UCC Neighbors in Need Appeal – Behold!

On October 2, our congregation will gather donations for the Neighbors in Need offering, which supports the UCC’s ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States. This year’s theme is Behold!
 
Two-thirds of the offering is used to fund a wide array of local and national justice initiatives, advocacy efforts, and direct service projects. The UCC Justice and Peace Action Network continues its strong policy advocacy work on issues such as the federal budget, voting rights, immigration, health care, hate crimes, civil liberties, and environmental justice.
 
One-third of the offering supports the UCC’s Council for American Indian Ministries (CAIM). Historically, forebears of the UCC established churches and worked with Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, Mandan, Hidatsa, Arickara, and Hocak in North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, and northern Nebraska. Today there are 20 UCC congregations on reservations and one urban, multi-tribal UCC congregation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. These churches and their pastors are supported by CAIM. CAIM is also an invaluable resource for more than 1,000 individuals from dozens of other tribes and nations who are members of other UCC congregations in the U.S.
 
Behold! With your assistance, we together can help our Neighbors in Need.  Please give generously. And remember, contributions to Neighbors in Need can be made online at anytime. You can donate anytime online via our PayPal and be sure to write "NIN" in the "instructions to seller" box. 

UCC Strengthen the Church Appeal – All Together!
By Jean Steiner, Mission Board Chair

The UCC special appeal for Strengthen the Church was held during Pentecost.  Unfortunately, as chair of the Mission Board, I neglected to organize our congregation’s appeal.  The Mission Board wants to correct this omission now. 

The vision of the UCC fills an important need in our community, nation, and world.  Our commitment to love one another – every single other – is a difficult challenge.  The past few years posed special challenges - and extra expenses – to maintain and extend our welcoming community to all. 
 
Conferences in the UCC work to support leaders, connect congregations, engage youth and young adults, and to imag­ine together a just world for all. And the Strengthen the Church offering makes this revitalizing work possible.
 
Please join me in making a gift to the Strengthen the Church Offering so that All Together! we can answer God’s call to be the church. You can donate anytime online via our PayPal and be sure to write "Strengthen the Church" in the "instructions to seller" box. 
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Each fall, our Member Engagement Committee invites members and friends to serve through our congregation by serving on our various boards and committees. ​A congregation, like any other group of people needs leadership! Our shared ministry here at First Congregational UCC relies heavily on the work of dedicated volunteers and professional staff. As a congregational church, we essentially function like a democracy in many ways. Key decisions are made by the members of our congregation - sometimes in congregational meetings where we all have a voice and vote and sometimes by those we have delegated to work on our behalf (officers, boards, committees, and staff). 

You can learn more about our governing structure and our boards and committees here.  

In 2023, we are trying an experiment. We know that some folks are very happy to serve but don't necessarily want to attend meetings on a regular basis. Some of our boards are going to try a new model where only 3-4 board members will attend regular meetings. The work of the board will be supported by auxiliary members who will not attend meetings but will, instead, be available to help the board with specific tasks as needed. 

Each week in worship we are invited into a time of generosity as we pass the offering plates. We remind ourselves that we share our financial resources AND we are called to share our time and skills. Whether that's volunteering with Second Helping, teaching our children and youth, serving on the tech team, organizing a welcoming dinner for new members, showing up at the state house to advocate for justice, or changing lightbulbs and raking leaves, there are so many ways to support our congregation. We hope you'll prayerfully consider how you are being called to best use your gifts as we live into our church covenant together.

Receiving bread is at the center of Christian community. Jesus shared bread with his disciples, but also with everyone from sinners to huge crowds of complete strangers! Loaves of bread are tangible signs of God’s unconditional love for us and for all. What better way to celebrate our commitment to following God’s example of loving every single other than by sharing bread?!

The Stewardship Committee invites you to stay after worship on Sunday, October 9 for a continued celebration of World Communion Sunday. Those who are able are asked to bring bread to share (homemade or purchased) that has special meaning to you – maybe because it represents something about your ethnic or national heritage, or someplace you have lived in the past, or it calls to mind a special event in your life. Gluten-free options will be available.

Even if you can’t bring bread, everyone is welcome to stay and share the gift of fellowship and informal communion. We hope to see you there!

​The Stewardship Committee (Donna Keyser, Julie Appino, and Sarah Kaufman)
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Fall classes kick off on August 21st!

Sunday School for Children - 9:30 a.m., in person only 
Kids ages 3 through 5th grade are invited to join us for Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. Each week we'll do some singing and learning together. 1st through 3rd Sundays are traditional Sunday School with Bible stories and activities. 4th and 5th Sundays are times for service learning with special guests! If your child plans to attend, please be sure and fill out a Child Information Form and reach out to Brandy with any questions. 

Adult and Teen Sunday School, 9:30 a.m., in-person or via Zoom
The Table is at the center of Christian community. Receiving the bread and cup - also known as names like Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper, and the Eucharist - is a central practice in Christian worship, of course. And community also happens around the table as we study our holy texts together. These acts of sharing food, stories, knowledge, questions, conversation shape us as we seek to live generously, with Jesus as our guide. Join us this fall as we explore 8 central stories from the Bible that invite us to think more deeply about The Table and commit ourselves to live generously in God’s ways of love for all. If your teen plans to attend, please be sure and fill out a Youth Information Form. Questions? Reach out to Pastor Caela. 

Tuesday Class, 11:30 a.m., via Zoom
The Tuesday Bible Book Club took a summer hiatus – but we were only partially through a book. Beginning on Tuesday, August 23rd, we will continue reading Trust Women: A Progressive Christian Argument for Reproductive Justice by Rebecca Todd Peters. It is timely reading: Trust Women is an extremely thoughtful examination of the issue of abortion. Even if you didn’t start the book with us, please know that we have only read a third of it – it will be easy to catch up! The book group has found what we have read so far to be personally and spiritually challenging, inviting us to think about the lives of women in new ways. Please consider joining our lively discussions. The Bible Book Club is led by Pastor Sue and meets via Zoom every Tuesday from 11:30 to 1:00. We hope that you will join us on August 23rd. Questions? Reach out to Pastor Sue. 

Wow! ECM at K-State is celebrating 101 years of ministry! Join us on Sunday, May 8th at Long's Park as we welcome guests from ECM and celebrate with them. And then on Sunday, May 15th we'll have guests from ECM with us at 9:30 a.m. (church basement or via Zoom) to share about what ECM is up to and answer our questions. We're excited to welcome these partners in campus ministry and deepen our relationship with them.

You can learn more about ECM on their website (https://www.ecmatkstate.org/) and you're encouraged to sign up for their e-mail list and/or follow them on social media. ​

It's time for our annual Blessing of the Animals and Worship in the Park. Join us at (shady) Long's Park on Sunday, May 8th at 10:45 a.m. for this special service. Childcare staff will be on hand to care for young kids who want to explore the playground or the rest of the park.

After worship we'll have a good ol' fashioned potluck and friends from ECM at K-State (our campus ministry) are coming to visit with us so we can help them celebrate 101 years in ministry.

Things to bring to the park:
- your own lawn chair, if you have one
- a potluck dish to share
- your own tableservice, to reduce our use of disposable dishes
- your pet (or stuffed animal!) for a blessing
***If you have any questions about accessibility at the park, please let us know.

For those worshiping at home, please use the regular Zoom link. If you have an animal you'd like blessed at home, please reach out to Pastor Caela so she can arrange a visit.
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Grow Green Match Day is a community fundraising event that offers a 50% match on gifts given on April 22! Give online, in-person, or by mail. Details below!

This year we will use any funds given for continued technology upgrades to our sanctuary and general budget support. Your donation goes to the Church, PLUS contributions ranging from $25 to $1,000 will receive a local match at $.50 per $1, so a $1,000 gift can receive a $500 local match. The match amount will go into the Church's endowment account at the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation.

Please note that your gift is considered over and above any pledged giving.



Three options for giving:
1) Give online
Gifts can be made online from 12:00 a.m. -11:59 p.m. on April 22. Simply visit https://www.growgreenmanhattan.com on the day of the event.

2) Give via check

• Download the 2022 GROW Green Giving Form after April 1 at https://www.growgreenmanhattan.com
• Print and complete the form
• Write ONE check for the entire donation made out to GMCF
• Mail the check and donation form (postmarked on or before 4/22/22) to GMCF, P.O. Box 1127, Manhattan, KS  66505
  

3) Give in person
Friday, April 22, 2022
7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
555 Poyntz Avenue, Colony Square Atrium

With gratitude to our local educators, the School Staff Appreciation Committee wrote a letter that was shared with all administrators and board members in USD 383.