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

Worship for Nov. 1, 2020

10/29/2020

 

Announcements:

  • Today after worship: Halloween parade of costumes at Zoom Fellowship Hour and Drive Through Communion and Communion on the Lawn. 
  • Fall Work Day (outdoors, masked, socially distanced) will be Saturday, Nov. 14 from 9am-noon. 
  • Sunday, Nov. 15th we will host Rabbi Moti Rieber of Kansas Interfaith Action as our guest preacher in online worship AND he'll be available to talk with you about KIFA at Fellowship Hour. More info here. 
  • Sunday, Nov. 15th we will also have our annual Congregational Meeting - this time via Zoom. Full details available here. 
  • We have a new Adult Sunday School class on Exploring Racial Entanglements that begins Nov. 1st. You'll find details here.
  • There are opportunities for prayer this week as the election takes place. You'll find more info about those here.
  • Thank you to those who have submitted their pledges of financial support for 2021. If you still need to do so you can complete an online pledge card here. For more information about giving and this year's campaign, click here. 
  • We served 527 meals in the month of September through our Second Helping ministry. To read the monthly update and learn more about how you can support this ministry click here. 
  • We have two new resources on our website that you might find useful during the week. Visit uccmanhattan.org/devotionals to access free online devotionals anytime or uccmanhattan.org/music to access video and audio of music from our services.
  • A reminder that we have several opportunities to gather via Zoom each week - Sunday and Monday School for adults and kids, Tuesday book group, youth group, and Thursday Prayers. You'll find the links on our website here. 

Worship with us. 

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. 
 

Guest Preacher Rabbi Moti Rieber

10/28/2020

 
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. 
​
Picture

Your Videos Needed for Advent

10/28/2020

 
​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!

Home for the Holidays Video Challenge:

Picture
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 Wanted!

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!

Election Week Prayer Options

10/26/2020

 
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!

Create Your Own 2020 Advent Wreath

10/25/2020

 
Picture
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!

Congregational Meeting - Nov. 15, 2020

10/22/2020

 
Picture
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.

Post-Election Weekly Prayer Vigil

10/22/2020

 
Picture
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.

Worship for Oct. 25, 2020

10/21/2020

 

Announcements:

  • A reminder that financial pledges for 2021 are requested by November 1st. You can submit the paper pledge card you received in the mail OR complete an online pledge card here. For more information about giving and this year's campaign, click here. 
  • TIME CHANGE: Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour on Saturday, Oct. 31st before you go to bed.
  • We will be having a parade of Halloween costumes at Zoom Fellowship Hour today and next Sunday, Nov. 1st. Learn more. 
  • We will be honoring the lives of people who died in the past year on All Saints Day on November 1st. If you have a person in your life whose name you would like to have read as a part of our worship service, please e-mail the name to the office by Oct. 25th. 
  • We will gather again for outdoor communion on November 1st. Find details and sign up here. 
  • We have a new Adult Sunday School class on Exploring Racial Entanglements that begins Nov. 1st. You'll find details here.
  • We served 527 meals in the month of September through our Second Helping ministry. To read the monthly update and learn more about how you can support this ministry click here. 
  • Board of Justice  & Witness updates: if you would like a BLM MHK yard sign please click here for more information and to order. Our J&W board has also put together some voting information including tips on making sure your vote is counted, 30 days of practice and reflection, and an invitation to upcoming League of Women Voters and KIFA events. You'll find it all here. 
  • We have two new resources on our website that you might find useful during the week. Visit uccmanhattan.org/devotionals to access free online devotionals anytime or uccmanhattan.org/music to access video and audio of music from our services.
  • A reminder that we have several opportunities to gather via Zoom each week - Sunday and Monday School for adults and kids, Tuesday book group, youth group, and Thursday Prayers. You'll find the links on our website here. 

Worship with us. 

​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. 

Worship for Oct. 18, 2020

10/14/2020

 

Announcements:

  • We will be honoring the lives of people who died in the past year on All Saints Day on November 1st. If you have a person in your life whose name you would like to have read as a part of our worship service, please e-mail the name to the office by Oct. 25th. 
  • We will gather again for outdoor communion on November 1st. Find details and sign up here. 
  • We served 527 meals in the month of September through our Second Helping ministry. To read the monthly update and learn more about how you can support this ministry click here. 
  • Board of Justice  & Witness updates: if you would like a BLM MHK yard sign please click here for more information and to order. Our J&W board has also put together some voting information including tips on making sure your vote is counted, 30 days of practice and reflection, and an invitation to upcoming League of Women Voters and KIFA events. You'll find it all here. 
  • Our river is supplied with water from many streams that feed it. First Congregational UCC blessed with your giving and the generosity of members and friends. Throughout this month, our worship services will feature members who will share their thoughts on giving and generosity in an interview format. We will be sharing short videos with reflections from other members and other updates on our Friday email updates (sign up for Friday updates here). Additionally, be on the lookout for a special mailing from our stewardship committee later this week. It will include information about giving and your a blank pledge card that we are hoping you’ll be able to return before November 1st.
  • We have two new resources on our website that you might find useful during the week. Visit uccmanhattan.org/devotionals to access free online devotionals anytime or uccmanhattan.org/music to access video and audio of music from our services.
  • A reminder that we have several opportunities to gather via Zoom each week - Sunday and Monday School for adults and kids, Tuesday book group, youth group, and Thursday Prayers. You'll find the links on our website here. 

Worship with us. 

​​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. 

Parade of Costumes - Oct. 25 and Nov. 1

10/10/2020

 
Picture
Halloween, like everything else, is going to look different this year. We'd like to invite the kids in our congregation (and, hey, really people of any age who love Halloween) to wear their costumes to Fellowship Hour on Zoom on Oct. 25th or Nov. 1st. Wear your costume whichever date works better for your family...or both! It will be so fun to see each other and enjoy the fun of our costumes together. 

Find the Zoom login for Fellowship Hour here
<<Previous

    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