yellow bags

Yellow Bag Donations: Helping Our Four-Legged Friends

This month our Yellow Bag donations help our four-legged friends and God’s creatures. We are collecting dog/cat food items.  All donated items should be in original packaging. Dry or canned pet food and pet snacks are acceptable, and all donations will be given to the Wichita Animal Shelter.  These donations help feed pets in need.  We know many of us have pets and care for them like family, so please consider helping with a donation this month.

We also want to thank you for your outpouring of support last month for Giving the Basics.  We provided 1,179 hygiene products which helped those in need in our community.

From the Pastor's Desk

From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Grace Community,

As I look to my final two Sundays with you, I write to answer some questions.  One question that I am asked is about my involvement with you and Grace when I am no longer your pastor. I can’t attend events or worship at Grace when I’m no longer your pastor, nor can I lead worship, including funerals.

I won’t stop caring for you and about you, but it’s important to draw these lines.  When I hear that you are sick or having surgery, I will pray for you, but I can’t call or visit. On occasion, you may see me in the church building when I come to volunteer with Alice’s Brownie Troop in the Fellowship Hall, and of course, I look forward to saying a brief hello.

In that same way, Wichita is not all that big, and I imagine that I’ll see you in town. There was a day recently when I saw three of you at Trader Joe’s on one shopping trip. When we run into each other, I look forward to saying hello.

Another question I get a lot is about the new call I’m taking: what is it exactly?  That’s a good question, and I’m not 100% sure. It’s a brand-new position, so I’ll be part of creating it. Of the 50 PCUSA churches in the Presbytery of Southern Kansas, fewer than 20 have pastors with MDiv degrees from seminary.  A few have Commissioned Pastors (like Scott Randle) who have taken seminary courses. The majority do not have consistent paid/trained leadership.

The good news is that they’ve found ways to be a church without a pastor. I hope to meet with them, learn what their goals are, and help to equip them to be the church in new ways.  Part of my call will be to connect them with other churches, as isolation is a challenge for some of these churches.

I will continue to pray for you, and I ask that you pray for me.

In Christ,
Catherine NB

 

music

Grace Music Ministry News

In May, we winded down our choir and bell choir season at Grace. It was an eventful year with collaboration between our two ensembles, organ, brass, strings, and vocal solos. As we go into our summer months, you will hear the many musical talents of our congregation, as well as some outside visitors, during the 11:00 am service. The praise band is still rocking through the summer at the 9:00 am service. If you ever want more information about joining the band, choir, or bell choir, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or Bryce Mulkey.

One thing that we are trying this year is having a volunteer choir sing on the 4th Sunday of June, July, and August. This would be a great time to give the choir a try if you have ever had an interest. We meet downstairs at 10:30 am to run through the choral anthem. Those dates are: June 25, July 23, and August 27.

In Christ,

Tyler Morris

Director of Music Ministries

grace

Pastoral Transition: Nominating Team News

The Nominating Committee is creating an Interim Pastoral Nominating Committee to select an Interim Pastor for Grace Presbyterian. This committee is a small group of motivated and efficient members who can get the process moving to select an Interim Pastor. Our Presbytery will appoint a liaison to help guide this committee. If you are interested or know of someone who could be a good fit, please contact Bill Vavra (vavraavconsult@powwwer.net) or Charlene Randle (cmlr1224@gmail.com) by June 12.

After the Interim Pastoral Nominating Committee has secured an Interim Pastor, and when approved by the presbytery, we’ll form a Pastoral Nominating Committee to interview and select a full-time Pastor. A request for nominations for this committee will be made after the Interim Pastor has been named, and we are given the green light to move forward in the process.