FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Open and Affirming
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Mission & History
    • Our Denomination
    • Building Use & Weddings
  • Worship
    • Online
    • Sunday Worship >
      • Sermons
    • Taizé Worship
    • Music
    • Special Worship Services >
      • Christmas 2022
      • Lent
  • Serve
    • Sign Ups
    • The Second Helping
    • Blessing Box
    • Work for Justice >
      • LGBTQ+
      • Anti-Racism
      • Immigration
      • Interfaith Connections
    • Global Connections
  • Learn
    • Children's Ministry
    • Youth Ministry
    • College Students
    • Adult Education
    • Devotionals
  • Connect
    • News and Updates
    • Calendar
    • Small Groups
    • Become a Member
    • Members' Area >
      • Church Directory
      • Online Forms
      • Upload Portal
  • Give
    • Donate Now
    • Pledge

Rabbi Moti Rieber to speak in worship March 18

2/27/2018

 
​We are honored to have Rabbi Moti Rieber speak at our service on Sunday, March 18.  Reb Moti is the Executive Director of Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA) and a life-long activist on peace, social justice, and environmental issues.  He is a regular presence at the state capitol and testifies at hearings and meets regularly with legislators in pursuit of KIFA goal of bringing a faith-based moral voice to public policy in Kansas. KIFA acts on the belief that everyone deserves equal opportunity and equal protection, and the right to live in peace per their principles, which includes discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other variables that describe marginalized populations. Reb Moti will speak on non-violence as a faith-based action for change. The Vitality Committee will host an extended Fellowship time with a light brunch and the opportunity to meet Reb Moti and learn more about KIFA and his current work in Topeka. 
Picture

Let Justice Flow: March Social Justice Update from the Vitality Committee

2/20/2018

 
Picture
​Mark your calendars…
Monday, March 5 - Stand with Muslim Neighbors Advocacy Day. KIFA and CAIR-Kansas are once again co-sponsoring Muslim Advocacy Day. All of us - Muslims, Christians, Jews, Unitarians, agnostics, and others - will visit the state capitol to let our legislators and the people of Kansas know how important our Muslim neighbors are to the well-being of our communities, and our refusal to see them victimized or singled-out, legally or politically.  A rally will begin at 10AM in the 2nd Floor Rotunda, and there will be activities throughout the day.  For more information and to register go to the KIFA website, www.kansasinterfaithaction.org

Thursday, March 15 - WEALTH Day. WEALTH stands for Water, Environment, Air, Land, Transportation and Health. This is our chance to make our concern for Creation visible to everyone! The day will start with an interfaith climate vigil at 9 AM, followed by a legislative briefing/training, meetings throughout the day, and a lunch with legislators. For a full agenda and to register for the event check the KIFA website.

Saturday, March 24 – Turn Off Your Lights.  Annual Earth Hour, 8:30 – 9:30 PM local time. 

April 3 – 5 - Unite to End Racism. 
The National Council of Churches invites us to unite to end racism! Join faith leaders in Washington, DC April 3-5 in the clarion call to heal the soul of the nation as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s assassination. Visit www.rally2endracism.org
 
Wednesday, May 9, 6:30pm. KIFA Annual Event, First Christian Church, Topeka 
Exciting announcement about the guest speaker is coming soon! 
 

 
Stay informed…

Want to keep up with UCC social justice actions at the national and global level?  Sign up for info-packed newsletter, Take Action, of the United Church of Christ, Justice & Peach Action Network, at www.ucc.org  They also have a FaceBook page.
 
Make a difference in 2018…
Last month, we started a short series based on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) Five Ways to Make a Difference in 2018.   The February newsletter discussed #1:  Start a Conversation (don’t stay silent when you hear words of hate), and suggested SPLC’s, Speak UP:  Responding to Everyday Bigotry, available free at their website, www.splcenter.org
​

#2 is Be Informed.  Martin Luther King, Jr. once wrote: "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Make a pledge to stay informed in 2018 about your government, your community and the injustices occurring to those around you. SPLC recommends On Tyranny, The March Against Fear, and The Blood of Emmett Till. You can sign up for the UCC newsletter, Take Action, or follow the SPLC on Facebook or request their newsletter.
 
#3 is Stay Engaged.  SPLC suggests volunteering with a cause that is important to you.  We have many opportunities at First Congregational!  Many community organization request help and there will be many opportunities to work for candidates and to get out the vote this fall.


Peace Training for 7-12th Graders - March 3

2/20/2018

 
Picture
Download PDF
Contact Tai Amri

Welcoming Dinner - March 10

2/20/2018

 
Picture
​On Saturday, March 10 we will gather together people who are new and new-ish to the church for a Welcoming Dinner. This is a lovely evening of breaking bread and getting to know each other. Those who attend will be given an opportunity to ask questions about First Congregational and meet some of our long-time members. The Board of Deacons assists Pastor Caela in hosting this event. If you are new to the church and want an invitation to the dinner, please e-mail Pastor Caela. 

Living Room Worship Night

2/13/2018

 
​Living Room Worship Night
Sunday, March 4
6:30 - 8:30 pm


A casual evening of acoustic guitar, singing, prayer, and fellowship.
If you are hungry to deepen your connection to God and each other,
join us in the living room! Location: 205 Cedar Drive, Manhattan 66502
​Questions? Contact Kerry Priest, Rachel Shivers, or Lisa Tatonetti. 
Picture

Community Lenten Lunches

2/13/2018

 
This year First United Methodist will be privileged to host the Community Lenten Lunch series of the Manhattan Ministerial Association. The theme of our Lenten Lunches will be “The Final Words of Christ from the Cross.” During each luncheon we will hear from a Pastor of another Christian denomination here in Manhattan. They will plan a 30 minute worship service unique to their own worship style. We will have the rich diversity from Roman Catholic to Mennonite expressions. See below for our worship leaders.

Every Wednesday noon we will gather for a church provided lunch in the church’s Fellowship Hall, followed by a 30 minute worship service. The food line will be prepared at 11:45 am with our worship service beginning at 12:15 pm. Everything will conclude a little before 1:00 pm so people can return to work. A free will donation will be accepted, suggested amount $8.

RESERVATIONS ARE APPRECIATED. Please call the church office, 785-776-8821 or go to the website, www.fumcmanhattan.com to make your meal reservation every week prior to Monday noon.

SCHEDULE OF SPEAKERS:
February 21: Father Kerry Ninemire, Seven Dolors Roman Catholic Church

February 28: Rev. Jerry Reynolds, First Lutheran Church 
March 7: Rev. Helen Hutchison, Trinity Presbyterian Church
March 14: Richard and Barbara Gehring, Manhattan Mennonite Church
March 21: Rev. Valencia Jackson, Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
March 28: Rev. John Parsley, First Baptist Church

Christianity & Anti-Semitism: A Troubling History

2/13/2018

 
Picture
Feb. 18 through Mar. 18 (five weeks)
Christianity and Anti-Semitism: A Troubling History
Led by Brent Maner


During the season of Lent--a time set aside for reflection, prayer, and penitence--this Sunday School class will examine the horrible place of anti-Jewish violence in Christian history. We will use the insights of historians and theologians to unpack the descriptions of Jews in the New Testament and in early Christianity that became features of Western anti-Semitism from the Middle Ages to the present day. We will also strengthen our own commitment to justice and our belief in God’s universal love by considering the efforts by religious leaders to overcome this troubling history through prayer, atonement, and interfaith dialogue

COURSE PACKET INFORMATION

Feb. 18, Week 1                Overview of the class
Please read: Anti-Defamation League’s Brief History of Anti-Semitism, 4 pages
  • How many times does this brief overview refer to Christianity and religious institutions?
 
Feb. 25, Week 2                A Medieval turning point
Please read: “Making a Martyr: William of Norwich and the Jews” by Miri Rubin (History Today, June 2010), 6 pages 
Two options to access:
 1) If you are part of the K-State community, please download this article through K-State Libraries. Go to: http://www.lib.k-state.edu/. Type “Making a Martyr: William of Norwich” into the main “Search It” box, choose “View It” under the first item; choose one of the databases; log in. It cannot be posted to the church web site for copyright reasons.
2) If you are not a part of the K-State community, you can access via the State Library of KS databases.  1. Go to the State Library of KS databases: https://kslib.info/422/Online-Databases. Select Academic Search Premier. Type or copy and paste into the search box: Making a martyr William of Norwich. You should see one article, click on the PDF option at the bottom of the record to see the version with pictures
  • Note how the story of William of Norwich’s death coincides with Passover and Holy Week.
  • How do the images (mostly religious art) depict the story of William of Norwich?

March 4, Week 3              Offending passages: Jesus and the Pharisees; the Crucifixion
Please read the following short article for this week: "Holy Week and the Hatred of the Jews: How to Avoid Anti-Judaism this Easter," by Amy-Jill Levine
http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2017/04/08/4650428.htm

March 11
, Week 4           Offending passages: Paul and the Jews


March 18, Week 5           Martin Luther and the Jews
 
Resources that I’ve been using to prepare for the class:
David Nirenberg, Anti-Judaism: The Western Tradition (2013)
Helmut Walser Smith, The Butcher’s Tale: Murder and Anti-Semitism in a German Town (2003)
Clark Williamson, Has God Rejected His People? Anti-Judaism in the Christian Church (1982)


Living Room Worship - March 4

2/5/2018

 
Living Room Worship Night
Sunday, March 4
6:30 - 8:30 pm


A casual evening of acoustic guitar, singing, prayer, and fellowship.
If you are hungry to deepen your connection to God and each other,
join us in the living room! Location: 205 Cedar Drive, Manhattan 66502
Picture

Photos from the Ordination of the Rev. Sean Weston

2/5/2018

 
January 28, 2018

Order your 2018 UCC Lenten Devotionals Now

2/5/2018

 
Journey through Lent with the UCC Stillspeaking Writers group. We've ordered a few copies of this year's devotional book. If you'd like one, please contact the church office. The cost for each book was $5 and you can reimburse the church as you are able. An excerpt from the Lovers and Fools, the 2018 Lenten Devotional: 

"If you're beginning this devotional on Ash Wednesday, (February 14) you may have noticed how hard it was to get a dinner reservation after worship. If you look ahead to Easter, (April 1) you'll find it's also doing double duty. 

As Christians, we always live between two calendars. We celebrate a new year in November. We're confused when our pastor insists on green paraments for the first week in July, not red, white, and blue. We set aside this season for solemn study and reflection, and to the rest of the world it remains six ordinary weeks between Valentine's and April Fool's Day. 
​

How then should we observe this crowded season? What does Lent have to do with lovers and fools?"
Picture

    News Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    August 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016

    Categories

    All
    Children
    Community Events
    Engage
    Justice
    Pastor Sue's Sermons
    Small Groups
    Worship

    Connect

    Join our e-mail list
    E-news archive
    Get Social

    Print
    Newsletters
    January 2021
    February 2021
    March 2021
    April 2021
    May 2021
    June 2021
    July 20201
    August 2021
    September 2021
    October 2021
    November 2021
    December 2021


    ​Older Newsletters
    ​

Picture
God loves the rainbow. 
First Congregational United Church of Christ 
700 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, KS  66502
785-537-7006

© 2022 First Congregational United Church of Christ. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Open and Affirming
    • Our Leadership
    • Our Mission & History
    • Our Denomination
    • Building Use & Weddings
  • Worship
    • Online
    • Sunday Worship >
      • Sermons
    • Taizé Worship
    • Music
    • Special Worship Services >
      • Christmas 2022
      • Lent
  • Serve
    • Sign Ups
    • The Second Helping
    • Blessing Box
    • Work for Justice >
      • LGBTQ+
      • Anti-Racism
      • Immigration
      • Interfaith Connections
    • Global Connections
  • Learn
    • Children's Ministry
    • Youth Ministry
    • College Students
    • Adult Education
    • Devotionals
  • Connect
    • News and Updates
    • Calendar
    • Small Groups
    • Become a Member
    • Members' Area >
      • Church Directory
      • Online Forms
      • Upload Portal
  • Give
    • Donate Now
    • Pledge