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Worship Preview | Sunday, May 17, 2026

Sixth Sunday of Easter

In-person and online service

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 (5/10-5/16) Roberto Martinez | email: robolisa2@hotmail.com

Next week (5/17-5/23) Michelle Chromey | email: monelchromey@gmail.com

Deacon of the Week Prayer

Mother Creator of all that Is, Goddess of Love and Light,

Give us strength and understanding to navigate through this broken world. Repel the dark past that seeks to reassert itself into the present. Give us the courage to confront ignorance and hate. One Love. Amen.



~Roberto Martinez

Click here to read the "Envision the Possibilities" Stewardship Letter

How to Make Your 2026 Pledge

• Scan the QR code for a link to the online Pledge Card
• Click here: https://onrealm.org/gcpcusa/-/form/pledge/envision 
• Email your pledge and giving frequency to giving@gcpcusa.org
• Email Sue Kersbergen (sue@gcpcusa.org) or Denise Ochoa (denise@gcpcusa.org) in the Finance Office at GCPC to help you get set up. 

GCPC Blood Drive | Saturday, May 16 |

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Fellowship Hall

20 spots left! SIGN UP TODAY!!

Every year the Deacons host a Red Cross Blood Drive at GCPC. This year's 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.

Sign yourself up at the link below!

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

ALL Youth Group: Head Space Hang Out with MC! | Sunday, May 17 | 4:00 - 6:00 PM | GCPC Memorial Garden

All youth (6-12 grade) are invited to hang with MC on Sunday. There will be snacks, conversation, and a game! This is a supportive and welcoming environment where folks are able to check in and build community!

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group Mtg. | Wednesday, May 20 | 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.

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

GCPC Writing Collective | Thursday, May 21 | 5:00 PM | Indie Room

If you love to write and welcome a chance to be creative and supportive around writing in community, come to the GCPC Writing Collective on the third Thursday of the month in the Indie Room (Education Wing) at 5 pm. Come as you are and when you can. Bring a journal and something to write with or your laptop and any food you wish to have.

This will be a supportive, generative gathering that centers the way writing makes space for creativity, expression, connection, and healing. The group will be convened by Marcia Mount Shoop, Margaret Belk and others. Feel free to reach out with questions.

GCPC Ringers (Bell Choir) | Thursdays | 6:30 PM | Balcony

Would you like to be part of a Hand Bell Choir? Rehearsals will take place on Thursday evenings in the balcony from 6:30 - 7:45 pm. All high school youth and adults are welcome! All that is needed is curiosity and joy for making music in community. You will be gently supported on your music journey. Please contact Ray at ray@gcpcusa.org if you are interested!

Congratulations Rev. Dr. Tami Forte Logan!

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!

GCPC Nametags

If you are in need of a new nametag,

please email Anna Louise at annalouise@gcpcusa.org.

On Saturday, May 9 Team 4 had six garden volunteers who harvested the following produce that was shared with Loving Food Resources. They also weeded several beds.

On Wednesday, May 13, Team 1 had ten garden volunteers who harvested the following produce that was shared with YTL families. They also planted squash and cucumber and weeded several beds.

Grace Abounds Food Pantry | Thursday, May 28 |

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.

If everyone in the community can bring one item on Sunday we could restock the store!

Needs for next pantry day:

• canned chicken
• canned tuna
• pasta sauce
• pasta

5th Sunday Deacon Celebration | Sunday, May 31 | following worship | GCPC Narthex/Courtyard

Join us on the 5th Sunday for fellowship time with the Deacons and each other!

Pride Collective Gathering | Friday, June 5 | 6:00 PM | Fellowship Hall

On Friday, June 5 at 6pm, we will have a book discussion on the book The Rainbow Ain't Never Been Enuf: On the Myth of LGBTQ+ Solidarity by Kaila Adia Story. If anyone is looking for free/cheap places to read it, it's available on Everand as ebook and audiobook with a 30 day free trial. It's also on Spotify if you have a premium subscription.  

https://www.everand.com/book/852930679/The-Rainbow-Ain-t-Never-Been-Enuf-On-the-Myth-of-LGBTQ-Solidarity

We'll be using this as way to facilitate discussion about how white supremacy culture shows up in queer community and ourselves as queer people. So even if you're not able to get all the way through, please feel free to join us. And while we want this to be a community led discussion, if anyone feels called to help facilitate or has a topic or chapter you really want to make sure we discuss, feel free to reach out to Malachi or Rachel. 

Cancer Support Ministry Gathering | Thursday, June 18 | 7:00 - 8:30 PM | Fellowship Hall

The Cancer Support Ministry is having a gathering on Thursday, June 18th at 7:00 PM here at GCPC. Coffee/tea and sweet treats will be served. We hope anyone that has had cancer, is a survivor, newly diagnosed or in treatment will attend. It is a great opportunity to share our experiences and create some joy in a difficult time. Please register on Realm or reach out to a committee member, Kimo Hyatt or Bill McNeff. There is no fee to attend. We look froward to seeing you there. 

Our speaker will be Kelly Harrison. Mr. Harrison is an ACE and ACSM Certified Personal Trainer. He specializes in Specialized weight loss, pre/post rehabilitation training, special populations, and sports performance. Kelley is currently working at the Reuters YMCA.

His presentation will discuss the positive benefits of exercise for those with cancer and those who are survivors.

GCPC Goes to the Ballpark! | Thursday, July 2 | 7:00 PM | McCormick Field (HomeTrust Park)

Join us on Thursday night, July 2 for a Tourists’ game with your GCPC community!



All tickets cost $11.00. Please pay online with Realm or mail your check to the church (789 Merrimon Ave., AVL 28804) with "Tourists Game" in the memo line.

Do you want to meet other gardners and learn from them? Do you want to share extra plants and seeds? Do you need extra plants and seeds?

Be part of our Garden Network!

Wheather you are a community gardener, home gardner, or market gardner our potlucks are opportunities to learn and see what other people are doing in their gardens! At the May 15th potluck you can bring seeds and plants to share, and we will get to tour an extensive home garden! 

Pisgah Legal - Community Conversation on Immigration

If you missed the event or would like to watch again,

you can view the recording below.

The time is here!! Tickets are on sale for our Spring concert "Where the Hope Comes From". You’ll see familiar faces: Andrea Rosal and Mesheala Sundblade.

Does the world have you down? Join us for our Spring concert that is intended to uplift and inspire! Accompanied by our live band, we’ll sing longtime favorites along with contemporary hits. Mesheala Sundblade will be leading us in a group favorite- “Still I Rise.” Singing for joy, social justice and community empowers us – that’s where the hope comes from!

Mark your calendars and plan to attend a concert on Friday, May 15 @ 7p or Saturday, May 16 @ 3p. We look forward to seeing you there!