Announcements:
Watch this week's service:Guests and new attendees are invited to join us for Discovering First Congregational on Sunday, May 31st at 11:30 a.m. (immediately after worship). At this low-key gathering with our pastors, you'll have a chance to learn more about our congregation and our beliefs...plus, we'll make sure you get to meet a couple other people from our congregation.
We look forward to meeting you and learning more about you! No need to RSVP, just show up on Zoom and let us know if you have any questions ([email protected]). ***** Zoom with us by clicking this link: https://ksu.zoom.us/j/7845246295 ***** Or call in for audio only: Meeting ID: 784 524 6295 One tap mobile +16699006833,,7845246295# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,7845246295# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 646 876 9923 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) Meeting ID: 784 524 6295 Find your local number: https://ksu.zoom.us/u/aozOkQGij Announcements:
Watch this week's serviceThe Manhattan Public Library is a treasure trove of awesomeness. Books, magazines, movies, video games and more! During COVID-19 many folks who haven't taken the leap to learn how to access their online resources are starting to think, "Hmmmm. Maybe I should learn how to check out an e-book or audiobook!"
We are so pleased to have some of the staff of MPL join us for this Facebook Live event at Noon on Wednesday, May 13th. The video will be live on the First Congregational UCC Manhattan KS Facebook Page. Pastor Caela will be talking with them about how to check out e-books, read magazines, listen to audiobooks, watch movies and MORE without ever leaving your couch. Once you've started accessing these online resources, you'll be so glad you did. Let us know your questions ahead of time by posting them on our Facebook Event Page (or e-mailing Caela) and be sure to invite your friends. MISSED IT? PDF HANDOUTS HERE: Learn to use Sunflower eLibrary Learn to use Hoopla More information from the announcements:
Have you ever wished you could be the head cook for 2nd Helping, but alas had never gotten the opportunity to be trained? Well this is your opportunity to get trained so you can run the show on a Sunday evening!
Linda Thurston will be holding a training via Zoom for anyone who is interested in cooking for 2nd helping. The training will be this coming Sunday, May 3rd at 2pm. Topic: Second Helping Head Cook Training Time: May 3, 2020 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84403637696 Meeting ID: 844 0363 7696 One tap mobile +13462487799,,84403637696# US (Houston) +16699006833,,84403637696# US (San Jose) Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) Meeting ID: 844 0363 7696 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kd5xRk4Td A few weeks ago, we got together to talk about prayer because we know many people are struggling right now and WISH they could pray....but don't know how or where to begin. We talked about some of the things that get in the way of prayer and what we think prayer is (spoiler: we don't think it's just "talking to God").
Ben shared about how prayer is a transformational experience. Caela talked about prayer as orienting ourselves towards God. Both pastors agreed that it goes WAYYYYYY beyond words and shared some of the non-wordy-type ways of praying that work for them. Missed the first conversation? Check out the recorded version below. Join us on MONDAY, May 18th at 12pm Central for another conversation on Facebook Live. This time we're going to dive into Centering Prayer. And...we are still here to answer your questions. So hit us up with those by Monday if you can. You can email either one of us or text them to 785-380-7772. Rev. Caela Simmons Wood is the pastor of First Congregational UCC in Manhattan, KS. Rev. Ben Konecny is a minister at First Congregational UCC in Greeley, CO. (Note: this conversation is rescheduled from May 8th when we had technical difficulties.) The first Wednesday of the month means Lunch Bunch!
We hope you'll bring your own lunch to a comfy spot in your home and join us via Zoom for conversation and laughter. It will be fun to see each other's homes and perhaps meet each other's pets! Physical distancing is what we're after and that doesn't have to mean social distancing. It will be so good to talk with one another. Join us Wednesday, May 6th at 11:30 a.m. Click to Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88932482375 OR Dial 1-669-900-6833 from your phone. When you hear the recorded voice say, “Welcome to Zoom. Please enter your meeting ID followed by pound” you should dial 889 3248 2375#. That’s it! Got questions? Let us know. Otherwise, we'll see you Wednesday for lunch! ![]()
We are excited to announce that we've launched a podcast! Chad Moreau is hosting this weekly-ish podcast and will be interviewing people in our congregation.
“In the beginning, God created...” Our faith story is one of infinite creation. We humans are invited into the work of co-creating with our Creative God. Sometimes it looks like painting or making music. Other times it's baking or gardening or looking at old problems in new and fresh ways. Join us as we get to know the people of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Manhattan, KS. Host Chad Moreau talks with people on a weekly(ish) basis about life and creativity and shares those conversations with us here. Learn more about our congregation at uccmanhattan.org.
![]() Dear Friends in Christ, I first wrote to you about COVID-19 on March 13th; a Friday night from a hotel room in Wichita. That was my last out of town trip. In that letter that, I encouraged all of our congregations to discontinue in person worship and close buildings by the end of the month because of the danger presented by COVID-19. But things moved more quickly, pastors and congregations responded and within the next week or so, most acted and were worshipping on-line. It was amazing! Since March 14th, like most of you, I have been home. That was before any stay at home orders from governor or the health department. Those orders quickly followed and now, Governor Kelly is scheduled to lift the stay at home order for the State of Kansas effective May 3rd and Governor Stitt has implemented plans to reopen the state of Oklahoma in three phases; those plans began yesterday. These orders are being lifted for many reasons, mostly important economic realities. But another reality is that the virus is still spreading; Here are the numbers: Kansas now has 2,812 confirmed cases; an increase of 200 and 113 deaths statewide https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/ In Oklahoma:3121, confirmed cases, an increase of 104, and 188 deaths statewide, https://coronavirus.health.ok.gov/ I write to you with one request; STAY THE COURSE. Continue to refrain from in person worship. Even though stay at home orders are being lifted, confirmed cases of the virus continue to increase and now is NOT the time to return to our buildings and gather together for worship. The physical closeness in our sanctuaries is risky. Even the simple act of singing a much beloved hymn could compromise the health of those gathered as droplets which can carry the virus can infect a neighbor. An unintentional touch, or hug, could do it. We don't know who is infected with the virus. Gathering for worship impacts not only those who choose to attend, but also whomever those who attended come into contact with. We have no right to impose the consequences of our choices and behaviors on others. In Kansas, five religious gatherings resulted in 85 cases and seven deaths from COVID -19. We miss being together as communities of faith. I understand that. But remember we are staying apart to save lives. The lives of those we love, the lives of our neighbors, maybe even our own lives. How long will this last? I don't really know. Honestly, we are all thinking about everything differently, including worship. What I do know is that we are still the church, no matter how we gather for worship. What I do know is that the Spirit of the Living God still moves among us. I see it as I join you online for worship, as I read about continuing ministries in your communities and how you are continuing to care for each other through food pantries and mask ministries and calling trees to check in on those who may be especially isolated. I see it in the dollars you continue to give for Medical Debt Relief despite the financial realities in our two states; I see that you are making sure that those in your our own church who need help with technology get it so they can join worship; if food needs to be delivered, plans are made to do that and the list goes on and on. You continue to serve. And people from all over are joining you in worship; your faith is not bound or contained by your buildings. COVID-19 has not stopped us from being the church; in fact it may have resulted in our stepping up our game! We are still the church, no matter where we are or how we gather. So for now, let's continue to do our part in helping to flatten the curve, helping the numbers to go down; to care for each other, our families, our communities, ourselves; that's enough for now. Let's continue to experience worship in new ways; apart, but together online, in small online groups, streaming, Facebook Live, YouTube, ZOOM. LET'S STAY THE COURSE |
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