News from Pastor Brad & Current Events (make sure to read to the very end!)

Greetings Topeka First UMC,

To say that this has been a great week at church would be a huge understatement! The Spirit is moving among us! The Downtown Block Party was amazing! I cannot count how many people from the church and beyond have thanked us for such an amazing event. Over 200 people came into our church to connect with each other! Thank you all for helping our church to be an open place for all! 

Coming up this weekend in worship, we are continuing our sermon series, "Chiefs Kingdom, God's Kingdom." On Sunday, we will look at how the Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of the greater good. When Jesus was born, everything changed. When Jesus was crucified and resurrected, the Kingdom of God and the greater good became the mission of all of us as Christ followers. How do we do this? Join us Sunday as we look at the role we play as part of the greater good and Kingdom of God!  I'll see you at 8:15, 9:30, or 10:45 (or online at 9:30 & 10:45 through our website).  We've begun to email the 10:45 bulletin to those who regularly watch online.  If you'll be out of town or need to watch online, please let Shawna know and she'll send you the bulletin.

In Fellowship Hall this Sunday at 9:30 am, join Larry and Doris Wills as they share the history behind the Five Alarm Fire that in August 1921 destroyed our Sanctuary but NOT our congregation!

Would you please help the Community Listening Team?  We are asking people to share their stories and experiences from the Block Party by filling out the survey at this link: https://forms.gle/7W6skDf2LeDYBBCJ7.

At noon in the Celebration Room on Sunday, our newly hired Next-Gen Ministries, Pastor Grace Woods is going to meet with all youth, parents, and anybody interested in volunteering with the youth to talk about the Fall Semester.  Please plan to spend some time getting to know Pastor Grace.

Alright friends, we truly need your help!  To build up our children in their faith, we are asking you to volunteer to help on Sunday's at 9:30 am.  You don't necessarily need to "teach" but we do need your presence in the rooms with the children.  You can volunteer a couple of times a month or even an entire semester.  We realize that our children have their Sunday School at the same time as many adults have their Sunday School but perhaps your adult class leader would excuse your absence once in a while :)!  Please let Shawna know what dates you can help.  We have a group of 2/3 year olds who are ready to move out of nursery and we all have a responsibility to ensure our children have opportunities to learn about God with their peers.

Our Bells Directory, Deanna Guzman, has moved the practice for Bell ringing to Tuesdays starting Tuesday, September 12!  Ringers will meet from 6 - 7pm. This will free up some space on Wednesdays which will allow more folks to join in an adult book study or to volunteer with children on Wednesdays.  Please contact Deanna Guzman if you'd like to join in this music ministry!  No experience is required!

As you know, and mentioned in last Tuesday's email, the Community Luncheon that we host on the last Wednesday of the month from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm is a wonderful opportunity to meet and visit with neighbors in our community.  Through a meal, we are able to not only enrich someone's life, but we also actively practice being the hands & feet of God.  Please join us this Wednesday, August 30.

All kids are invited to come hang out in our play-n-pray park this coming Wednesday, August 30, at 6pm.  We'll have popsicles, and "paint a truck" in anticipation of the Touch-A-Truck on September 9 at Evergy Plaza!  Please let Laura know your kids will be coming.

Mike Chamberlain is going to lead & facilitate a book study, "Falling Upward” by the Franciscan author, Richard Rohr.  Rohr serves as a guide to examining and understanding the nature of “the two halves of life.” One reviewer writes: “In Falling Upward, Richard offers a simple but deeply helpful framework for seeing the whole spiritual life – one that will help beginners on the path as they look ahead and long-term pilgrims as they look back over the journey so far.” This book study is an invitation to join in conversation about the journey upon which Rohr says we are all embarked. Chapters are short and easy to read but you shouldn’t be surprised by a desire to go back and reread. Keep a highlighter at hand and if you are attending as a couple, get two books because you will find yourself marking and noting and underlining as you engage with the thoughts and later with the study group. 

Please sign up to attend this book study and then please order the book prior to the first gathering and read the “Invitation to a Further Journey” and the “Introduction” (p.p. vii – xxxvii) for discussion at our first meeting. Rohr’s book, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life can be purchased on Amazon at this link. (Make sure to order the book and not the “Companion Journal.”)

September is the month, as a church partner with Doorstep,for our church to volunteer at Doorstep. There are Thursday shifts on Sept. 7,14, 21, and 28 & shifts on Monday, Sept. 25.  Please consider taking a shift to help fulfill our commitment. There will be a sign up sheet in the Celebration Room this Sunday.

I'll see you in person at 8:15, 9:30, or 10:45, or through the live stream at 9:30 and 10:45 on Sunday!

Blessings, Pastor Brad

PS, We're going to have a Tailgate Party at church!  On Sunday, September 10, from Noon - whenever...we're going to grill, talk, meet people we don't know from the service we don't usually attend, play in the park, & simply hang out.  Let's all keep practicing connecting with each other and meeting people we don't know.  It'll be fun!!  I'm going to send you more details on Wednesday so be looking for an email that afternoon.  This will be a casual event so don't forget to wear your favorite jersey or team shirt!