Church plans month of service, study
Special to the Gazette
Friday, September 26, 2008
First Congregational Church will have a Faith in Action Campaign during the month of October at the church and in various places around the community. The focus during the month will be on not just going to church, but being the church.
During the month of October several new small groups will be formed, and the public is invited to participate. These groups will give participants a chance to study God’s word together and get better acquainted in an informal setting. The current slate of groups is as follows:
• Roger and Bev Hartsook, at First Congregational Church, 12th and State, 9:30 a.m. Sundays, 9:30 a.m.
• Myra and Russ Jones, 719 State St., 6:30 p.m. Sundays
• Jason and Becky Holliday, 707 Garfield St., 7 p.m. Mondays
• Diane Lock, 409 Oak in Cottonwood Falls, 7 p.m. Mondays
• Sam and Lynn Humphreys, 1842 Road D (Northwest of Emporia ), 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays
• SciPhi (Youth Ministry), at First Congregational Church, 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays
• Deanna and Bill Lowe, 1708 Old Manor Road, 7 p.m. Wednesdays
• Paula and Wes Wheeler, 2533 Loma Vista Drive, 7 p.m. Thursdays
• Gary and Marilyn Gooszen, 2009 West 15th Ave., 7 p.m. Thursdays
• Kathy O’Mara, at First Congregational Church, 10 a.m. Fridays
The climax of the campaign will be on Oct. 26, the final Sunday of the month. Regular morning services will not be held. Instead, there will be a short gathering at 8:30 a.m. at the church, after which members will disperse into the community to work on different service projects throughout the day. The schedule will be as follows:
• 8:30 a.m. Gathering and send-off
• 8:50 a.m. Disperse to service projects:
• Grounds work for Emporia Christian School
• Yard Clean-up for older folks
• Operation Christmas Child gift box packaging, for kids in need around the world
• Cookie-baking to honor area teachers
• Church playground area ground completion
• Painting for the local chapter of the American Red Cross
• Activities with residents at the Emporia Rehab Center
• Employee appreciation efforts for the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas
• Interior painting or volunteer recognition for CASA
• 4 p.m. Re-assemble at the church
• 4:15 p.m. Celebration Worship service
• 5:15 p.m. Dinner in Fellowship Hall
Anyone in the community who would like to be a part of the small group experience, or lend a helping hand on any of the projects is welcome to join in. For more information please call the church at 342-6854.