|
This summer we have THREE special worship series at First Congregational. Learn all about them here! Compassion Camp - for all ages! As we look around the world, our deep need for compassion becomes increasingly evident with each passing day, perhaps now more than ever. Join us on Sunday mornings this summer for Compassion Camp. People of all ages are invited to cultivate compassion for each other, ourselves, and the world! During Compassion Camp we will explore what all living things need to live—shelter, food, water, and air —and how we can have compassion for the living earth, especially in our local ecosystems. Through awareness, gratitude, wonderment, reciprocity, and kinship, we will consider how to become co-sustainers and participants in the work of God’s creation. Sundays at 10:45 a.m. in-person and via Zoom: 🏠 June 18 - every living thing needs shelter 🍎 July 2 - every living thing needs food 💦 July 23 - every living thing needs water 💨 August 13 - every living thing needs air AND....don't forget to order your First Congregational UCC t-shirt, inspired by Compassion Camp here by June 25th. Speak with the Earth.... ...and it will teach you. "I don't think it is enough appreciated how much an outdoor book the Bible is," wrote Wendell Berry. Join us this summer for a sermon series inspired by Speak with the Earth and it Will Teach You by UCC pastor, Rev. Daniel Cooperrider. This book takes us on a journey through rivers, trees, mountains, and clouds to read God's "first testament" - nature. Join us Sundays at 10:45 a.m. in person or via Zoom for this series. 🌊 June 4 - rivers 🌳 June 25 - trees 🏞 July 16 - mountains ☁️ July 30 - clouds Shared Worship with Ecumenical FriendsThis summer we'll be sharing 3 worship services with our friends from Manhattan Mennonite Church and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (UUFM). Worship will be available via Zoom and at in-person at the locations below: June 11 - shared worship at Manhattan Mennonite Church (1000 Fremont) July 9 - shared worship at First Congregational August 6 - shared worship at UUFM (481 Zeandale Rd.) For those gathering on Zoom, we'll provide the Zoom link the day-of at uccmanhattan.org/online - just like we normally do. Nov. 27th: Advent begins with HOPE (and decorating)
Dec. 4th: the Sunday of PEACE (and brass and cookies!)
Dec. 11th: a JOYful Christmas Pageant
Dec. 18th: Lessons & Carols (and LOVE)
Dec. 24th at 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Worship
Dec. 25th: Cozy Christmas Morning on ZOOM only
Jan. 1st: Christmastide ContinuesThe season of Christmas continues (which means one more week of Christmas carols!) on Jan. 1st. Start the New Year off right by gathering around Christ's table for Holy Communion as we give thanks for the year that's been and look forward to the year that will be. Jan. 8th: Epiphany SundayStar Words will make an appearance once again at our annual Epiphany service. The use of star words, also called “star gifts,” is a prayer practice connected to Epiphany and the new year that has been growing in popularity in Protestant churches for nearly a decade now. The idea is that a list of intention words, or guiding words, are written or printed on paper stars. These paper stars are then distributed at random. Individuals are often encouraged to place their star word somewhere they will see it regularly throughout the year to allow consistent reflection on how God has moved through, around, or in connection to that word. (Description from A Sanctified Art, LLC.)
Learn more about Epiphany the Star Words here.  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. During this Lenten season the Deacons would like to offer our congregation a chance to center ourselves with prayer. We will be holding a 24 hour prayer vigil in our sanctuary. We will have 30 minute increments in which you can sign up for silent prayer beginning on April 8th at 6pm to continue until April 9th at 6pm.
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! Sign up at uccmanhattan.org/sign-ups or contact the church office to reserve your space. Can't make it to the building? You can still participate. We are hoping to have a Zoom room open for a portion of the vigil (we'll set up the computer in the sanctuary so you can log in to Zoom and focus your prayer time while viewing a live feed of our sanctuary). If this is something you're interested in, please reach out to Nell so we can coordinate the best time to open the Zoom room.  Here are some actions you can take to help keep everyone safe as we gather for worship and other activities:
This list was created at the end of December 2021. If you're reading it at a later time, things have almost certainly changed. You can also read our full COVID policies here. Thank you for loving like Jesus and doing everything you can to care for your neighbor. The official name of the final UCC Denominational offering of the year is The Christmas Fund for the Veterans of the Cross and the Emergency Fund. The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.
United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need. We will take the offering at our Christmas Eve Service on Dec. 24, but if you'll be out of town or otherwise occupied on Christmas Eve, you can send your offering donation to the church office. Thank you! Donate via PayPal Remembering the Victims of the Residential Schools: A Worship Service of Lament Sunday, October 24th, 5:00 p.m. at the Leadership Studies Amphitheater (rain location: LS 126)
|
