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Faith is not settled belief, but living process.
It is the very edge and opening of life in process.
To live is to step with trust into the next moment;
into the unpredictable.
~ Catherine Keller
, On Mystery: Discerning Divinity in Process
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Sunday Preview
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Worship services @ 8:15 & 10:45 AM
Education Hour (for all ages) at 9:15 AM
Sermon:
"Be Transformed" by Marcia Mount Shoop
Scriptures:
Exodus 34:29-35; Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)
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Ash Wednesday Services | March 6 |
7:15am, 12:15pm, & 6:15pm | Sanctuary
Begin your Lenten journey by joining us for the imposition of ashes. Carry the sign of the cross with you throughout out the day or conclude the day with this time-honored ritual. A brief reflective service of prayer, scripture, and the imposition of Ashes will be offered at the times listed above.
Click
HERE
for a full Lent schedule.
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Pilgrimage to Montgomery 2019
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SAVE THE DATE: October 17-20, 2019
Montgomery Pilgrimage to The National Memorial for Peace and Justice and The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration
Registration begins March 11 and will be open until April 8.
Limited spaces available. Click
here
to view details.
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PRES BEES CO-ED SOFTBALL TEAM
After a long hiatus, the Pres Bees seek another run at fellowship, fitness and fun. We are looking for interested individuals of all ability levels.
When:
April-June (
Deadline for team entry is 3/20/19)
Who: Must be 18 years or older (16-17 year olds with parental approval)
*Additional details available on March 3.
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Creating Sanctuary Team (CST)
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Creating Sanctuary Team Meeting | Sunday, March 10 | 11:45 AM | Garden Room
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Power and Race Team (PART)
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"Two Rivers" Documentary Screening | THIS Sunday, March 3 | 5:00 PM | GCPC Fellowship Hall
PART
movie night! All are invited. Come to the viewing and discussion about this powerful movie. "
Two Rivers documents the true story of a Native American Reconciliation group that began in a couple’s home in Northern Washington State. Within five years many more had joined, and together they launched social and political reconciliation initiatives that changed their community, and race relations across the Northwest. Click
HERE to watch trailer.
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Racial Justice Book Series | Thursday, March 14 | 12:15 PM |
Jerusalem Room
The Racial Justice Book Series is reading books examining institutional and interpersonal racism and racial equity. Come and join us for all discussions or for just one or two. All are welcome, whether you have read closely or are just interested in learning more about the subject. Copies of the books can be found in the church library.
For March,
we are reading
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
.
"In this 'vital, necessary, and beautiful book' (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people’ (Claudia Rankine). Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively."
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A conversation with Sheriff Quentin Miller | Thursday, March 14 | 7:00 – 8:30 PM | Fellowship Hall
PART
invites everyone to come get to know Sheriff Miller and his policies as the new sheriff of Buncombe County.
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Part of what
PART
does is to inform Grace Covenant about
racial equity work going on in the larger community.
The following are some events that PART recommends.
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Darin Waters: "
Whose Story - Democratizing America's Collective Memory"
| TONIGHT, February 28 | 6:30 PM | Lenoir Rhyne University (
36 Montford Ave.
)
Darin Waters, PhD, will examine America’s collective memory in remembering its past. As the Confederate-monument controversy swirls across the South, Waters will reflect upon the historical origins of memorializing bygone eras with images that disregard the blight of African-American enslavement and persecution. An audience Q&A will follow the presentation. Waters is an Associate Professor of History and Executive Director of Community Engagement at UNC Asheville. Free and open to the public. Click
HERE
for more information.
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2018-2019 CLAXTON ELEMENTARY FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SOCIAL JUSTICE WORKSHOPS
Thursday Evenings | 6-8 PM | Open to the public
(Free childcare for Claxton Families only; starting at 5:45pm)
SECOND EVENT:
Thursday, March 7 | Understanding Gender Identity
Transgender, cisgender, gender expansive--what's it all mean? How can a school be welcoming for students of all genders? Join us for activities and discussion led by Allison Scott and Craig White of the Campaign for Southern Equality.
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Earth Team Meeting | Wednesday, March 6 | 5:30 PM | Jerusalem Room
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This Sunday's Education Hour (for all ages)
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Adult Education-Winter Term
| January 6 – March 3 | 9:15AM
Pressure Points |
Painting the Stars: Science, Religion, and an Evolving Faith
| Jerusalem Room
Celebrating the connection of science and faith, Painting the Stars explores the promise of Christian spirituality. Featuring over a dozen leading evolutionary theologians and progressive thinkers, the program includes weekly dvd segments and lively discussion questions. Bruce Sanquin, one of the dvd speakers says, “the goal of this curriculum is to create some space for us to inhabit mystery more deeply, and explore the relationship between science, particularly evolution, and religion. Perhaps most importantly, the hope is that each participant will feel from the inside what it is like to be the presence of all this creativity showing up after 13.7 billion years as him or her. Without this felt sense of being one with the creative process that is ceaselessly animating life, the conversation will remain objective and academic."
Facilitators:
Denise Snodgrass and Tim Hamel
The Improv |
Religious Wounds and Healing
| Fellowship Hall
The class will discuss how religion or communities of faith can do harm and the ways we find healing and resilience after such experiences. We will be engaging panels of people from the Grace Covenant community willing to share their experiences, as well as a few outside voices who have found healing elsewhere. Please come, bring your questions and your experiences, as we think about how we as Christians are called to be agents of healing and care in a wounded world.
Facilitators:
Richard Coble and guests
Digging In |
Singing Faith: Exploring the Bible through Hymns
| Choir Room
The class will examine our biblical heritage of song as a way of understanding the historic development of hymns and the music of the church. We will seek to understand biblical foundations for singing while giving consideration to the theological, musical, literary, and cultural components of the faith we sing. Bring your questions and your voice (Bibles and Hymnals will be provided!)
Facilitator:
Jeff Jones
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CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION | 9:15 AM
Toddlers (ages 2-3) | "God Loves Me" |
Toddler Sunday School Room (downstairs, Children's Center)
Preschool/Kindergarten (ages 4-5) | Godly Play |
Preschool Sunday School Room (downstairs, Children's Center)
Elementary (grades 1-3) | Godly Play |
Temple Room (upstairs, Education Wing)
Elementary (grades 4-5) | "CONNECT" |
Indie Room (upstairs, Education Wing)
Middle School (grades 6-8) | "Collaborate" Curriculum |
Middle School Room (upstairs, Education Wing)
Senior Highs (grades 9-12) | "Wired Word" Curriculum |
A-Frame (upstairs)
Confirmation Class |
Senior High Room (upstairs, Education Wing)
*Nursery care is available throughout Sunday morning beginning at 8:10 am.
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OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES...
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Winter Women's Memoir Series | 4th Monday of the month | 6 PM | Garden Room
Join us for a series of book talks focusing on memoirs written by people of faith. Open to all women of the church. One copy of each book can be found in the church library. Please pre-read the book to ensure lively discussion.
*Childcare provided.
•
March 25 –
Undaunted: Surviving Jonestown, Summoning Courage and Fighting Back by Jackie Speier
Facilitator: Mary Lou Nash
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Bible Study | Wednesdays | 11:00 AM | Garden Rm
Join the pastoral staff to read and study our sermon texts for Sunday. No preparation needed; just come ready to open scripture and discuss!
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VRQ—BBQ Cook Team |
Next cook date:
Tuesday, March 5
| 4:45 or 5:45 PM
Come help us serve a meal to the veterans at the Veterans Restoration Quarters (1329 Tunnel Rd.)! Come at 4:45 to help cook or 5:45 to help serve. This mission service has a long history. We would love for you to be a part of the fellowship & camaraderie. Questions? Contact Bill Neeriemer, bill.nmer@gmail.com.
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Ministry Partner News and Events...
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Food Connection presents "Chefs In Action" | Thursday, April 4 | 6 - 9 PM | Celine & Company "On Broadway" (
49 Broadway
)
No fresh food should ever end up in the trash while people go hungry. So far, Food Connection has rescued and delivered over 100,000 fresh meals! Come to Chefs In Action to see what goes into making a real food connection. Guests will enjoy a night of fun, food, drinks, music and fundraising. Tickets available at
Food-Connection.org.
*More reason to celebrate: The Charlotte chapter of Food Connection has just launched!
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Pisgah Legal Services
In 2018, Pisgah Legal Services provided free legal aid that impacted 16,803 people – the most people served in our 40 year history! With your support, we helped 6,403 people escape domestic abuse and rebuild their lives; 2,937 people stabilized their housing and $18,284,224 total quantifiable benefits were secured so people could afford basic needs
.
Click here to read their 2018 Community Impact Sheet.
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Fathers with Young Children Meet-up | TODAY, February 28 | 4 PM | Green Sage North (
633 Merrimon Ave.
)
Fathers with babies and young children will be meeting for informal conversation, exploration, and support. If you find yourself in this particular stage of life, please come and have a coffee with us! Contact Richard,
rcoble@gcpcusa.org
, with any questions.
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SOS ~ Save Our Sanity | 7:00 PM | Meets first Monday of the month
A social, prayer, support group for mothers! Come with your favorite drink or snack to share; leave the kids at home. To be added to the list, email Anna Louise at almurchison@gcpcusa.org.
Next meeting: Monday, March 4
th
at Amber Cook’s home
.
Questions? Email Amber at
ambercook714@yahoo.com
.
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GCPC 20s/30s Gathering: Breakout Asheville Escape Room! | Monday, March 4 | 7:00 – 8:30 PM |
60 Patton Ave.
Join us for an evening of code cracking, clue finding, and mystery solving at Breakout Asheville. Two teams will race to solve a series of problems as they move through rooms, working together to breakout! GCPC will be covering the cost. RSVP ASAP by emailing Samantha at
sgblock@gcpcusa.org
!
*Childcare provided.
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“Winner Winner Wednesday Dinner” | March 13 | 6:00 PM | FH
Take a break from cooking and make some space for connecting with your church community.
This meal will be catered from Moe’s Southwestern Grill.
These events are intergenerational.
*RSVP to Sherrie,
smeehan@gcpcusa.org
, by 12:00 pm on Monday, March 10
th
so we can have an estimate.
If you forget to RSVP, we hope you'll still come!
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March PW Circle Meetings
Circle #1 | Tuesday, March 5 | 10:00 AM | Mary Byers (308 Lakeshore Drive) | Study Leader: Cathy Froehlich
Circle #2
| Tuesday, March 5 | 7:30 PM | Charlotte Simons (2400 Timber Place) | Study Leader: Melissa Hicks
Circle #3 | TBA
Circle #4
| Thursday, March 7 | 7:00 PM | Jane Sutton (6 Holmwood Road) | Study Leader: Mary Lou Nash
Circle #5
| Monday, March 4 | 10:00 AM | Baptist Home (213 Richmond Hill Drive) | Study Leader: Susie Churchfield
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The 2019 Flower Chart is on the bulletin board next to the elevator.
There are just a few Sundays left!
Please consider signing up to give flowers one week. The cost is $45, payable to GCPC. Please send your dedication to
Anna Louise
.
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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 and stationed in the narthex before 10:45 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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Please keep our Confirmation class in your prayers as they head to their Confirmation Retreat, Friday, March 1st - Sunday, March 3rd.
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Youth Group "Intergenerational Native American Movie Night" | Sunday, March 3 | 5 –
6:30 PM
| GCPC Fellowship Hall
Get ready for one of the most valuable youth group experiences yet AND families are welcome! We will explore what it means to live on land that was taken from Native American people. The Power and Race team will be showing the film "Two Rivers," which looks at how people across differences can come together to bring about change and healing. We will then debrief the film with intergenerational conversations and activities.
*Feel free to bring a bagged dinner. Snacks provided.
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Register for: Senior High Presbytery Mission Retreat | Friday, March 15 - Saturday, March 16
Senior Highs, get ready for a rewarding weekend filled with service projects, fun, worship, music & fellowship with youth from across the presbytery.
Register by February 28th by emailing Samantha
sgblock@gcpcusa.org
.
The cost is $25 and full & partial scholarships are available.
*You do not need to register if you are part of PYC.
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Summer Opportunities:
Montreat Senior High Youth Conference Week 6:
July 28 - Aug 3
Massanetta Middle School Youth Conference Week 3:
July 11-14
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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.]
Iglesia Jerusalem congregation
Sherry Harcke (Les Stradley's friend)
Pat Cocke (Les Stradley’s friend)
Glenn Russell (Robin Gaiser's brother)
Nancy and Richard Schaadt (Donna Robertson's sister and brother-in-law)
Louise Seitz (Janet Schifflin's friend)
Sondra Dorn (Jonathan Tetzlaff's partner)
Jeffrey Ferris (Mary Lou Nash's son)
Erik Jacobs (Kathy Jacob's son)
June Collins (Carolyn Tingle’s mother)
Robin Smith (Beth Robrecht's sister)
Hettie Lou Garland
Dot Holladay
Betty Smith
Margaret Rada
Bob Higgins
Olga Malinoski
James Harwell
Joyce Summerlin
Marty Johnson & Gabe Boehm
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Grace Covenant Community Out and About...
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Enneagram Gatherings
Join us for weekly two
hour enneagram gatherings
Fridays,
10:00am & Monday
s
,
6:00pm in the A-Frame @ GCPC
.
Contact Carol Hovis
cmhovis@gmail.com
about cost & details. All are welcome; you can come once or every week.
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Enneagram Retreat: "Reclaiming our Holy Idea" | Saturday, March 9 | 10 AM - 3 PM | GCPC
The Enneagram is a powerful tool to look at 9 distinct personality strategies of how we humans cope in relationships, work & the world.
Holy Ideas are 9 essential qualities we humans lose sight of at an early age. Knowing our ennea-type offers us a way to rediscover the particular holy idea we forgot.
Cost: $60;
Scholarships available. Bring a bag lunch; cost includes hearty snacks & hand-outs. RSVP by March 7th:
cmhovis@gmail.com. Click
HERE for flyer.
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Save the Date:
April 27th Enneagram retreat on Arrows
Stay tuned.
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"Combatants for Peace" Presentation | Thursday, February 28 | 6:30
(refreshments)
; 7-9 PM
(program)
| Congregation Beth Israel (
229 Murdock Ave.
)
Congregation Beth Israel is excited and proud to host a delegation of Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers from Combatants for Peace (CFP). In 2006, Israeli and Palestinian former combatants, people who had taken an active role in the conflict, laid down their weapons and established Combatants for Peace. The egalitarian, bi-national, grassroots movement was founded on the belief that the cycle of violence can only be broken when Israelis and Palestinians join forces. Combatants for Peace is the only organization, worldwide, in which former fighters on both sides of an active conflict have laid down their weapons, choosing to work together for peace and justice. They have been twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, 2017 & 2018.
They will be telling their personal stories of transformation from violence to nonviolence, and sharing the work that they are doing to end the occupation and bring peace to their homeland. We will have two speakers: one Israeli and one Palestinian, and also be screening a short clip of their award winning, documentary:
Disturbing the Peace. Click
HERE for more information.
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"The Bail Trap: American Ransom" Documentary Screening | Sunday, March 3 | 4-6 PM | Grail Moviehouse (
45 S. French Broad
)
Join the ACLU of North Carolina's Western NC Chapter for a screening of "The Bail Trap", a Brave New Films compilation about the unjust cash bail system. Film will be followed by a panel discussion, featuring: Kristie Puckett-Williams (ACLU of NC), Brent Bailey (Buncombe County Reentry Council), Nicole Townsend (Southerners on New Ground) and Todd Williams (Buncombe County District Attorney). Questions? Contact Sam Katz at
bookingshows@gmail.com. This
event is free and open to the public; co-sponsored with Racial Justice Coalition of Asheville-Buncombe County.
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Open for Lunch
Book Talk by Robin Gaiser | Sunday, March 17 | 5:00 PM | GCPC Fellowship Hall
In her new book,
Open for Lunch, Robin Russell Gaiser writes of her encounters with a dozen strangers in casual lunch spots from upstate New York to Asheville, North Carolina. She began these encounters almost by chance when she invited someone in line with her at a Subway restaurant to share her table. But as she pursued such encounters over the years, she gradually became “the reporter reporting on myself. Soon the stunning stories of my lunch mates took me deeply into my own narrative.”
Please join Robin for a reading and signing. Books will be available for purchase.
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church | 828.254.3274
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
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