Good News for Your Faith Journey
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Greetings!
We are excited to celebrate with Shirley Cook her graduation from Central Baptist Seminary in Shawnee, Kansas, and the Christian Church in Kansas approval of her ordination. Shirley will be ordained here at First Christian Church on Sunday, May 21, 2017, at 3:00 p.m. in partnership with the Christian Church in Kansas. We hope you will make plans to attend this exciting moment for Shirley, our congregation, and our regional church.
Peace,
Dale
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Crossroads Youth
Sunday Youth Groups and Bells
JYF Youth Group - 2nd to 5th Grade 3:00 pm Chimes 3:45 pm Zoo Trip -- Bring $5
CYF/ Chi Rho Youth - 6th to 12th Grade
Mission Trip Taco Bar (8th to 12th grades) -- 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
3:45 pm -- (6th - 12th) -- Bells
4:30 pm -- (6th - 12th) -- Youth Group -- Outdoor Challenge!
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VBS July 16-19 Ages: 3 year old to 5th grade 5:15 to 8:15 pm
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Church Camp Dates for 2017 Registration forms and payment are due in the church office ASAP
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FCC Board Meeting (4/11/2017) Minutes
Board members and clergy staff present: Dale Matherly, Connie Skinner, Donna Schultz, Jason Gray, Don Rogers, Jamey Kendall, Rick Ryan, and Steve McCoy.
Others in attendance: Randy Clayton
Jason lit the Christ candle and Dale opened the meeting with a reading from Matthew 28 with discussion following.
Randy presented a updated draft Policy Governing the Establishment and Operation of an Endowment Fund for First Christian Church and feedback was provided from the Board. The Stewardship/Finance committee will finalize the policy and Randy will plan to present final draft to the board next month.
Building Campaign ends this month. The church this year has funding to pay monthly interest payments and any money which is given towards the building fund will be used to pay principal. Plan is to ask for Faith Promise in the future to continue payment of principal balance.
Electronic Giving is moving forward. Randy and Travis Oller will be working to implement.
Minister’s report
Connie’s retirement: ministerial staff have been reviewing current job descriptions to determine how responsibilities will be addressed after her retirement at the end of this year. Dale will provide an update/plan at May board meeting.
Sabbatical Planning: Ministers have been identified for preaching for 11 Sundays from June 11th through September 3rd. (On August 13th the youth will do a presentation from the Mission Week). Total cost will be 3,000. Board members agreed to use $2,500.00 from Endowment funds in the Worship budget, plus 600.00 identified for guest speakers to cover the cost.
Dale’s responsibilities have been distributed among staff. Dale will present sermon on 4/30 related to his sabbatical.
Sunday Worship Cancellation Policy Recommendation: Board agreed with Cancellation polity that was discussed at last month’s meeting. The policy includes: Board Chair, Elder Chair and Senior Minister will jointly decide if services would be cancelled due to weather by 6 AM.
Financial Review – Expenses exceed income for March for both the church and the Child Care Center. The month included 3 payrolls, 3 payments for Pension, van repairs and a new garbage disposal.
Follow-up of Leadership Retreat: general discussion about lack of leaders wanting to take on committee work. Important to be look and listen to the needs of our wider Topeka community. We will continue to discuss issues in future meetings.
Blessing Box: Shelli Aldrich will be lead in this project. She requested permission to install a Blessing Box between the stone street sign and the Gage parking lot. The congregation would be invited to stock the box as needed. No concerns were identified; it was suggested that some instructions be developed so that we know what is appropriate for the box.
Worship Attendance: Worship attendance for March 2017 was below 2016 due to Easter occurring in March 2016.
Chat with the board will be held April 23, 2017 in the library.
Next board meeting is May 9, 2017.
May 21, 2017 Shirley Cook’s ordination ceremony.
Dale dismissed the meeting with a blessing.
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From the First Apartments
Thank all of you who are part of the church and those who give that extra something to show they really care about those at First Apartments. The meals which you supply to those who look forward to them.
Thank you from all of us for the Easter treats we received. Thank you to all of those who went that extra step to put them together.
Easter is one of those special days which comes but once a year, but it is enjoyed throughout the rest of the year!
From all of us at First Apartments, we thank you!
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Higher Education Scholarship
To those who would like scholarship assistance for their college education, it is time to pick up an application from the church office. Return your application with a transcript of the previous year's work to the church office by April 30th. Past recipients must apply each year. Scholarship candidates will be presented to the Official Board for approval.
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Seekers Garage Sale
Save April 21st and 22nd as the next Seekers Garage Sale. If you have items to donate please call:
Vern Failor 272-6102
Larry McDaniel 409-8291
Ken Price 272-4479
Garage Sale will be in Fellowship Hall Sections 2 & 3
April 21st 8:00 am- 1:00 pm
April 22nd 7:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Book Review from the Library
The Shack by William P. Young
How can a good God allow the many evils we see in the world? Does God really love us? Can we trust God? Author William P. Young shares ideas about these matters in his novel, The Shack.
First, be sure to read the foreword about protagonist MacKenzie Allen Phillips’ childhood. That information is important to understanding Mack’s struggles. Make no mistake -- the foreword is simply part of the novel and is not meant as a factual story, despite its presentation.
The book chronicles a family vacation that ends in tragedy. Mack’s young daughter Missy is abducted and apparently murdered, her body not found. Four years later, still mired in his sadness and loss, Mack receives a note from “Papa” (his wife’s name for God), inviting him to spend a weekend at the same remote, tumble-down shack where Missy’s dress and blood were located. Confused and skeptical, he nevertheless sets out for the shack. There he encounters God and gives voice to his anger, questions, confusion and longings.
Thought-provoking and touching, the book points to truths about God’s all-encompassing and unchanging love that can strengthen and heal each of us.
Check out the FCC Library copy of The Shack and see how you react. (A film version currently is playing at Topeka theatres.)
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Doorstep April Newsletter Article
Welcome Spring!! Please keep Doorstep in mind for donations as you start Spring cleaning around your house. Remember, our Dovetail Shoppe can take furniture and larger items. Just call Doorstep (357-5341) or the Shoppe (234-3004) to inquire about donating.
We had a successful
Operation Soup Line
! Thank you to everyone who helped out selling tickets, making desserts, donating baskets, volunteering at the event and attending! We had our highest number of delivery orders this year at 423, and made the most on our 14th Annual event at $17,912. In total, we served 1,082 through delivery, carry out and through the line!
It is hard to believe it’s already time for our
Annual Banquet
honoring our volunteers! This year
Countryside UMC is hosting us on Thursday, April 27th at 6:30pm.
We will have a speaker, entertainment, volunteer awards, quilt drawing, taco bake for dinner and a Love Offering for Doorstep! Reservations are due by April 25th. Call the Doorstep office (8am – 3pm) to RSVP, 357-5341. We have 11 quilts and throws this year for
Quilt Drawing. $1 per chance
, and you do not have to present to win! See your Doorstep representatives for tickets, or buy them at the banquet before dinner!
Two important events you’ll want to put on your calendar are:
Topeka Gives – Tuesday, June 6th
at Fairlawn Plaza Mall. 7am – 6pm.
A Day of Giving – Hosted by the Topeka Community Foundation.
Doorstep’s 50th Anniversary Dance – Friday, June 9th
at the Great Overland Station. The Kings of Swing will be playing for your dancing and listening pleasure. We will have food, drinks, cash bar and silent auction items. More information coming soon!
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From the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice
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Did you know that First Christian Church has a unique AmazonSmile link that makes it easier for people to find and support your organization?
What is my organization's unique link?
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/48-0554328
What does my unique link do?
When customers click on your organization's unique link, they skip the process to search for a charity to support among over 1 million eligible charities. Instead, they're taken to
smile.amazon.com
and are automatically asked if they want to support First Christian Church.
Can I just tell supporters to search for my charity at smile.amazon.com?
Yes. However, that makes it harder for your supporters to find and select your organization. There are over 1 million eligible charities, and customers may end up picking a different organization during the selection process. Sharing your charity link increases the likelihood that customers will select your charity before they start shopping.
Do my supporters have to click on my charity's AmazonSmile link every time they shop?
No. Once customers select your organization, you will receive 0.5% of the price of all their eligible
smile.amazon.com
purchases, regardless of whether they use your unique AmazonSmile link to return to the site. However, we recommend that you ask your supporters to bookmark and use your link so they don't accidentally shop at www.
amazon.com
instead of
smile.amazon.com
. Only purchases made at
smile.amazon.com
are eligible for donations.
What do customers that have already selected a charity see when they click on my organization's unique link?
If someone is already supporting your organization and they click on your unique link, they will simply be taken to
smile.amazon.com
so they can start shopping. They do not have to re-select your charity. If someone supporting a different charity clicks on your charity link, they are asked if they'd like to switch to support your organization.
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Prayer Concerns
We invite you to use the following prayer or one of your own desire as you offer prayers for those listed in our prayer concerns.
O God, source of love and compassion in the sufferings of all your children, we offer our compassion also for the hungry, and the sick in body, mind, or heart, the depressed and the lonely, all living in fear and under stress, all stricken with grief, the unemployed and the rejected, and those burning with hatred. Strengthen us to work for their healing and inspire us to build with you the kingdom of love where none shall cause suffering to others and all be caring, loving children of yours. Our compassionate, all-embracing God, ever present, ever love, never failing, we pray to you. Amen. (Adapted from Chalice Worship #363 p. 343).
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PRAYER CONCERNS, April 19, 2017
Health Concerns:
Gail Alderson, Anita Dietz, Alma Greenaway, Mary Anna Jenkins, Harold Johnson, Steve Martin, Betty McCollough, Alexandra Merrill, Ron Miller,
Carol Rutz, Thelma Thiele, Walt Wofford
Cancer Patients:
Jeanne Bauter, Bob Bingham, Shirley Bingham, June Ghan, Steve Hansen, LaJonna Johnson, Karl Koster, Jake Lewis, Janice McAbee, Ellen Myzer, Kim Rea, Lee Rutz , Cheryl Tuckwin, Clarke Williams, Laurie Wilson
Keep these people in your prayers:
Regional Staff, Christian Church in Kansas; Dr. Sharon Watkins, General Minister/President, Christian Church (Disciples); those serving in the military; those traveling; those seeking employment and families who are struggling.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the girls who were kidnapped from their school in Chibok, Nigeria by Boko Haram in 2014.
In order to keep our prayer list updated, we will be leaving health concerns on the list for one month. Please notify us when a name needs removed or needs to remain for another month.
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Technology Update
If you see a blank in the technology (sound, lights or power point) list on Sunday morning, that means there is no one assigned to that task on that Sunday. So your help is needed to fill these places. There is a small amount of training you would need, but anyone can learn. For assistance in learning to support the Technology Ministry please contact Vern Failor at 272-6102 or vlfailor@gmail.com
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Sunday Servants, April 23, 2017 Elder at the Table: Jamey Kendall Ministry of the Table: Georgia Abbott Counters: Sandi Reesor & Meredith Sonderegger Fellowship Time: Joy
8:45 am Greeters: Myron & Jeanine Mott Sound: Will Matherly Lighting: Suz McIver PowerPoint: Ushers: Mary Jane Mann & Barb Runge Welcome: Glenda Yocom Greeting Elder: Penny McCoy Diaconate Team #4: Connie Brown, Gladys Burch, Janie & Paxton Jones, Jeanine Mott*, Joe Sittenauer, Roger & Glenda Yocom 11:10 am Candle Lighters: Grant Patty Greeters: Shelly Aldrich & Tina Lonergan Sound: Vern Failor Lighting: Ken Price PowerPoint: Andrew Howard Ushers: Diane Miller & Michelle Miller Welcome: Kathy Hartley Greeting Elder: Vickie Burns Diaconate Team #4: Tim & Shelly Lozzi, Brian & BJ Mays, Gail Fox, Jamey Kendall, *Larry & Sandy McDaniel Kid's Worship: Donna Schultz & Scott Howard
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Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, April 19th
10:00 am Harvesters Mobile Food Distribution, Luther Place
12:30 pm Disciple Women Meeting, Fellowship Hall Sec. 2
6:00 pm Just Move It, Builders Rm.
7:00 pm Centering Prayer, Chapel
Thursday, April 20th
6:30 am Elder’s Meeting, Chapel
10:45 am Child Care Center Chapel, Sanctuary
11:00 am Calming Psalms, Elevate Rm.
5:45 pm Al-anon, Fellowship Hall Sec. 3
6:15 pm Choir, Sanctuary
7:30 pm Worship Team, Sanctuary
Seekers Garage Sale Prep, Fellowship Hall Sec. 2
Friday, April 21st
8:00 am - 1:00 pm Seekers Garage Sale, Fellowship Hall Sec. 2 & 3
Saturday, April 22nd
7:00 am - 12:00 pm Seekers Garage Sale, Fellowship Hall Sec. 2 & 3
Washburn Big Event with Circles, Back Parking Lot
Looking Ahead
Sunday, April 23rd
Farewell Blessing Carol and Don Pady
10:00 am - 1:00 pm Youth Taco Bar, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Chimes
3:45 pm JYF Youth Zoo Trip
Monday, April 24th
10:00 am Staff Meeting, Conference Rm.
6:00 pm Young Adults, Elevate Rm.
6:45 pm Boy Scouts
Tuesday, April 25th
11:00 am Lets Help
5:00 pm Circles, Fellowship Hall Sec. 1,2,3
7:00 pm Cub Scouts, Builders Rm.
Wednesday, April 26th
10:00 am - 11:00 am CSFP Certification, Chapel
6:00 pm Disciple Women Planning, Library
6:00 pm Just Move It, Builders Rm.
7:00 pm Centering Prayer, Chapel
Thursday, April 27th
6:30 am Elder’s Meeting, Chapel
10:45 am Child Care Center Chapel, Sanctuary
11:00 am Calming Psalms, Elevate Rm.
5:45 pm Al-anon, Fellowship Hall Sec. 3
6:00 pm Book Club, Day by Day Rm.
6:15 pm Choir, Sanctuary
7:30 pm Worship Team, Sanctuary
Saturday, April 29th
6:00 am - 8:30 am Christmas in Action Kick Off Breakfast, Fellowship Hall
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Contacts
Dale Matherly
Senior Minister
Connie Skinner
Congregational Care
Donna Schultz
Children & Youth
Jamie Burnett
Director, FCC Child Care Center
Tim Smale
Organist
Debby Martin
Chimes & Bells Director
Tiffany Rea
Director of Worship Arts
Becky Coffman
Nursery Supervisor
Becky Stauffer
Parish Nurse
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