FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 401 S. Spring Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104 OFFICE PHONE: 605-336-3652 WEBSITE: www.sfumc.org
May 2015
The Media is produced monthly by First United Methodist Church, Sioux Falls, S.D. A sanctuary of Christian hope, love and encouragement in the heart of Sioux Falls.
Transitions Pittsburg Pirates baseball great Willie Stargell said, “Life is one big transition!” The month of May is a season of transitions with graduations, weddings, spring to summer like weather! Likewise, Easter is a season of transition in the life of the church. Easter represents the greatest transition of all--the gift of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead to new life for all.
Will Archer
We will have our own transitions here at First UMC. Will Archer has been the captain of the Sunday Morning Men’s Breakfast ministry for over 23 years. Will has decided that it is time for him to retire from this ministry and pass the baton to others. So on Sunday, May 17, we will be celebrating Will Archer and his leadership of the Sunday Morning Breakfast. In addition, per Will’s request, we will recognize over 55 other men who have over the years participated and served on the Sunday Morning Breakfast crew. Please come and share your word of thanks and gratitude. We will have a short program after the 9:15 worship service. Our MCCI prescription invited us to consider moving the Sunday morning breakfast, but for now the Worship Impact Team will be recommending
and proposing to the congregation that we indeed continue our Sunday Morning Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall. This leads to the next transition conversation. Our Worship Impact Team (Prescription 2 of our MCCI document) has met over the last month and half thinking through our Sunday morning schedule. We have been prayerfully considering how we might enhance our vision and ministry here at Sioux Falls First UMC through our Sunday morning worship schedule. The team has made the following schedule proposal that we would possibly begin with this fall. We have shared this proposal with the Next Generations Prescription 3 team, the music groups, and to the church council. We now want to share it church-wide so we can prayerfully discern as the body of Christ if this is God’s preferred future for our church. The Worship Impact Team proposes the following worship schedule: • 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary • 9:45 a.m. New Format Worship including traditional/ contemporary in the Sanctuary • 11:00 a.m. Modern Worship in the Fellowship Hall In addition, we will offer worship services on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. Our Sunday evening worship
PASTOR BOB RUEDEBUSCH Senior Pastor First United Methodist Church
already exists as an off campus worship service. We believe this schedule and the various styles of worship will help us continue to offer the best options for helping persons experience God in our midst. Look for times and places where you can share your questions and thoughts about this new proposal. This proposal is not the final one, but one where the team covets your general thoughts and reflections. Lastly, enclosed is a letter from Pastor Sara sharing with us that the Cabinet has invited her to be the new pastor at Flame of Faith United Methodist Church in West Fargo, ND. This is a tremendous opportunity for Sara to share her marvelous gifts and abilities with a church community. We celebrate with Sara, Kyle and Teddy! Transitions are emotional moments of walking through changes. However, as followers of Jesus we know that Jesus walks with us. As in Easter, Jesus helps us in the transitions of life. Jesus listens and always provides in the midst of transitions of life. So let us walk closely with Jesus who always sees us through! The church office will be closed on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day.