We mean it when we say, “Everyone is Welcome here!”

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at First Congregational United Church of Christ.

At First Church we believe that all people are created in God’s image and thus are loved and blessed equally. We believe that we should “Love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and Love our neighbor as ourselves.” (Luke 10:25-28 NIV)

​We welcome persons of every gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ability, age, race, nationality, economic and social status, faith background, marital standing and family structure.

​At First Church, all people are encouraged to participate and share their talents and energy in worship and sacraments, leadership positions, lay ministry, learning, service, mission and fellowship.

​Come and visit us. You’re welcome at First Congregational United Church of Christ.

October 2026 Soup Potluck

November 11 – 17 , 2026

This Week @ First Church

Wednesday November 11

Mindful Meditation – 6 p.m.

Come every Wednesday evening and leave the troubles of the world outside as you spend an hour in meditation. Enter the church through the Delaware Street entrance.

Friday November 13 – 7:30 p.m

Narcotics Anonymous Meeting

Enter the church through the alley parking lot entrance.

Sunday November 15

Worship Service – 10 a.m.

Worship Service In-Person and on Facebook

SERMON “Risky Business” by Tom Seeberger Based on Matthew 25:14-30


Notes for Matthew 25:14-30

Our gospel reading is from Matthew 25:14-30 and it is the Parable of the Talents / or the Parable of the Parable of the Bags of Gold. This parable was shared with the Disciples during Passion Week. Jesus has just finished confronting the religious leaders in the Temples and he has predicted its’ destruction. The Disciples are wanting to know more about Jesus second coming. “What will it be like? How will we know?” Jesus is warning his followers that no one knows the exact time of his return. Because he will be gone for an extended period. The core message to this parable is how to wait watchfully—not by standing idle, but by taking risks to actively and faithfully do the work of the kingdom.

Matthew 25:14-30

14  “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them.  15  To one he gave five bags
of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, [a]  each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.  16  The man who had received
five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more.  17  So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two
more.  18  But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.


19  “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20  The man who had received five bags of gold
brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

21  “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

22  “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’

23  “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many
things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24  “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  25  So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’

26  “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered
seed?  27  Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with
interest.

28  “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags.  29  For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an
abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.  30  And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

HYMNS

“How Great Is Our God”

“GOD OF GRACE AND GOD OF GLORY”

“THEY WILL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS BY OUR LOVE”

.Sunday School – 10 a.m.

Sunday School – 10 a.m.

Confirmation Class – 11 a.m

Monday November 16

Narcotics Anonymous Meeting – 8 p.m

Enter the church through the alley parking lot entrance.

Tuesday November 17

7 p.m Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting

Enter the church through the alley parking lot entrance.


We’re in the process of setting up our new website and will be adding more material in the coming weeks

Join us every Sunday at 10 a.m. in person at 100 1st NE Mason City, IA. 50401 or online at Facebook.