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News From

January 25, 2017

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

Church Office:
785-233-8100

In This Issue


Give to FUMC by text!
Do you have information about a church activity you'd like to share? 

Coming Up Soon:  
  • Wednesday, January 25
    • 5:00 p.m. Praise Team Rehearsal, Chapel
    • 5:15 p.m. Phase 2 Yoga, Rm 210
    • 6:00 p.m. 
      • New Vibrations Rehearsal, Rm L17
      • Disciple Fast Track, Fellowship Hall
  • Thursday, January 26
    • 6:00 p.m. Rhapsody Ringers Rehearsal, Rm L17
    • 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
  • Friday, January 27
    • 8:00 a.m. WAFFLE, State Street Elementary
  • Sunday, January 29
    • 8:00 a.m. Youth Ringers Rehearsal, Rm L17
    • 8:15 a.m. Arise Worship Service, Chapel
    • 9:00 a.m. 
      • Youth Sunday School, Youth Room
      • Coffee Connection, Celebration Room
    • 9:30 a.m. 
      • 9-3-0 Worship Service, Chapel
      • Sunday School for Children and Adults
    • 10:30 a.m. Coffee Connection, Celebration Room
    • 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship Service
    • 12:00 p.m. Youth Sunday Planning, Youth Room
  • Monday, January 30
    • 5:30 p.m. Dying Well Conversation, Celebration Room
  • Tuesday, January 31
    • 9:00 a.m. Quilting Group, Rm L35
  • Wednesday, February 1
    • 10:30 a.m. UMW Board Meeting, Rm L35
    • 12:00 p.m. UMW Luncheon, Fellowship Hall
    • 5:00 p.m. Praise Team Rehearsal, Chapel
    • 5:15 p.m. Phase 2 Yoga, Rm 210
    • 6:00 p.m. 
      • Disciple Fast Track, Fellowship Hall
      • New Vibrations Rehearsal, Rm L17
    • 7:00 p.m. Stephen Ministry Training, Hearth Room
  • Thursday, February 2
    • 8:30 a.m. Senior Coffee & Donuts, Baker's Dozen
    • 6:00 p.m. Rhapsody Ringers Rehearsal, Rm L17
    • 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

In Worship This Week:

Scripture:
John 11:38-44

Message:
Finding Hope: Dying Well
Rev. Jeff Clinger, Lead Pastor

Winter Quarterly Committee Report

First Church had a blessed 2016 and we look forward to where God leads us in 2017. 

Thank you to the 65 members who joined together Sunday afternoon in Fellowship Hall for leadership training. Under Pastor Jeff's leadership, we continued the discussion of First Church's work in loving God and loving our neighbors to GO and make disciples of all nations. Members discussed:
  • What is it about where First Church is now that is exciting?
  • Where is First Church stuck?
  • Where is First Church going? 
  • How do we get there? 
We wrapped up our time together discussing invitational evangelism. My hope is that you know someone who attended, and start a conversation about things we learned. We have issues to address, but I know together, under God's care, we can meet the challenges. Please include the Leadership and Church staff in your prayers. 

Our committees and teams have been busy continuing the work of First Church to connect, grow, and serve! Please use this link to read the January Quarterly report on the successes of the fall/winter programming, and upcoming activities during the spring and Lenten season. 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.

Jill Wolters, Chair, Leadership Council
 
Worship Enhancements and Miracle Sunday Event

If you missed the first informational meeting and video, please click here to view the video.

Please plan to attend an informational meeting on Sunday, February 5 at 9:30 a.m. in Fellowship Hall or 11:00 a.m. in Klasse Chapel  to learn more about this all important effort to maintain our assets, enhance worship and outreach opportunities by moving from analogue to digital, upgrades in equipment, and how gifts can be made. 

For more information, please refer to the two letters you received in the mail, newsletters or contact any of the Miracle Sunday Committee members: Bill Naeger, Bruce Woner, Steve Eubank, Nancy Lewis or Lori Hutchinson.

Miracle Sunday is designed to be a one-time giving event; however, members can customize gifts up to six months and can indicate your intentions on the Giving Card which will be provided to you. Prayerfully consider making the largest part of your total gift on February 19.

Only 24 days until Miracle Sunday and Celebration Catered Lunch at noon.  You may sign up for the lunch in the Celebration Room, at the Front Desk, or by visiting our Member Access page . A free-will offering will be available at the lunch. On February 19, we as First Church will celebrate together and hear the total gifts made to make Worship Enhancements possible.

Changes to Offering Envelopes

Currently, Topeka First UMC mails two different batches of offering envelopes to our members. One batch contains envelopes marked by months, and the other batch contains envelopes marked by weeks. Sending these two different batches adds significant extra expense to our church budget, since neither batch is large enough to take advantage of bulk mail rates. To save money and reduce waste, the church will now only send one type of offering envelope to all members who receive them. All offering envelopes will now be marked by weeks. If you have previously used a monthly envelope, you may use any of the weekly envelopes instead and discard the rest. If you no longer want to receive any offering envelopes, please send an email to Tina Boles, Church Administrator.
 
Dinners for 8 Update

Dinners for 8 or 9 is a small gathering of First Church members and friends. By sharing a meal in a restaurant or in one another's homes you have the opportunity to begin new friendships or deepen your connections. This is an excellent way for those new to our church family to get to know others.  Dinner group assignments will be made in late January and dining groups should begin meeting in February.

There will be three choices for dining:
  • Home Cooking
  • Hallelujah No Cooking
  • Bite of Lunch, for those who don't like to get out in the evening and like taking advantage of lunch specials.
We still need folks in the "Bite of Lunch" and "Hallelujah No Cooking" dining groups. Be adventurous, take a chance to make a new friend and sign up today!  You may  email Tiwana with your choice or pick up a registration this Sunday in the Celebration Room.
 
Phase 2 Activities

Phase 2 was formed by a group of FUMC Baby Boomers in 2015. It was developed recognizing that as we become "empty nesters" and retirees, we want to be engaged in activities that:
  • Are worthwhile
  • Utilize our experience and expertise effectively
  • Offer flexibility in our commitments
  • Build and nurture relationships and friendships
The activities are planned by a small team - Dennis Tietze, Beth Evans, Shelly Hutchinson, Sharron Randol, Tiwana Whitten, Barb Brammell and Marsha Oliver.

Phase 2 is not chronological - it's a state of mind. And it's not limited to FUMC members! So if our activities are attractive to you, please join us and let us know if you'd like to join our team. We'll welcome your ideas.

We had almost 30 Phase 2 Boomers enjoy a movie and pizza on Sunday evening. Here are a couple of other activities to look forward to - please let Tiwana know if you're interested:
  • Saturday, Feb 11
    • 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. FUMC member Karen Taylor, owner of Yak 'n Yarn in Fairlawn Plaza, will provide a crafts event. We will create a Valentine pin with buttons. No charge. For those who want to grab lunch before, we will meet at Grandma Wocks at 11:00.
  • Tuesday, Feb 28
    • 5:15-7 p.m. Join your Phase 2 friends for our first ever quarterly AFTER HOURS! We'll meet at the Celtic Fox in their private room. Phase 2 will provide some appetizers--drinks will be on your own. Our goal is to include those of you who are still gainfully employed. We're hoping you'll come and bring your friends!

The Topeka Chapter of the American Guild of Organists P resents
An Introduction to the King of Instruments: The Pipe Organ

Sunday, February 12, 2017
2-3:30 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church
8th & Harrison Streets
Topeka, KS

This free event is open to all ages. Participants will enjoy a hands-on time of learning about the organ, followed by experiencing two examples of music  which showcase the mighty organ's sounds and colors. Snacks included. Although a reservation is not required, it will assist us in planning. Call 785-233-9601 to reserve your seat today.

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Special Speaker and Brownbag Lunch

Topeka First UMC members and friends are invited to hear Imam Omar Hazim, leader of the Topeka Islamic Mosque, speak on the Islamic faith on Wednesday, February 8, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., in the Celebration Room.  Sponsored by Hannah Circle of United Methodist Women. Bring your own brownbag lunch. Hot and cold beverages provided.

Continuing the Conversation: Finding Hope Workshop

Dying Well
On Monday, January 30th at 5:30 p.m. j oin Pastor Jeff and Heidi Evans from Penwell-Gabel for the final conversation in our Finding Hope series: preparing for end of life realities. The conversation will include an overview of practical things to consider from spiritual, financial, and legal standpoints. A light dinner will be served at 5:30 (free-will offering), then the presentation will begin at 5:45. Please email Beth Evans if you plan to attend.

Scout Sunday

Scout Sunday is coming up! We will celebrate Scout Sunday on February 5. Our Venture Crew will lead this event, but want to include any Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Venturers, or 4-H-ers associated with the church. If you know of a youth or adult leader who would like to participate, let Randall Hodgkinson know as soon as possible: the name of your youth, the program he or she in which he or she participates, and which services you typically attend. Thanks!

Support Washburn Campus Ministry with a Meal

On Thursday nights at 6 p.m., Washburn's campus ministry provides a hot meal for students at the campus ministry house (17th & Boswell). They are looking for church groups to provide a meal on a Thursday night this spring--can you help? The meal should be for about 30 students. There are some vegetarians, as well as some who can't eat beef. The meal should be delievered and ready to serve by 6 p.m. Plates, napkins, silverware, and cups will be provided by the ministry. Rev. Cherie Baker, Washburn's campus minister, would be happy to answer any questions that you have about your group participating. To ask questions or to sign-up for a week, you can email Cherie. Thanks for considering this opportunity to serve!
serve January Mission Focus: Let's Help

Our January missions collection will benefit Let's Help. We are requesting donations of  13 gallon kitchen trash bags and packages of paper napkins  to support Let's Help as they feed the hungry in our community. You may place donations in the receptacle in the Celebration Room.

February Mission Focus
Help our Missions Team support our Strategic Missions Partners with two collections in February. Bring donations to the receptacle in the Celebration Room.
  • Topeka North Outreach: Personal hygiene items, like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant etc.
  • Topeka Rescue Mission: Pasta and pasta sauce

Dillons Community Rewards Pays Off

The 44 households of our church who used their Dillons Plus Shopp er's Cards between October 2016 and December 2016 have contributed $327.88 to the church just by signing up for Community Rewards. Visit their website if you would like to register your Dillon's card for Community Rewards.
 
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Youth Events for Sunday, January 29
  • 9:00 a.m. Youth Class
  • 9:30 a.m. Worship
  • 10:30 a.m. Youth Sunday Praise Team Practice in the Chapel 
  • 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Youth Sunday Planning in Youth Room with lunch
 
YOUTH SOUPER BOWL
Take-out Sunday is Feb. 5th from 9 a.m. through the noon hour in the Celebration Room. For $5 you will get a bowl of soup, crackers and a cinnamon roll to take home. We will have a variety of soups to choose from along with mac-n-cheese. Proceeds will help youth with expenses for this summer's mission trip.
 
YOUTH SUMMER MISSION TRIP to Baton Rouge
You need to sign up for this on the Youth Board in the Celebration Room as soon as possible, because registrations will be due soon to hold your spots. Parents of youth, we would love to have some of you come along. First Church members who would like to try their hand at flood relief mission work are welcome, too.

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Youth having some fun during Youth Sunday Planning. Shhhhh...we have a theme,  but it's top secret. Youth Sunday is February 12th. We hope you'll come see what wonderful  things we have planned.
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