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 Rabbi Moti Rieber, executive director of Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA), will be in our pulpit on Sunday, November 15th with an update about KIFA’s work. Kansas Interfaith Action is a statewide, multi–faith issue–advocacy organization that “puts faith into action” by educating, engaging and advocating on behalf of people of faith and the public regarding critical social, economic, and climate justice issues.
KIFA (pronounced “KEE–fa”) supporters are shaped by the values of our diverse faiths, which connect us to an age–old concern for justice, peace, and human dignity. Rooted in faith, we join hands across difference to work for moral public policy in Kansas.

You are encouraged to invite your friends to join us for worship on November 15th! Please visit https://www.kansasinterfaithaction.org/ to learn more about KIFA. ​
 
Rabbi Moti will also join us for Fellowship Hour on Zoom on the following Sunday, Nov. 22nd. Join us at 11:45 a.m. that day on Zoom to chat with Rabbi Moti and learn more about KIFA. 
​

​One of the tender things about this time is feeling like the Church has really gone out into the world and into our homes. We can join for Prayers & Fellowship from our back deck and have grown accustomed to worshiping from our couches and dining room tables. As we anticipate the arrival of Emmanuel - God with Us - in our homes this December, we want to invite YOU to share a bit of that homey feeling with the rest of us.

We are seeking two different types of video submissions. You don’t need to be fancy or polished and we can provide all the tech help you need to make it happen. We'd love to have you participate in one or both!

Choose a story prompt below and record your answer in 2 minutes or less. Bonus points for showing us your cozy holiday decor! We will be using these during worship services throughout Advent as we light our Advent wreaths and may share some of them via social media, too. Let’s warm each others’ homes together with
our presence this Advent and Christmas. Please contact Pastor Caela soon if you’re interested so we have time to work on the details.


​

Story prompts for the Home for the Holidays videos:

• "In our family, one of our favorite holiday traditions is...."
•  "I really felt the joy of the Christmas season when..."  
• "The Christmas carol that always moves me in a special way is...."
• "Christmas isn't always happy. One year I really struggled when..."
• "One of my favorite things about the holiday season in Manhattan is...."
• "The story of Jesus's birth inspires me because...."
• "A Christmas pageant I'll never forget was this one...."

Christmas Carols: you are invited to share your favorite Christmas carol with us to be used during our Lessons & Carols service on December 20th. If you or your family has a favorite carol, please consider making a short video of you sharing it. If you’re unsure, or want a piano accompaniment, or have any questions, please contact Gretchen Lewis for more information. It would be really lovely to see and hear from our beloved community in this way!

Service of Prayer, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 12:15p, 821 Poyntz
On Tuesday November 3, please join an ecumenical group of Manhattan Christians for a short service of prayer and communion. This will be an opportunity to join together in prayer for peace, unity, and God’s presence among us as we go through the national election together. We will meet outside at 821 Poyntz (next to MHS East) at 12:15 pm and the service will last less than half an hour, please wear warm clothing and a face mask and observe social distancing. In the event of snow/rain, canopies will be put up. Communion is an open table; all are welcome to partake in the bread and cup. The service will be led by local clergy with Rev. Liz Kocher of First Lutheran Church presiding over communion.

Online Prayer Vigil Hosted by Community UCC (Champaign, IL)
Our friends at Community UCC are inviting us to join them anytime between Noon on Tuesday until Noon on Wednesday for an online vigil. They will be sharing images, music, and quiet space to be with others in prayer. Go to https://www.facebook.com/communityucc/live to access the online vigil. 

Interfaith Silent Prayer Vigil,
Thursdays, beginning Nov. 5 from 12-1pm in City Park
Beginning the Thursday immediately after the election, we will be gathering with others for a silent, interfaith prayer vigil in City Park over the noon hour. Come for one or all of these gatherings. Full details available here. 

Zoom Prayers & Fellowship, Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
Join us for our regular Thursday evening prayer gathering on Zoom. We center ourselves with a little scripture and music and then pray together. You can stay after for conversation or head out if you need to!

Since we will be worshiping in our homes this Advent season, the Deacons have partnered with the Ministry of the Decorative Scissors to provide create-your-own Advent wreaths for anyone who would like one. 

Starting November 5th , you may pick up pre-packaged wreath kits from Sue Gerth. Just text or e-mail her and let her know how many you would like (each family member is welcome to make their own). Her contact info is in the directory or you can contact the office if you need access to the directory. Sue will give you details for a safe porch pickup.

Join us on Thursday, Nov. 19 at Prayer & Fellowship on Zoom for a crafting night. Bring your Advent wreath materials and Sue will be there to teach us step-by-step how to make the project together. 

Kits will include step-by-step written instructions in case you cannot attend the Zoom. All that you will need to provide are glue and five cardboard tubes (such as toilet paper or paper towel). We will have extras if you need them. We hope that you will join us in this activity. The wreath you make will be similar to the one pictured.

A big thank you to the Decorative Scissors and Sue Gerth for providing the supplies for us!

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 no later than Sunday, Nov. 8th. If you are a member and you have not received your documents by November 8th, please check your junk mail folder and then e-mail Sandy if you still cannot find the documents.

ZOOM INFORMATION FOR THE MEETING:
Zoom room opens at 11:35 a.m. Meeting begins at 11:45 a.m.
Click to Zoom or call 1-669-900-6833 and dial meeting ID 606-107-240# at the prompt. Meeting password is 66502. Please note: long distance charges may apply if you use the call-in option. 

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE MEETING
According to Church By-Laws, Art. IV, Sect. 1, a congregational meeting shall be held each November for the purpose of approving nominations for elective officers and presentation of the budget to be voted on at the January meeting. The proposed budget and slate of officers will be sent to members at least one week prior to the meeting. They can also be viewed by signing into the Members area of the church website. This year, the congregational meeting, like nearly everything else, will be held via Zoom. It will take place on Sunday, November 15 at 11:45 a.m.

The meeting will open at 11:35 a.m. Upon signing into Zoom for the meeting, you will be directed to type the names of all voting members in the chat so that we have a record of the meeting. Those members who call in will be able to state their names, which can then be entered manually into the record by a host.

The meeting will be called to order. The slate of officers for the coming year will be presented and there will be an opportunity for open nominations to fill those positions which are still vacant. Then a motion will be presented to accept the slate. Upon seconding, we will proceed to discussion, and then to a vote. At this time, anyone in opposition to the motion will be invited to unmute their microphones and state their opposition for the record. Then all those in favor will unmute and say “aye”.

​The vote will be recorded as approved or not. The next item on the agenda will be the proposed 2021 budget. There will be an opportunity for questions. The budget will be revised as needed in the months prior to presentation at the January congregational meeting. Following the formal business portion, the meeting will be adjourned and attendees will be invited to stay for fellowship.

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. 
​
​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. 

​​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.