Grace hosts the Presbytery of Southern Kansas on Saturday, August 14. We need volunteers to help with greeting, ushering, making sure the snack table stays full, and general hospitality. Volunteer opportunities begin at 8:30 am and go until 12:30 pm. You may take an hour shift or more. Please contact Catherine Neelly Burton catherine@mygpc.org or 316-684-5215 to volunteer.
We’re in the midst of a worship series called, “I’ve been Meaning to Ask…” Each week we look at a different question and how it connects to scripture and our lives.
You have the opportunity to continue the conversation through a short-term small group. You are invited to sign up for a two-week group where you look at some of the questions from worship (Where are you from? What do you need? Where do we go from here?) and share thoughts.
You must sign up for a group by contacting the office, 316-684-5215, or signing up on the bulletin board in the building.
The group locations and times are:
- Tuesday, July 20 and 27 – 6:30 pm in the GPC Parlor
- Wednesday, July 21 and 28 – 7 pm at the home of Tom and Betsy Bloxham. Participants at the Bloxham home must be fully inoculated from the Covid-19 virus.
Childcare is available upon request.
Dear Grace Community
On June 21, the Grace Session again addressed our safety protocols for Sunday morning. Our mask policy remains the same. Anyone who is fully inoculated may choose whether or not to wear a mask while at Grace. This includes worship, meetings, and events. Masks are still required for those who are not inoculated. The Session will look at this policy each month at its stated meeting.
We made changes to other policies, and these go into effect in July. We’ll no longer have tape on the pews in the Sanctuary. The space technically seats 300 (though that is hard to imagine.) On Sunday, June 20, we had 99 in attendance, our biggest crowd since we’ve been back. Even when we increase in size, there should still be room for people to spread out as they are comfortable.
Also in July, we begin to pass offering plates again, and the coffee bar returns. For now, the windows remain open in worship, and the outside doors remain open as well. We continue to use the pre-packaged communion sets.
It’s wonderful to see so many of you in person, be it in worship or during the week.
In Christ,
Catherine
The Grace Session met on May 17, 2021, in the church alcove/on Zoom.
- The meeting was opened and closed with prayer.
- The Covid safety and mask policies were discussed. The mask policy was updated to match the (then new) CDC guidelines that fully inoculated people do not need to wear masks, but everyone else does.
- The Session will look at the guidelines each month.
- The financial reports were given and received.
- The large gas bill from the deep freeze in February was discussed. Martin Burch met with a representative from Symmetry Energy, and we have two options: spread the payments out over six months or pay now with a 45% discount. The trustees will make the decision. (Note: the trustees voted to pay it with the 45% discount.)
- It was reported that we have contracted with an organ consultant to help us understand the current state of our organ and to guide us as we consider renovations.
- Commissioners to the May presbytery meeting gave reports.
- The nominating team filled two of the unexpired terms. Texie Randle will serve as a trustee for the class of 2022, and Bruce Gealy will serve as a deacon for the class of 2022. The Session called a congregational meeting for June 13 to elect them.
- There continue to be frustrations about the failings of our streaming during worship.
The Grace Book Club meets every two months on Tuesday nights for about an hour. The group meets in the Grace Parlor. The group reads books by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) authors that can help us broaden our perspective and learn about our faith.
Join us! Come for one book or every meeting. Everyone is welcome! Contact Melissa Buteyn for more information. Call the church office, 316-684-5215, for Melissa’s contact information.
The next meeting is July 27, 2021 at 6:30 pm. The book is Dear White Peacemakers by Osheta Moore.
