Journey to Bethlehem

Let’s walk to Bethlehem, or bike or swim.

It is 6,746 miles from Wichita to Bethlehem, and our goal is to get there by the time the Wise Men do on Epiphany, January 6.  We start walking on November 27, the first Sunday of Advent.

Everyone in the congregation is invited to participate.  Here’s what you need to do:

  • Start tracking your miles. If you use a pedometer, great, keep doing so.  If you need one, we have them for you. Pick up one after worship starting Sunday, November 28. Two thousand steps is approximately one mile.  Keep track of your miles, and every day or every week email them to miles@mygpc.org.
  • If you don’t email, there is a place to turn in miles by paper on Sunday mornings.
  • If you cycle or swim, turn in those miles too.

Stay active this December and join Mary and Joseph in walking to Bethlehem!  

Behind the Scene: Advent 2016

The nativity scene is a favorite Christian symbol of Advent and Christmas.

Nativity scenes come in all shapes and sizes. Some are passed down through families  Others are made with construction paper and glue. Some nativity scenes are elaborate with wise men and camels, shepherds and sheep, and all kinds of animals around the manger. Others are simple with only Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.

No matter the design, monetary value, or size, nativity scenes are special. They tell a story and invite us in.

This year our Advent theme focuses on the nativity scene and the stories it represents. Our theme is “Behind the Scene.”  Each Sunday we look at different people in the nativity scene and learn more about them as we prepare for Christ’s birth.

On Sunday, December 18, we want to display nativity scenes. If you have a nativity scene that you’d like to share (we’ll be careful, but don’t bring anything you can’t risk losing) bring it on Saturday, December 17, from 2-2:30 pm.  You’ll take your scene back home with you after the Christmas brunch the morning of December 18.

 

 

 

From the Pastor's Desk

From the Pastor’s Desk: November 2016

Dear Grace Community,

Lillian Daniel, a pastor and writer, tells a story about talking with a man finding a church:

He told her that he visited all twenty-one churches in his hometown but didn’t find one to be part of.

“What was so wrong with them? They don’t sound too bad to me. No church has it all. Couldn’t you even find one that you liked?”

“Oh, it wasn’t that,” he said. “I liked a lot about all of them. It’s just that they wouldn’t like me. I’ve done bad things in my life. I don’t belong with those people.”

“Didn’t they say God loves you despite all that?” I asked.

“Sure,” he said. “They all say that. But I don’t think I believe it. I can’t love everybody. And if they knew me, or what I think, they wouldn’t want me there.”

He gave me a lot to think about. Somewhere along the way, he learned that churches are places anyone can visit, but only incognito. If they knew who you really were, they’d kick you out.

He was looking for a church that was real. He was looking for a church where he could be real. Real churches are out there. They’re all over the place. But I could also see why he hadn’t found one yet. Sometimes in religious communities, we save the real stuff for the insiders—or even worse—we just don’t deal with it. Either way, the outsiders leave feeling as if they’d never fit in.

From Outreach Magazine, October 6, 2016

This interaction gave me a lot to think about.  Do we at Grace save the real stuff for the insiders? Do we let visitors or new community members know that they can be real here?

After six years as your pastor, you’ve shown me the real stuff. I know that this is an authentic community, but I wonder if it’s possible for new people to enter into, or if there is an unspoken season of earning their place. What do you think? If you’re new and reading this, I’d love your thoughts.

For those of you who’ve been here for a while, take a look around, what do you think?

As a community we must always think about who is not here and ask ourselves why they aren’t. This is challenging work, and it is our call as a church. Join me in this.

In Christ,

Catherine

Morning Worship

Bus Tickets and Morning Worship: November 15

Each month, Grace distributes bus tickets to people in our community. This happens on the 15th of the month, or if the 15th is a weekend, we meet the Friday before. Volunteers and those receiving tickets begin to gather around 7 am in the Grace alcove. Guests are greeted with smiles, coffee, water, and a place to sit. Tickets are distributed at 8 am.

We invite all guests to a brief worship service with communion in the Great Room at 7:40 am.

We can always use volunteers to help with set-up, clean-up, and ticket distribution.  Want to help?  Contact Kirk Anderson, kirk@mygpc.org or 684-5215.

Laundry Love - College Town Laundry

Laundry Love: November 13

It’s time for our monthly Laundry Love! This is when we go to College Town Laundry at 3223 E 17th St, by the WSU Campus, and we pay for laundry for people. This is a mission of our evangelism team, and we’d love for you to join us. We are there from 2:30 – 5:30 pm on Sunday, November 13. Want to know more? Contact Catherine Neelly Burton in the church office, 684-5215.