This month we receive non-perishable food items for our yellow bag offering.  You may drop food off at the church during business hours.  In August our contributions go to the Covenant Presbyterian Food Pantry.  Covenant is a PCUSA congregation in west Wichita.

Session Summary: May 18, 2020

• The Session met via Zoom and began with prayer.
• The confirmation class and Kirk Anderson (Director of Student Ministries) joined this meeting.
• Session members and confirmands were divided into Zoom break-out rooms for discussion. Session had read the confirmation class statements of faith before the meeting.
• After the breakout rooms it was moved and seconded to welcome the confirmation class into membership on May 31, 2020. Annabelle Merten, Elliott Merten, May Phares, Isaac Snook, and Grace Westbrook will join by public profession of faith.  Mitzi Darmstetter and Grace Stark will join by baptism and public profession of faith.
• Martin gave an update on the Deep Roots work. The ceiling work in the kitchenette and Bell Choir room is next.  Parlor furniture is still not here.
• Session discussed the return in in-person worship. Catherine shared what others in the neighborhood were doing as well as other Wichita PCUSA congregations.
  • Session looked at ways to be safe when we do return as well as alternatives such as outdoor worship.
  • Session voted to remain online only through June.
• Kirk Anderson reported that the Youth mission trip to Tennessee will not happen, but plans are underway for a mission week in Wichita.
• Bible School work is underway. It will be a hybrid model.  A virtual VBS (videos) go online June 15-19, and the team does a modified in person VBS for JLL children that week.
• A finance report was given then received and approved.
• The job description for the new Director of Music Ministry was approved, however there was much conversation about whether or not the timing is right given what we do and don’t know about singing. Catherine, Dave, and Pam will talk with the search team.
• JLL received two grants related to the pandemic to support staff and supplies.
• Catherine reported that the PCUSA General Assembly will be virtual and not in Baltimore as planned. She is a commissioner.
• Catherine noted that the May presbytery meeting was cancelled.
• The meeting was closed with prayer.

Session Summary: June 15, 2020

• The meeting was held via Zoom and was opened with prayer.
• There was a long discussion about the return to in person worship including safety precautions.
• The Session voted to begin in person worship on July 5 with one service in the Great Room and then to go to two services after that (9 and 11). A letter will go out to the congregation from the Session detailing the precautions that will be in place.
• Deep Roots work continues in the Bell Room and kitchenette. We’re still waiting on the Parlor furniture.  We also have to get the Parlor window coverings and wall things.  After those spaces are done we’ll start on the remodel of the bathroom across from the elevator.  It will become a “family” room.  Deep Roots income continues to come in.
• Catherine noted the Christian Discipleship Team’s 14-Day Challenge and encouraged Session members to participate.
• Catherine had sent out information to the Session about the PCUSA Matthew 25 initiative and asked them to read over it, reflect, and come ready to talk about it in July.
• Financial reports were approved and received. Income in May was okay.  We have the Paycheck Protection Program loan/grant, so we are okay right now.
• It was reported that the BOT approved buying equipment to support live streaming. The bid is just under $13,000.  (Right now we stream from an iPhone).  We may have to hire someone on Sunday mornings to help run the equipment.
• Martin is working with someone from the personnel team and our local insurance agent to determine insurance for our staff as our current plan has increased by 14%.
• Session voted to celebrate Sean Foster’s ministry on July 19 and to invite a love offering.
• Session voted to put the music search on hold and pursue an interim coordinator.
• It was shared that that youth mission experience is still on but with many questions.

Session Summary: June 29, 2020

• The Session met via Zoom and opened the meeting with prayer.
• The purpose of the called meeting was to revisit our plan for return to in-person worship and to update our communication strategy as necessary.
• Catherine invited doctors in the congregation to join the Session for a conversation on June 28. Session was joined that day by Tom Bloxham, Ron Brown, and Mac Smith.  Bloxham pointed us to the Sedgwick County Covid Dashboard and the 14-day rolling average of positive tests.  He also suggested watching hospital rates.
• There was a lot of discussion about what an appropriate metric is and if we need one. There was discussion about whether or not staff felt safe, given that staff does not have a choice about coming back.  There were also some who named that people need to be able to choose.
• Catherine noted that she thinks we’re losing people’s attention and focus with online only worship.
• It was voted on to use the 14-day rolling average of the percent of positive tests to determine our return. If/when the number is at 5% or below, we will be in the building.  When it is above, we will not.  This may mean some on again off again.  The decision for the week is based on what the numbers are the Monday/Tuesday before the Sunday.
• Outdoor worship continues to come up as an option.

Pre-Pandemic we regularly published Session minute summaries in Grace this Week.  Since we have not been together some of you have asked if we could publish them online.  What follows are summaries of the minutes from March and April 2020.  May and June are in another post, and we’ll continue to share this way.  Full copies of the minutes are always available upon request.

Session Summary: March 16, 2020

• The session met via Zoom and began with prayer.
• Steve Hooper was elected as the clerk of Session (and secretary of the corporation).
• Catherine gave an update on the Next Church Conference she attended in early March.
• Sunday, March 15, worship was online only, and the Session voted to continue this through the month of March.
• Jacob’s Learning Ladder remains open.
• A discussion as held about how long we could guarantee to pay Grace staff (Jacob’s Learning Ladder (JLL) included). Session voted to continue to pay staff through the April Session meeting (regardless as to giving or JLL tuition) and to work with the trustees to evaluate things before then.
• The Parlor is ready to be painted as part of the Deep Roots campaign, and the BOT approved ordering the furniture selected by the Parlor team.
• Financial reports were approved and received.
• The staff is working to communicate with the congregation through calls, Facebook, emails, and texts.
• The meeting was closed with joys, concerns, and prayer.

Session Summary: March 30, 2020 (called meeting)

• The meeting was held via Zoom and opened with prayer.
• The Session voted to continue online only worship through April.
• Martin Burch gave an update on the church financial status.
• Jacob’s is currently at about half of its pre-mid-March enrollment. We expect the same or lower enrollment in April.  The Food Ministry will lose money in this time.
• Martin took a webinar on the Payroll Protection Loans and will continue to investigate them. He is working with our local Citizen’s Bank on this as well as the Board of Trustees.
• Catherine shared that the PCUSA has changed its stance on virtual communion and is now permitting it.
• Catherine led a discussion about how we could have a baptism on Easter.
• The meeting was closed with prayer.

Session Summary: April 20, 2020

• The meeting was held via Zoom and opened with prayer.
• A report was given on Deep Roots updates. The painting in the Parlor is done, and the carpet and furniture are ordered.
• A discussion was held about how online worship is going, what’s working and what could be better. Catherine noted that we will continue online worship long after people can return to the building.
• A discussion was held about when to return to in person worship. The Session voted to stay online only through May 17 and to revisit this at the May 18 Session meeting.
• The financial report was given then received and approved.
  • Martin noted (previously emailed) that we received the Paycheck Protection Program loan, and that it will most likely become a grant.
  • Jacob’s Learning Ladder numbers were discussed.
• Sean Foster has resigned and will enroll in graduate school.
• It was noted that many Grace teams continue to meet virtually. The Grace zoom account is very active.
• The session voted to rescind our invitation to host presbytery on May 12. (Catherine said it was all but certain that the meeting would be either virtual or cancelled.)  In the event that it is virtual, Dave McIntire and Darcy Eads were elected as commissioners.
• April was to be the month to meet with the confirmation class. That will happen in May, either via Zoom or in person.  Confirmation Sunday is set to be May 31.
• The staff and others continue to cultivate online community building opportunities.
• Our church, with the presbytery, applied for a grant from the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to benefit the Wichita International Rescue Committee. We received $5,000 for IRC.
• A called Session meeting is set for April 27 to elect a search team for the Director of Music Ministry position.
• The meeting was closed with joys, concerns, and prayer.

Session Summary: April 27, 2020 (called meeting)

• The meeting was held via Zoom and was opened with prayer.
• There were two items on the agenda:
  • To elect a search team for the Director of Music Ministry position
  • To determine steps for worship
• The Session approved the search team: Pam Head, Janet Rhoads, Charlene Randle, Dave McIntire, and Bill Vavra
• The Session voted for worship to remain online through May.
• Because a Grace staff member tested positive for the coronavirus, worship this week is pre-recorded from the homes of staff members.
• The building is currently closed, including JLL.