March eNews - The Power of the Cross

745 Little Neck Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23452

(757) 340-2840

info@kgpc.org kgpc.org

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

The cross is the most recognized symbol in the world. You don’t have to be Christian to know what it represents. Yet, even Christians don’t fully understand all that the cross means and its implications for us. That’s why I’m excited about our Lenten worship series this month. We are going to consider all sorts of ideas and explanations of what the cross means. None of these biblically-based ideas are wrong. They simply add another dimension to the significance of the cross and ALL that it means.

One major theme of the cross is forgiveness. In some way, through Jesus’ death on a cross we are forgiven. Forgiven for what? Yes, our sin. But what sin? This Sunday I’ll be inviting all of us to write down on a provided piece of paper something you want forgiveness for. Once we receive communion we will let go of these pieces of paper and place them in a basket. The following week these will be placed on the cross signifying that Jesus forgives our sins through his death. Yours will be up there. So will mine. We will see the powerful message of forgiveness as our sins are nailed to the “old rugged cross.”

As the month of March comes to a close, we will relive the events that led to Jesus’ death that Holy Week on Palm/Passion Sunday. Our focus will be on the cross in our musical Tenebrae service on Maundy Thursday with a dinner beforehand. Finally, Tonya will hold a noon musical reflection on Good Friday.

Then the first Sunday of April, as the daffodils and new life are beginning to awaken from their winter slumber, we too will awaken spiritually again as we celebrate our Lord and Savior’s resurrection. From a 7:00 outdoor sunrise service with breakfast, to an 8:45 contemporary worship experience, and then an 11:00 traditional service, we will celebrate Easter all day as we remember that Christ was victorious through the cross defeating the powers of sin and death forever.

I am praying for you in this Lenten season as you prepare for Holy Week and Easter yet again. I pray your Lent is meaningful. I pray that you will engage in some kind of spiritual practice to remember what this season is about. I pray that the cross will become more meaningful to you as you attend worship services. I pray that you will be spiritually prepared for the holiest weeks of the year and the defining story of the Christian faith. Blessings to you in this Lenten season!

Abide Nearer, Grow Stronger, Shine Brighter, Love Deeper, Transform Your World,

Pastor Chris

Greetings KGPC Friends,

Last weekend was pretty special for me and for the church. We had our first classical concert since my arrival here and I was so honored and proud that my piano professor, Dr. Ruple, was the one to play. His program was outstanding, and we had 110 people in attendance including many guests while raising $349 for JCOC.

Coming up next Friday, March 6^th at 12:00pm we will have a Lenten Recital with Soprano Julia Verba. She will be singing songs that follow Holy Week events through Good Friday including "The Call" by Ralph Vaughn Williams, "The Crucifixion" by Samuel Barber, and "Pie Jesu" by Andrew Lloyd Weber. You can also expect piano meditations and duets. It will be a meaningful 45 minutes of music to help us focus on the journey of our Lord and our relationship with Him. The optional charity donation opportunity for this recital will be Presbyterian Disaster Relief.

During Lent and Holy Week (March 29-April 5th), we have many beautiful music offerings in worship. All three handbell groups will play throughout the month of March, our Music Makers will help us celebrate Jesus' ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the Praise Team has an extensive list of familiar music to help you worship, and our choir is working on a poignant Tenebrae service for Maundy Thursday entitled "The Shadow of the Cross." We will have a small instrumental ensemble accompanying a cantata-like worship service with narration, scripture, and darkening of the light in anticipation of the crucifixion. I will present a very prayerful piano meditation on Good Friday at 12:00pm noon in the sanctuary, and Easter Morning will of course be a celebration with three different styles of services...something for everyone!

Last year I was recovering from knee replacement surgery and for months it was impossible to play the organ pedals. I missed it and some of you told me you did too. Since receiving enough rehab to get to the pedals on time, it felt important to plan some organ music during Lent. Each week through Palm Sunday when you come into the sanctuary for morning worship, there will be an organ prelude specific to the spiritual mood of the day that leads into our Call To Worship, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." My prayer is that they help you to prepare your hearts and minds for the topic at hand and the full inspired sounds from the composers lead us all into the presence of God.

As always, I appreciate the work of the musicians in this church and the love that comes from those of you who simply participate with your ears and hearts. This is a special place for the Lord, indeed. May God carry you through the shadow of this time and bring you closer to His love in your daily walk.

Peace,

~Tonya

KGPC God Winks

Submitted by Rebekah Kerr-Montoya

As many of you know, I was born and raised here in Virginia Beach. For 95% of my life, I’ve lived within ten miles of the oceanfront, yet I so rarely go. When I do head that way, I’m usually more inclined to complain about traffic, tourists, and taxes than anything else.

Over the summer, a dear friend of mine got married. Instead of a traditional honeymoon, she and her husband decided to see how many states they could visit during their first year of marriage, staying with locals to get a more authentic sense of each place. They asked if I could be their tour guide in Virginia, and I happily started planning. Their only condition was that we had to go to the oceanfront—not just the beach, but the oceanfront specifically. I started coming up with excuses, but they didn’t budge. So, I decided to be a good host and make it happen.

We went in the morning to avoid the worst of the crowds and heat. I tried not to be grouchy about all the little annoyances that always seem to plague me on the way to the beach. We made it to the boardwalk, and my friend’s new husband walked straight to the rail, staring out at the water in absolute awe.

That’s when I learned he was born and raised in central Montana. For 95% of his life, he’d never ventured more than twenty miles from the town where he grew up. This was the first time in his entire life that he was seeing an ocean. He thought it was incredible. Something I’d known my whole life, something I often considered more of an annoyance, he described as the most beautiful thing he had ever seen… besides his new wife, of course.

Watching him take it all in made me realize how easily I overlook the things that sit right in front of me. Just because something has always been there doesn’t make it any less extraordinary. Sometimes the most familiar parts of our lives are the ones most worth pausing for, noticing, and appreciating. The beauty doesn’t disappear just because we stop looking. I’m reminded that God often places gifts in the ordinary: sunrises we sleep through, people we pass without noticing, and places we grow so used to that we forget their wonder. God’s goodness doesn’t fade; we just need to slow down long enough to see it again.

“God winks” are those coincidences we know aren’t coincidences. They are celebrations for what God is doing in us and through us.

If you’ve seen God at work in this church or in your life, write a short paragraph and send it to the church office (office@kgpc.org). Anonymous stories are accepted as well as those who don’t mind their name being known

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT KGPC

Sunday, March 1

8:45 AM- Adult Faith Formation

9:00 AM - Youth Donuts and Discussion

10:00 AM - Worship

10:00 AM - King's Kids

11:15 AM - Music Makers

11:15 AM - Confirmation

11:15 AM - Easter Choir Rehearsal

2:00 PM - Building Hospitality Pre-Design Team Meeting

5:00 PM - Gather Dinner Church

5:30 PM - Youth Group

Monday, March 2

11:30 AM - Joyful Bells

12:30 PM - Lunch Bunch

12:30 PM - Quilters

7:00 PM - Eve Circle

Tuesday, March 3

6:30 PM - Grace Notes (Tuesday Bells)

Wednesday, March 4

7:00 AM - Prayer Breakfast

1:00 PM - Faith Walkers LIFE Group

5:30 PM - Best LIFE Group

5:45 PM - Praise Team Rehearsal

7:00 PM - Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, March 5

3:30 PM - King's Kids Curriculum Meeting

7:00 PM - AA Meeting

7:00 PM - Chancel Bells

Friday, March 6

9:00 AM - Contemplative Prayer Group
12:00 PM - Lenten Recital with Julia Verba

Saturday, March 7

9:00 AM - Kairos Training

Click HERE for the Full Calendar

Click HERE for March Birthdays

Upcoming Special Events!

Submission Deadline This Sunday!

Upcoming JCOC Dinner

One hundred fifty people in Virginia Beach depend on the JCOC meal program for their nightly hot dinner. Many volunteers from KGPC help to provide these services and we need your help as we plan for our next meal on Wednesday, March 25th. The menu consists of Sloppy Joes, baked beans, chips and cookies. If you are willing to provide any of the items below please sign up on the Connect Card or contact Fran Potter at 757-434-5973, or fpotter96@gmail.com and note the quantity of the item you can provide.

Please feel free to use your own Sloppy Joe recipe or the one below which makes 28 half cup servings. Any bean recipe can also be used or canned is fine as well but again, 28 half cup servings please. Items should be labeled with your name and JCOC and brought to the Fellowship Hall by 2:45 on the 25th. If anyone can help package the meals at 3:00 that help would be appreciated as well.

Thanks in advance for your donations!

Fran Potter and Gay Aridas

Items Needed:

150 bottles of water

150 small bags of chips

150 hamburger buns

14 cups Sloppy Joe mix

14 cups baked beans

25 dozen cookies, your choice of recipe or bought

Recipe for Sloppy Joes

4 medium onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups chopped celery
1 large green pepper, chopped
¼ cup vegetable oil
4 pounds ground beef
28 oz ketchup
15 oz tomato sauce
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 T. salt
1 t pepper

Saute first 4 ingredients in hot oil in large pot till tender.
Add ground beef and brown, crumble and drain.
Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer uncovered 20 minutes.

Dear Congregation,

The Grow Ministry Team as well as the KGPC Youth want to offer you all a HUGE THANK YOU for your support of our camp and conference fundraisers over the past month. Between the Valentine’s Day Parent’s Night Out and the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, over $1200 was raised for the youth faith formation fund. We are SO grateful for your support. Our goal is to reach $3,000 by the beginning of summer, and there will be several more ways for you to help us get there including our next fundraiser, a March Madness bracket challenge. For $20 you can enter a bracket into a friendly competition with other KGPC friends and family to potentially win the golden basketball trophy and a full year’s worth of bragging rights! Mark your interest on the Connect Card or stop by the March Madness table after service on March 15th, selection Sunday, to get your bracket set up and help us get closer to our $3000 fundraising goal!

On behalf of all the KGPC youth and families, thank you for all the ways you support these important opportunities for them to grow in their faith and experience God in sacred places.

Sincerely,

Pastor Kailey

Click HERE for the Sign Up Genius

One Great Hour of Sharing Answers the Call to Do Justice

Through One Great Hour of Sharing, we are responding to Christ’s call to ministries of compassion for the world’s most vulnerable. Together, we answer the prophet Micah’s call to do justice by working to address hunger, disaster, oppression, climate change and immigration/migration and refugees.

To Donate to One Great Our of Sharing: There are envelopes are available outside each Sanctuary entrance, or using the button below:

Click HERE to Donate

Click HERE to Register

YARD SALE!!!!!

Save the Date!!!

Our annual charity benefit yard sale will be June 13! Start cleaning out your closets now!

An Easter Season Discussion Group

Chris Carrasco

For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional

By Hanna Reichel, professor of theology at Princeton Theological Seminary

I have been asked by several church members if we can create a safe place to talk about some similar questions being raised: How do Christians maintain their integrity in times of political polarization? How do we keep on living faithfully in a time of rapid social change? How does our faith inform our response in such a time as this? This resource offers 4 weeks of daily devotions as we pray about and begin to formulate our own answers to these questions. Join us starting April 19 on Sundays from 11:30-1:00 as we share insights, reflections, and thoughts based on the daily devotions in this book. Bring a lunch if you’d like.

An excerpt from Amazon’s book description: “Drawing upon both scholarship and pastoral wisdom, theologian Hanna Reichel offers a timely resource for believers seeking spiritual grounding amid societal upheaval. For Such a Time as This provides a thoughtful framework for discernment rooted in scripture, historical wisdom, and the core commitments of Christian faith. Through meditations on scripture, Reichel guides readers toward their own Christian response to the present moment. Readers will come away with practical wisdom for navigating our uncertain times, a deeper understanding of Christianity’s resources for resistance, and renewed energy for the urgent tasks that faithful discipleship demands today.”

You may order the book on Amazon, purchase one from the church starting 2 weeks ahead of time, or come to listen and share insights without using this book.

I hope you’ll join us in this discussion navigating our Christian faith in challenging times.

FEBRUARY 2026 SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

Session gathered for scripture and contemplation reading Luke 9:1-9. We are dependent on God and rely on God's provision to carry out our mission of sharing the gospel. We shared prayer concerns and prayed for one another.
Chris and Shannon provided an update on the Pre-design Committee. They have met twice so far and note was made of the vast professional knowledge of these team members. They will meet with the architect Sunday, March 1st to discuss the next step.
A Session retreat is planned for March 21st from 9AM til 3PM where Session meets for prayerful discernment, spiritual renewal, team building and focused discussion on the church’s mission and vision.
A report on the PEVA meeting held here at KGPC was given. A letter from PEVA was shared which expressed their deep appreciation for Pastor Chris, Pastor Kailey, the staff, music ministry, and all the volunteers who did a wonderful job of hosting the Stated Meeting of the Presbytery. They stated that the whole process was extremely well planned and implemented and the day was very inspiring!
The Session approved Grow’s changes to the Youth and Children Safety Policy which were that:
-- An exception to the two-deep leadership policy may be permitted when a KGPC Staff member is supervising middle school or high school youth in a public place or in the church building while other adults are present in the building.
-- An exception to the two-deep leadership policy is permitted for transportation when one adult driver is transporting multiple youth in the same vehicle.
A letter was received from Oconee Presbyterian Church in Watkinsville, GA requesting that Karen Whyte’s membership be transferred. This was approved by Session.

Click HERE to read the thank you letter from PEVA

10 AM Worship Information

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

2026 Lenten Worship Series

The crucifixion of Jesus stands at the heart of the Christian faith, yet it raises profound questions that many believers grapple with: "Why did Jesus have to die?" "Did God need for Jesus to suffer?" "How does His death so long ago absolve us of our sins today?" These are questions that the disciples, early Christians, and theologians today grapple with and come to different conclusions. If you've ever had questions about the meaning if the cross, this Lenten series will encourage you to explore 9 different theories of atonement and seek to understand the crucifixion better. Based on a sermon series by Adam Hamilton, this Lent we will journey toward the cross with a deeper sense of what it means for us and all humanity.

March 1-The Cross: God’s Covenant and the Exodus-Exodus 12:21-22, Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:19-20

We will look at the cross through the lens of the Exodus story. What does it mean for Jesus to be the new Passover Lamb? For him to institute a new covenant? After so many Old Testament covenants, why is his covenant different? Scripture says he gave his life as a ransom for many? Ransom to whom? Three new theories of the atonement will be explored as we continue seeking a deeper understanding of the crucifixion.

Reflection Questions: How does the Exodus shed new light on the cross? What are you a slave to and what does Jesus’ ransom mean for you?

March 8-The Cross: God’s Punishment or Offering?-Colossians 2:13-14, Romans 3:2; Hebrews 10:10-14

These are the most well-known and popular ways of understanding the cross. Why are they so popular? What are the problematic questions that arise from them? How do we resolve that tension? Why does God require the suffering of Jesus in order to forgive our sins? Today may challenge what you believe about the crucifixion as we look at two more atonement theories and seek to understand their benefits and limitations.

Reflection Questions: Do you see more benefits or more concerns in each of these theories? Which one speaks most powerfully to you? Write down your confession and pin it to the cross up front.

March 15-Mission Trip Sunday

Those who went to Florida will share their experiences of how they saw God at work.

March 22-The Cross: God’s Selflessness and Love-Matthew 16:24, Romans 5:1-2; I John 4:8a-12

How does the cross save us from our sins? Does it only make a difference for us after we die? While some atonement theories focus on the implications of the cross for our afterlife, these two have to do with how we live life here on earth. The cross was not only a means for eternal life, but for abundant life here and now. But how?

Reflection Questions: These two theories have a very different emphasis from the others. What does it mean to you to live a cruciform life? How does the cross impact your daily living?

March 29-Journey Toward the Cross-Various Holy Week Scriptures

On this Palm/Passion Sunday, we will use scripture to walk through the Sunday through Saturday of Holy Week. What happened that week and what can we learn from it?

Reflection Questions: Read through these scriptures again this week or choose one gospel to read from Psalm Sunday through Jesus death. Journal your thoughts each day or engage in some other practice to remember this Holy Week.

April 5-The Cross: God’s Victory-Hebrews 2:14-17, John 20:19-22; I Corinthians 15:53-57

It’s Easter Sunday! We will learn one more atonement theory that ties the cross and empty tomb together: the Victory of Christ. But what is he victorious over? Why do we still deal with evil, sin, and death today? The cross and empty tomb make all the difference in our lives. I not only believe it…I’m counting on it.

Reflection Questions: How has Christ’s victory become your victory? In what ways will you specifically live your life differently because of a cross and empty tomb? What does “Christ has risen!” mean to you?

Gather Dinner Church Worship Information

Faces at the Cross

Gather Dinner Church Worship Series

Throughout the Lenten Season, our sermon series will be The Faces at the Cross, focusing on influential people in the last week of Jesus’ life. Of course, not all of these characters were actually faces that appeared at the crucifixion itself, but they were all people that played a key role leading up to and understanding that last week of Jesus’ life. Come reflect upon the lives of these people and how they help us prepare for Jesus’ death and resurrection.

March 1 Faces at the Cross: Pilate John 18:33-19:16

March 8 Faces at the Cross: Judas Luke 22:1-6; John 13:21-30; Matthew 27:3-5

March 15 Guest Speaker: Beth Goss, PDA Representative

March 22 Faces at the Cross: Mary John 19:25-27

March 29 Faces at the Cross: Mary Magdalene (Easter Service) John 20:1-18

This Week's Menu:

Chickpea Casserole with Spinach and Feta, "Melting Carrots"

Dessert: Glazed Cinnamon Rolls

Click HERE For the Sign Up Genius

Eve Circle will meet on Monday, March 2nd at 7:00 pm in the Parlor. Contact Pam Ponce (pnp.virginia@gmail.com) for information.

Lydia Circle will meet on Tuesday, March 10th at 10:30 am in the Connection Point. . For more information, please Contact Claudia Hudgens (claudiakhudgens@gmail.com).

BOOK CLUB

The Fever

by Lon Wagner

March 31st 7:00pm

The Lion Women of Tehran

by Marjan Kamali

April 28th 7:00 pm

As always, ALL are welcome!

For more info contact Julie Seipel at jseipel57@gmail.com

Our Book Club meets on the last Tuesday of the month

at 7:00 p.m. in the Parlor.

Need a book, contact Julie Seipel for information.

KGPC FINANCIAL REPORT

PERIOD ENDING: January 2026

MONTH OF JANUARY

Cash Income--------- $43,724

Cash Expenses -------($52,826)

Surplus(Deficit)------- ($9,102)

YEAR-TO-DATE COMPARISON

ACTUAL INCOME:-------

ACTUAL EXPENSES:--

DIFFERENCE:----------- -

2025

$48,595

($49,020)

($ 425)

2026

$43,724

($52,826)

($9,102)

Click HERE for Financial Summary

Grow In Your Faith!

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.

Click HERE for our 10:00 AM Worship Service

Click HERE for this week's Worship Guide

Those Serving our Church This Sunday:

Head Ushers: Marty and Jennifer Nopper

Faith Formation Teachers: Adult-Louise Fox; Pre-K - Beth Harrison;

Elementary School: Gwen Bushnell; Gather Dinner - Gay Aridas

Nursery Workers: Jennine Cabrera and Crystal Humphrey

Tech Team: Cameras - Bob Larose ; Slides - Cade Schmitt;

Soundboard -Matthew Montoya; Livestream - Rebekah Kerr-Montoya

Communion Servers: Shannon Bronaugh, Carol Womack

Time and Talents

Here is all our current lists looking for volunteers!

Youth Group Dinner Donations

Gather Dinner Church

Faith Formation Information!

The adult faith formation class is doing a study of First and Second Samuel which will continue through June 21st.

All are welcome! No preparation is required and Bibles are provided. We meet Sundays at 8:45 in room 115 (Parlor).

March 1 Ch. 18-20 Louise Fox

March 8 Ch. 21-25 Gwen Bushnell

March 15 Guest speaker Beth Goss, PDA

March 22 Ch. 26-28 Jeff Hammaker

March 29 Ch. 29-31 TBD

Sabbath Life Sunday Morning Group

The Sabbath Life Group meets Sunday mornings at 8:45 in the Connection Point. We are studying the book of Matthew and would love to have you join us!

Youth Faith Formation

Youth Donuts & Discussion will be in room 102. Join us at 9:00 am in room 102 for lively, faith-filled discussions... and donuts!

King's Kids

King's Kids (children's faith formation classes) meets Sunday at 10:00. Kindergarten through grade 5 meet in room 104 and preschool meets in room 117. Please register your children on our website or at the classroom

Youth Group

Spring ‘26 “LIFE” Groups

(“LIFE” L=Love God, I=Impact Others, F=Find time together, E=Engage authentically)

Join a LIFE group this Spring!

Prayerfully consider where you might spend “LIFE“ at KGPC!

There is a place for you in this small group experience. And there is always room for more… more members & more groups.

For more information, contact Julie Seipel (jseipel57@gmail.com).

Please contact the LIFE facilitator for details on the LIFE group you would like to be a part of.

Sunday:

Sabbath LIFE, 8:45-9:45 a.m. @ church, Suzy Farley (suzyfarley@yahoo.com)

Monday:

Lunch Bunch LIFE, 12:30-2pm @ church Connection Point, bring a lunch, Julie Seipel (jseipel57@gmail.com)

Tuesday:

Porch LIFE, 6:30 p.m., every other Tuesday @ Chuck & Pam Sandford’s home (chuck_sandford@yahoo.com)

Wednesday:

Prayer Breakfast LIFE, 7 a.m. @ church Fellowship Hall, Don Bradway (bradway.don@gmail.com)

Faith Walkers LIFE, 1 p.m., @ church in the Parlor, Sue Mooney (susannemooney@gmail.com)

Best LIFE group, 5:30 p.m., various restaurants, Jenn Baden (jennifer.baden@gmail.com)

Thursday:

Biscuit Bunch LIFE group, 8:30 a.m., 3rd Thursday of the month, @ church, Daryl Mitchell (darylwmitch@gmail.com)

Zoom LIFE Group, 7 p.m., every other week, online, in the comfort of your home, Karen Pleas (pleask.2@verizon.net)

Monthly LIFE groups:

Book Club, 7 p.m., last Tuesday of each month @ church, Julie Seipel (jseipel57@gmail.com

Home Communion

Are you unable to make it to worship on a regular basis? Would you like to still participate in the sacrament of Communion? Every Communion Sunday, we have several elders willing to bring Communion to you in your home.

If you would like to receive home Communion, please notify Miriam Callahan or the Church Office. (757-340-2840)

We would like to remind everyone that from Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:45 AM and 12:30 PM, the doors by Trinity Preschool are designated for preschool use only.

This measure is in place to ensure the safety and security of our wonderful students. Thank you for being an integral part of our efforts to maintain a secure and supportive atmosphere for all.

Session Members

The Members of Session are always open to have conversations about what is happening in the church. Let's Talk!

Class of 2026