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Worship Preview | Sunday, May 10, 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 (5/3-5/9) Patty Thompson | email: pattyellisthompson@gmail.com

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

Deacon of the Week Prayer

God of All Creation,

We thank you for the glorious beauty we see all around us as spring is in full bloom! Thank you that we can bask in the joy of the natural world in the midst of all the early challenges of humanity. 

We continue to think of Marcia this week and pray for her as her sabbatical gets underway. We also pray for us as our community works together and cares for one another. May the Spirit guide us. Amen.



~Patty Thompson

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. 

Racial Equity Institute (REI) Phase I Workshop | Friday, May 8, - Saturday, May 9 | 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | GCPC Sanctuary

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."

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

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 week's pantry day:

• boxed cereal
• peanut butter
• green beans
• rice
• baby wipes

Everyone please bring one (or more) this Sunday!

GCPC Campfire Collective | Thursday, May 14 | 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. 

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!

GCPC Blood Drive | Saturday, May 16 |

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

30 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.

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!

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

Livestream for Tami Forte Logan's Graduation

Let's celebrate with Tami as she graduates with a D. Min. degree from Candler School of Theology! A livestream link will be available at the following link below at 9:00 AM Eastern time on May 9:

Commencement | Candler School of Theology

Congratulations Tami!!

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. She will also be preaching and leading worship many Sundays during Marcia's sabbatical.

Tami Forte Logan (61) speaks with her friend and colleague Marcia Mount Shoop (56) about the days at The Grace Covenant Church after Hurricane Helene.

Recorded on September 30, 2025.

Listen here!

GraceNote - Marcia's Sabbatical

Click here to read the GraceNote describing Marcia's sabbatical

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

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.

GCPC has a new roof! Due to damaged sustained in Hurricane Helene (and aging), the roof on the Administrative Building and over the Narthex and A-Frame rooms has been redone. Little Bird Roofing started on Tuesday and by Wednesday evening they had completed the whole job!

On Saturday, May 2 Team 2 had twenty garden volunteers who harvested the following produce that was shared with Western Carolina Rescue Ministries.

On Wednesday, May 6, Team 3 had six garden volunteers who harvested the following produce that was shared with the YWCA and Montmorenci United Methodist, and Haywood Christian.

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.

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. 

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]

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!