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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Top 10 Reasons to Turn In Your Pledge This Sunday

Friends,
As we wrap up our New Beginnings: Serving in Faith stewardship season, I want to thank everyone who has already made a pledge for 2026. Your commitments make possible everything from youth ministry and mission partnerships to beautiful worship and moments of awe together each Sunday.

Through our pledges, we’re not just supporting Grace Presbyterian—we’re joining hands with congregations across our Presbytery and throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), working together to share Christ’s love in our communities and around the world.

So, in the spirit of a good old-fashioned countdown, here are my Top 10 Reasons to Turn In Your Pledge This Sunday:

10. You’ve been meaning to do it for three weeks… and this post is your friendly nudge from the Holy Spirit.

9. Because automatic giving makes “set it and forget it” more sanctified than ever.

8. It’s a simple act of faith that says, “I believe in what God is doing here.”

7. It’s a chance to say thank you — for a church family that prays, sings, serves, and shows up for one another.

6. It’s a great excuse to celebrate what God is doing — and to put something meaningful in the plate this Sunday.

5. Giving is good for your spiritual health — it’s the only kind of exercise that strengthens the heart and the church.

4. Because when we give together, we remind the world that generosity still outshines cynicism.

3. You can’t spell Grace Presbyterian without “give.” (Well… mostly.)

2. Jesus gave everything for love — this is one small way we say thank you.

1. Because Pledge Dedication Sunday is a joyful celebration of what God is doing among us, and you’ll want to be part of it!

Thank you for the many ways you share your time, talents, and treasure to help Grace Presbyterian embody God’s love in Wichita and beyond. Through your generosity, we are connected, strengthened, and sent to serve as part of the larger body of Christ.

See you in church!

Pastor Kevin

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For All the Saints

This Sunday we will celebrate All Saints Day, a time set aside in the Christian year to remember those who have gone before us in faith. In our Reformed Presbyterian tradition, we understand this day not as a commemoration of a few extraordinary saints, but as a celebration of the whole people of God — all who have lived and died in the light of God’s grace. We give thanks for the “ordinary saints,” whose love, service, and witness have shaped our faith and continue to remind us that we are part of something larger — the living communion of saints, the great “cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us still.

All Saints Sunday invites us to look back with gratitude and forward with hope. It reminds us that the Church is not bound by time or space but united across generations by the love of God that will not let us go. In worship, we name those from our congregation who have died this year, lighting candles as a sign of their continuing light and presence with us. Their memory encourages us to live faithfully, to serve generously, and to trust that the same Spirit that sustained them is at work in us today.

This day holds special significance for me as I remember my father, who died at the beginning of this year. Grief takes its own time to unfold, and it is best not carried alone, but shared within a loving community of faith. This Sunday, we will gather to name and remember those we have lost, giving thanks for their lives and celebrating the promise of eternal life that is ours in Christ. Together, we will give thanks for the saints — past, present, and yet to come — who remind us that God’s love never ends.

See you in church.

Pastor Kevin

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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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