FAITH

North Topeka church plans Epiphany celebration

Phil Anderson
panderson@cjonline.com

An Epiphany celebration titled "What Love Can Do For You" will take place beginning at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, at Kansas Ave United Methodist Church, 1029 N. Kansas Ave.

A collection of Nativities will be on display and assorted chocolate treats will be served at 4:30 p.m.

A program of music and pageantry depicting the arrival of the wise men who came to worship Jesus Christ after he was born will follow at 5:30 p.m.

For information, call 785-234-0507.

In other religion news:

• Mainstream UMC, Great Plains UMC Next and Reconciling Ministries Network will sponsor a "Resist Harm" event from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 4, at Countryside United Methodist Church, 3221 S.W. Burlingame Road.

Organizers said the event is a peaceful protest to the United Methodist Church denomination's "Traditional Plan,” which took effect Jan. 1. The Traditional Plan was passed at the denomination's 2019 General Conference in St. Louis. It affirmed the denomination's current bans on ordaining LGBTQ clergy and officiating at or allowing same-sex marriage ceremonies in United Methodist churches.

Saturday's event is part of what organizers said is a national day of resistance. Two events are scheduled Saturday in the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church, which includes Kansas and Nebraska. Besides the event in Topeka, another one will take place in Omaha. 

Following the service in Topeka, organizers said, attendees will caravan to the Great Plains Conference office at 1207 S.W. Executive Drive in Topeka to deliver letters sharing personal stories of loved ones harmed by the Traditional Plan to Bishop Ruben Saenz.

The Topeka service will be live-streamed on the Countryside UMC Facebook page.

• The Brotherhood Department of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, 2222 S.E. Madison, will sponsor a stewardship workshop at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 9 and 10, at the church.

• The 26th annual Community Celebration of the Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, at El Shaddai Ministries Church, 920 S.E. Sherman Ave. The guest speaker will be Shanae Holman, lead organizer for the Topeka Justice Unity Ministry Project. A soup supper will precede the program at 6:30 p.m., with donations accepted. A reception will follow the service.

• Crowder will headline the 2020 Winter Jam Tour Spectacular when it is presented at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, at the Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd. in Kansas City, Mo. Also appearing will be Andy Mineo, Hillsong Young and Free, Red, Building 429, Austin French and Newsong. PreJam artists will include Riley Clemmons, Zauntee, and speakers Zane Black and Billy Ballenger. Admission is $15 at the door. No advance tickets are sold. For information, visit www.sprintcenter.com or www.jamtour.com.

• MercyMe will present its "20/20 Tour" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 20, at the Silverstein Eye Center Arena, 19100 E. Valley View Parkway in Independence, Mo. Also featured in the concert will be Jeremy Camp and David Leonard. Tickets range from $30 to $155. For more information, call 800-653-6000 or visit www1.ticketmaster.com.