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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 31, 2026
Trinity 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 (5/24-5/30) Abi Hölder | email: a.bee.holder.333@gmail.com
Next week (5/31-6/6) Therese Schuele | email: thereseschuele@gmail.com
Deacon of the Week Prayer
Spirit, I put my hands in yours and together we can do what I could never do alone.
No longer is there a sense of hopelessness.
No longer must I depend upon my own unsteady will power.
I ask for your guidance and thank you for another day and for the ways we are all connected, living, breathing creatures.
Thank you for your presence in my life.
~ Abi Hölder
| | Stewardship & Sustainability | | |
How to Make Your 2026 Pledge
| | | Saturday, May 30 | Garden Workday (Team 2) | 9:00 - 11:00 am | Garden | | Sunday, May 31 | Childcare (Ages 0-Pre-K) | begins at 9:00 am | | Sunday, May 31 | Worship Service
(In-person and online) | 10:00 am on Youtube
(Facebook Link) | | Sunday, May 31 | Deacon Hosted
Fellowship Time! | following worship | Courtyard | | Sunday, May 31 | Campus Vision Team Mtg. | 1:00 pm | Indie Room | | Tuesday, June 2 | Prayer Group | 10:00 am | Youth Room | | Tuesday, June 2 | Worship Council Mtg. | 5:30 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, June 2 | Formation Council Mtg. | 7:00 pm on Zoom | | Wednesday, June 3 | Garden Workday (Team 3) | 9:00 - 11:00 am | Garden | | Wednesday, June 3 | Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group | 10:45 am | Garden Room (Admin. Building) | | Thursday, June 4 | PART (Power & Race Team) Mtg. | 6:00 pm on Zoom | | Friday, June 5 | Pride Collective Gathering: Book Discussion & Potluck | 6:00 pm | Fellowship Hall | | Saturday, June 6 | Garden Workday (Team 4) | 9:00 - 11:00 am | Community Garden | | | |
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! We will have fruit and lemonade!
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Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group Mtg. | Wednesday, June 3 | 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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PART (Power & Race Team) Mtg. | Thursday, June 4 | 6:00 PM | Zoom
Rev. Dr. Tami Forte Logan 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.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91314445389 Meeting ID: 913 1444 5389 | Passcode: 789
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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.
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Our new neighbor, Mountain Madre!
Our newish neighbor, Mountain Madre, is now open for brunch on Sunday! Please stop by after church to enjoy some good eats.
They are also now open for lunch (and dinner) on Friday and Saturday as well as dinner on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.
The owner, Danny Scully, has been a wonderful supporter of Grace Covenant since they have moved in! Let's share some love back!
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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)
Tony, Brenda Iglecia's husband
Susie Churchfield
Michelle Chromey and family
Alexandra Lusak
Jude Kaye (Linda Van Sciver’s wife)
Mesheala Sundblade
MC Ellis
Liz Huesemann
Jane Stoffer
Bill McNeff
John Brigham
| | | | On Saturday, May 23 Team 4 had ten garden volunteers who harvested the following produce that was shared with Loving Food Resources. | | On Wednesday, May 27, Team 1 had eleven garden volunteers who harvested the following produce that was shared with YTL families. They also weeded several beds. | | |
Grace Abounds Food Pantry | Thursday, June 11 |
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 week:
- canned black beans
- boxed cereal
- cheese and peanut butter crackers
- fruit cups
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GCPC Campfire Collective | Thursday, June 11 | 5:00 PM | Garden Room
We all have stories to tell. Come share your real experiences and stories in the company of other folks of good will. Warm up, cultivate joy, go light or go deep. Imagine sitting around the campfire together – remembering, sharing, laughing, connecting, opening our hearts and minds, learning, and supporting.
Each gathering will open with a moment of centering and reflecting on a theme or a question. Then each person will be offered time to share an anecdote or a brief story that carries personal meaning to which the group may respond.
Come as often as you like. Everyone is welcome. Sharing our stories in a semi-structured framework, we will deepen friendships and build community. (And bring a whittling stick if you have one!) John Huie and others will facilitate.
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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.
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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.
| | Community Working Together | | |
Family Jam | Saturday, June 27 | 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | HomeTrust Park (formerly McCormick Field) — (30 Buchanan Place)
Bring your kids, your friends, and your dancing shoes for a FREE outdoor concert festival! Enjoy live performances by Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Billy Jonas Band & Bluestreak, activities for all ages, and a summer day full of fun — all while supporting Food Connection’s mission to reduce food waste and ease hunger in our community.
• FREE Admission
• Food & Drink for purchase
• Donations welcome
If you own a business or know of one interested in sponsoring this event, reach out to Natasha for sponsorship opportunities: natasha@food-connection.org
Parking: Street parking; Memorial Lot (above the stadium); Minnie Jones Health Center (257 Biltmore Avenue)
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Supporting Access to Voting - Two Ways to Take Action
With threats nationally and within NC, the opportunity to vote is under attack. There is a broad range of concerns about voting including the gerrymandering of districts and the creation of rules that disenfranchise or confuse voters. Here are two ways you and others can voice concerns while also promoting fair and equal opportunities to vote.
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NC Board of Elections Proposed Rule Changes: There are several rule changes being proposed by this statewide Board that would negatively impact voters. Common Cause NC provides details about what those rule changes would do and specifies ways you can offer your comments to the NC Board of Elections here. There is a 60-day comment period (until July 14th), but people are encouraged to send in their comments ASAP. Please share with others
- Social Media Campaign: As we approach the 2026 midterm elections, it is clear that there are going to be many challenges for people to vote. The federal administration, the NC Board of Elections and the NC General Assembly have made and are still making changes that will make things confusing and/or difficult for individuals to vote. Supporting people to vote and vote their values will be crucial!
- Do you want to promote voting in 2026? Here is one way to do so. If you are interested, I will be providing a weekly posting on Facebook starting in June. I did this in 2020, 2022 and 2024 and before the primary earlier this year to help people navigate the election. If you would like to repost on social media by sharing the link, feel free to do so. However, if you would like to get a heads up earlier than my Facebook posting, let me know, and I will send the post to you directly. Feel free to send an email to me or message me on Facebook if you are interested or have questions!
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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