Why Membership Matters

I’ve been a devoted fan of public radio since I was a kid, riding in the back of our Ford Pinto station wagon while Susan Stamberg (may she rest in peace) brought us the news on All Things Considered.

For any NPR listener, a sure sign of fall is the autumn membership drive. As regular as the return of pumpkin spice lattes, radio hosts and community members spend days reminding us why membership matters – why we should support something that we already receive for free.

Listening to my new hometown station KMUW on my way to church last week, I found myself thinking about why church membership matters.

Of course, it matters to the congregation. We simply couldn’t do what we do without the faithful support of members who have pledged their time, talents, and treasures over the years. Without that commitment, there would be no space for the 70-plus preschoolers at Jacob’s Learning Ladder, no room for community groups from GA to ACAP, no open doors for teens to gather safely during the week, and no sanctuary for us to worship in together on Sundays.

But membership also matters for you. Becoming a member of a faith community isn’t just about making a pledge—though that’s important. It’s about saying: These are my people. This is my journey of faith. These are the companions who will point the way, encourage me when I’m weary, catch me when I stumble, lift me up when I fall, and love me as I am.

Church membership is a way of joining in faith that the Spirit continues to move through this congregation – bringing love, compassion, peace, mercy, and justice into our community and the world.

If you’ve been worshiping with us for a while and would like to learn more about Grace Presbyterian – our story, our Reformed tradition, and why we do what we do in worship—we’re offering a New Member Class on Sunday, November 9 at 10:00 a.m. I’d love for you to join us.

If you’d like to learn more, please feel free to reach out to me anytime at the church.

See you in church,
Pastor Kevin

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Persistent Faith at Grace

Jesus tells a parable about a widow who refuse to give up. Day after day, she comes before an unjust judge, seeking justice. Her persistence becomes a picture of faith – not because she wears the judge down, but because she refuses to lose heart. She trusts that her voice matters, that her cause is just, and that God is still at work.

That same kind of persistent faith is woven through the life and ministry of Grace Presbyterian Church. Through worship, fellowship, and mission, this congregation has molded Christian disciples who carry compassion to every corner of their lives. For generations, our preschool, Jacob’s Learning Ladder has served neighborhood families, shaping young hearts and minds in a spirit of love and belonging. Grace has long been a leader in the community – a steady voice of kindness, sharing, and service.

That legacy continues today. Through Justice Together, we’re joining with faith communities across Wichita to make a meaningful impact on the lives and well-being of our neighbors. It’s exemplified in our partnership with the congregation of Placetas Presbyterian Church in central Cuba, as we collect medical and education supplies for our trip next month. Each act of generosity, each prayer lifted, each hour volunteered – these are signs of persistent faith: a conviction that God continues to work through us, through this church, and through every heart will to serve.

Last Wednesday morning, we distributed over 100 bus passes to people who depend on public transportation to get to work, to medical appointments, or to the grocery store. Kirk Anderson has faithfully overseen this ministry for years. That day, one of our regular visitors approached him with a small ziplock bag filled with coins. “It’s not much,” he said, “but I want to help.” His gift was a beautiful act of persistence – a witness to faith that give, even from scarcity, because it sees God at work.

May we all have such persistent faith as we reflect with awe on the blessings we’ve received and discern how God is calling us to participate in this kingdom work. I hope you’ve receive your stewardship letter, and I invite you to prayerfully consider how you will commit your time, talent, and treasure to the ministry and mission of Grace Presbyterian.

See you in church,
Pastor Kevin.

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Grace Notes – October 8, 2025

New Beginnings: Serving in Faith

When I was a young teenager, one of the most exciting things about being confirmed and becoming a member of my home church was receiving my very own box of offering envelopes. I remember feeling proud to hold that little box—it meant I belonged. Each Sunday, I’d slip a few coins or a dollar into one of those envelopes and drop it in the plate. I didn’t have much to give, but I gave something. It was a small act of commitment, a habit of faith. At the time, I didn’t think much about gratitude; I simply wanted to participate in the life of the church.

Looking back, I realize that small acts like those are what sustain a community of faith. Every offering—no matter the size—represents both trust and thanksgiving. It’s not just about supporting a budget; it’s about strengthening the shared life and ministry of the church. Each time we give, we express our gratitude for God’s goodness and join in God’s ongoing work in and through our community.

As we begin this Stewardship Season at Grace, I hope you’ll take time to reflect on how you are called to serve in faith. How can you offer your time, your talents, and your resources to strengthen this community and its ministry? Every gift, every act of generosity, helps us live out God’s call together in new and faithful ways.

See you in church,
Pastor Kevin

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Grace Notes – October 1

Dear Grace Family,

This Sunday we gather with Christians around the world to celebrate World Communion Sunday. I hope you will join us at either 9 am or 11 am as we share in this holy feast that binds us together across every boundary of nation, language, and culture.

World Communion Sunday has always been close to my heart. When I was growing up, our family was often spread across the world, and my mother made a point of reaching out this week to remind us to go to church, wherever we were, and share in Communion. And even if we couldn’t make it to worship, she encouraged us to remember at whatever table we found ourselves that the meal we celebrate is shared at tables everywhere. That simple act reminded us that no matter the distance, we were connected through Christ.

This day is a powerful reminder that we are bonded by bread – one bread, one body, one in Christ. Especially in a time when our country and communities feel so divided, World Communion Sunday proclaims a deeper truth: that in Christ we are united, and that connection is stronger than any force that seeks to pull us apart.

I hope you will be with us this Sunday as we celebrate the breadth, depth, and diversity of our faith family. And if you’re a baker, it’s not too late to join in! Bring a loaf of your favorite bread to share—at both 9 am and 11 am—as a sign of our uniqueness and our unity in Christ.

See you Sunday at the Table,

Pastor Kevin

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Pastoral Letter – September 28

Dear Friends,

I am so enjoying the chance to get to know folks here at Grace and to begin settling into the weekly rhythms of church life. It has been a joy to share meals, desserts, and good conversation, along with stories, laughter, and dreams for the future. Rachel and I are deeply grateful for your hospitality, and for the leftovers that have made their way home with us!
In just these first weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with longtime members who have faithfully served this congregation for decades, with young adults who grew up here and are now beginning families of their own, with newcomers still searching for a faith family, and with teens who know Grace as a safe and welcoming place. Each of these conversations has reminded me of the richness of this church community.
Three themes have stood out again and again. First, Grace is a special place with a strong tradition of discipleship and service, rooted here in Wichita and extending to ministries around the world. Second, there is a deep passion for worship, a willingness to share time, talent, energy, and creativity to make our worship vibrant, meaningful, and spirit-filled in both contemporary and traditional settings. And third, I hear from many of you the desire to grow: how can we attract, invite, and welcome more folks into our worship, our mission, and our faith family? One simple way, is to tell others why you love Grace, just as you told me. Invite them to come and see for themselves. Introduce them to your friends and family, and to me. Share how God is at work here at Grace and in your lives. These small acts of invitation can open wide the doors of welcome and help others find their place at the table.
I look forward to sharing more meals, desserts, or just a cup of coffee with you in the weeks ahead. Together, I trust we will continue to build on this strong foundation, seeking the Spirit’s guidance as we live into God’s call for us as the people of Grace.

See you in church.

Peace, Love, and Grace,
Pastor Kevin

 

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