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"There's a crack in everything
that's how the light gets in."
~ Leonard Cohen
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Sunday Preview
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Second Sunday of Advent
Worship services @ 8:15 & 10:45 AM
Education Hour (for all ages) @ 9:15 AM
Sermon:
"The Peaceable Kingdom" by Richard Coble
Scriptures:
Isaiah 11:1-10; Matthew 3:1-12
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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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A Story from API/12 Baskets Cafe
His name is Koda. He’s a regular at the Café. In his late 20’s, Koda has experienced more heartache than most. Diagnosed with cancer at a young age, he married his best friend whom he met at the hospital while she was also receiving chemo treatments. It was her dream to have a wedding before she died, and he made that dream come true. Koda is homeless and one of the kindest humans you will ever meet. He struggles with addiction while also trying to care for everyone with whom he comes into contact.
When asking for a sewing kit to fix his backpack, he shared that he’d traveled all over but had never been anywhere like 12 Baskets. He said, “It’s like family here. I mean, y’all are the closest thing I have to family and if y’all ever need anything just let me know. I want to give back anyway I can.” It’s true. We are like family.
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Here We Go A-Caroling! | Sunday, December 8 | 12:00 - 2:00 PM | Fellowship Hall & GCPC Homebound Members
Children, youth, and adults are invited and encouraged to gather after worship for this fun and festive time! We will share lunch, games, and dust off our caroling voices. Then we will head out in groups to visit GCPC homebound members to spread the love and joy of the season!
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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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Winner Winner Wednesday Dinner and Biltmore Preview Concert | Wednesday, December 11 | 6:00 PM | Fellowship Hall & Sanctuary
Please bring your favorite holiday side dish (meats and beverages will be provided) for dinner followed at 7:00 pm by a festive evening of seasonal carols sung by members of our Chancel Choir as they put the final touches on their Biltmore Candlelight concert.
RSVP to Anna Louise,
almurchison@gcpcusa.org
, by noon on Monday,
Dec. 9 so we can have an estimate.
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The Session is calling a congregational meeting for 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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The Longest Night: A Service of Consolation | Sunday, December 15 | 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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GCPC Blood Drive | Wednesday, December 18 | 2:00 - 6:30 PM | GCPC Fellowship Hall
ALL 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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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 217 pledges received thus far, 106 have increased and
16 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 $222,517 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 12/5/19:
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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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Creating Sanctuary Team (CST)
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Creating Sanctuary Team!
Instead of a meeting on Sunday, Dec. 10, please come to the narthex and write a card to one of the detainees. Cards, directions, suggestions, and guidance are available!
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You can bring joy and hope to immigrants in detention by writing and decorating holiday cards in English and Spanish.
El Refugio is collecting hand-written holiday cards to send to detained immigrants at Stewart Detention Center, where many immigrants from the Carolinas, Georgia, and other Southeastern states are held indefinitely. We know that detained immigrants face many challenges, especially the uncertainty of not knowing if or when they will be free and reunited with loved ones. With your help, we can send a message of hope and comfort to those who are isolated in detention, far from friends and family during the holidays.
~ Contributed by Tish Anderson
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GCPC volunteers will serve a Souper Christmas Lunch to the staff of Pisgah Legal Services on Wednesday, December 18.
Won’t you join this joyful ministry? Organizer Nancy Gaskin needs merry hands to make and serve soup, breads, fruit, and treats for the December event and also for the January Souper Wednesday, set for January 15. To take part in a Souper Wednesday, please be in touch with Nancy right away:
nancy.gaskin@gmail.com
.
~ Contributed by Tish Anderson
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Power and Race Team (PART)
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PART Meeting | Thursday, December 12 | 7:00 PM | Jerusalem Room
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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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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*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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Please take a moment to fill out the Fall Sunday School
feedback form at this link:
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Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust World
by Jennifer Harvey
(call no. 649 HAR)
The United States is on a rapid path of becoming one of the most racially diverse nations in the world. It’s also a nation full of racial tension. These two realities existing at the same time create a challenging paradox for parents who want to equip their children to be active and able participants in a multiracial, pluralistic society.
The difficulties faced by parents of white children, however, are different from those faced by parents of children of color. Being committed to equity and justice while living in a society that is not only racially unjust and deeply segregated, but which privileges your racial group at the same time, creates unique conundrums for white people. These conundrums begin early in life and impact the racial development of white children in powerful ways.
How do parents navigate the many complex situations race creates for us? What strategies will help our children learn to function well in a diverse nation? What role do we want them to play in addressing racism when they encounter it? How do we equip them for these roles? How do we talk about race honestly with our children, which means naming white privilege as well as many hard truths about what white people have done, without making our children feel bad about being white?
These questions are honestly and helpfully addressed in this very timely and helpful book.
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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 | Sunday, December 15 | Sign-up in the narthex on Dec. 8
Our Sunday morning PRITCHARD PARK “neighbors” say THANK YOU in advance for volunteering to purchase and prepare and serve the bounty of your donated foods for the December 15 breakfast. Sign up last Sunday went so well that we are currently just 2 dozen hard boiled eggs and 40 juice boxes short of our full menu. We’re confident that those items will be forthcoming this Sunday. Our next opportunity to serve at Pritchard Park will likely be scheduled for February 2020. 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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Food Connection Benefit Gala | Saturday, December 7, 2019 | 6 PM | Workshop Lounge at The Foundry Hotel
Please come out to show your support of Food Connection at a fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 7th at The Foundry Hotel at the "Boas and Bow Ties Gala." No tickets for this event, instead go to Trinity Place Shelter for Runaway Youth's Angel Tree and purchase something from their
list
(ideally Visa/Mastercard Gift Cards) Christmas entertainment from Russ Wilson and his big band. More info at
Urban Gastronome
.
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BeLoved 10th Year Celebration | Saturday, December 7 | 6 - 9 PM |
One World Brewing West
(
520 Haywood Road, 28806)
Join us for a night of good music, good friends, and good food! Come hear about some of the remarkable accomplishments we have made together over the last decade. Come dream with us about the next 10 years of BeLoved! Donations welcome!!
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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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GCPC 20s/30s Gathering: "Contra Dancing Fun!" | TONIGHT, December 5 | 7:30 - 9:30 PM | Warren Wilson College Bryson Gym (
701 Warren Wilson Road
, Swannanoa)
If you are in your twenties or thirties (or nearly these ages), let's get on our feet and try contra dancing together. No experience needed! It will begin at 7:30pm with a lesson for beginners. We will meet at Warren Wilson or carpool there. The cost is $8, but GCPC is happy to cover cost for anyone who needs it. All are welcome!
CLICK HERE TO RSVP!
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J.O.Y. Group Gathering | Thursday, December 12 | 12 – 4 PM | Little Bee Thai/
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We will be meeting for breakfast and discussion at a new location: the north Asheville Early Girl Eatery. 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 | $210 (
early bird rate ends on Dec. 9th
)
“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:
- Early Bird Rate (by December 9th): $210
- 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. 11, 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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Special Youth Group for All Ages "Here We Go A–Caroling! | THIS Sunday, December 8 |
12 - 2 PM
| Fellowship Hall
Let's celebrate a great youth group semester together with good food and fun! Youth, children and adults are all invited and encouraged to gather after worship for this festive time! We will share lunch, games, and dust off our caroling voices. Then we will head out in groups to visit GCPC homebound members to spread the love and joy of the season!
For planning purposes, please RSVP here ASAP
.
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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
Our sympathy and support are extended to Mesheala Sundblade following the death of her father early this morning. Please keep her family in your prayers.
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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. Keith Prince will be selling tickets before and after worship on December 8
th
.
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2019 December Enneagram Gatherings
Mondays, 6-8pm and
Fridays, 10am-12noon
We resume Friday, Dec. 6th and Monday, Dec. 9th.
Save the Dates
: January 2020 Retreats:
Saturdays, Jan. 18th & 25th, 10am-4pm
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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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