Session Minute Summaries

Session Minute Summaries: April 18 and May 1

April 18, 2022

  • The Grace Session met on April 18 in the Grace Alcove and on zoom.
  • The meeting was opened with a devotional and prayer by Laurie Haury, and the meeting was closed in prayer.
  • The session discussed correspondence from GPC member Evon Russell. A group (2 elders, staff, and a trustee) will research her question regarding the rail that was removed from the choir loft. Catherine will investigate options for refinishing or replacing the baptismal font, should that be a direction the session chooses to go.
  • The session joyfully received Kevin East and Emma Wingart into membership.
  • Covid protocols were discussed. We will move to intinction for communion in worship.  The adjustment from pre-covid is that in addition to stations for bread and cup, there will be a station for communion pods for people who prefer them.
  • Financial reports were given and received.
  • Facility updates were given, and there was a discussion about the lawn.
  • An update was given on the search for a new director of food services.
  • Commissioners were elected for the presbytery meeting to be held on May 7 in Sterling, KS, as well as on zoom.

May 1, 2022

  • The Grace Session met on May 1at 10 am in room 103 for a called meeting to receive new members.
  • The meeting was opened and closed with prayer.
  • The session joyfully received Sarah Morris and Marilyn Killian into membership and received Patty Parker as an affiliate member.
help wanted

Alternative Gifts International: Help Wanted

Wichita is home to Alternative Gifts International (AGI).  AGI was a pioneer in the world of alternative gift markets and continues to distinguish itself.  AGI started in a Presbyterian Church in California in 1980.  When AGI moved to Wichita it found a partner in Grace Presbyterian.

The concept of an alternative gift market is to provide individuals the chance to shop, not for products but for gifts that have a far-reaching impact.  Instead of buying a tangible gift for someone, you donate in their honor to an organization.  In the process you and the gift recipient learn about the work of that organization.

Many churches and organizations encourage this kind of giving.  What distinguishes AGI is their commitment to finding ministries and organizations all over the world that might otherwise be overlooked.  The research AGI does is incredible as they seek to support a wide range of mission.

Each year AGI sets up markets in communities where people can shop and learn.  For many years Grace hosted the Wichita market.  Since we gave up hosting, we’ve continued to participate by hosting a booth at each market.

There is no question that AGI is an incredible organization.  The question is whether Grace is still committed to participating in the market.   We are looking for someone or a group of people to take this on.  If you are interested in leading this effort, talk to Catherine Neelly Burton, catherine@mygpc.org.

Leading involves a few hours of work each month August – October, and then a bigger time commitment at Market time in November, more like 10-12 hours.  Grace members may continue to support and shop at the market whether or not we find a new leader.

mission spotlight

Mission Spotlight

We are grateful for the financial gifts made to the mission budget. The Mission Distribution team meets 10 times a year to make decisions about how to share these resources. Some costs are fixed. For instance, we support our missionaries each month and buy bus tickets each month.

Then each year the team picks two areas on which to focus gifts, giving between $10,000 – $14,000 to those areas. This year the focus areas are housing and healthcare.  In the area of housing, we made gifts of $2500 to:

  • The Center of Hope which works with people to keep them in their homes by helping with bills. We have partnered with them for many years.
  • Mennonite Housing which provides housing for people who are low-income, seniors, and those with special needs; does home repairs; offers financial education for future home buyers.
  • Hilltop Urban Church – This is a church Kirk Anderson is connected to through a ministry group with their pastors. This church is in the Hilltop neighborhood and helps with home repairs and rent assistance.
  • Family Promise of Wichita – This organization houses families in churches as they seek to get back to permanent housing.

The team is currently studying and discerning ways to support healthcare needs.

Many of you continue to use your Dillon’s Reward Cards with Grace as the beneficiary.  The money Grace gets from Dillons goes to the team and is shared equally between Partners for Wichita and Giving the Basics.  In 2021 the total we received from Dillons was over $1500.

If you have questions about any of this, contact Pastor Catherine Neelly Burton or committee chair Shelley Duncan.