Greetings Topeka First UMC,

I hope that you are having a great week!

As we move forward into this weekend, I hope that you will make plans to join us for the youth group dinner theater. There will be youth skits, an Italian dinner, and a live auction. All proceeds go toward the youth mission trip this summer. See Pastor Grace's note about Dinner Theater below.

We have four baptisms this Sunday at the 10:45 service! Djesse Ngalu (Pastor Sandra's son), and Richie, Joanna, & Jacquline Peters (Rob & Janie Peter's children) who will all be baptized by full immersion. The theme on Sunday will be "Giving up Shame..." I hope that you will make plans to join us on Sunday morning at 8:15, 9:30, or 10:45 am.

The Be the Bridge Capital Campaign has begun! Next week there are two opportunities for you to come and enjoy a fantastic meal (not a buffet!), and hear more about the campaign on Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 pm or  Sunday, April 6 at Noon. The informational dinner/lunch are open to everyone! The information given will be the same for each meeting. There is no expectation of giving associated with these meetings. They are designed to lay out the whole campaign and to answer any questions you might have. Please sign up using the links above, or on the sign-up sheet at the Connection Desk in the Celebration Room, or email Shawna (shawna@fumctopeka.org).

That Night in the Upper Room immersive experience and also the new Sunday morning Fast Track Disciple class begins next Sunday, April 6.  Be sure you use the links below to reserve your spot or sign up at the Connection Desk in the Celebration Room.

This is the link to order an Easter Flower in memory of or in honor of someone. There will also be an order form in your bulletin.

I look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Pastor Brad

Use this link to sign up to be a Greeter or Communion Server

Use this link to sign up to be a Liturgist.

Greetings,

I hope this message finds you well! I’d like to invite you to support our youth this weekend as we put on our 2nd Annual Youth Dinner Theatre. 

Tomorrow, Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30, we’ll be hosting our Dinner Theatre featuring skits performed by our talented youth, a delicious Italian meal, and a live auction with Steve Suchsland as our auctioneer! This is not just an evening of entertainment—it’s an opportunity to help our youth make a difference through the Appalachia Service Project mission trip this summer.

Our goal is to raise $5,000, and all proceeds from ticket sales and the auction will directly support our youth as they prepare to travel to Appalachia and serve in communities that need our hands and hearts. I would love for you to join us for this event and show your support for our young people. If you’re unable to attend but still wish to contribute, donations are always welcome!

To reserve tickets ($12), you can sign up through the links below. Cash or check payments brought the night of the Dinner Theatre. 

Reserve your spot for Saturday, March 29, 5 PM, click here. Reserve your spot for Sunday, March 30, 5 PM, click here.

Thank you for being a part of our church’s ministry and for helping to empower our youth to live out their faith through service. I’m excited to see how God will work through all of us this weekend!

With gratitude and hope,

Pastor Grace Woods

Studying the Bible is essential to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. This adaptation of the original, best-selling Disciple Bible Study is ideal for busy people who want to fit a comprehensive Bible study into their schedule. Classes cover the entire Bible—from Genesis to Revelation—but in a shorter time. Groups meet for a total of 24 weeks, broken down into two 12-week sessions, 3-5 chapters of the Bible to read daily. There are approximately 5-minute video insights related to the week’s session.

Disciple Fast Track "Becoming Disciples Through Bible Study" features a brief, illustrated review video that enables participants to recall important facts and ideas; lively and engaging video presenters then offer insights into the current week’s session. Participants have the opportunity to take a spiritual gifts assessment and determine meaningful ways they can serve and live out their discipleship commitment. Each session of the class will examine a specific set of bible passages.This spring, 12 sessions of the study will cover the Old Testament. An additional 12 sessions covering the New Testament will be offered in the fall.

The Sunday morning class will begin Sunday, April 6, at 9:15 am and will be facilitated by Pastor Emeritus Mike Chamberlain and wife Judy Chamberlain. The class will meet in room #100 which is in the History Hallway just beyond the library. Sign up for the Sunday class here.

Classes on Wednesday mornings at 10 am are offered so that members of existing Sunday School classes or others who have Sunday conflicts can participate.The first class session will be Wednesday, April 9 at 10 am. The class will meet in room #100 which is in the History Hallway just beyond the library. The Wednesday class will be facilitated by Mike Chamberlain. Sign up for the Wednesday class here.

If you worship online and would prefer an online study opportunity or if you have questions regarding content please email Pastor Emeritus Mike Chamberlain.

Participants will need to order a book which costs $17.  Please add a memo to your check "Sunday Disciple" or "Wednesday Disciple" or pay online by selecting "Adult Curriculum/Books" from the drop down arrow and addng a memo. 

You can also sign up at the Connection Desk or see Tiwana Whitten.

Use these links to sign up for a particular date/time:

April 6, 12:15 pm , April 9, 4:30 pm, April 9, 6:30 pm, April 13, 9:15 am, April 13, 12:15 pm

Brahms German Requiem - A Requiem for Humanity 

Topeka First UMC Choir Director, Steve Eubank, is also the director of the Lawrence Civic Choir. This spring the Lawrence Civic Choir, Topeka Choral Society, and the Lawrence Community Orchestra will be presenting the Brahms Requiem at the Lied Center in Lawrence on April 5, and here in Topeka at White Concert Hall on May 3. Each performance will be sung in English. The Requiem augments the season of lent and the hope we find in the scriptures set to music by Brahms. We've copied both event details from the Facebook events each group has posted.  Please consider supporting Steve and his choir members! 

The April 5 event details (as listed on Facebook):

Lawrence Civic Choir is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a performance of Brahms' A German Requiem with Shawnee Choral Society and the Lawrence Community Orchestra. This 170-member combined chorus under the direction of Steve Eubank will be joined by guest soloists Metropolitan Opera Soprano Lindsay Ohse and Baritone Dr. Joshua Markley.

Also on the program are the premiere of a choral piece composed by Lawrence Civic Choir Accompanist Dr. Geoffrey Wilcken for this jubilee event, as well as Dvořák's Carnival Overture.  The Lawrence April 5 tickets can be purchased here.

The May 3 event details (as listed on Facebook)

In celebration of Shawnee Choral Society's 25th anniversary and Lawrence Civic Choir's 50th anniversary, we will be performing Brahm's Requiem in both Lawrence and Topeka.

Here are the details on the Topeka concert:

Brahm’s Requiem: Shawnee Choral Society Featuring Lawrence Civic Choir

Saturday, May 3, White Concert Hall, 7:00pm

Free Admission | Donations Gratefully Appreciated

Concert Sponsored in Part By:

Susan F. Holm & David N. Wexler in Loving Memory of James N. Holm, Jr.  he State of Kansas through the Kansas Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.