January Sunday School: The Gospel of John

gospel

This January you are invited to learn more about the Gospel of John.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke are known as the synoptic gospels. These three share many stories and traits. John is different. It’s a beautiful and intriguing book. It’s only in John where we hear Jesus’ “I am” statements, and it is in John where we do not get a birth story for Jesus but instead poetry.

The Christian Discipleship Team invited Dr. Stan Harstine from Friends University to teach on John for four weeks, January 9, 16, 23, and 30, at 10 am in the Great Room. Dr. Harstine serves as Professor of Religion at Friends.

Dr. Harstine is originally from El Dorado. He did his undergraduate work at Kansas State University and his Masters of Divinity from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before pursing his doctorate work, he taught and pastored. He completed his Ph.D. at Baylor University and has taught at Friends since 2002.

Stan is the author of three books on the Gospel of John. His most recent book explores how paying attention to themes introduced in the Prologue when they are repeated throughout the Gospel identifies places of emphasis in the story of Jesus.

He and his wife are active in the First Baptist Church of Towanda, Kansas. Their three sons are married, and they are blessed to have two amazingly cute grandsons.

The class itinerary is this:

Week One – January 9: History and Overview of the Gospel of John

A look at the earliest manuscripts, various descriptions frequently used of John and an overview of the entire Gospel.

Week Two – January 16: The Importance of the Prologue for Understanding the Gospel of John

A look at John 1:1-18, various approaches to recognizing the structure of John that aid in its understanding and essential themes to attune to throughout the gospel.

Week Three – January 23: Testimony as a Thread in the Johannine Tapestry

An examination of various internal witnesses and how their testimony move John’s story forward

Week Four – January 30: Comments on Confusing Characters

A look at various male and female characters in the Gospel and understanding their contribution to our reading the gospel.

Session Minute Summaries

Session Minute Summary: October 2021

  • The Grace Presbyterian Session met on October 18, 2021, in the Grace Alcove.
  • The meeting was opened and closed with prayer.
  • Catherine gave an update on the special financial gift and the staff proposal. She and Martin plan to meet with the donors in the coming week.
  • Updates were given on projects that came out of the Session retreat. The plan is to have a hanging of the greens event on December 4 and a food packing event on January 2.
  • The Session approved variations on worship services for November 14 and January 2 and approved the Christmas Eve worship schedule with services at 5 pm and 8 pm.
  • Financial reports were given and received. September was a low month for giving. Other reports were given.
  • The church is looking for a new auditor.
  • Full Session minutes are available upon request.

Angel Tree

angel-tree

This year we again participate in the Angel Tree.  Like in 2020, the Angel Tree is virtual.

You may go here Sign In – Angel Tree (theangelgivingtree.org) and set up an account and adopt an angel.

SIGN UP

After you purchase your gifts, bring them to Grace, and we will deliver to the drop off location.

If you want to participate but are not comfortable with the online set-up, contact the church office, 316-684-5215, for help.

You may choose between adopting angels (children), stars (adults), or both.  All Angel Tree gifts are due to Grace by November 29.

Planned Giving Celebration

We give thanks!  We give thanks for the many ways you share financial resources with the congregation.  The church relies on the pledges made and honored that give to our regular operating budget.  We are grateful for the pledges that were made and honored for our Deep Roots campaign that we are in the final stages of completing.  We are also blessed to have a planned giving program.

Planned Giving allows you to plan for a special gift to the church.  Some people do this through their estate planning.  Other people choose to participate in planned giving while they are alive.

Recently I was approached by members of the church about planned giving.  The donors wanted to make a gift right now, while still living. Martin Burch, our Executive Pastor, and I met with them and learned their intent.  They did not have specific ideas about their gift but wanted it to go toward supporting and/or starting ministries, perhaps with an emphasis on children and youth.

Martin and I met many times with Kirk Anderson and Jennifer Snook to discuss this gift.  We prayed together, brainstormed, drafted idea lists, and finally came to some solid ideas.  We presented these ideas to the donors.  They were enthusiastic and shared $50,000 with the church to make these things happen.

This gift does not go to paying the regular bills, and in the coming weeks you’ll hear about our current budget reality, which is that we are behind.  It’s a place of tension to on one hand celebrate a generous gift, and on the other hand to stress that we are in a difficult place financially, but this is where we are.

In this moment though, I invite you to celebrate with me.  Celebrate this gift and the ways we plan to use it, listed below.

In Christ,

Catherine Neelly Burton

The $50,000 gift will allow us to:

  • Send our High School Mission Trip to Puerto Rico. Talk to Kirk Anderson to learn more.
  • Send seven families to Christian Family Camp. If this is something you want to learn more about, talk to Jennifer Snook.
  • Buy a Story Bible for each pre-school child at Jacob’s Learning Ladder.
  • Host a food packing event on January 2. (Look for more information soon!)
  • Give bonuses to our staff.
  • Help send youth to the Presbyterian Youth Triennium in 2022.

Alternative Gift Market: November 13

gift market

Saturday is the day!  The Alternative Gift Market is open from 10 am – 4 pm at the Hillside Christian Church, 8330 E. Douglas.  Over 30 causes are represented for you to support and show your friends, family, coworkers you care for our world and those in need. Grace is sponsoring “Plant for a Sustainable Tomorrow”, an effort to help Haiti reforest its natural resources through planting trees. Some of the trees will eventually be harvested sustainably to produce charcoal, which is a critical part of the local economy.

Donations of $28.00 will help plant 25 trees, $55.00 plants 50 trees and $1,100.00 will plant 1,100 trees. Your support with the purchase of an alternative gift to this, or any of the other causes, helps to make lives better for those in need.

Take a few minutes out of your day on Saturday and stop by the market.  You will enjoy the creativity and the opportunity to help.  Thanks Grace members for your support.