Equipping Families: How to Talk with Your Children About Sexual Abuse

Open to the Public
Sunday, March 4, 2018 at 3:30 pm
Grace Presbyterian Church – 5002 E Douglas Ave

Grace Presbyterian and Jacob’s Learning Ladder invite you to hear from community leaders:

• Sandra Lessor – Attorney with the District Attorney’s Office
• Teresa McDonald – Social Worker, Therapist
• Rebecca Reddy – Pediatrician
• Diana Schunn – Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County

Childcare is provided. Please arrive at 3:15 pm to check-in.

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From the Pastor’s Desk: February 2018

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Dear Grace Community,

February in Wichita started on a horrifying note with the report of child rape at the YMCA Kidzone.  The news impacted me as the parent of a two-year-old who has spent time in the Kidzone and as the pastor of a church with a daycare and preschool.

Immediately after the news broke, Martin Burch, our executive pastor, and I sat down with Merodee Grannis and Nancy Morrow, our Jacob’s Learning Ladder director and assistant director.  I have complete trust in Merodee and Nancy, and I realized that I am not familiar enough with our policies, procedures, and reporting structures, so I wanted to learn more.

As we talked we confirmed that in Jacobs’ 29 years of operation we have never had an accusation of sexual abuse.  This is a result of many factors including high transparency, many checks and balances, and a wonderful staff.  Nonetheless, we need to be prepared and proactive.

Merodee and Nancy talked me through the steps that would happen if abuse was reported.

The regulations of the Kansas Health Department are thorough and complex. I understand them as the pastor and as a professional.  As a parent I’m overwhelmed by the detail.  Merodee, Nancy, Martin, and I agreed that we need to spend time in the next month with these regulations so that we can talk about them in ways that are not only accurate but also understandable for parents.

As important as it is to be prepared so that we handle any accusation well, we also want to be proactive. Families are unsettled by the news reports.  In response to this we asked, how can we help?

We put together an event for Sunday March 4, 2018, at 3:30 pm at Grace.  The purpose of the event is to equip families for challenging conversations.  Parents know that they should talk to their children about their bodies and who can touch them, but many parents aren’t sure of what to say.  Parents know that there are resources available to educate on ways to prevent abuse and to watch for it, but they may not know how to find those resources.

Our March 4 event includes professionals who will address these and other topics.  Speakers include Sandra Lessor, an attorney with the District Attorney’s Office and Jacob’s parent; Teresa McDonald, a Licensed Social worker, therapist, and Jacob’s parent; Dr. Rebecca Reddy, a pediatrician and parent of Jacob’s alumni; and Dianna Schunn from the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County.  This event is open to the public, and childcare is available.

I am grateful that we have the opportunity to offer this to our community and hope you will join us, whether or not you have young children.

In Christ,

Catherine

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Mission Trips: What Will God Do With Us This Year

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Mission trips change lives. For those who are lucky enough to participate, God does some miraculous work that lasts a life time. Our youth get to experience new cultures, learn that God is everywhere and what is sacrificial giving through service.

No two trips are alike, each brings its own unique challenges and God inspirations. Even as adults we are changed each time we go. I anticipate this year will be no different. What is truly special about this year is we get three Mission trips. It is because you have listened to God’s call and supported mission here at Grace.

  • College or YaYa’s, as we like to call them, are embarking on their first trip in many years. We are headed to Denver, Colorado, to work with the Door Network.  Our mission is inner city exploration and service.   Our YaYa’s are giving up their spring break to serve.  We should have six-10 total.
  • IGNITE (High school) are headed to Rockport, Texas. We team up with our old friends, TEAMeffort, as we look to help with hurricane relief efforts.  Focus is on helping the rebuilding process and seeing that even after devastation God is still present in so many ways.
  • INSPIRE (Middle High) looks to Chase, Kansas, again this fall for our annual Mission Weekend. We collaborate with Chase Community Presbyterian church with projects throughout this small town. This is a gateway mission experience for our INSPIRE youth, and we see God’s work through service to others, community and worship.

Serving others, being in God’s presence beyond the city of Wichita, relationships built, challenged, and strengthened, accepting God, giving thanks for those who allow us to be a part of their lives, new skills, love, and patience…the list goes on and on for what happens during a mission trip and for years after.

Please be in prayer for all the participants; those you know, those you don’t and for those we meet on this journey.  We do not yet know what God has instore for us, but I do know it will be amazing.

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Red Cross Blood Drive: March 4

Did you know?

  • Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood.
  • One pint of blood (the approximate amount given in a donation) can be used to help up to three people.
  • About one-third of the US population is eligible to give blood.
  • Five million patients in the US need blood every year.

On March 4, we host a Red Cross Blood drive at Grace from 8 am – 1 pm.  Sign up to donate on Sundays at Grace, by calling the office at 684-5215, or by going here:

[button url=”https://www.redcrossblood.org/rcbmobile/drive/chooseDonationTime.jsp” target=”” size=”small” style=”orange” icon=”” popup=”” title=””]Learn More[/button]

You may use the “rapid pass” and save time on the day of your donation.  Go to the Red Cross website to finish the pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online before coming to your appointment.

[button url=”http://www.redcrossblood.org/rapidpass” target=”” size=”small” style=”orange” icon=”” popup=”” title=””]RED CROSS RAPID PASS[/button]

 

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Lent 2018: I Believe

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Our Lenten theme this year is, “I Believe.”  During the six Sundays of Lent we look at the Apostles’ Creed and what it means to say we believe it.  We also look at what it means to say, “I believe,” about anything.

Worship loosely follows along with Adam Hamilton’s book, Creed, which examines the Apostles’ Creed.  You are invited to join one of several book study groups or to purchase the book and read it on your own.  There is more information about all of this throughout the e-news and Grace This Week.

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