If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jayna McFarland in the church office, 785-233-8100, or by email. Jayna's office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

As I attend church this August, it is exciting to see new faces, as well as friends I have known for years! I continue to feel the blessings of God as I read the news of our committees here at Topeka First UMC. May we all look forward to continued fellowship with our church family and connect more deeply with our Lord. 

Our committees and teams have been busy continuing the work of Topeka First UMC to Connect, Grow, and Serve! Please use this link to read the August Quarterly report on the successes of the spring/summer programming, and upcoming activities during the fall. Please pray and consider ways you could help out. 

Any specific questions/suggestions concerning a committee should be directed to the person listed after the committee. If you have any questions or suggestions about the Quarterly report, please let me know.

Our last Senior Summer Caravan will take us to Aldersgate Village TOMORROW, August 31st, where we will tour the Independent Living and the Rehab Unit. A complimentary lunch will follow in the dining area. Please meet in the main lobby of Manchester Lodge (there is a flag pole outside) at 11 a.m. We will plan to be done by 1 p.m. There will not be a sales pitch. This is just a time to look around and gain information. If you need a ride from the church to Aldersgate, please share that when registering. You may register online on our Church Connection Portal.

Please join us and invite a friend to Sunday School Safari Open House on Sunday, September 10 and 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. This isn't just for our current Sunday School families--everyone is encouraged to come see what is going on in Children's Discipleship at Topeka First United Methodist Church!

You will be welcomed into the Children's Discipleship Area by special Safari Guides to have a better understanding of the program and its needs and to have opportunities to connect with the children of the church.

Love and Logic is a commonsense approach 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 and learn how to take some of the power struggle out of parenting using the Love and Logic Way.

Erin Corbin, a school counselor, will facilitate the eight Wednesday evening sessions: October 4,11,18, November 1,8,15, 29 and December 6. Childcare for Kindergarten and younger is available upon request. Registration is due by September 27th or until class limit of 12 is reached. The cost of the workbook is a gift from the church. You may register on our Church Connection Portal.

Financial Peace University is all about helping folks get the most out of their money, regardless of income or other demographics. As God has given us a responsibility over a portion of His resources, our money management is the part we have the most control over. Mitchell Fick will facilitate FPU this fall for nine Wednesday evenings, beginning next Wednesday, September 6th, 6-7:30 p.m. The class costs $89, which includes a Membership Kit containing many resources that will be used during the class. A sample is available at the front desk. Please register for FPU on our Church Connection Portal.

For more information about the class, you may contact Tiwana Whitten, Director of Connections. Childcare/programming is available by request for children 5 years and younger.  Registration ends September 1st.

The heart of faith rests in our personal relationship with God. We develop that relationship over time through study, prayer, and sharing faith stories with one another. Spiritual growth is for all ages and gives us the opportunity to discover who we are becoming as people of faith. Join others and invest in your relationship with God by joining a small group on Sunday morning. Our Sunday morning classes generally meet at 9:30 a.m., September through May. Join us on September 10th as we kick off the new school year!

 

Are you interested in an 11 a.m. Sunday class?

Come to a short meeting on September 10th at 10:30 a.m. in the Hearth Room for any 9:30 worshipers who are interested in beginning an adult small group during the 11 a.m.-12 p.m. time frame.

There are two opportunities for you to help us, as a church, fulfill our commitment to serve the children and families of State Street Elementary School. First, we are getting close to the start of our WAFFLE program for the 2017/2018 school year and  at least 2 more volunteers are needed to complete our team . More volunteers would be VERY welcome. We really don't want to turn any families away from this program. Just  one hour  of your time on Late Start Fridays is needed. We start Friday, September 8th.  Check out the video in this link to find out just what we do at WAFFLE. Please contact Jaena Greenwood at 785-220-8796 to learn more or get involved.  

The second opportunity is becoming a Lunch Buddy. Chris Stewart from The Bridge shared information at all three services last week. If you are wanting to get involved at State Street, this is also a great opportunity. This program asks for just  30 minutes of your time one day a week  to meet with, and have lunch with, a child at State Street. Take a look at the video in this link for more information. You can also contact Christ Stewart at 785-215-7735.

Great News! The bells have retuned from being refurbished and they are shiny and ready to ring this fall. Have you,your child, or your youth ever thought that it might be fun to try ringing those shiny bells on a Sunday morning? If so--or if you would like to know more about it--please contact Sharon Fick at 785-845-0366 or  send her an email.

Openings are available now for new ringers. Previous instrumental experience is always helpful, but not required. I would like to start a children's choir again for those in 3rd grade and above. Children's rehearsals would be on Wednesday evenings, but the time is still being determined. We need at least six children to have a successful choir. They must be capable of standing and paying attention for one hour in order to participate. The fall commitment for children is September though the children's pageant in December. Youth 6th grade through high school rehearse at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings. There is a beginning adult bell choir on Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. and an advanced bell choir on Thursday evenings at 6-7:30 p.m. For more information contact Sharon Fick.

Soon we will settle into the fall semester into with adult classes and children's Christmas pageant practices on Wednesday evenings. As part of this, we would like to offer meals as a time of fellowship and a respite from the hustle to eat before attending classes or practice. 

Volunteers are needed to help prepare and serve a Wednesday night dinner each week this fall. This can be done as an individual, a family, small group, or as a class. You can choose the menu or ask Michael Turner for ideas. The menu can be as elaborate as meatloaf and mashed potatoes to as simple as chili dogs with a salad bar. This opportunity to be in service to each other takes a small time commitment, but goes far toward building community. Contact Allison Brewer or Michael Turner to learn more. We will start with a dinner on September 27th to kick off the new season of classes, and plan to have pageant practice and most adult offerings beginning October 4th. Dinners will begin at 5:30 p.m., with church activities beginning at 6 p.m.

If you can volunteer to either cook a meal for our Wednesday Night Dinners, or you can arrange for a catered meal, please sign up on our website. Volunteers will not be responsible for the cost of the meal--talk to Allison about options for covering the expenses.