Greetings Topeka First UMC,

I hope you are having a great week!

As we continue through this Lenton journey together, I find myself growing anxious for the coming celebration of Easter. In these moments, I recall the story of Jesus in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. The days and nights had to seem endless! Yet, Jesus knew that God would get him through this time of temptation, moment by moment. Thus, when those anxious moments come about, I try to remind myself to not focus on what is coming, or what was, but to focus on just the present moment. The hope of Easter is coming! In the meantime, God is with us, moment by moment!

This weekend in worship we'll are continue our sermon series, "Leaving Exile." The messages in this series are inviting us to bring ourselves out of exile. We have moved from sin, to forgiveness, and this week to repentance. To put it simply, repentance is a U-turn, a change of heart. We can always seek forgiveness, but repentance is a deep yearning to change. Change is always hard, but possible with God. I hope you will join us Sunday as we think about how we can repent and move out of exile.

After the 10:45 am service, I'll be hosting "Pizza with the Pastor" in room 105.  If you are interested in joining the church, having you or your children Baptized, or want to learn more about our denomination, please fill out this form.

If you are available to help stuff goodie bags this Sunday at 12:30 pm (at First Presbyterian Church) in preparation for the March 27 Easter Egg Hunt, please email Pastor Grace.

We will receive communion each week of this sermon series.  If you can help serve communion, please click this link to sign up.  There are opportunities at 8:15 am, 9:30 am,  & 10:45 am to help serve.  Additionally, the same link also lets you sign up to be a greeter!  If you prefer to read liturgy at the 10:45 am service, click this link.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Brad

I need a few more people to make and donate soup for VIDA’s Soup with the Mayor event on March 10.  Any type of soup is welcome.  If you have questions about VIDA, the soup event, or to let me know you're willing to help, see me at the 10:45 am service this Sunday or call the office (785-233-8100) and they'll connect you with me.  ~ Cynthia Naeger

Hello, Topeka First UMC!

I wanted to share a short update with you all about my ministry as a provisional deacon. In the United Methodist Church, deacons are ordained clergy, equal to elders, who lead the church through ministries with a focus in word, service, justice, and compassion. We are often the bridge between the church and world.

Earlier this week, I finished my fifth residency retreat in my first year of provisional ministry as a deacon. Alongside my cohort of provisional clergy from around the Great Plains Conference, I get to meet and learn with others about different methods of communication, conflict management, and self-care. Part of my provisional experience requires an ordination project that demonstrates my skills and learning for the Board of Ordained Ministry. For my project, I am putting together an adapted Confirmation curriculum by resourcing a collection of material to offer a more experience-based program that is tailored to the needs of our confirmands. We are rolling into week 3 of Confirmation this Sunday, and it has been so encouraging to see the excitement and curiosity of our confirmands as they work toward taking ownership of their faith journey with the help of their excellent mentors.

This summer and fall I will prepare my ordination paperwork to go before the Board of Ordained Ministry next February and interview to become an ordained deacon in full connection. I would appreciate your prayers and encouragement during this process, and I hope we can celebrate my ministry and ordination in the United Methodist Church soon.

Peace,

Pastor Grace

Imagine being in the Upper Room THAT NIGHT.  Sign up for this immersive event held in the Temple Room upstairs at Topeka First United Methodist Church. As each session is limited to 15 guests, please sign up using the links below.

Tuesday, March 19 – 5:30 pm, Wednesday, March 20, 4:30 pm, Wednesday, March 20, 6:30 pm, or Thursday, March 21, 5:30 pm. You can also sign up at the front desk.  Send questions to info@forthegoodofthecity.org

Topeka First UMC wants to celebrate our graduates on May 12 at the 10:45 service! In addition to honoring graduates during worship, members of our congregation take time to have blankets made for each of our seniors that are personalized to their interests and post-graduation plans. To make sure we have the time to prepare for you all, we are asking for information from graduates now. If you or your graduate hopes to be honored during Senior Sunday, please fill out this form by March 15.

Please reference the complete church calendar for ongoing events.