pns

PCUSA General Assembly (and Catherine Neelly Burton) Part III

Dear Grace Community,

When I last wrote to you about my service as a commissioner to the General Assembly, I had completed the first weekend.  I’m sure you’ve been waiting with anticipation for my final report.  I’m kidding of course, but I do want to let you know how it went.  My first two blogs are here:

The second weekend of service began Friday morning, June 26, and went through Saturday evening.  (Don’t worry, we got a break to sleep.)  The outgoing co-moderators, Elder Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and Pastor Cindy Kolhmann, led worship Friday morning and did a wonderful job.  I’m grateful for the ways they led the church over the last two years.  When the new co-moderators, Elder Elona Street-Stewart and Pastor Gregory J. Bentley, took over the gavel I was impressed with their agility in leading and monitoring the many digital screens before them.

It was remarkable what was pulled off with technology.  The staff in Louisville was incredibly prepared, and there was only one minor Zoom glitch the entire time.  Still, being in a Zoom meeting with 700 plus people, most of whom were delegates was not my favorite way to serve the church. The platform made what was already a tedious process more so because we couldn’t do voice votes.  This meant that the simplest things (like calling the question) had to go through a 5-10 minute vote instead of a voice vote.

On Saturday morning, we re-elected our national Stated Clerk. The Rev J Herbert Nelson has served in the office for four years and will continue for four more.  I’ve worked with J Herbert and his wife Gail and admire and appreciate them both.  While J Herbert was the only candidate for the position, I’m excited about his leadership and am glad I got to vote for him.

Over the weekend we covered a lot of required assembly business, things like approving people to boards with ease, but everything else took a long time.  There was a sense that all needed to buy into the process, and not everyone did.  When I say “buy in’ I mean that everyone had to agree that we couldn’t do much of the business and move on. Those who didn’t buy in were determined to get their specific items to the floor, and this took a tremendous amount of time and caused great frustration.

As I watched the social media commentary of the meeting there were many critiques of what we, the assembly did or failed to do.  If you’re interested in my thoughts on specific issues, I’m glad to visit in person.

Despite a less than thrilling experience as a Zoom commissioner, I believe there are many good things about the PCUSA.  There is no perfect denomination, or individual church, but I am grateful for the ways we, together, strive to be who Christ calls us to be.

In Christ,
Catherine

 

grace

Grace Updates: Saturday, July 18

Dear Grace Community,

Tomorrow we celebrate and give thanks for Sean Foster’s ministry among us.  Sean starts a graduate degree program in choral conducting at Western Illinois University in late August.  He is with us until mid-August.  We give thanks for Sean’s nearly 10 years of ministry at Grace.  Sean is a gifted musician and leader.  He is also devoted follower of Jesus and a good teammate.  We will miss him.  I hope you tune in for worship at 10 am on Facebook.

Because of some scheduling issues we’re getting this email put together quite early.  If there is any big church news, we will use the church text service to notify you.

In Christ,
Catherine

Links

Holy Spirit Class

Unraveled: July Worship Series

July Yellow Bags: School Supplies

Virtual Vacation Bible School Videos

Church Directory Pick-Up

If you did not pick up your church directory before we shut down, you are welcome to come by and get it.  Call the church to let us know, and we’ll have it outside the volunteer office with your name on it

Worship and Connection Opportunities:

Sunday, July 19 at 10 am: Worship

Monday, July 20 at 8 – 8:15 am: Morning Prayer

  • Start the day on Zoom with prayer with Catherine Neelly Burton.
  • Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82150243911
  • Join by phone: 1 346 248 7799
  • Meeting ID: 821 5024 3911

 Tuesday, July 21 at 2 pm: New class – Week 2

  • 4 Week Study of the Holy Spirit with Martin Burch.
  • What do we know of the Holy Spirit? What does the bible say about the Holy Spirit? How does the Spirit work in the history of the church and in our lives now? We’ll explore these questions and more. Bring your questions and join us for this study.
  • Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81629686558
  • Join by phone:  1 346 248 7799
  • Meeting ID: 816 2968 6558
grace

Grace Updates: July 11

Dear Grace Community,

Unfortunately, many of you received an email from a fake Catherine Neelly Burton this week.  My email has been hacked before, but this was the best job hackers have done.  A fake and convincing Gmail account was created, and I’m sorry that it caused trouble for some of you.  Many of my ministry colleagues around the United States have been hacked in this same way.  Pastors are generally trustworthy, and so hackers prey on that.  Our church contract IT person is working on this, but it may very well happen again.  Know that I will never ask you to buy something for me over email.

This week we continue worship online.  We are in week two of our Unraveled series.  You may read more about it in the link below.  Also note that there is a new online class on the Holy Spirit.  Martin Burch teaches on Tuesdays; join him!

I want to share something with you that I’m working on: an extra-curricular ministry project.  I’m writing a series of blog posts about PCUSA churches in Southern Kansas for NEXT Church.  You may read my first two pieces here.  The first is about the project in general and the second is about the church in Chase, Kansas.

I miss seeing you and look forward to the day when we can worship together in person.

In Christ,
Catherine

Links

Holy Spirit Class

Unraveled: July Worship Series

July Yellow Bags: School Supplies

Virtual Vacation Bible School Videos

Grace Yard Signs 

Church Directory Pick-Up

If you did not pick up your church directory before we shut down, you are welcome to come by and get it.  Call the church to let us know, and we’ll have it outside the volunteer office with your name on it

Worship and Connection Opportunities:

Sunday, July 12 at 10 am: Worship
Worship via Facebook Live at 10 am or watch our services at mygpc.org. You do not need a Facebook account to watch.  Go here: https://www.facebook.com/mygpc.org

  • Week II of our Unraveled worship series.
  • Sermon scripture: Selections of 2 Samuel 21
  • Catherine Neelly Burton preaches.
  • Hymns: #687 Our God, Our Help in Ages Past; #649 Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound
  • Download the Bulletin here.

Monday, July 13 at 8 – 8:15 am: Morning Prayer
Start the day on Zoom with prayer with Catherine Neelly Burton.

Tuesday, July 14 at 2 pm: Four-Week Study of the Holy Spirit with Martin Burch
New class!
What do we know of the Holy Spirit? What does the bible say about the Holy Spirit? How does the Spirit work in the history of the church and in our lives now? We’ll explore these questions and more. Bring your questions and join us for this study.

dove

Four Week Class on the Holy Spirit: July 14, 21, 28 and August 4

What do we know of the Holy Spirit? What does the Bible say about the Holy Spirit? How does the Spirit work in the history of the church and in our lives now? We’ll explore these questions and more. Bring your questions and join us for this study.  Join Dr. Martin Burch on Tuesdays: July 14, 21, 28 and Tuesday, August 4 at 2 pm.

All classes are held on Zoom.  Find the login information in the Thursday and Saturday emails or email marburch@mygpc.org

grace

Grace Updates July 4

Dear Grace Community,

I hope you are enjoying July 4!  I look forward to worshiping online with you tomorrow.  We’ll stream live from Grace, but we need you to stay home.  If you missed the letter about this earlier, check it out here:
In Christ,
Catherine

Links
Unraveled: July Worship Series
July Yellow Bags: School Supplies
Virtual Vacation Bible School Videos
Music Ministry at Grace
Grace Yard Signs

Church Directory Pick-up
If you did not pick up your church directory before we shut down, you are welcome to come by and get it.  Call the church to let us know, and we’ll have it outside the volunteer office with your name on it.

Sunday, June 28 at 10 am: Worship
Worship via Facebook Live at 10 am or watch our services at mygpc.org.
You do not need a Facebook account to watch.  Go here:

  • We begin a new worship series: Unraveled.
  • Sermon scripture: Matthew 14:22-33
  • Catherine Neelly Burton preaches.
  • Songs: 10,000 Reasons, Reckless Love, This Is Amazing Grace
  • We celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  Participate at home by preparing something to eat and drink for communion.
  • Download the Bulletin here:

Monday, July 6 at 8 – 8:15 am: Morning Prayer

  • Start the day on Zoom with prayer with Catherine Neelly Burton.
  • Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85179393710
  • Join by phone: 1 346 248 7799
  • Meeting ID: 851 7939 3710

Tuesday, July 7 at 2 pm: Parables: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus with Martin Burch

  • Join our Executive Pastor Dr. Martin Burch in a parable study.  This week the class looks at the Parable of the Dishonest Manager from Luke 16:1-8.
  • Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82280670660
  • Join by phone:  1 346 248 7799
  • Meeting ID: 822 8067 0660

Wednesday, July 8

  • If you have a youth in your family who wants to connect, contact Kirk.
  • This week the youth continue a book/Bible study using the Bible and Rob Bell’s book What Is the Bible?
  • The book costs $6.
  • Contact Kirk with questions.