The Grace Presbyterian Nominating Team is at work! Do you know someone who would be a good elder, deacon, trustee, or Jacob’s Ladder board member? If so, place their name in the box in the narthex or email Elyse Scholl (Elyse.scholl@gmail.com) or Bill Vavra (VavraAvConsult@powwwer.net). We want to hear from you. Thank you!
Some described the summer of 2020 as a summer of racial reckoning, others as a summer of racial unrest. As individuals, as a church, and as a society we learned the names George Floyd and Brianna Taylor. We saw protests nationally and right here in Wichita. Members of our congregation committed to reading articles and books and watching movies related to race. We gathered and discussed. Corporately we have not talked much since then.
Yes, our book club has read and discussed books related to race and religion. Individuals in our congregation have certainly done this. This summer the Christian Discipleship Team invites you to a study of the Belhar Confession.
At first glance, a study of one of the confessions in the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) Book of Confessions may not sound like it has anything to do with race, but it does. The Belhar Confession comes from the Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa. It was written in the early 1980’s as a statement of faith and as a form of protest against the sin of apartheid.
We studied this confession after the PCUSA approved it and added it to our Book of Confessions in 2016. This summer we do the same study but through the lens of what has happened in the United States since then. Does the witness of the Uniting Reformed Church of South Africa have a word for us today?
There is a book for the class, and the cost is $5. Books are available on Sunday mornings or in the church office. If you can’t come to all of the classes, that’s okay.
Questions? Contact catherine@mygpc.org.
On Thursday, May 19, nine women from Grace loaded up in a van for a trip to the Mo-Ranch Women’s Conference. My mom flew from Georgia and met us there. Mo-Ranch is a Presbyterian Conference Center of the Synod of the Sun and is located in Hunt, Texas.
We spent Thursday night in Lawton, Oklahoma, and arrived at Mo on Friday afternoon in time to get registered and into our house before dinner. The key verse for the weekend was Matthew 11:28-30 that is above.
Our keynote speaker, who spoke Friday night and Saturday morning, was Sarah Bessey. She is an author and frequent conference speaker. Shelli Latham, the president of the Omaha Presbyterian Seminary foundation, was our worship leader. She preached on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Both women presented thoughtful and powerful messages.
On Saturday, in addition to keynote and worship, we enjoyed workshops and free time. Many from our group napped during the free time and a few ventured down to the Guadalupe River to swim and canoe. Lots of us enjoyed walking along the river during the weekend.
Sunday morning came with one more chance to attend a workshop (or take a walk) and closing worship. We loaded up the van after worship and made the long drive back to Wichita. While taxing to be in a van for so long, spirits remained high. The group was grateful for the prayers of the congregation and the gift of resources that made this possible.
Thanks,
Catherine NB
All Grace Families are invited to the College Hill Park Playground for pizza at 6 pm on Sunday, June 5, for dinner, fellowship, and playtime. Feel free to come early and swim at the pool! Questions? Contact catherine@mygpc.org
Wichita is home to Alternative Gifts International (AGI). AGI was a pioneer in the world of alternative gift markets and continues to distinguish itself. AGI started in a Presbyterian Church in California in 1980. When AGI moved to Wichita it found a partner in Grace Presbyterian.
The concept of an alternative gift market is to provide individuals the chance to shop, not for products but for gifts that have a far-reaching impact. Instead of buying a tangible gift for someone, you donate in their honor to an organization. In the process you and the gift recipient learn about the work of that organization.
Many churches and organizations encourage this kind of giving. What distinguishes AGI is their commitment to finding ministries and organizations all over the world that might otherwise be overlooked. The research AGI does is incredible as they seek to support a wide range of mission.
Each year AGI sets up markets in communities where people can shop and learn. For many years Grace hosted the Wichita market. Since we gave up hosting, we’ve continued to participate by hosting a booth at each market.
There is no question that AGI is an incredible organization. The question is whether Grace is still committed to participating in the market. We are looking for someone or a group of people to take this on. If you are interested in leading this effort, talk to Catherine Neelly Burton, catherine@mygpc.org.
Leading involves a few hours of work each month August – October, and then a bigger time commitment at Market time in November, more like 10-12 hours. Grace members may continue to support and shop at the market whether or not we find a new leader.