From the Pastor's Desk

From the Pastor’s Desk: July 9

There is a congregational meeting on Sunday, July 26 at 10:30 am in the sanctuary, and I hope you’ll attend. The purpose of the meeting is twofold. First, you vote to elect Karen Wagner to serve as a deacon, filling an unexpired term for the class of 2016. This meeting is typically quick and simple. The second part of the meeting is a little unusual.

You vote on extending me a call to serve as your pastor. Yes, I am already your pastor, and yes you have to call me again. In the fall of 2012 you called me to be your designated pastor. That word designated is important because it means my call is for a particular period of time, three years. We are now at the end of that time, and so we have to decide what to do next.

In April you received a letter from the Grace Session inviting you to talk with them about this process. I expressed to the Session that I continue to feel called here and want to remain as your pastor. They received feedback from you, the congregation, and the sense the Session got is that the congregation wants me to continue on as pastor. It’s great that we’re on the same page!

The next step was for the Session to approve my new terms of call. These are available to you beginning on Sunday, July 19. This all is approved by a committee of the presbytery. In June, Sandy Remsberg, who serves on the Session, and I met with this committee and all was approved. The next step is for you to call me at the congregational meeting on July 26. The final step is for the entire presbytery to confirm the call at the August 11 meeting. Once that is complete I will be installed, again, as your pastor.

In many ways this is cumbersome, but it’s important. Some of you will recall that three years ago we had just come through a hard season as a church. The decision to call me for a designated period gave the congregation the chance to catch its breath. I’m grateful for the last three years and excited about what God will do with this congregation in the future.

In Christ,

Catherine

Laundry Love - College Town Laundry

Laundry Love is July 12

 Laundry Love is Sunday, July 12. We gather at the College Town Laundromat on 17th Street by WSU.

The Grace Evangelism Team received a grant from the presbytery to fund this initiative. Laundry Love is a national grass roots effort. What happens is that each month on the second Sunday from 3-5:30 pm we pay for laundry for people at this particular laundromat. The hope is that we offer a blessing to our sisters and brother who can use a little help and that in time we begin to build relationships. Want to know more? Contact Catherine Neelly Burton, catherine@mygpc.org.

mission spotlight

Mission Spotlight

Each fall you are invited to make a financial pledge to Grace. We hope that you see it as a giving financially to God’s mission through Grace. There are opportunities to give to the operating budget and the mission budget. They are both about God’s mission, but the entirety of the mission budget leaves Grace to support local and global mission.

This year one of the organizations we are supporting is called CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASA is a non-profit organization that does not receive any state or federal money. CASA trains adults to support and advocate for abused and neglected children in courtrooms.

Grace member David Shaw was a CASA volunteer for many years and now works on their staff part time. David’s call to serve in this area is a testimony to the ways God moves and works in our lives. From flying airplanes, to diving a bus, to studying social work, David has listened for how it is God might use him, and it’s neat to see him answering God’s call to be at CASA.

On Thursday, June 18, a group from the Grace Mission Distribution team visited the CASA offices where David gave us a tutorial on the incredible work of this organization.

There are places and stories of incredible hope that come from the relationship of an advocate and a young person. Yet the numbers are sobering and overwhelming, and the need for CASA volunteers far exceeds the resources. If you’re interested in learning more about CASA, check out their website or contact David Shaw.

Casa

Yellow Bag Sundays

Yellow Bag Sundays – July

Each month on the first Sunday you’re encouraged to take home a re-usable yellow grocery bag, put some non-perishable items in it, and bring it back the next week, or soon thereafter. This month our contributions will go to the Mt Vernon Presbyterian Food Pantry. All non-perishables are welcome, but consider bringing canned meats or other proteins.

Pool Party and Cookout: July 26

Party TimeGrab your lawn chairs and pool towels, and join us at the College Hill Pool. We’ll gather from 6-8 pm on Sunday July 26 for a cookout and pool party. The church will bring the grill and provide the meat. You’ll bring a side to share, a chair for sitting, and pool gear if you want to swim. Swimming is free. Bring your friends and family!