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so knowing,
what is known?
that we carry our baggage
in our cupped hands
when we burst through
the waters of our mother.
that some are born
and some are brought
to the glory of this world.
that it is more difficult
than faith
to serve only one calling
one commitment
one devotion
in one life.
~ from
Far Memory,
Lucille Clifton
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Sunday Preview
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Third Sunday of Advent
Worship services @ 8:15 & 10:45 AM
Education Hour (for all ages) @ 9:15 AM
Sermon:
"Standing in Need" by Marcia Mount Shoop
Scriptures:
Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 1:46b-55
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The Serve Council is excited to share that Asheville Poverty Initiative (API) will be this year's Advent Ministry Partner.
On Christmas Eve, gifts designated to API (in the memo line of your check) will be given to help their mission.
Asheville Poverty Initiative and 12 Baskets Cafe aims to end the social injustice of poverty in partnership with those on the margins through opportunities for education, advocacy, and relationship building. People from all walks of life are encouraged to come and meet their neighbors at 12 Baskets Café - a by-donation Cafe that serves rescued food from local restaurants.
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Upcoming Special Holiday Services
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Sunday, December 15 | The Longest Night: A Service of Consolation
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7:00 PM | Sanctuary
The Longest Night service is a time to be together around the Lord's Table with space for lament, for grief, and for a collective yearning for God to come closer to the world's struggles. Scripture, sacrament, song, silence, and prayer will help us welcome God's merciful and mysterious presence with us.
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Tuesday, December 24 | Christmas Eve Services
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5 PM | A Night Like No Other -
Service for all ages
Calling all angels, shepherds, and wise people! This service is truly a treat with carols, stories of the first Christmas, and all of the GCPC children taking part! Kids, begin arriving at 4:30pm to pick out your costume and grab a seat. Hope to see you there!
9 PM | Candlelight Communion Service
The 9:00 PM service will include Holy Communion as we gather to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord.
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The Session is calling a congregational meeting for this Sunday, December 15
immediately following the 10:45 am worship service for the purpose of receiving the report of the Nominating Committee for the election of new Elders and Deacons as well as at large members of the Nominating Committee and Personnel Council.
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GCPC Blood Drive | Wednesday, December 18 | 2:00 - 6:30 PM | GCPC Fellowship Hall
MANY SLOTS STILL AVAILABLE!!
The blood drive is a little different this year; all appointments are being made online. Please
sign up
during this critical season of the year to help save lives.
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PC(USA) Stated Clerk spoke on Tuesday's observance of Human Rights Day
Click
here
to read the letter from J. Herbert Nelson, II
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Amber the Abundance Fairy says:
"There's so much we have to wait for at Advent... Don't let you pledge be one of them!"
Help us celebrate GCPC Abundance by getting us to our pledge goal - get your pledge in today or increase your pledge.
We can do this Grace Covenant!
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Of the 220 pledges received thus far, 106 have increased and
17 are first-time pledgers!
We've made great strides in the past two months towards the goal, but we still have a way to go to fully fund the proposed 2020 budget.
If you have already pledged
, please prayerfully consider increasing to help us close this $214,107 gap.
If you haven't pledged yet, we need your help! Every penny helps us fund the ministry alive here at GCPC. No matter how large or small, each pledge makes a difference and provides the financial support needed to build a sustainable future.
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Our current pledge numbers as of 12/11/19:
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To submit a 2020 pledge,
you can fill out an easy
online option here
or put your completed pledge card in the Sunday plate, bring it by the office, or mail it to 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804. Pledge cards are available in the pews, narthex, and at the Welcome Desk.
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2020 Pledge Prepay
In addition to catching up on 2019 giving, many of you have asked about prepaying your 2020 pledge. You can prepay anytime, but it's very important to clearly mark these gifts as 2020 pledges. If a gift is made without a memo or envelope designating it otherwise, it will be applied to the current year general fund through 12/31/19
. If you are planning on prepaying your next year's pledge, please be sure to include
"2020 pledge prepay"
somewhere on your gift to ensure our Finance Office records it as you intended.
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Doing some Christmas shopping?
Pick up a large reusable GCPC bag today
in the narthex for only $2!
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Power and Race Team (PART)
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PART Meeting | TONIGHT, Thursday, December 12 | 7:00 PM | Fellowship Hall
Our work continues in disrupting white supremacy individually and as a church community. Even if we get frustrated, restless, or just tired of talking about it, God does not let us off the hook.
PART therefore continues to meet. On December 12
th
at 7pm we will discuss how we can collaborate with session, councils, and committees on being accountable in eliminating white supremacy, and healing our racial trauma.
As Marcia said in her sermon entitled No Shame, “It is a Gospel message really- that invitation for us to get real about the trauma and resilience we have in our bodies, that has been passed down to us and that we carry around the world and pass on to others. God’s healing opportunities define the story of who we are.”
Whether you have attended PART in the past or not, this meeting is a great opportunity to take another step together as a community.
Come and do your PART to hope and dream and plan for 2020!
~Liz Huesseman, PART member
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Reality Check: Pipeline to Prison with Korey Wise | Friday, December 13 | 6:00 - 8:30 PM |
Mountain Area Health Education Center (121 Hendersonville Road)
Korey Wise is an American activist who travels around the United States advocating for criminal justice while sharing his own experience of false convictions, unjust incarceration, and later vindication. Wise spent approximately 14+ years incarcerated for crimes he did not commit, maintaining his innocence from 1989 until he was exonerated in 2002.
This year, his story along with the four other young men wrongfully convicted in the Central Park jogger case was dramatized and released as a four-episode miniseries on Netflix entitled "When They See Us". The actor who played Korey Wise won the 2019 Emmy for Lead Actor in a Limited Series/Movie for his portrayal of Wise.
Click
HERE to buy tickets.
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Story Medicine Worldwide is sponsoring a celebration of two things later this month:
Winter Solstice AND the release of "Blues Doula,"
a new collection of poetry by
Meta Commerse
When:
Saturday, December 21, 2019, 6:00 p.m.
Where:
Fellowship Hall, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 337 Charlotte Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Enjoy:
Ceremony, Refreshments, Testimonials, Performance, Book signing and Fellowship.
Please bring your artsy, book-loving friends.
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Reduce, reuse, recycle. ♻️
How to recycle in Asheville:
Click
HERE
to see how it works locally, what is accepted, where to bring your non-standard items + more.
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Looking for a unique and useful Christmas present?
Earth Team still has a few Bat Houses for sale, with all proceeds going to Earth Team and our valiant efforts to save God's Creation! These bat houses are hand-made by a few church members (Bryant Smith and Rick Pyeritz), made of repurposed manufactured wood, and painted with brown exterior paint; $25.00 each.
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This Sunday's Education Hour (for all ages)
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Advent Term | December 8 – 22 | Fellowship Hall
"Christmas in the Four Gospel Homes:
An Intergenerational Advent Experience"
First grade through Adults are invited to explore Advent by visiting the four gospel 'homes.' Each week, we will delve into the distinctive house of one of our Gospels, looking at its perspective of the incarnation or Jesus's birth through rich conversation, song, and crafts. Come, learn, and explore with participants of all ages.
Facilitators:
Heather Ferguson and Richard Coble
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Toddlers (ages 2-3) | “God Loves Me”
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9:15 – 10:15 AM | Toddler Room (1
st
floor)
Preschool/K (ages 4-5) | Godly Play
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9:15 –10:15 AM | Preschool Room (1
st
floor)
Middle School & Senior Highs (grades 6-12)
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9:00-10:15 AM | Youth Rooms
*Nursery care is available throughout Sunday morning beginning at 8:10 am.
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Bible Study | Wednesdays | 11:00 AM | Garden Room
Join the pastoral staff to read and study our sermon texts for Sunday. No preparation needed; just come ready to open scripture and discuss!
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Haywood Street Clothing Bin Volunteers Needed
Have you noticed the blue bin in our parking lot? Have you ever wondered about what happens to the clothes that are donated? Here is your opportunity to find the answers and volunteer in a very meaningful way.
Volunteers are needed to deliver donations to the Haywood Street Congregation once a week for one month. We need volunteers starting in January. Please email Nancy Kramer at
nancykramer1981@gmail.com
to claim your slot.
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PRITCHARD PARK is THIS Sunday, December 15
Many thanks to all who have donated items and volunteered to prep and serve food! Questions? Please contact Rick Noble, 803-422-1977 or
rick@noblebelfast.com
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Ministry Partner News and Events...
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Read To Succeed Asheville/Buncombe Needs Volunteers!
Read to Succeed Asheville/Buncombe (R2S) is a local dynamic non-profit
and our mission is "
to inspire and teach children to read." Children “learn to read” in K-3
rd
and after 3
rd
, they are “reading to learn.” Students’ who have not achieved grade level reading by third grade are 4X more likely to drop out of school.
We need supportive individuals who are interested in tutoring an elementary school student, K-3, 1 hour, 1-2 days a week, during the school year. Training and ongoing support are provided.
Our organization and tutors share a passion for reading, strong belief in education, and desire to support the children in our community. What a wonderful gift to give our next generations; supporting them in learning to read.
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Benefit for Bountiful Cities- Supporting Food Security and Urban Agriculture!
Ten Thousand Villages in Asheville is hosting a holiday shopping benefit for local non-profit organizations.
From Monday, December 2nd through Friday, December 13
th, not only will your purchase benefit artisans around the world, it will also help create change right here in Asheville. During those two weeks,
mention Bountiful Cities at the checkout counter and 15% of your purchase will be donated to us. Join us as we support our global AND local community; use your purchasing power to change the world through fair trade!
Ten Thousand Villages is located at 10 College Street across from Pritchard Park and next to the restaurant, Tupelo Honey. Their hours are 10-8 Monday-Thursday, 10-9 on Friday -Saturday, and 10-4 on Sunday.
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Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group | Wed., Dec. 18 | 12 PM | Garden Room
This support group introduces techniques for daily living with such issues, led by Paul Rogers, a retired physician in our congregation. We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month.
*New participants welcome at any time.
Contact Richard,
rcoble@gcpcusa.org
, with questions.
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We will be meeting for breakfast and discussion at our usual location, HomeGrown. To prepare, please read the recent New York Times editorial, "Can We Help Men Live Longer?" found at this link:
http://bit.ly/MensHealthCrisis
.
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Sisters at the Sea Retreat 2020 | February 6-9, 2020 | Folly Beach, SC | $240
“Cultivating an Inner Life of Grace & Clarity: Spiritual Practices for Everyday”
With guest retreat facilitator, Rev. Carol Hovis
Do you identify as a woman age 25ish-50ish who would like a weekend of connecting and rejuvenating in a beautiful natural setting? Mark your calendars for our lucky number 11th
annual SOS (“Save our Sanity”/“Sisters at the Sea”) retreat! This year’s guest facilitator, Rev. Carol Hovis, will help us explore approaches to spiritual contemplation that we can practice in even the smallest moments of our day-to-day rush, to develop and deepen throughout our lifetimes. Register today to ensure this special time of building friendships and centering your faith in the new year!
Registration:
- Regular Rate (December 10th and after): $240
- $50 non-refundable deposit due at registration. Checks should be made to GCPC with “2020 Sisters at the Sea” in the memo line. Full and partial scholarships available (complete registration form to apply).
- TO REGISTER TODAY: Visit http://bit.ly/Sisters2020 to register online, or pick up a registration form at the GCPC Welcome Desk.
- *Registration ends on Jan. 15.*
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"Las Posadas" | Thursday, December 19 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Cathedral of All Souls
The Cathedral of All Souls invites GCPC to celebrate "Las Posadas" with them in December. The event is a traditional celebration of Mary and Joseph trying to find room to be sheltered and cared for. The Church La Capilla
http://lacapilla.org
presides over the event and our role is to host and gather and bring the party! We provide food, piñata, and hopefully LOADS of people!
While the tradition is really focused on the exile of Mary and Joseph we acknowledge in our worship and singing and prayers together that many of our LatinX brothers and sisters are being turned away today and we pray for all to find homes and shelter and care and love during this time of re-birth of compassion.
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Centering Prayer | Wednesday Nights | 6:30 - 7:00 PM | Sanctuary
(There will be no Centering Prayer on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.)
Christianity has a rich and ancient tradition of intentional and prayerful silence as a spiritual practice. Sacred silence teaches us to listen devoutly, humbly, and with trust. It is beautifully simple and a spiritual skill whose gifts goes deeper and gets more powerful the more one practices it. This practice is open to all and is come as you are able. Questions? Contact Marcia at
mmshoop@gcpcusa.org
.
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Deacon of the Week
Each Sunday morning there will be a deacon available for everything from praying with you to giving you a tour of the building. This deacon will be wearing a purple sash and stationed in the narthex before 10:45 worship and in the front of the sanctuary after worship. He or she is also available during the week if you or someone you love needs assistance from our board of deacons.
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IMPORTANT
:
We need youth for the Youth Choir!!! The Youth will be singing in worship with the Chancel Choir on Sunday, December 22nd and we need to rehearse this weekend. All Youth are encouraged to participate. We will meet at 9am in the Youth Rooms this Sunday! :)
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Special Sunday School during Advent:
"Christmas in the Four Gospel Homes: An Intergenerational Advent Experience" | Advent Term (December 8 – 22
)
GCPC Youth Choir will continue to meet at 9:00am in the Youth Rooms with their teachers as we prepare to sing during the holiday season
. Afterwards, we will head down to the fellowship hall to join first grade through Adults for this special Advent class! Each week, Heather Ferguson and Richard Coble will lead us in delving into a distinctive "house" of one of our Gospels, exploring Jesus's birth through rich conversation, song, and crafts. This will be an impactful, fun-filled experience!
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Looking for Youth Worship Leaders for 5pm Christmas Eve Service!
Christmas Eve is right around the corner and we need YOUth! Youth are invited to be "angel, magi and shepherd" leaders in this engaging service geared toward children of all ages! There are no speaking roles. If you can participate, please
SIGN UP HERE
ASAP or contact
Samantha
.
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SENIOR HIGHS TIME TO APPLY:
Senior High Youth Delegation to Guatemala (June 23 - July 2, 2020)
Our presbytery will be sending a delegation of youth (who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th grade by this summer) to Guatemala to strengthen relationships with youth from our sister presbytery and churches. See the
application HERE
due February 1st (please note that it requires recommendations from pastor/session, so please notify
Samantha
if you are applying by January 10th). Partial scholarships available based on need for those accepted.
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Prayer List
[We are happy to pray for anyone who is in need. Concerns will stay on this list for a month unless we hear otherwise. Please keep us updated.]
Iglesia Jerusalem congregation
Pat Cocke (Les Stradley’s friend)
Deborah Strong (Robin Gaiser's cousin)
Nancy and Richard Schaadt (Donna Robertson's sister and brother-in-law)
Jeffrey Ferris (Mary Lou Nash's son)
Rebecca Wells' brother, Jamey
Jeff Combs (Bill McNeff's friend)
West Asheville Presbyterian Church
Marcia Zuzel (friend of Kim Hottle and Melissa Shook)
Virginia Bibee (Jamie Bibee Lloyd's mother)
Suzy Carter (David Carter's wife and Yvonne Smith's friend)
Arlene Hill (Jay Hill's aunt)
Hettie Lou Garland
Betty Smith
Margaret Rada
Bob Higgins
James Harwell
Joyce Summerlin
Cory Hartbarger
Penny Ponder
Florence Riedesel
Elizabeth Fisher
Doris Prak
Alice Schmitz
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Grace Covenant Community Out and About...
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Asheville Gay Men's Chorus presents “
Sound the Trumpet
" | Saturday, December 14 @ 7:30 PM & Sunday, December 15 @ 4:00 PM | GCPC Sanctuary
General Admission - $20, Youth/Student - $10. For tickets and more info, visit
www.avlgmc.org
. .
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2019 December Enneagram Gatherings
Mondays, 6-8pm and
Fridays, 10am-12noon
We conclude next week, Dec. 16th & Dec. 20th
Save the Dates
: January 2020 Retreats:
Saturdays, Jan. 18th & 25th, 10am-4pm
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The Asheville Threshold Choir Events
The Asheville Threshold Choir is hosting two upcoming demonstrations of their musical repertoire at two of the facilities where they sing:
- December 17 | 6:00 PM | Asheville VA Medical Center (1100 Tunnel Rd.)
- December 18 | 6:30 PM | NC State Veterans Home (62 Lake Eden Rd.)
About The Threshold Choir:
The voice is the perfect vehicle to convey compassion and comfort at the bedsides of people who are at a threshold; some with living, some with dying.
When invited, we send two to four singers who offer soft, simple, restful songs to comfort, support and honor those at the thresholds of life, as well as their families and caregivers. In over 150 communities worldwide, we offer bedside singing as our gift, at no charge.
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Making Room for Joy – an Advent Retreat with Jeannie Dubose | December 6-7 | Lake Logan
Enter the Advent Season with this 24-hour retreat facilitated by Jeannie Dubose. Whether you are in the midst of a sunny stretch or a blue patch, come explore how “Making Room for Joy” can draw you closer to God. We will reflect on the theological context for this topic, as well as addressing how part of accessing our delight includes a willingness to acknowledge our losses. In addition, we will engage music, images, poetry, scripture, and interactive questions — all as portals for awakening, as John O’Donohue says, “to what your heart would love to say.”
Click
HERE
for more details.
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church | 828.254.3274
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
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