Join us at a reception for our graduates on Sunday, May 7 at 9:45 am in the Commons. Here are our three members who will graduate from high school this month:

Cassidy Jantzen is a May graduate of Topeka High School. Her future plans are undecided.

 

Loren Steves is also a graduate of Topeka High. She plans to attend Kansas State University this fall and study nursing.

 

Noah Bond plans to attend Wichita State University to study aerospace engineering after his graduation from THS.

  

On Sunday, May 21 st , the Bell and Chancel Choirs will share extra music in the 10:15 worship service as we celebrate Big Music Sunday #10. The theme this year is "Verbs of Faith."   The hymns and instrumental music will be songs reflecting on the many scriptures that instruct us to "act" out our faith.

 

The Bell Choir will ring "I'll Fly Away," "Just a Closer Walk," and "Wade in the Water." The Chancel Choir will sing "How Much I Owe," "Keep God's Light," and "Go Ye into All the World."

 

We hope you'll be present as this is the last Sunday of the choir season.

Beginning May 28 th , we will have special music during our summer worship services in place of anthems by the choir. If you are interested in providing special music for a summer Sunday, please talk with Jeannie Gish. She will get you scheduled.

 

 

For the sixth year in a row, we will feature our talented church members in a revue-type show on Sunday, August 27 th , at 7:00 pm in the sanctuary. If you're a singer, dancer, instrumentalist, magician, juggler, comedian, etc., talk with Jeannie Gish by July 30 th to sign up. The talent show is presented to raise money for our Choir Scholarship Fund. This fund allows us to pay college students to sing in our Chancel Choir or ring in our Bell Choir. Proceeds from the free-will donations keep this scholarship program going. We've had five successful shows and expect this summer's to be no different. Make plans to participate or attend now!

 

    IMPORTANT DATES FOR PARTICIPANTS:

July 30     Sign up with Jeannie

Aug. 13   Final act information & song titles due to Jeannie

Aug. 26   Rehearsal from 10:00 until noon

Aug. 27   7:00 Lowman's Got Talent VI

 

Dear Friends,

We are all aware that we have a great message to share with others-a story of hope and a story of forgiveness-that comes from deep inside our hearts, but we struggle with how do we share, when do we share, and what if: what if I make them mad? What if I don't get the job done? What if, what if, what if?

And even when we believe that we are well-prepared and knowledgeable, ready to take the Word of God to the world, those fears somehow find a way into the picture.

 

Henri Nouwen, a Catholic priest and an educator in theology at some of the major universities in this country, tells about a new adventure for him - living and working in a house with persons with mental and physical disabilities.

 

One of the first things he found when he went to this house was that whether or not he was liked there had nothing to do with his accomplishments in life. All the books he had written didn't impress anyone; most of them were not able to read. The fact that he spent twenty years at Notre Dame, Yale, and Harvard didn't mean anything; most of the people never went to school. His time as a priest in the Catholic Church even went without being noticed.

Not being able to use any of his skills, that in the past had been so important, suddenly became a source of anxiety for him. He found that he had been stripped of all the things that had seemed so significant before and found himself in a quandary. Nouwen found that people responded to him for who he was at the time, just like starting his life all over again.

He believes that this may have been one of the most important experiences of his life, because it forced him to rediscover his true identity. All the other stuff in his life that he had perceived to be important was suddenly gone. He had to see himself without all the adornments, as one who could now be open to receive and give love regardless of the other person.

 

That's how Nouwen says that we should carry the message of God's Word: with no baggage to hold us down or to use as a shield-that we should stand in this world with nothing to offer but our own defenseless self and proclaim that God loves us not because of what we do or accomplish, but because God has created and redeemed us in love and has chosen us to proclaim that love as the true source of all human life.

(Taken from Nouwen's book In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership.)

Pastor Tony

 

 

Save the date! Lowman's Vacation Bible School for 2017 looks very different from those in the past. It will be held over the weekend of August 18-20. This Back-to-School Bible Bash will have groups for preschool through junior high.

 

Can you help? We need a storyteller for Friday evening and Saturday and we need group leaders for kindergarten, 3 rd -4 th grade, and 5 th -6 th grade. We could use your help in other ways, even if for only part of a day. Contact April Hazen or Lauri Wright for more information.

 

The Lowman Singles will eat out after the worship service on Sunday, April 30 at Hu Hot.

On Friday, May 12, we'll meet at Westridge Lanes & Fun Center at 1936 SW Westport Dr. at 7:00 pm to play Putt Putt golf and then go out to eat.

All singles ages 18 and over are welcome. Call the church office at 272-8921 for more information.

 

Each person who volunteers or works with children and youth at a Methodist church must be screened and trained. Safe Gatherings makes this process easy with their 1.5-hour online abuse prevention training which covers best practices, how to recognize signs of abuse, and how to handle reporting. They will also perform national, state, and county background checks and offender registry checks-all at no cost to you as Lowman will pay your fees. Your certification is valid for four years. For more information and to take the training, visit www.safegatherings.com. Call the church office if you have questions.

Thank you to everyone who donated clothing for the Quincy School children. Clothing is much needed this time of year for kids who have accidents and spills. The children truly appreciate our donations.  

 

Thank you for the large part you play in allowing AARP to provide a free tax service to many in the Topeka community. Your location is easily accessible and the many rooms we are allowed to use provide increased privacy for the clients. This past year 351 returns were prepared at Lowman with an estimated savings in preparation costs of $87,750 to those served. Also, special thanks to members Dick Shermoen and Margaret Jantzen for their tax preparation.

Bob Wollin, District Coordinator AARP Tax-Aide

 

Thank you for helping my baseball team raise $819.00 to donate to Alex's Lemonade Stand, a national organization raising funds to help find a cure for childhood cancer. The help from my church family is greatly appreciated!

 

Alex's Lemonade Stand started in honor of Alex Scott, a young lady from Connecticut who died in 2004 at 8 years of age. Alex Gordon of the Kansas City Royals is a supporter and spokesperson for the organization. My baseball team will be playing in a tournament in the Kansas City area to further support this program.

Sincerely,

Hunter Morris

 

A big thank you to the Worship Team, Liz Gragg and the Hospitality Team, and Lauri Wright and the Children & Family Ministry Team for all of the delicious food that was provided for the Easter morning breakfast. Many thanks to those who helped out in the kitchen preparing, serving and cleaning up:  Liz Gragg, Randy Gragg, Gregg Smith, Kevin Garner, Nancy Garner, Robert Maxwell, and Jan Maxwell. We had a wonderful response from everyone who attended.

Wendy Smith, Worship & Music Team Chair

 

 

Thank you to everyone who made dinners for my family. They are delicious and helped out tremendously. We are enjoying new and different meals. Thank you for your kindness and for making us feel so welcomed. My kids love it at Lowman and look forward to being able to attend church regularly. And again, thank you for all you do.

Sincerely,

Kamae Woodard & family

 

Because the second Sunday of May

is Mothers' Day, church committees will meet

on the first Sunday, May 7.

 

 

 

  

Our policy is to list names on the prayer list for 3 weeks. If you let the office know, your name can be listed for an additional 3 weeks.  

 

 

 

Opening the church:     Robert Maxwell

Greeters :                         Cloyd & Betty
                                          Metzler

     At the visitors' desk:        Carolyn Miller        

 

Liturgists

 

 Mount Hope Cemetery 

17th & Fairlawn in Topeka    

1 cemetery plot   $1,000.00   

 

 

Please Contact Debbie

at Lowman United Methodist Church

785-272-8921

 

Would you like to become a member of Lowman United Methodist Church? We'd love to have you join our family! Call the church office at 272-8921 to visit with Pastor Tony.