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High School Youth @ Midnight Manna | |
Ordination and Installation of Elders and Deacons | |
#GCPCinthesanctuaryandathome | |
Worship Preview | Sunday, January 29, 2023
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
In-person and Online Service
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*For the full revised common lectionary, please click here. | |
| Saturday, January 28 | WNC Presbytery Meeting | 9:00 am on Zoom | | Sunday, January 29 | Hybrid Worship
(In-person and online) | 9:30 am @ GCPC
(also on Youtube) | | Sunday, January 29 | Brunch & Annual Meeting | 10:45 am | Fellowship Hall/Atrium | | Sunday, January 29 | ALL YOUTH
Game Night w/ Dinner | 4:30 - 6:30 PM | Fellowship Hall/Atrium | | Tuesday - Thursday | Church Office OPEN | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm | | Tuesday, January 31 | Prayer Group | 10:00 am | Jerusalem Room | | Wednesday, February 1 | Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group | 11:00 am on Zoom only | | Wednesday, February 1 | Bible Study | 12:00 pm on Zoom only | | Wednesday, February 1 | Centering Prayer | 6:00 pm | Sanctuary | | Wednesday, February 1 | Choir Rehearsal | 7:00 pm | Sanctuary | | Thursday, February 2 | Men of GCPC Gathering | 9:00 am on Zoom | | |
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GCPC Annual Meeting and Brunch | Sunday, January 29 | 10:45 AM | Fellowship Hall/Atrium
Come enjoy the energy and fun of GCPC's annual meeting. It's always a good time! We will celebrate the ways we've seen the Holy Spirit move in that last year in our community. There will be a delicious home cooked brunch for all to enjoy, and a lot of love and laughter. Worship is at 9:30am and the brunch and meeting will begin in the Fellowship Hall and Atrium immediately following.
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ALL YOUTH (Middle and High School) GAME NIGHT & DINNER | Sunday, January 29 | 4:30 - 6:30 PM | GCPC Fellowship Hall/Atrium
No Formation this Sunday. Please join us for the Annual Meeting and breakfast immediately following the church service.
At 4:30, all youth are invited to Game Night with pizza. Friends are welcome! Contact amykim@gcpcusa.org for any questions.
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Centering Prayer | Wednesdays | 6:00 - 6:30 PM | Sanctuary
“Centering Prayer is a training in letting go.”
~Thomas Keating
Centering prayer for me is prayer where I rest silently in the presence of God. It is a way of saying, "here I am God."
For those of you who might ask what do I do, here is my ritual.
- I choose a sacred word or phrase as a symbol of my intention to go deeper. Here are some I say while paying attention to my breathing: Peace be with me; Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on me. I might read a scripture or a hymn and pick out a word that is meaningful.
- When I notice I am engaging in thoughts, I gently disengage myself and turn to God or return to my sacred words.
- When I am near ending, I breathe in and out 4 times and then say the Lords Prayer.
I invite you to join me on Wednesdays to sit in sacred silence, and feel God closely. Come breathe with me.
In community,
Liz Huesemann
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Bible Study | Wednesday, February 1 | 12:00 PM | Zoom ONLY
Join Carol Hovis to read and study our sermon texts for Sunday. No preparation needed; just come ready to open scripture and discuss!
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82947867192
Meeting ID: 829 4786 7192 Passcode: 789
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A Letter from Allison Kiehl, GCPC Community Garden Manager. . . | |
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Hello Intrepid GCPC Garden Volunteers!
The start of the 2023 growing season is just around the corner! I've already done our spring and summer planting plan and ordered all of our spring plants! Please take this brief survey to help me prepare for the year.
Please also be on the lookout for some upcoming volunteer calls as we prepare for the season:
- Around March 1st: Onion planting
- Late Feb. - Mid March: Bed preparation, spreading compost, weeding
- Week of March 20th: Planting spring plants and seeds (weather and soil dependent)
- Mid - Late April: Start of our regular team workdays (Wed. & Sat.)
But mainly, I'd like to thank you for all of your dedication to our garden last year in helping us serve and feed the community! We had many accomplishments last year, including adding 4 new beds to our garden to grow even more food to share. Overall we were able to grow and share over 7,000 pounds of healthy vegetables at GCPC, with an additional ~10,300 pounds of potatoes and cabbage at Jasperwood Farm that was also shared with those in need. That's a total of over 17,000 pounds! Please see this harvest summary for more specific numbers of each crop.
While tracking the numbers is beneficial, most of all this garden provided a lot of fellowship, healing, and connection to nature that we all need. It also allows us to build relationships with other groups in our community, such as our distribution partners. Please see below for more info. on our partners that we share produce with. Thanks again for all of your hard work and community-building! You really keep this operation going!
~ Allison Kiehl
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GCPC Community Garden - Main Distribution Partners
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Loving Food Resources adds our produce to 100 food boxes packed with staples (canned soup and stews, peanut butter,etc.) which is distributed to people with HIV(85%) and home hospice care(15%) Many of these people are struggling with a lack of nurshing food, and a high percentage ar seniors.
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YWCA feeds lunch and snacks to 145 children, ages 5 and under, living in poverty. Every Friday the nutritionist does a program with the little littles introducing a new vegetable. It takes a couple of times for them to try something new before they gobble it up.
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WNC Rescue Mission cooks our produce to feed lunch and dinner daily to 500 individuals. It is also added to food boxes to feed families who are in need of food, particularly fresh produce. On Thanksgiving our greens were served for dinner.
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Youth Transformed for Life (YTL) helped plant and harvest on Wednesdays with some of you. Allison spent time educating them about garden practices. Produce was available to take home. A Board Member, Thomas Priester, also loaded produce into his truck and fed families and seniors in need of food. If anything was left, he found people who needed our fresh produce.
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Important Announcements... | |
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Music Ministries at Grace Covenant!
As the new year gets underway, our search for a new Director of Music Ministries is picking up steam. Please join us in this important process by participating in the Crowdsourcing Wisdom Exercise that you can find here!
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The Sanctuary renovations will occur in May.
Here is a link to the Session Letter that was shared recently with the congregation. If you are interested in getting a GCPC pew, please email Cliff at cliff@gcpcusa.org by February 14th to reserve one. Let him know if there is a specific pew request!
| Update on Winter Safe Shelter, a collaborative effort between GCPC, Grace Episcopal, and Trinity United Methodist | |
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One of the amazing things emerging from the Winter Safe Shelter is the Restored Dreams Project. Watch Joe Rob's story about the creation of The Restored Dreams Project at this link.
Restored dreams is a program designed to bring diverse communities together through the arts.
A re-emergence of this project is birthing at the Winter Safe Shelter. Over the coming weeks, JoeRob is hoping to invite artists with similar stories of displacement to display their art for those that are part of the WSS community, whether they are joining for one of our nightly community meals as volunteers or staff. The hope is to infuse the space with a sense of home and belonging and give artists a voice for their story. We will display their pieces on the website linked above and hope to have prices and more information as the program evolves.
The Winter Safe Shelter is still in need of volunteers between 6:15-9p and 8:30-11p. You can sign up at this link.
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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. If you have difficulty reaching your assigned deacon or if you do not know who your assigned deacon is, please feel free to reach out to our deacon of the week.
This week (1/22-1/28): Kimo Hyatt | email: kimohyatt@gmail.com
Next week (1/29-2/4): Larry Stern | email: LSTERN@mhu.edu
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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.
Iglesia Jerusalem congregation
Trey and Alisha Thompson and 3 kids - Gabi, Arlo, and Eldon (Patty and Brent Thompson's son and daughter-in-law and grandchildren)
Bill Brown (Mary Lou Nash's brother)
Family of Patricia McNeff Ormond (Bill McNeff’s cousin)
Kathey Avery (a member of Just Funding)
Cathy Wooten (William High’s mom)
Meghan and Andrew Gutberlet, & Elliot (Jeff and Susan Curtis' niece)
Susan Smialowicz
Doris Prak
Michelle Chromey and family
Andrea Rosal
Sharon Sasse
Reed Carney
Laura Ross
Margaret Rada
Juanita Schneider
Mary Byers
Kern Parker
Frances Johnson
Gene Callaway
Gloria Moe
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Presbyterian Womenʼs Circles are Zoom meetings. Please join us.
Circle 1: Second Monday of each month, 10:00 a.m.
Circle 2: First Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Circle 3: Second Tuesday of each month (some Zoom and some in-person), 7:00 p.m.
Circle 4: Second Tuesdays of each month, 10:30 a.m.
Circle 5: First Monday of each month, 11:00 a.m.
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Need to set up a church zoom meeting?
Contact Anna Louise and she can get you all set up!
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Community Working Together | |
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Racial Justice Coalition presents... January RJC Community Gathering | TODAY! Thursday, January 26 | 5:00 - 6:30 PM | Zoom
We’ll come together on Zoom to interact face-to-face and share some updates and opportunities for engagement. You can sign up for the Gathering here. (If you can’t make it, we’ll miss you, and we’ll share a recording of the event after-the-fact that you can watch later.)
At the Gathering, we’ll discuss some of the recent developments on Reparations, and catch you up on all the latest work we’ve been doing. We’ll open the floor for your questions. Finally, we’ll share some ways to engage with and support our work. We’ll spend most of the time altogether, but will also have some small groups that will be more interactive.
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Story Medicine Worldwide presents.... | |
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AVL GreenWorks - Hard 2 Recycle Event | Saturday, January 28 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Hominy Valley Elementary School (450 Enka Lake Rd, Candler, NC)
Volunteers have made it possible to keep hundreds of thousands of pounds of hard -to-recycle items out of our Buncombe County Landfill in Alexander.
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The Racial Justice Team of First Presbyterian Church of Asheville is partnering with Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church to host a two-week training session for Read 2 Succeed, a local organization dedicated to "closing the race-based opportunity gap through community-powered literacy programming that engages children, families, and community partners."
Those interested in becoming tutors - committing one or more hours to an elementary school student every week for deeply rewarding mentoring - are invited to attend two training sessions on consecutive Saturdays: February 4 and 11, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Triedstone Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Asheville.
Scan the QR code to register.
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Creation Care Symposium | Tuesday, February 7 | 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM | Montreat
Grace Covenant is a progressive faith community. We have solar panels, we recycle, and we vote for laws to protect the God’s Creation, but I wonder if, as a congregation, we can’t do more. I would love for several of us to go to the Tuesday symposium so that we can get our EARTH TEAM very active again in new and ‘creative’ ways.
Check out the CREATION CARE ALLIANCE website for more info about this symposium and contact Susan Presson(4pressons@gmail.com) if interested in registering together as a faith community.
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Earth Day is Coming. Is Your Church Ready? | Thursday, February 9 | 7:00 PM | Webinar
Earth Day is always April 22 and this year it falls on a Saturday. That opens all sorts of possibilities for outdoor activities, joining with a community observance, dedicating a tree or solar panels... Now is the time to start planning and the WNC Earth Care Team can help you get started.
On Thursday, February 9, you are invited to attend a webinar at 7:00 PM to hear how three churches in our Presbytery have observed Earth Day in the past or what they are planning for this year. So far, we have Unity Pres in Denver, Grace Covenant (with our own Marcia Mount Shoop) in Asheville, and First Pres Asheville who will present.
To register for the February 9 webinar, go to this link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
WNC Presbytery Earth Care Team
FB: https://www.facebook.com/EarthCareWNC
Email: wncearthcareteam@gmail.com
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Interfaith Initiative -
Social Justice Opportunities
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Buncombe Community Remembrance Project | | |
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New seven-week PC(USA) Black resistance Bible study launches on Feb. 1 -
Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries has scheduled a compelling clergy lineup to lead each week
~ by Layton Williams Berkes
Racial Equity and Women’s Intercultural Ministries is launching a new virtual Bible study to celebrate Black History Month. The series is called “Models of Black Resistance Past and Present” and will stream on the RE&WIM Facebook page at 5 p.m. Eastern Time each Wednesday from February 1 through March 15.
The Bible study is being coordinated by the Rev. Michael Moore, RE&WIM’s African American Intercultural Associate for Congregational Support. In addition to his work for the denominational offices, Moore has more than 24 years of ministry experience as both parish pastor and chaplain. His work has primarily focused on addressing racism, poverty, and systemic injustice —especially in urban contexts. He was instrumental in the establishment of Presbytery of Baltimore’s “Dismantling Racism” policy and program, which mandates training for clergy, staff and those in the ordination process.
Moore said he was motivated to organize this new seven-week series because nothing that lengthy has been done previously for Black History Month and a lot of people expressed interest in a deeper dive.
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Photo by Sandy Millar via Unsplash | |
Presbyterians for Earth Care webinar explores ways older adults can work to halt climate change -
‘We are moving from exhortation to implementation’
~ by Mike Ferguson
More than 135 people were on hand Tuesday for a webinar as timely as it was relevant: Older Adults and Climate Change. Presbyterians for Earth Care offered the hour-long session, which featured brief presentations from three panelists.
Resources cited during Tuesday’s webinar can be found here. Watch a recording of Tuesday’s webinar here.
“We are now decades behind where we should have been” in slowing down climate change, Tull told the large crowd. Older adults “are not guilty, but we are responsible to help revolutionize how we humans power our lives. We owe it to the people who did very little to create the problem.”
Here’s why restoring Creation can succeed, Tull said: We already have the knowledge, tools and technology that “we need to pull this off.” More and more people are getting involved, and technologies are getting less expensive. “And the government passed real climate legislation last year” in the form of the Inflation Reduction Act, Tull said. “We are moving from exhortation to implementation.”
“Presbyterians have great potential,” Tull said. They’re “high in skills” and many have above-average financial resources, “and our Christian faith calls us to honor and care for the Earth. We have a denomination that has resources and is organized to help us. We really do have the wind at our backs.”
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Stewardship & Sustainability | |
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2022 Statements Emailed 1/18
If you gave to GCPC or a fiscal partner January 1 - December 31, your 2022 Giving Statement was emailed on 1/18 to the email address on file in Realm. If we do not have an email, your statement will be mailed. If you had a 2022 General Fund pledge, you'll see your pledge fulfillment status at the bottom and should have received a separate 2022 Pledge Statement with more details.
Statements will only be printed and mailed upon request. This is your year end statement for tax deductibility purposes, if applicable.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Natalie Weaver in the Finance Office as soon as possible at natalie@gcpcusa.org or 828.254.3274.
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READY TO SUBMIT YOUR 2023 PLEDGE?
Submitting your pledge is quick and easy! (Watch a tutorial video here.) Simply CLICK HERE or scan the Qr code to the right to submit your pledge online, all in one form.
If you would also like to set up automatic eGiving from your bank account or credit card, be sure to checkmark Add a scheduled gift for this pledge after the pledge confirmation and follow the prompts. These are two separate steps and forms - setting up a pledge does not renew eGiving automatically and eGiving without a pledge doesn't count towards our Stewardship and budget goals.
You will receive an email confirmation of your pledge and a separate confirmation for eGiving, if applicable. Questions or concerns? Please contact Natalie Weaver, Stewardship & Financial Administrator, at giving@gcpcusa.org or leave a message at 828.254.3274.
Keep in mind, anyone can pledge any amount - every single penny helps support the ministry and mission at GCPC!
WAYS TO PLEDGE:
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Online pledge card HERE
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Email giving@gcpcusa.org
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Call 828.254.3274 and leave a message for Natalie Weaver
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Fill out a pew pledge card and put in the Sunday offering plate
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Request a mailed pledge card from the office
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NEXT WEEK!
Fraught & Flummoxed: Courage and Creativity for the Elevation of the Gospel | January 30–February 2, 2023 | Montreat
In a time when the gospel of Jesus is threatened by the ascendance of Christian nationalism and white supremacy, what is the apprehensive, overstretched church leader to do? How does a leader tend one’s soul for the elevation of the gospel? How do followers of Jesus meet this moment with courage and imagination?
Building on the content of past conferences such as CoInspire, DisGrace, and MLK’s Unfinished Agenda, we will engage in three days of peer learning group work in partnership with Crossroads to examine the current challenges of leadership in this time and place. Furthermore, we will critically reflect on the obstacles of leadership as well as explore tangible and embodied practices involving creativity, movement, and contemplative exercises with the goal of building capacity and endurance for this important work. All levels of interest and experience are welcome as we will host three customized tracks of learning, nurture, and growth.
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The church office is open Tuesday - Thursday, 10am - 4pm.
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 new video doorbell to assist with security. To access the building or office, please enter through the far left glass doors off the courtyard (labeled Enter). Ring the doorbell to have the door unlocked. The GCPC office is down the hall to the right, just past the Sanctuary.
You can also reach our office by phone at 828.254.3274. Follow the prompts for the staff directory to dial by name or press 0 for the main office.
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
828.254.3274
www.gcpcusa.org
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