Adult Sunday School continues. We all need a time to check in and spend time in conversation and prayer these days. Join us Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome. We meet via Zoom | click here for login information
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April 5 Taking time to talk. We will begin with 10-15 minutes of sharing our fears and frustrations, followed by guided breathing and awareness. We will end with talking about the blessings in our life. Deane Lehmann, facilitator. 

April 12 Easter breakfast. Just because we can't physically eat together doesn't mean we can't virtually eat together. Let's get to see the kiddos again, show off our cooking skills (or lack thereof) and learn how to use the chat function. Yes, you can chat with individuals! Deane Lehmann, mute minder.

April 19 (TBA)

April 26, May3, May 10. We are looking for volunteers to lead a class. We have access to Work of the People videos. We have a group of people who can easily fill an hour with conversation and insights. Is there a topic you have wanted to explore but didn't want to commit to weeks of facilitating? Well, this is your opportunity!

Please contact Sue Zschoche or Deane Lehmann. 

By Steve Bishop
Board of Facilities
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            Over and over again, in every city I visit, I find myself looking at churches; all prove to be as unique and as individual as the people who congregate inside. I will admire the tall ceilings, stained glass windows and architectural features that seem like they have been formed by Christ him/her self. Recently I realized I’ve been looking at them all wrong. It has taken time away from our church building that has made me adjust my sights to look for the real church, the one within, behind the glass, rock and wood, the Church that exists whether or not a building is there to shelter it.
            Our building is great, but it’s just rock and wood. I think Rev. Blood knew that when he started out in 1855 with only a tent, a trunk and some kegs to sit on. He wasn’t much concerned with a building yet as he knew to have a church he also had to have nails to hold it together. Those nails, he found, were in the love and spirit of the people who graced it with their presence. Without them he would have only had rock and wood. As the love grew and that spirit persisted, the evolution of our church began. Only then did he have the makings of a solid structure: the rock and the wood along with the “nails” held it together.
            I say this now because it seems God has laid our congregation bare, stripping away that rock and wood exposing us and testing our strength. We have been forced away from our church, away from the safety and sanctity of our rock and wood, and yet the love (we “nails”) remain. This love is evident in our church leadership who scrambled to put together worship alternatives, their personal fears running simultaneous with the worry for their church family. They went to work immediately, made plans to shelter in place, to meet online, to regroup and take a head count and reassure us that we are all still here, safe. The nails, independent of the rock and wood remain, maybe a bit scattered for the time being but we remain, strong and steadfast with our love for one another.
            The pews may very well be our couches now, and our computers stand in lieu of a pulpit. It would be easy to feel disconnected from one another but take a look outside – the sun that shines down and warms my soul is the same sun that is shining down warming yours, warming us all. The spring breeze I feel on my face is the same breeze you will feel. All of our grass is greening, our trees beginning to bud, and our early spring flowers have begun making their escape from winters grasp, all under that same sun. Nature is moving forward regardless of whether it's in my yard or yours and our church is doing the same. We all ache with uncertainty right now, perhaps just as the congregation did in our church’s beginning. Rev. Blood knew that even though a tornado tore the roof of the building off in 1859, it would not spoil the spirit of the people, they would hold together to weather many, many storms. Pastor Caela knows this too, her nails are strewn, but remain. We find us weathering this new storm, but we will do it together; through the good, the bad, the happy, and the sad, we are the nails that connect us to one another and to the Church.
            We will reunite with each other soon, once again at work holding together our rock and wood. Perhaps we will sing just a bit louder and spend a bit longer passing the peace and just maybe our conversations will outlast the cookies and coffee at fellowship hour, doing what we do best: holding each other together, inside our rock and wood. 

Hello Friends and Members of First Congregational in Manhattan:
 
Through this post, I am seeking to find volunteers for the Sunday evening 2nd Helping dinners.  Traditionally, many of our volunteers are more mature congregants or college students from K-State.  Given the physical closure of the University and the high-risk factors associated with the Coronavirus, we are finding ourselves short on volunteers, therefore I am reaching out to ask each of you to consider your willingness to volunteer at 2nd Helping.  

Currently, the meals are prepared in the church, but are distributed outside of the church in to-go containers to help minimize the risk to our outside volunteers and neighbors.  There are also a number of other protocols being put into place for the purpose of safeguarding all involved with 2nd Helping.
 
Further, while we value anyone who is willing to volunteer, for the safety of all we ask you not to volunteer if you are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID meet any of the quarantine criteria below. We also strongly recommend that those in the high-risk category not volunteer as well.
 
If you are unable to volunteer at Second Helping, we still welcome your support. Monetary donations can be made via PayPal or mailed to the church (First Congregational UCC, 700 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, KS 66502).
 
Thank you for your support of this important ministry,
 
Di Hinrichs-Toburen, Ph.D.
Second Helping Volunteer Coordinator
e-mail Di
 
 
 
The criteria for the two categories mentioned above are as follows:
 
Please do NOT volunteer if you meed any of the recommendations for self-quarantine from KDHE as of 3/15 (source) – may be superseded by updates at kdheks.gov or cdc.gov

• Traveled to a state with known widespread community transmission (currently California, New York and Washington state) on or after March 15.
• Visited Eagle, Summit, Pitkin and Gunnison counties in Colorado within the past week.
• Traveled on a cruise ship on or after March 15.
  • People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their cruise ship travel should finish out their quarantine.
• Traveled internationally on or after March 15.
  • People who have previously been told by Public Health to quarantine because of their international travel should finish out their quarantine.
• Received notification from public health officials (state or local) that you are a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19. You should quarantine at home for 14 days since your last contact with the case. (A close contact is defined as someone who has been closer than 6 feet for more than 10 minutes while the patient is symptomatic.)

We strongly recommend that you do NOT volunteer if you meet any of the high-risk criteria defined by the CDC (source)

• Older adults
• People who have serious chronic medical conditions such as:
  • Heart Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Lung disease

 

Ash Wednesday is February 26
Ash Wednesday is a Christian tradition that prepares us for the Lenten season
before Easter. The reasons Christians receive ashes on the forehead are twofold:
1. As a call to grieve and repent from the ways they have become separated from
God and Neighbor and 2. As a humble reminder of the dust from which we came
and the dust to which we’ll return.


Worship with imposition of ashes: Wednesday at 7pm
We invite you to join us for an interactive worship service at 7:00 p.m. in Pioneer-
Blachly Hall. Together, we will enter the Wilderness of Lent and each participant
will have the opportunity to create a piece of wilderness to take home as a focal
point for their own Lenten journey. If you'd like to bring your own clear
vase/wide-mouthed jar to use for your centerpiece, please do. We will also have
​containers on hand for you to use if you don't bring your own.

Ashes also available: Wednesday, 6-9am and 12-1pm
For those unable to attend the evening service, the Deacons and Pastor Caela will
also offer the imposition of ashes in the Sanctuary from 6:00-9:00 a.m. and noon-
1:00 p.m. We are also able to bring ashes to your home if you are unable to make
it to church - please contact the church office to make a request.

Continual Day of Prayer: Tuesday at 7pm through Wednesday at 7pm
The Deacons invite you to sign up for one or more slots in our Continual Prayer
Day. Enjoy the quiet peace of our sanctuary and help us create a 24-hour period
of prayer and reflection. A basket with materials to guide your time will be
provided. You may want to read devotionals or scripture, draw or color, create
music, or simply rest in God’s presence. Invite a friend to join you if you’d rather
have company during your shift! Paper sign ups are on the office door or you
can sign up online.

Ash Wednesday Material Donations Needed:
This year’s Ash Wednesday worship service will take us into the Wilderness as we begin the season
of Lent. Participants will get to make their old piece of “wilderness” to take home.
We are seeking donations of the following between now and Feb. 20th:

• sticks/branches (2-4 feet in length, able to be broken into smaller pieces)
• clear vases with wide mouths (note: will not be returned)
• smooth river stones (for writing on with Sharpies)
• sand  decorative moss

Please drop off donations in the church office or leave them outside Pastor Caela’s
door if the office is closed. Thank you!

READ MORE ABOUT OBSERVING THE SEASON OF LENT WITH US HERE

Ash Wednesday is February 26th and as we prepare for the season of Lent, we have two requests for you!

Continual Prayer Day
Deacons are planning to try a Continual Prayer Day starting on Tuesday, February 25th at 7 pm through Wednesday February 26th at 7 pm. Members will have time to sit in the quiet of the sanctuary to pray and reflect. This will not replace the Ash Wednesday service at 7pm, but we hope to enhance the beginning of your Lenten journey. People are encouraged to sign up for a half hour slot or more. You may also sign up as a
group or by yourself. There are paper sign ups available at church or you can sign up online.
Questions? Contact Gayle Doll. 

Ash Wednesday Material Donations Needed
This year’s Ash Wednesday worship service will take us into the Wilderness as we begin the season of Lent. Participants will get to make their old piece of “wilderness” to take home.

We are seeking donations of the following between now and Feb. 20th:

• sticks/branches (2-4 feet in length, able to be broken into smaller pieces)
• clear vases with wide mouths (note: will not be returned)
  
• smooth river stones (for writing on with Sharpies)
  
• sand  
  
• decorative moss

Please drop off donations in the church office or leave them outside Pastor Caela’s door if the office is closed. Thank you!

The First UCC People Books
 
Friday, September 13, 2019
6:30 – 9:00 PM
Blachly Room
 
We need  books and readers.
Books are created by people who wish to tell their story of: a personal experience, a unique experience, or something that matters to them.
Readers experience a new way of listening to gain an understanding of the book’s experience and perspective.
This innovative event, modeled on “The Human Library Project”  offers a comfortable environment for us to meet, ask questions, and learn from each other.

To apply to be a “people book”, please go to:  http://bit.ly/uccpeoplebooks

There you will find more information to help you create your book.

To be a “reader”, just come.  There will be just a few directions given at the event.
 
The Vitality Committee invites all to participate. We will provide the main dish, drinks and dessert.  If you wish to bring a side dish please do.

It’s Feast and Festival time! – Join us August 18th at 6 pm in Pioneer and Blachly Halls. Feast and Festival is an evening of food, fellowship, and fun! It is open to everyone. The Deacons will provide a cafeteria-style meal of pulled pork or fried chicken, baked beans, pasta salad, chips, and ice cream (vegetarian options also available). After you’ve eaten, you can visit the craft table offered by the Ministry of the Decorative Scissors, try your luck at the cake/dessert walk, and visit Leo Schell outside for a new and fun activity (weather permitting). Monetary donations are requested and if you have a cake/dessert to donate, it will be appreciated! Our friends from Second Helping will join us. 
 

If you've been looking for a place where you can ask ANYTHING, grow in your faith, and be your full, beautiful, complicated self while connecting with other people.....we've got you covered. Sunday School is a great way for people of ALL AGES to learn, grow, and connect. We gather at 9:30am throughout the school year. You can come every week or once in a while. If you have any questions about our Sunday School options, please reach out to us. We'd be happy to tell you more!

Kids Sunday School 
Children aged 3 through 6th grade are divided into age-appropriate groups and taught by our team of dedicated Sunday School teachers.This is a time for children to experience the Bible through music, art, and more as they gather with other children their own age to grow in Christ.

The first Sunday of each month is Yoga + Donuts. Kids from all of the community join the teachers from Shining Light Yoga for movement, games, mindfulness, and donuts (of course). You can learn more about Shining Light and pre-register for these free classes here. 

The second and third Sunday of each month are Bible study. Kids are divided into a younger class (ages 3 through 3rd grade) and older class (4th-6th grade) and are taught by a team of volunteers and staff. All adults who work with our children in these settings have been through a background check and parents are always welcome to visit the classroom to see what your kids are learning. 
Younger class curriculum: Deep Blue Kids
Older class curriculum: Submerge

The fourth Sunday of each month is rehearsal for our kids choir. The kids learn a new song and share it with the congregation during worship that morning. 

Fifth Sundays are service projects that rotate throughout the school year. So far our kids have helped with the Blessing Box and Second Helping preparation. We look forward to seeing what they'll do this school year!

Youth Sunday School 
If you are in 7th-12th grade and interested in Sunday School, please reach out to our Director of Youth Ministries, Brittani Shank. We have some youth who like  to volunteer with the younger kids' classes and others who have attended our adult classes. If there are teens who are interested in having a teen class, please let Brittani know! We want to make sure we're offering what you need and want. 

Adult Sunday School 
We kick off this Sunday with a two-week series led by Pastor Caela called God Glasses. We'll take a break Labor Day weekend and then Greg Eiselein will be leading a six-week class on the history of the Bible. Classes for the remainder of the fall semester will be announced soon! Check our our adult ed page to read full descriptions of these classes. 

Nursery Care
Kids ages 3 and younger are always welcome in our nursery. Our staff are background-checked, safe church trained, and and CPR certified. We look forward to welcoming your babies and toddlers in our nursery!