Imagine if you were a new visitor walking into Topeka First UMC for the first time on a Sunday morning. You've heard about the uplifting worship, the activities for kids, the adult classes, the fun celebrations--you are excited to see if there is a place for you at Topeka First UMC, but you are nervous about trying out a new faith community. When you walk into our giant building, would you know where to go for worship or Sunday School? Would you feel comfortable joining in the Coffee Connection time? Would you feel lost in the crowd? Would you know who to ask for help? 

Trying out a new church can be intimidating. That's why we are offering you the opportunity to be a Welcoming Ambassador on Sunday mornings. As an ambassador, you can help visitors feel at ease in a place where you already feel at home. Show them where to go, answer their questions, and be the friendly face that makes them glad they came. The time commitment is only one half-hour a month on Sunday mornings, stationed at the Connection Center in the Celebration Room. Please email Tiwana Whitten, Director of Adult Discipleship, for more details.

 

Would you like to learn more about Topeka First United Methodist, take a tour of the church and learn about membership? Then come to Pizza with the Pastor on  Wednesday, July 11, 5:30-7 p.m.  in Room 105. So that we will have enough pizza and materials, please sign up by July 8 on our Church Connection Portal. Childcare is available by reservation--call Tiwana Whitten, Director of Adult Discipleship, if this is needed, at 785-233-8100.

Phase 2 After Hours

Join fellow Boomers for a relaxing time of fellowship on Tuesday, July 10th at 5:15 p.m. in the upstairs dining area at The Pennant (915 S. Kansas Ave.) Phase 2 will provide some appetizers--you are on your own for beverages and other food items. Don't forget to bring some extra money if you want to try out the retro arcade games! Please sign up on the Church Connection Portal.

Phase 2 Dinner and a Movie

Join the Phase 2 group Sunday, July 29 at 4:40(ish) at the Regal 14 Theater.  The summer movie is Mama Mia, Here We Go Again. For those who would like to grab a bite to eat after the movie, we will head over to Jason's Deli.  Definite movie time will be announced closer to the date.  Please sign up for this event on the Church Connection Portal.

Pickleball Moved to Monday Evenings

As of Monday, July 2nd, those interested in playing Pickleball are invited to join other community members each week at Hughes Courts (725 SW Orleans) at 6:00 p.m. The change to Mondays allows more choices for teams and greater fellowship. You don't have to register just show up at 6:00!

Invite a friend and beat the heat with us at our All-Church Pool Party on Sunday, July 22, 6-8 p.m. There is no cost  to jump in with the party at the Garfield Family Aquatic Center (1600 NE Quincy). We will provide water and juice packs--you provide the snacks! Please bring a (non melting) snack to share. Be ready for a refreshing time of fellowship. If you don't want to swim, no problem--just bring you lawn chair to sit poolside and visit.

Summer will be here before we know it, and with it will come changes to our worship schedule and plenty of opportunities for fellowship and fun.

Summer Worship

• 8:15 a.m. Traditional in the Chapel
• 9:30 a.m. Contemporary in Chapel
• 11:00 a.m. Traditional in Sanctuary

 

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 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:

We are half way through the calendar year.  Do you know where you stand in meeting your annual pledge? This information can be easily viewed through the  Church Connection Portal.  

After logging onto the portal:

1. Point to Giving, then click My Giving History.
2. Locate the Contribution Information section.
3. To view your ten most recent contributions, click 10 Most Recent Contributions.
4. To view all of your contributions, click Show All.
5. To view only contributions made in a specific date range, click During Date Range. Enter the Start Date and End Date, then click Go.

In July and August, there will be speakers at the 9:30 hour in Fellowship Hall on featured Sunday mornings. As many adult classes take a break for the summer, this is a chance to reconnect in fellowship and learning.

July 15

2018 Senior Adult Summer Caravan

Topeka First UMC is now one of 14 faith partners with Topeka Habitat for Humanity. We have committed to providing prayers, and both financial and volunteer resources for a faith build in the Ward Meade area.  This home is to be complete in the last half 2018. 

A raising the wall celebration is tentatively scheduled for Saturday July 21 with more information forthcoming. This is an opportunity for our congregation to provide financial support with individual gifts. It is also an opportunity for all members to participate as volunteers. 

Everyone over age 16 may participate in construction. There are non construction opportunities for youth under the age of 16 who are interested in becoming involved. Please contact Dennis Tietze for further details or additional questions and watch for further announcements.

Our July mission collection will be school supplies for Topeka North Outreach.  Please consider bringing new supplies and placing them in the designated Missions corner in the Celebration Room.  Supplies needed include:

Antibacterial wipes and/or Baby wipes
Ballpoint pens - black or blue
Big Erasers
Colored markers - 10 ct.
Colored markers - 10 ct. washable
Colored pencils - 12 ct.
Composition books
Crayons - 24 ct. box
Crayons - 8 ct. box, large size
Dividers for Binders - 5-tab
Dry-erase markers
Elmer's glue - 4 oz. bottle
Facial tissues, standard box
Glue stick - jumbo
Glue stick - regular size
Index cards - 3" x 5", lined
Loose-leaf filler paper - college rule
Loose-leaf filler paper - wide rule

Pencil boxes
Pencil pouch for binder
Pencils - #2
Pencils - husky
 Pencils - mechanical
Pocket folders  Rulers - with cm and inches
Scissors - blunt tip
Scissors - pointed tip
Spiral notebooks - college rule
Spiral notebooks - wide rule
Sticky notepads - 3" x 3"
Yellow highlighters

Please keep our youth and adult chaperones in your prayers as the travel to Fairbanks, Alaska next week.  They will be helping to convert the inside of an old warehouse into a worship space.  Those traveling include: Cortlyn Wolfe; Hunter Wolfe; Errick Guzman; Ethan Guzman, Gaige Williams; Xianne Williams, Kira Williams; Jasmine Williams; Cooper Self; Erica Self; Katie Welch; Andy Mannell; Cherokee Reiman; Laura Reiman; Austin Miller; Emma Turner; Mallory Lutz; Mitchell and Sharon Fick, Danny and Becky Downs; and Ruth and Mark Smith.

 

• July 27 and 28: Summer Adventure Camp--Art, Science, Sports, and More!
• Friday July 27, 5-7:30 p.m.: Family Friday Night
• Saturday, July 28, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Nursery and Programming for 3-year-olds through 6th graders

A Very Special Thank You to All VBS Volunteers

Special thanks to the many volunteers that made our first Summer Adventure Weekend. Special thanks to our Paddle Captain, Jill Wolters, and her assistant, the river otter Romper, played by Eric Guzman. Thanks to the workshop leaders for planning fun and exciting lessons; Jaena Greenwood, Millie Foster, Heather Clinger, Jeff Clinger, Justin McFarland, Scott Brewer, Zack Hill, Avery Hill, Amber Hermereck, Alice Eberhart-Wright, and Sharlene Mueldener. And no VBS would be complete without the love and care of the River Guides who led small groups of children to their different activities- Joy Barnes, Hunter Wolfe, Brooke Waters, Tricie Young, Susan Mayer, and Chris Hill. Thank you to the many behind the scenes volunteers who made meals, registration and more go so smoothly.

We will have another weekend adventure July 27 and 28. It's not too late to register your kids, invite friends or sign up to volunteer!

Contact Allison Brewer, Director of Children's Discipleship, for more information and to volunteer for our July VBS Adventure!

 

Traditional Sunday school has paused for the summer. In its place, children will join their families for worship and have opportunities to help with different elements of worship. Families may pick up worship bulletins and activities at the entrances to the Chapel and Sanctuary. 

The nursery will remain open during all worship services for children 4 and younger.