From the Pastor’s Desk: July 2019

Dear Grace Community,

I write to you in what is now the hottest week of the summer.  We’ve reached the 100’s.  It’s July so no real surprise.  Our mission trip team is home from Denver, and a group of youth and adults are at the Presbyterian Triennium.  We’re a month removed from a wonderful Vacation Bible School.  The life of the church does not slow down, but the pace changes in the summer.

Staff and volunteer leaders are looking to the 2019-20 church year with great anticipation. Your Session spent many months studying the PCUSA Vital Congregations took-kit. The concept of Vital Congregations moves the focus from church growth to church vitality.

For too long churches have chased the idea of growth. Growth is important, no doubt, but the reality of changing social trends is that almost no churches are growing. This reality can feel defeating if all we focus on is numerical growth. I appreciate the shift to thinking about vitality. Vitality is essential for us as a church.

The PCUSA study walked us through seven types of church vitality. Through our study we recognized that we have strengths and opportunities for growth in each area. The Session has identified two areas to focus on in the coming year, and I look forward to sharing more about this in the coming weeks and months.

In Christ,
Catherine

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From the Pastor’s Desk: June 2019

Dear Grace Community,

It’s good to see you again.  I am grateful for my May Sabbatical and grateful to be back with you.  I requested the sabbatical because I reached a point where I struggled to feel renewed with my regular schedule of work and life.  This meant that my reservoir for ministry was depleted which wasn’t fair to any of us.

I’m glad to say that I came back in June feeling rested and renewed.  My life is full, with full-time ministry and full-time family, but I have a better sense of the rhythms I need in order to not get so worn out again.

During the sabbatical I thought a lot about the commandment to rest, the call to Sabbath.  I think one of the reasons God mandates it is because without rest we start to think that we need work and work needs us.  One gift of my sabbatical was being reminded that Grace doesn’t need me, and I don’t need Grace, but what a gift it is that God has called us together for this time.  It’s freeing to see our life and ministry together as a gift instead of an obligation.

The month was a lot of little gifts.  It gave me the chance for quiet, for exercise, and rest.  Tasks at home that seem daunting on a full schedule (things like cleaning out closets) became rewarding.  Our family enjoyed time together at home and on the road.  Alice and I had the chance to see cousins upon cousins, aunts, uncles, and my parents in Georgia.

All three of us traveled to Oklahoma to see John’s sister and family.  We enjoyed a day trip to the Tall Grass National Preserve near Strong City where I gave thanks to God for Grace saint Julia Hobbs who worked tirelessly on the history of that land.

We also enjoyed visiting other churches.  The month was a good time for Alice to start participating in worship, something she’s working on here at Grace.  It was interesting to experience worship in different places.  We worshiped in three different churches, all doing well and all feeling a little tired.

Now that I’m back in the office I’m giving thanks for an incredible week of Bible School.  The Halleluiah Luau was a week of joy in the Lord.

As we look to July, I invite you to join me in praying for our youth and adults who will travel to Denver for a mission trip and then another group that will travel to Purdue University for the PCUSA Triennium.

Summer means lots of people are in and out, but I hope you’ll be at worship when you’re in town.  I look forward to seeing you.

In Christ,
Catherine

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From the Pastor’s Desk: May 2019

Dear Grace Community,

This May I leave for a month-long sabbatical.  I am grateful to our session and to you the congregation for granting this time of rest.  I love serving as your pastor, and I am aware that I am tired in a way that means I’m not as effective as I’d like to be.  The blessings of 8.5 years of serving with you are many, and at the same time, I need time for restoration.

During my sabbatical there are three area clergy on call for pastoral emergencies.  If you need pastoral assistance, contact the church office, and Dr. Martin Burch will connect you with a pastor.  In addition, I hope you enjoy the variety of preachers and worship leaders on Sunday mornings.

I do not plan to be involved in any worship or regular activities at Grace during May.  I look forward to worshiping with different churches during the month.

Keeping the Sabbath is mandated in the 10 Commandments, and it is the commandment I break most freely without pause.  My prayer is that this time of sabbatical will be a time to rebuild sabbath into my life.  I am grateful that Grace has a policy that allows for this time.

I look forward to being back with you in June.

In Christ,
Catherine

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From the Pastor’s Desk: April 2019

Dear Grace Community,

I look forward to Holy Week and Easter. Holy Week begins on Sunday, April 14, with Palm Sunday worship. On this day we hope to capture the excitement of Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem and to foreshadow what is to come.

Each year on Maundy Thursday we worship in different styles.  Last year we worshiped around meals in homes.  In 2017 we experienced a drama of the Last Supper.  This year, April 18, we worship at Grace in the sanctuary with a Tenebrae service at 7 pm.

During the Tenebrae service the sanctuary gradually gets darker as we hear the stories leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.  We end the night in silence as we strip the worship elements from the chancel of the sanctuary.  The visual experience always moves me.

Our Good Friday service is simple but powerful.  We sing and read the story of Jesus’ crucifixion.  For a couple of years early in my pastorate here we included a short sermon in this service.  Then one year we didn’t, and it was so moving to let the story stand on its own with no interpretation that we’ve continued this.  The service is at noon and lasts about 30 minutes.

Then we wait.

And on the first day of the week, Sunday, April 21, we gather to celebrate the good news.  We celebrate with worship at 9 and 11 am.  In the sanctuary the dark curtains that cover the windows during Lent fall, and the light comes in.  At both services we celebrate with joyful brass accompaniment.  All are invited to witness to the resurrection by adding flowers to the cross on the lawn.

It’s not even close; Easter is my favorite day of the year.

These are days best experienced in community.  I hope you’ll join us.

In Christ,
Catherine

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From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Grace Community,

We give thanks for 30 years of Jacob’s Learning Ladder.  For 30 years children and families have come to Grace for education, care, encouragement, and growth. Over 30 years ago Grace members Merodee Grannis and Nancy Morrow began to dream about Jacob’s. In time their dream became a reality, and Jacob’s has flourished under their leadership.  It has also changed significantly. What began as a part-time pre-school has grown into a full time daycare and pre-school.

We are grateful for the ways Merodee and Nancy have led so faithfully, and we now prepare for a big transition. Merodee retires this May.

How do we replace the person who co-founded and led this incredible ministry for 30 years?  First, we adjust our expectations.  There’s no way to replace Merodee (or Nancy). There’s no way to find someone who has Merodee’s love and depth of knowledge for Jacob’s. However, there are people who are gifted in leading childcare centers, and we are excited about finding the next leader for Jacob’s.

This fall a task force formed to look at Jacob’s and to determine what we need to do to prepare for a search. The task force consisted of Catherine Neelly Burton, Martin Burch, Nancy Morrow, Pam Head, Jim Remsberg, and Brian White.  We presented updated job descriptions for the Director and Assistant Director positions to the Session in February.

A search team is looking for a new director.  If you know of someone interested in leading this incredible ministry, have them apply.  Please pray for us in this process.

In Christ,

Catherine

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