Grace Music Ministry News

In May, we winded down our choir and bell choir season at Grace. It was an eventful year with collaboration between our two ensembles, organ, brass, strings, and vocal solos. As we go into our summer months, you will hear the many musical talents of our congregation, as well as some outside visitors, during the 11:00 am service. The praise band is still rocking through the summer at the 9:00 am service. If you ever want more information about joining the band, choir, or bell choir, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or Bryce Mulkey.

One thing that we are trying this year is having a volunteer choir sing on the 4th Sunday of June, July, and August. This would be a great time to give the choir a try if you have ever had an interest. We meet downstairs at 10:30 am to run through the choral anthem. Those dates are: June 25, July 23, and August 27.

In Christ,

Tyler Morris

Director of Music Ministries

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Pastoral Transition: Nominating Team News

The Nominating Committee is creating an Interim Pastoral Nominating Committee to select an Interim Pastor for Grace Presbyterian. This committee is a small group of motivated and efficient members who can get the process moving to select an Interim Pastor. Our Presbytery will appoint a liaison to help guide this committee. If you are interested or know of someone who could be a good fit, please contact Bill Vavra (vavraavconsult@powwwer.net) or Charlene Randle (cmlr1224@gmail.com) by June 12.

After the Interim Pastoral Nominating Committee has secured an Interim Pastor, and when approved by the presbytery, we’ll form a Pastoral Nominating Committee to interview and select a full-time Pastor. A request for nominations for this committee will be made after the Interim Pastor has been named, and we are given the green light to move forward in the process.

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Holy Curiosity: An Invitation in June

curiosityThis June, the Christian Discipleship Team invites you to explore Holy Curiosity. This three-week series lets you explore some of the more mysterious branches of Christianity.  Our confirmation classes often visit different congregations, and this winter, an adult mentioned that he would like to do the same.  This is a twist on those visits with some intentional education time.

June 11 – 10:00 am – Grace Parlor

Dr. Matthew Umbarger from Newman University teaches about Catholicism.

June 13 at 1:30 pm

Tour the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Want to carpool? Meet at Grace at 1:00 pm

June 18 – 10:00 am – Grace Parlor

Stan Cox, a member of St. George Orthodox Church, teaches on Orthodoxy.

June 25 – 9:50 am – St. George Orthodox

Meet at St. George’s for a tour and worship.

 

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Letter from Pastor Catherine

May 15, 2023

Dear Grace Community,

I write to tell you that I am taking a new call.  My last Sunday with you is June 18.

In June of 2010, you first called me as your pastor (associate pastor actually).  None of us knew what the next thirteen years would hold, and I never imagined we would be together as pastor and congregation for such a long and rich time.

Being elected as pastor isn’t what makes someone the pastor.  Having the title ‘pastor’ in the bulletin isn’t what makes someone the pastor.  At some point you decided that I was your pastor.  It happened as we planned the funeral for your loved one, or I visited your home, or we studied scripture together, or shared joys and concerns in a meeting.  Some of you needed a pastor and decided to give me a chance.  For those of you who’ve come since I’ve been here, I always say that you join a church and not a pastor, but it was important that we connect.

Being your pastor is one of the great privileges of my life.  Being entrusted with your pain and joy is an honor I do not take lightly.  That you trusted me to lead this sacred place you call your church is a gift.  Plus, you’re fun and interesting people whom I love. You were there when John and I got married and when Alice was baptized.  I’m a preacher’s kid (PK) raising a PK, and Grace has been everything I hoped for Alice.  She knows that she is valued and loved.

The call I’m taking is not to another church. Later this week an announcement goes out from the Presbytery of Southern Kansas putting forward my name as the Mission and Ministry Connector.  It will be finalized at a meeting in two weeks. This is a new and experimental position which seeks to empower and connect small member churches in our presbytery who don’t have pastors and probably never will again. I believe God is calling me to be part of this new way of doing church.

My family will stay in Wichita but will not be connected at Grace so that you can move forward. I believe that Grace is positioned to move forward well.  In many ways Grace is a different place than it was when I came, but the commitment to loving God and neighbor are the same.  The personnel team and Session will start communicating with you soon about next steps.

I will not have the chance to reach out to everyone individually before I leave, but I encourage you to come by the office or call and set up a time for us to talk.  I leave town tomorrow to celebrate my mom’s 80th birthday but will be in worship on Sunday.

In Christ,

Catherine Neelly Burton

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Grace Youth Ministry End of School Year News and Recap

The end of the school year is an excellent time to catch up with what is happening in Grace Youth Ministry. It has been a great year for youth ministry in many aspects. We experienced baptism and confirmations, a fantastic talent show, saw our youth lead worship, and supported children’s ministry.

Our Seniors have been great leaders, and we celebrate as nine of them graduated and are taking the next steps in their life journeys.

I truly enjoyed the Confirmation class this year. Pastor Catherine, Pastor Martin, Pastor Scott Randle, and I worked with our students to look at a snapshot of their faith timeline and what it means to be a part of Christ’s church and Grace.

Youth Fellowship and Sunday school have been such a growth experience not only for the youth but for the leaders as well. From breaking bread to deep discussions about life, scripture, faith, God, Jesus, and everything in between, we have walked together to become hopefully better people and, more importantly, better followers of Christ.

WYLDlife was a great success this year. We had the biggest group of volunteer leaders I have ever been privileged to work with, and they poured out their hearts and souls into the middle-high youth from Robinson and Curtis schools. The volunteers came from our youth group, East High, Trinity, WSU, and of course, YoungLIFE. We ministered to 30-plus youths over the last two semesters.

WYlDlife is a focus for next year as we look to connect kids from WYLDlife to our Grace youth ministries and, more importantly, our church community and God’s Kingdom. I cannot express how important this partnership has been for kids and Grace youth ministry these past 13 years. We have met so many outstanding youths through this partnership, and it has made us a better church for it.

We look forward to our Mission trip this year, which many of you heard about from our Talent show this past March. Seeing the gifts God has given so many youths and adults in our church is such a blessing. I don’t know how long this show will continue, but for now, it is a great way to support our many talents in this church and to come together as a church community.

Our next big Youth event is the Mission trip to Chicago in July. The youth are excited and ready to go, as are all volunteers. Speaking of volunteers, so many of you support our Grace youth ministry through your time and talents. These kids will remember how Grace changed their lives and walked with them in their faith journey, much like I do as I look back to my time in youth ministry and those who were such great mentors. Many of you have similar memories as well.

The coming year is challenging in many ways, but Grace and its youth have always met the challenge with the faith that God is with us.

  • Kirk Anderson, Director of Student Ministries
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