Today is the DAY. YES, the Town Hall Meeting (Step 5) and Luncheon in Our Interim Pastor Journey is right after today’s service in the Great Room.

The Step 5 question is: How might we prepare for new leadership and plan for Grace’s future?

Folks, our amazing food team has announced the following food theme: “Think crock pots, football, and pumpkin spice.” Don’t miss out. These meetings are a great time of eating, friending, and anticipating what God has in store for Grace’s emerging future.

As you heard this morning, serving or volunteering in any of our ministries on campus or in the community is essential to our discipleship in Jesus Christ. Experiencing the hope, peace, joy, and love of God by being a follower of Jesus is such a blessing.

YOU ARE NEEDED. YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE NEEDED. OTHERS NEED YOU! BE LIBERATED FROM A MINDSET OF SCARCITY TO ONE OF ABUNDANCE.

Friends, nothing in your life is an accident. God has a purpose for each of you. Read the benediction below (benediction, in Latin literally means, “good word”) written by the late Richard Halverson, Minister of Word and Sacrament (PCUSA), and Chaplain to the United States Senate (1981- 1994). You’ll be encouraged.

You go nowhere by accident.

Wherever you go, God is sending you.

He has a purpose in your being there.

Christ who indwells you has something he wants to do through you wherever you are.

Believe this.

And go in his grace and love and power.

Amen.

Remember, nothing in your life is an accident. Nothing in Grace’s life is an accident. Everything is purposed by God!

On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor

The next Town Hall Meeting (Step 5) in Our Interim Pastor Journey is Sunday, October 6, immediately following the worship service at 10:30 am in the Sanctuary.

The Step 5 question is: How might we prepare for new leadership and plan for Grace’s future?

Folks, our amazing food team has announced the following food theme: “Think crock pots, football, and pumpkin spice.” Don’t miss out. These meetings are a great time of fellowship and anticipation of what God has for our church.

Here’s an update on our Journey to the New Pastor.

¨ Step 5 in Our Interim Pastor Journey is Sunday, October 6.

¨ The Strategic Plan (Mission Study) is presented to the Session for approval at the Stated Session Meeting, Monday, November 18.

¨ November 2024-January 2025, the Nominating Committee identifies Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) members.

¨ The PNC slate is elected at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 23, 2025. The Strategic Plan is also presented.

¨ The PNC begins its work in March.

Friends, nothing in your life is an accident. God has purpose for each of you. Read the benediction below (benediction, in Latin literally means, “good word”) written by the late Richard Halverson, Minister of Word and Sacrament (PCUSA), and Chaplain to the United States Senate (1981- 1994). You’ll be encouraged.

You go nowhere by accident.

Wherever you go, God is sending you.

He has a purpose in your being there.

Christ who indwells you has something he wants to do through

you wherever you are.

Believe this.

And go in his grace and love and power.

Amen.

Remember, nothing in your life is an accident. Nothing in Grace’s life is an accident. Everything is purposed by God!

On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor

Friends, thank you for making the Step 4 Town Hall Meeting a successful experience. The Potato Bar was amazing, the fellowship sweet, and the result of the process significant.

The Step 4 question is: In what ways would you suggest strengthening Grace’s relationships with the local community and the Presbytery of Southern Kansas?

Do pick up a copy of the Step 4 Results at the Kiosk on Sunday mornings. Or check it out on our website, www.mygpc.org.

Here’s a brief update on our Journey to the New Pastor.

• Step 5 in Our Interim Pastor Journey is Sunday, October 6.
• The Strategic Plan (Mission Study) is presented to the Session for approval at the Stated Session Meeting, Monday, November 18.
• November 2024-January 2025 the Nominating Committee identifies Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) members.
• The PNC slate is elected at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 23, 2025. The Strategic Plan is also presented.
• The PNC begins its work in March.

Friends, nothing in your life is an accident. God has purpose for each of you. Read the benediction below (benediction, in Latin literally means, “good word”) written by the late Richard Halverson, Minister of Word and Sacrament (PCUSA), and Chaplain to the United States Senate (1981- 1994). You’ll be encouraged.

You go nowhere by accident.

Wherever you go, God is sending you.

He has a purpose in your being there.

Christ who indwells you has something he wants to do through you wherever you are.

Believe this.

And go in his grace and love and power.

Amen.

Remember, nothing in your life is an accident. Nothing in Grace’s life is an accident. Everything is purposed by God!

On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor

Friends, thank you for your love and support for Janet and me, Janet in particular, with Janet’s dad’s passing. We returned Monday night from Huntington Beach, California, following a weekend with our family celebrating Don’s life with a great service of scripture reading, prayers, and testimonies, Janet and her two sisters sharing, Karis singing, and me bringing a brief message. Colin and Karis came in from Wichita, and Rob came from Madison, New Jersey.

Step 4 in Our Interim Pastor Journey is this Sunday. We have one service this week at 10:30 am in the Sanctuary. Join us in the Great Room after the service for a Baked Potato Bar with all the fixings. Iced tea, water, coffee, and dessert are provided as well. The Town Hall Meeting follows Lunch.

The Step 4 question is: In what ways would you suggest strengthening Grace’s relationships with the local community and the Presbytery of Southern Kansas?

Here’s a brief update on our Journey to the New Pastor. Step 5 in Our Interim Pastor Journey is Sunday, October 6. The Strategic Plan (Mission Study) is presented to the Session for approval at the Stated Session Meeting, Monday, November 18. November 2024-January 2025 the Nominating Committee identifies Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) members. The PNC slate is elected at the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 23, 2025. The Strategic Plan is also presented. The PNC begins its work in March.

Friends, nothing in your life is an accident. God has purpose for each of you. Read the benediction below (benediction, in Latin literally means, “good word”) written by the late Richard Halverson, Minister of Word and Sacrament (PCUSA), and Chaplain to the United States Senate (1981- 1994). You’ll be encouraged.

You go nowhere by accident.

Wherever you go, God is sending you.

He has a purpose in your being there.

Christ who indwells you has something he wants to do through you wherever you are.

Believe this.

And go in his grace and love and power.

Amen.

Remember, nothing in your life is an accident. Nothing in Grace’s life is an accident. Everything is purposed by God!

On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor

Thinking, not blaming is key for each one of us to make a positive, hopeful, joyful, and non-anxious impact in society and the lives of others. As you recall, Esther is the story of the Jews protecting themselves from persecution during the Babylonian Captivity. The Jews experienced anxiety as did the political leaders. It was a complicated time.

Life is about relationships. And to be candid, relationships can be awkward. Thinking about anxiety and its causes is important. Blaming anxiety on someone or something is not helpful. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines anxiety as “a nervous disorder marked by excessive uneasiness.

To think is always more difficult than to blame. God is active in all aspects of life. And God positions each one of us to accomplish God’s will. Faithfulness to God is the key to Jewish perseverance and preservation. Faithfulness vanquishes anxiety.

Join me for the Pastor’s Study, a seven-session experience on engaging and embracing the spectrum of diversity in a church that exists in a Red-and-Blue World. On Wednesdays, September 11, 18, 25, October 2, 16, 23, and 30 from 9:30am-11:00am in the Steamers Room join others who love one another and are learning how to talk and live in diversity, all the while finding our unity in Jesus and valuing the expression of ideas that cover the full spectrum of diversity. We’ll be using a book written by one of Steve’s Covenant brothers, Jack Haberer, as a resource for the study. Pick up a copy of Jack’s book, Swimming With The Sharks, at your favorite bookseller. Let’s be life-long learners, together. We’ll think, together, too.

George Muller writes, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”[1] You too can exercise influence for the common good. It was the way of Esther. It is the way of Jesus. Friends, faith in Jesus is the antidote to anxiety. Thinking, not blaming is necessary for such a time as this.

On the journey of Christian discipleship, thinking, and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor

[1]George Muller in “Signs of the Times.” Christianity Today, Vol. 35, no. 95.