Dear Grace Community,

            I cannot think of a better place for me to have grown and shared in community over the last ten years. Truly, I struggle to comprehend that I’ve been in Wichita and a part of the Grace community for that long. When my friends and family ask me about my church, I get to regale them with stories of a body of Christ that is present in the lives of one another, works to serve the community around the church, and embraces people from many different walks of life. Of course I also tell them of the wonderful music ministry in which I have been so fortunate to participate and lead. When Kirk Anderson told me to contact Donna Hetrick about the choir accompanist position at Grace Presbyterian Church, I wasn’t sure I wanted to do it, and in fact I waited five months before Kirk marched me over to a phone and made me call Donna with him standing over my shoulder. I had no idea what journey that instant would initiate, and I’m forever grateful for how it all turned out.

            My gratitude for you all knows no limit. Thank you for taking the time to know me and encourage me as I worked my way through college, as I grieved the loss of my grandmother, and as I navigated various roles within the music ministry. The support you have shown me over the last two years as the Director of Music Ministries, and specifically recently as I’ve prepared to move to Illinois, leaves me at a loss for words. Know that I leave Wichita with a real bittersweet taste. Grace Presbyterian Church at 5002 East Douglas Avenue will always be a home for me. I will miss you all, and this beloved church, so dearly. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sean Foster

Links

• OJ Watson Park September 20
• Good Neighbor Experiment
• Yellow Bag Sundays
• Music Task Force
• Sunday Morning Schedule

Nominating Team
Even in a pandemic the work of the church continues.  Do you know someone called to leadership in the church?  If so, nominate them!  We’re looking for elders, deacons, trustees, and Jacob’s Learning Ladder board members.  Please send nominations to the nominating team chair, Darcy Eads deads@cox.net

Worship and Connection Opportunities:

Sunday Morning Worship:

• Sunday, September 6 at 10 am
• Worship via Facebook Live at 10 am or watch our services at mygpc.org.
• You do not need a Facebook account to watch.  Go here >
• Geoff Snook preaches.
• Sermon Scripture: Joshua 6:8-14, Acts 16:25-29
• Sermon Title: God’s WiFi
• Download Bulletin >
• We celebrate the Lord’s Supper in worship. To participate, please prepare something to eat and something to drink.

Memorial Services

• A memorial service for June Parson is Friday, September 11 at 2 pm at Grace.
• A memorial service for Gale Meek is Monday, September 14 at 10 am at Grace.

This month we receive non-perishable food items for our yellow bag offering.  You may drop food off at the church during business hours.  In September our contributions go to the Covenant Presbyterian Food Pantry.  Covenant is a PCUSA congregation in west Wichita.

Dear Grace Community,

I write with an update about music ministry at Grace.  I shared earlier that we were in the process of hiring an interim music coordinator.  We now have that person, but it’s actually two people.  In June, we envisioned the position based on what we knew at the time.  Now that there is more research out, and now that the Session has approved the music task’s force report that allows for some singing, the position is bigger.

Because of that we split the position in two and hired Kelsey Wise and Ben Rivers to lead.  Kelsey and Ben are both part of the music ministry already, and I am confident in their leadership and excited to work with them in this new way.  Kelsey will coordinate all music for the sanctuary and outdoor services.  Ben will coordinate all music for the Great Room services.  They begin these roles on September 1.

This week our music search team met again for the first time since May.  We are ready to post the job description for the permanent position.  If you know of someone who should apply, please encourage them!  Team members are Pam Head, Dave McIntire, Charlene Randle, Janet Rhoads, and Bill Vavra.

I look forward to worshiping with some of you via Facebook Live this Sunday, and I’m excited for those who will gather in backyards around the city for the retreats.

In Christ,
Catherine

Links
Grace Book Club: September 1
OJ Watson Park September 20
Music Task Force
Sunday Morning Schedule

Nominating Team
Even in a pandemic the work of the church continues.  Do you know someone called to leadership in the church?  If so, nominate them!  We’re looking for elders, deacons, trustees, and Jacob’s Learning Ladder board members.  Please send nominations to the nominating team chair, Darcy Eads deads@cox.net

Worship and Connection Opportunities:

Sunday, August 30 at 10 am

• Worship via Facebook Live at 10 am or watch our services at mygpc.org
• Go here >You do not need a Facebook account to watch.
• Catherine Neelly Burton preaches.
• Sermon Scripture: Luke 11:1-4 and Matthew 6:5-15
• Download Bulletin >

Tuesday, September 1 at 6:30 pm
Grace Book Club meets in the Great Room
Read more here >

Worship Streams on Facebook Live every Sunday at 10 am and is available by video later by Monday on our website.

August 30  

•   9-11 am          Satellite Retreats at many locations
•  10 am              Worship streams

September 6     

• 10 am               Worship streams – the Lord’s Supper is celebrated

September 13 

• 9 am                Sunday School for all ages in the building
• 10 am              Worship in the building or online
• 7 pm                Evening Worship in the Grace parking lot

September 20  

• 9 am                Sunday School for all ages in the building
• 10 am              Worship in the building or online
•  7 pm               Evening Worship at OJ Watson Park. Pavilion #4 is reserved starting at 5 pm. Come early and play in the park.

September 27

• 9 am                Sunday School for all ages in the building
• 10 am              Worship in the building or online
• 7 pm                Evening Worship in the GPC parking lot

October 4   

• 10 am              Worship in the building or online
• 10 am              Micro Churches (more information to come)

Before he left, Sean Foster assembled a task force to study music and singing during this time.  The task force consists of Laurie Haury, Ben Rivers, Bill Vavra, and Ginny Vincent (Session).  What follows are notes from the task force.  The Session received their report on August 17 and approved their recommendations.

The COVID-19 Music Task Force met to discuss how and when certain music aspects of worship could resume safely. Currently, the University of Colorado is conducting the main study relating to music performance for both instruments and singing. Based on the study’s preliminary results, the Music Task Force has recommended the following:

• Congregational singing of hymns can occur during in person worship as long as social distancing is maintained and well-fitted masks are worn.
• Small ensembles (including the praise band), can perform during worship services as long as social distancing is maintained and well-fitted masks are worn.
• Ensembles can meet to practice for 30 minutes in a single space (with social distancing and masks) due to air circulation. It is recommended that if the ensemble wants to practice for longer than 30 minutes, they need to move to a different space after each 30 minute period.
• The chancel choir and handbells can meet for rehearsals, but they require a director to help them figure out the logistics of meeting. Handbells may have resource issues to figure out how they can social distance, and the choir probably cannot perform during worship due to social distancing concerns. The Music Task Force recommends that these two groups probably need to wait until the new Music Director is hired before they start meeting.