Category Archives: Events

Session Minute Summaries

Session Minute Summary: February 2022

February 21, 2022

  • The Grace Session met on February 21, 2022, in the Grace Alcove.
  • The meeting was opened and closed with prayer.
  • Session members were given binders with Grace policies and procedures.
  • Covid protocols were discussed. The mask policy for staff was changed to match the policy for non-staff: Fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks, everyone else does. Masks are strongly encouraged for all. In addition, the Session approved a change in communion protocol at the 9 am service. Pods are still available, but there will be rolls and bread on the tables for intinction.
  • The Session received Jennifer Snook’s resignation and approved a ‘tapering down’ of her work to five hours a week through the end of the Sunday School season in the spring.
  • Catherine revisited the idea of a staffing study and proposed that we hire a church consultant to help us. This was approved, and she will bring proposals to the next meeting.
  • Financial reports were given and received. Other reports were in the session packet.
  • Elyse Scholl reported on the February meeting of the Presbytery of Southern Kansas. She noted with praise the work offered by Scott Randle as the moderator of the presbytery.
  • A ‘Get to Know Grace Class’ is planned for Feb 27. Several Session members volunteered to attend.

 

The Shape of the Hebrew Bible: Tuesday Study

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Have you ever wanted to know how the Hebrew Bible was shaped and why? Or questions like, “What on earth is the Hebrew Bible,” or “How did Jesus and the Apostles read their Bibles?” Mike Fetters and Kirk Anderson use the bibleproject.com to watch a video and then discuss these and more questions over six weeks on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8 pm in Room 205 starting March 22.

You can see an introduction video here: bibleproject.com/classroom/overview/hebrew-bible-full-class/.

You need to set up an account. After that you can watch the intro video. To sign up look for a signup sheet on the bulletin board by the coffee bar. If you like the class, you can continue at your own pace for more from bibleproject.com.

Lent 2022: Full to the Brim

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Have you ever used the expression, “I’m maxed out,” or “My plate is too full?” Both sayings imply that you can’t take on one more thing, whether it be a task or emotional weight. Then there’s the expression, ‘full to the brim,’ which sounds similar but has a different meaning. ‘Full to the brim’ implies that your cup overflows in a good way.

Our theme this Lent is Full to the Brim.  This theme invites us to invest in a relationship with our God who pours out grace on us, our God whose love for us overflows. My challenge to you this Lent is to examine your life and the places where you’re maxed out: at capacity.  What can you let go of this Lent so that you can fill your life with good things from God?

This Lent we join five other PCUSA churches in the Wichita area in sharing this theme. As part of our shared Lent the pastors from these churches will share pulpits. Catherine preaches in Derby on the first Sunday of Lent and at Westwood on the fifth Sunday of Lent. We welcome pastors from Covenant and First Wichita.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 2.  There are two opportunities for worship on Ash Wednesday.  read more >

Study opportunities during Lent include:

  • Witness at the Cross is a weekly class with Dr. Martin Burch. read more >
  • How to Read the Bible – A class exploring ‘The Shape of the Hebrew Bible’ – taught by Kirk Anderson and Mike Fetters
    • Classes meet on Tuesdays at 6 pm starting on March 22 through April 26
  • Weekly Sunday School for people of all ages

 

PCUSA Per Capita

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Each year Grace is financially assessed for each member of our congregation. This assessment is done by our presbytery and is called per capita. Per capita is not a tax. Nothing happens to us if we don’t give (or pay) it, but we do give it because it strengthens the Presbyterian Church. What we give helps fund our presbytery and national church.

Grace budgets for the per capita cost of each member. Some members choose to give an additional gift to cover the per capita. The per capita for 2022 is $40 per member. If you choose to give this, please designate your gift as per capita.