| |
News From
March 28, 2018
For the good of the city
... Jeremiah 29:7
|
|
| |
Church Office:
785-233-8100
|
|
Give to Topeka First UMC
by text!
|
|
|
Church Activity Communications Request
|
|
Do you have information about a church activity you'd like to share? The deadline to submit an article for church publications is
12 p.m. each Tuesday.
|
|
|
|
| Resubscribe to our mailing list. |
|
|
|
|
Coming Up Soon:
- Wednesday, March 28
- 11:30 a.m. Community Lunch, Celebration Room
- 12:15 p.m. Midweek Meditation, Chapel
- 5:00 p.m. Praise Team Practice, Chapel
- 5:15 p.m.
- Board of Trustees, Hearth Room
- Phase 2 Yoga, Rm 212
- 5:30 p.m. Chili Cook Off for Wednesday Night Dinner, Fellowship Hall
- 6:00 p.m. New Vibrations Bell Choir, Rm L17
- 6:15 p.m.
- "Hero" Lenten Study, Rm L16
- Foundations, Rm 101
- Hero Central, Chapel & Children's Area
- 7:00 p.m. Venture Crew Meeting, Rm L37
- Thursday, March 29
- 5:15 p.m. Maundy Thursday Worship, Chapel
- 6:00 p.m. Rhapsody Ringers Bell Choir, Rm L17
- 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Practice, Rm L18
- Friday, March 30
- 8:00 a.m. WAFFLE, State Street Elementary
- 7:30 p.m. Good Friday Tenebrae Worship, Sanctuary
- Sunday, April 1: Easter
- 8:15 a.m. Arise Worship Service, Sanctuary
- 9:00 a.m. Coffee Connection, Celebration Room
- 9:30 a.m.
- 9-3-0 Worship Service, Chapel
- Children's Sunday School (Egg Hunt will begin at 10 a.m. during Sunday School)
- 10:30 a.m. Coffee Connection, Celebration Room
- 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship Service, Sanctuary
- Monday, April 2
- Tuesday, April 3
- 9:00 a.m. Quilting Group, Rm L35
- 6:00 p.m. Youth Ministry Team Meeting, Hearth Room
- Wednesday, April 4
- 9:30 a.m. Priscilla UMW Circle, Hearth Room
- 12:00 p.m. Hannah UMW Circle, Rm 101
- 12:15 p.m. Midweek Meditation, Chapel
- 1:00 p.m. Naomi Ruth UMW Circle, Hearth Room
- 5:00 p.m. Praise Team Practice, Chapel
- 5:15 p.m. Phase 2 Yoga, Rm 212
- 5:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Dinner, Fellowship Hall
- 6:00 p.m. New Vibrations Bell Choir, Rm L17
- 6:16 p.m.
- Methodism 101, Rm L16
- Foundations, Rm 101
- Hero Central, Chapel & Children's Area
- Thursday, April 5
- 8:30 a.m. Senior Adults Coffee & Donuts, Paradise Donuts
- 5:00 p.m. Memorials Committee, Rm 106
- 5:15 p.m. Worship Experience Team, Hearth Room
- 6:00 p.m. Rhapsody Ringers Bell Choir, Rm L17
- 7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Practice, Sanctuary
- Friday, April 6
- 8:00 a.m. WAFFLE, State Street Elementary
- Saturday, April 7
- 8:00 a.m. Stephen Ministry Training, Hearth Room
|
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.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Pick up this card at church! |
It's Downtown Connection Week!
Downtown Connection Week is the time we set aside each quarter to make a concerted effort to support the downtown Topeka community as a church. Wear your church gear as you head downtown to shop and dine in our neighborhood. You will find a Downtown Connection Card in your bulletin this week. Take this card and write a note of encouragement or appreciation to the business you patronize. You can stop by the church office during the week to pick up more cards, if you like!
While you are planning your trip to the downtown area,
also plan to come for our Holy Week services on Thursday, March 29th at 5:15 p.m. and Friday, March 30th at 7:30 p.m. If you have the Easter invitations from last week handy, maybe you'll have the opportunity to give them to someone you've been meaning to invite to church while you are out and about. (More cards will be available this Sunday.) Holy Week is the perfect time to reach out to our friends and neighbors downtown, and all around town!
|
Cornerstone Family Schools Spring Concert 
Exten
d your Easter celebration another day at Cornerstone's Spring Concert on Monday, April 2 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. The concert is free and open to the public. Their theme this spring is God's love. Dorothy Iliff from our congregation leads the choirs.
|
|
|
|
Click image to learn more about the movie
|
All-Church Potluck Dinner and Movie Night
Gather as a church family to enjoy a potluck dinner and a movie on Saturday, April 21st in Fellowship Hall. The meal will begin at 5:30, with the movie following at 6:15. Bring your pillows, blankets, or lawn chairs to get comfortable for watching the movie.
"Different Drummers," our movie for the evening, is a deeply inspirational film, based on a true story about the spiritual journey and unlikely friendship of two boys growing up in the mid 1960s. When David, who is in a wheelchair, accurately foretells the death of their 4
th
grade teacher, his hyperactive friend Lyle devises a plan to find out if God really exists by attempting to get David to run.
|
|
|
|
Click to learn more about Wednesday Night Dinners |
Wednesday Night Dinners
Join us for an intergenerational fellowship opportunity every Wednesday evening in Fellowship Hall. Adults and families attending Wednesday night classes gather from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. for supper. Dinner prices have dropped for the Winter Session to $6 per adult and $4 per child, with a $20 maximum for families. Please, make a reservation online or on your bulletin tear-off on Sunday each week so we can be certain to have enough food for the group.
If your Sunday School class, church group, or family would be able to help prepare a meal, please contact Allison Brewer, Director of Children's Discipleship. The menu is already planned. You can choose to help cook, set up, and/or clean up. Learn more on our website.
Click the date on the menu to sign up and pay for your meal:
|
  Blind Tiger with Phase 2 and #Adulting
|
 Church Shirt Store Now Open
New church shirts are again available from our downtown partners at Reliant Apparel. You may order and pay for your shirt
on their website until April 8th, or order your shirt in person at 9 and 10:30 a.m. on
April 8th
in the Celebration Room at church. All orders online and in person must be placed by April 8th, and all orders will be delivered to the church to pick up on April 29th.
|
|
|
|
New name tag design |
Pick Up Your New Name Tag This Sunday
If you ordered a new name tag, you can pick it up and pay for it in the Celebration Room this Sunday at 9 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.
The name tag costs $7 with a pin fastener, or $8.50 with a magnet fastener. You can pay for your name tag with cash, check, or card. Call the church at 785-233-8100 or
email Jayna McFarland, Publications Coordinator, with any questions
.
If you missed your chance to order a name tag this time around, don't worry--there will be more opportunities later in the year to order one.
|
In Worship This Week:
Message:
A Cause for Celebration
Rev. Jeff Clinger, Lead Pastor
Scripture:
|
|
|
|
Click image to learn more. |
Worship With Us During Holy Week
Holy Week is the last week of Lent, the week immediately preceding Easter. We invite you to take part in our Holy Week observances to add fullness to your understanding of Christ's love for us. Everyone is welcome.
- Maundy Thursday
- On March 29th at 5:15 p.m., we invite you to our Maundy Thursday service in the Chapel. On Maundy Thursday we remember the Last Supper, Jesus's final meal with his disciples, during which he gave the commandment to remember what he was about to do for all people. Childcare will be available during Maundy Thursday worship.
- Good Friday
- On Friday, March 30th at 7:30 p.m., join us in the Sanctuary for a powerful Tenebrae service. Tenebrae is the Latin word for "darkness." The distinguishing features of Tenebrae is the gradual extinguishing of candles and lights following the reading of Scripture passages until the Sanctuary is in darkness. The service focuses on the passion and death of Jesus. Childcare WILL NOT be available during Good Friday worship.
- Easter Sunday
- Join us in praise and worship as we savor the gift of Easter on April 1st at 8:15, 9:30, or 11 a.m. Children are invited to an Easter Egg Hunt during Sunday School. Click here to learn more.
|
 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:
Oskaloosa UMC |
 Camp Chippewa Scholarships Available
Early bird deadline is this Sunday, April 1st!
Fun and meaningful summer memories are created at Camp Chippewa. This camp is supported by the Great Plains Conference and uses its over 600 acres for adventures in horseback riding, swimming, archery, and much more. Our church has scholarship money available, and the United Methodist Women provide generous scholarships for those who meet the early bird deadline of April 1st! That's just two weeks away! Registration is online. To register, each camper must provide 1/2 of the camp cost. Last year we were able to cover the remaining half for all campers. Join the adventure!
|
New Learning Opportunity: Methodism 101
For centuries, Methodism has shaped lives around the world, including yours. Whether you are brand new to the denomination or have been a part of the Methodist Church for your entire life, there is something to learn from our shared history. Meeting on Wednesdays, April 4th-May 23rd, 6:15-7:15 p.m. Austin Harris, Director of Worship Experience, will explore the long and rich history of the Methodist Church from its foundation in 18th century England to its continued growth and impact on the world today. We will examine how that history, and the beliefs shared by Methodism, impacts our faith and the people around us through an in-depth conversation that is open to all ages. Please sign up on the Church Connection Portal.
|
 Senior Adults Coffee and Donuts
Thursday, April 5th at 8:30 a.m.
Along with the robins and daffodils, senior donuts and coffee time has returned! Our new gathering place will be at Paradise Donuts (1620 SW 6th, across the street to the north of St. Francis). Come out of hibernation and join the fun. You buy your donut, and coffee is on the house!
|
 Shepherd's Center of Topeka
As a sponsoring congregation of Shepherd's Center of Topeka (SCT), Topeka First UMC places value on active aging, recognizing that seniors who are continually learning, physically fit, and growing spiritually remain happy and stay healthier longer than those who become inactive and isolated.
Shepherd's Center thanks our congregation for supporting them financially and/or providing free space for our group activities.
If you are over age 55, they invite you to explore what SCT has to offer. The
Spring Adventures in Learning
session at SCT begins April 6th and runs for four consecutive Fridays, 9-11:30 a.m. Each Friday, enjoy two classes from the eight offered and refreshments.
For more information, call 785-249-3258 or visit their website. Come see what others are talking about!
|
|
|
|
Rev. Dr. Roger Ross
|
Transform Our Church, Transform Our Community
Come hear our Tempero-Sandall Speaker, Rev. Dr. Roger Ross
Are you energized by our efforts to engage with downtown Topeka, like Cocoa, Cookies, and Carols and Downtown Connection Week? Do you get excited about helping our community through our missions projects? Find out how we can take this momentum a step further at our Tempero Sandall workshop on
Sunday, April 15th!
On April 15th, the Rev. Dr. Roger Ross will be at Topeka First UMC to preach during worship and lead a Sunday afternoon workshop as part of our Tempero Sandall Endowed Fellowship. Ross is the Director of the Center for Congregational Excellence for the Missouri Annual Conference and author of
"Meet the Goodpeople: Wesley's 7 Ways to Share Faith." The workshop on Sunday afternoon, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., is free and open to all. At the workshop, Ross will lead a discussion about how we can take our passion for transforming lives beyond our walls and out into the community.
The Tempero Sandall Endowed Fellowship was created in 1982 in order to provide the members of Topeka First UMC and the community with opportunities to enrich their religious experience through workshops, lectures, seminars, and performances.
|
 Topeka First UMC Library
Your church library is located just a few steps north of the Celebration Room! It has many volumes ready for you to read. The church library includes fiction books to read for pleasure, as well as nonfiction books to study. The majority of the collection is written from a Christian perspective. To check out a book, simply write your name and the date on the card, which is found in the front of each book. Place the card above the book return basket. To return a book, simply place it in the black basket.
|
 Midweek Meditation
Looking for a quiet and safe space to escape from the craziness of the week? Midweek Meditation 30 minutes of silence, reflection, prayer, and communion. We offer this time as a chance to reconnect and recharge every Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. in the Chapel. All are welcome to this time of worship.
|
 |
|
|
|
Click icon to learn more about Doorstep.
|
Fill the Bag for Doorstep in April
This April, we are going to fill the food pantry at Doorstep. Please take a few extra minutes at the grocery store to fill a bag with any--or all--of the items listed below and bring it to the Celebration Room any time in April. Doorstep, Inc. strives to provide well-rounded food orders for their clients. The food is selected to put meals together and last for five days at three meals a day. They also need hygiene items like, deodorant. Below is a typical client food order:
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Pinto Beans
- Spaghetti
- Canned Fruit
- Canned/Packaged Soups: Tomato, Chicken Noodle, Vegetable, Ramen Noodles
- Milk - Canned/Powdered
- Cereal - Hot/Dry
- Jelly
- Bread
- Egg Noodles
- Rice
- Spaghetti Sauce
- Tuna
- Canned Vegetables: corn, green beans, peas, pork and beans
- Crackers
- Peanut Butter
- Hamburger--1 lb.
- Sugar, Flour, Cake Mixes, Cooking Oil, etc. per client request, if available.
Thank you for partnering with Doorstep to help our fellow Topekans, for the good of the city!
|
 |
4th-6th Grade Sunday Schoolers Have Been Busy!
No one can Connect, Grow, and Serve like the kids of our church! Several projects have given our 4th, 5th, and 6th grade Sunday School class a lot to think about this spring, thanks to the creativity of their teachers, Becky Downs, Laura Rose, and Brooke Waters.
In a lesson about John the Baptist, the class had the opportunity to try John the Baptist Cereal--dry crickets and honey (no locusts were available!). Three brave souls actually ate them!
The class also completed 10 pillowcases for donation to
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Class members chose the colors, pinned them together and sewed the seams with sewing machines. They also assembled goody bags, which were decorated with affirmations and happy pictures, then stuffed with personal care items (toothbrush, tooth paste, crayons or markers, coloring book or spiral notebook, pencil, a stuffed animal or toy, and a cuddle blanket). The bags were paired with the pillows and pillowcases.
 
Mia Morrison was not available to help sew the first 10 cases, but a few more were needed to cover additional pillow donations. She used her own time to meet with our church quilting group to sew one.
CASA shared this message of thanks on Facebook: "
The mission of the
Topeka First United Methodist Church
is to Connect,Grow and Serve together for the good of the city. CASA of Shawnee County is blessed to be one of the many community partnerships supported by this organization.
Thank you, Topeka First United Methodist Church: 4th-5th &6th Grade Programming for dedicating dozens of hours sewing pillow cases and assembling goody bags, decorated with hand written messages of encouragement.
CASA of Shawnee County believes it takes a village to serve our community's children and we are extremely grateful for the partnership we have been able to establish with this amazing group of advocates and leaders."
For another hands-on lesson, the class reenacted "the storm on the Sea of Galilee!"
If you get the chance this Sunday, you should definitely visit the Bible Village they have built in their classroom. They meet in the Moses Mosaic room on the second floor in the Children's area.
|
 Save the Dates for Summer Adventures at Topeka First UMC
- June 29th and 30th: Rolling River Rampage Vacation Bible School
- Friday, June 29, 5-7:30 p.m.: Family Friday Night
- Saturday, June 30, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Nursery and Programming for 3-year-olds through 6th graders
- July 27th and 28th: Summer Adventure Camp--Art, Science, Sports, and More!
- Friday July 28th. 5-7:30 p.m.: Family Friday Night
- Saturday, July 29th, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Nursery and Programming for 3-year-olds through 6th graders
Contact Allison Brewer, Director of Children's Discipleship, for more information and to volunteer!
|
 |
Youth Events for Easter Sunday
- April 1st, 9:30 a.m. Youth help hide eggs for children's egg hunt, meet in the Celebration Room
Upcoming Dates:
- Sunday, April 8th:
- Alaska Mission Trip Bake Sale & Baked Potato Bar 9 a.m. through noon hour in Celebration Room.
- Confirmands meet for class at 9:30 a.m. in the Hearth Room. You will have your pictures taken before and after class.
- High School Seniors: Look for an information packet coming in the mail soon about High School Senior Grad Sunday here at church.
 
|
For Pancakes and Palms, youth bused tables and confirmands and their mentors enjoyed fellowship together during breakfast. Thank you, youth, for being great servants of God.
|
|
To Unsubscribe or Subscribe
Want to get our weekly updates? Email Tina Boles to sign up!
If you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, please
email Tina Boles to unsubscribe. Please do not click the Unsubscribe button below, as it will not update our records.
If you used to receive our newsletter, but have stopped receiving them, please click the "Join Our Mailing List" button at the top of the page or below to resubscribe.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
