• The Grace Presbyterian Session met on January 25 on Zoom for its stated meeting.
• The meeting was opened and closed with prayer.
• The docket and minutes were approved.
• The Session voted to return to in person worship on February 7 (while still offering streaming) with one worship service at 11 am. All precautions from the fall in-person services will be in place.
  • Worship size will be limited to 50 with an overflow in the worship space that is not used. (When worship is in the sanctuary, overflow is in the great room and vice versa.)
• Session had previously limited group gatherings to 15. The limit is now 25 (other than worship).
• The 2021 budget was presented and passed unanimously.
• The financial reports were given and approved. Members met their pledges in 2020, which is wonderful.  We were behind for the year because non-pledged giving was down.  However, with the Paycheck Protection Plan Loan/Grant, we were okay.
• The annual reports are being assembled.
• Catherine thanked the elders rotating off of session: Darcy Eads, Dave McIntire, Ginny Vincent, and Joe Wangombe.
• Carolyn Shaw, Pam Head, and Darcy Eads were elected to serve as commissioners to the February 16 presbytery meeting.

Grace has a new outreach.  We are calling it The Care Letter Ministry. Sending a card with a hand-written message (or a hand-written letter is fine) goes a long way in lifting the spirit of a shut-in, the homeless, or incarcerated person.  We kicked off this ministry by writing letters to  elderly people residing in a care facility.

In March our cards go to the Wichita Children’s Home.

Here’s all you do:

1. Take a few minutes, sit down, and write a letter.  Tell them about yourself, maybe say a joke or a riddle or write a poem and let them know that they are loved.
2. Your letter (or card) should resonate with anyone, so do not mention your stand on political or religious issues. Please be gender neutral as the director of the facility will determine who needs these cards or letters most. (You may reference a scripture if you like, maybe at the end of the letter).
3. Excludethe date (day, month, and year). Do not mention Covid, isolation or quarantine. Focus on making the recipient feel good.
4. Embrace creativity.  Make your letter personal, colorful and fun – photos, crosswords, and drawings are great.
5. Be kind and thoughtful. This is a one-way letter exchange, so you will not be getting a letter back. Receiving nothing in return is part of the beauty of your act of kindness, and recipients are not burdened by feeling obligated or unable to respond.
6. Put your card or letter in an envelope but do not address it to anyone or seal  You do not have to sign your name if you do not want to.  Just say something like, “From someone who cares for you”.
7. Writing more than one card or letter is encouraged!
8. Drop your letter off in the mail box outside the main sanctuary for this outreach.  No postage is necessary.  The cards/letters will be delivered to a local care facility where they will be distributed to recipients.
9. If you have questions, please contact Teresa Stange at the Grace office.

Contact Teresa Stange at the church office with questions.  The mail box is always open, so keep those letters coming.  Let’s keep the spirit of love and kindness to our community going forward this year!

The Grace Presbyterian Session met on December 21 on Zoom for its stated meeting.

• The meeting was opened and closed with prayer.
• The docket and minutes were approved.
• The Session voted to remain online only for worship through the month of January. Groups of 15 or fewer may meet at the church.
• Deep Roots work continues. The music office and volunteer office have new carpet.
• Session received a report on pledges. Financial reports were given and approved.
• The next Session meeting is January 25. A meeting was called for January 31 to examine new officers.

It’s time to celebrate!  We received a gift from the estate of Lois Fisher. The gift was designated to be used by the Mission Distribution Team, of which Lois was a part for many years. The gift is $84,000, which is more than the annual budget of the team. The team has a retreat planned for February 21 and will strategize how to share the money. You will hear more about this and  be asked to give input.

On Sunday, March 7, you’re invited to an interactive prayer afternoon at Grace. The church is open from 3-5 pm, and you may come and go during that time. There are different prayer centers throughout the building where you can engage in prayer at your own pace.