Mission Distribution Team Updates

Each year you have the opportunity make a pledge to Grace.  You may make a pledge to give financially to the general budget, which supports the majority of our ministry and mission, and you may give to the mission budget, which supports an array of mission.

You regularly receive updates on the general budget.  At the halfway point in the year the Mission Distribution Team wants to share with you where we stand with the mission budget.

There are some missions we support every year, and then every year we change our focus for some of our giving. This year we focus on prevention.

Shelley Duncan chairs this team, and Catherine Neelly Burton staffs it.  We’re looking for new members, so talk to Catherine or Shelley if you want to join.

2019 Undesignated Mission Spending by Category Thru June

Each year you have the opportunity to make a pledge to Grace.  You may make a pledge to give financially to the general budget, which supports the majority of our ministry and mission, and you may give to the mission budget, which supports an array of missions.

You regularly receive updates on the general budget.  At the halfway point in the year the Mission Distribution Team wants to share with you where we stand with the mission budget.

There are some missions we support every year, and then every year we change our focus for some of our giving. This year we focus on children and healthcare.  We distributed some money for mission related to children earlier in the year and continue to do so. We are currently learning about healthcare opportunities.

Many of you register your Dillons Cards with Grace.  Dillons donates a portion of your spending to Grace, and we give that money away.  We split that giving between Interfaith Ministries and The Brotherhood Community Ministry.

Betsy Ross and Brian Ullmann co-chair this team, and Catherine Neelly Burton staffs it.

2018 Undesignated Mission Spending by Category Thru June

From the Pastor’s desk

Blog post: August

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On Saturday, August 12, hundreds of students from the Wichita Refugee Community received backpacks and school supplies at First Presbyterian Church. Grace joined First Presbyterian and Trinity Presbyterian in partnering with the International Rescue Committee for this event.  Here are some reflections from Grace Participants.  This is part one of two in this series.

By Anne Burris

I was happy to take the time to volunteer with the refugee backpack event because I wanted to be a friendly face at an uncertain time for refugees in America.  Not only did I offer a friendly face to them, but the people who I met also were very friendly to me.

Although my children and I went to the event to give of ourselves, we received much in return, being blessed in different ways.  For example, we saw that while we live in a society of consumerism. We were able to see people who live happily with very little. A little boy about the age of six was elated to receive a calculator for school; it was the first electronic device he had ever received.  When the refugees kids and teens had long waiting times in line, rather than being on cell phones, they would sing together or play games.

In addition to seeing what joy during trials looks like, we also witnessed a true community among the refugees. While driving refugees home, I realized that most of these refugees live close to one another and help each other out with childcare, cooking, etc. It was an opportunity to witness community in a way that seems to be disappearing in America.

Many of these particular refugees were from war-torn parts of Africa such as Sudan, Congo and Somalia.  As I drove a woman and her two sons home, I spoke to her about life in America.  She told me that upon arriving, she received one month’s worth of financial aid and then was on her own to support herself financially.

I was surprised, as I thought they received assistance for longer than that.  I imagine that for her life is difficult because she didn’t come to America with a husband or any family.  She has only just begun to learn English and she works six days a week while her young children are at home.

Meeting the refugees at the event and learning about their lives made me want to help more.  I contacted the International Refugee Committee and the Episcopal Migration Ministries and am looking into other ways in which I can be a friend to those seeking refuge in America.

By Anne Woolsey

I enjoyed volunteering for the backpack event on August 12.  Although I wanted to help with students getting supplies for their backpacks, I was assigned to help with food preparation, keeping the serving table supplied, and passing out plates and napkins.  My interaction with the children and adults was rewarding.

It was a joy to see how relaxed the children seemed to be. They were playing and even chasing each other some, which may not be a good thing, but I was pleased that they seemed to be comfortable in what was a new environment for some of them.

Seeing all of the enthusiastic volunteers serving in this ministry was very gratifying to me.  It is so inspiring to witness so many people coming together to support a very worthwhile cause.

I think the refugees we were helping felt they were in a safe and caring environment, and they were grateful.

Four groups – S&S Men, Grace Gals, Windjammers and Young Adults – provided meals and fellowship for the Wichita Circles Network program at East Heights Methodist Church in the last few months. They were supported by a $500 Presbytery of Southern Kansas mission grant matched by a $500 gift from Economy Corner. Residual money from the gifts was donated to the East Heights Circles effort.

The Circles Network is a city-wide program designed to assist people out of poverty. Participants commit to meeting once a week for 18 months for a shared meal followed by financial/budget and education. Each participant has a mentor who also attends for the 18 months – occasionally a successful “graduate” even serves as a mentor. More information is available at www.wichitacirclesnetwork.org or Bob Mayle 316-733-0371.

~Ron Brown