grace

Mission Suggestions

mission

Grace has a Mission Distribution Team that makes decisions regarding where your Mission pledges go. Historically, every year the team has chosen two focus areas to help narrow down which organizations to support. These have included Housing, Hunger, Human Trafficking, Healthcare, Children’s Services, Criminal/Juvenile Justice, Homelessness, and more. As the team makes decisions for the coming year, they would like to hear from you and what areas you suggest we focus on in 2024. You can choose some from the list above and/or other areas that you believe need additional support. The team includes local, national, and international organizations within the focus areas. Please leave a suggestion at the kiosk in the narthex or email Kirk Anderson at kirk@mygpc.org or Shelley Duncan at shelleyduncan@cphcp.com. Thank you for your consideration.

thank-you

Thank You!

Grace Presbyterian Church is blessed with so many wonderful people who give of their time and talents in significant ways! We experienced the truth of that last week during the Economy Corner garage sale. It’s only fitting that Economy Corner ended with a garage sale, 60+ years ago it was started with the remnants from a Presbyterian Women’s garage sale. Last week we hosted the final sale and with the help of many volunteers from both First Presbyterian and Grace, we brought in $6,113. Our deepest appreciation for all who helped, served, and worked hard to make this sale happen.

From the Pastor's Desk

A Word from Our Interim Pastor – The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

As I complete my third week as our Interim Pastor, I am overflowing with gratitude for the staff, elders, deacons, trustees, volunteers in the ministries at and of Grace, and everyone who calls Grace Presbyterian Church their church home and family.

As I mentioned in my column last week, my next with our congregants, elders, deacons, trustees, and staff is to host Saturday morning or Sunday after the 11:00 am service or a combination of Saturday and Sunday dates for Town Hall meetings to discuss the six steps of interim ministry. The Town Hall meetings will either include breakfast or lunch. It is my goal to gain as much ownership from the participants as possible in how we move forward in shaping the renewed and invigorated Grace. I have noted the anticipated month to hold the Town Hall meetings.

At the Town Hall meeting for steps 1-6 below, I will…

  1. Assist the congregation to ascertain how our past has shaped who we are today (March).
  2. Assist the congregation in clarifying its identity (May).
  3. Assist the congregation in identifying its strengths and challenges, including any staffing (lay or ordained) transitions (July).
  4. Assist the congregation to strengthen its relationship with the larger church and local community (September).
  5. Assist the congregation in preparing for new leadership by encouraging the people to envision and plan for a new future (November).
  6. Assist the congregation in evaluating the ongoing implementation and progress of our strategic plan (January 2025).

Over the weeks and months ahead, God will use each one of us to create a united, invigorated, and renewed Grace Presbyterian Church as we walk together with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

On the journey of Christian discipleship with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

PCUSA Per Capita

pcusaIt’s that time of year again – for our per capita commitment to the PCUSA. This year, per capita is $41 per active Grace member. This money is part of the glue that holds Presbyterians together and enables us to work with other Presbyterian churches in our presbytery and across the country to further the mission of Jesus Christ. If you’d like to defray the cost of this budget item, make a check payable to Grace and mark it ‘per capita.’
From the Pastor's Desk

A Word from Our Interim Pastor: The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Let me begin by thanking Anne Burris, Bob Ross, Carolyn Shaw, Jasper Lesage, and a host of volunteers for putting together the Welcome Reception for Janet and me last Sunday. And a shout out to those who brought the covered dishes. They were “tasty” and a great complement to smoked pulled pork.

My next step with our congregants, elders, deacons, and staff is to host Town hall meetings on Saturday morning or Sunday after the 11:00 am service or a combination of Saturday and Sunday dates to discuss each of the bullet points below. The Town Hall meetings will include either breakfast or lunch.

We have six discussions for each of the six bullet points in an authentic, genuine, open, and constructive way. I want to gain as much ownership from the participants as possible in how we move forward in shaping the renewed and invigorated Grace. I will be…

  • Assisting the congregation in ascertaining how our past has shaped who we are today.
  • Helping the congregation clarify its identity.
  • Facilitating the congregation to identify its strengths and challenges, including any staffing (lay or ordained) transitions.
  • Guiding the congregation in strengthening its relationship with the larger church and local community.
  • Assisting the congregation in preparing for new leadership, encouraging the people to envision and plan for a new future.
  • Assisting with the ongoing implementation of our recently developed strategic plan.

I’m excited to begin this journey with you. I anticipate an enriching time together as we lean into the Grace Presbyterian Church God envisions through each congregant, elder, deacon, and staff member. And God will use each one of us to create a unifying identity for Grace.

On the journey of Christian discipleship with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh, Interim Pastor