THANK YOU NOTES!

7/1/08 NEW!

Thanks, Christy and Neil, for your reaching out calls and labors of love to church families affected by the storm.  You are wonderful pastors!  Thanks also to John Boyer, David Woodmansee, Leonard Purvis, Don & Joan Thomson and their grandchildren, and to the many others in our congregation who helped other church family folks with storm damage.  First Christian’s heart is showing!

The First Christian Congregation

7/1/08 NEW!

My heart is so full of gratitude for our church.  Ever since the day we joined we have loved First Christian Church!  We enjoyed so much all the years we attended there and the friendships with all of you.   And then when the time came when we could no longer come to church, the church came to us.  With our pastors and elders, our church is in very good hands.  We thank you all for being our church family, and thank you also for bringing us communion each week.  We have enjoyed meeting new elders and keeping in touch with the elders we already knew.  God bless everyone at First Christian Church!

Love, Dorothy & Charles Kennedy

7/1/08 NEW!

Thank you to everyone who helped clean up after our wedding reception.  Thank you, Pastor Neil, for your unconditional support and for being a part of making our day special.  We wouldn't have wanted anyone else to marry us but you.  Thank you also for taking time out of your day to counsel us in making a life together.  I feel very blessed to worship in a church that is so hospitable and genuine.

With Love and Gratitude, Cody and Marin Philippi

6/11/08

Thank you for your donation of $1000 to the Good Samaritan Fund.  Thank you for your longstanding relationship and for sharing in our mission.  Your commitment to improve the lives of those we serve is greatly appreciated.  Thank you again for your donation to the Foundation.  With much appreciation.

Steve Shields, Meadowlark Hills Foundation

6/1/08

Thank you so much for all your prayers and concerns for my recent surgery.  The beautiful dark pink carnations and little purple flowers were so cheerful and made me want to get well quicker.  It is such a blessing to have love and concern from so many “adopted” mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunties and uncles.  Thank you all and blessings on all who keep God and Christ close to their heart.  Synla, Synla, Synla (sin-lay). Thank you, Thank you, Thank you (yucchi).

Love, Verleta Myers

6/1/08

Thanks to everyone for the anniversary cards and phone calls, and a special thanks to Floyd Price for the beautiful rose arrangement.  We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Love from Sonny and Virgie Redding

6/1/08

Thank you for the beautiful red carnations – they brightened my hospital room.  A very special thank you to Neil for being there at the hospital the day I walked in for my surgery and for his visits during my hospital stay, and to the hospital callers that stopped by to see me and church members for their prayers and concern during my surgery and recovery.

David Soper

6/1/08

Thanks for the beautiful purple and white bouquet that was delivered to the hospital during my recent stay.  Also thanks for the phone calls and visits.  The visits by Neil were especially appreciated.

In Christian Love, Bud Shawgo

6/1/08

We thank everyone at the church for allowing us to have our Mom’s birthday reception in Fellowship Hall.  In addition, Billie Anderson and Linda Gallagher were such a big help!  I don’t know what we would have done without them.  Manhattan will always be a special place for our family and being able to allow Mom to be among family and those special long time friends was the best gift of all.

Thanks from Clint, Rex and Linda Dunn (Ruzicka)

5/15/08

This is to say “thank you” to Rev. Engle and the congregation for the opportunity of creating the bulletin board displays for eight years.  It has been a joy, but now there is a need for it to be used for other purposes, and God’s timing is always right.  God bless you in your quest to know and follow Him in a deeper way.

Zona Gale & Arlin Sarff

5/15/08

On behalf of everyone at the Ecumenical Campus Ministry at Kansas State University, I wanted to thank you for your recent contribution of $3,200 to the ministry! It’s been a busy and wonderful school year at the campus ministry.  It’s a blessing and honor to be involved in lives of many amazing young adults as the ECM campus pastor.  Neil, be sure to let the “FCC Cleanup Crew” know that they are more than welcome to bring their talents to ECM – once they’ve recovered from their May 3rd cleanup!

Best Regards, David Jones, Campus Minister

5/1/08

Dear First Christian Youth – thank you for a very inspirational service last Sunday.  “Surely the Spirit of the Lord was in this place.” 

Blessings, Alice Roper

4/15/08

Many thanks to Virgie and Sonny Redding for their work in sprucing up our front garden and the plantings on the south of our building.  It made a huge difference and we’re very grateful for their help!  Continued thanks to Ruby Kidd for all the plantings she added to that garden.

4/15/08

Thank you for the beautiful purple carnations, for all of Neil’s visits, for our church’s great concern, and for all the cards, calls and visits from all that came to see me.

Sincerely, Nancy Venburg

4/15/08

I want to thank all those who participated in the garage sale I had recently, to all those who donated items for the sale, and to those who helped get it set up and helped to be there that cold day of the sale!  Special thanks to Ruth Lackey, Sharon Purvis, Linda Gallagher and Kathy Huntzinger who cheerfully worked so hard and long.  We made $198.98 and all proceeds went to the Disciples Women’s Fellowship.  The items left over from our sale were given to several other groups who are having upcoming fundraiser rummage sales.

Sincerely, Sally Harper

4/15/08

Thanks to Leonard and Sharon Purvis, Dale and Ruth Lackey, Don & Joan Thomson, Linda and Rich Gallaher, Mickey Bogart, and Neil Engle for helping clean up Sandy Snoke's yard on Monday April 14th.  This turned out to be a bigger job than we thought it would be, and that's when we thought it would be a good idea to ask for help from our friends at FCC. The response was great!

Thank to all, Gene Ernst and Sonny Redding

4/1/08

Our thanks to everyone who expressed sympathy at the death of our brother-in-law.  A special thanks to Neil and Christy for their phone calls.

Clyde & Jane Wassom

4/1/08

Thank you so much for the banana nut bread!  That was very fun to get and I appreciate it. It is good to be a part of the First Christian Church family!

Sincerely, Ona Borg

3/15/08

Thank you for the prayers, cards, and phone calls.  My dad’s death was a true test of my faith.  It demanded great hope, and allowed love to be expressed in so many ways.  We are also grateful that Elizabeth and I had the hand of God protecting Chelsey and Drew in their recent car accident.  Seat belts do save lives!

May God’s peace be with you, Stephen, Elizabeth, Brett, Drew & Chelsey

3/15/08

I was happy when my valentine from Merge youth came to my door on that Sunday.  It is just so special to be remembered this way.  Thank you all for remembering me.

With love, Marcie Winden

3/15/08

The family of Ruth Alden would like to express our gratitude for all the kindness extended to us during the death of our Mother and Grandmother. Neil's message was a lovely tribute to Mom and the wonderful meal was truly appreciated.  Mom looked forward to attending First Christian Church, where she felt loved and welcome.

Dianna Philippi 

3/15/08

Thank you very much for the loaf of cranberry bread that I received for Valentine’s Day.  I enjoyed it very much.

Dorothy Toburen                 

3/15/08

Many thanks to those of you who sent cards, made phone calls and visited me in the hospital during my recent illness.  A special thank you to Marian & Jim for providing transportation and moral support during my many trips, at all hours, to the emergency room and when I entered the hospital.  The flowers from the church improved my spirits tremendously as they did the nurses at the hospital.  Even though I haven’t a family here, I have the largest family of anyone I know in the members of the First Christian Church.

God bless you all for caring, Betty Slemen

3/15/08

Thank you for the delicious carrot bread and the effort the youth made to deliver it to me. It was a real treat.

Alice Roper

3/1/08

VALENTINE BREAD THANK YOU’S

Thank you for the Valentine Bread.  It was a nice treat and a surprise. -- Bob Sloan

I loved getting the delicious little loaf of sweet bread.  Thank you to those who made it, and to those who delivered it. -- Mabel King

I was really surprised to come home and find a loaf of bread in my door.  I don’t know who made it or did it, but it was very nice. -- Dawn Simpson

Thank you for the loving Valentine loaf.  This is a special thank you as 2/12/08 was my 11th year since my heart surgery and a lot of love from you, Merge Youth. -- God Bless you all, Don Clagett

A special note of thanks to our youth in the church for the wonderful loaf of carrot bread and to Bill McReynolds for delivering it for Valentine’s Day.  As someone once said, “A simple act of kindness has a beauty of its own.”  As I enjoy each piece, you will be in my prayers. -- Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Betty Slemen

What a nice surprise Sunday evening.  Two young ladies came to my door with the most delicious banana bread.  Thank you for your kindness. -- Joan Mathiot

I loved getting the tasty carrot bread.  Many thanks to whoever made it – I enjoyed very bite!  And thanks also to Bill McReynolds, my delivery driver, for all the effort he made which is very appreciated. -- Earl Dreher

Thank you for the loaf of carrot bread that I received for Valentine Day. -- Lela Machin, 2121 Meadowlark

Many, many thanks for the Valentine gift.  That bread was delicious! -- Katherine Mulanax

I want to thank Bill McReynolds for the loaf of bread he delivered on Wednesday evening.  It sure made my evening!  It was very good. -- Janice Krienitz

Thanks for the delivery of the Valentine banana bread by the Woodmansee family and Christy. -- Eula Mae Hedman

The Merge Youth Group would like to thank all the bakers who helped make our Valentine outreach a gift of love.  Thank you!

3/1/08

I want to take this opportunity to thank the many caring people at First Christian who offered their love, prayers and support to my mom, Rowena Haley, throughout her years of membership, and especially during the last year when she was battling cancer.  May God richly bless your congregation in this new year.  I will never forget all you have done.

Sincerely, Brooke Ukena, Albuquerque, New Mexico 

3/1/08

ECM would like to thank Sharon Purvis, Betty Slemen, Pat McReynolds, Patty Duffy, Jeanne Powell, Dianna Philippi, Nancy Goulden, Ann Foster, Floyd & Phyllis Price, Linda Gallagher and Virginia Field for donating food for our Sunday Suppers that we host for the students.  The students and David have greatly appreciated the home cooked meals that you have helped provide and have had nothing but wonderful words for your cooking. We also want to thank Ruth Lackey, Sharon Purvis, for their help with the International Friendship Dinner in March.  We are still in need of volunteers, if anyone else would like to help please contact us at 785-539-4281 or sktaylor@ksu.edu.  It has been so great to have a list of volunteers to call when a meal is needed.  What a wonderful congregation you have been to work with, it has been a great pleasure.  Thank you for your generosity.

Sarah Taylor, Administrative Assistant

3/1/08

Thanks to Neil for visits the week I was in the hospital, for the cards from church members and Larson Circle, for the flowers from the church.  All is going well in recovery after my surgery.  I’m been on a walker for a month and going to physical therapy twice a week.

Eula Mae Hedman

2/1/08

Many thanks for all of the prayers and concerns for our daughter Kristin during the past year.  Those prayers were heard and answered and her leg seems to be healing.  Lupus is an ongoing disease so it will be a lifelong concern but for now with your help and God’s answer we can rest.

Ben & Carol Duerfeldt, Kristin, Rusty Rogers & Family 

2/1/08

Many thanks to Bill McReynolds, Josh McIlvain, Tiffany Nitzsche, Shannan Osborn, Nancy Rumley, and Alicia Chaline for helping with the Youth Lock-In held on January 18th and for their continued support of the youth program.

With much gratitude, David Woodmansee and Christy Dew

1/15/08

Thanks to all that helped and supported me in the last four and one half years in serving as one of your Trustees.  I really appreciated your encouragement and help.  With you help and prayers we got a number of things accomplished.   Thanks for your friendship.    Please continue to support our  current Trustees.

Sonny Redding

1/15/08

Thank you to all of you for the prayers, phone calls, cards, and meals.  It is so great to know you have all been beside me in this fight against cancer.  There are so very many special angels in our church family, and you know who you are.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Love, Sandy Snoke 

1/15/08

Thank you so much for your generous gift certificate you gave me at Christmas time. Your thoughtfulness and caring are really appreciated.  It is truly a blessing to serve you in this capacity.

Don Foster, Church Treasurer 

1/15/08

Thank you for the wonderful mall gift certificate.  I am excited for another excuse to go shopping! I really appreciate your generosity.

Lisa Berggren 

1/15/08

There are not enough words to express our thanks for all the church was to our mother, Willa Mae Hewitt.  It was the center of her life in Manhattan, and she loved her church and its people so much.  You gave her a spiritual home, fellowship, support and love and for that we could not be more grateful.  Thank you also for the lovely dinner before Mom’s service which was served with such warmth and was very comforting to all the family.  Special thanks to Neil for the beauty of his message at the service about our mother’s life.  It was everything we could have wished said and more.

God bless you all, Joella Rowland, Larry Hewitt & families

1/1/08

Thank you so much for the Manhattan Town Center Christmas gift certificate presented to us from the congregation.  We appreciate your generosity and your thoughtfulness, and we’re certain we can put the certificate to good use!  Thanks, also, for all the cards and goodies we received during the holidays.  Your expressions of love and good wishes mean a great deal to us!

Neil & Holly

1/1/08

I so appreciate the Mall gift certificate!  This congregation’s hospitality & love are so abundant.  All the remembrances from the congregation were so thoughtful and kind and kept me going through the chaos of moving and the winter storm!

Christy 

1/1/08

Many thanks for the gift certificate from the church to the Town Center Mall!  I’ll have so much fun with that, and expect to land many bargains as well!  I truly, truly appreciate this wonderful gift, from a loving and kind congregation that I’m so proud to work for.

Marian

1/1/08

Thank you so much for the mall gift certificate. I appreciate working with and for the church and all the wonderful people that make up our church. Best wishes for all in the new year and thanks again.

Noel

1/1/08

My heartfelt thanks to all the Christmas carolers who sang so beautifully to my sister, Christabelle Fitzgerald, who recently broke her hip and is in rehab at St. Joseph’s.  They cheered Christabelle, and in doing that, they cheered me as well.  What a lovely bunch of people!

God bless you all, Frances Van Scoyoc

12/18/07

Our thanks to all who helped with the luncheon following Rowena Haley’s memorial service:  Jean Neipert, Eula Mae Hedman, Bernie Hedinger, Deb Marfield, Pam Russell, Ann & Don Foster, Nancy Goulden, Janice Parsons, Ruth Lackey, Virginia Field and Carol Duerfeldt.  Thanks also to Kathy Jones who donated poinsettias which were on the luncheon tables and made Fellowship Hall look especially welcoming for all the guests.

Neil 

12/18/07

Thank you so much for  the luncheon for my mom’s memorial service.  I was so busy talking with everyone that I didn’t get to eat until I got home, but the leftovers were much appreciated and very tasty!  My mom always spoke highly of her Larson group.  Thank you for supporting her during her illness and throughout the years.

I also want to thank the Merge Youth Group and adult volunteers for the two visits you made to mom’s home to rake leaves.  The fellowship of the church family brought much comfort and pleasure to my mom’s life, especially during the long months of her illness. 

Bless you all for the care and support you give so unselfishly - Sincerely, Brooke Ukena

12/18/07

Thanks to the church for the carnations while I was in the hospital. They are still pretty!

Jeanne Powell

12/1/07

The Fair Trade Advocates and CrossRoads of ECM student groups would like to thank you for allowing us to use the congregation’s coat rack during the recent Fair Trade Marketplace at the KSU Student Union.  The holiday shopping was a tremendous success, with sales increasing about 80% over last year’s event and many hundreds of persons becoming more aware of the issues involved in the fair trade movement.

David Jones, Campus Pastor

12/1/07

Dear Neil, Sonny, Gene,

 
Please convey our gratitude from Troop 76 to the First Christian Church.  Our Treasurer said that we received a donation from your congregation this week.  We are very thankful!

Mark Naughton, Scout Master

11/15/07

Thank you for the lovely pink flowers to celebrate Chloe’s birth.  They really brightened up the hospital room.  Thank you for thinking of our family during this special time.

Waide, Tanya, Caleb & Chloe Purvis

11/15/07

Dear Neil & FCC Members,

In the process of relocating my office, I found a thank you note I was going to send you earlier with my appreciation for your gift of scholarship aid in the spring semester 2007.   Please accept my apology for the lateness.  With your generosity, you have made it more possible for me to continue seminary to achieve a goal of being able to minister more effectively as a chaplain.  Between working full-time as chaplain at Kansas Christian Home and attending Phillips Theological Seminary I keep very busy yet love every moment of the ministry God has extended me to serve.  May God bless you in your ministry to assist student ministers in the ministry.

Yours in Christ, Chaplain Denny Bell 

11/15/07

We can’t thank you enough for all the kindnesses – visits, cards, calls, and meals – that have been extended to us with our hospitalizations, and with Steve’s illness.  You are so supportive, and it truly helps.  Many thanks also to Neil for all he has done.  We are truly grateful for our First Christian Church family and Pastor.

Gail & Janice Parsons 

11/15/07

Thank you very much for all the awesome meals that were prepared by the members of your church:  Sharon Purvis, Betty Slemen, Pat McReynolds, Patty Duffy, Jeanne Powell, Dianna Philippi, Nancy Goulden, Ann Foster, Floyd and Phyllis Price and Diane Gaede.  Your generosity is remarkable and you should be very proud to be a member of such a kind and giving church.  Special thanks go to Sharon Purvis who took the time to get a list of volunteers to us.  Again thank you for making time to give to CrossRoads of ECM.

Sincerely, Sarah Taylor, Administrative Assistant. ECM 

11/15/07

I want to thank everyone for their prayers and good wishes, cards, the home visit from Jeanne Powell and Ruth Lackey, Pastor Neil for all he does for our church and members, and my Care Cluster leader, Pam Russell.  All the support has helped so much.  I’ll soon be starting chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

Most gratefully, Diana Martin

10/15/07

SHEPHERD'S CROSSING THANK YOU

The staff and board of directors of Shepherd's Crossing would like to thank you for your generous support of $4735 as of September 30th.  The need is great and the generosity of our donors and volunteers is a blessing to those in need.  Thank you for participating in the funding of this ecumenical ministry.

John Connizzo, Executive Director

10/15/07

THANK YOU FOR MAKING CROP WALK SO EXCELLENT!

Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who made donations and participated as walkers representing First Christian Church in the October 7th C.R.O.P Walk.  We had a goal to increase our donations and walkers by 25%.  We greatly increased both goals!!  Donations increased by 49% and the number of walkers increased by 98%.  We had 23 walkers this year - adult, youth, children, and 1 dog.  The preliminary count of donations from First Christian Church is $952.  A big thanks to all - and special thanks to our Merge Youth.  They raised $225.  Youth who participated in the walk were Madison, Dylan, and Chelsey Johnson, and Marilyn and Victoria Wright.

10/15/07

I deeply appreciate all the expressions of love and support presented to me in observance of Pastor Appreciation Month.  I have enough chocolate to last me for the foreseeable future!  I continue to consider it a privilege to serve as your pastor.

Love, Neil Engle

10/15/07

Thanks to everyone for all of the cards and phone calls.  You've really made my 90th birthday memorable!  I have a wonderful church family at First Christian.

Love, Dawn Simpson

10/1/07

A great big thank you to everyone who participated in the Camp Tawakoni Work Day trip.  With such a great group, we were able to accomplish a lot in a limited amount of time.  We worked the ground that was torn up during construction of the new Cabin #2, and planted grass.  We built a lean-to canopy on the back of the Training Lodge building to help protect the camp's utility golf cart from the elements.  And, we helped clear logs and limbs that remained from a couple of large pine trees that were cut down.  The following people participated:  David and Linda Jones; Joan, Mark, Brittany and Sydney Mathiot; Greg Carson; Bill (Mac) McReynolds; Josh McIlvain; Tiffany Nitzsche; David and Renate Woodmansee; Marilyn and Victoria Wright; Skylar Azian; Alicia and Skylar Chaline.

Extra thanks to Victoria and Marilyn Wright for helping with cleaning up the church bus when we got back!

9/15/07

Thank you to Neil and to Renate Woodmansee for help and assistance during the time I had my eye surgery.  I greatly appreciated it.

Love, Marcie Winden

9/15/07

I have enjoyed taking care of the church flowers but I am not going to be able to continue this work.  I have appreciated so much the help that has been given me by Howard and many others to make it possible for me to care for the garden.

Sincerely, Ruby Kidd

9/1/07

Enclosed is a contribution to First Christian Church.  We are so grateful for your kindness and generosity in allowing us to meet at the church.  We truly appreciate having such a nice place to gather.

Sincerely, Wednesday Night Al-Anon Family Group

9/1/07

To my family at First Christian Church,

Thank you for the wonderful send off you gave me.  It was all so perfect and a wonderful ending to a special five years in Manhattan.   July 29th was so much fun and I was very touched by all that Janice Barrons and the Discipleship Team (as well as many others, I am sure) did to make that meaningful for me.   I truly appreciate the love offering and also the Chipotle gift certificate as well as the kind words and cards from so many of you.

Although it was a difficult day, August 12th was as good a day as possible.  I am so moved by and appreciative of the gift that you presented me.   I absolutely love the communion set.  It means so much to me to be a member of the Disciples of Christ denomination and how perfect it is to have a hand-made pottery chalice with a St. Andrew's cross.   It will always hold a special place in my home and my heart.

Drew and I are doing well.  I am enjoying my new job as the Human Resource Coordinator at Genstler Eye Center (in Topeka.)  I feel as though I have found a good place to use my gifts.  In addition to starting a new job, Drew and I moved out of our house and moved in with his parents, Dennis and Kathy, while we wait for our house to be completed.   We are thankful that our house sold, but it will be an adjustment to live in a full house with four dogs!

Our new address is 2904 NE Kansa Trail, Topeka, KS 66617.  We were able to put a mailbox up at the new house already so that we do not have to change it again when we are able to actually move in.   My new email address is steph.switzky@gmail.com.   Of course we would love to hear from you!

I am not sure that words can really explain my feelings toward you.  I am just so grateful for the positive impact you have all had on my life.   I will deeply miss you.

Love, Stephanie

8/15/07

A very special thank you for the vase of roses.  Also to Neil for the service for Kirk’s funeral.  Also to Ben Duerfeldt for his part in the service.  And to all who sent cards and called.  You are a very special group of people.

Thank you, Nancy Venburg

8/15/07

On behalf of Meadowlark Hills, I want to thank you for your generous gift.  Our goal is to continue to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.  Your commitment to help improve our community is sincerely appreciated.  It’s wonderful people like you that allow us to continue to our work here at Meadowlark Hills.  Again, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for your donation to the Foundation.

Best regards, Steve Shields

8/1/07

Thanks to Gregg Masterson for being a willing substitute coffee fellowship set-up person. And to Michael for making sure he remembers. And to Ruth Lackey for being the “sub's sub."

Debi Rogers (on behalf of us all!)

8/1/07

Dave Rankin was at First Christian recently to provide special music on the organ he installed for us several years ago.  After being with us again, he wanted to share these thoughts:

Dear First Christian Church Family,

First Christian is a happening church. It is honest and sincere. It feels good and right....not just on the surface but from a deep seated faith. The Scripture is being preached so that we leave filled and ready to do what God would ask us to do.......the people are sincere and caring. They are living examples of Christ on earth and I think you all need to hear this. Sometimes you begin to take things for granted….sometimes you forget what the Church is really all about, and you need to know that First Christian is obviously a Christ centered church doing great things!!!!!!

Sincerely, Dave Rankin 

8/1/07

Thank you so much for your concern and prayers as I undergo treatment for cancer.  My thanks to all who have sent cards, flowers, food, for visits and for phone calls.  They all mean so much to me.  And thank you, Neil, for being with me and my family at the hospital and your visit after I returned home.

In Christian love, Jane Wassom

8/1/07

Thank you, everyone, for paying for me to go to for church camp.

Cameron White 

8/1/07

Thank you for being one of 39 churches in Riley County that financially and spiritually supports Shepherd’s Crossing.  We hope that it has been helpful to your staff to have a caring place to send people in financial and emotional distress.  The need is great and the generosity of our donors and volunteers is a blessing.  Our goal is “to provide compassionate and caring assistance to those in need of a listening ear and financial support”.  Shepherd’s Crossing is truly a place of faith, hope and love.

Jan Connizzo, Executive Director, Shepherd’s Crossing

7/15/07

I want to thank Leonard Purvis, Mickey Bogart, and Pastor Neil for helping me move to a different apartment at the Towers.  I really enjoy being part of a friendly and helping church!

Alonna Finn

7/15/07

We were so touched by the song “In the Bulb There is a  Flower” which was sung at worship last Sunday in honor of our 32nd wedding anniversary.  Special thanks to Linda Uthoff, and to the congregation, for such a sweet gesture.

Howard and Ruby Kidd