mission spotlight

Mission Distribution Team Updates

Each year you have the opportunity to make a pledge to Grace.  You may make a pledge to give financially to the general budget, which supports the majority of our ministry and mission, and you may give to the mission budget, which supports an array of missions.

You regularly receive updates on the general budget.  At the halfway point in the year the Mission Distribution Team wants to share with you where we stand with the mission budget.

There are some missions we support every year, and then every year we change our focus for some of our giving. This year we focus on children and healthcare.  We distributed some money for mission related to children earlier in the year and continue to do so. We are currently learning about healthcare opportunities.

Many of you register your Dillons Cards with Grace.  Dillons donates a portion of your spending to Grace, and we give that money away.  We split that giving between Interfaith Ministries and The Brotherhood Community Ministry.

Betsy Ross and Brian Ullmann co-chair this team, and Catherine Neelly Burton staffs it.

2018 Undesignated Mission Spending by Category Thru June

MISSIONARY SUPPORT & EVANGELISM  
Africa Inland Mission (Hurd Family – Africa) 1,650.00
Global Teams (Uganda/Sudan – Katie Rhoads) 1,650.00
Young Life 1,200.00
Subtotal $4,500.00
PRESBYTERY  
Westminster Woods 1,000.00
Presbytery of Southern Kansas Shared Giving 2,500.00
Subtotal $3,500.00
MISSION TRIP  
GPC High School Mission Trip 2,000.00
Subtotal $2,000.00
IN HOUSE  
Helping Hands 2000.00
Subtotal $2,000.00
Children  
Kansas Children’s Service League               750.00
Wichita Children’s Home               500.00
CASA of Sedgwick County            1,000.00
PANDO Initiative            1,000.00
Sedgwick County Child Advocacy Center            1,000.00
Kidzcope, Inc            1,000.00
Little Blessings               500.00
Subtotal          $5,750.00
   
BUS TICKETS  
Bus Tickets 4680.00
Subtotal $4,680.00
   
Dillons Giving  
Interfaith Ministries 508.84
Brotherhood Community Ministry 508.84

 

 

 
TOTAL ALLOCATIONS thru June $21,697.68

 

 

 

 

 

From the Pastor’s desk

Blog post: August

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Sunday School

August Sunday School for All Ages

On August 12, 19, and 26, there is Sunday School for all ages in the Great Room at 10 am.

  • On August 12, we focus on Predestination. Come learn why this word isn’t scary and help us create hygiene bags for our bus ticket guests.
  • On August 19, we consider our call to be stewards of God’s earth.
  • On August 26, we focus on prayer.
From the Pastor's Desk

From the Pastor’s Desk: July 2018

In June there were high profile stories in our country and community about suicide. These tragedies cause an uptick in conversations about mental health, conversations that need to be had, but this is not the way we want to get to them.

In these conversations I’m reminded that there are some Christian Communities where the answer to all mental health problems is to pray. And not only that, there are some Christian Communities where anything other than prayer is considered a failure of faith.

This is not one of those communities.

If you’ve ever talked privately with me you know that I encourage counseling as well as medical treatment for mental health. I do not see this as a lack of faith, and I forget that there are churches where that is the message.

The message I want you to hear from this pastor is that mental health and mental illness are not failings of faith, and there are many ways to seek help including faith-based and medicine-based. If you receive treatment, this is not something you need to feel shame about. If you think you may need help, and you don’t know where to turn, I am glad to refer you. I am not a trained counselor. My policy is to listen and refer, recognizing that sometimes what is most needed at first, is someone to listen. I am always glad to listen and pray with you.

In Christ,
Catherine