56 or 10 years depending on how you want to count it.

ANDERSON, KIRKI have been a lifelong, thus the 56, member of Grace, but when God called me to be a part of disciplining His and your youth, I did not expect to be here for 10 years and counting. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me and I thank God for that.

Being your Director of Student Ministry has been way more than a job. It is an awakening that has allowed me to grow in my faith and walk beside youth, volunteers, people in need, members of Grace, and groups in our community in their faith journeys. The relationships with youth have been life altering. The partnerships with your Youth Ministry Team volunteers has generated amazing friendships. WYLDlife/Younglife has allowed us as a church to expand your youth programs exponentially beyond our walls in reaching youth and helped us create a stronger community with Robinson Middle School. Mission trips have grown us all. Working with this staff lets you see everyday God working.

So, I want to say thank you for allowing me to be a part of this amazing community from my baptism to now. Without you all I would not be in this position or be the person I am today. Thank you as well for the many cards. Each one was so special and meant the world to me. The gift was also much appreciated and will go to good use in my BBQing. I would be remiss in not also thanking my amazing wife who has been a partner in this as well. There is a special sacrifice that spouses give to allow one to be in ministry and it is something I cherish daily.

The future is not yet here, and the past is done, but for now we are all here together in God’s amazing kingdom, may we look at each day as the gift that it is.

In Christ and Love,
Kirk Anderson

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Grace Saturday Updates: September 19

Dear Grace Community,

It was wonderful to worship in person with so many of you last weekend (in the morning and in the evening), and I’m grateful that others of you could join us online.  This Sunday we again offer in person and online worship at 10 am.  The in-person service is in the Sanctuary this week.  We also have Sunday School for all ages at 9 am.

If you plan to attend, please read this, and please be flexible on Sunday.  I know it’s strange to have an usher seat you, but right now we believe that this is the best way to ensure social distancing.

This week we began hosting middle and high school youth for their virtual schooling.  We do this on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  If you know someone who would benefit from having a place to “do school” please contact Kirk Anderson, Kirk@mygpc.org  I’m grateful for the ways this has come together.

In Christ,
Catherine

Links

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 on September 20 at 10 am

  • Worship in the Sanctuary, or worship via Facebook Live at 10 am.  Services are posted to mygpc.org by Monday
  • Sunday School is at 9 am
  • You do not need a Facebook account to watch.  Go here>
  • Catherine Neelly Burton preaches.
  • Sermon Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6
  • Download Bulletin
OJ Watson Park Night is Cancelled.
The city park rescinded our pavilion registration due to the limit on gathering sizes.
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School @ Grace

,

Grace is now home to middle and high school students for virtual school.  When USD259 announced that all middle and high school students would be online for nine weeks, our Director of Student Ministries Kirk Anderson went to work.

In an effort to support families we opened up our building to students three days a week to do school here.  Students are spread out on the second floor of the church and have an adult supervisor.  We are currently at six students and can take up to eight  If you know someone who could use this resource, contact Kirk@mygpc.org

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Saturday Update: September 12

Dear Grace Community,

This Sunday marks the return to in person worship at Grace.  Streaming is still available for those who prefer to worship at home, and this option remains available.

I know that many of you are eager to return, and others of you want to, but are not yet ready.  Being the body of Christ is important, in whatever form it takes.  In the last six months we’ve learned to be the church in new ways.  We’ve realized how much we don’t need physical space to be church, and that community can be built when we’re not together.  At the same time, we’ve missed being together, and we’ve lost things by being apart. Tom Long addressed this in his article, “On returning to our places of worship,” in the August 24, 2020, Presbyterian Outlook.

“We cherish the places where we worship, not out of some misplaced wistfulness but because our sanctuaries are sacramental places…People have prayed there. Vows have been made, the gospel has been heard, hymns have been sung, marriage promises have been spoken, funerals have been held, sins have been confessed and forgiven there.”

For those of us are in the building in the coming weeks, there is joy in returning, and for those who remain with us through online worship, we long for the day when the conditions allow you to return.  In this time between, the onus is on all of us to continue to reach out to one another, to continue to strengthen the bonds of Christian fellowship through calls, letters, prayers, and porch visits.  It may be even more important now.

You’ll see in the links below information about what to expect on Sunday.  Please read it over before coming to worship.  There is also a link about nametags for Sundays. (Some of us may have a little trouble remembering names after being apart for so long.)

In Christ,
Catherine

Links

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 on September 13 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>
  • Catherine Neelly Burton preaches.
  • Sermon Scripture: Genesis 2:4b-7, 15-17; 3:1-8
  • Download Bulletin>

Evening Prayer Service: Sunday, September 13 at 7 pm

  • In the Grace Parking Lot
  • Bring a chair and a mask and join us for a 30-minute outdoor prayer service.

Memorial Services

  • A memorial service for Gale Meek is Monday September 14 at 10 am at Grace
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Nametags!

When you return to Grace for worship, be sure to wear a nametag!  We’ve installed a new board at the church where you can leave nametags so you don’t have to worry about remembering them each week.

Do you need a nametag?  If so, write your name on the board, and next week when you come back, there will be a nametag there for you.  Or you may email Teresa@mygpc.org, and she’ll get one ready for you.

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