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Lenten Devotional -
Just a few copies left!
Pick up a copy of our Lenten devotional
Becoming a Beloved Community: A Matthew 25 journey to the cross.
“What if this Lenten season. . . we looked beyond personal disciplines and committed to creating beloved communities in our own backyards – communities reflecting the inclusive and healing love that Jesus modeled as he made his way to the cross?”
*Available at the Info Desk (or in the church office throughout the week). Please sign your name on the clipboard next to devotionals.
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Taize Labyrinth Walk | Thursday, March 19 | 7:00 - 8:00 PM
The upcoming Labyrinth walk at GCPC will be paired with the music of Taize as we expand the ways we meditate and pray. The music of Taize, like the labyrinth, is a unique form of prayer. In the wake of World War II an ecumenical faith community was founded in Taize, France in an effort to bring about unity and peace through the gathered community engaged in scripture, prayer, silence, and song. While the community had strong roots in the Catholic Church, they were intentional in their ecumenical efforts. The music which developed to support these prayerful gatherings caught on quickly and began to find a life within the church world-wide. Often called "Christian Mantras," the music of this genre is repetitive in nature; allowing the worshipper the ability to be free from the page, to internalize the short refrains, and to use this music as a form of meditative prayer.
GCPC Families with Children Walk | Saturday, March 21 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Community and Congregation Walk | Saturday, March 21 | 1:00 - 6:00 PM
Community and Congregation Walk | Sunday, March 22 | 12:30 - 3:00 PM
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GCPC Prez-Beez Softball
Spring training is on! The Prez-Beez are gearing up for another fantastic season of softball. Great camaraderie, fellowship and competition. We are always looking for new folks to join us. Coed. Ages 18 (16 with parental permission) to 100 or more. If you are interested contact Terrence Greene,
montanan55@yahoo.com
.
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Memorial Garden Pictures
In an effort to consolidate and document the pictorial history of the Memorial Garden, we are looking for any pictures of the Memorial Garden that you are willing to share. Please contact Penny Ponder at
pmponder@gmail.com.
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REGISTER NOW!
EARLY BIRD EXTENDED to March 8
“We Like Sheep!” A Music, Drama, and Arts Camp at GCPC! | Monday - Friday | June 15-19, 2020 | 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
For Children 4 Yrs. (potty trained) through Rising 6th Graders
This summer we will be hosting a week of music, drama, and arts at Grace Covenant that will culminate in a musical performance called “We Like Sheep!” Jeff Jones, Ednamae Fisher, Josie Moe, and Heather Ferguson, along with the Children’s and Family Ministry Committee invite children to this full week of fun, friends, and fuzzy, four-legged creatures as we sing, act, create and celebrate the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the One who made the flock complete.
Cost: $100/child
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: $75/child registered and PAID IN FULL by
Sunday, March 8, 2020.
Registration deadline – April 1, 2020
NOTE: Additional information will be requested after the registration deadline
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Remote Giving & Paperless Statements
Did you know that you can make donations and receive statements online? Here are a few different ways to stay up-to-date on your pledge remotely:
- MAIL gifts to the office at 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804
- BANK BILL PAY mails checks remotely, one-time or on a recurring schedule - contact your bank to set this up
- ONLINE at www.gcpcusa.org/ways-to-give - just click GIVE HERE
- SMARTPHONE with the Give+ Mobile App or by texting 828-266-0126 the amount you’d like to contribute
To sign up for
paperless statements or if you have any questions, please contact Natalie in our Finance Office at 828-254-3274, ext 202 or
nweaver@gcpcusa.org.
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Community Garden Spring Planting Day | Saturday, March 21 | 9:00 AM | GCPC Garden
Calling all gardeners – newbies or veterans!!
We need all hands-on-deck to help us get the new seeds and starts in the garden. Bring water, work gloves, a trowel and a willing spirit.
No experience necessary – just show up!
Regular garden workdays (Wednesdays and Saturdays) will begin in April. Questions? Contact Paul Stroebel at
pestroebel@gmail.com
.
The Grace Covenant Community Garden is a three season garden, tended spring through fall. The garden volunteers are organized into 4 teams; 2 teams work each week on Wednesday or Saturday for a total of 2 work days a month for each team. About 75% of the vegetables produced are donated to community organizations that serve our neighbors having difficulty affording fresh vegetables and in need of better nutrition. If you are interested in joining a team officially, please contact Paul Stroebel at
pestroebel@gmail.com
.
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Creating Sanctuary Team (CST)
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No Creating Sanctuary Team meeting this Sunday, March 8. If you can, please join PART on Thursday, March 12 @ 6:15 PM.
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Don’t forget! Souper Wednesday at PLS: March 18! Join this special ministry by making soup, bringing bread, creating treats, providing fruit, or hosting the staff of Pisgah Legal Services.
In February, Susan Presson, Rebecca Falls, and Nancy Gaskin provided a welcome lunch and hosted the PLS folks, who were “knee deep” in tax preparation work for marginalized clients and who appreciated the nourishing and delicious food prepared especially for them.
To learn more about this ministry and to serve those serving the underserved, contact Nancy Gaskin at
nancy.gaskin@gmail.com
.
Another way to support PLS? Attend Jazz for Justice on April 2! For info, check out
pisgahlegal.org/jazz
.
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Power and Race Team (PART)
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PART Meeting | March 12 | 6:15 PM
(note time change)
| Fellowship Hall
In PART over the past months we have been practicing relational meetings. At our next meeting, we will begin to look at where our passions for social justice intersect, and discuss actions we can take, including those with our church family. No prior attendance to PART is needed. We will also continue to practice our relational meetings. For more information, contact
Liz Huesemann or
Marcia Mount Shoop.
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Sunday PART:
PART is now gathering 2 times per month:
2nd Thursday @ 6:15pm and the 4th Sunday, @ 12:45pm.
Sunday PART Meeting | March 22 | 12:45pm | Garden Room
Join us as we continue learning together about relational meetings & other organizing tools. Everyone is welcome; this is another way each month to practice anti-racist actions and learning together. Contact
Liz Huesemann
or
Carol Hovis
.
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Racial Justice Book Series |
Thursday, May 14 | 12:00 PM | Jerusalem Room
For May
, we are reading
How to be an Antiracist
by Ibram X. Kendi
“The most courageous book to date on the problem of race in the Western mind.”—
The New York Times
Antiracism is a transformative concept that reorients and reenergizes the conversation about racism—and, even more fundamentally, points us toward liberating new ways of thinking about ourselves and each other. At it's core, racism is a powerful system that creates false hierarchies of human value; its warped logic extends beyond race, from the way we regard people of different ethnicities or skin colors to the way we treat people of different sexes, gender identities, and body types. Racism intersects with class and culture and geography and even changes the way we see and value ourselves. In
How to Be an Antiracist
, Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilites—that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their posionous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.
Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law, and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society.
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Resipiscence 2020: A Lenten Devotional for Dismantling White Supremacy
In
Resipiscence: A Lenten Devotional for Dismantling White Supremacy
, Vahisha Hasan and Nichola Torbett, the editors, curated 40+ contributors of many identities, theologies, and lived experiences across the U.S. who each reflect on Lent in a revolutionary and liberating way.
Click here
to order a paperback or ebook copy.
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Part of what
PART
does is to inform Grace Covenant about
racial equity work going on in the larger community.
The following are some events that PART recommends.
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"Asheville: 10 Things I've Been Meaning to Say to You" | Wednesday, March 25 | 6:30 PM | Asheville High School Auditorium
Please join Asheville City Schools Foundation and Asheville City Schools for an evening of spoken word and poetry performed by Asheville City high school and middle school students, followed by a presentation from Jason Reynolds, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and author of Ghost, the Track Series, As Brave As You, and Long Way Down. Click
HERE
for more information and tickets.
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This Sunday's Education Hour (for all ages)
Lenten Term | March 1 – April 5
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Pressure Points |
Many Paths to Prayer: Contemplative Prayer & Labyrinths | Fellowship Hall
"There are many ways to kneel and kiss the ground” -Rumi.
Join us for an educational and participatory class series exploring forms of contemplative prayer and the labyrinth as prayer walk. A labyrinth walk touches the walker before the walk begins, making space for an intuitive recognition that this time of spiritual practice is different or special and very sacred. Our intention for the class, then, is to add an opportunity to the life of our community to prepare, to reflect, to be more present and aware of God's mysterious and abiding presence in our lives. During this Lenten journey, we will be engaging labyrinths across town, within our own fellowship hall, and even in the palms of our hands.
Facilitators:
Jaan Ferree, Jim Branden, Johanna Manasse, and Mike Fleenor
*In week two, Mike Fleenor will lead us in "Experiencing Centering Prayer." The class will be a short primer and experiential session using one ancient Christian means to contemplative prayer with God.
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The Improv |
Parenting and Sabbath | Jerusalem Room
Parenting with a Sabbath mindset is a way of being that is rooted in our relationship with the Divine that generates opportunities for greater connection, congruence, grace and peace with our children. We will take a deep dive into the characteristics of Sabbath and their relevance to parenting. Each week we will explore intentional family spiritual practices to aid our children and ourselves to grow into the fullness of who we are as spiritual beings. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, mentor, or simply a fellow congregant to the children of GCPC, these conversations will help us deepen our relationships between generations and find places of grace within ourselves.
Facilitators: Caroline Wyrosdick-Webb and Janice Kominski
*
In our second gathering, we will be exploring Sabbath as holiness in time, which is not limited to a particular day. We'll explore how a Sabbath mindset can inform how we nurture the children in our lives.
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Digging In |
The Misunderstood Jew
: Understanding Jesus with Amy-Jill Levine | Choir Room
How did Jesus's Jewish faith as a First Century rabbi shape his ministry? What do Christians today need to know about the Jewishness of Jesus and how might we be misunderstanding him by taking him out of his religious context? Further, can ignoring Jesus's Jewish faith lead Christians to repeat anti-Jewish and anti-Semitic teachings? New Testament scholar and Jewish feminist Amy-Jill Levine writes that, "it is necessary to see Jesus as firmly within Judaism rather than as standing apart from it...A distorted picture of first-century Judaism inevitably leads to a distorted picture of Jesus." For Lent this year, we will be exploring Jesus,
The Misunderstood Jew, through her work.
Facilitators: Samantha Gonzalez-Block 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)
Elementary (grades 1-3) | Godly Play
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9:15–10:15 AM | Temple Room
(2
nd
floor)
Elementary (grades 4-5) | “CONNECT”
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9:15–10:15 AM | Indie Room
(2
nd
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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Winter Women's Memoir Series | 4th Monday of month | 6:00 PM | Jerusalem Room
Join us for a series of book talks focusing on memoirs written by people of faith. Open to all women of the church. One copy of each book can be found in the church library. Please pre-read the book to ensure lively discussion.
- March 30 | Shameless: A Sexual Reformation by Nadia Bolz-Weber | Facilitator: Amber White
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Ministry Partner News and Events...
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BeLoved Asheville presents
Bad Girls & the Aliens of Soul Dance Party | Friday, March 6 | 8:30 - 11:30 PM | Isis Music Hall
BeLoved can't wait to dance with you to some funky music!! We are super excited for our 2nd dance party with Bad Girls & the Aliens of Soul Dance Party, Alien Music Club, Isis Music Hall, and Jonathan Pearlman!! $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Click
HERE for more info.
All proceeds from this event go to BeLoved Asheville!
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Chefs In Action: A Night To Benefit Food Connection | Thursday, April 16, 2020 |
6 - 9 PM | The Century Room at Pack'sTavern | 20 S. Spruce St.
Please join Food Connection on April 16 for their 3rd Annual Chefs In Action fundraiser celebrating 5 years and 250,000 fresh meals rescued to feed our neighbors in need! Details
here
.
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Winner Winner Wednesday Dinner | March 11 | 6:00 PM | FH
Take a break from cooking and make some space for connecting with your church community.
This meal will be fried chicken and sides
.
These events are intergenerational.
*RSVP to Sherrie,
smeehan@gcpcusa.org
, by 12:00 pm on Monday, March 9
th
so we can have an estimate.
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Centering Prayer | Wednesday Nights | 6:30 - 7:00 PM | Sanctuary
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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*If you would like to play an instrument on Youth Sunday and have not yet met with Jeff,
please plan to bring your instrument and meet after 10:45 worship this Sunday (March 8).
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Important Youth Sunday & Sunday School Information
Youth Sunday School:
Youth Choir, Drama & Fun
(6th - 12th graders) | Every Sunday | 9:00-10:15 AM | Youth Rooms
During the season of Lent, we will be challenging ourselves to give up things that keep us from God and take on things that bring us closer to God.
We encourage all youth to be at Sunday School each week during Lent, so that we can prepare for Youth Sunday side-by-side, as one community in Christ. All Youth (no matter their desired roles as ushers, readers, etc.) are needed to share their ideas and energy. We will also practice our all-youth anthem. Let's get ready to fearlessly lead worship and share God's love with our GCPC family! Questions? Contact Samantha at
sgblock@gcpcusa.org
.
Other important dates:
*Finishing touches:
Sunday, March 22, 5-7pm
(Dinner provided!)
*Final rehearsal:
Saturday, March 28, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM (Donuts provided!)
*Youth Sunday:
Sunday, March 29, 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM (Breakfast snacks and cupcakes provided!)
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YOUTH GROUP THIS WEEKEND:
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Please keep in your prayers this week the seven senior high youth and adults—plus our delegates to the Presbytery Youth Council—who will be participating in the Presbytery Mission Retreat in Newton, N.C. this weekend.
*
*Please Note: There will be no programming for Senior High Youth this Sunday evening (March 8).
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Youth Group | Sunday, March 15 | 5:00 - 7:00 PM | Fellowship Hall
We will have youth group at the regular time on March 15, with dinner provided by the Parks & Kinton families. Look forward to seeing you there!
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Check Out the Lenten Prayer Stations!
For the season of Lent, the youth have created five interactive prayer stations for you to visit. These stations will be on display as an invitation for the whole congregation to reflect, pray and be present with God. Find them in the Atrium, Garden Overlook, near the Welcome Desk, in the hallway next to the upstairs Library, and in the Prayground area of the balcony.
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Senior High Montreat
Youth Conference
(Week 5: July 26-Aug. 1):
Don't miss out on the fun!
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Middle School Massanetta
Youth Conference
(Week 3: July 9-12):
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Asheville Youth Mission Day Camp (Mon., July 20 - Thurs., July 23):
Enjoy four days (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) of engaging in local mission! Those who have finished 6th-12th grades are eligible. The group will volunteer at 4-5 different local agencies and Asheville Youth Mission staff will lead devotions and reflections. AYM's partner agencies include: Root Cause Farm, Haywood Street Congregation, Homeward Bound, 12 Baskets Cafe, Manna FoodBank, and many more social-justice oriented agencies doing great things in our community! Cost is $250 per person. Register at
https://youthmissionco.org/registration/
and send any questions to Michael Poulos (
michael@youthmissionco.org
828-231-4635 x702).
**Please note: This is not an official GCPC activity, but a great summer opportunity we want to make you aware of!
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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)
Karen Luderman (Robin Gaiser's cousin)
Jeffrey Ferris (Mary Lou Nash's son)
Marcia Zuzel (friend of Kim Hottle and Melissa Shook)
Suzy Carter (David Carter's wife and Yvonne Smith's friend)
Eveline Damiano (Lisette de Groot's daughter)
Joseph Tierney (Paul Tierney's father)
Melissa Matherly Bowers (friend of Rick and Lynne Noble)
Family of Maria Mason (Serge and Carol Kavalhuna's friend)
Howard and Julia Clark (Elaine Blake's parents)
Glen & Tom Kilbourne (parents of Janet Martin)
John Waskey (Anna Hamel's uncle)
Hettie Lou Garland
Betty Smith
Margaret Rada
Bob Higgins
Cory Hartbarger
Florence Riedesel
Elizabeth Fisher
Doris Prak
Roslyn Carney
Allen Johnson
Sarah Frye
Dean Presson
Bill McNeff
Our sympathy and support are extended to Todd Fowler and family, following the death of his father, Rhulon Fowler, on February 26. Please keep the family in your prayers.
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Grace Covenant Community Out and About...
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March 2020
Enneagram Gatherings
There will be
no
gatherings the week of March 2nd & 9th.
We resume Monday, March 16th & Friday, March 20th
Mondays, 6-8pm
Fridays, 10am-12noon
In the A-Frame @ GCPC
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To Puerto Rico with love - a benefit for disaster relief | Saturday, March 21 | 5:00 - 9:00 PM | One World Brewing West (520 Haywood Rd.)
Hosted by
Sip and Speak
and
One World Brewing West.
In the wake of recent earthquakes amidst of devastating natural disasters the people on the island feel the government is unprepared to meet the needs of its citizens.
We would like our fellow compadres to know they are not alone. With this benefit. We will have a raffle and a special performance by Sol Rhythms and music by DJ HijX De La Chingada and a Puerto Rican food pop up by Jeremy Salig! also a letter writing station to send messages of hope to the island. We are working with a people and families on Puerto Rico to make sure all proceeds and donations get in the hands of people who need it the most. Click
HERE
for more information.
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Awakening the Dreamer Symposium | Saturday, March 28 | 10 AM - 1:30 PM | J
ubilee Community Church (46 Wall St.)
Attend a free workshop created by the Pachamama Alliance—the community that’s committed to bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, and socially just human presence on this planet.
• Learn where we are as a human family and how we got here.
• Discover your role in creating a sustainable future.
• Connect with like-minded, openhearted people and move into action.
Click
HERE
for more information.
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POAMN (Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network) presents: "Stronger Together: Faith in Action Across Generations" | April 30 - May 1, 2020 | Montreat Conference Center
This conference is for you if:
- You work with older adults in your congregation (lay or clergy)
- You want to build relationships across generations
- You seek to thrive after 55 in body, mind, and spirit
- You seek the latest on current issues of aging and the church
- You are a retired church professional
GCPC community members, Robin Gaiser and Lynn Bledsoe, are presenters at this conference. Please click
HERE for more information.
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church | 828.254.3274
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
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