From the Pastor’s Desk: Febuary

Dear Grace Community,

It’s exciting to see the progress of the Deep Roots Campaign. Your giving and pledging make incredible things happen. In the week between Christmas and New Year a large hole was knocked into the wall at the bottom of the north entrance stairs. It is now covered by boards. Doors and glass are on order, and when they arrive the next round of construction begins.

On Monday of last week, two different people asked me when we would start on the parlor renovations. No doubt it needs it, but the answer is, not yet. We are taking the construction and renovations one step at a time, and right now we’re focused on the security updates and renovations to Jacob’s.

However, we’re already sharing the community giving portion of the campaign. Earlier I shared about taking our gift to the International Rescue Committee. Then right before Christmas we had the joy of sharing with Hyde Elementary.

I contacted the school principal and asked if a few of us could come over and bring the check. Matthew 6:2-3 says, “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

Following scripture entirely would have meant sending the check in the mail, which seemed anti-climactic, so I planned for something simple. I had Carolyn Benefiel (Grace tutoring founder and former director), Anne Woolsey (former tutoring director), and Lib Hooper (current tutoring director) go with me.  I figured we’d go to the principal’s office, pray, give her the check and leave.

Instead we were met in the office by smiling students who said they were to escort us to the cafeteria.  There we found classes lining up on the floor.  To our surprise the entire school assembled to thank us. The principal began by asking all the students who attended Jacbob’s Learning Ladder to raise their hands.  We were amazed at how many hands were in the air.

She went on to talk about how grateful they were to now be able to purchase equipment for their playground. Our gift allows them to get benches and shade devices.  I was then invited to speak and told the students how glad we are to be their neighbors and that our God talks a lot about treating our neighbors well.

It was a delightful morning, and I’m glad that God surprised us with the unexpected. I’m grateful to you for making it possible.

In Christ,

Catherine

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From the Pastor’s Desk January 2019

Dear Grace Community,

One of the paradoxes of church is wanting a church to grow and wanting it to stay the same. In some ways Grace is the same church it was 20, or even 10, years ago, and in some ways, it is entirely different. For starters we’re a much smaller church than we were in 1999, but we continue to add to our membership. Every time someone joins the congregation, I say the same thing, which is that the church will never be the same; we are a new church.

Since 2012 over 130 people have joined our church. Granted some of these new members joined as teenagers so were not really new to Grace, and some within this 130 are no longer with us; still, this is significant number. We are not the same church we were.

In 2017 we started Messy Church. Messy Church is our once a month worship service for all people, designed with children and their families in mind. This year we meet on the second Sunday of the month at 4:30 pm. We worship through song, dance, play, art, Bible story, and more. We always conclude the evening with free dinner.

Percentage wise, Messy Church draws more non-members to worship than either of our Sunday morning services. On average we have 10-11 family units participate in a Messy Church night, and about half of these are non-members. In addition, for these non-member participants, Messy Church is often the one time a month they attend worship anywhere.

This is an incredible opportunity. People who may not go to worship anywhere are coming here to worship!

This is also uncharted and challenging territory for us as a congregation. Part of being a church in 2019 is being flexible and creative. Messy Church is creative. Is our congregation flexible?

Messy Church is currently a place of energy and growth in our congregation, and while this is wonderful, there is a risk of it being too isolated and seen as something for the kids. In actuality, this is one of the best opportunities our congregation has to engage with new people.

If you’re reading this ,and you don’t have children or grandchildren to bring to Messy Church, you may wonder how to get involved. You can volunteer. Each month happens because of a rotation of volunteers who lead activities, tell Bible stories, and prepare and serve dinner.

In addition, you can come and attend and not volunteer. I think this is harder because you may wonder what you’re supposed to be doing. That’s okay. You’ll sing, and create, and hear stories. Then you’ll eat dinner with children and adults you might otherwise never meet, and as Jesus shows us again and again, it is at the table where community most often forms.

If you don’t think you can actually come on a Sunday at 4:30 pm, talk to me or Jennifer Snook and ask what kind of supplies you can get for us. Ask us specifically what you can pray about regarding Messy Church.

I look forward to 2019 with you, and I look forward to continuing to explore how we can faithfully and creatively share the good news of Christ with the world.

In Christ,
Catherine

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From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Grace Community,

Let all things now living
a song of thanksgiving
to God our Creator triumphantly raise;
who fashioned and made us,
protected and stayed us,
by guiding us on to the end of our days.
God’s banners are o’er us;
pure light goes before us,
a pillar of fire shining forth in the night:
till shadows have vanished,
all fearfulness banished,
as forward we travel from light into light

~“Let All Things Now Living” – Hymn 37 Glory to God Hymnal

As we move toward Thanksgiving, I am drawn to the thanksgiving hymns in our hymnal.  I am grateful for the words and melodies that give voice to gratitude for all God is and does.

My family spends Thanksgiving with a large group of extended family on my mom’s side. As of now, the plan is for all nine first cousins of my generation to attend.  I can’t remember the last time this happened, and I look forward to it.

For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends, and joy. I also know it can be a hard day and season. Within our church we’ve had 15 deaths in 2018. As we read the necrology on All Saints Sunday, I gave thanks for those saints who now rest from their labors, and I recognize that their seats will be empty at the Thanksgiving table this year. In addition to the deaths within our congregation, many of you have experienced deaths of people close to you.

I hope that you have space this Thanksgiving to feel whatever it is you are feeling, be it sadness or joy.  I also invite you to our annual Silent Night Worship Service on December 10 at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary. It is a quiet service that includes prayer and communion.

In Christ,

Catherine

 

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From the Pastor’s Desk, October 31, 2018

Dear Grace Community,

Does Grace Presbyterian prioritize faith formation and disciple-making?  What do you think?

This question comes from the PCUSA Vital Congregations tool-kit.  Back in September I mentioned in a sermon that the Session was going to explore this resource.  As I said then, I absolutely think we are a vital congregation, and I also think we constantly need to reexamine how it is that we follow Jesus together. This resource is a good way to do this.

The Vital Congregations toolkit names seven areas of church vitality. The first is Lifelong Discipleship Formation. The Session is looking at questions like, “Do we see people grow in their faith through participation in the activities of the congregation?” and “Does our church help members apply faith to everyday life?”

One challenge is that there is no set yes or no answer because the people who make up our congregation are unique individuals, not necessarily thinking the same.  Nonetheless, these are important questions for us to ask, and if we have to work too hard to answer yes in any area, we know where we need to do some work.

Again, and again you’ve heard me say that being the church in 2018 is like nothing else in Christian history.  Yes, like the church in all times and places we follow Jesus, and we worship, and we care for others, but the rapidly changing attitudes and perceptions about not only church but about God in our culture are happening at a rate no one was prepared for.  And in all of this our call to share God’s love continues.

By using scripture and reflection to consider areas of vitality and areas of growth we will be better prepared to answer God’s call.  If you’re interested in going through this took-kit, let me know, and I’ll get a copy to you.

In Christ,

Catherine

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From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear Grace Community,

You’ve heard a lot from me recently about the Deep Roots Capital Campaign.  I’m excited about the ways it will strengthen our ministries and our facilities.

Seventy years ago, we dedicated our current sanctuary.  Much has changed in the world since then.  What hasn’t changed is the opportunity to share God’s love with others.

Children, youth, and adults still light up when they hear Bible Stories and come to know Jesus.  People in need still appreciate compassion in the form of a warm place to sit, a bus pass, or clothes to wear.  People living with addiction still seek places where support groups can gather anonymously.  People of all ages still love to gather for fun and food.  All of this happens at Grace, just as it did 70 years ago.

It is the rare week when our building is not in use every day by our official ministries or by outside groups who share space with us.  Because the building does not get much rest and gets so much use, it’s time to make repairs and updates.  The Deep Roots Campaign seeks to strengthen our roots here so that we can answer God’s call to new ministry and mission.

We have brochures detailing the campaign available at Grace, and all of the information is here on our church website.  If you did not receive a brochure, call the church office, 316-684-5215, let us know, and we will mail one to you.

In Christ,

Catherine

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