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An online Maundy Thursday service will be posted tonight after the event. | |
Good Friday Tenebrae Taize Service | April 7 | 7:00 PM | Sanctuary
This Tenebrae service of shadows and deepening darkness reminds us of the events surrounding Christ’s crucifixion and death. Together we will share in scripture and Taize music as we remember and honor the suffering that Jesus endured.
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Worship Preview | Sunday, April 9, 2023
Easter
In-person and Online Service
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Sermon:
"We Can Learn to Love Again!"
by Marcia Mount Shoop
Scripture:
Psalm 118; John 20:1-18
Live Stream Worship Service
@ 10:00* AM Sunday
(*note different time)
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*For the full revised common lectionary, please click here. | |
| Thursday, April 6 | Maundy Thursday | 6:00 - 7:30 pm | Fellowship Hall/Atrium | | Friday, April 7 | Good Friday Tenebrae Taize Service | 7:00 pm | Sanctuary
(also on Youtube) | | Sunday, April 9 | Easter Gathering Music | 9:45 am | Sanctuary | | Sunday, April 9 | Hybrid Worship
(In-person and online) | *10:00 am @ GCPC
(also on Youtube) | | Sunday, April 9 | Easter Egg Hunt & Community Reception | 11: 30 am | Atrium | | Monday, April 10 | PW Circle 1 Mtg. | 10:00 am | Fellowship Hall | | Tuesday - Thursday | Church Office OPEN
| 10:00 am - 4:00 pm | | Tuesday, April 11 | Prayer Group | 10:00 am | Jerusalem Room | | Tuesday, April 11 | PW Circle 4 Mtg. | 10:30 am | Offsite | | Tuesday, April 11 | Property Council Mtg. | 6:00 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, April 11 | PW Circle 3 Mtg. | 7:00 pm | Offsite | | Wednesday, April 12 | Centering Prayer | 6:00 pm | Sanctuary | | Wednesday, April 12 | Choir Rehearsal | 7:00 pm | Sanctuary | | Thursday, April 13 | Men of GCPC Gathering | 9:00 am on Zoom | | Thursday, April 13 | Guatemala Comm. & Iglesia Jerusalem Event | 7:00 pm | Atrium/Fellowship Hall | | |
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There will be NO Bible Study on Wednesday, April 12.
We will resume the Wednesday lectionary Bible Study on April 19-May 24 at noon.
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Centering Prayer | Wednesdays | 6:00 - 6:30 PM | Sanctuary
Join us on Wednesdays to sit in sacred silence and feel God closely. If you are not able to join us in person, we invite you to light a candle and hold silence wherever you are.
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Important Announcements... | |
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Hearing Aid T-Coil Loop -- listen in.
The GCPC sanctuary is equipped with a Hearing Aid Loop. This loop sends a magnetic signal directly to personal hearing aids equipped with T-Coil (90% of the aids manufactured). Most hearing aids require you to select the Telephone or T-Coil program on your hearing aid to take advantage of the signal.
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Sunday, April 16 | 5:30 PM | A-B Tech/Mission Health Conference Center | |
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The April 16 Benefit Concert for Laura Ross will have an intermission with light refreshments. We are asking the GCPC family for contributions of COOKIES and DRINKS. Can you provide 2 dozen cookies and/or 1 gallon of tea, lemonade, or water? Please sign up at Concert refreshment signup or send an email to Lynne Meacham at larkm99@gmail.com to say what you'd like to contribute. On April 16, bring your refreshments to the concert or leave them at GCPC before noon that day. Thank you!
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Earth Team News
Have you noticed that you aren't seeing monarch butterflies as often? You can spot them immediately by their two pairs of brilliant orange, black-veined wings with white spots towards the edges. You aren't seeing them because the population has declined by approximately 90 % since the 1990s. The milkweed plant population - the only thing that monarch caterpillars will eat - has also declined 90%. These plants are disappearing due to the loss of habitat stemming from land development and the use of weed killer.
Enter the Monarch Butterfly Waystation Program that Laura Ross researched for her work at the Biltmore Estate in 2018. Laura, Betsy Richards and Sharon Sasse presented the plan for a garden to the Property Council and later it was approved by Session. It is located just outside the entrance to the Fellowship Hall beside the playground fence. The Earth Team purchased the supplies for a raised bed and Rick Philipsen assembled it. Betsy obtained a retailers discount at a local nursery and purchased six milkweed plants and other plants were donated. Laura and Betsy took the caterpillars and put them in safe butterfly houses at their homes so they could become butterflies.
When Covid hit, the garden somewhat died but the Earth Team is in the process of re-establishing it. You can read more about the Monarch Waystation program here. Stay tuned for more information about the dwindling monarch population and our own butterfly garden.
~ Tamara Puffer, GCPC Earth Team Member & Minister of Vulnerability
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Deacon of the Week:
The deacons of Grace Covenant are available to talk and pray with you by phone or online and to coordinate care. If you have difficulty reaching your assigned deacon or if you do not know who your assigned deacon is, please feel free to reach out to our deacon of the week.
This week (4/2-4/8): Carolyn Haag | email: cjhaag88@gmail.com
Next week (4/9-4/15): Frank Chapman | email: frank.chapman@gmail.com
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Prayer requests will stay on the GCPC Prayer List for one month. Please let any staff member know if you (or your loved one) would like to remain on the list for longer.
Iglesia Jerusalem congregation
Cathy Wooten (William High’s mom)
Maria, Esteban, and Erik Goicoehea
Ann Bartlett (friend of Amanda Pressley)
Ruth Fenk (Cathy Froehlich’s mom)
John F. Riedesel (Steve Riedesel’s brother)
Josh Johnson (Bill McNeff's son-in-law)
Susan Smialowicz
Doris Prak
Michelle Chromey and family
Andrea Rosal
Sharon Sasse
Reed Carney
Laura and Jonathan Ross
Margaret Rada
Mary Byers
Gloria Moe
Ken Richards
Susie Churchfield
Karen Rohls
Dea Sasso
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Adult Formation | April 16-May 21
Our Adult Formation and Education Sunday school class will be reading William Yoo's new book, What Kind of Christianity: A History of Slavery and Anti-Black Racism in the Presbyterian Church. Two copies will be available in the church library but also we encourage participants to purchase your own copies: https://www.cokesbury.com/9780664264673-What-Kind-of-Christianity
Dr. William Yoo, Assistant Professor of American Religious and Cultural History at Columbia Theological Seminary, will be coming to Grace Covenant during the education hour on May 14 to discuss his book with us.
Members of the Power and Race Team (PART) and the Me and White Supremacy groups will be leading our discussions.
* For the opening class, please read the first chapter of William Yoo's book at this link.
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Asheville Area Piano Forum's 17th Spring Benefit Concert
at GCPC on April 16, 2023
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SAVE THE DATE: SUNDAY, JUNE 25th!
Come meet GCPC's new members (all those who have joined since COVID began) after worship on June 25th. This will be a great opportunity to visit with everyone and enjoy a meal. More information to follow.
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Presbyterian Womenʼs Circles are Zoom meetings. Please join us.
Circle 1: Second Monday of each month, 10:00 a.m.
Circle 2: First Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Circle 3: Second Tuesday of each month (some Zoom and some in-person), 7:00 p.m.
Circle 4: Second Tuesdays of each month, 10:30 a.m.
Circle 5: First Monday of each month, 10:00 a.m.
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Need to set up a church zoom meeting?
Contact Anna Louise and she can get you all set up!
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The Garden season is fully underway!
On Tuesday March 28, a team of 10 volunteers planted cabbage and lettuces!
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On Wednesday March 29, twenty garden volunteers harvested 30 lbs. of spinach which was shared with Western Carolina Rescue Ministries.
They also planted broccoli, chard, kale, collards, and more cabbage.
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Community Working Together | |
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The WNC Racial Equity Collective is pleased to announce a new upcoming REI Phase 1 Workshop scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 9 - 10 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm both days. If you're interested in participating and available, please complete this registration form. And, as always, feel free to share it with your networks. If you have any questions, reach out to Danae Aicher.
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Pisgah Legal Services Lunch and Learn: Immigration and Justice in WNC | Wednesday, April 19 | 12:00 – 1:15 PM | St. Mary’s Episcopal Church – Emmaus Hall (337 Charlotte St, Asheville)
Join Pisgah Legal Services’ immigration team to learn more about our Justice For All program, which helps eligible immigrants in WNC work legally and secure legal status and addresses other basic needs. The program will have a special focus on our Afghan Asylum Project, where Pisgah Legal harnessed the power of volunteer attorneys to provide legal help for Afghan asylum-seekers.
This event is free and open to the public. A light lunch will be provided thanks to generous supporters of Pisgah Legal Services’ immigration work.
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BeLoved Asheville | Raise Another Home Auction | Saturday, May 6 |
AB Tech/Mission Event Center
Amazing food by local chefs
Craft beer & wine
Silent & Live Auction
& this year dancing with DJ Nex Millen
CELEBRATE the success of last year’s Auction in building a home in the BeLoved Village! And let’s come together again to RECREATE this amazing success by building another home and launching our replication efforts!
Tickets on Sale NOW!
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Interfaith Initiative -
Social Justice Opportunities
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Buncombe Community Remembrance Project | | |
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Environmentalist Bill McKibben will headline ‘Saving the Planet’ panel discussion April 16 at First Presbyterian Church in New York City -
The livestreamed event also includes a museum director, an NYC council member, an educator and the MRTI vice chair
~ by First Presbyterian Church
In advance of Earth Week 2023, First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York (Old First) is deepening its commitment to environmental stewardship.
Old First announces that it is embarking on a long-range plan to green its facilities, and to reduce its endowment’s exposure to fossil fuel investments. At 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, April 16, it will also host a panel discussion entitled “Saving the Planet: An Ethical Imperative,” featuring renowned environmentalist Bill McKibben, New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher, Climate Museum Director Miranda Massie, Hudson Valley Environmental Justice Coalition Co-founder Rev. Gregory Simpson, and PC(USA) Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment Vice Chair the Rev. Dr. Lindley DeGarmo. The discussion will follow the church’s 11 a.m. worship service, at which McKibben will preach the sermon.
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The Office of Public Witness is asking Presbyterians to urge members of Congress to take action against gun violence. (Photo courtesy of the Office of Public Witness) | |
The PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness asks Presbyterians to take action to end gun violence -
The US has seen 130 mass shootings during the first three months of 2023
~ by Mike Ferguson
The Office of Public Witness is asking Presbyterians to demand that members of Congress act immediately to reduce gun violence in the United States, which has seen 130 mass shootings since Jan. 1.
The Action Alert calls it “unthinkable” that six children of God were murdered in Nashville Monday at the Covenant School at Covenant Presbyterian Church, a church affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America. “Just last month, three students were killed at Michigan State University and five others were wounded,” the Action Alert says. “Gun violence is a preventable public health epidemic affecting communities all over the U.S.”
People of faith “must continue to go to God praying for courage and seeking solidarity with impacted communities,” the Action Alert states. “We must demonstrate a sense of righteous anger while demonstrating a commitment to do something to bring it to an end.”
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PC(USA) Special Offerings -
One Great Hour of Sharing | February 22 - April 9
Millions of people lack access to sustainable food sources, clean water, sanitation, education, and opportunity.
The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People - all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope.
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Stewardship & Sustainability | |
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IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SUBMIT YOUR 2023 PLEDGE!
CLICK HERE or scan the Qr code to the right to submit your pledge online, all in one form. You will receive an email confirmation of your pledge.
WAYS TO PLEDGE:
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Online pledge card HERE
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Email giving@gcpcusa.org
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Call 828.254.3274 and leave a message for Natalie Weaver
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Fill out a pew pledge card and put in the Sunday offering plate
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Request a mailed pledge card from the office
Questions or concerns? Please contact Natalie Weaver, Stewardship & Financial Administrator, at giving@gcpcusa.org or leave a message at 828.254.3274.
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The church office is open Tuesday - Thursday, 10am - 4pm.
We recommend calling ahead or emailing to set up an appointment if you are wanting to meet with a specific staff member. Please note, many staff are off or work remotely on Monday and the office is not open on Friday.
Coming to visit? We have a new video doorbell to assist with security. To access the building or office, please enter through the far left glass doors off the courtyard (labeled Enter). Ring the doorbell to have the door unlocked. The GCPC office is down the hall to the right, just past the Sanctuary.
You can also reach our office by phone at 828.254.3274. Follow the prompts for the staff directory to dial by name or press 0 for the main office.
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
828.254.3274
www.gcpcusa.org
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