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“...all who recognize the cost of hope
and choose to live in it rather than circle it, dodge it, or turn from it...
we are the church"
~ Emilie Townes, Embracing the Spirit
Sunday Preview
Sunday, June 25, 2017
Worship services @ 8:30 & 10:30 AM
Courtyard Fellowship (hosted by the APNC)
@ 11:30 AM
Sermon:
"Her-story"
by Marcia Mount Shoop, Samantha Gonzalez-Block and Katie Rosenson
Scripture: Genesis 21:8-21; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8
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Click HERE to see all the events happening at GCPC for Summer 2017!
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Upcoming events this week:
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TONIGHT!
June 22 | 7 PM | GCPC Sanctuary | Documentary Showing - "Before the Flood"
Follow Leonardo DiCaprio, United Nations Ambassador for Climate Change, as he travels around the globe to witness first hand the effects of climate change and what can be done to solve the problems, through interviews with global leaders such as Pope Francis and former President Obama. This documentary presents a riveting account of the dramatic changes now occurring around the world due to climate change.
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TOMORROW!
Brown Bag Lunch and Book Discussion | Friday, June 23 | 12:15 - 1:30 PM | Jerusalem Room
Join Marcia to discuss Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of poor, white Americans. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for over forty years, has been reported with growing frequency and alarm, but has never before been written about as searingly from the inside. A deeply moving memoir, with its share of humor and vividly colorful figures, Hillbilly Elegy is the story of how upward mobility really feels. And it is an urgent and troubling meditation on the loss of the American dream for a large segment of this country.
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THIS SATURDAY!
GCPC Hike | Saturday, June 24 | Meet @ Trailhead, Graybeard Overlook on Blue Ridge Parkway, mile marker 363.4 (first overlook past Craggy) | 9:00 AM
We will hike a section of the MST (Mountains to Sea Trail), from Walker Knob to Graybeard Overlook. The trail parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway, and we will do a shuttle hike (meet at Graybeard Overlook, leave half our vehicles there, carpool to Walker Knob, and hike back to Graybeard). The hike will be 4 miles total and have an elevation of about 700 feet. It is an easy to moderate hike, but not for young children (unless carried). Highlights will be great views, rock outcrops, wildflowers, birds, and cool mountain air! Be sure to bring lunch and water so we can enjoy "Lunch Rock" which is about one mile from the end of our hike. We should finish before 1 PM.
Tips: Wear sturdy boots or hiking shoes, plenty of water, tick spray, sunscreen and dogs must be on a leash.
*To sign up, text or call Les Stradley at 828-329-3332. Hike will be limited to the first 15 who sign up.
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NEXT MONDAY!
Help Needed! | Potato & Cabbage Weeding | Monday, June 26 | 8 AM | GCPC Parking Lot
We will journey to the Cole Family Farm to weed potatoes and cabbage—You are needed! Please meet in the church parking area at 8 for carpooling to Anthony’s. Bring gloves, water, energy snack, and your weeding tools.
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NEXT WEDNESDAY!
Fellowship Picnic | Wednesday, June 28 | 4 PM | Woodfin Riverside Park
Are you eligible for store senior discounts, retired, an empty nester? Are you interested in meeting new people, expanding your network and finding new interest with others who are at this stage in life?
Come meet, visit and enjoy good food at a Summer Potluck Picnic on
June 28
. We will gather at the Woodfin Riverside Park located along the French Board River starting at
4 pm
. Please bring a dish to share and the beverage of your choice.
Organizers are Geneva Neeriemer and Anne Sayers.
(The park is located at 1540 Riverside Drive. It is best accessed by exiting off 19/23, I 26 at Elk Mt Road and turning west/left. At the end of Elk Mt Road turn left/north on Riverside drive. The park will be on the left and before the Craggy Bridge. We will meet at the shelter. The park has a parking area, rest rooms and paved walkways.)
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Help GCPC make an impact for our immigrant neighbors!
New Extended Deadline to Contribute is June 30
Only $1500 to go to reach our goal for Pisgah Legal Services!
Our special offering for Pisgah Legal Services has been extended to June 30. We have just over $3500 toward our $5,000 goal. This special offering will be given to the "Justice For All Project" to help PLS hire a second immigration attorney. PLS currently has only one staff attorney to address immigrant communities needs in the 17 counties they service. GCPC's donation will be MATCHED through funds lined up by PLS, ensuring that they can fully fund that attorney position through their fiscal year. You can make a donation in the offering plate (be sure to mark "Pisgah" on the check) or drop off a donation in the church office.
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Sign up for Summer Courtyard Fellowship | Click HERE!
Please take this opportunity to sign up for a Sunday to help serve lemonade and water after the 10:30 worship service. Paul will have the table, lemonade, water and cups ready for you. You can bring some treats if you want or just stick with the beverages! This is a great opportunity to meet members of the church and expand our hospitality. It is also a wonderful way to talk about something you are passionate about and share that love or advertise upcoming events. SERVE opportunities, councils, Room at the Inn, PW circles, choir, SOS, APNC, and even individuals are welcome to sign up for this opportunity!
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Stewardship Corner
Room In The Inn is a wonderful example of stewardship. Not only do your pledges and offerings help finance this rotating women’s shelter through SERVE, but Grace Covenant members volunteer their time and talents (also stewardship) to provide housing, food and fellowship at least three, usually four, times each year. In May, 83 “jobs” were filled by Grace Covenant volunteers – driving, making food, staying overnight, setting up and taking down. If we paid for these services, 287 hours at the minimum wage of $7.25, it would cost us $2,080.75 for the week’s work! This does not count the hours spent by coordinators planning, organizing and monitoring our week in the Inn. And, we have a partner in the Unitarian Universalist Congregation – they provide a very similar number of volunteers! Your pledges and offerings are very important to the work of our church, and so is sharing your time and talents.
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Friends, we are making progress. The walls are framed on either side of the fellowship hall for the new kitchen, bathrooms, laundry and showers. (Come on in and I'll give you a tour!) With a little bit of ductwork and the installation of one more door on the western wall, the crew will be moving upstairs to begin the remodeling of the communion kitchen and old library.
As we progress, I again want to thank all of you for adapting to changes in rooms and settings when it comes to the life of our church. Thank you for your spirit.
Don't hesitate to call or write with any questions. In the meantime, I'll be sure to pass along updates as they arrive.
Paul, the Sexton
pvanantwerp@gcpcusa.org
218-349-0143
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GROW
*Education Hour will return in the fall.*
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Women's Memoir Series |
Tuesday, July 11 | 7 PM | Jerusalem Rm
Join us for a series of book talks focusing on memoirs written by people of faith. Hosted by Heather Gast and Marcia Mount Shoop and open to all women of the church. One copy of each book can be found in the newly revamped library annex upstairs in the Memorial Garden Overlook. Please pre-read the books to ensure lively discussion.
July 11 | Does This Church Make Me Look Fat? | Rhoda Janzen
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"Motherhood as a Spiritual Practice" - Writing Circle with Marcia | Wednesday, July 12 | 6:30 - 8 PM | Shem's Home
Motherhood is a sacred and frenetic way of life. Rarely do we get time and space and support to reflect on what motherhood teaches us as people of faith. Come join this writing circle with Marcia as we let motherhood speak to us about its gifts and challenges.
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Wild Goose Festival | July 13-16 | Hot Springs, NC
The Wild Goose Festival is an art, music and story-driven transformative experience grounded in faith-inspired social justice. This is a great opportunity for all ages and right in our back yard! Speakers this year include Nadia Bolz-Weber (House for All Sinners & Saints - ELCA, Denver), Rev. William Barber (NAACP-NC and Moral Monday movement) Diana Butler Bass, Dr. Otis Moss III (Trinity UCC in Chicago), William Paul Young (author of The Shack), Jim Wallis (Sojourners). For more information and registration, click HERE. GCPC has a special discount code, which will get you the best rate to attend the festival. Use “GRACE” code when registering. This is valid until July 7th.
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"I Wonder...." if you would like to know more about Godly Play at GCPC?
Godly Play is a Montessori based approach that understands that children have an innate sense of the presence of God. It helps them to explore their faith through story, to gain religious language and to enhance their spiritual experience through wonder and play. This summer, we will be hearing proclamation through Godly Play stories at the
8:30
service on
June 25
,
July 9
, and
August 27
. Come and see what it is about! If you would like to be more involved in the program at GCPC, we will be offering a training on
August 18-19
. See Heather Gast for more information.
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*Wednesday Bible Study will resume after summer break.
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.
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Backyard BBQ @ the VRQ | Tuesday, July 4th |
4:30 PM
You don't want to miss this one!!! On the First Tuesday of each month, a team of folks gather at the Veterans Restoration Quarters (1329 Tunnel Road) to grill hamburgers and prepare supper for more than 200 US Armed Forces Veterans living in transitional housing at the VRQ— an ABCCM Ministry. Team volunteers begin to gather at 4:15 to prepare the meal and fire up the grills; to help serve the meal come at 5:45. The evening meal is served at 6 PM and the team joins with the veterans at their table for supper. Commitments can be for one Tuesday or more.
Harry Summerlin serves as the meal shopper earlier in the day. When the volunteers arrive they begin grilling, chopping onions, cooking beans, preparing cole slaw, and assembling hamburgers or working on the serving line. Those who arrive early can self-select their favorite work. Our GCPC team is joined by Black Mountain First Baptist Church folks each month.
To be added to this list, please email Anna Louise.
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Staff Service @ 12 Baskets Cafe | Wed., July 5 | 10:30 AM – 1:45 PM
The Staff will head to 12 Baskets (610 Haywood Road) to learn more about their ministry and help serve the lunchtime meal. Feel free to join us!
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Avenue M - 12 Baskets Cafe Brunch Donations
Sundays | June 11 – July 16
Support Grace Covenant's mission partner 12 Baskets by eating at Avenue M after church. 15% of what you pay for Sunday brunch will be donated to Asheville Poverty Initiative's 12 Baskets Cafe. Pick up a card in the narthex after church to present at Avenue M to ensure the donation. *Reservations are recommended.
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News from our sister church, Iglesia Jerusalem, in Coatepeque, Guatemala:
"On June 14 there was a 6.6 earthquake in Guatemala. Thanks be to God that no one in the church family suffered damage to their homes, but the Jerusalem School suffered serious damage. Should there be another quake, it would collapse. Experts have evaluated the building and they will try to reinforce the structure to rescue the classrooms where many children study. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week the children will have their classes in the Community of Love building and the worship space. Afterwards they will have their half year vacations. We ask you for prayers for this situation and that we may be able to solve the problems as soon as possible." - Rosabel
Sunday Flowers for the Sanctuary
Do you have an anniversary, birthday or other special commemoration that you would like to acknowledge with flowers in the sanctuary on a Sunday? The flower sign-up chart is located on the bulletin board next to the elevator.
All that's needed, after signing up, is to email Anna Louise your dedication for the Sunday bulletin and what you want ordered, and send in a check for $45.
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.
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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
Natalie DeVito (Karen Rohls' daughter)
Linda Parker (Anna Jarvis' sister-in-law)
Kathy Robrecht (Beth Robrecht's sister-in-law)
JoAnne Hewett and family (Allison McLamb's co-worker)
Nedra and Larry Queen (Bob Walther's cousins)
Daniel Siegfried (Marilyn Schmidt's friend)
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)
Pam Morrell (Penny Ponder's daughter)
Barrett & Ali Payne
Craig, Elsa and Josie Plocica (Sheryl Aikman's family)
Virginia Bradley
Hettie Lou Garland
Dot Holladay
Jerry Bleckley
Teresa Stern
Linda Stirk
Mary Berg
Cindy Egerer
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Grace Covenant Community Out and About...
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Sanctuary News
Immigration 101 Presentation with Marisol Jimenez | THIS
Sunday, June 25 | 12:15 PM |
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit (
433 Bone Camp Road, Marshall, NC
)
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church | 828.254.3274
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
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