Join us on Zoom at 11:45 a.m. for our November Congregational Meeting. All are welcome to attend and members will also be invited to vote. We will be previewing the 2021 budget and approving the slate of officers for 2021. Documents for the meeting will be e-mailed to all members before the meeting. You'll find the Zoom link here.

As we anticipate we may not know the outcome of the 2020 presidential election for some time after November 3rd, we plan to gather in silent prayer each week on Thursday over the noon hour in City Park. We hope this will be a safe place where people can feel the warmth of a faith community in a time of uncertainty. We gather as a group of people from diverse faith backgrounds and perspectives.

JOIN US NEAR THE ROSE GARDEN IN CITY PARK

Please drop in or come every week. We ask that everyone who attends wears a mask and stays more than six feet away from others who do not share their household. This will be a silent event.

We hope to have a designated chaplain present at each gathering if you need someone to talk/pray with. We will also be sharing a weekly video on the Facebook event page that will introduce a prayer/spiritual practice from a different faith tradition. It is our hope that these videos will assist you in your own prayer time at home or when you come to the event.

This will not be a partisan or policy-oriented event. It is solely an opportunity for people to bring their hopes and prayers for our nation. Even as we may have different faith practices or political beliefs, we can be united in our desire for our nation to find peace in a tumultuous time.

​Join us as we worship together in real time on Facebook Live at 10:45 a.m. Central on Sunday (no login required). The service will also be posted to our YouTube channel before 10:45 a.m. each Sunday. 
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​If you are having difficulty accessing the online services, please don't be shy. Reach out to our church office so we can assist. We are also happy to send you a copy of the sermon via U.S. mail or e-mail. 

The worship video will also be posted here by 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. If the video below gives you an error, check back after that time and it should be ready to go. 

• We will be honoring the lives of people who died in the past year on All Saints Day on November 1st. If you have a person in your life whose name you would like to have read as a part of our worship service, please e-mail the name to the office by Oct. 25th. 
• We will gather again for outdoor communion on November 1st. Find details and sign up here. 
• We served 527 meals in the month of September through our Second Helping ministry. To read the monthly update and learn more about how you can support this ministry click here. 
• Board of Justice  & Witness updates: if you would like a BLM MHK yard sign please click here for more information and to order. Our J&W board has also put together some voting information including tips on making sure your vote is counted, 30 days of practice and reflection, and an invitation to upcoming League of Women Voters and KIFA events. You'll find it all here. 
• Our river is supplied with water from many streams that feed it. First Congregational UCC blessed with your giving and the generosity of members and friends. Throughout this month, our worship services will feature members who will share their thoughts on giving and generosity in an interview format. We will be sharing short videos with reflections from other members and other updates on our Friday email updates (sign up for Friday updates here). Additionally, be on the lookout for a special mailing from our stewardship committee later this week. It will include information about giving and your a blank pledge card that we are hoping you’ll be able to return before November 1st.
• We have two new resources on our website that you might find useful during the week. Visit uccmanhattan.org/devotionals to access free online devotionals anytime or uccmanhattan.org/music to access video and audio of music from our services.
• A reminder that we have several opportunities to gather via Zoom each week - Sunday and Monday School for adults and kids, Tuesday book group, youth group, and Thursday Prayers. You'll find the links on our website here. 

​​Join us as we worship together in real time on Facebook Live at 10:45 a.m. Central on Sunday (no login required). The service will also be posted to our YouTube channel before 10:45 a.m. each Sunday. 
​
​If you are having difficulty accessing the online services, please don't be shy. Reach out to our church office so we can assist. We are also happy to send you a copy of the sermon via U.S. mail or e-mail. 

The worship video will also be posted here by 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. If the video below gives you an error, check back after that time and it should be ready to go. 

Rev. Liz Miller of Edgewood United UCC in Lansing, MI created this resource for her congregation and gave permission for us to use it. Thank you, Rev. Miller! We will be sharing these each day on our social media or you can download the full calendar here. 

Our Board of Justice & Witness has prepared helpful tips for ensuring you are able to cast your vote this year. You'll find it here. 

• NEW adult Sunday School class begins next week and it's only TWO weeks long so you don't want to miss it. We are welcoming Mary Kay Whitacre from the Sophia Center in Atchison via Zoom. Mary Kay will lead us in a two-week exploration of Prayerful Pauses. Learn more about this special class that takes place Oct. 18 and 25 here. 
• We served 527 meals in the month of September through our Second Helping ministry. To read the monthly update and learn more about how you can support this ministry click here. 
• Board of Justice  & Witness updates: if you would like a BLM MHK yard sign please click here for more information and to order. Our J&W board has also put together some helpful tips for voting in the upcoming election and you'll find those here. 
• Our river is supplied with water from many streams that feed it. First Congregational UCC blessed with your giving and the generosity of members and friends. Throughout this month, our worship services will feature members who will share their thoughts on giving and generosity in an interview format. We will be sharing short videos with reflections from other members and other updates on our Friday email updates (sign up for Friday updates here). Additionally, be on the lookout for a special mailing from our stewardship committee later this week. It will include information about giving and your a blank pledge card that we are hoping you’ll be able to return before November 1st.
• We have two new resources on our website that you might find useful during the week. Visit uccmanhattan.org/devotionals to access free online devotionals anytime or uccmanhattan.org/music to access video and audio of music from our services.
• A reminder that we have several opportunities to gather via Zoom each week - Sunday and Monday School for adults and kids, Tuesday book group, youth group, and Thursday Prayers. You'll find the links on our website here. 

​Join us as we worship together in real time on Facebook Live at 10:45 a.m. Central on Sunday (no login required). The service will also be posted to our YouTube channel before 10:45 a.m. each Sunday. 
​
​If you are having difficulty accessing the online services, please don't be shy. Reach out to our church office so we can assist. We are also happy to send you a copy of the sermon via U.S. mail or e-mail. 

The worship video will also be posted here by 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. If the video below gives you an error, check back after that time and it should be ready to go. 

• Our river is supplied with water from many streams that feed it. First Congregational UCC blessed with your giving and the generosity of members and friends. Throughout this month, our worship services will feature members who will share their thoughts on giving and generosity in an interview format. We will be sharing short videos with reflections from other members and other updates on our Friday email updates (sign up for Friday updates here). Additionally, be on the lookout for a special mailing from our stewardship committee later this week. It will include information about giving and your a blank pledge card that we are hoping you’ll be able to return before November 1st.
• For more information about Communion on the Lawn and Drive Through Communion today click here. Please note ADVANCE SIGN UP is REQUIRED for Communion on the Lawn. 
• You are invited to help us "fill the breadbasket" for Second Helping on Oct. 4th. You can make a special donation (info on giving here) OR if you're coming to Communion in the afternoon you can bring items to donate. Here is more information about what items are needed. 
• Learn more about the upcoming Kansas-Oklahoma Conference Annual Meeting and register here. The event is free but pre-registration is required. 
• If you would like to provide financial support for those facing the devastation of the wildfires on the West Coast you can do so through the United Church of Christ. Click here to learn more and make your donation. 
• We have two new resources on our website that you might find useful during the week. Visit uccmanhattan.org/devotionals to access free online devotionals anytime or uccmanhattan.org/music to access video and audio of music from our services.
• Did you know we have a team called the Ministers of Care who provide care for those in our congregation who are in need of additional connection and support or are going through a major life transition? If you or someone you know needs some additional TLC, please let the church office or pastors know. 
• A reminder that we have several opportunities to gather via Zoom each week - Tuesday book group, Wednesday youth group, and Thursday Prayers. You'll find the links on our website here. 
• Our adult Sunday School class (via Zoom) is currently studying Forgiveness. The Tuesday book group begins a new book on Sep. 8th and would love to have new participants. You'll find information about both here. 
• We will be having weeknight Zoom classes for kids this year instead of Sunday morning classes. Reach out to Brandy (kids) or Brittani (youth) to make sure you're getting updates for kids' and youth activities. 

Join us as we worship together in real time on Facebook Live at 10:45 a.m. Central on Sunday (no login required). The service will also be posted to our YouTube channel before 10:45 a.m. each Sunday. 
​
​If you are having difficulty accessing the online services, please don't be shy. Reach out to our church office so we can assist. We are also happy to send you a copy of the sermon via U.S. mail or e-mail. 

The worship video will also be posted here by 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning. If the video below gives you an error, check back after that time and it should be ready to go. 

Our planning team reports that numbers of meals being served throughout MHK have gone up considerable with some Common Table venues regularly providing over 100 hot meals in the evenings. In September we served 235 hot meals to go; 244 lunches; 48 meals for the Pawnee Crisis Stabilization Center, for a total of 527 meals provided. We are now preparing 75 hot meals and 60 lunch sacks. That is counting on 60+ first servings and 11 meals to Pawnee. Cooks give out seconds when food is available. We continue to receive donations from local partners and members of our congregation and are so thankful for your support. 

A special shoutout this month to Reggie Moore who serves as our staff host. Reggie is present each Sunday evening to greet our guests and hand out meals. Because Reggie serves in this role at several other Common Table sites he provides a friendly and known face for our guests and consistency from site to site. We are so grateful for Reggie's service and we rely on your financial donations to fund this staff position. 

​Second Helping takes many, many people working behind the scenes to plan the menus, procure the groceries, prepare the lunches, bake homemade desserts, cook the food, and serve it. There are many ways to be involved with Second Helping - from coming in to cook to cooking at home, buying supplies or making a cash donation.

Want to help? Here’s how:
• Sign up to make desserts for 60 with the UCC Sign-Up Genius (you could do 30 and have a friend do 30)
• Help cook and prep on Sunday – contact Di
• Fix sack lunches during the week – contact Linda
• Porch drop fresh fruit (lunches), cookies, instant oatmeal, breakfast bars – contact Linda
• Bake dinner rolls, muffins or other goodies to include with our suppers – contact Linda​
• To make a cash donation to the Second Helping, please donate via PayPal and indicate "Second Helping" in the memo OR mail your check to 700 Poyntz, Manhattan, KS 66502 with "Second Helping" in the memo.