grace

Grace Updates May 9

Dear Grace Community,

My heart breaks when I remember the past,
when I went with the crowds to the house of God and led them as they walked along,
a happy crowd, singing and shouting praise to God.
Why is my soul so sad?
Why am I so troubled?
I will put my hope in God, and once again I will praise, my savior and my God.
~Psalm 42:4-5 as shared by the Beloved Everybody Church

Earlier in the week a friend from seminary shared this translation of Psalm 42:4-5 with her congregation. I was moved by it and wanted to share it with you.

Psalm 42 is a psalm of lament, and the lament rings true with fresh meaning today.  We too remember going to God’s house with crowds, singing and praising God together.  Lament is part of our faith heritage.  We are not supposed to act like everything is fine when it is not.

It’s hard not to be in the same physical space for worship, and we continue to strategize about when we’ll return to Grace for public worship.  When we do, it will not look the same. This is hard.

For now, I hope you take advantage of the online opportunities listed below. Note that there is an in-person volunteer opportunity on Tuesday.

Let us know how you are.  Email the church staff or call us to check in and share.  We miss you and pray for you.

In Christ,
Catherine

Sunday, May 10 at 10 am
Worship
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/mygpc.org
Or watch a recording later in the week: www.mygpc.org

Monday, May 11 from 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/83434281239
Join by phone: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 834 3428 1239

Tuesday, May 12 at 10 am – IN PERSON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Volunteer at Giving the Basics from 10 am – Noon.
We’ve partnered several times with Giving the Basics, and we’re excited to serve again.  We are limited to six people, and the first six people to email catherineatmygpc.org get to help this week.  We’ll be sorting in their warehouse.
Giving the Basics provides free hygiene products throughout Wichita.  Read more here:  https://www.givingthebasics.org/wichita

Tuesday, May 12 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 focuses on the Parable of the Two Sons, Matthew 21:28-32.
Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85263639444
Join by phone: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 852 6363 9444

Wednesday, May 13: Youth Connection
Kirk Anderson sets up video connections with youth.  If you have a youth in your family who wants to connect, contact Kirkatmygpc.org

Thursday, May 14 at 7 pm: Trivia Night!
Play trivia with us. Categories include: Bible Trivia, Grace Trivia, General Trivia.  Play with a team within your home or pair up with a friend and text each other answers.  The honor code applies to this game as we must trust one another not to look up answers online.
Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84399814411
Join by phone: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 843 9981 4411

Thank You, Volunteers!

thank you

Tuesday, May 5, was scheduled as the Grace Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. The staff put the date on the calendar back in January, but we never got to the point of advertising it to you. As the date comes and goes, it is one more thing that is impacted by the Coronavirus.

While we can’t gather to thank you, and we don’t get to give you door prizes, know that the church staff is grateful for the many ways you give your time so freely.  We look forward to gathering and celebrating you in the future.

blood

Red Cross Blood Drive: June 7

  • Every two seconds someone in the US needs blood.
  • One pint of blood (the approximate amount given in a donation) can be used to help up to three people.
  • About 1/3 of the US population is eligible to give blood.
  • Five million patients in the US need blood every year.

On June 7, we host a Red Cross Blood drive at Grace from 8 am – 1 pm.  Sign up to donate on Sundays by calling the Grace office – 684-5215, or by going here:  https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time

You may use the “rapid pass” and save time on the day of your donation. Go to RapidPass to finish the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online before coming to your appointment.

Our March drive was successful, and we hope to match our efforts this time!

 

grace

Grace Updates: May 2

Dear Grace Community,
The scripture for the sermon this week comes from 1st Thessalonians, a letter Paul wrote to one of the early churches. I’ve thought about Paul and his written communication more as I’ve taken to writing to you each week. Paul’s words in that letter are similar to mine for you today. I always give thanks to God for all of you, and I pray for you. We continue to strategize about when we’ll return to Grace for public worship. For now, I hope you take advantage of the online opportunities listed below. Let us know how you are. Email the church staff or call us to check in and share. We miss you and pray for you. In Christ, Catherine
In Christ,
Catherine

Sunday, May 3 at 10 am
Worship
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/mygpc.org
Or watch a recording later in the week: www.mygpc.org

Monday, May 4 from 8 – 8:15 am: Worship
Start the day on Zoom with prayer with Catherine Neelly Burton.
Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85949589990
Join by phone: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 859 4958 9990

Tuesday, May 5 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 focuses on the Parable of the Rich Fool found in Luke 12:13-21.
Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87528491562
Join by phone:  +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 875 2849 1562

Wednesday, May 6: Youth Connection
Kirk Anderson sets up video connections with youth.  If you have a youth in your family who wants to connect, contact Kirkatmygpc.org

Thursday, May 7 at 7:30 pm: Music Ministry
Join Erin Mae Lewis via Zoom for a hymn sing!  Erin Mae is a professional dulcimer player and often leads classes, workshops, and hymn sings online.

The Zoom Link for the class will be on Facebook and in a future Grace email.

grace

Grace Updates: April 25

Dear Grace Community,

“The Israelites said to Moses and Aaron, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into the this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” – Exodus 16:3

Scripture tells us that the Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years.  In the Bible, the number 40 generally means a long time.  As we approach our seventh Sunday of online only worship, it feels like a long time.  I have far more sympathy for the Israelites in their grumblings than I ever did before.  It’s hard to continue when we don’t know when or how this ends.

Nonetheless, we do know a couple of things.
1) The Session voted on Monday to extend this way of life through at least Sunday, May 17.
2) For now we are to do the kinds of things Moses instructed the people to do.  We pray, and we gather for worship.

I hope you’ll worship with us tomorrow on Facebook and join other Facebook and Zoom opportunities listed below.  There’s a fun congregational game planned for Monday night at 7:30 pm.  You’ll see baby and childhood pictures of staff and elders and try to identify them.

Let us know how you are.  Email the church staff or call us to check in and share.  We miss you and pray for you.

In Christ,
Catherine

Sunday, April 26 at 10 am: Worship
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/mygpc.org
Or watch a recording later in the week: www.mygpc.org
See the attached hymn – I Danced in the Morning

Monday, April 27 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/89256540194
Join by phone: 1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 892 5654 0194

Monday, April 27 at 7:30 pm:“Guess Who!”
The congregation is invited to play a game.  Sign into zoom and see baby and childhood pictures of staff and elders, and guess who!
Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82679355715
Join by phone:  1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 826 7935 5715

Tuesday, April 28 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 completes the Prodigal Son parable in Luke 15:25-32.
Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87366405536
Join by phone:  1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 873 6640 5536

Tuesday, April 28 at 6:30 pm: Grace Presbyterian Book Club
The Christian Discipleship Book Club continues online. Learn more here: https://www.mygpc.org/grace-field-notes-book-club-april-28
Join by computer/tablet/smartphone: https://zoom.us/j/797677140
Join by phone: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 797 677 140

Wednesday, April 29
Youth Connection: Kirk Anderson sets up video connections with youth.  If you have a youth in your family who wants to connect, contact Kirk@mygpc.org