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News From
Topeka  First 

October 11, 2017

For the good of the city
... Jeremiah 29:7

Church Office:
785-233-8100

In This Issue


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Coming Up Soon:  
  • Wednesday, October 11
    • 9:30 a.m. Priscilla UMW Circle, Hearth Room
    • 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
    • 5:15 p.m. 
      • Wednesday Night Dinner, Fellowship Hall
      • Phase 2 Yoga, Rm 212
    • 6:00 p.m. 
      • New Vibrations, Rm L17
      • Christmas Pageant Practice, Sanctuary
      • Boundaries Study, Rm 105
      • Characters of Advent Study, Rm L36
      • Love and Logic Parenting, Rm 106
      • Financial Peace University, Rm 101
      • Basic Quilting Workshop, Rm L35
    • 7:00 p.m. Venture Crew Meeting, Rm L37
  • Thursday, October 12
    • 1:30 p.m. Shepherd's Center Line Dancing, Fellowship Hall
    • 6:00 p.m. Rhapsody Ringers, Rm L17
    • 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Practice, Rm L18
  • Saturday, October 14
    • 7:30 a.m. Men's Group Meeting, Celebration Room
  • Sunday, October 15
    • 8:15 a.m. Arise Worship Service, Chapel
    • 9:00 a.m. Coffee Connection, 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
    • 10:45 a.m. "Creed" Small Group Study, Hearth Room
    • 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship Service
    • 12:00 p.m. Children's Ministry Team Meeting, Rm 106
    • 12:15 p.m. Pizza With The Pastor, Rm 105
    • 5:00 p.m. #Adulting Connect Night, McFarland's Home
  • Tuesday, October 17
    • 9:00 a.m. Quilting Group, Rm L35
    • 7:00 p.m. Stephen Ministry Meeting, Hearth Room
  • Wednesday, October 18
    • 11:30 a.m. Senior Adults' Nickel-A-Cup, McFarland's Restaurant
    • 5:00 p.m. Praise Team Practice, Chapel
    • 5:15 p.m. 
      • Wednesday Night Dinner, Fellowship Hall
      • Phase 2 Yoga, Rm 212
    • 6:00 p.m. 
      • New Vibrations Bell Choir, Rm L17
      • Christmas Pageant Practice, Sanctuary
      • Boundaries Study, Rm 105
      • Characters of Advent Study, Rm L36
      • Love and Logic Parenting, Rm 106
      • Financial Peace University, Rm 101
      • Basic Quilting Workshop, Rm L35
  • Thursday, October 19
    • 11:30 a.m. Senior Adults' Nickel-A-Cup, McFarland's Restaurant
    • 6:00 p.m. Rhapsody Ringers Bell Choir, Rm L17
    • 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Practice, Rm L18

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.

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:
Winchester-New Covenant UMCs
Connect
pepperoni_pizza.jpg Pizza With The Pastor

Interested in learning more about Topeka First United Methodist? Would you enjoy a tour of the church and the opportunity to learn about membership? If so, we invite you to  Pizza with the Pastor this Sunday, October 15th at 12:15 p.m. in Bishop Frank Forum (Room 105). So that we will have enough pizza and materials, please R.S.V.P. on our Church Connection Portal or call Tiwana at the church, 785-233 - 8100, by Friday, October 13th. Childcare is available upon request. 

Connect #Adulting Connect Night

Join us for our next #Adulting Connect Night at the home of Jayna and Justin McFarland (3247 SW Briarwood Dr.) on Sunday, October 15, 5-7 p.m. We'll connect over a potluck dinner, then Greg Fox and Ryan Wills will perform an acoustic concert in the back yard (or in the living room, in the case of bad weather). The McFarlands will provide drinks and a meat main dish. Bring a lawn chair and potluck dish to share. This is an adults' evening out, so please arrange your own child care. 
 
Connect
Wednesday Night Dinners

Join us for dinner TONIGHT at 5:15 p.m.  Before you begin your Wednesday night activity, you can sit down for a relaxing meal. Everyone is welcome!

Please contact Allison if you have any dietary restrictions you need us to consider.

Meals cost $8 per adult and $4 per child (12 years and under), with a maximum cost of $25 per family. Children age two and under are free. 

Please click the links below to R.S.V.P. for each week's dinner:
Phase 2
Phase 2:
A Community of Boomers
Upcoming Phase 2 Activities

Phase 2 Cookout and Hay Rack Ride at Rick and Betty Barkers'
Join us at the Barkers' home (10524 SW Burlingame Rd. in Wakarusa) for classic fall fun! We'll enjoy hot dogs, beans, chips, and s'mores around the camp fire, then take a hay rack ride. We'll provide hot chocolate, and other drinks are on your own. Bring $5 to chip in for dinner. Please sign up on our Church Connection Portal if you'd like to come.

Technology graphic Tech Talk: Accessing People Directory on Your PC/Mac 

Many of you have begun using the Church Life app, but there are also other ways to access directory information. If you are sitting at home surfing the Internet, the directory can be accessed through our website. 

Enter our web address, www.forthegoodofthecity.org, in the address line. Then navigate to the top right corner of the screen to our "Church Connection Portal."

At this point, you should already have an account created. Scroll down to the box that reads "Click here to log into Church Connection Portal." Login in using your email address and password. This will be the same information used for your Church Life app.  This will bring you to a dashboard with a great deal of valuable information.  Tap on Directories. This will allow you to search for a family or an individual. Choose either. Simply type a last name or a first name in the box (both are not necessary) and you will be given a list of people to choose from. Click on the appropriate person's name to view their demographic information.  This could take a couple of seconds to load. 

If you are looking at your own demographic information, you may make changes. Simply click on the pencils beside each category and make the change. If you would like to add additional information such as a business phone, simply click Add and follow the on screen directions.  These changes will not be immediate. They will come through the church office for updating. This could take 24-48 hours depending on church office hours.

If you click on Directories on the menu bar, then Directories again in the drop-down menu you may view the full church directory Online. This can be viewed by family or individual, with or without photos.  Take time to explore and enjoy and if needed update your own personal information.

As always, if you have questions you can call Tina at the church office: 785-233-8100

Grow
Worship


In Worship This Week:

Scripture:
Ephesians 2:1-10

Message:
(re)Forming: Calvin's Reformation
Rev. Jeff Clinger, Lead Pastor

Surviving the Holidays: A 4-Week Grief Support Study

If you have lost a loved one this year, you will face some tough emotions in the coming days. Due to the nature of Thanksgiving and Christmas, with their focus on family, yearly traditions, expectations, social events and "cheer," the emotions can blindside you.

You can lessen the emotional impact by knowing what to expect and being prepared. "Surviving the Holidays" is here to help. 

This support study will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: November 8, 15, 29 and December 6 in Room 101. (We will skip Thanksgiving Week.) A light meal will be served at 5:15 in Fellowship Hall. It will be taught by your Stephen Ministry Leaders--Sandy Vogel, Beth Evans, Mary Lou Auer and Marge Whelpley. To register, please click on the Church Connection Portal.
Men's Ministry Icon Men's Ministry Meeting

All men are invited to the next Topeka First UMC Men's Group meeting on October 14th at 7:30 a.m. in the Celebration Room. Frank Henderson of the Topeka Rescue Mission will be our speaker. Frank will share with us all the programs and services provided in our community. Coffee and donuts will be service.
 
New Sunday Morning Small Group Begins Soon

On October 15th, there will be an opportunity for those attending 9:30 a.m. worship to be a part of a small group.  We will gather in the Hearth Room at 10:45 and begin a six week study of, "Creed, What Christians Believe and Why," by Adam Hamilton. Karla Hedquist will be facilitating the first session. Study books are $7. You may register by going to the Connection Portal. If you have any questions, please contact Tiwana Whitten, Director of Adult Discipleship.
 
Grow Upper Room Disciplines Available

The Upper Room Disciplines for 2018 offers this best-selling book of insightful devotions to help people spend daily time with God. Fifty-three writers from diverse Christian backgrounds encourage us to immerse ourselves in scripture and apply its truths to our lives. Each day of this powerful devotional guide offers a selected Bible reading, a meditation on the scripture passage, and a prayer or suggestion for reflection. The scriptures are drawn from the Revised Common Lectionary. We have limited copies available and you may pick one up at the front desk. Large print copy is $13 and regular print is $12.

Ministry Stephen Ministry: The Gift of Support

All of us experience times in our lives when we need someone to talk to, yet many of us don't ask for this help. Here are the top three reasons why people don't ask for assistance:
  • "I can handle this myself" (and should be able to) 
  • "Other people need help more than I do" 
  • "This, too, shall pass."

Yet one of God's gifts to us is this community of faith which nurtures and transforms us. Stephen Ministers are members of our church whom God has called to listen and give support to those who are hurting, in crisis or in transition. We hope you will accept this gift from God.

 

If you or someone you know would benefit from receiving the gift of having a Stephen Minister, please contact Sandy Vogel, Beth Evans, Mary Lou Auer, or Marge Whelpley.

 
Serve
October Missions Collection Serve

For the month of October, please help us collect men's deodorant and foot powder for Topeka Rescue Mission. You may bring your donations to the Celebration Room.

Ministry Stephen Ministry Training Course

Stephen Ministers offer care and support to persons who are experiencing challenges in their lives. A Stephen Minister is a good listener, has compassion and empathy for others, and has a desire to serve. Stephen Ministers complete 50 hours of training and carry out their work as part of a group that shares a commitment and wants to learn and grow in their ministry skills.

A new training course will take place here at Topeka First UMC on Monday nights (and two Saturday mornings) beginning February 5 and ending April 23. If you have thought about serving in this way, if you suspect God may be calling you to this ministry (or if you know someone who fits this description), please contact one of our Stephen Leaders: Sandy Vogel ,  Beth Evans , Mary Lou Auer , or Marge Whelpley .

If you, or someone you know, could benefit from the caring relationship offered by a Stephen Minister, please contact one of the Stephen Leaders above.
 
Connect Join Our Team for the Rescue Run

Hey Runners/Walkers! For the third year, we are planning to have a church team in the Miracle on Kansas Avenue Rescue Run 5K, held this year on Saturday, November 25, 2017 If you would like to join the church team, click here to visit their website , click on the "Register Here" button, then click on "Register Teammate," then look for "Topeka First United Methodist" on the drop down menu, and use our Team Password "Wesley1". The early-bird entry fee is $20. If you have any questions, e-mail Randall Hodgkinson.

Children
Devotions for Families and Children

Watch for Children's bulletins in church that tie into the Bible story we have during Sunday School.  Additionally, parents can pick up a devotional at the check-in desk that will give their whole family ways to dig deeper into the Bible story that we studied that week.

Youth
Youth
YOUTH EVENTS for Sunday, October 15th
  • 9:15 a.m. Youth Rooms Open, Rooms 102 & 103
  • 9:45 a.m. Sunday Classes Start                                      
    • We have something a little different planned for class this week. You might not want to miss. Meet in the youth rooms to start.
Youth DEVO & GAME Night is Going Strong
The next one is October 24th,6-7:15 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Tt will be Chili/Nacho Night. If you haven't been able to attend yet, don't worry. We realize school activities might not have allowed it yet, but you can come on any game night because each one is different and we read the devotion while we're there so there's no homework needed. Friends are always welcome.

SAVE THE DATE:
  • Sunday, October 29th, Youth BON FIRE & HAYRIDE at the Barkers,5-8 p.m., more info to come....
Thank You
Thank yous go out this week to several people who have helped me: Sandra Rak for her help with Game Night; Dori Murphy for her help with Game Night, pictures, and help with cleaning out the Youth Room Closet along with Cherokee Reiman.

 

Youth
Youth














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