Where Grief Meets Grace

Beloved Grace Family,
Last Monday we gathered for our Silent Night service—a tender, holy time to hold our grief in God’s presence. Together we shared the light of Christ and the hope of the resurrection as we read scripture, prayed, sang, and gathered at Christ’s Table with the saints who now rest in God’s eternal embrace. It was one of those moments when the Spirit seemed to breathe through the room, reminding us that the long, winding road of grief is one we never walk alone.
I’ll admit I was surprised by my own grief. As I opened the service and read the cries of the psalmist, something in me trembled. My father died last January, and even after months of healing, the ache can rise without warning. Grief is funny like that—sudden, sharp, uninvited. But I cannot imagine a better time or place to feel it than in the company of God’s people: not avoiding or pushing it away, but sitting with it, offering it to the One who holds all our tears.
I am deeply grateful for the Grace family, especially in moments like this, and for everyone whose care and preparation made the service possible.
After the service, I was introduced to a woman who had been in the building for a separate event upstairs. One of our ushers invited her to join us. When I met her, she was sitting quietly with another member of Grace. She told me that 25 years ago to the day, she lost her husband in a plane crash. The final hymn we sang—“When Peace, Like a River,” also known as “It Is Well with My Soul”—was the hymn sung at his funeral. She was moved to tears, and so grateful she had wandered into worship that night.
I could not help but feel that God’s Spirit had woven our paths together for that moment—quiet consolation, shared memory, and the tender strength of Christian community.
Friends, grief will always be part of our journey, but so will grace. And I am thankful to walk this road with you.
See you in church.
Peace,
Pastor Kevin

 

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The Gift of Advent

As early as I can remember, I have loved the season of Advent. Every year, the church seemed to transform overnight—evergreens appearing in familiar corners, candles set out with care, paraments shifting from green to purple. And always, the music changed. My father, who was a church choir director, insisted that we hold off on the Christmas carols until Christmas Eve. At the time, I wasn’t sure why—but over the years I’ve come to cherish those Advent hymns, with their longing, their hope, their gentle invitation to watch and wait.

Some of my fondest memories are of the traditions after worship—hot spiced cider warming our hands, homemade cookies passed across fellowship hall tables, conversations lingering a bit longer in the glow of twinkle lights. Yet the ritual that has stayed with me the most happened not at church, but around our kitchen table.

Each week of Advent, we would gather as a family to light the candles on our home Advent wreath. We read a short scripture, sang a verse of a hymn, and one of us children would ask, “Why do we light these candles?” It was a simple liturgy, but one that formed us year after year. We continued the tradition with our own children, and I’ll admit my heart melted a bit when our youngest asked if we could start Advent early this year—just so she could be part of the candle-lighting before heading back to college on Sunday morning.

That, I think, is the gift of Advent. It gently invites us to step out of the hectic holiday rush and into rhythms of presence. Whether here at church or around your own table at home, Advent gives us space to slow down, to breathe deeply, to sing, to listen again to the ancient stories, and to pray as we await the coming of Christ into the world.

My hope for each of you is that this season brings moments of wonder and intention—traditions old and new that help you pay attention, be present, and live in creative anticipation of Emmanuel, God-with-us.

See you in church.

With hope and gratitude,
Pastor Kevin

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Gratitude Across Generations

Beloved Grace Family,

This past week we celebrated Thanksgiving—a holiday that has always marked the beginning of the season of light, hope, and gathering for me. When I was a child, Thanksgiving meant piling into the car and heading out to my Great Aunt Lelah’s farm. That old homestead, rooted in our family since the 1870s, seemed to hold the memories of generations in its fields and fence lines.

Every year the family crowded in for a traditional meal—turkey fresh from the farm, stuffing, scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry relish, and a choice of pumpkin or apple pie. (I always chose both.) I began at the kids’ table, but as the years passed and the older generations slipped into memory, I found my place among the grown-ups—listening as they shared stories of both joy and worry, humor and hard-earned wisdom.

After the dishes were washed and put away, we bundled up and went out to “walk the land,” visiting the old cabin where Aunt Lelah’s parents first lived, checking on the cattle in the barn, and admiring the stark beauty of a Kansas November. Those memories feel fond and distant now. Aunt Lelah has been gone more than thirty years, as have so many of that generation. The farm belongs to another family. I miss the connection to that place, and to those people who shaped my early understanding of what it means to gather, remember, and give thanks.

This year, Rachel and I are celebrating Thanksgiving in our new home in Wichita—with kids home from school, friends around the table, and my mother here with us. The turkey and stuffing have been replaced with vegetarian alternatives, but the green bean casserole endures. And while we won’t be “walking the land” on the farm, we look forward to strolling through College Hill to take in the Christmas lights against the crisp evening air.

This year, I am filled with gratitude—gratitude for being called to Grace Presbyterian, gratitude for the privilege of opening our home, gratitude for abundance that I too often take for granted, and gratitude for the chance to create new memories and traditions with my children.

I hope that however you celebrated Thanksgiving, you found yourself blessed with fellowship, food, and a heart stirred by gratitude for the gifts God has placed in your life. And as we turn toward Advent, I look forward to “walking together” into this season—living with creative anticipation for the gift of God who meets us right here, in our stories old and new, with hope that breaks in.

See you in Church.

With gratitude,
Pastor Kevin

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Grace in Placetas

Dear Friends,
Last week, I traveled with four members of our mission team to visit our partners in Placetas, Cuba. We brought medicines, craft supplies, holiday decorations—and funds generously donated by our congregation and the Presbytery of Southern Kansas to help install a solar backup system for their church. Their gratitude was deep and sincere, and this gift will strengthen their ministry in powerful ways.
From the beginning, we were welcomed into a vibrant congregation full of life and hope. We joined children as they re-enacted the story of the friends who lowered a man through the roof to meet Jesus (Luke 5:17–39), learning together about faith and friendship. We spent time with seniors in their weekly “third stage” program, where the church offers check-ups, conversation, and exercises for body and mind. Their joy and resilience were inspiring.
On Saturday evening, adults and families gathered with us for food, music, and dancing—even without electricity! We shared favorite dishes from the U.S., enjoyed homemade Cuban recipes, and sang along to impromptu renditions of “Imagine” and “Hotel California.” Fellowship like that needs no translation.
On Sunday we joined the congregation for worship. The scripture reading, Ephesians 2:14–22, reminded us that Christ “is our peace,” breaking down dividing walls to make us one household of God. Pastor Anier preached in both English and Spanish so all could hear and understand. Worshiping together was a powerful reminder that the Church is larger and more beautiful than any one community.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to travel with our team and to strengthen the ties that bind us as brothers and sisters in Christ. The Placetas church is doing remarkable ministry—caring for seniors, nurturing children, supporting families, and serving their community with joy and trust in God’s provision. On the drive from the airport, Pastor Anier said, “God helped us build the church building; now we are building the Church.” Their commitment to mission beyond the walls is a model for us all.
We will return to Placetas in February. If you’d like to join the next team, please contact Carolyn Shaw or Darcy Eads.
See you in church!
Grace and peace,
Pastor Kevin

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A Sunday Filled with Grace

Dear Beloved,
I’m still filled with gratitude from this past Sunday. It was one of those days where I kept noticing the Spirit at work in all kinds of small, beautiful ways.
When I arrived early, one of our Trustees was already at the front doors, wiping down the glass so everything would shine for those walking in. Such a simple act, but it spoke volumes about love for this church. Inside, Cacophonie was rehearsing for the 9 AM service, and once again I found myself grateful for Bryce, who has a gift for choosing music that fits the message and lifts the whole room.
Between services, eight people gathered for our new member class. We shared stories of God’s calling and what has drawn each person to Grace. Those conversations always remind me how God keeps weaving together this community in ways we don’t always see.
Right before the 11 AM service, we held our congregational meeting and elected Elders, Deacons, Trustees, and members of the Nominating Committee. I’m thankful for the committee’s careful work and for every person who said yes to serving in these roles.
Both services were filled with wonderful music, from the prelude to the anthem. We are so blessed by the singers and musicians who offer their gifts so faithfully. And later that afternoon, your kindness surrounded my installation service. Folks helped with bulletins, greeting, the reception, special music, and so much behind the scenes. The woven wheat cross now hanging on my wall is a reminder of that love.
What struck me most is how many things at Grace happen quietly. Countless acts of service offered without attention or applause, done simply because people care. All of it, from the smallest task to the biggest celebration, is part of how we live our faith together and how we honor God.
Thank you for making this community what it is.
See you in church!
Peace, Love, and Grace,
Pastor Kevin

 

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