Grace Covenant Weekly News | July 27, 2017

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“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

  ~ Mark Twain



Sunday Preview

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Worship services @ 8:30 & 10:30 AM
Courtyard Fellowship @ 11:30 AM 


Sermon:  "Simple Acts" by Samantha Gonzalez-Block 
Scripture: Micah 6:1-8; Acts 8:26-40

Click HERE to see the July Event Calendar at GCPC. 
Click HERE to see the August Event Calendar at GCPC.
SAVE THE DATE – GCPC Palooza! |
September 16-17 | GCPC
Saturday will include service opportunities, community fun, dinner with a pie contest, and a variety show. Sunday will be our Fall Kick-Off for all Sunday School classes. Stay tuned for details about registration which will begin in August.
Upcoming events this week:
Barrett Payne's Ordination Service will be this Sunday, July 30th at 3 PM at GCPC. All are invited to attend!
Summer Choir | Sundays in July & August | 9:30 AM
Want to try singing? Like to sing but just can't commit to every week during the year?  Give Summer Choir a try! We meet in the sanctuary 9:30 AM each Sunday in July and August to learn anthems, hymns and responses. It's fun and convenient - we learn new music to sing in worship each Sunday. There's no homework and no long-term commitment required - just come when you can. Open to all ages. Please consider helping us make a joyful noise this summer!
VRQ—BBQ Cook Team | Next cook date: August 1st
If you would like to join the list of Veteran Restoration Quarter’s cooks and servers please email Anna Louise.  By joining you will receive a monthly notification. If it fits your schedule for that date, you will come at 4:15 to cook or 5:45 to serve the evening meal. After serving, you may join the veterans and share the meal and conversation. This mission service has a long history and we would love for you to be a part of the camaraderie and fellowship. Questions? Contact Bill Neeriemer.  
Presbyterianism 101 - Brown bag lunches | *Begins next Thursday, August 3, 10, 17 |
12:15 -1:30 PM | Jerusalem Room
What are Presbyterians? What do we believe? How are we different from other denominations like Baptists or Methodists?  Where do we come from and what does it mean to be a Presbyterian in 2017? Though there are many lifelong Presbyterians in our midst, there are also many others (your new associate pastor included) who grew up outside of Presbyterian churches and are still learning about our denomination. And even those who have always been here may still be asking questions or need a refresher about our tradition and denomination. Richard and Marcia will be facilitating a series of brown-bag lunches on  August 3 , 10, and 17 to cover Presbyterianism 101. Please come with your questions as we delve into our rich, complex, and sometimes contentious tradition. Email Richard at  rcoble@gcpcusa.org  for questions. 
PART Opportunity: Hood Huggers Driving Tour | Saturday, August 26 | 10:00 AM or 1:00 PM 
Join members of the Power and Race Team to learn about systems of inequality throughout Asheville's history with local activist and artist DeWayne Barton. Each tour is 90 minutes. The cost is $20. Please contact Amy Wiesner at 828-335-0543 or email her at amywiesner@charter.net, to reserve your seat on the van.
"Culture of Sanctuary" Creators

Sanctuary for DREAMers
Requesting U.S. Senate to pass Dream Act
Senators Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have introduced new DREAM Act legislation hoping to preempt severe consequences for 1.8 million immigrants because of legal challenges to DACA.  DREAM stands for The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors.  The goal is to provide a way for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to gain permanent legal status, with certain stipulations. 

Because of Congress’ inability to pass any type of relief for DREAMers, President Obama created DACA in 2012, which is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.  Now DACA is in jeopardy as states are threatening to sue if DACA continues. As U.S. citizens, we can inform our elected officials that we support the DREAM Act.

 

Stewardship Corner

When Richard Coble joined the leadership of Grace Covenant, our staffing was complete.  Richard has spent years in learning and teaching at the university level, and in chaplaincy settings.  He began looking for a position where he could use his teaching and pastoral care skills, but be rooted in a community setting where the learning and teaching is practiced and where he can develop longer term relationships with the people he serves.  Richard notes that when he began his search, Grace Covenant was the first position for which he applied.  He felt that Grace was a community outwardly focused in service, but also inwardly focused in caring for itself and its members.  He is very happy to be here, and we are fortunate he will be sharing his skills and experience with us.


Over the past three years, many of you contributed to the Capacity Campaign.  These pledges have led to renovating our facilities and building our staff to meet our church’s programming needs.  We will need to maintain our building, and more importantly, we will need to keep our commitments to our staff.  The money raised by our Capacity Campaign will need to be “rolled into” our monthly pledges and offerings.  For example, if you pledged $100 per month to the Campaign, consider adding that to your 2018 pledge.  

SUPPORT
The 2nd quarter contribution statements are available for pick up in the Information Center. They will remain in this location for two weeks. Please help us save postage by picking them up! If you have any questions or concerns about your statement, please contact Natalie Weaver, Stewardship & Financial Administrator, at nweaver@gcpcusa.org or 828-254-3274 x. 202.
GROW 
PART Book Discussion - March | Sunday, August 27 | 9:15 AM
PART (Power and Race Team) will host a book discussion on  Sunday, August 27 at 9:15 am  on the graphic novel " March ."  The book was written by Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis and coauthors Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell.  It is a memoir of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's.  Rep. Lewis hopes to inspire a new generation to take up this work.  Many groups and schools in Asheville are reading the book this year as part of a city-wide program.   We'll combine discussion of the book with raising money to buy copies of the book for teachers to use in Asheville middle schools.  The discussion is open to adults and youth. Please note the book is a trilogy, and we'll be discussing only Part 1.  If you have questions, please email Jean Veilleux at  jeanwrightveilleux@gmail.com .
Wednesday Sanctuary Open for Prayer 
Each Wednesday from 11:45 AM - 1 PM*, the sanctuary will be open for silent prayer. Some evenings will close with a brief time of centering prayer. *Please note time change.

*Education Hour and Wednesday Bible Study will return in the fall.*
  SERVE
Room In The Inn | A Special Call for HELP! | August 27 - September 3 | Sign up in the narthex on Sundays
Due to ongoing construction, we are will be hosting the Inn at our wonderful, gracious neighbors, Grace Episcopal Church, just down Merrimon Avenue one block. Please consider signing up now in order that we can complete our plans for this summer session of Room In The Inn. Remember that the ladies in this program are attempting to find a safe haven for their dinner and overnight sleeping needs.  We hope that you will be able to help them. Please stop by the sign up table in the narthex on Sundays to add your name, or sign up online HERE. For more information, you may email Lynne NobleGeneva Neeriemer, or Beth Philipsen.

Volunteer Opportunity with one of our Mission Partners!
T.H.E. Center for Disordered Eating is planning their second annual fundraising breakfast and is in need of some volunteer help the evening before and morning of the event. The two volunteer opportunities are:
          * September 18th | 5:30 - 5:30 PM | To help decorate
          * September 19th | 6:30 - 7:15 AM |  To prep the tables/food
If you have an interest in contributing some time to this effort, please email  info@thecenternc.org.
Habitat News!
GCPC will be involved in the Presbyterian-Methodist Habitat house this year! Stay tuned... in the upcoming weeks you will be hearing about ways that you can help. If you would like to find out more, contact Bill Ryan at bill73ryan@gmail.com.
CARE

Two New Opportunities for Support at GCPC 

Paul Rogers, a retired acute care physician in our congregation, along with Marcia and Richard, will be forming two support programs in response to our dementia series in May. 


  • A Support Group for Caregivers and Friends of People with Cognitive Impairment.  This group is for those who are in relationship with people in any stage of cognitive impairment, ranging from age related dementia to more severe conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. This group is open to all who give care, from a direct caregiving role to periodic contact from near or far. In this information session, we will learn about the needs and questions of caregivers in our congregation and discuss what type of format the group will take. 
    Information Session | Sunday, August 13 | 11:30 AM Marcia’s office Please send questions to Richard at rcoble@gcpcusa.org.

  • A Support Group for People with Cognitive Impairment: This is a group for people in the early stages of cognitive impairment, whether this means a diagnosis from your physician or just a personal concern that you are having trouble keeping track of things and would like a place to talk about your experiences and concerns. In this information session, we will learn about the needs and questions of people in our congregation who have or suspect they may soon be experiencing some impairment, and discuss what type of format the group will take.  
    Information Session | Sunday, August 27 | 11:30 AM | Marcia's office Please send questions to Richard at rcoble@gcpcusa.org.

      Habitat Tavern "Beer & Hymns"
      The GCPC J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) Group and GCPC 20s/30s Group had a marvelous time together at the hymn sing held at Habitat Tavern. Thanks to all who came out. Here are a few pictures of the event! 
      Deacon of the Week
      Each Sunday morning there will be a deacon available for everything from
      praying with you to giving you a tour of the building. This deacon will be wearing a purple sash a nd stationed in the narthex before 10:30 worship and in the front of the sanctuary after worship.  He or she is also available during the week if you or someone you love needs assistance from our board of deacons.
      This week: Matt Stradley email: stradley55@yahoo.com
      Prayer List
      [We are happy to pray for anyone who is in need. Concerns will stay on this list for a month unless we hear otherwise. Please keep us updated.] 
       
      Jerusalem Church congregation
      Linda Parker (Anna Jarvis' sister-in-law)
      JoAnne Hewett and family (Allison McLamb's co-worker)
      The Dey Family (Esther Colton's friends)
      Bob Wilson (Martha & Ray Kisiah’s brother-in-law)
      Joe and Beth Poe (Beth Kissling’s brother & sister-in-law)
      Betsy Needle (Robin Gaiser’s friend)
      Sherry Harcke (Les and Susan Stradley's friend)
      David Bartlett (Anna Louise Murchison's friend)
      Virginia Bradley
      Hettie Lou Garland
      Dot Holladay
      Jerry Bleckley
      Teresa Stern
      Linda Stirk
      Mary Berg
      Cindy Egerer
      Florence Riedesel
      Bill de Groot
      Grace Covenant Community Out and About...
      Lunch and Learn Series "African American History in Buncombe County" | August 23, September 27 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM | Stephens Lee Recreation Center (30 George Washington Carver Ave.
      Come learn more about the history of the African American community in
      Buncombe County — the challenges, the triumphs and the future of our
      community.  Hosted by the Buncombe County Community Engagement Team. The lecture series will be held from Noon till 1:30 p.m. on each of the dates listed below. These events are free of charge and open to everyone. To sign up, click HERE.


      • August 23 | County Commissioner Al Whitesides on the wage gap and historical wealth disparities in the African American Community.
      • September 27 | Dr. Sharon West on access and availability of health care for African Americans in Buncombe County.
      Crossroads Antiracism Training |  August 18-20 | Montreat | $77 (commuter rate)

      This introductory training by Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training Event will provide participants with a shared analysis of systemic racism in the United States. Using an action-reflection model, the training will seek to answer three questions: What is the current reality of racism in the US? Why is this still our current reality? How can we intervene strategically to disrupt and dismantle racism? The training will include definitions of key concepts such as racism, prejudice, power, and dominant culture. Participants will receive capacity-building tools and resources to work for antiracist transformation in their churches and institutions.

      Click HERE to see the flier. Click HERE to register.

      Buncombe County Aging Plan
      Every five years, Buncombe County adopts a plan for improving the lives of its  older  adult citizens. The next Aging Plan is for 2018-2022 and will adopt the World Health Organization/AARP "Age-Friendly Communities" framework. They are currently gathering input from 50+ population to help focus and frame the plan. The survey is open through the end of August, 2017. 
      Please click HERE to take the survey.
      Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church | 828.254.3274
      789 Merrimon Ave.  Asheville, NC 28804