mercedes Benz TV commercial shows their car colliding with a cement wall during a safety test. Someone then asks the company spokesman why they do not enforce their patent on the Mercedes Benz energy-absorbing car body, a design evidently copied by other companies because of its success. He replied matter-of-factly, “Because some things in life are too important not to share.”

in Jesus Christ more deeply in their lives.

In our sermon series Meet the Goodpeople we hope to help each of us grow in the power of invitation. Our Breakthrough Prayer Card will have a place for you to name three persons who you believe could benefit from a deeper walk with God in their life.

I was delighted to discover from our Feasibility report that 85% of our membership would invite a friend, neighbor, The power of co-worker to our church with them. That says much about the personal invitation is importance of inviting others and sharing our God stories with others still the most powerful so that they may know God’s love way someone can in their lives.

come to know God

We begin by praying for each of those you have named. As each of us prays we know God will give you the way to invite them to a welcoming event here at First UMC!

Through events like Mayday in Jesus Christ more Want to make a difference in Sioux Falls, Epic Block Party, Live@ our world? Be a conduit for God First Concert Series and summer deeply in their lives. through telling your God story Downtown Block Party events, we and using the power of prayer are collecting contact information and invitation to change people’s lives. That’s a from people outside our walls, giving us mission and a ministry I think we all want to be a opportunity to invite them to our next fall and part of.

Advent events.

However, statistics show that 85% of new people to a congregation have been personally invited by a church member or friend. The power of personal invitation is still the most powerful way someone can come to know God

Pastor Bob

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GOAL We want to equip ourselves and others to grow in their relationship with God.

Grow @ First

UPDATE In September, we began a brand new ministry on Wednesday evenings called IGNITE. IGNITE is a casual evening filled with dinner, worship, Christian learning, service opportunities and fun! As a matter of fact, each week we completely clear the MultiPurpose Room and provide an open gym at 5:30pm and again at 7pm after our 30-minute mid-week worship renewal time together. Come and be the spark that begins to IGNITE! ~

Connect and Grow Teams

Welcome Cynthia McConniel As Our New Church Librarian!

Our church library is a fantastic asset to help us grow in our faith together.

But let’s be honest, most of us have never stepped foot in the library up on the 3rd floor. Would you believe the collection is over 5,000 pieces! There are resources for every age in every stage of life. Thanks to a wonderful memorial we were also able to create a computer lab for your use. As a matter of fact, Wednesday nights you may even find a computer class going on. Take the short journey upstairs and check it out, you will be glad you did!

While there, introduce yourself to Cynthia. She would love to get to know each of you. ~

Library Team

Library Hours Sunday Mornings: 9:15-11am Wednesdays: 6-8pm

WHAT IS NEXT? We will be intentional in training up new leaders of all ages to equip people to grow in their relationship with Jesus.

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GOAL We want to introduce visitors and guests to Jesus and to First UMC.

Connect @ First

UPDATE Our 2nd annual Epic Block Party was a huge success. With many thanks to those that helped make this truly an EPIC event we served over 500 hotdog lunches, 200 more than last year! This year we added a raffle for a Hy-Vee gift card, which gave us contact information for over 30 persons. This information will allow us to reach out in our neighborhood.

Minnesota Ave Christmas Tree Lighting and 2nd Annual Multi-Generational Christmas Program Planning is Underway We have learned from our Block Party that people are looking for a sense of belonging, a community of others that can connect together. The Advent season can be a difficult time for anyone, especially for those having financial difficulties. We will reach out to those who attended the Block Party and invite them to all of our Advent events.

Advent is an excellent time for each of us to invite friends to enter into a relationship with the church. On November 30 we encourage everyone to participate in caroling around the tree and then joining us inside as Tom Roberts reads us his newest Christmas book. Come back the following week and join us in the telling of the Christmas Story in a fun, interactive way with a no auditions, no rehearsals Christmas program that includes all ages! ~

Connections Team WHAT IS NEXT?

We will be intentional in training up our congregation to share our faith and invite others to worship. To reach the neighborhood we will continue to evolve our “Big 3” events by being intentional in making an invitation to our upcoming events.

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The Gratitude Path Care/Worship 20% Connect 37%

this is how your ministry dollars are allocated

Grow 20%

currently, a faithful 23% contribute 72% of the total giving

the remaining 28% of giving

Serve 23%

is contributed by individuals in the other 77% Stewardship 2017

Please consider moving toward your stewardship goal by moving your giving to the next level.

PERCENTAGE OF GIVING PER MONTH Yearly Income

$10,000

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

$17 $33 $50 $67 $83

$20,000

$33 $67 $100 $133 $167

$40,000

$67 $133 $200 $267 $333

$60,000

$100 $200 $300 $400 $500

$80,000

$133 $267 $400 $533 $667

$100,000

$167 $333 $500 $667 $833

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Tithing Impact

I

t takes more than just a building to make a church – it takes people; people who have fellowship with one another and, most importantly, with God. God has truly blessed this church.

shows you how your giving makes a difference in the lives of individuals and families. It also gives a glimpse into the future and describes what more we could be doing with additional financial resources.

Last year we began our Missional journey via the MCCI process and our 5 prescriptions. We are a group of believers who have a great vision to be a sanctuary of Christian hope, love and encouragement in the heart of Sioux Falls.

We ask you to prayerfully read through this publication and reflect on your 2016 giving and make plans for your 2017 investment.

Thanks to your generosity, we have made great strides towards that vision. Now God is calling us to make even greater strides and develop our core values to transform the city of Sioux Falls. We believe that we are ready for this great opportunity and challenge. Please pray that God will show us the steps of faith He has in mind for each of us to take. Together we will make a difference for God’s Kingdom!

Our budget has remained relatively flat for 4 years. As we are called to reachout into the city, our ministry continues to expand. There is an ever growing need to do so much more.

Prayerfully consider your 2017 pledge. Go online now to sfumc.org to fill out your pledge card or fill one out in worship on November 20.

Income and Expenses (millions)

Within this magazine, you see First United Methodist Church come alive. This narrative budget describes your ministries. It describes how your church is fulfilling its God-given mission. It

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Finance Team

To help you stay on track in your giving you can now set-up your reoccuring gift at sfumc.org/give.

Last 4 Years First UMC Income and Expenses at a Glance

36%

1.5 1.25 1.00 0 2013

2014 Income

2015 2016 (budgeted) Expenses

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of our members made a pledge in 2016

GOAL To be attentive to the felt needs of people outside our walls.

Serve @ First

UPDATE The Banquet We continue to reach out into the community with 2 teams that serve monthly at The Banquet. The Banquet provides a welcoming place where people can gather, eat and experience love in action. First UMC has served 3,651 men, women and children in the first 8 months of 2016.

Habitat for Humanity There is a faithful team that works the 2nd Saturday monthly with Habitat for Humanity to provide simple durable homes in decent communities for families.

The Nightwatch The Nightwatch team combines their efforts with 7 other area Methodist churches to serve dinner each Sunday evening to those that would otherwise go without a meal. Each Sunday evening over 200 meals can be served.

Food Pantry We are joining others to fight hunger in Sioux Falls by filling our orange “stock the shelves� shopping bags and donating needed food items every month to the Food Pantry. To date 462 pounds of items have been taken to the Food Pantry.

WHAT IS NEXT? Improve communication to our congregation of what our Serve @ First teams are doing in our community. To educate and include our youth in our service endeavors.

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GOAL To show the congregation that as a son or daughter of God, they are loved and cared for in every aspect of their life, from birth through end of life care.

Care @ First

UPDATE from Abbi’s mom

What Is Next?

To continue to discern the needs of the congregation and offer support to them.

Abbi’s Angels

Kris Pappas

On Monday, August 10, 2015, I was told that if I wasn’t put on bed rest immediately, we could lose our girl. I was blessed with visitors during my stay at the hospital, both pastors from the church as well as family and friends.

Abbi weighed 4 lbs. 5 oz. and was over 16 inches long at birth, which is pretty good for a 6-week premature baby. After delivery, I was able to hold her momentarily, and then she was rushed to the NICU. Some days we seemed to take a small step forward and the next it was a giant step backward. As time got closer for Abby’s release, her doctor told us that she should only be around minimal people/kids at daycare. Our heads spun!

How were we going to find that perfect situation? We looked to the church for help and ideas. The staff was thinking outside the box and praying, just as we were that we would find a suitable solution. We did!

Abbi was in the NICU for 7 weeks! She left the hospital on oxygen and an apnea monitor. Through it all there was someone there from the church everyday! We would pray over Abbi for her health and strength and for ours as her family. It was very comforting to know that someone from the church would be coming to visit and something that I began to look forward to. Staff would ask my parents at church on Sundays for updates on Abbi as we would spend our days with her in the hospital or at home not wanting to expose her to anything.

The weeks in the NICU were the longest 7 weeks of our lives. We could have not made it through like we did without the love and support of family, friends, and our church family. It meant so much to have church members and staff there to visit and check on Abbi’s progress. I truly believe that she got her strength from all of the prayers and support that everyone gave.

There truly are not enough words to let you know how grateful we are to everyone!

Abbi has made great strides and continues to amaze us on a daily basis.

She is now 13 months old! She has learned to sit up by herself. She is not crawling yet, but can roll faster than I knew possible. We are still waiting for teeth but she is eating table food and just learned how to drink out of a straw! Abbi will face many more challenges in life, but it is reassuring to know that she has her own special team of angels in her corner to help her through whatever life throws her way! [see the full story online]

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NOV 30

DEC 3

TREE LIGHTING & BOOK READING with TOM ROBERTS

WOMEN’S CHRISTMAS TEA 2 pm - Multi-Purpose Room

6:30 pm - Sanctuary Treats in the Multi-Purpose Room after

DEC 7

DEC 14

ALL-CHURCH Multi-Generational CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

FAMILY FUN NIGHT Beginning at 6:30 pm - Multi-Purpose Room Join us for pizza, interactive games and a Christmas movie on the big screen.

Beginning at 6:30 pm - Sanctuary Treats in the Multi-Purpose Room after

DEC 18

DEC 21

SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE

EARLY CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

2 pm - Sanctuary

6:30 pm - Multi-Purpose Room

DEC 24

DEC 25

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES

CHRISTMAS DAY

3 pm 5 pm 7 pm 9 pm

11 pm

9:45 am - One service with breakfast

Family Service Candlelit Unity Service with the Unity Praise Band Candlelit Traditional Service with the Chancel Choir Light Up The Night Modern Service in the Multi-Purpose Room Candlelit Service in the Chapel

Merry Christmas!

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Where Did I See Jesus?

Jesus Was Seen In YOU! We sometimes wonder if what we do is really making da ifference. This time the answer is yes!

We received this message from Leah:

arty. g the block p in v a h r fo u yo to say thank I just wanted blast! d a it and h a d e win a v lo s id k My 4 that I would g n li e fe a d a ily h my email da but I kind of g y, in n n ck e fu f ch o n d e Kin . I’ve be uly a n I signed up he $25 was tr T s. e ri ce gift card whe ro g on r another running low ’t get paid fo sn e o d and we were d n a sb y as my hu ys right? blessing toda ysterious wa m in s rk o w week. God you!

Again, thank ~ Leah

Hi!

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:16

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FIRST

United Methodist Church

First United Methodist Church 401 S. Spring Avenue Sioux Falls, SD 57104-4398 605-336-3652

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #606 Sioux Falls, SD

E-mail: fumc@sfumc.org Website: www.sfumc.org Address Service Requested

Advent Sermon Series

with

Pastors Bob Ruedebusch & Taylor Johnson

The Redemption of Scrooge 8:30, 9:45 and 11am

Nov. 27 — Bah! Humbug!

Dec. 4 — The Remembrance of Christmas Past Dec. 11 — The Life of Christmas Present 12