You are invited to join a conversation to inform action around race and mass incarceration in America. A new book study of The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander is beginning July 1st via Zoom.

This group will meet every other week on Wednesdays at 7 pm. The study will be facilitated by Cassidy Moreau and will be open to the community.

​The group will involve reading the book, discussing questions, and action steps to help us all--together--chip away at the systematic racism in our country. The book can be found digitally through Kindle, and similar apps. It is also available via Hoopla through the public library. If you have any questions, please contact Cassidy directly or email the church office to get in touch with her. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71411719856?pwd=QWRTZTEwbE16MldwTElORGVoM1NzQT09
Meeting ID: 714 1171 9856 / Password: 66502

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We have an annual tradition of blessing the animals in our congregation each summer. This year we will bless our pets during our online worship on Sunday, June 28th. Please submit photos of your pets using our online form.

The deadline for submissions is June 19th. 

The Deacons would also like to drop off a treat for your pet on your porch. If that sounds good to you, there's a place to indicate your interest on the online form. 

During worship on the 28th, be sure to have your pet nearby. As the photos are shown, please hold your pet close and offer a blessing. We've included some suggested words below or you can use your own. If your pet doesn't mind water, you can also sprinkle some water on your pet. 

Words for Pet Blessing:
NAME, beloved creature of God. Know that you are a blessing and we are so grateful for your presence in our lives. Amen. 

As we continue to worship online, we’ve learned in tangible ways that “real good church” can happen anywhere. Many have told us they kind of like worshipping in their PJs or cuddled up with family and pets on the couch! We also know that many of us miss the connection with have with our church building. It is a sacred space and something about being there opens our hearts to the movement of the Spirit in real ways. 

If you are missing that connection with our church building or simply need a “set aside” place to pray, we invite you to spend some time in prayer outside our church building at 700 Poyntz. You could bring a picnic blanket and sit on the lawn or bring a lawn chair from home. You might want to gaze up at the cloud floating overhead beyond our limestone walls or watch people pass by on Juliette or Poyntz. The front steps of the church, the big limestone sign, and the space outside the Juliette entrance are all nice places to find some quiet. As you come to the property to pray, we ask that you do not congregate with other people. If you notice someone else is praying, please come back at a later time. 

We encourage you to snap a photo and/or write down your prayer to share via social media. You might even want to record a video of your prayer time. You can share these in the Facebook group or upload on our website at uccmanhattan.org/photo-video-portal. Please note if you do NOT want your post shared publicly via our Facebook page. Think about how neat it would be to see a prayer from one of our members every day this summer. Even though we can’t be together in the sanctuary right now, we are still united through the Spirit. 

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Kansas Interfaith Action invites you to join us for our 2020 Annual Event, on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 6:30 pm. This year, we will gather virtually.

Our featured speaker will the the Reverend Dr. Cassandra Gould, Executive Director of Missouri Faith Voices.

We are honoring Rev. Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan, who is stepping out of the role of KIFA Board Chair after nearly 5 years.

Rep. Don Hineman will receive the “Legislator of the Year” Award.

The program begins at 6:30 pm.
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For more information and to purchase tickets please click here. If you are unable to attend, but wish to support the work of Kansas Interfaith Action with a tax-deductible donation, please click here.

Want to share the First Congregational UCC love? Miss your church fam? We would like to give you a gift to help us all feel connected AND let other people in the community know about our congregation. Yard signs are available and we will deliver them to your house (contactless, of course). They are 18x24 corrugated plastic with a metal stand. Locally printed by Thomas Sign Company. 

These signs are two-sided, so you can display your favorite message or set up the sign so that both sides can be seen. We hope to have them by the end of May, so just let us know if you'd like one delivered. You can contact your Neighborhood Captain or simply e-mail the church office. 

Guests and new attendees are invited to join us for Discovering First Congregational on Sunday, May 31st at 11:30 a.m. (immediately after worship). At this low-key gathering with our pastors, you'll have a chance to learn more about our congregation and our beliefs...plus, we'll make sure you get to meet a couple other people from our congregation. 

We look forward to meeting you and learning more about you! No need to RSVP, just show up on Zoom and let us know if you have any questions (office@uccmanhattan.org).

*****
Zoom with us by clicking this link: https://ksu.zoom.us/j/7845246295 
*****

Or call in for audio only:
Meeting ID: 784 524 6295
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Meeting ID: 784 524 6295
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The Manhattan Public Library is a treasure trove of awesomeness. Books, magazines, movies, video games and more! During COVID-19 many folks who haven't taken the leap to learn how to access their online resources are starting to think, "Hmmmm. Maybe I should learn how to check out an e-book or audiobook!"

We are so pleased to have some of the staff of MPL join us for this Facebook Live event at Noon on Wednesday, May 13th. The video will be live on the First Congregational UCC Manhattan KS Facebook Page.

Pastor Caela will be talking with them about how to check out e-books, read magazines, listen to audiobooks, watch movies and MORE without ever leaving your couch. Once you've started accessing these online resources, you'll be so glad you did.

Let us know your questions ahead of time by posting them on our Facebook Event Page (or e-mailing Caela) and be sure to invite your friends. ​

MISSED IT? PDF HANDOUTS HERE:
Learn to use Sunflower eLibrary 
Learn to use Hoopla

WATCH THE SESSION HERE:

Have you ever wished you could be the head cook for 2nd Helping, but alas had never gotten the opportunity to be trained?  Well this is your opportunity to get trained so you can run the show on a Sunday evening!

Linda Thurston will be holding a training via Zoom for anyone who is interested in cooking for 2nd helping.  The training will be this coming Sunday, May 3rd at 2pm.  

Topic: Second Helping Head Cook Training
Time: May 3, 2020 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84403637696 

Meeting ID: 844 0363 7696
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,84403637696# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,84403637696# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
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        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
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        +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 844 0363 7696
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kd5xRk4Td

A few weeks ago, we got together to talk about prayer because we know many people are struggling right now and WISH they could pray....but don't know how or where to begin. We talked about some of the things that get in the way of prayer and what we think prayer is (spoiler: we don't think it's just "talking to God").

Ben shared about how prayer is a transformational experience. Caela talked about prayer as orienting ourselves towards God. Both pastors agreed that it goes WAYYYYYY beyond words and shared some of the non-wordy-type ways of praying that work for them.

Missed the first conversation? Check out the recorded version below. 

Join us on MONDAY, May 18th at 12pm Central for another conversation on Facebook Live.

This time we're going to dive into Centering Prayer. And...we are still here to answer your questions. So hit us up with those by Monday if you can. You can email either one of us or text them to 785-380-7772.

Rev. Caela Simmons Wood is the pastor of First Congregational UCC in Manhattan, KS. Rev. Ben Konecny is a minister at First Congregational UCC in Greeley, CO. ​

(Note: this conversation is rescheduled from May 8th when we had technical difficulties.)