Grace Chancel Choir in Concert at Plymouth Congregational Church: September 24

Our neighbors at Plymouth Congregational Church (202 N. Clifton – 67208) hold a fine arts series throughout the year. In September, they invited composer Howard Helvey to Wichita. Full details of their event may be found here:

On Saturday, September 24, at 7 pm, the Grace Chancel Choir joins the Plymouth Choir, piano, and organ, for the works of Helvey that include hymn arrangements, anthems, piano solos, organ solos, four-hand piano duets, piano, and organ duets, and vocal solos. Tickets are $20.

Peace and Global Witness Offering: October 2

On Sunday, October 2, we receive the PCUSA Peace and Global Witness Offering. From the PCUSA:

The words of Isaiah 55 convey a profound message to us during A Season of Peace:

For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace.

Go out in joy. Looking around our world these days, it is sometimes hard to feel joyful. Yet joy inherently embraces optimism. Joy is the companion of faith and hope. In our polarized world torn by war, famine, and marginalization of the poor and disenfranchised, we are in desperate need of joyful and brave people who are willing to ask hard questions and live the difficult solutions that make peace possible.

Be led forth in peace. Through the Peace & Global Witness Offering, we connect with each other, as the Church, together, to confront systems of injustice and promote reconciliation in places around the world and right here at home.

Fifty percent of this offering goes to the National PCUSA. Twenty-five percent goes to the Presbytery of Southern Kansas for distribution, and we determine how to share the final 25%. This year our portion goes to This Child Here. This Child Here works in Ukraine with vulnerable children and youth.

Session Minute Summaries: July 18 and July 31

Full Session minutes are available upon request

July 18

The Grace Session met on July 18 at 6:00 pm in the church parlor. The meeting was opened with a devotional by Steve Hooper.
It was noted that the returned full rail in the sanctuary is making sound difficult – piano levels and mic levels. One third of the rail will be removed to see if that makes a difference.
In 2021 Grace received a gift of $50,000 to be used in ministry, specifically with children and youth. This gift made possible the Puerto Rico mission trip, the food packing event, and other special projects. The donors will give another $50,000 in 2022. Catherine talked about the process for planning for that gift.
The Director of Children’s Ministry position will be 10-12 hours a week, down from 18-20. This is funded through the operating budget. A new position, Chaplain of Jacob’s Learning Ladder, will be created and funded at 5 hours a week from the $50,000 gift. Both positions will be advertised soon.
Financial reports were given and received. Other reports were received.
The nominating team is preparing to start work.
Laurie Haury reported on the mission trip.
Strom Sloan reported on the called presbytery meeting to receive the new pastor to McPherson.
Martin made a report on staff health insurance and rising premiums.
Strom Sloan was elected to attend the Aug 9 presbytery meeting, to be held on Zoom.
The meeting was closed in prayer.

July 31

The Grace Session met on July 31 at 9:15 am in Room 101 for a called meeting to receive new members.
The meeting was opened and closed with prayer.
The session joyfully received Frank and Martha Fair into membership. They join by letter of transfer from Eastminster Presbyterian in Wichita.

Organic Prayer Time

Need some mid-week prayer time? Join Martin Burch and Kirk Anderson on Wednesdays from 7-8 am in the sanctuary for a time of reflection and prayer. We catch up with life and then utilize commonprayer.net in conjunction with prayer requests to offer prayer to God. Casual but powerful. Questions? Contact either Martin Burch or Kirk Anderson at Grace, 316-684-5215.

Jacob’s Learning Ladder Summer

JLL has had a very busy summer! In June we had Water Day on the front lawn and participated in Vacation Bible School. In July we celebrated July Fourth with a parade around the building. We also took a Field Trip to Botanica to visit the “Washed Ashore” exhibit and to explore the gardens.

Summer is a good time for inside activities – we melted old crayons in a muffin tin to see what would happen! We also had a Drive-In Movie Day complete with cardboard box cars and popcorn! To wrap up our summer, we had a Bike-Wash Water Day. The staff at JLL is busy as ever getting ready for a new school year.