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News From
December 13, 2017
For the good of the city
... Jeremiah 29:7
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Church Office:
785-233-8100
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Give to Topeka First UMC
by text!
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Church Activity Communications Request
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Do you have information about a church activity you'd like to share? The deadline to submit an article for church publications is
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Coming Up Soon:
- Wednesday, December 13
- 12:00 p.m. Hannah UMW Circle, Rm 101
- 1:00 p.m. Naomi Ruth UMW Circle, Hearth Room
- 5:00 p.m. Praise Team Practice, Chapel
- 6:00 p.m.
- New Vibrations Bell Choir, Rm L17
- Quilting Group, Rm L 35
- 7:00 p.m. Venture Crew Meeting, Rm L37
- Thursday, December 14
- 1:30 p.m. Shepherd's Center Line Dancing, Fellowship Hall
- 6:00 p.m. Rhapsody Ringers Bell Choir, Rm L17
- 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Practice, Sanctuary
- Friday, December 15
- 8:00 a.m. WAFFLE, State Street Elementary
- Sunday, December 17
- 8:15 a.m. Arise Worship Service, Chapel
- 9:00 a.m.
- Coffee Connection, Celebration Room
- Equal Exchange Sale, Celebration Room
- 9:30 a.m.
- 9-3-0 Worship Service, Chapel
- Sunday School for All Ages
- 10:30 a.m.
- Coffee Connection, Celebration Room
- Equal Exchange Sale, Celebration Room
- 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship Service, Sanctuary
- Tuesday, December 19
- 9:00 a.m. Quilting Group, Rm L35
- 10:30 a.m. Phase 2 Meeting, Rm 106
- 7:00 p.m. Stephen Ministry Meeting, Hearth Room
- Wednesday, December 20
- 11:30 a.m. Senior Adults Nickel-A-Cup, McFarland's Restaurant
- 5:00 p.m. Praise Team Practice, Chapel
- 6:00 p.m.
- New Vibrations Bell Choir, Rm L17
- Quilting Workshop, Rm L35
- Thursday, December 21
- 11:30 a.m. Senior Adults Nickel-A-Cup
- 6:00 p.m. Rhapsody Ringers Bell Choir, Rm L17
- 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Practice, Rm L18
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Church Office Hours
The church office is open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
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 Prayer Covenant Churches
The Topeka District of the Great Plains Conference has arranged a covenant calendar to ensure all churches in our connection are held in prayer by the others. We will pray for a different church each week. Check this newsletter for our next prayer covenant church, and join us in prayer for them as another church joins in prayer for us.
Prayer Covenant Church for the week:
Camp Creek-Lancaster UMC
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 Thanks for Your Support
Your unanimous recommendation of my candidacy at last Sunday's church conference means more to me than a form to check off as complete. I'm still searching for how to describe the emotions: to say I feel grateful, honored, humbled and loved are all true, but also seem to fall short. It's one thing to know in your own heart and mind where you think God is leading you; it's another to have a few people close to you see it as well. Now to have this community of faith offer their support is truly a blessing.
There is much that lies ahead; and two realities keep me rooted. The first is this is only one step in this process. I am scheduled to interview with the Topeka District Committee on Ministry February 2. My request to them will be to seek approval as a certified candidate for ministry, and be approved for licensing as a local pastor. While that completes the candidacy process, in many ways this journey is just beginning.
Finally, in the back of my mind throughout these last two years of discernment is the reality this process will inevitably bring the day when my path leads out of Topeka First. But until we reach that fork in the road, I'm excited to continue together this journey as we celebrate God's presence with us, and answer the call to serve Him for the good of the city.
Michael Turner
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 Phase 2 Caroling
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In Worship This Week: Big Music Sunday!
Experience the joy of the season with special music selections at 8:15 a.m. in the
Chapel and 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary!
Scripture:
Message:
Carols of Christmas: Joy to the World
Rev. Jeff Clinger, Lead Pastor
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 Parenting the Love and Logic Way
This Spring
Love and Logic is a commonsense approach to parenting that teaches parents skills to cultivate confidence and good decision-making in children by offering choices, empathy, and respect while adults avoid anger, threats, warnings or lectures. Love and Logic is easy to learn and can be put to use right away; it changes lives and raises responsible children. Come learn how to take some of the power struggle out of parenting using the Love and Logic Way.
Erin Corbin, a school counselor in USD 345, will facilitate the seven evening sessions; January 10th -February 21st. Childcare for 3 years and younger is available upon request. Children 4 years-6th grade will be part of the children's programming for the evening. Registration is due by January 7th, or until the class limit of 12 is reached. The cost of the workbook is a free gift from the church. You may register on our Church Connection Portal.
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 Financial Peace University this Spring
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 December Missions Collection: Doorstep
Each December, Doorstep depends on Topeka First UMC to provide volunteers for their store and gifts for those they serve. Please join us in collecting household goods, new clothing, toys, and hygiene items for our neighbors in need.
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Cookies for Christmas Eve
Each Christmas Eve, we offer hospitality and cheer by providing refreshments after our 5 p.m. service and before our 11 p.m. service. Would you consider providing a batch or two of Christmas cookies to serve on Christmas Eve?
Email Tiwana if you can help.
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 Deliver Poinsettias to our Homebound Members
At Christmastime, our Sanctuary and Chapel are adorned with beautiful poinsettias, which are placed in honor or in memory of a loved one. Some who donate poinsettias choose to have their plants given to members of our church family who are homebound or hospitalized. This year, we have a larger number of homebound members than we have in the past, and we need more volunteers to share the hope of Christ with them through a quick visit to deliver a poinsettia. If you are available to deliver a poinsettia or two,
please contact Sandy Vogel, Pastor of Congregational Care.
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Wednesday Nights with Children's Discipleship
Volunteers are needed to help kids discover their strength in God during fun and meaningful lessons each Wednesday night. Adults are invited to be Hero Guides who help support children throughout the hour, or Hero Trainers who plan a 30 minute lesson in Art, Music, Science, Games, or in learning more about the heroes from the Bible. Volunteers can commit to as little as one week, to being involved every week. The winter session begins January 10th. Please contact Allison to learn more about how you can be a part of Wednesday nights.
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 Choose Equal Exchange for Holiday Entertaining and Gift Giving
As you are cooking, baking, and entertaining guests this season, stock your pantry with Equal Exchange products. From gourmet coffees and teas to high-quality baking cocoa and chocolate chips, Equal Exchange can enhance your favorite meals and decadent desserts.
A bag of mini chocolate bars would make a fun stocking-stuffer, or a full-size chocolate bar in caramel, orange, mint, or almond makes a sweet treat for a friend. Our bottles of olive oil make excellent hostess gifts! Coffee lovers would enjoy a bag of whole beans or grounds in one of our hand made gift bags.
When all that holiday entertaining is done, perhaps you'd like to settle down with a cup of dark hot chocolate or milky hot cocoa.
Equal Exchange products are certified fair trade and organic, supporting small-scale farmers in developing countries. This is a mission supported by UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) and several other denominations. You can purchase them in the Celebration Room in-between services this Sunday at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., or see Jayna in the church office between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. every Monday-Thursday. Cash, checks, and debit/credit cards are accepted.
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 Children Invited to Sing on Christmas Eve
All 4-year-olds through 6th graders are invited to be a part of the beginning of the 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Family Praise & Worship service. We will join the Praise Band as they sing "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." The kids' role is to sing with great joy, "Hear the angels sing." Practice for it is important, but will be very short.
Our only rehearsal time will be on Sunday, December 17, after the 9:30 a.m. service. We'd like all of the children who are interested to
meet us in the Chapel 10:30-10:45 a.m.
We will meet in the Celebration Room at
4:40 p.m. on Christmas Eve
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If you have questions, contact Dorothy Iliff. No RSVP is needed.
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 Winter Break Movie Meet Up
December 21st Matinee
People of all ages are invited to join Children's Discipleship at the movies on
Thursday, December 21st
. We hope to the see "The Star," an animated movie about the Christmas Story told from a unique perspective. We will meet at Regal Cinemas Hollywood 14 (6200 SW 6th Ave).
T
he church will provide tickets for children who have registered by Monday, December 18th, and adults can purchase discounted tickets through Allison if we meet a minimum of 25 registrations.
Email Allison Brewer to register or ask questions. Allison will send registrants an email with details on the movie as soon as they become available.
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Many beautiful and warm cold weather items have started to decorate our Mitten Tree.
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It's Time to Decorate the Mitten Tree
Each year, we encourage our children to bring new
hats, scarves, mittens and gloves of all colors and sizes to decorate the Christmas Tree in our Children's Discovery Center (the children's library on the 2nd floor). These donations can be hung on the tree on their way to or from Sunday School. It's such fun for the children to see how many items they can collect, and it teaches them about the joy of giving to others. These items will be shared with area elementary schools.
So far, we have collected 48 hats, 14 scarves, and 17 pairs of mittens!
Thank you for your contributions. Many children will feel your warmth this winter.
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 Discover Your Strength In God on Wednesday Nights
Calling all heroes-in-training! Children aged 3 through 6th graders are invited to join us on Wednesday nights, starting January 10th. We will Connect with a meal, Grow through exciting lessons with Cokesbury's Hero Central including stories, art, music, games, and more, and learn to be a hero who is equipped to Serve others. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Programming will begin at 6:15 in the Chapel and will continue upstairs for opportunities to learn and grow. Classes will be offered for adults from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m.; watch the newsletter and website for more details. Parent volunteers are also welcome. See Allison if you would be willing to help. The Nursery will be open for the youngest heroes in training.
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Family Advent Workshop Thanks
Families celebrated the first week of Advent at church with dinner, a retelling of the Christmas story, and nativity cookie decorating. Special thanks to Cindy Naeger for planning the activity, to many cookie bakers, to Dorothy Iliff for leading songs that night, and to the Children's Discipleship Team for helping that night. Thank you, also, to the adults who provided a living nativity to accompany the telling of the story.
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YOUTH EVENTS for Sunday, December 17th
- 9 :15 a.m. It's a Youth Christmas Party in Youth Rooms
- 9:45 a.m. Advent Study continues
- 9:00 p.m. Youth Christ n Bowl at Gage Bowl. Bring $10, friends are welcome. One large drink is provided, and the strike/spare box will be back. This event will be over by 11 p.m.
Let's go to the movies....Watch for more info to come on a movie, December 31st in the afternoon, at the movie theater.
Yesterday, youth packed up their adopt-a-family items and loaded them up to be delivered. Tis the season of giving.
Youth enjoy game night. Our devotion was on joy--it's true meaning and how you acquire it. Queso was on the menu, and youth played many games of spoons using candy canes.
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