FINAL Laundry Love: March 12

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In March of 2015 we began Laundry Love with a $5000 grant from the Presbytery of Southern Kansas. This grant allowed us to wash clothes for approximately 500 people over 2 years.  With an average of 3 loads per person, that’s 1500 loads of laundry. The grant also paid for detergent and the occasional snacks for our guests.

This ministry takes place at the College Town Laundry at 3223 E 17th St, by the WSU Campus. This mission of our evangelism team has been a great gift to those of us who serve.  We’ve met wonderful people and enjoyed conversations over the rattle of washers and hum of dryers (and occasionally while stepping through puddles of soapy water.)

We’ve seen the face of God reflected in children who translate from Spanish to English for their moms, in single men glad that the laundromat put in a TV, in international students from WSU who enjoy hanging out while they wait, and in countless others.

March 2017 is our final Laundry Love, and we give thanks for this ministry.  Sign up to help in March or stop by the laundromat and say hello.  We’ll be there from 2:30-4:00 pm on March 12.  Contact Catherine Neelly Burton in the church office, 684-521, to volunteer.

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Bus Tickets and Morning Worship: March 15

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Each month Grace distributes bus tickets to people in our community.  This happens on the 15th of the month, or if the 15th is a weekend we meet the Friday before.  Volunteers and those receiving tickets begin to gather around 6:30 am in the Grace alcove. Guests are greeted with smiles, coffee, water, and a place to sit. Tickets are distributed at 7:50 am.

We invite all guests to a brief worship service with communion in the Great Room at 7:35.

We can always use volunteers to help with set-up, clean-up, and ticket distribution.  Want to help?  Contact Kirk Anderson, kirk@mygpc.org or 684-5215.

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Social Media Fast

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Fasting is an ancient Christian practice.  This year during Lent you’re invited to a different kind of fast.  Each week, pick one day – any day – and fast from social media for 24 hours.  Use email for work if you must, but do not log into facebook, Instagram, twitter, etc.  Every time you start to open the app on your phone or log in on your computer, stop, and instead pray or read scripture.

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Lent 2017: In Life and In Death

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Our theme for Lent this year is In Life and In Death.  Lent is a time to acknowledge and name our reliance on God.  The Heidelberg Catechism begins with this question and answer:

Q. What is your only comfort, in life and in death?

A. That I belong–body and soul, in life and in death–not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ…

As we explore scripture and prepare to walk with Jesus to the cross we know that we do so belonging to God.

There are a number of Lenten opportunities available to you this year.

  • Our children’s ministry is putting together Lenten Paper Chains. Each paper chain contains a Lenten challenge for you.  Every day you add a new link to the chain and take on a new challenge.
  • Our Christian Discipleship Team has two Sunday School classes planned for adults during Lent: Spiritual Gifts and Voices from South Africa.
  • Each Wednesday Night at 6:30 pm during Lent you’re invited to Communion in the City – an opportunity to worship together in different places in Wichita.
  • Read the Lenten devotional Grace mails to you. Reflect on Frederick Buechner’s words as we move toward the cross together.
  • Participate in a social media fast. You’re encouraged to fast one day a week from Social media.  Don’t check facebook, twitter, snapchat etc for an entire 24 hours. Every time you think about logging in, instead pray for someone, open your Bible.
  • Sunday Worship – Participate in our weekly Sunday morning worship.
  • Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday on April 9. We also gather on April 13 for Maundy Thursday worship and April 14 for Good Friday.

There is more information about all of this throughout the e-news and Grace This Week.

Photo credit: jezobeljones via Visualhunt /  CC BY
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Women’s Chorus: April 2, 2017

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All women, including youth, are invited to join together for a Women’s Chorus to provide music for the 11:00 worship service on April 2. We rehearse on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm for the month of March. Please come join us! Questions? Contact Donna Hetrick at donna@mygpc.org.

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