After much thought and deliberation, it has been decided that beginning on Sunday, July 5th we will slowly begin to reopen UCC.   Before heading this way, however, there are some things one must keep in mind.

•        Due to the COVID situation, seating will be limited.  Therefore, if you plan to attend a Sunday service, making a reservation is essential. Please contact Heidi to reserve a seat. She can be contacted at either heidi@box2384.temp.domains or 634-0430.

•        Everyone must wear a mask. A limited supply will be available at the door, however we encourage you to bring your own.

•        Please wait for the ushers to seat you; be patient as they disperse congregants after the service in an orderly fashion. Fellowship time will be held in the courtyard.  For the time being, there will be no coffee or goodies served.

•        Hand sanitizer will be available.

While we look forward to seeing you on Sundays, it is up to each individual to be sure that he/she feels safe.  Please attend only if you feel comfortable doing so. We will continue to live-stream our worship services as we take these small steps to reopen.

So, if you feel you are ready to return to church, you may do so on Sunday, July 5 at 10:30. Please call the office to place a reservation and remember to bring your masks!

UCCHURCH.ORG was the victim of a malware attack overnight. OUr website developed has been working on this but your computer virus scanner may not allow you to visit our website yet. Please visit our Facebook page to watch today’s livestream.

Changes around UCC during COVID 19:
   Worship –  We are continuing to Live Stream our worship service at 10:30 on Sunday mornings on our website at ucchurch.org and on FaceBook.  If you miss the Live Stream, you can always watch the video anytime during the week at the same places.  Last Sunday, the website only allowed the first 80 people to watch live streaming.  Both our web host and our streaming service have acknowledged more participants than expected and have upgraded their service so that this will not happen again (we hope)!  
   Offerings –  Your offerings are more important than ever.  Since we are unable to pass the offering plate on Sunday mornings, we are missing the opportunity to receive cash collections, checks and even pledged amounts.  Thank you to those who are mailing offerings to help us through this time!  Although we are keeping our expenses as low as possible, the leadership of UCC wanted to continue to pay staff, including our student musicians, during this time.  Your support is so helpful to keep the programs and building going during this in-between time!
   Office Hours –  Although churches/ clergy are considered exempt from the Sedgwick County “stay-at-home”, we are trying to practice social distancing at UCC and working from home as often as possible.  Therefore, it is best to call before you come by the office to make certain someone will be here.  Robin and Paul are available for you at anytime on our mobile phones (641-5919 Robin and 304-6058 Paul).  
    ZOOM Coffee/ Sunday School/ Wednesday evenings –  We have set up a ZOOM (live on your computer) coffee with Robin and Paul on Thursday mornings at 10:00 am.  This has proven to be a great discussion with congregation members and we have had many participants for the 2 weeks we have done it.  Join in for congregational updates, conversation, discussion about how everyone is doing during “social isolation” and general catching up!   Sunday School for children is at 10:00 am on Wednesday mornings with Anna, Megan and Paul by ZOOM.  And Wednesday Night Alive Bible Study is also meeting by ZOOM each Wednesday at 6:00 pm.  The codes and information for these sessions will be sent out by email each week.  Call the church office for more information.
  Opportunity to enrich our community –  We are asking that everyone send a picture or video of yourself to Valerie at valerie@box2384.temp.domains with a greeting to your UCC church family.  We will send these out as a way to stay connected during “social isolation” to get to know one another better.  The more who participate the more fun it will be!  Take time to tell who you are, what you are doing during this time, your hobbies, something you are reading, a favorite scripture, poem, or project.  Give us an idea what you’re cooking, a picture of your garden… the sky is the limit.  
    A personal note –  In the last 3 weeks, your church staff has been very busy recreating our jobs.  Everything single thing we know and do is changing.  I am so grateful for them, their creativity and positive attitudes!  We have been reaching out to some of our older members to let them know that volunteers in the church are available to run errands, grocery shop, or help as needed during this time.  
     My sabbatical is now on hold and will not happen as planned for May – July, 2020.  Eric is on furlough with Textron and is at home.   
    I remain hopeful and grateful for each of you and look forward to Easter morning (not April 12th necessarily), but that day when we are all together and can celebrate new life among us!  Stay healthy and safe until then! 
 

Ellen Awe’s Baking Video

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Click here for a downloadable PDF of today’s bulletin.

We are live-streaming this Sunday’s service ONLY as a precaution against transmission of COVID-19. We’re asking all congregants, visitors and guests to stay home this Sunday, March 15, and to live-stream our service either from this website or from our Facebook page (simply search for the church’s name in your Facebook search bar). If you have any questions at all regarding this decision, please contact either Robin or Paul. We will reassess this decision prior to each week’s worship service for the foreseeable future.

DUE TO THE EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK and out of love and care for our congregation, we will be live-streaming the service this Sunday. We ask that you remain home and watch the service either from this website or our Facebook page.

DECISIONS CONCERNING EVENTS LISTED BELOW WILL BE MADE DURING THE COMING DAYS. Please stay tuned for updates!

Sermon title: “The Five Love Languages: Quality Time”

TODAY
THE FLOWERS ON THE COMMUNION TABLE TODAY are given by
Karen and J. C. Combs. “In loving memory of our parents Joe and Louise Combs, John McClain, and Doris and John Wells…well loved and deeply missed.”

NO BOARDS WILL MEET THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 15.

THIS WEEK

FILLING THE GAP – For the eighth year, the UCC Outreach Board will provide volunteers to serve lunch to underprivileged children. We will need help from March 16- 20, 11:45—1:15, Monday-Friday, at the Urban League of
Kansas at 2418 E Ninth St., Wichita, 67214. Children will be provided a sack lunch, which they can take home or eat there. If you can help one or more days, please see Grace Kneil at church, or email her at grace.kneil@wichita.edu to be placed on the schedule. We also need some children’s books. You may drop them off at UCC and deposit them in fellowship hall in the box marked “Filling the Gap Books.”

MENS’ LUNCH – is canceled this month. 

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ALIVE – “The Most Dangerous Book in the World”, a progressive Bible study on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:00.  You will need a New
Revised Standard Version Bible. 

HEAD-TO-TOE HYGIENE PANTRY – No workday this week. The Pantry is open on Saturday, March 21, from 9:00-11:30am, at 2130 E. 21st St.

YOGA meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00. in fellowship hall. The class is instructor led and the cost $5.

NEXT WEEK

LARKSFIELD CLASS meets on March 25, at 10:00 a.m., in the club room at Larksfield.  Everyone is welcome.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ALIVE – “The Most Dangerous Book in the World”, a progressive Bible study on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:00.  You will need a New
Revised Standard Version Bible. 

TRAVEL SIZE SUPPLIES NEEDED – We are taking supplies year round for the hygiene bags that we provide to the HumanKind Men’s Overflow Shelter.  We are only requesting travel size shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc…You may drop it in the box marked IFM Hygiene Bags in fellowship hall.

THE 2020 TREAT SCHEDULE is on the PIC board in fellowship hall. If you would like to contribute some cookies, bar cookies, cupcakes, or sweet breads for our fellowship time after Sunday worship, please sign your name and phone number to the week that you would like to bring them.

Sermon Title: “The Five Love Languages: Gifts”

TODAY

NEW MEMBER SUNDAY

ENDOWMENT BOARD ANNUAL MEETING – immediately following
worship in the sanctuary.

THIS WEEK

YOGA meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00. in fellowship hall. The class is instructor led and the cost $5.

NEXT WEEK

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ALIVE – “The Most Dangerous Book in the World”, a progressive Bible study on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:00, You will need a New Revised Standard Version Bible. 

SANDWICH SATURDAY is Saturday, March 14, at 11:30 a.m., at St. John’s Episcopal Church.  We are assembling sandwiches on Friday, March 13, in the UCC kitchen at 5:30.  We need volunteers for both days.  Sign-up on the PIC board if you would like to volunteer.

FILLING THE GAP – For the eighth year, the UCC Outreach Board will provide volunteers to serve lunch to underprivileged children. We will need help from March 16- 20, 11:45—1:15, Monday-Friday, at the Urban League of Kansas at 2418 E Ninth St., Wichita, 67214. Children will be provided a sack lunch, which they can take home or eat there. If you can help one or more days, please email Grace Kneil at: grace.kneil@wichita.edu or see her at church. We also need some
children’s books. You may drop them off at UCC and deposit them in fellowship hall in the box marked “Filling the Gap Books.”

Sermon title: “The Five Love Languages: Acts of Service”

TODAY

THE FLOWERS ON THE COMMUNION TABLE TODAY are given by Eileen and John Leifeit.

NEW MEMBER SUNDAY

ENDOWMENT BOARD ANNUAL MEETING – immediately following
worship in the sanctuary.

THIS WEEK

A TASTE OF JAZZ – on March 4, from 6:30-8:30 PM in fellowship hall.  The evening will include amazing door prizes, courtesy of the Wichita Jazz Festival, and varied delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres.  The entertainment will be provided by the extremely talented jazz trio, Billy’s Bounce, which features Mark Mazur-piano; Jim Keefer-bass; and Bill Glenn-drums.  Tickets for “A Taste of Jazz” are $20.00.

STEPHEN MINISTERS meets Thursday, March 5, at 11:00 a.m., in the office conference room.

THE HONORABLE RICHARD D. GREENE SPEAKER SERIES – Join us for a community conversation with Leonard Pitts, Jr. at Saint Mark United Methodist Church at 1525 N Lorraine St., Wichita, KS. It is this Friday, March 6, 2020 from 6:00-9:00pm. and on Saturday, March 7, from 9:30-11:30am. There is no charge at the door, but there will be a free will offering.  Everyone is welcome! Tickets will be handed out by the ushers after worship this Sunday, March 1.

YOGA meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00. in fellowship hall. The class is instructor led and the cost $5.

NEXT WEEK

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ALIVE – “The Most Dangerous Book in the World”, a progressive Bible study on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:00, You will need a New Revised Standard Version Bible. 

SANDWICH SATURDAY is Saturday, March 14, at 11:30 a.m., at St. John’s Episcopal Church.  We are assembling sandwiches on Friday, March 13, in the UCC kitchen at 5:30.  We need volunteers for both days.  Sign-up on the PIC board if you would like to volunteer.

FILLING THE GAP – For the eighth year, the UCC Outreach Board and Temple Emanuel will provide volunteers to serve lunch to underprivileged children.  We will need help from March 16-20, 11:45—1:15, Monday-Friday, at the Urban League of Kansas at 2418 E Ninth St., Wichita, 67214. Children will be provided a prepared cold lunch, which they can take home or eat there.  If you can help one or more days, please email Grace Kneil at: grace.kneil@wichita.edu.  We also need some children’s books.  You may drop them off at UCC or just bring them to worship and deposit them in fellowship hall in the box marked “Filling the Gap Books.”