here @ first 2017

united methodist church

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FIRST Winter 2017

Will you be one of the 20% that invites someone to church?

90% of those you 1 ask will say Yes!

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FIRST

WINTER 2017 Distributed by First United Methodist Church

IN THIS ISSUE 3

EXECUTIVE STAFF Senior Pastor Bob Ruedebusch Executive Assistant Pam Knuth

Letter From Bob

CONNECT @ FIRST

5 Pull Out Calendar 9

By The Numbers

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Where Have I Seen Jesus

Minister of Children, Youth & Family Andrea Johnson High School Coordinator Curtis Mittendorf Children’s Coordinator/Kidstop Director Kassidi Smith Connections Director Lynne Jones

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 Director of Administration Tami Prostrollo

@firstchurchsf

Financial Administrator Donna Kuper

@firstchurchsf

Receptionist Jeri Floyd Administrative/Foundation Assistant Jill Johnson

SiouxFallsFirstUMC

Librarian Cynthia McConniel

www.sfumc.org

FACILITY MANAGEMENT

firstchurchsf

Facilities Director Jacob Forstein Custodians Don Jones, Tovia Forstein, Donna Plank

@firstchurchsf

United Day Care Director Judy Jacobs

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

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EQUIPPING the SAINTS with Senior Pastor Bob Ruedebusch

“Generous Givers” Another point is this.

The church isn’t only asking for money.

The church is asking for God’s people to serve. We have so many opportunities for people to give their time as another way of giving to God. Giving of one’s time to serve Pastor Bob at the Banquet, Habitat for Humanity, Nightwatch Ministry is just as valuable. I have never heard anyone say, “Wow, the church is sure asking for a lot of volunteers!”

Recently someone said to me a statement I have heard quite frequently in my 37 years of ministry.

“The church is always asking for money.” This statement always has bothered me because in my understanding of God it is a narrow view of giving to God! My understanding and theology on giving is the church isn’t asking for the money but the church is giving many opportunities for all God’s people to give to God. The church is just the vehicle, the conduit for giving to God. Here is an example. Jim and Sally love the camping ministry of the church.

They met at camp. The encouraged their children to go to Church camp. Camping is a ministry near and dear to their hearts. So the church invites God’s people to give towards camping scholarships. They gladly give! On the other hand, Tom and Cindy love overseas missions.

Specifically, helping communities around the globe build wells for good drinking water. They gladly give! John and Susan love the church facility. They have come to love the sanctuary and so they often contribute to its upkeep and care. They gladly give!

“Isn’t It Great!

Look at all the things we can do for God together! “

So friends I want each of us to remember this. All of us are not called to give to everything when the church invites persons to give to a certain project, ministry or mission. We give to those that God has placed on our hearts to give to and know that others in our Body of Christ will care for the others.

So the next time you hear someone say, “The church is always asking for money” say “Isn’t it great! Look at all the things we can do for God together!” Let’s celebrate the joy of God’s people who are generous in giving to God!

Here’s the point: In a church with over 450 households that contribute to God’s work through First United Methodist Church, we should be offering as many opportunities for people to give so they can give to those ministries or projects that God has placed closest to their hearts. When we limit the opportunity to give, I believe we limit opportunities for God’s people to respond to the call of God on their lives.

Pastor Bob

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IMPACT 150 Methodist Youth from all over the Dakota’s Conference will converge on Sioux Falls, June 18-23, and make a major IMPACT in the city!

The love of Christ will spread across the city as they serve as His hands and feet.

Join us as we host our first youth mission trip and have an IMPACT (Intentional Ministry Promoting Active Community Transformation) in Sioux Falls!

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out Pull ave! s and

Opportunities @ First Winter — ­ Summer 2017

ALL CHURCH FEBRUARY

25 Serve Dinner at the Banquet West

MISSION OF THE MONTH: Lowell Elementary

30 Mayday Sioux Falls

12 Live@First Pipe Organ Showcase

30 Bloodmobile Blood Drive

11 Habitat for Humanity Build Day 21 Serve Breakfast at the Banquet Downtown

MAY

28 Serve Dinner at the Banquet West

MISSION OF THE MONTH: Dakotas Miracle Offering - Relieving Seminary Debt

28 Shrove Tuesday Flapjack Follies

1 Mayday Sioux Falls

MARCH

13 Habitat for Humanity Build Day

MISSION OF THE MONTH: Nightwatch

14 First UMC Handbell Concert

1 Ash Wednesday

16 Serve Breakfast at the Banquet Downtown

1 Ingathering Potato Bar Fundraiser

22 Nightwatch

11 Habitat for Humanity Build

23 Serve Dinner at the Banquet West

17 Lavender Spring Spa Retreat

28 Park Service Starts

21 Serve Breakfast at the Banquet Downtown 26 Nightwatch

Notes

28 Serve Dinner at the Banquet West

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APRIL

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MISSION OF THE MONTH: Samaritan’s Feet

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8 Habitat for Humanity Build 8 Easter Eggstravaganza!

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9 Palm Sunday / Donkey Parade

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10 Holy Week Service

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11 Holy Week Service

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12 Road to Resurrection

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13 Maundy Thursday Services

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14 Good Friday Services 16 Easter

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18 Serve Breakfast at the Banquet Downtown

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23 Kidstop Waffle Breakfast 5

CHILDREN

STUDENT

Notes

MARCH

FEBRUARY

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12 Scouting Sunday 12 Camp Sunday

12 Great Bear Tubing

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MARCH

_____________________________

APRIL

9 Donkey Parade 12 Road to Resurrection

12 Scouting Sunday 12 Camp Sunday

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MAY

LENT SUNDAYS

March 5 - April 16 Special 6 through 12 grade Sunday School: 9 or 10am

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21 Last Day Sunday School 24 Last Day Ignite

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JUNE

21 Last Day Sunday School 21 Vacation Bible School (VBS) 22 Vacation Bible School (VBS)

APRIL

9 Donkey Parade 12 Road to Resurrection 30 Senior Scholarship Sunday

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

MAY

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7 Confirmation 21 Last Day Sunday School 21 Senior Recognition Sunday 24 Last Day Ignite

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

JUNE

18 Sioux Falls IMPACT!

RECURRING OPPORTUNITIES

Wednesday Night Ignite Activities

• Children’s Sunday School: Pre K - 4th

9-9:40am, 2nd Floor Classrooms

9-9:40am, Lower Level Classrooms

• Student’s Sunday School: 5th - 12th

SENIOR ADULT FEBRUARY

8 S.A.G.E.S.

*Feeding the Hungry

MARCH

1 Wedded Band 8 S.A.G.E.S. *Hearing Health

APRIL

5 Wedded Band 12 S.A.G.E.S. *Legislative Review

JUNE

7 Wedded Band 14 S.A.G.E.S. *Goodwill

MAY

3 Wedded Band 10 S.A.G.E.S. *Visiting Angels

Amazing Greys meet weekly.

*Denotes programming 6

SMALL GROUPS AMen’s Bible Study Wednesdays, bimonthly, 7-8am Dave Eiesland

Higgins Bible Study Wednesdays, bimonthly, 8-9am Don Ditmanson

Triple F (Food, Fun, Fellowship) Meets monthly Harold Christensen

Blest Be the Tie that Binds Thursdays, 12:30pm Contact the church office

Men of Integrity Saturday mornings Contact the church office

United Methodist Women Meets 4 times a year Mary Jane Richardson

Bookies 4th Sunday, 6:30-8pm Nancy Veglahn

Music Fellowship Rehearsal and performance times vary by group, Kelby Fode

Women’s Bible Study Wednesdays, 9:30am Carole Priest and Donna Kuper

Faithlink Wednesdays, 5:30pm Harold and Nora Christensen

S.A.L.S.A. (Single Adult Ladies Sharing Adventures) Sundays, 10:45-11:45am, Marlys Shade

Women’s Circles 3rd Thursday of each month Mary Jane Richardson

GROW OPPORTUNITIES Listen: Praying in a Noisy World

God Unbound

We live in a world of noise. Everywhere we go, we hear sounds that compete for our minds and hearts. Listening to God requires a deliberate choice to shut out the chaos around us and focus our thoughts.

What does it mean to move beyond the boundaries of what we believe?

Just as the apostle Paul led the Galatians through a massive cultural shift in which they had to radically expand their ideas of who God is, who they were, and God’s mission for the church, today Christianity is undergoing a cultural shift just as challenging.

Listen, by Rueben P. Job, is a 40-day experience created to offer help to those new to prayer, those with a daily prayer routine, and those whose lives seem too busy to pray. With a focus on listening prayer and prayer as a two-way conversation, the experience will assist individuals and groups in building and deepening a personal prayer practice and spiritual discernment.

Elaine Heath extends an invitation to broaden our view of God by moving beyond the walls of buildings and programs to become a more diverse church than we have ever imagined. While deeply honoring tradition, she calls the church to boldly follow the Holy Spirit’s leadership into the future.

Christ Walk

Pairs physical training and spiritual practices together in an easy-to-use format. What’s better than feeding your soul while developing healthy practices for your body and mind?

Dare to Dream

Are your goals too small?

Are you living the “just get by” plan?

Or is there a greater “God dream” for you that, if lived to the fullest, could permeate and inform every move you make?

Christ Walk outlines a 40-day program to focus on improving physical health while engaging in spiritual and mental reflection and growth.

Dare to Dream is a startling and inspiring program by popular author and pastor Mike Slaughter that draws on the Bible and a lifetime of ministry to help us discern God’s dream for us and learn to live it out, prayerfully and enthusiastically.

Book studies will be offered at these times and days: Mondays, 6pm; Wednesdays, 5:30 and 7pm.

Sign-up at the Information Center or call Lynne Jones @ 336-3652.

Participants will learn how to develop a life mission statement that helps them fully commit to a God-directed lifestyle.

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SERMON SERIES

March 5 - April 16, Easter Sunday (Lent)

“God Is On The Move”

March 5

God Moves…In the Desert

Luke 4:1-13

March 12

God Moves…Past All Obstacles

Luke 13:31-35

March 19

God Moves…Over the Fence

Luke 13:1-9

March 26

God Moves…Down the Road

Luke 15:1-3; 11b-32

April 2

God Moves…To Empty Ourselves

John 12:1-8

April 9, Palm Sunday

God Moves…To the Cross

Luke 23:1-49

Special 6-12 grade Sunday School During Lent 9 or 10am

April 23 - May 14

“Beyond the Building – Believing in the Future” April 23

Decision to Restore the Walls

Nehemiah 2: 11-18

April 30

Building the Temple

1 Chronicles 29:1-11

May 7

The Living Stone

1 Peter 2:4-10

May 14

Equipping the Saints: For the Work of Ministry

Ephesians 4:1-13

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BY THE NUMBERS 2016 Membership Changes

Total Membership

Children in Christian formation groups

2016 2015 2014 2013

-

125 79 126 130

2016 2015 2014 2013

-

1,162 1,185 1,175 1,171

Removed by Transfer or Request....29

Removed by Death....16

Youth in Christian formation groups

2016 2015 2014 2013

-

Received by Profession of Faith......9 Received by Transfer....13

Average Worship Attendance 2016 2015 2014 2013

98 39 28 40

-

477 493 512 480

All numbers per year end conference report.

Number of Different Children Served in Kidstop 2016 2015 2014 2013

-

60 49 42 35

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First

“Beyond the Building – Believing in the Future” Our First United Methodist Church location on 12th and Spring has served as a multi-generational church home for people to meet and experience God since 1871. However, our physical address is much more than just a locale. It is a place of hope, love, and encouragement in the heart of Sioux Falls. It is also a downtown landmark, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ to the community. Built in 1913 to accommodate growth of the church, the building has since undergone many additions and remodels alongside transitions within the church.

The building is as much of a representation of our historical legacy as it is a testament to First United Methodist Church’s faith journey.

This spring we will embark on a $1.2 million capital campaign to address necessary infrastructure updates to the aging building, enhancing the functionality of the space, and improving the church’s ability to grow in ministry and capacity. The capital improvements have been designed to assist in the implementation and execution of our 2014 adopted prescriptions: 1. Churchwide Missional Alignment 2. “Door to Core” System: Newcomer Readiness 3. Worship Excellence 4. Reaching Our “Next Generation” Mission Field 5. “We Love Our Neighbors” Missional Partnership With these as our guide, this renovation is mission-driven; moving the church forward and directly impacting First United Methodist Church’s ability to effectively minister to all who come to its doors. Right now, it is relatively easy for newcomers and existing members to be distracted by outdated rooms, inconsistent temperatures, and technology issues. By removing these distractions, all who enter the building will be welcomed to focus on building and strengthening their relationship with God and fellowship with one another.

In addition to making the time spent here more focused, the updates are an investment in the future of the building and membership.

This physical space matters. Church walls reverberate the music of ministry. The rooms are facilitators of worship. The halls convene disciples of Jesus. And the building is a source of comfort and prayer for members and visitors alike. We are now called to invest in the space we call our church home and to preserve our mission for generations to come.

Our “Beyond the Building – Believing in The Future” fundraising campaign kicks off April 23. Over the coming weeks, you will have an opportunity to learn about the project and how you can contribute to the campaign in a meaningful way.

As a congregation, the prescriptions remind us that we must continuously acknowledge and respond to changes in our congregation and community to effectively continue our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. And just as we have done time and time again, the congregation must now respond to the church’s next life cycle.

Sincerely with the Grace of God, Jen Larsen, Tom and Becky Stritecky Campaign Co-Chairs 10

Where Did I See Jesus?

“We have called… …out to the God of Israel, “Oh,what you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.

And God granted his request.” ~ Chronicles 4:10

We are seeing God move as we are making a difference in our neighborhood.

Individually pray that God will also enlarge your territory and guide you into the direction and path you will take as we become a sanctuary of hope, love and encouragement in the heart of Sioux Falls!

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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

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