Are you starting seedlings at your house? Once they grow to the point of planting, will you consider sharing?
Jacob’s Learning Ladder will start its spring summer garden soon, and your contributions are a fun way to connect the church with JLL. Contact Emily Stoltz emily@mygpc.org or Nancy Morrow nancy@mygpc.org to set up a time to drop off plants. Thanks!
Are you interested in reading books that offer perspectives different from traditional, mainstream Christian authors? Join us for a new reading and discussion experience!
Inspired by author Sarah Bessey’s 2020 Field Notes Book Club, we read “books that help to form us more into the image of Jesus for the sake of the world written by exclusively BIPOC (black, indigenous, and/or people of colour) authors.”
You may choose to read each book and come to all six meetings, or pick the ones that interest you and fit with your schedule.
We started in February and meet again in April. In April we meet via Zoom.
The book for April is Defiant: What the Women of Exodus Teach Us About Freedom by Kelly Nikondeha.
Everyone is welcome! Questions? See Melissa Buteyn (englishteachmb@gmail.com). Find out more about Sarah Bessy at sarahbessey.com.
Dear Grace Community,
It was good to worship with so many of you on Facebook today. It is uplifting to me to know we are together. I hope others of you will watch worship here on our website.
We sent out a series of online opportunities for you on Saturday. I included one wrong address. The link for the Service for Lament is now updated below.
Please take advantage of these opportunities. If you need help navigating any of this, contact us, 316-684-5215. Please be patient with us if something doesn’t work quite the way you expect. We’re learning a lot of this on the fly. I’m grateful that there are ways we can connect, and I continue to pray for you.
In Christ,
Catherine
Monday, March 23 11 am
Kids time with Jennifer: Join Jennifer Snook for some fun on Facebook Live.
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/mygpc.org
Monday, March 23 7 pm
Service for Lament: While we want to be positive and hopeful in this hard time, many of us are grieving things we’ve lost or had to give up. Naming this in a holy space is an important part of grieving. Join Pastor Catherine Neelly Burton on zoom for a time of prayer and naming what it is that you lament.
Join by video: https://zoom.us/j/674226577
Call in to zoom: +1 346 248 7799 US
Meeting ID: 674 226 577
Tuesday, March 24 2 pm
Parables: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus with Martin Burch
Join our Executive Pastor Dr. Martin Burch in a conversation about one of his favorite parables.
Join by video: https://zoom.us/j/652634457
Call in: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 652 634 457
Wednesday, March 25
Youth Connection: Kirk Anderson is setting up video connections with youth. If you have a youth in your family who wants to connect, contact Kirk@mygpc.org
Thursday, March 26 7 pm
Music with Sean Foster and Kelsey Wise: Tune in to Facebook live and listen as Sean (our Director of Music Ministry) and Kelsey (our organist) share some of their favorite music.
Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/mygpc.org
Friday, March 27 5:00 pm
Congregational Hangout: Drop in and see other members of the congregation. Fellowship and reconnect.
Join by video: https://zoom.us/j/758689119
Call in: +1 346 248 7799
Meeting ID: 758-689-119
Dear Grace Community,
There are multiple ways for you to connect with the church and each other in the next week. Please take advantage of these opportunities. If you need help navigating any of this, contact us, 316-684-5215. Also, please be patient with us if something doesn’t work quite the way you expect. We’re learning a lot of this on the fly. I’m grateful that there are ways we can connect, and I continue to pray for you.
In Christ,
Catherine
Please note: to watch Facebook Live, you need a Facebook account. If you need help setting one up, please let us know. For Zoom, you need to download the app to either your smartphone or tablet. If using your computer for Zoom, you’ll be prompted what to do on setup.
Worship: Sunday, March 22 10 am
Kids time with Jennifer: Monday, March 23 11 am
Service for Lament: Monday, March 23 7 pm
Parables: Tuesday, March 24 2 pm
Youth Connection: Wednesday, March 25
Music with Sean Foster and Kelsey Wise: Thursday, March 26 at 7 pm
Congregational Hangout: Friday, March 27 5:00 pm
Dear Grace Community,
But now says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. – Isaiah 43:1
I’m writing to let you know that we are cancelling worship and all church activities (meetings, events, rehearsals, regular groups, etc.) through the end of March.
This is not a decision made lightly but prayerfully and thoughtfully with the best information we have right now. This decision was made by members of the staff in consultation with the church session and with physicians in our congregation. We made this decision, not out of fear, but as a way to protect the most vulnerable around us. There is much uncertainty around the Coronavirus/Covid 19, but what is clear is that limiting large gatherings is prudent in stopping the spread.
This decision is hard for many reasons, including that gathering to worship is central to who we are, and so we invite you to worship in a new way for a few weeks. Starting this Sunday, we will live stream worship on the Grace Facebook page at 10 am CDT. The same service will be available on the mygpc.org website later that day. This week the service will be primarily scripture, prayer, and music.
This technology allows us to, in fact, worship together. While not ideal, it is a gift. Staying connected while not seeing each other at Grace is important. We will send out regular communications through email.
If you are staying home all of the time because you are self-quarantining or because of your health, do you need any help? Do you need things dropped off at your house (medicine, food, etc.)? Please let us know so that we can help you. Do you need prayer? We’d love to pray for you. If you are willing to help run errands for people or to make check-in phone calls to members of our community, please let me know, 316-684-5215, catherine@mygpc.org.
I look forward to hearing from you, and I will miss being together this Sunday.
In Christ,
Catherine