Updates: March 23, 2020

Dear Grace Community,

It was good to worship with so many of you on Facebook today.  It is uplifting to me to know we are together.  I hope others of you will watch worship here on our website.

We sent out a series of online opportunities for you on Saturday.  I included one wrong address.  The link for the Service for Lament is now updated below.

Please take advantage of these opportunities.  If you need help navigating any of this, contact us, 316-684-5215.  Please be patient with us if something doesn’t work quite the way you expect.  We’re learning a lot of this on the fly.  I’m grateful that there are ways we can connect, and I continue to pray for you.

In Christ,
Catherine

Monday, March 23 11 am

Kids time with Jennifer: Join Jennifer Snook for some fun on Facebook Live.

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/mygpc.org

Monday, March 23 7 pm

Service for Lament: While we want to be positive and hopeful in this hard time, many of us are grieving things we’ve lost or had to give up.  Naming this in a holy space is an important part of grieving.  Join Pastor Catherine Neelly Burton on zoom for a time of prayer and naming what it is that you lament.

Join by video:  https://zoom.us/j/674226577

Call in to zoom: +1 346 248 7799 US

Meeting ID: 674 226 577

Tuesday, March 24 2 pm

Parables: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus with Martin Burch

Join our Executive Pastor Dr. Martin Burch in a conversation about one of his favorite parables.

Join by video: https://zoom.us/j/652634457

Call in: +1 346 248 7799

Meeting ID: 652 634 457

Wednesday, March 25

Youth Connection: Kirk Anderson is setting up video connections with youth.  If you have a youth in your family who wants to connect, contact Kirk@mygpc.org

Thursday, March 26 7 pm

Music with Sean Foster and Kelsey Wise: Tune in to Facebook live and listen as Sean (our Director of Music Ministry) and Kelsey (our organist) share some of their favorite music.

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/mygpc.org

Friday, March 27 5:00 pm

Congregational Hangout: Drop in and see other members of the congregation.  Fellowship and reconnect.

Join by video: https://zoom.us/j/758689119

Call in: +1 346 248 7799

Meeting ID: 758-689-119

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Updates: March 21, 2020

Dear Grace Community,

There are multiple ways for you to connect with the church and each other in the next week.  Please take advantage of these opportunities.  If you need help navigating any of this, contact us, 316-684-5215.  Also, please be patient with us if something doesn’t work quite the way you expect.  We’re learning a lot of this on the fly.  I’m grateful that there are ways we can connect, and I continue to pray for you.

In Christ,
Catherine

Please note: to watch Facebook Live, you need a Facebook account. If you need help setting one up, please let us know. For Zoom, you need to download the app to either your smartphone or tablet. If using your computer for Zoom, you’ll be prompted what to do on setup.

Worship: Sunday, March 22 10 am

Kids time with Jennifer: Monday, March 23 11 am

Service for Lament: Monday, March 23 7 pm

  • While we want to be positive and hopeful in this hard time, many of us are grieving things we’ve lost or had to give up.  Naming this in a holy space is an important part of grieving.  Join Pastor Catherine Neelly Burton on Zoom for a time of prayer and naming what it is that you lament.
  • Join by video: https://zoom.us/j/674226577
  • Meeting ID: 674 226 577
  • Call in to zoom:  +1 346 248 7799

Parables: Tuesday, March 24 2 pm

  • Tell Me the Stories of Jesus with Martin Burch
  • Join our Executive Pastor Dr. Martin Burch in a conversation about one of his favorite parables.
  • Join by video: https://zoom.us/j/652634457
  • Call in: +1 346 248 7799

Youth Connection: Wednesday, March 25

  • Kirk Anderson is setting up video connections with youth.  If you have a youth in your family who wants to connect, contact Kirk@mygpc.org

Music with Sean Foster and Kelsey Wise: Thursday, March 26 at 7 pm

  • Tune in to Facebook Live and listen as Sean (our Director of Music Ministry) and Kelsey (our organist) share some of their favorite music.
  • Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/mygpc.org

Congregational Hangout: Friday, March 27 5:00 pm

  • Drop in and see other members of the congregation.  Fellowship and reconnect.
  • Join by video: https://zoom.us/j/758689119
  • Call in: +1 346 248 7799
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From the Pastor’s Desk: March 2020

,

Dear Grace Community,

But now says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. – Isaiah 43:1

I’m writing to let you know that we are cancelling worship and all church activities (meetings, events, rehearsals, regular groups, etc.) through the end of March.

This is not a decision made lightly but prayerfully and thoughtfully with the best information we have right now.  This decision was made by members of the staff in consultation with the church session and with physicians in our congregation.   We made this decision, not out of fear, but as a way to protect the most vulnerable around us.  There is much uncertainty around the Coronavirus/Covid 19, but what is clear is that limiting large gatherings is prudent in stopping the spread.

This decision is hard for many reasons, including that gathering to worship is central to who we are, and so we invite you to worship in a new way for a few weeks.  Starting this Sunday, we will live stream worship on the Grace Facebook page at 10 am CDT.  The same service will be available on the mygpc.org website later that day.  This week the service will be primarily scripture, prayer, and music.

This technology allows us to, in fact, worship together.  While not ideal, it is a gift.  Staying connected while not seeing each other at Grace is important.  We will send out regular communications through email.

If you are staying home all of the time because you are self-quarantining or because of your health, do you need any help?  Do you need things dropped off at your house (medicine, food, etc.)?  Please let us know so that we can help you.  Do you need prayer?  We’d love to pray for you.  If you are willing to help run errands for people or to make check-in phone calls to members of our community, please let me know, 316-684-5215, catherine@mygpc.org.

I look forward to hearing from you, and I will miss being together this Sunday.

In Christ,
Catherine

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Youth Coffee House – Talent Night: March 29

Coffee House This Year we start a new fundraiser for our annual IGNITE High School Mission trip, July 10 – 19.  This year we partner with TEAMeffort, doing home repair in the Gatlinburg, Tennesse, area.

This year we hold a Coffee House Talent night that showcases talent from our youth group and church family.  The cost is free to attend, and you can enjoy amazing desserts and coffee.

During the evening we kick-off the fundraiser part with our Wall-O-Money.  We have envelopes starting at $1 and growing incrementally up to $200.  You can take one off the envelopes and put in your donation. This helps offset our travel expenses for the 40 youth and adults participating in this year’s trip.  The event is Sunday, March 29, from 4 pm – 5:30 pm.

Please come and enjoy an great evening of fellowship and talent.  For more information you may contact Natalie Merten and nmerten@icloud.com or Kirk Anderson at kirk@mygpc.org.

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Maundy Thursday: April 9

Each year we gather to worship on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter. On Maundy Thursday we commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper with the disciples.  Some years we worship with a Tenebrae service, other years with a drama. Then there is a third way, which we experienced in 2015, 2018, and will experience in 2020.

Recognizing that Maundy Thursday happened around a meal, you’re invited to share a meal together. In mid-March we begin sign-ups at the church. Several Grace members will open their homes that night.  You sign-up for a home and bring a dish to share.  After a potluck supper those at the dinner share a short worship and communion service.  Maundy Thursday is April 9, with the home gatherings starting at 6:30 pm.

 

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