Click "View entire message" to see the full newsletter | |
Table of Contents
- Pics of the week
- This Week @ GCPC - Calendar and description of events this week @ GCPC
- Important Announcements
- Prayer List
- Stewardship & Sustainability
- Upcoming @ GCPC
- GCPC Community Garden News
- Community Working Together - Includes info from Covenant & Ministry Partners
- GCPC Out & About - Info about events in the wider Asheville community
| | | | |
Worship Preview | Sunday, November 16, 2025
In-person and online service
| | |
Deacon of the Week:
The deacons of Grace Covenant are available to talk and pray with you by phone or online and to coordinate care. Please reach out to our deacon of the week if you have any needs or concerns.
This week (11/9-11/15) Therese Schuele | email: thereseschuele@gmail.com
Next week (11/16-11/22) Tyler Cook | email: tylercook.gcpcusa@gmail.com
Deacon of the Week Prayer:
We are indeed your chosen people, God, and our lives must recognize that "we" means everyone. To be chosen isn't a show of your favoritism of one person over another, one group of people over another, or one nation over another.Instead, it means we have an obligation to live our lives in a way that reflects our choice to follow you. That isn't always easy. We need you and each other to encourage, model, and reinforce the behavior necessary for us to be in reciprocal right relationships. Please be patient as we seek to tamp down thoughts of superiority, and help us treat each other as fellow chosen ones.
~ Therese Schuele
| | Stewardship & Sustainability | | |
How to Make Your 2026 Pledge
| | | Sunday, November 16 | GCPC Childcare (0-PreK) | begins at 9:00 am | | Sunday, November 16 | Hybrid Worship
(In-person and online) | 10:00 am | Sanctuary
(also on Youtube) | | Sunday, November 16 | ALL Youth Group
(6th-12th grade) | 12:00 pm | Youth Room | | Sunday, November 16 | Music with Ray!
(K - 5th grade) | 12:00 pm | Robing Room | | Sunday, November 16 | Stew Crew Lunch | 12:45 pm | Green Sage | | Tuesday, November 18 | Prayer Group | 10:00 am | Youth Room | | Tuesday, November 18 | Finance Council Mtg. | 5:30 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, November 18 | Serve Council Mtg. | 6:30 pm | Indie Room | | Wednesday, Nov. 19 | Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group | 10:45 am | Garden Room (Admin. Building) | | Wednesday, Nov. 19 | Music with Ray
(Pre-K - 5th Grade) | 5:30 pm | Robing Room | | Wednesday, Nov. 19 | Centering Prayer | 6:00 pm | Sanctuary | | Wednesday, Nov. 19 | GCPC Choir Practice | 6:30 pm | Choir Room | | Thursday, November 20 | GCPC Food Distribution | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm | Sanctuary | | Thursday, November 20 | Writing Collective | 5:00 pm | Indie Room | | Thursday, November 20 | GCPC Ringers (Bell Choir) | 6:30 pm | Choir Room | | Friday, November 21 | Parents' Night Out! | 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm | Fellowship Hall & Atrium | | | |
ALL Youth Group (6th-12th grade) | Sunday, November 16 | 12:00 PM | Youth Room
This week at youth group we are picking back up on conversations about worship that we had a few weeks ago. Come up to the youth room at 12 to eat, talk, and have a good time.
| | |
Music with Ray! (K - 5th Grade) | Sunday, November 16 | 12:00 PM | Robing Room
Music with Ray is a nurturing space where children can discover and express their amazing creativity through play, singing, movement, and playing instruments (chimes/bells, Orff barred instruments, and drums). Children will have opportunities to share their music making in our Sunday morning worship services as they feel ready. Come and bring friends!
| | |
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group Mtg. | Wednesday, November 19 | 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.
| |
Wednesday Nights @ GCPC - *note new times of events
| | |
Music with Ray (Pre-K - 5th Grade) | 5:30 PM | Robing Room
Music with Ray is a nurturing space where children can discover and express their amazing creativity through play, singing, movement, and playing instruments (chimes/bells, Orff barred instruments, and drums). Children will have opportunities to share their music making in our Sunday morning worship services as they feel ready. Come and bring friends!
| |
|
Centering Prayer | 6:00 PM | Sanctuary
Pray with GCPC with this simple ritual. Light the God Candle and say blessings in your silence. We turn to our inward self and repeat a phrase such as Peace of Christ. If your mind wanders, it is okay. Just return to your phrase. Be gentle with yourself. After 20-30 minutes the candle is blown out and we show or say the Peace of Christ to each other. Rest in the peace as you leave.
If you can not be at GCPC, light a candle and be present to God.
| |
|
GCPC Choir | 6:30 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 Food Distribution | Thursdays | 11 AM - 1 PM | Sanctuary
Join us as a volunteer to help with food distribution on Thursdays and/or help us stock the supply center with the items listed below.
| | |
GCPC Writing Collective | Thursday, November 20 | *5:00 PM (note new time) | 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 6 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 | Choir Room
Would you like to be part of a Hand Bell Choir? Rehearsals will take place on Thursday evenings in the Choir Room 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!
| | |
November Parents' Night Out! | Friday, November 21 | 5:30 - 8:30 PM | Fellowship Hall
Kids 0-5th grade are invited to spend time with volunteers and staff on a Friday evening while parents connect. This event is free!.
ALL KIDS SHOULD PACK A SACK DINNER.
We will provide drinks and dessert.
| | |
Meal Train for Olivia Goldstein
Olivia is having back surgery and needs our help and support! Let's show her some GCPC love while she is recovering!
Sign up here:
https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/2wzmv8
| | |
The GCPC Guatemala Partnership Committee thanks everyone who participated in the Sunday celebration of our partnership with Iglesia Jerusalem. Please note that we still have prayer cards to hand out. These are like baseball cards, with photos of students who receive GCPC scholarship. Take one and pray for that student. We’ll hand them out in the narthex after church. Also available is info about how you can represent GCPC by visiting our partner church in February.
~ Kelley Griffith, chair of the committee.
| |
|
Dear Grace Covenant siblings in North Carolina,
It is a pleasure to send greetings to you through this letter. On this 30th anniversary of partnership, we wanted to send you some small souvenirs from our country, hoping that you would be able to distribute them however you think best. We also are sending letters of gratitude from Jerusalem Church’s scholarship students.
You are always in our prayers and we are amazed by your love and the way you dedicate yourselves to the work of God, especially your work in the community with Hurricane Helene victims. May the Lord multiply the blessings you are providing.
Thank you for the partnership that we’ve had for years. We love you in Christ.
Sincerely,
Rosabel Galindo
Secretary of the Session
Jerusalem Church, Coatepeque, Guatemala
| | | | |
Would you like to help usher on Sunday mornings at GCPC?
We are looking for a few more folks to helpm with ushering on Sundays. It is a great way to get to know folks at GCPC! If you are able to assist, please email Anna Louise at annalouise@gcpcusa.org.
| | |
REALM Contact Information Updates!!
Please take a moment to add/update your contact information (including mailing address) in Realm. This helps us stay connected as a community.
Click HERE to login to Realm.
| | |
Updated rental support video from Marcia Mount Shoop!
| | |
|
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 - specifically Marco Antonio Girón, Otilia de Ríos, Telma Camas, Helmont López, Jazmín López, Silvia Aquino, Dulce Maldonado, Victoria Lorenzo, Lorenzo Delgado, Rosabel Galindo
The Reparations Process in Asheville/Buncombe County (From PART)
Ariana DeToro-Forlenza (friend of Marta Alcala)
Baker Giduz (Lee Carol and Bob’s son)
Kimberly and daughters
Claudio Ivan Nuñez (father of Sarah Nuñez)
Joe Stern (Larry Stern’s brother)
Laura Meacham Keene (Kathy Meacham's sister)
Michael Riedesel (nephew of Steve Riedesel)
Suzanne Tierney (Paul Tierney's mom)
Theo (friend of Stacy and Kelly Haddenham)
BABES Network
Jasmine (Tami Forte Logan's daughter)
Susie Churchfield
Peggy Rada (now under hospice care)
Bonnie Stone
Michelle Chromey and family
Nancy Litten
Alexandra Lusak
Lynne Meacham
Jude Kaye (Linda Van Sciver’s wife)
Robin and Gordon Gaiser
Kelly Haddenham
| | | | |
Pride Collective Gathering | Saturday, December 6 | 5:00 PM | Susan & Joyce Foster's house
Joyce and Susan Foster will be hosting a Christmas party for the Pride Collective at their home on December 6 at 5pm. We will be having dinner and a white elephant gift exchange. Joyce and Susan will be providing soups as the main course. Please bring a salad, side, or dessert to share, along with a gift for the white elephant exchange that is $20 or less.
| | Community Working Together | | |
Safe Shelter Update!
"Both Winter Safe Shelter locations have been near or at capacity this past week. We have had multiple nights where all 60 beds at Safe Shelter have been full.
As we serve 3x our year-round capacity, our supply needs are greater than ever.
We are deeply grateful for our community in helping us meet many of our urgent needs before the cold spell this past weekend. Many of our needs from our previous list have been met — thank you for all of your support!
If you are able to continue helping Safe Shelter during our winter expansion, here is our updated needs list. Drop off donations anytime between 12pm-7pm at Home: West Asheville Hub, 27 Balm Grove Avenue, Asheville, NC 28806"
| | |
Open Enrollment for 2026 Marketplace coverage is happening now through January 15, 2026.
This year brings big changes to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, including higher premiums for many plans and updates that could affect your coverage. Even if you had Marketplace insurance last year, it’s important to review your options to make sure you’re getting the best plan for your needs.
Certified health counselors with Pisgah Legal Services offer free, unbiased help to people in 18 WNC counties. Our team can help you compare plans and enroll before the deadlines:
- Dec. 15 for coverage starting Jan. 1
- Jan. 15 for coverage starting Feb. 1
Learn more or make an appointment at pisgahlegal.org/health or call 828-210-3404. Help is available in English and Spanish.
| | |
Working Wheels
Do you have an extra car that needs to find a new home? Imagine how difficult your life would be without a car! Working Wheels repairs and recycles donated cars, transforming them into working wheels for working families. The process is simple, the donation is tax-deductible, and the impact is real.
To donate, volunteer, or learn more, please visit www.workingwheelswnc.org or call 828-633-6888.
| |
|
The Importance of the Courts
It is becoming more and more evident that our courts have become crucial in maintaining our democracy. We are experiencing a time when the US Congress is not doing its job while there is a president who often takes action that does not follow the US Constitution, and a near supermajority in the NC General Assembly can't pass a budget but has time to once again gerrymander. Only a few years back, the NC Supreme Court found partisan gerrymandering unconstitutional, but recent elections have changed the composition of that Court. This newer Court then took the rare action of reversing that gerrymandering decision.
One of the most remarkable elections was in 2020 when the current Chief Justice Paul Newby won by 401 votes out of more than 5.4 million cast. Justice Newby's leadership has moved our state in a very different direction; this article shared by Asheville Watchdog from ProPublica offers some specifics.
In 2026, there will be elections for one NC Supreme Court seat and several Court of Appeals seats. Our courts are important for creating and supporting social justice, and it is essential for everyone to pay attention to these races.
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
| | | |
12 Baskets Café & Asheville Poverty Initiative
| | | |
The MLK Association of Asheville & Buncombe County M.A.R.C.H. newsletter
| | |
|
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
Luke Harkema - luke@gcpcusa.org, x. 204
Ray Landis - ray@gcpcusa.org, x. 207
Brett Pinkston - brett@gcpcusa.org, x. 202
Anna Louise Murchison - annalouise@gcpcusa.org, x. 201
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
| | | | |
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
828.254.3274
www.gcpcusa.org
|
|
| | | |