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Table of Contents
- Pics of the week
- This Week @ GCPC - Calendar and description of events this week @ GCPC
- Stewardship & Sustainability
- Important Announcements
- Prayer List
- GCPC Community Garden News
- Upcoming @ GCPC
- Community Working Together - Includes info from Covenant & Ministry Partners
- GCPC Out & About - Info about events in the wider Asheville community
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Worship Preview | Sunday, May 3, 2026
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Anniversary Sunday
In-person and online service
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Deacon of the Week:
The Deacon of the Week is available to talk, provide support, and coordinate care if needed. You are not alone. You are loved. Please reach out to our deacon of the week if you have any needs or concerns.
This week (4/26-5/2) Michelle Chromey | email: monelchromey@gmail.com
Next week (5/3-5/9) Patty Thompson | email: pattyellisthompson@gmail.com
Deacon of the Week Prayer
God, in the myriad of distractions and distresses, help us to remember to take deep breaths of gratitude for your presence within us and among us. For all in our community who are stretched thin physically, financially, relationally or spiritually, heal us in ways we hardly know how to ask.
For Pastor Marcia, as she begins her sabbatical time next week, may she enjoy time to rest and focus on her writing rather than the myriad of daily directions and relationships she inhabits as our pastor. May it be a time of being about the 'one thing necessary' for her. During this time, may we commit to pray for her and commit to going the extra mile as 'the Body of Christ' in and around the GCPC community.
Amen.
| | Stewardship & Sustainability | | |
How to Make Your 2026 Pledge
| | | Friday, May 1 | Parents' Night Out! | 5:30 - 8:30 | Fellowship Hall/Atrium | | Saturday, May 2 | Garden Workday (Team 2) | 9:00 - 11:00 am | Garden | | Sunday, May 3 | Childcare (Ages 0-Pre-K) | begins at 9:00 am | | Sunday, May 3 | Worship Service
(In-person and online) | 10:00 am on Youtube | | Sunday, May 3 | Youth Group Gathering | 4:00 - 6:00 pm | GCPC | | Tuesday, May 5 | Prayer Group | 10:00 am | Youth Room | | Wednesday, May 6 | Garden Workday (Team 3) | 9:00 - 11:00 am | Garden | | Wednesday, May 6 | Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group | 10:45 am | Garden Room (Admin. Building) | | Wednesday, May 6 | GCPC Choir | 6:45 pm | Choir Room | | Friday, May 8 -
Saturday, May 9 | REI Training | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
GCPC Sanctuary | | Saturday, May 9 | Garden Workday (Team 4) | 9:00 - 11:00 am | Community Garden | | |
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Parents' Night Out | Friday, May 1 | 5:30 - 8:30 PM | Fellowship Hall/Atrium/Outside
Our next Parents' Night Out event will be Friday, May 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. As the weather continues to warm up we will spend as much time outside as we can! This may include time on the playground, group games, visits to the community garden, and more.
There will also be some crafts and other activities for the kids. As always, kids are asked to bring their own dinner and we will provide snacks, drinks, and dessert.
Email Chelsea at chelsea@gcpcusa.org with any questions or concerns.
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ALL Youth Group | Sunday, May 3 | 4:00 - 6:00 PM | @ GCPC
Join us May 3 from 4pm-6pm for a Youth Service project at the church.
Meal provided by Mesheala. Activities include : Organizing the Grace Abounds Food Pantry with Cathy and harvesting fresh vegetables with Allison.
This is a time for our GCPC youth to come together to learn the importance of fresh food that comes from the Earth and how it nourishes our community. As well as sharing a yummy meal together!
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Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group Mtg. | Wednesday, May 6 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Garden Room (Admin. Building)
This support group introduces techniques for daily living with such issues, led by Paul Rogers, a retired physician in our congregation and supported by other pastors in the GCPC community. We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. New participants welcome at any time.
Contact Anna Louise, annalouise@gcpcusa.org, with questions.
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GCPC Choir | Wednesdays | 6:45 PM | Choir Room
The choir is open to all youth and adults who have a love and curiosity for creating music together! No previous experience or training is necessary. You will be welcomed with open arms and supported as you discover or rediscover your singing voice. Childcare is provided for those who have little ones. I hope you will consider adding your wonderful presence and voice to our choir! ~ Ray
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The next local, in-person Racial Equity Institute (REI) Phase I Workshop is taking place for two full days, Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9.
Sign up NOW - there are still spots left!!
From the REI website: "REI’s two-day workshop is designed to develop the capacity of participants to better understand racism in its institutional and structural forms. Moving away from a focus on personal bigotry and bias, this workshop presents a historical, cultural, and structural analysis of racism. With shared language and a clearer understanding of how institutions and systems are producing unjust and inequitable outcomes, participants should leave the training better equipped to begin to work for change."
We hope you will be able to attend this training. Please register here to reserve your spot. Contact information for organizers to whom you can direct your questions is also available on the registration page.
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2026 GCPC Budget
Dear GCPC Community, as I mentioned in worship last week, a big thank you to all the work of our Stew Crew, the Finance Council, the Session, and whole community for all your hard work to make the 2026 budget work. You can see the approved 2026 budget HERE. We are especially grateful to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Truist Bank, the Red Cross, the United Way, and the Buncombe County LTRG for the staffing grants that support staffing for our long term Hurricane Helene recovery work. Thank you to all who pledged for 2026. It’s not too late to pledge if you have not already. When we all practice giving and receiving how we are able, we can do and be who God is calling us to be together! ~Marcia
Click here to see the 2026 GCPC approved budget
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GCPC Blood Drive | Saturday, May 16 |
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Fellowship Hall
Every year the Deacons host a Red Cross Blood Drive at GCPC. This year's Blood Drive will be on May 16.
Remember that the Power Red slots are to donate two units of red blood cells during one donation. Please view eligibility requirements for this slot before you sign up.
A Deacon will be at a table after worship for the next several weeks to get you signed up to help save lives! Or you can sign yourself up at the link below!
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Grace Abounds Food Pantry | Thursday, May 14 |
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Sanctuary
We believe the pantry embodies the church’s commitment to service and compassion. We try to keep our shelves stocked with canned goods, rice, beans, crackers, granola bars, cereal and other items. We also provide diapers, baby wipes and feminine products. Our pantry is stocked completely with donations. This is where we need your support to keep our pantry open.
Needs for next pantry day:
- boxed cereal
- pasta/pasta sauce
- crackers
- tortillas
- dried beans
Everyone please bring one (or more) this Sunday!
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GCPC Community Garden
NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!
The 2026 garden season is just around the corner and we need more volunteers for the garden team. This is a wonderful way to commune in nature with GCPC members and neighbors alike, all while growing food to share with various communities around Asheville. All ages are welcome... come grow with us!
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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. Email prayer@gcpcusa.org to add someone to the prayer list.
Iglesia Jerusalem congregation
The Reparations Process in Asheville/Buncombe County (From PART)
Kathy McNeff Gerace (Bill McNeff’s sister)
Richard Charles Goater (JoAnn Schafer’s brother)
Ruth Fenk (Cathy Froehlich’s mom)
Mark Tierney (Officer in the Air Force reserves; Paul Tierney’s son and Margaret Belk’s stepson)
Lisa Bishop (friend of Marta Alcalá)
Joseph Harris (Tamiko Ambrose’s dad)
Susie Churchfield
Michelle Chromey and family
Alexandra Lusak
Jude Kaye (Linda Van Sciver’s wife)
Mesheala Sundblade
MC Ellis
Liz Huesemann
Jane Stoffer
Anne Turnage
Jimmy Hare and family on the death of his sister, Mary Beth
Chelsea West and family on the death of her uncle, Alan Dupas
| | | | On Wednesday, April 22 (EARTH DAY!), twenty garden volunteers harvested 10.5 lbs. of chard, 45 lbs. of collards, 4.7 lbs. of kale, 61 lbs. of lettuce, and 64 lbs. of spinach that was shared with Grace Abounds Food Pantry and Bountiful Cities. They also fertilized some beds. | | |
PART (Power and Race Team) will NOT meet in May.
Our next meeting will be on June 4 on Zoom @ 6PM
Rev Tami Forte will explore with PART her doctoral research on GCPC's essential work of dismantling structural racism in the life of our church, decentering whiteness, and divorcing ourselves from white supremacy. This will be an opportunity to reflect together on how we are moving toward true equitable belonging.
Tami is now on staff at GCPC as the Community Engagement Manager for Helene Recovery. She will supervise, administer, and facilitate community engagement, partnership collaborations, stakeholder discernment, and coordinate disaster case management. This is such good news. Thanks be to God.
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Pride Collective Gathering | Saturday, May 16 | 11:00 AM | Tropical Gardens Miniature Golf
Let’s go golfing (miniature that is)! Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 16 at 11:00 am for a rousing round of miniature golf at Tropical Gardens, located at 956 Patton Avenue.
Only $9 per person and includes a sno-cone afterward!
Then, those who want to can scoot down to Chipotle for a yummy lunch!
Let me know if you’re in by Friday, May 15. Thanks and FORE!!!
Chris Callaway at christinecallaway4@gmail.com
| | Community Working Together | | |
Hard 2 Recycle East | Saturday, May 9 | 10 AM - 2 PM | AC Reynolds High School
Your favorite waste reduction drive-thru event comes back to AC Reynolds High School.
[Volunteer here] [See accepted items here]
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One Way To Take Action
There are many ways to be engaged in resisting and opposing what this Federal Administration and the leadership of the NC General Assembly are doing. While a lot of attention is being given to the rallies and protests around the region, state and nation, and deservedly so, there are other ways to show your disapproval or just offer your thoughts.
People are voicing objections and offering alternatives through writing letters to the editor or op-ed's, often referred to as opinion pieces, to local, statewide or even national media. There are typically submission requirements, and it is often best to consider writing a piece to submit to your local newspapers first.
As part of this effort, knowing which media to approach is an important first step. This listing of WNC print media can be a good start. The listing not only looks at the counties covered by each of the media, but it also lists which NC House and Senate members serve those counties. Knowing which media to target can be helpful because most NC General Assembly members pay attention to media in the areas they serve.
A second step is knowing how to frame your letter to the editor or op-ed. Several years ago, a group of folks worked on ways to expand Medicaid in NC, and this overview gave those writing a letter to the editor some helpful tips. I recently wrote a letter to the editor to the Asheville Citizen-Times that was published on April 15th. Here is that page along with some other examples that may be helpful to you as you consider voicing your thoughts and opinions in this way.
For those who already are using their voice in this manner, thank you for doing so!
Thanks for all you continue to do to maintain our democracy, support social justice, and make positive change! If there are people wishing to subscribe to this e-newsletter, they only need to complete this form and click the subscribe button.
Ron Katz
Editor
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12 Baskets Café & Asheville Poverty Initiative
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The MLK Association of Asheville & Buncombe County M.A.R.C.H. newsletter
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The church office is open Tuesday - Thursday, 10am - 3pm.
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 video doorbell to assist with security. To access the building or office, please enter through the far left glass doors off the courtyard (the one labeled Enter). Ring the doorbell to have the door unlocked. The GCPC office is to the right, down the hall, past the Sanctuary.
You can also reach our staff by email or phone at 828.254.3274
Marcia Mount Shoop - marcia@gcpcusa.org, x. 203
Ray Landis - ray@gcpcusa.org, x. 207
Anna Louise Murchison - annalouise@gcpcusa.org, x. 201
Tami Forte Logan - tami@gcpcusa.org
Sue Kersbergen (FINANCE OFFICE) - sue@gcpcusa.org
Denise Ochoa (FINANCE OFFICE)- denise@gcpcusa.org
Olivia Goldstein - olivia@gcpcusa.org
Jonathan Barros - jonathan@gcpcusa.org
Dani Hernandez - dani@gcpcusa.org
Marcella Martinez - marcella@gcpcusa.org
April Andrews - april@gcpcusa.org
Jasmine Moore - jasmine@gcpcusa.org
Chelsea West - chelsea@gcpcusa.org
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
828.254.3274
www.gcpcusa.org
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