Topeka churches help family become first-time homeowners

A Topeka family will have their own home for the first time thanks to the efforts of a dozen Topeka area United Methodist churches. The home is the first rehab project of Topeka Habitat for Humanity. Participating Topeka churches included First, Countryside, Big Springs, Berryton, Highland Park, Stull, Lowman, Susanna Wesley, Kansas Avenue, University, New Hope, St. Peters and Meriden UMC. The house blessing for the home of Steve and Loretha and their grandchildren was Dec. 10. Mayor Bill...

Stull UMC helps kids in need go back to school

By Susan Cooper, Communications associate director Stull United Methodist Church hosted a back-to-school day to help provide clothing and school supplies to families in need. The event provided clothing for 60 children. Stull UMC member Rita Lesser hugs a woman getting clothing for her children at the church’s back-to-school event. (photo by Randy Kern) Families were able to choose from new and used...

Stull UMC helps kids in need go back to school

By Susan Cooper, Communications associate director Stull United Methodist Church hosted a back-to-school day to help provide clothing and school supplies to families in need. The event provided clothing for 60 children. Stull UMC member Rita Lesser hugs a woman getting clothing for her children at the church’s back-to-school event. (photo by Randy Kern) Families were able to choose from new and used...

Building on Topeka First campus vandalized

A building on the Topeka First United Methodist Church campus was vandalized and burglarized on Saturday, June 18. The story has been on the news in the Topeka area since the incident was reported to police on Saturday. The Sweet Building, located at 622 SW Topeka Blvd. on the southwest corner of the Topeka Boulevard parking lot, was scheduled for demolition beginning June 20. On Saturday, the Sweet Building was broken into and materials such as copper piping were removed. Police estimate that...

Topeka area churches plan clean-up event

Mother Nature will receive a helping hand in getting Topeka parks ready for the summer season May 1 when volunteers from area United Methodist churches and community partners spread out in 13 city parks for a clean-up day. Hundreds of volunteers are expected from 21 churches and the community. Last year, more than 1,000 church members and other volunteers participated in the event. “Hands on Topeka moves us beyond the four walls of our churches to make a difference in the...

Super results from McLouth UMC Souper Bowl

By Dee Turner, special contributor   The McLouth UMC congregation gathered soup for local pantries for their annual Souper Bowl. (photo by Ron Fowler)   The results of this year’s McLouth United Methodist Church Souper Bowl exceeded expectations. The friendly competition collected 3,329 cans of soup for area food pantries, which was a 15 percent...

Lyndon UMC's "Great Burrito Caper" fundraiser

Youth and adults from Lyndon United Methodist Church recently spent several afternoons making more than 100 dozen beef-and-bean and breakfast burritos. The burrito project helped raise money for a trip to Youth 2011 in Indiana this July. Burritos were sold for $15 a dozen to church and community members to help pay for the trip. James Burkett, Mason Burns, Grace Foiles and Caitlyn Ramsey are all freshmen at Lyndon High School and are looking forward to the trip to the Purdue University...

Experience with three bishops provides model for Dorff

By Lisa Elliott Diehl Area communications director Newly-elected Bishop James Dorff has worked closely with three bishops as a district superintendent and area provost for the Dallas Area. With their different styles, Bishop William B. Oden, the late Bishop Rhymes H. Moncure Jr. and Bishop Alfred L. Norris, have given Dorff an idea of what qualities are important in a bishop. As a member of Oden’s cabinet, Dorff said he liked to watch the bishop think because he was a thinker and...