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Worship Preview | Sunday, February 26, 2023
First Sunday in Lent
New Member Sunday
In-person and Online Service
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*For the full revised common lectionary, please click here. | |
CLICK HERE to read the Lenten GraceNote which outlines GCPC opportunities during Lent. | |
| Thursday, February 23 | PART Mtg. | 6:00 pm on Zoom | | Saturday, February 25 | Memorial Service for Madge Francis | 1:00 pm | Sanctuary (also on Youtube) | | Saturday, February 25 | Family Game Night! | 4:30 -7:00 pm | Atrium | | Sunday, February 26 | Hybrid Worship
(In-person and online) | 9:30 am @ GCPC
(also on Youtube) | | Sunday, February 26 | Fellowship Time | 10:45 am | Narthex | | Sunday, February 26 | Formation for All Ages | 11:00 am
*please see details below | | Sunday, February 26 | Session Mtg. | 12:30 pm | Fellowship Hall (also on Zoom) | | Tuesday - Thursday | Church Office OPEN | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm | | Tuesday, February 28 | Prayer Group | 10:00 am | Jerusalem Room | | Wednesday, March 1 | Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group | 11:00 am | Jerusalem Room (also on Zoom) | | Wednesday, March 1 | Lenten Bible Study | 12:00 pm |Jerusalem Room (also on Zoom) | | Wednesday, March 1 | Centering Prayer | 6:00 pm | Sanctuary | | Wednesday, March 1 | Choir Rehearsal | 7:00 pm | Sanctuary | | |
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Family Game Night | Saturday, February 25 | 4:30 - 7:00 PM | Atrium & Fellowship Hall
THIS Saturday February 25th is FAMILY GAME NIGHT! We will gather in the Atrium and Fellowship hall for group games and dinner. Register HERE to let us know you will be joining us and AND if you have any dietary restrictions. Invite a friend or four! (This is also the ALL YOUTH activity for the month.)
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Children's Formation (K-5th Grade) | Sundays | 11:00 AM | Sanctuary
Children will continue to explore the parables and the life of Jesus through Godly Play on Sunday mornings. Every Sunday there will be a special Lent Children’s Bulletin with art and activities to get our kids thinking more about Lent. Each week there will be a Lent Focus Prompt and Activity in the family email.
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Youth Formation (Middle/High School) | Sundays | 11:00 AM | Fellowship Hall
Youth will join with Adult Formation on Sunday mornings exploring Queer Theology and how we can deepen our understanding and commitment as a More Light Congregation.
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Adult Formation: "Why Being a More Light Congregation Makes Us a More Faithful Church" | Sundays | 11:00 AM | Fellowship Hall and Zoom
In this class, we will be exploring how GCPC can continue to live into our values as a More Light Congregation. The mission of More Light Presbyterians is a non-profit organization dedicated to allowing the full participation of LGBTQIA+ people in life, ministry, and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society. Throughout the study, we will be hearing from leaders in More Light and the greater denomination via zoom.
Our guests include:
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Feb 26: GCPC Community members and staff will lead a discussion about the history and impact of our church becoming a More Light congregation. Facilitators/Speakers: Liz Huesmann, Malachi Gasaway, Marta Alcala, Linzi and Meggie Anderson, Richard Coble, and Marcia Mount Shoop
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March 5: Bryce Wiebe currently serves as the Associate for Vital Congregations of Eastminster Presbytery in Ohio. He is also the former Manager of the Office of Special Offerings at Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). Bryce is a passionate advocate for justice, a Christian Educator and a seeker of liberation. Bryce brings a wealth of wisdom and experience around how he has navigated balancing his identity as queer with serving and working in the church.
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March 12: Laura Mariko Cheifetz is the Assistant Dean for Admissions, Vocation, and Stewardship at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. She has also served as the Deputy Director of Systems & Sustainability of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum and as Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Forum for Theological Exploration. She will be speaking about how the gift of queerness is that it is expansive of faith and theological insight, not only due to expanding community but also in ways of thinking and believing.
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March 16: Eric Thomas is the interim pastor of Siloam Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, New York. He is the first pastor ordained at Siloam and its first openly same-gender loving pastor. He is also currently completing a PhD in New Testament & Early Christianity at Drew University. His research explores the potential for queer people of color to engage with scriptural texts to articulate and embody their own modes of flourishing. Note: Rev. Thomas will be speaking to us on a Thursday night. We will then be discussing his presentation the following Sunday.
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March 26: Adrian White recently graduated from Vanderbilt Divinity School and ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PC(USA). Rev. White will be discussing his article in Unbound, "Queer Family Celebration" (https://justiceunbound.org/queer-family-celebration/) and how important it is that Christians recognize each person's authentic name at the Lord's Table. Adrian is also on the board of More Light Presbyterians.
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April 5: Bertram Johnson is the Interfaith Minister at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Rev. Johnson is a faith leader who has spent more than two decades serving churches, non-profits, and faith-based organizations dedicated to social justice, spiritual care, and public health. He is a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and was the first openly gay African American to be ordained in the PCUSA. He will be discussing his recent article in Time Magazine about "Finding Resilience As A Queer Person During The Holidays" https://time.com/6242427/lgbtq-loneliness-resilience-holidays/
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Wednesday Lenten Bible Study | 12:00 PM | Jerusalem Room and Zoom
Throughout Lent during our normal Wednesday Bible Study time (12-1p), we will be discussing Jill Duffield’s book Lent in Plain Sight. This devotional work enables us to see God’s transformative work through the ordinary: “ordinary people, ordinary objects, ordinary grace.” Together we will delve into Scripture and practice together as we delve deeper into our spiritual Lenten journeys.
The Church will order and provide books for all who can participate on these Wednesday meetings, March 1-April 5. Contact Richard (richard@gcpcusa.org) if you would like a copy.
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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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Bloomsbury says....
"Introducing readers to the contemporary field of sacramental theology, this volume covers the biblical and historical foundations, a survey of the state of the discipline, and a collection of constructive essays representing major themes, practices and approaches to sacraments and sacramentality in the contemporary world."
Marcia has a chapter in this newly released book on the Sacraments: Chapter 16 - "Healing Eucharist: Excavating the Table's Delusion and Redemption in White Dominant Church."
There is a copy available in the church's library. Please contact Anna Louise if you would like to borrow it.
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Update on Winter Safe Shelter, a collaborative effort between GCPC, Grace Episcopal, and Trinity United Methodist | |
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The Winter Safe Shelter is still in need of volunteers! You can sign up at this link.
Check out the most current needed items by clicking here.
Safe Shelters’ person-centered, trauma-informed approach shows many promising outcomes. We have consistently provided 10 beds on a nightly basis for the past seven weeks. During that time we have served
23 guests, with an average length of stay of 16 days.
Outcomes at Exit:
71% of housing outcomes at exit have been to permanent housing
82% if you include transitional housing
100% of families transitioned into permanent housing at exit, with support furnishing
100% of children were housed at exit.
82% of BIPOC guests were housed at exit.
100% of Latine guests were housed at exit.
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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 (2/19-2/25): Paul Tierney | email: paul@tierneyandco.net
Next week (2/26-3/4): Bill McNeff | email: wpmcn6@yahoo.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
Trey and Alisha Thompson and 3 kids - Gabi, Arlo, and Eldon (Patty and Brent Thompson's son and daughter-in-law and grandchildren)
Cathy Wooten (William High’s mom)
Jessica Huie (John Huie's daughter)
Mimosa Hines (Robin Mallernee's daughter)
Maria, Esteban, and Erik Goicoehea
Cierra Williams (Marta Alcala's friend)
Ann Bartlett (friend of Amanda Pressley)
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
Our sympathy and support are extended to Trudy Forward on the death of her husband, Larry, on Sunday, February 19th. Please keep the family in your prayers.
A Service of Witness to the Resurrection and Thanksgiving for the Life of Madge Francis will be held on Saturday, February 25th at 1:00 pm in the GCPC Sanctuary. This service will also be livestreamed here.
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Serve Volunteer Opportunity -
Fight Food Insecurity!
Join us on Monday, March 6, at the MANNA FoodBank mobile market organized by our covenant partner Colaborativa La Milpa. Help put food on the tables of families experiencing food insecurity in the Emma community of Asheville.
Come for an hour or the whole afternoon. We need more GCPC helping hands and loving hearts.
DATE: Monday, March 6
LOCATION: Emma United Methodist Church, 55 Adams Hill Rd., Asheville
SCHEDULE:
- 1-3 PM Set up tables of dry and canned goods; bag produce.
- 3-5 PM Restock items, assist families as they fill their carts.
Here are the dates for the full year if you would like to put them in your calendar:
- April 3, May 1, June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2, November, December 4
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
VRQ—BBQ Cook Team | Tuesday, March 7 | 4:30 PM to cook or 5:30 PM to work the serving line | Veterans Restoration Quarters
On the first Tuesday of each month a team from GCPC gathers at VRQ, 1329 Tunnel Road, to grill hamburgers, prepare and serve supper for the veterans housed there.
If you can help please contact Bill Neeriemer, bill.nmer@gmail.com.
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“Feeling Our Way in the Puzzle: God, Evil, and the Human Condition in Process Theology” | Thursday Night Class | March 9, 16, 23, 30 | 6:30 - 8:00 PM | Fellowship Hall | taught by Marcia Mount Shoop
Some of the hardest parts of the life of faith today are making sense of the traditional ways Christianity has explained things like Divine power, the existence of evil in the world, and why humans are the way we are. Process Theology invites us to shed many of the faulty assumptions of the Western philosophical tradition like materialism, superiority, and linear understandings of time for a cosmology and theology that coheres to the realities of the created world. This four week class is an opportunity for us to explore the novel perspectives that Process Theology offers us as we struggle to both understand and embody the life of faith in these trying times on the planet earth.
(both in person and zoom options; some readings will be available but not required)
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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, 11:00 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 GCPC Community Garden is gearing up for the season! | |
Community Working Together | |
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Warren Wilson College presents....
Ian Robertson Lecture in Inspired Work featuring Karen Washington | Sunday, February 26 | 2:00 PM | Canon Lounge, Warren Wilson
Karen Washington has lived in New York City all her life, and has spent decades promoting urban farming as a way for all New Yorkers to access to fresh, locally grown food.
Since 1985 Karen has been a community activist, striving to make New York City a better place to live. As a community gardener and board member of the New York Botanical Gardens, Karen worked with Bronx neighborhoods to turn empty lots into community gardens.
After a 30-year career as a physical therapist, she started Rise and Root Farm in the Black Dirt region of Orange County, NY, in the lower Hudson Valley. Rise and Root Farm is a five-acre farm, run cooperatively by four owners who are women, intergenerational, multi-racial, and LGBTQ. The farm is rooted in social justice, and through the healing power of food and farming they work to build a more equitable food system.
Due to seating capacity limitations, pre registration is encouraged. Reserve your seat for the 2023 Ian Robertson Distinguished Lecturer in Inspired Work at rsvp@warren-wilson.edu.
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Celebrate the Gifts of Women Worship Service | Wednesday,
March 1 | 9:00 AM | PC(USA) Facebook Page
| Click here for flyer pdf with live links! | |
CoThinkk Member Mixer | Saturday, March 4 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM | 8 River Arts Place
We will be celebrating the powerful impacts disruption has on shifting mindsets and systems, sharing about CoThinkk's vision for 2023, and embracing the joy that comes from being in community with one another.
The Mixer is FREE and provides an opportunity to partner and collaborate with CoThinkkers!
If you or folks in your network are interested in learning about CoThinkk or joining, come along and get to know what membership is like from our members. If you can’t join at this moment, want to learn about other ways to contribute - register and come hang out. If you are able to donate, your donations will shore up our efforts and support capacity building, leadership development, and future grant investment in Asheville and Western North Carolina change-makers.
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Racial Equity Institute (REI) Upcoming Trainings
The Western North Carolina Racial Equity Collective is a collective of volunteers in counties across the mountains working to create more equitable communities. Together we organize to bring the Racial Equity Institute workshops and trainings to our area and beyond, as well as facilitate community conversations about race, racism and how both are operating in our communities.
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Interfaith Initiative -
Social Justice Opportunities
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Buncombe Community Remembrance Project | | |
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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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Photo courtesy of Oxfam India | |
Gifts to the PC(USA)’s One Great Hour of Sharing support dignity to India’s most oppressed -
A Dalit woman is thankful for a new sewing machine and for shelter
~ by Emily Enders Odom
While the economic and social status of women may be improving marginally worldwide, the lives of many women in India — like Smitha Krishnan — have remained virtually unchanged.
Krishnan is a Dalit – a word from Sanskrit and Hindi literally meaning oppressed or broken.
Krishnan, a 37-year-old widow from the village of Chennaipalem in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, belongs to the lowest social group in the Hindu caste system.
Dalit women, who according to published reports make up roughly 16% of India’s female population, are among the world’s most oppressed. Widely reviled across India, Dalit women face not only gender bias but also caste-based discrimination and economic injustice.
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Stewardship & Sustainability | |
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IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO SUBMIT YOUR 2023 PLEDGE!
Submitting your pledge is quick and easy! Simply 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.
Questions or concerns? Please contact Natalie Weaver, Stewardship & Financial Administrator, at giving@gcpcusa.org or leave a message at 828.254.3274.
Keep in mind, anyone can pledge any amount - every single penny helps support the ministry and mission at GCPC!
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
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Asheville Parks & Recreation celebrates Black culture with special events in February | |
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Throughout the year, Asheville Parks & Recreation (APR) and its partners share unique stories, rich culture, and opportunities for all community members to reflect on Black history, heritage, and hope. Programming staff are hosting events at community centers in February to celebrate Black History and Legacy Month.
“February is a time to recognize, celebrate, and highlight the struggles, successes, and contributions of Black Americans,” according to D. Tyrell McGirt, APR Director. “Through art, food, movies, and more, the community is invited to pay tribute to the legacy of achievement in the context of Asheville’s and the nation’s pasts and shine a light on inspirational moments happening in the present that will define our futures. Everyone is invited to celebrate and thoughtfully reflect at one or more of these opportunities.”
Black History and Legacy Month Highlights
All events are free, but advance registration is recommended as space may be limited. In addition to these special events, many community centers will display youth projects emphasizing Black historical figures and literary heroes throughout the month.
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Feb. 23, 6-8 p.m. – Soul Food Supper at Stephens-Lee Community Center - In the late 19th century, the church became a gathering place for the Black community and impacted the development of what's now considered soul food. Fried chicken, fried fish, sweet potato pie, sweet tea, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and more were served during Emancipation celebrations and church gatherings. Celebrate 100 years of Stephens-Lee High School at this dinner sponsored by school alumni and the East End/Valley Street Neighborhood Association with down-home cooking that’s been passed down through the generations. Advance registration is requested to help with planning. Please call (828) 350-2058 for more info.
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Feb. 24, 3:30-5:30 p.m. – Dr. George Washington Carver Edible Park Work and Learn Day at Stephens-Lee Community Center - Did you know one of the oldest community food forests is located in Asheville? With over 40 varieties of fruit and nut trees, a butterfly habitat, and annual vegetable garden, maintaining this space named for the famous inventor and agricultural scientist is a year-round job for volunteers. Please call (828) 350-2058 for more info.
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Click here for a Primer for Christian Nationalism Discussion | |
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Moving Through Grief: Restorative Yoga + Grief Circle with Sheri Kay | Sunday, February 26 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM | Black Mountain Yoga
Moving Through Grief is a gathering meant to help ground and hold you as you navigate the many, and oftentimes mixed, emotions that are inevitable with loss.
Beginning with a facilitated process around your personal grief journeys, together we can create an open space for each person to be seen, heard, and validated.
The second half of our time is dedicated to gentle movement through a nurturing restorative yoga practice. Yoga teaches us to self-soothe, to stay present and to take care of ourselves which can be a lifeline when in a process as difficult as grief. Not only does yoga help with the physical effects of grief but it can also provide a safe space to literally move through difficult emotions.
Live music provided by the, local, Threshold Choir.
Facilitated by Sheri Kay, End of Life Coach, Death Doula, and Yoga teacher.
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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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