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News From
Topeka  First 

June 28, 2017

For the good of the city
... Jeremiah 29:7

Church Office:
785-233-8100

In This Issue


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Coming Up Soon:  
  • Wednesday, June 28
    • 9:00 a.m. Vacation Bible School
    • 11:30 a.m. 
      • Neighborhood Lunch, Celebration Room
      • Phase 2 Meeting, Hearth Room
    • 5:00 p.m. Praise Team Rehearsal, Chapel
    • 5:15 p.m. 
      • Board of Trustees Meeting, Hearth Room
      • Phase 2 Yoga, Fellowship Hall
  • Thursday, June 29
    • 9:00 a.m. Vacation Bible School
  • Friday, June 30
    • 9:00 a.m. Vacation Bible School
  • Saturday, July 1
    • 8:30 a.m. Freedom Festival volunteer shift #1, downtown Topeka
    • 11:30 a.m. Freedom Festival volunteer shift #2, downtown Topeka
  • Sunday, July 2
    • 8:15 a.m. Arise Worship Service
    • 9:00 a.m. 
      • Equal Exchange Sale, Celebration Room
      • Coffee Connection, Celebration Room
    • 9:30 a.m. 
      • 9-3-0 Worship Service, Chapel
      • Children's Sunday School (dismissed during 9-3-0 service)
      • No Youth Sunday School, Family Worship
    • 10:30 a.m. 
      • Coffee Connection, Celebration Room
      • Equal Exchange Sale, Celebration Room
    • 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship Service
  • Tuesday, July 4: Independence Day
    • Church Office Closed
  • Wednesday, July 5
    • 5:00 p.m. Praise Team Practice, Chapel
    • 5:15 p.m. Phase 2 Yoga, Fellowship Hall
  • Thursday, July 6
    • 8:30 a.m. Senior Adults Donuts and Coffee, Baker's Dozen
    • 7:00 p.m. Kansas Choral Directors Association Free Concert, Sanctuary
  • Saturday, July 8
    • 7:30 a.m. Men's Ministry Meeting, Celebration Room
    • 5:00 p.m. Beauty and the Beast Movie Night, Fellowship Hall

In Worship This Week:

Scripture:
Matthew 10:40-42

Message:
Rewards 
Topeka First UMC member, Randall Hodgkinson
Sanctuary Choir returns for Independence Day Weekend
God Bless America Solo by Marty Edwards

Summer Office Hours

The church office is now open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are closed on Fridays.

Connect
Jayna, Mickey, and Allison enjoyed a sandwich, baked potato, salad bar at Field of Greens. Where will you meet a friend downtown? Let us know!
It's Downtown CONNECTion Week!

Show your excitement in being Topeka's Downtown Church by patronizing downtown restaurants and retailers. In addition to wearing your Topeka First UMC apparel, be sure to leave a thank you note on the card you received in your bulletin last Sunday.

Take this opportunity to grab a cup of coffee or run an errand downtown. Maybe you have a summer anniversary...our downtown has several boutiques that sell flowers, jewelry, and chocolate (hint, hint). You can even find gifts for all those summer birthdays and weddings, or have T-shirts made for your family reunion! See where we're going with this? You might be surprised at all the great things downtown Topeka has to offer. Any time you choose to spend your money downtown, you are making community support a priority. 

And remember to wear your church apparel at the Freedom Festival on Saturday, July 1!  

Summer Sunday Symposiums
 
This summer, there will be speakers at the 9:30 hour in Fellowship Hall on featured Sunday mornings. As most adult classes take a break for the summer, this is a time to reconnect in fellowship and learning.  There is no symposium on July 2. Watch for details for our next speaker on July 9th!
 
Senior Summer Caravan

Arrangements have been made for our members to tour some of the local retirement communities this summer. We will take a tour, then enjoy a complimentary lunch in their dining areas. There will not be a sales pitch. This is just a time to look around and gain information. These are the next available tours:
  • Thursday, June 29th, 11:30 a.m.  Gather in their entryway
    Lexington Park~Independent Living (1011 SW Cottonwood, enter off 10th St and Gage).

     
  •   Wednesday, July 12th 11:00 a.m.   Gather in their entryway
      Legend at Capital Ridge (just west of the mall) 1931 SW Arvonia Pl.    

     
  •   Thursday, August 10th   11:30 a.m.  Gather in their entryway
     Thornton Place Senior Apartments, 2901 SW Armstrong Dr. (West of 29th and       Wanamaker)                                 

By Stander Intervention Training
 
Emily Steimel from YWCA Center for Safety and Empowerment will be giving the Bystander Intervention Training at our church on Wednesday, July 12th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in Room 105. Attendees will receive information on the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence in our community, how to recognize the signs of abuse and the scope of the problem nationwide. Tools will be shared on how to help those experiencing abuses and how to be an active and positive bystander if they were to see something occurring.   This is especially valuable information for those in the church who work in community outreach.  There will be a light dinner served (free will). Please register at our Church Connection Portal by Sunday, July 9.
                       
If any questions please contact Kimberly Scamardo at 816-807-9011. 

 
A Community of Boomers
Pick-Up Pickleball Game

Newbies and seasoned players are invited to join in the fun of Pickleball at Hughes Court (725 SW Orleans) on Sunday, July 9th at 6 p.m. After we are done (around 7 p.m.) we will meet at Quinton's for dinner. Sign up on our Church Connection Portal or on your bulletin tear-off this week.
 
Connect
Click image for full list of concerts.
Downtown Brown Bag Concerts

Supporting the revitalization of our downtown community is a big part of doing all we can "for the good of the city." Sometimes, that means we go downtown and just have some fun! Each Wednesday this summer, our Downtown Engagement Team invites you to wear your church gear and attend the free Noontime Brown Bag concerts, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Most of the concerts take place at the Westar Pocket Park. While   you're there, explore the shops and restaurants that make our city unique. 

Check out one of these concerts in the coming weeks:
  • June 28: Josh Vowell Band
  • July 5: Big Harry and the Back Alley Blues Band

connect Beauty and the Beast Movie Night

Be our guest on July 8th for a showing of Disney's animated classic, Beauty and the Beast . Plan to bring your appetite for a pizza dinner and movie snacks, as well as lawn furniture or blankets for a drive-in style movie in Fellowship Hall. A pizza dinner will be served at 5 p.m. with the movie starting at 5:30 p.m. Please invite friends to join us, and plan to attend church on July 9th, 16th, and 23rd for a related message from Pastor Jeff. All ages and members of the community are welcome to join us for this fun fellowship event. R.S.V.P. for this event on our Church Connection Portal.
 
Fellowship All-Church Royals Game #2

What says summer more than a trip to the ball park? Bring a friend and board an Arrow Bus for our next All-Church Royals outing on August 3rd. The cost is $47 per person, which includes bus fare, game ticket, and tip for the driver. We will board the bus in the church parking lot at 4:45 and plan to leave by 5 p.m. Be sure to sign up on our online Church Connection Portal or on your bulletin tear-off this Sunday.
 
Connect  Connect
Many Topeka First UMC friends enjoyed fellowship at the June 8th ball game.
summer_fun.jpg Summer Fun Save-the-Dates

Circle these dates on your calendar and plan to enjoy these summer activities with your church family:
  • July 8th
    • 5 p.m. Pizza Dinner followed by Beauty and the Beast movie showing at 5:30.
  • July 19th
    • 6-7:30 p.m. Children's Ministry Water Fun Night at church
  • August 3rd
    • 7:15 p.m. Royals Game with travel by Arrow Bus
  • August 13th
    • Backpack and Lesson Plan blessing during all worship services
    • Ice Cream Social at the Sports Center in the evening
 
Member Mary Turkington is visited each month by Kathy Graham, and God blesses them both.
Could God Be Calling You...?

Lately, I've thought about the kind of person I want to be when I'm elderly. I mostly have more questions than answers about that future time, but there is one thing I know for certain. When I can no longer get to church to worship, I will greatly miss you and this place. I suspect you have similar feelings.

We currently have some long-time members who can no longer worship with us, and they miss being here. Could it be that God is calling you to visit one of them each month? I offer training with follow-up support for all volunteer visitors. To learn more, please contact me at svogel@fumctopeka.org. A long-time member will be glad to see you!

Sandy Vogel, Pastor of Congregational Care
 
Let's be part of the Freedom Festival in Downtown!

Saturday, July 1st is the second annual Rotary Freedom Festival. Last year we demonstrated our commitment to our role as "the" downtown church by helping greet and direct attendees to all the exciting activities.

This year the event will be bigger and better, and we've been asked once again to help make it a great experience for everyone. Here are the requests:
Please sign up to be part of this exciting day downtown! Contact Marsha Oliver with any questions.

children
Vacation Bible School Underway

Kids have had a great week so far enjoying VBS.  Nearly 50 kids have been exploring caves, learning that Jesus gives us hope and courage and that we can "follow Him."  Their musical talents will be shared this Sunday in the 9:30 and 11:00 worship services.  Come enjoy the celebration!  
dog_sunbathing.jpg New Schedule for Summer Sunday School

Children and their families how have the opportunity to worship together at the 9:30 a.m. service prior to children being dismissed to their Sunday school classes. For the summer, children check-in in the Celebration Room, then sit with their families or with Sunday school volunteers for the beginning of 9:30 worship. After a children's message, children will go upstairs to Sunday School with their classmates and several adult leaders. Parents pick up their children from the Sunday school area following the 9:30 service.
 
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Join South Dakota Conference Youth for Dinner

YOUTH-won't you join UMW this Saturday, July 1 at 4:00pm in Fellowship Hall to help welcome a youth group from South Dakota that will be stopping in Topeka to spend the night at our church? You are invited to have dinner and join in worship and fellowship with the group. Let's put on our hospitality pants and come join them for dinner.
 
Upcoming Youth Events:

Sunday, July 2nd    HOLIDAY WEEKEND - Attend Worship with your family
 
Saturday, July 8th    All Church Family Movie Night in Fellowship Hall
 
Sunday, July 9th    9:30am    Sunday School in Fellowship Hall Kitchen for 7-12th & beyond,
                                           We have another great project planned. You won't want to miss.
 
Sunday, July 16th    YOUTH POOL PARTY~~~~4:00-6:00pm Hamburgers, hotdogs & Sno Cones
                              at the Smith's
 
Sunday, July 23rd    It's a YOUTH SERVICE PROJECT at Aldersgate Village-SWEET PIE ALAMODE
                              at 3:00 m, we will serve pie & ice cream, & play the piano, other music
                              talents are welcomed
 
Sunday, July 30th    MISSION TRIP Presentation in Fellowshp Hall at 9:30am, rumor has it that
                              beignet's might be served with hot coffee.

Youth returned from their Mission Trip Saturday night safe and sound.  It was a wonderful week of sheet rocking, mudding, sanding, painting and plumbing for the homes of three families misplaced by floods. Youth now have new skills they can apply in life.  Thank you to our adult sponsors: Mark Smith, Bruce Woner, Pat Reeder, and Danny and Beck Downs.  Thank you also to our interns: Kira Williams and Cooper Self.  They all gave up 7 days of their summer to mentor youth.  I couldn't love them more for that. Join us Sunday, July 30 at 9:30 in Fellowship Hall for a presentation on their week in Baton Rouge.


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