View Bulletins and Announcements from Sunday's Worship Services Here!

Upcoming Church Events

July 13

• PW's Novel Ideas Book Discussion, 6:30pm in Room 260. This month's book: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle By David Wroblewski

July 17-18

• Vacation Bible School (VBS) 5:30pm- 8pm
• Adult VBS 6pm - 7:30pm in Room 240

July 23

• VBS Celebration Sunday
• One Service, 10:00am in the Sanctuary
• Taco Bar, Petting Zoo & Bounce House to follow worship service

July 26

• Switzerland Fundraising Meeting, 5pm in the Choir Suite

July 27

• Prayer Shawl Ministry, 12pm at Sunrise Breakfast Shoppe

August 6

• Men Sing Sunday
• New Members' Class, 12pm in Room 230

A Message from Your Session

June 2023

Hello from your session. It has been a little while since I have written to you on behalf of the session. The weekly Monday morning What’s Happening at GBPC is doing such a great job of keeping everyone apprised of all the great things going on at GBPC that I honestly fell out of the habit of writing after each meeting. However, with the excitement of our last meeting (we continue to meet monthly, typically the third Tuesday of the month), I couldn’t help but think about writing an update. In June, session was very excited to meet, examine and approve the installation of the new class of 2026 Elders: Dan Hickok, to serve as Personnel and Administration liaison;  Robin Hull, to serve as Congregational Care liaison, Linda Marchesano, to serve as Service and Mission liaison; and Suzan Sadler, to serve as Worship and Music liaison. The new elders participated in four, two-hour training sessions and offered their individual faith statements as the devotion for the meeting. They will have been ordained and installed during the July 9^th service by the time you read this update. The church continues to be blessed with wonderful leadership and we look forward to the energy and faith these new elders bring to session.

In addition to welcoming the new elders, we also said goodbye to Jeff Horton, Sam Howard, Kandy Keith, and Bob Wilks, four very faithful, active and dedicated session members who will now be resting elders. When you next see them, be sure to thank them for the wisdom, faith and leadership they provided while serving on your session this past year.  

In addition to its regular business, Session continues to read and discuss together the book, Holy Disunity by Layton E. Williams.  

The following motions were moved and approved: membership removal of several inactive members; admission of several new and reinstatement of some old members; use of contingency fund for emergency removal of trees; funding for replacement of lighting in Fellowship hall; baptism of Casey and Ellie Ranger; building use by Tidewater Pastoral Counseling Services, Fit4moms, and a String Symphony; commencement of a Building Fund Campaign; and fundraising activities by the Choir.

If you have questions or concerns about the work of your Session, feel free to contact any one of the twelve elders, and as always, we welcome and appreciate your prayers and support as we continue to work to discern God’s will for GBPC. 

Clerk of Session, Johanna Jozwiak

Building Fund Campaign

As of July 9, 2023, we are at 59%!

GBPC has three badly needed building improvements that are unbudgeted:

• Replace sanctuary HVAC units
• Repair/reseal/restripe parking lots
• Replace fellowship hall lights

The total cost: $84,000. Our goal is to raise $42,000, with the church matching each donation from our contingency fund. Please prayerfully consider supporting the building fund campaign in addition to your regular offering. Donations can be made online or using the pink envelopes in the pew racks.

Check out our progress every Monday afternoon in the Narthex!

Interim Process Team

GBPC’s Interim Project Team is working on the following:

• Setting up a web page on gbpres.org to post answers to Frequently Asked Questions

(FAQs) from the congregation;

• Setting up an email address to which the congregation can direct questions;
• Setting up access to Google Docs so the team can share documents;
• Creating the informational/educational plan that will include details of the PCUSA’s

history, what the Reformed faith means and why it’s important, critical aspects of our

polity and why they’re important, and understanding the pastor nominating committee

process.

You can share your questions now with any member of the Interim Process Team (Amy Brand, Frank Brothers, Mike Burgess, Jennifer Cahoon, Penny Johnson, Dave Randall, and Judi Rogers). Watch for information on the go-live of the web page and email address, coming soon!

Vacation Bible School

REGISTER NOW!

The VBS Philanthropy is Mutts With A

Mission!

GBPC will be collecting donations both nights of VBS to benefit Mutts With A Mission!

Brownies for The Sunday Celebration

We are in need of 10 dozen brownies for the Sunday Celebration on July 23rd. If you are interested in making brownies, please signup.

Worship and Music

Youth Ministry

Sunday Morning Youth Group

9:30am in the Youth Room!

Youth from 6th to 12th grade are invited to join for a time of fellowship and learning about God's desire for you.

Adult Ministry

VBS for Parents/Adults

July 17 – 18, 2023 | 6:00pm – 7:30pm | Room 240 

When the children move to their various centers for learning, parents, grandparents, and other adults are invited to join our discussion group.  The first evening, July 17, will focus on “Is there more to life than this?”  We’ll watch a short video and discuss it as we consider questions such as  

· What am I doing on earth? 

· What is the purpose of my life? 

· Where am I heading? 

Our goal is to think about what exactly is our “north star” for each of our lives and how we orient our lives, and to begin to consider the claims that Jesus made about himself. 

Our second evening, July 18, we will zero in on the question, “Who is Jesus?”  We will look more closely at Jesus’ claims, whether the Bible is credible, and what that means for our particular lives.  Our goal for the second evening is to be able to answer the question, “How can I make the most of the rest of my life?” 

Come join us for lively discussion in an open, friendly format. 

Led by Beth Doriani, Elder at GBPC

bdoriani@outlook.com | 757.635.4080

PW's Novel Ideas Book Discussion

The extraordinary debut novel that became a modern classic.

Born mute, speaking only in sign, Edgar Sawtelle leads an idyllic life with his parents on their farm in remote northern Wisconsin. For generations, the Sawtelles have raised and trained a fictional breed of dog whose remarkable gift for companionship is epitomized by Almondine, Edgar's lifelong friend and ally. Edgar seems poised to carry on his

family's traditions, but when catastrophe strikes, he finds his once-peaceful home engulfed in turmoil.

Forced to flee into the vast wilderness lying beyond the Sawtelle farm, Edgar comes of age in the wild, fighting for his survival and that of the three yearling dogs who accompany him, until the day he is forced to choose between leaving forever or returning home to confront the mysteries he has left unsolved.

Filled with breathtaking scenes - the elemental north woods, the sweep of seasons, an iconic American barn, a fateful vision rendered in the falling rain - The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a meditation on the limits of language and what lies beyond, a brilliantly inventive retelling of an ancient story, and an epic tale of devotion, betrayal, and courage in the American heartland.

Sign up to attend in the church narthex

or by contacting Claire Burk

757-574-7935 clairesburk@gmail.com

Building and Grounds

GBPC Giving Garden

GBPC'S Giving Garden is looking for new or gently used tomato cages to help support our pepper and eggplants we are currently growing. The Giving garden ministry is looking for about 20 or so. If anyone has some the want to donate some please contact mboron@cox.net or leave at the raised beds.

The Giving Garden has donated about 320 lbs. of fresh vegetables to House of Blessings food pantry this year. 

Opportunities For All

The Wisdom Well & Mutts With A Mission

The Wisdom Well, GBPC's bookstore, is open on Sundays 9am - 10:50am and is now collecting funds to support Mutts With A Mission!

Contact Tammy Andre with any questions you may have. 757.373.1440 or tammyandre522@gmail.com.

Congregational Care

In Need of Prayer? 

Access this week's Prayer Covenant here:

A printed copy prayer covenant is available on the Information ledge outside Fellowship Hall.

DEACON MINISTRY Deacons are responsible for providing pastoral care and support to the members of the church. This may involve visiting the sick, elderly, or homebound members, offering prayers, providing comfort, and meeting practical needs within the congregation. All members and non-members of the congregation, not assigned to a small group, should have a deacon assigned. If you don't have a deacon, have not been contacted by a deacon, and are not in a small group, please reach out to Wayne Stover, at waynerstover@gmail.com and he will assign you a deacon.

Stewardship & Finance

Thank you for your generous support and commitment to GBPC.

Ongoing Signups

Sanctuary Servants

Volunteers are needed to prepare the sanctuary for Sunday morning worship services on Friday mornings. Please use the link below to sign up.

Chancel Flower Donations

Would you care to donate flowers in memory or in honor of a loved one? Pick up an envelope on the information ledge in the Narthex. Please leave the envelope with the included form and check for $75, payable to GBPC, in the Office Manager's mailbox. You may also place your order online using the link below. Please be sure to include the date you would like the flowers to be dedicated.