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News From
December 20, 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
12 p.m. each Tuesday.
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Coming Up Soon:
- 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
- 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
- Sunday, December 24: Fourth Sunday of Advent (morning) and Christmas Eve (night)
- 10:00 a.m. Combined Worship Service (different from Christmas Eve worship), Sanctuary
- 5:00 p.m. Family Praise and Worship Christmas Eve Service, Sanctuary
- 10:30 p.m. Sacred Music Concert, Sanctuary
- 11:00 p.m. Stories and Carols Christmas Eve Service, Santuary
- Monday, December 25: Christmas Day
- Tuesday, December 26
- Wednesday, December 27
- 11:30 a.m. Community Lunch (Church Staff Serving), Celebration Room
- Sunday, December 31
- 8:15 a.m. Arise Worship Service, Chapel
- 9:00 a.m. Coffee Connection, Celebration Room
- 9:30 a.m.
- Children's Sunday School, 2nd Floor Children's Area
- 9-3-0 Worship Service. Chapel
- 10:30 a.m. Coffee Connection, Celebration Room
- 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship Service, Sanctuary
- Monday, January 1: New Year's Day
- Tuesday, January 2
- 9:00 a.m. Quilting Group, Rm L35
- Wednesday, January 3
- 10:30 a.m. UMW Board Meeting, Rm L35
- 12:00 p.m. UMW Luncheon, Fellowship Hall
- 5:00 p.m. Praise Team Practice, Chapel
- 6:00 p.m. New Vibrations Bell Choir, Rm L17
- Thursday, January 4
- 6:00 p.m. Rhapsody Ringers Bell Choir, Rm L17
- 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir, Rm L18
- Friday, January 5
- 8:00 a.m. WAFFLE, State Street Elementary
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Holiday Church Office Hours
The church office will be closed on December 25th and 26th in observance Christmas, and January 1st for New Year's Day. The church office is normally 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:
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End of Year Newsletter Submissions
The church office will be closed on Monday, December 25th and Tuesday, December 26th, which limits the time for preparing a newsletter.
This means new submissions for our weekly newsletter will not be published until January 3rd. Announcements for the bulletin will be published as space and time allows on December 31st. We will resume our normal publishing schedule after the first of the year.
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 In Worship This Week:
Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve
Sunday Morning Worship: Fourth Sunday of Advent (It's not Christmas Eve yet!)
For weeks we have been waiting and preparing for the coming Christ...but the waiting continues. In this final worship experience before we celebrate Christ's birth,
we will gather in the Sanctuary for one combined worship service at 10 a.m.
Come back that evening to embrace the joy we have all been waiting for-the birth of Christ.
Scripture:
Luke 2:1-7
Message:
Carols of Christmas: Away in a Manger
Christmas Eve Night: Worship by Candlelight
The longing in our hearts for forgiveness, salvation, and a new beginning is answered with the birth of Jesus Christ. Celebrate this precious gift through story and song at one of our worship services. Join us in the Celebration Room for refreshments in-between services.
- 5:00 p.m. Family Praise and Worship, featuring special music from our children and Praise Team
- 10:30 p.m. Concert of Sacred Music
- 11:00 p.m. Stories and Carols with Choir and Bells
Scripture:
Luke 2:1-20
Message:
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
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Click to learn more about Wednesday Night Dinners |
Wednesday Night Dinners
Join us for an intergenerational fellowship opportunity every Wednesday evening in Fellowship Hall. Adults and families attending Wednesday night classes gather from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. for supper. Dinner prices have dropped for the Winter Session to $6 per adult and $4 per child, with a $20 maximum for families. Please, make a reservation online or by letting Allison Brewer know by Sunday each week so we can be certain to have enough food for the group.
If your Sunday School class, church group, or family would be able to help prepare a meal, please contact Allison Brewer, Director of Children's Discipleship. The menu is already planned. You can choose to help cook, set up, and/or clean up. Learn more on our website.
Menu for January:
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 Consider Altar Flowers for Your Special Sunday
As you look ahead at your 2018, perhaps you have a special day you would like to recognize at church. You may do this by sponsoring altar flowers in memory or in honor of a loved one on the Sunday nearest your special day. Bouquets are $50 each, and you may sponsor one or both bouquets. The money is applied to our mission fund. After worship, you may take your flowers home or give them to the church. Sundays fill up quickly, so stop by the front desk to save your date.
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 Stories for the Journey
Before it was a mobile app, a book, or a scroll, the story of God's people was just that: a story. The immense, vibrant story of God working in the lives of God's people was shared from person to person, from one generation to the next. Now screens have replaced camp fires, and we consume stories rather than tell our own. By telling our stories, Topeka First United Methodist can deepen our connections with God and each other, and grow as a community with a shared history. Beginning January 10th, Scott Brewer and Michael Turner will lead an eight-week class on how to become a better storyteller, with a focus on telling the stories of God at work in our lives. We'll then have an opportunity to share those stories with the congregation in worship through Lent. But if the thought of telling your story in worship seems like too much, becoming a better storyteller can help build relationships with friends and family. So there's still a place for you in this class.
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Touchpoint Wednesdays
Gather with our Touchpoint group for fellowship and spiritual growth on Wednesday nights, 6:15-7:15 p.m. in Room L16. Topics and studies will be stand-alone each week, so you won't fall behind if you miss a class. Mike Morris will begin by leading four weeks using FaithLink, which connect faith to the issues and events making headlines. We hope you will choose to join us each Wednesday, but if time demands are elsewhere, come back the next week!
Please register on the Church Connection Portal.
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 Parenting the Love and Logic Way
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. Please note, Love and Logic begins at 5:30 p.m., while our other Wednesday night offerings begin at 6 p.m. 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 in 2018
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Pillowcase Project
Topeka Rescue Mission was in need of 200 special pillow cases. Since time was short, they asked if our quilting group might be able to make 10 or 12. With the help of nine volunteers, our church was able to deliver 100! Many thanks to the people who stepped in at the last minute to help with this project.
There are more to be completed after Christmas. If you'd like to help,
email Sharron Randol or call her at 316-734-3122.
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Year End Financials
If you have gifts you would like to have credited to the 2017 tax year, the church office will be open the last week of the year on Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Since Jan 31st falls on Sunday, all gifts given on Sunday morning will be credited to 2017 and will be deposited to the bank on Tuesday, Jan 2, 2018. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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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. You may bring your donations to the Celebration Room.
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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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 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. Register on our Church Connection Portal.
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Youth Info. for Sunday, December 24:
- One worship service at 10 a.m. in Sanctuary
- No Youth Sunday School
- 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship in Sanctuary
- 11 p.m. Candlelight Service
Remember--Alaska mission trip deposits are due on or before January 7th. We will have several more fundraisers to help those attending raise money for this wonderful opportunity. Flight tickets have been purchased, and a mailing will go out again over the next couple of weeks. Fairbanks here we come....
It was so exciting to see so many of our college students come find the new youth room last Sunday. We love to see you and hear how college life is going. We have open arms for you, so don't hesitate to stop by over your Christmas Break. Merry Christmas.
Youth had a Christmas party last Sunday, which included making tree decorations, a 60 second snowball fight, punch, Christmas treats, and finishing up their Advent Study. It was wonderful. No idea how punch ended up on one of our youth...it was good Christmas punch too. Feliz Navidad!
Youth took a break from studying for finals and cyber bowled Sunday night. The strike/spare prize box was used a lot, and we had a guest bowler, Pastor Jeff, who joined in the fun and fellowship.
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