First Lutheran Church gathers on the north side of Sioux City, Iowa as an ELCA congregation that has worshipped and served in the neighborhood for more than 150 years. Founded in 1872, the congregation centers its life around liturgy, Word and Sacrament, and a love of singing, praying, and praising together. Each Sunday at 10:00 AM, members and visitors fill the sanctuary at 3939 Cheyenne Boulevard, while a Wednesday morning food pantry and a Monday quilting ministry extend the church's reach into the wider community.
A 150-Year Congregation on the North Side
First Lutheran Church was founded in 1872 and continues to serve Lutherans and neighbors on the north side of Sioux City. The congregation belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and describes itself as a welcoming community that worships and serves the God it loves. More than 150 years after its founding, the congregation continues to mark and celebrate its long history in the neighborhood.
Liturgical worship, music, and prayer are at the heart of who First Lutheran is. Pastor Scott Egbers leads the congregation, and the church loves "worship, creative and varied liturgical styles and a traditional focus on Word and Sacrament which grounds our worship in thanks and praise to God." Members who enjoy singing find a place here, as do those who want to grow in prayer and study.
Worship Rooted in Liturgy and Word and Sacrament
Sunday worship at First Lutheran is centered in the liturgical traditions of the Christian Church and the worship heritage of the congregation. The service draws people who appreciate a structured, sacramental pattern and who want to sing, pray, and hear the Word read and preached.
Beyond the Sunday gathering, the church holds mid-week worship during Advent and Lent, and the sanctuary is used for funerals and special events. Music is treated as an important part of congregational life, and the church regularly invites singers and instrumentalists to share their gifts during worship. Choir members sometimes serve as the communion cantor, and instrumentalists practice pieces to share during services.
Four Ways to Join Sunday Worship
First Lutheran offers four ways to take part in its 10:00 AM Sunday service each week. Members and visitors can worship in person, watch a Facebook livestream that begins at 10:00 AM Central time, tune in through a radio broadcast, or catch the recording later on YouTube.
Those who would like to sponsor a Sunday livestream broadcast can make a gift in any amount up to $100 by contacting the church office. The Sunday bulletin, the monthly worship leadership schedule, and a newsletter called "The First Word" keep the congregation informed week to week, and a recent broadcast upgrade known as Amplify the Good News is helping improve the sound system that carries services to listeners near and far.
Holy Family Food Pantry
The Holy Family Food Pantry is one of the most visible expressions of First Lutheran's call to serve. Volunteers distribute groceries through a drive-through setup on Wednesday mornings from 9:00 to 11:30 AM. Helpers meet visitors at the entrance to the church building to assist in selecting items and gather contact information before handing out a bag of groceries twice a month, every other week.
The pantry reflects a broader pattern of hands-on outreach at First Lutheran. The congregation also participates in the annual ELCA "God's Work. Our Hands." day of service, supports ELCA Good Gifts, and contributes to Lutheran Disaster Response. Members can also designate their financial gifts specifically to the food pantry fund.
Faith Formation at Every Age
Faith formation at First Lutheran stretches from childhood through adulthood. The church runs an Adult Bible Study that meets on Thursday afternoons at 1:00 PM in the Fireside Room. Recent studies have walked through the book of James.
Children's ministry and a confirmation program walk young people through the basics of the Christian faith. High school youth have opportunities to grow together, including trips with other youth from the synod to the ELCA Youth Gathering, where thousands of young Lutherans gather to learn, worship, and serve. First Lutheran's high schoolers have funded those trips in part through a recycling project that collects empty cans from the congregation, turning everyday waste into travel money for ministry.
The congregation also welcomes seekers who want to explore what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Pastor Scott invites anyone curious about the Christian faith, baptism, confirmation, or membership to join conversations designed for inquirers of every background.
Hands-On Service and Quilting
On Monday mornings at 9:00 AM, quilters gather at First Lutheran to stitch together pieces that go on to support ministries near and far. Anyone interested in joining the quilting ministry can contact the church office to learn more.
The congregation also opens its building to non-profit groups that need meeting space, and members regularly volunteer with the food pantry, choir, greeters, and other roles. An annual picnic and fellowship gatherings like the Mary's Circle Christmas Gathering bring members together outside of worship. Generosity initiatives invite members and friends to consider giving time, talent, and financial gifts to support the church's ministries, with prompts as simple as greeting an online worshipper, painting a room at the church, or picking up a hammer for a repair project.
Generosity that Funds the Mission
First Lutheran's online giving runs through a program called Simply Giving, with gifts drawn directly from a donor's bank account; credit card giving is not offered. Members can direct their gifts to several funds, including the General Fund, a sound system upgrade called Amplify the Good News, the synod and ELCA benevolence, the Food Pantry, the radio and livestream broadcasts, the youth fund, the memorial fund, or the endowment fund. Donors can choose to give once, weekly, or monthly, and may include a small contribution to cover processing costs.