745 Little Neck Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23452

(757) 340-2840 

info@kgpc.org www.kgpc.org


I have been struggling to come up with a theme this year for Welcome Back Sunday. Usually, I am all excited about a media kit that has some jazzy graphics and fun social media potential, but this year I have hit a wall. This is what has been resonating with me this summer as I plan for the fall:

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old thing has passed away; look, new things have come into being.

2 Corinthians 5:17


What does it mean to be “in Christ?” Soaked in the Spirit? Immersed in the immortal? Plunged in the pure? These words do not always bring to mind comfortable feelings. When you are wearing clothes that you never intended to get wet, it is not so fun to get caught in a downpour. 


Do you remember when you were a kid and first discovered that you could see underwater? I watched Max discover that amazing feat this summer in my in-law's pool. He went underwater over and over and over until his eyes were bloodshot and he was gasping for breath. When he emerged from the water, he was a new kid. A kid that had the power of sight UNDER the water; everyone was proud, and told him so. I could see him swell with pride at his newfound mastery of the water. The old Max, who was a little nervous to be in the water, had gone. This new Max is one who is confident in the water: a Max who can see where he was previously blind. Don’t worry, the new Max’s mom still watches him in the water to make sure he is having fun and not drowning- we all need someone to look out for us as we grow.


For us, this year at KGPC, new things are coming into being. We are experiencing life in a new way together in community, and so we want you to be IN the Word of God as we travel through these changes together. In this special “Grow Takeover,” edition of the highlights, you will find a number of new ways for you to grow in your faith. We encourage you to pick one way that you will grow in your faith this fall and act on that. Immerse yourself in the Word of God and you too will be made new. 


Amanda 

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

The Gospel of John reveals an unmatched portrait of Jesus and is arguably the most theologically and philosophically profound account of his life, death, and resurrection in the New Testament. Join us as we unpack this amazing Gospel Sundays at 9 AM in the Parlor. 

Join us Sundays at 11:15 as we discuss the sermon and walk through the book study that inspired this worship series. In this study, Adam Hamilton explores the worries and fears most of us experience. Learn to identify fears and discover practical steps for overcoming them... all in the light of scripture and a faith that promises again and again that we can live with courage and hope.

Youth Ministry Calendar 2022


This year, we wanted to be very strategic about how we approached youth ministry. We will have weeks with large group events, small groups, and mission weeks.

Third Sunday Small Groups- Every third Sunday of the month we will host small groups. The small groups can meet on or offsite. They will be led by intentionally developed leaders who will engage youth where they are. They will be age and stage-specific.

September

9 -10 Welcome Lock-In

7PM-7AM at KGPC

Calling all Middle and High Schoolers! We are kicking the year off strong with an ALL-NIGHT Lock-In! We will have events all night long, and even enjoy an early breakfast together. Bring your sleeping gear, a water bottle, and a snack to share.


11- Parent Meeting at 12 PM

All parents of Middle and High Schoolers are invited to meet with Amanda Pine at 12 PM in the Parlor. We will discuss the beginning of the year, and plans for the summer.


18-Third Sunday Small Groups

6:30-8:00 PM

More information to come, meet at your assigned location!


25- Youth In Mission

6:00-8:00 PM

Tonight, we will be meeting to do a mission project. More details to follow. 

Our Women's Circles will be meeting on

Tuesday, September 13, 2022


Elizabeth Circle meets at 10:00 AM in the church Parlor. Contact Cindy Hiddemen for more details.


Lydia Circle will meet at 10:00 AM  at Claudia Hudgens's house. Contact Claudia Hudgens for more details.

  

Eve Circle meets at 7:00 PM in the Parlor. Contact Pam Ponce for more details.


Elizabeth and Eve Circles will be using the Presbyterian Women's study entitled Celebrating Sabbath, Accepting God's Gift of Rest and Delight.


Lydia Circle will be studying Paul's Letter to the Colossians.


All circles meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. 

WORSHIP
Our livestream is available Sundays on YouTube and also on Facebook! Use the links below. The links will also be in the Sunday Morning Worship email.
Visit our Facebook page to worship
with us live.
Click HERE for our 10:00 AM Worship Service
Click HERE for this week's Worship Guide

This Sunday, August 28th---Youth Conference Sunday

Join us for this special Sunday where the youth will share where they have encountered God this summer at Massanetta Middle School Conference and Montreat High School Conference.

Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope


Fear is part of being human. Everyone fears something, especially when fed by politics, commercials, and insecurities. We fear failure, loneliness, “the other,” sickness, and dying. Our brains are wired to fear in order to protect us. Yet fear can rob us of joy, peace, and even our faith. This Fall’s Worship Series, based on Adam Hamilton’s book Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times, we will explore our fears, consider practical steps for overcoming these fears, and reflect upon fear in light of scripture that promises time and time again that we need not live in fear. Because God is with us, we can live unafraid with courage and hope.


9/11 Living in an Age of High Anxiety

Psalm 56:3-4; Philippians 4:5b-7

On a day we remember the most horrific attack in US history, we recognize the high anxiety society in which we live. Pandemics, politics, and the nightly news all give us good reasons to live in fear. Our physical early warning system tells us when we should fear. Except sometimes the system fails us and molehills become mountains. This isn’t just a symptom of our current society, but rather an experience humans have had from the very beginning. Maybe that’s why the predominant message of the Bible reiterated almost 400 times is, “Do not be afraid.” How do we grasp this truth when our brains and our society is telling us otherwise?


9/18 Fear of Failure and Loneliness     

Isaiah 41:10; Joshua 1:1-5; Matthew 28:19-20

How many times have you not tried something new because you were afraid to fail, to risk, to humiliate, or embarrass yourself? The tapes that play inside our heads tell us to not bother trying because we will make a fool of ourselves, show our ignorance, or fall flat on our faces. They tell us we will always be alone because we are not likable, pretty, or worthy. Yet God and Jesus assure us, we are never really alone and we need not fear failure. Why? Because God is with us to the end of the age. Therefore, we can live with bold courage to take the risks God calls us to make. 


9/25 Fear of Sickness and Dying  

Proverbs 9:10, 19:23,37; Psalm 23:4; John 14:1-4

We are so focused on our health that with the slightest pain, we quickly google our symptoms to find out all the terrible diseases we might have. We fear getting old and try to buy back our youth with creams, surgeries, or sports cars. Death is a journey into a vast mystery that many fear to take. What is underneath these fears? How do we trust Jesus’ words to not be troubled because he goes to prepare a place for us? What does it mean to fear the Lord instead of the things of this world?


10/2 Fear of “The Other” (World Communion Sunday)

Psalm 27:1,14; Psalm 46:1-2a; I John 4:18

Who is “the other” for you? It may be someone with a different religion, skin color, language, sexual orientation, or political party. Our brains are wired to fear “the other” as those who may cause us harm. Yet, Jesus called both Matthew the tax collector and Simon the Zealot, two people with completely opposite lives. How do we build bridges over the divisions society has established between our differences? How do we create a house of worship where we don’t all think alike? How do we live into the promise that “perfect love casts out fear”? After all, of whom should we really be afraid?

Prayer Concerns:

Lynn Huffman



The flowers this week are dedicated to the glory of God

and in celebration of Jim and Butch Poland’s wedding anniversary. 

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT KGPC:

Sunday, August 28

10:00 AM- Worship Service

 

Monday, August 29

9:30 AM- Quilters

 

Tuesday, August 30

9:00 AM– Trinity Staff Mtg.

12:00 PM– Meals On Wheels Mtg. 

Wednesday, August 31

7:00 AM- Prayer Breakfast

6:00 PM– Music Team Rehearsal

7:15 PM-Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

 

Thursday, September 1

 

Friday, September 2 

Click HERE for Full Calendar
Click HERE for SEPTEMBER Birthdays

BOOK CLUB

September 27TH at 7:00 PM in the Parlor


The KGPC Book Club meets the last Tuesday of the month, at 7 p.m. in the Parlor.

Contact Julie Seipel

for a book link or a zoom code, if you are unable to meet in person. 


Our upcoming reads are:

  • September 27   Book of Longing by Sue Monk Kidd
  • October 25        And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie



HAPPY

READING!

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Online Scheduling Available!

  1. To schedule your photography appointment online, simply go to www.ucdir.com
  2. click on photography appointment scheduling login on the right side
  3. enter va166 in the Church Code field
  4. and enter photos in the Church Password field

Follow the prompts to schedule your family’s appointment time.


If you have 6 or more in your family please use 2 consecutive time slots. 

The online scheduling option is available Monday through Friday. 


Appointments fill up quickly, so schedule as soon as possible to secure your preferred date and time. 

OTHER IMPORTANT  STUFF:

Session Digest

Letter to the Brothers and Sisters of KGPC

 

Change, especially accelerated change, has been thrust upon KGPC by events both within and beyond our control. Your Session is earnestly attempting to respond in a spirit-led process to wisely choose the best path forward for our church family. As your Session, we would like to share some insight regarding the decision to continue with a single worship service at 10 AM through next summer. A proposal was discussed for three months within the Worship Ministry which culminated in a motion presented to Session that was prayed over, discussed at length, and ultimately approved. It was not an easy decision, as nothing was taken for granted.


Throughout the discernment and discussion of this motion, many factors kept surfacing that have challenged our church family. Between the consequences of COVID, the retirement and ultimate replacement of our beloved director of music, and the ever-increasing resources needed to conduct our worship services, it became apparent from a practical and prudent perspective that a single worship service would better help us address these challenges. By adjusting Sunday's worship schedule, which will streamline and reduce the volunteer workload, we will be better able to continue to empower spiritual vitality, fortify vibrancy and nurture this body of Christ.


By utilizing a single service, the Session believes that KGPC will continue to have richer opportunities to capitalize on the most valued strengths of our congregation, which is our warmth and care for one another. These are the fruits that we have always cherished and enjoyed in both worship and fellowship. The opportunity to gather as one to listen, learn, serve, love and be loved by and with each other at this unique time is where we believe the Holy Spirit is leading KGPC. 


We sincerely thank you for your prayers of support and deeply appreciate your understanding of the challenges of managing these new times as we move forward into the next chapter in our church's life of discipleship. Please feel free to seek out any Session member with any questions or comments you may have.


 In love and faith,

Gwen Bushnell, Daryl Mitchell, Julie Seipel, Scott Wilhoit, Tommy Callahan, Bruce MacCall, Terry Perry, Karen Pleas, Chris Anderson, Sharon Gardner, Susan Kerr, Sue Mooney, and Sean McNulty. 

AUGUST 2022 SESSION SUMMARY



KGPC FINANCIAL REPORT

PERIOD ENDING: July 2022

MONTH OF July

Cash Income-------------$58,622

Cash Expenses --------($58,457)

Surplus(Deficit)-----------   -$165


YEAR-TO-DATE COMPARISON

-------------------------------------------------2022-----------------------2021

ACTUAL GENERAL FUND INCOME:--$366,773----------------$336,798

ACTUAL GEN. FUND EXPENSES:---($351,072)---------------($354,365)

DIFFERENCE:--------------------------- -$15,701-----------------($17,567)


Click HERE for the Finance Team Report for July 2022

THE SEARCH CONTINUES

FOR OUR DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY

Often, utilizing personal contacts can lead to the best candidate. If you know of someone who might be interested in this position, please take a moment to forward them this LINK.


Also, please share this LINK with friends or family that attend other churches and ask them to share it with leaders in those churches. They may know of an interested individual.

Click HERE to see the full job description

Thank you all for the warm welcome I have received here at KGPC. Thank you also for your patience as I attempt to learn everyone's name and the special role they play within the church.


The Choir and Bells start rehearsing soon and I hope to see the regular members along with some new faces. The choir starts meeting on Wednesday, August 31st at 7:15. We welcome you to come and sing along with us! 


I look forward to working and worshipping with everyone.

Mary 

Click HERE for this week's Wired Word

Word Share Prayer is a monthly scripture reading/reflection that Session and the leaders of ministries use to start their meetings. We will be including this in the monthly ENews for you to use throughout the month to read and meditate on.


READ: Isaiah 43:16-21

 

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:

Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.


REFLECT: What captured your attention or imagination? 

--------What might God be up to in this passage for us today? 

From Janet:


Our worship service of music and scripture on August 14th was amazing! There were so many spirit-filled moments and surprises and I thank you with my whole heart. To see all of the faces in the congregation and then to see the faces of the choirs and instrumentalists as they were singing, ringing, and playing was a joy I will never forget. My vision of what we could be, what we could offer, and how we could worship through the music was overwhelmingly realized through this service and also over these many years.


The creation of the scholarship for music education is such a worthwhile and lovely thing to do for our future musicians. I look forward to being part of the committee to distribute the funds you have so generously given. To attach my name to the scholarship is truly an honor.


The memory book is just that; forty years of our time together that I cherish. Thank you for all the wonderful pages. I have marveled at each one, cried some tears, and also laughed out loud as you brought to light days gone by, and days that will always be remembered.


The title of Music Director Emerita was something I would have never would have imagined. The plaque which is now hanging in the hallway outside of the office is beautiful with Psalm 100: 1,2 Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord, all the Earth. Worship the Lord with Gladness; Come into His Presence with Singing.

I walked into the Fellowship Hall late on Saturday night to sneak a peek. I barely entered the room and it almost took my breath away. First, I saw the gorgeous flowers and then the picture on the wall. It is such an unforgettable memory of choirs and orchestra with Mary McDonald and the premier of the commissioned anthem, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD. Those memories began, as Chris said when we collaborated on the sermon series THE POWER OF MUSIC. And then another surprise was the framed picture of the anthem with her signature.

Having our General Presbyter, Liza Hendricks offering congratulatory words was unexpected and very meaningful. The Martin Luther King, Jr. service she spoke of that our church hosted was an amazing tribute to him, a privilege to be a part of, and one to recollect.


And there’s more:

As was said on Sunday, the Wick’s Pipe Organ was a two-year project by a four-member committee. We traveled along the east coast to listen and for me to play the various instruments as examples of what was possible. The cost at the time seemed monumental but the generosity of the congregation made it happen apart from regular giving. Half was paid for almost immediately and the other half came shortly after I gave an organ recital partly for that purpose. I remember very late nights after our boys were in bed preparing for the recital. The committee never dreamed that the organ which cost 88 thousand would be worth close to a half million today. To name the organ after me was another take a deep breath moment and a touching tribute, but thinking about it, I’ve been on that bench since 1984. It was a world of difference from the 1961 B3 Hammond Organ the charter member families bought while still worshipping at King’s Grant Elementary School. If you remember the BEACH BOYS, the B3 is the same organ their band used in Good Vibrations and many other songs. I played it for three years but its twenty-year life needed to end when it picked up the frequency for the incoming calls of the Fire Department. That was shocking at first but then became quite amusing.


None of these things just happen without each of You, with careful planning, consideration, thoughtfulness, and love for what we have shared together. There are too many names to mention but I know who you are and I am grateful to each of you.


On a personal note, I was able to keep my emotions in tact on Sunday but this week there have been many triggers to be the opposite including cleaning out my office, thinking of my past with each of you, and simply putting my organ shoes in a box.


Sincere thanks to everyone who made the last Sunday and 2,132 Sundays as close to perfect as possible because we always offer God our very best. Let me express my deep appreciation to our pastor, staff, session, congregation, the committees who executed everything so flawlessly, and all the members of all the choirs and instrumentalists who sing, ring, and play with their Spirit within.


“The way to do great work is to love what you do’’ and to share the gifts freely given to us in His name.


To God Be the Glory!

Love,

Janet


The September/October issue of Upper Room

is available at the church office.



**You can also click on this LINK to get the Upper Room online.

Williamsburg Presbyterian Church

Journey to the Holy Land

February 22 – March 7, 2023

A Holy Land Trip has been put together by Williamsburg Presbyterian and is now open to folks outside WPC.


The trip starts on February 22, 2023, but the decision date is September 15th so there is still time to register. Click on the buttons for details.

Holy Land Trip Itinerary
Holy Land Trip Registration Form
Contact Us
King's Grant Presbyterian Church
745 Little Neck Road
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452
(757) 340-2840 
Office Hours: 8:00 - 4:30 M-F
Service Times


10:00 AM - Worship

---------- Service

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