It is only candor that is aloof from them,
only an inward clarity, unashamed, that they cannot reach. Be ready.
… say to them: “I am not ashamed.” A sure horizon
will come around you. The heron will rise
in his evening flight from the hilltop.
~ Wendell Berry,
“Do Not Be Ashamed,” 1967
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"This Eucharistic Life": A Grace Covenant Podcast around the Table
In this episode, we introduce our fall theme, this Eucharistic life, and ask how the table supports and challenges our community's life of faith today.
Leaders of each of our adult education classes share powerful insights about how "This Eucharistic Life" shows up in their classes this Fall.
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An Evening with International Peacemakers! | THIS Friday, October 4 | 7:00 - 8:30 PM | Fellowship Hall
The Serve Council invites you to join our ministry partners Mark Hare and Jenny Bent and a group from Serve to Lead as we welcome Reverend Maria Bock Barett from International Peacemakers. The Rev. María Bock Barett serves as coordinator of social action for the Dominican Protestant Church (Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana). Rev. Bock has served as pastor to a number of marginalized, urban congregations in the capital of Santo Domingo, as well as working as a volunteer in the social action arm of the church, which she now coordinates. Rev. Bock is one of a dozen
2019 International Peacemakers
visiting congregations and mid councils this fall on behalf of the
Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
. The International Peacemakers Program is made possible through generous gifts to the
Peace & Global Witness Offering
.
We'll gather in the Fellowship Hall for dessert and coffee.
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Dec-O-Jack” – An Intergenerational Evening of Fun and Fellowship | THIS Sunday, October 6 | 5:00-6:45 PM | Fellowship Hall & Atrium
We will be Decorating Pumpkins (provided by Anthony Cole and Jasperwood Farm). We will also have Corn Hole and Group Games.
We will have a Chili Cook-Off, so pull out that favorite Chili Recipe and dust off the Crockpot. We welcome folks bringing bread and/or dessert to share too. “Did some one say, Pumpkin Spice Brownies?”
Please
RSVP
to let us know how many adults and children will be coming so we will have plenty of pumpkins available. We will have some supplies for decorating, but feel free to bring your own creative supplies too. Contact Heather if you have questions.
hferguson@gcpcusa.org
.
This is an event for ALL AGES, so come and EnJoy!
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Movie Night -
The Mission
| THIS Sunday, October 6 | 7:00 PM | Choir Room
Continuing to grapple with the past conquest of Europeans over Native Americans
through video and film. The setting for this feature length film is South America—the Guarani Indians and their European encounter. A British period drama film about the experiences of a Jesuit missionary in 18th-century South America. Please join us.
*This movie is part of the curriculum for the Pressure Points class this fall.
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“Winner Winner Wednesday Dinner” | October 9 | 6:00 PM | Fellowship Hall
Second Wednesday Dinners are BACK!!! Take a break from cooking and make some space for connecting with your church community. Local caterer, Daniel Young of "Turk Da Jerk Catering on the Go" will treat us to a tasty culinary experience that will have gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options available. These events are intergenerational.
*RSVP to Sherrie,
smeehan@gcpcusa.org
, by 12:00 pm on Monday, October 7th so we can have an estimate.
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Don’t you love the way ministry fills up the space and then spills out the doors of our congregation?
Sometimes perusing the newsletter can almost make your head spin. There are, of course, a plethora of nurturing, learning, edifying, caring and inspiring programs of ministry here. Add to that all of the mission and service work being done in our community and beyond. Hunger work. Earth work. Racial equity work. Justice work. Truly, there is life abundant among us. It comes from God. Washed in the font and fed from the table God keeps nourishing us with a faith that desires expression.
Thank you for your partnership in ministry at Grace Covenant. As you consider what your pledge will be to help support the ministry here in the upcoming year, please prayerfully reflect how your pledge can grow.
Grace and peace to you,
Your Stew Crew
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AUTOMATIC GIVING DOESN'T AUTORENEW
If you give through he church website or have worked with the Financial Administrator to set up recurring payments from your credit card or bank account, there is a good chance that your
automatic giving
ends 12/31/19
.
If you self-manage your account, please be sure to
log in here
before the end of the year to set up your 2020 General Fund giving.
If you'd like us to set up a new draft for you, please contact Natalie Weaver, Stewardship & Financial Administrator, at 828-254-3274, ext 202 or
nweaver@gcpcusa.org
. With a signed authorization form she can enter a new transaction on your behalf.
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Creating Sanctuary Team (CST)
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Creating Sanctuary Team (CST) members are encouraged to attend the PART meeting on Thursday, October 10 at 7 pm in the Fellowship Hall
to join in strategic planning about next steps in our shared mission of dismantling white supremacy culture and creating a culture of sanctuary for all. Hope to see you there!
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Creating Sanctuary Team Mtg. | Sunday, October 13 | 11:45 AM | Garden Rm
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Thanks to all who made yet another Pisgah Legal Services Souper Wednesday memorable! The vegan chili and potato soup were delicious and a real hit, thanks to Susan Presson and Beth Kissling, respectively. Pat Cheffins provided a variety of breads, Nancy Gaskin offered gluten-free cornbread and cookies, Lynne Meacham brought abundant fruit, and Jan Brunk created delicious brownies and thoughtful gluten-free cookies. The PLS staff enjoyed a beautiful, inviting table.
Equally inviting were the smiles and hospitality offered by hosts Glenda, Susan, Nancy, and Beth.
To learn more about this valuable ministry to support and encourage our community partners as frontline caregivers, contact Nancy Gaskin at
nancy.gaskin@gmail.com
or Glenda Burgin at
glendasb2@gmail.com
. The next Souper Wednesday at PLS is scheduled for December.
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Power and Race Team (PART)
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PART Meeting | Thursday, October 10 | 7 PM | Fellowship Hall
It's time for the Power and Race Team to up our game around accountability and transformation in our community of faith and in the larger community. This meeting is an opportunity for anyone who has been doing the hard of dismantling and disrupting white supremacy culture to strategize about next steps together.
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People of faith don't have the option of pleading ignorance or innocence when it comes to the deep wounds of race and white supremacy in our culture. Our work together is healing work. And the more healing hands engaged, the deeper the healing will be.
See you October 10!
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CoInspire - Liberating Imagination, Eviscerating Racism | October 7-10, 2019 | Montreat Conference Center
In response to the racism and violence in our world, this event seeks to bring together people of faith in order to disarm prejudices that divide us and equip each other for practicing resurrection as new creations in Christ. We will delve into the questions around the toxicities we are currently breathing into our bodies and exhaling into the shared air. CoInspire will examine ways that we, as members of Christ’s body, might co-inspire one another to liberate imagination for new ways of being, and examine ways we can conspire to eviscerate the racism within our church. We will seek to identify those things we want to breathe in to precipitate a pathway to eviscerating the racism in our country and our world.
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This Sunday's Education Hour (for all ages)
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Adult Education - Fall Term | Sept. 15 - Nov. 24 | 9:15 AM
Pressure Points - The Church and Native Americans: Grappling with the Past, Facing the Future | Fellowship Hall
This 11-week program will outline a Christian's response to social issues related to Native American Peoples of North America. This will involve educating ourselves about the history of native peoples (from their perspective using The Great Courses as an academic basis for this education) prior to European contact and the philosophical/theological/political concepts that were employed against Native peoples after contact. In the second half of the course's term, we will deal specifically with Cherokee Indian issues as a case in point of our country's and our church's involvement in oppression of native culture, highlighting the Cherokee Nation/ECBI's response to that oppression. Ultimately, we would like to posit for our class how we should prayerfully yet actively respond to these issues in the future.
Facilitators:
Buzz Durham, Mike Fleenor, Jaan Ferree, Mary Berg, Marcia Mount Shoop
The Improv -
The Spirituality of Vulnerability: Brené Brown and Richard Rohr
| Choir Room
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path” (Brené Brown,
Daring Greatly). In this class, we will be discussing how the insights of shame researcher Brené Brown and spiritual writer and Franciscan friar Richard Rohr can inform our spiritual lives.
Facilitators:
Richard Coble, Nancy Gaskin, Paul Rogers
Digging In - Living the Questions | Jerusalem Room
Living the Questions is for those who are looking for a resource that encourages questions they’ve always wanted to ask and sparks open dialogue in a safe place. It’s also for those asking what a meaningful faith can look like today. Living the Questions provides a context where people can pursue their questions and deepen their understanding as part of a life-long spiritual journey. This video-based program (along with downloadable participant guides and readings) includes conversations with scholars and clergy. Spirituality, Bible, God, creation, Jesus, Gospels, Paul, evangelism, evil, suffering and forgiveness are some of the topics we’ll consider.
Facilitators:
Denise Snodgrass and Tim Hamel
Toddlers (ages 2-3) | “God Loves Me”
| 9:15 – 10:15 AM | Toddler Room (downstairs, Children’s Center)
Preschool/Kindergarten (ages 4-5) | Godly Play
| 9:15 –10:15 AM | Preschool Sunday School Room (downstairs, Children’s Center)
Elementary (grades 1-3) | Godly Play
| 9:15–10:15 AM | Temple Room (Education wing, upstairs)
Elementary (grades 4-5) | “CONNECT”
| 9:15–10:15 AM | Indie Room (Education wing, upstairs)
Middle School & Senior Highs (grades 6-12)
| 9:00-10:15 AM | Youth Rooms, (Education wing, upstairs)
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*Nursery care is available throughout Sunday morning beginning at 8:10 am.
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OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES...
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Bible Study | Wednesdays | 11:00 AM | Garden Room
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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Daddy, Papa, and Me
Mommy, Mama, and Me
by Leslea Newman and Carol Thompson (illustrator)
These board books for preschoolers show same-sex parents engaged in daily activities with their children. In Daddy, the men play with their toddler-dress-up,
paper-airplane flying, strumming and drumming instruments, and having a tea party.
Mommy and Mama spend the day at the park-going down the slide, riding the merry-go-round, playing hide-and-seek. The two books give children with single-sex parents validation of their family structures in a healthy, positive way. Toddlers with two moms or two dads don’t care about gender politics, they care about love, and this is what these two books give them.
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Calling all PRITCHARD PARK VOLUNTEERS | Sunday, October 20 | Sign-ups in the narthex on October 6 & 13
Looking for a “hands on” experience? We’re looking for volunteers to join us in providing breakfast to our fellow brothers and sisters at Pritchard Park.
We do this just 6 times per year on the 3rd Sunday of the even numbered months.
Won’t you join us by either providing the various foods we serve; or helping us do “prep work” on Saturday morning October 19; or serve the breakfast on Sunday morning October 20?
Questions? Please contact Cathy Byers,
byersabc@gmail.com
.
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Ministry Partner News and Events...
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Hands and Feet of Asheville
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Pisgah Legal Services' Annual Justice Forum featuring Jose Antonio Vargas | TONIGHT, October 3 | 7:00 PM | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium (U.S. Cellular Center)
Jose Antonio Vargas is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, author of
Dear America: Notes of An Undocumented Citizen and a leading voice for the human rights of immigrants. He is the Founder and CEO of Define American, the nation’s leading nonprofit media organization that fights injustice and anti-immigrant hate through the power of storytelling.
For the first time, the Justice Forum is free to attend thanks to our generous sponsors. Click
HERE
to register.
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GCPC 20s/30s Gathering: "HardLox Jewish Food & Heritage Festival" | Sunday, October 13 | 12:00-2:00 PM | Pack Square, Downtown AVL
If you are in your twenties or thirties (or nearly these ages), you are invited to an afternoon of
festival fun hosted by our Jewish neighbors
! We will meet at GCPC at noon and head downtown together (or meet downtown at the Vance monument at 12:15). Get ready to try delicious traditional foods, hear good music, talk and hang out, and visit some fun booths.
CLICK HERE TO RSVP.
Need Childcare?
Free childcare will be available at GCPC from 11:45 - 2:30pm (let
Heather Ferguson
know that you will be needing it).
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MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) Group | Wednesday, October 16 | 12:00 PM | Garden Room
This support group introduces techniques for daily living with such issues, led by Paul Rogers, a retired physician in our congregation. We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month.
*New participants welcome at any time.
Contact Richard,
rcoble@gcpcusa.org
, with questions.
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Children and Youth Worship Leaders for October
Participating in worship as an acolyte, pouring at the baptismal font, or carrying in the communion cup or bread are all valuable experiences for our children and youth. These holy acts are invaluable to the forming of young faith. Through this participation, children and youth come close to the mysteries of our sacraments and begin a deeper understanding of what is means to be part of the community of followers of Jesus Christ.
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Centering Prayer | Wednesday Nights | 6:30 - 7:00 PM | Sanctuary
Christianity has a rich and ancient tradition of intentional and prayerful silence as a spiritual practice. Sacred silence teaches us to listen devoutly, humbly, and with trust. It is beautifully simple and a spiritual skill whose gifts goes deeper and gets more powerful the more one practices it. This practice is open to all and is come as you are able. Questions? Contact Marcia at
mmshoop@gcpcusa.org
.
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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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THIS WEEKEND:
Dec-O-Jack” – An Intergenerational Evening of Fun and Fellowship | THIS Sunday, October 6 | 5:00-6:45 PM | Fellowship Hall & Atrium
We will be Decorating Pumpkins (provided by Anthony Cole and Jasperwood Farm). We will also have Corn Hole and Group Games.
We will have a Chili Cook-Off, so pull out that favorite Chili Recipe and dust off the Crockpot. We welcome folks bringing bread and/or dessert to share too. “Did some one say, Pumpkin Spice Brownies?”
Please
RSVP
to let us know how many adults and children will be coming so we will have plenty of pumpkins available. We will have some supplies for decorating, but feel free to bring your own creative supplies too. Contact Heather if you have questions.
hferguson@gcpcusa.org
.
This will be our youth group event this weekend!
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Youth Sunday School:
Youth Choir, Drama & Fun
(6th - 12th graders) | Sundays | 9:00 - 10:15 AM | Youth Rooms
This fall we will be fearlessly jumping into our faith in creative ways. We will begin at 9:00am sharp with breakfast, followed by Youth Choir, Energizers, Games and and an on-your-feet Bible Study. See you at the first class and get ready for a fun, meaningful experience!
Questions? Contact Samantha at
sgblock@gcpcusa.org
.
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REGISTER BY THIS WEEKEND:
Youth Mission Earth Day | Sunday, October 20 | 12:00 - 6:00 PM | Meet/pick up at GCPC parking lot
Asheville Youth Mission & Creation Care Alliance are hosting a day focused on caring for God's creation through outdoor service projects. Lunch will be provided! GCPC will cover the majority of the cost for its participants. Please bring $10 (check to GCPC or cash) to offset the cost of lunch and programming. Full/partial scholarships available.
LAST CALL!
REGISTER HERE
by THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6!
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Raleigh Youth Mission Education Trip | January 17-20 (MLK Jr. Weekend)
Are you ready to be fearless together? We will be heading to our state capital, Raleigh to do transformative service projects, explore how laws impact our society, and consider how our faithful voices can make a difference. Get ready to grow side-by-side and have a whole lot of fun!
We are hoping to charter a bus (and have Eduard as our driver!!) and need 35 people in order to get it, so please claim your spot today
! The cost is $200 (full and partial scholarships available).
Register digitally HERE ASAP and submit your deposit by October 15th
.
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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
Pat Cocke (Les Stradley’s friend)
Deborah Strong (Robin Gaiser's cousin)
Nancy and Richard Schaadt (Donna Robertson's sister and brother-in-law)
Louise Seitz (Janet Schifflin's friend)
Jeffrey Ferris (Mary Lou Nash's son)
Rebecca Wells' brother, Jamey
Jeff Combs (Bill McNeff's friend)
West Asheville Presbyterian Church
Sarah Ralston (Susie Bleckley’s mother)
Marcia Zuzel (friend of Kim Hottle and Melissa Shook)
Virginia Bibee (Jamie Bibee Lloyd's mother)
Hettie Lou Garland
Betty Smith
Margaret Rada
Bob Higgins
James Harwell
Joyce Summerlin
Cory Hartbarger
Mary Ellen Horne
Penny Ponder
Steve and Florence Riedesel
Donna Robertson
Elizabeth Fisher
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Grace Covenant Community Out and About...
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2019 Fall Enneagram Gatherings
resume tomorrow,
Friday, October 4th.
Mondays, 6-8pm
and
Fridays, 10am-12noon
in the A-Frame @ GCPC.
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Annual Helpmate Domestic Violence Awareness Vigil | Friday, October 11 | 6:00 - 7:30 PM | AB Tech Conference Center (
16 Fernihurst Drive
)
Refreshments and Information Tables at 6pm. Program begins at 6:30pm including survivor testimony, reading of NC homicide victim's names, and performances by Allison Hammond and Womansong. Free and open to the public.
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The North Carolina Presbyterian Historical Society's Fall Meeting | Saturday, October 12 |
Davie Street Presbyterian Church
, Raleigh
We’ll be celebrating the very interesting 151-year history of Davie St. and the early history of African-American Presbyterian congregations in North Carolina. Registration is $16, including morning coffee and lunch. The schedule, registration form, and address are on our website
www.ncphsociety.org
or contact our secretary, Flo Durway, 919-977-8897,
floanddan74@gmail.com
.
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Christian Discipleship Center of Asheville - Study Tour of Israel and Turkey | September 19-28, 2020
Tour leader and chaplain: the Rev. Brent Norris, St. Mary’s Episcopal.
Trace the life and ministry of Jesus through historic sites in Nazareth, Galilee, and Jerusalem. Then follow the spread of the Church into Turkey and tour the ruins of the early Christian communities in Ephesus, Smyrna, and Laodicea.
Included: round trip airfare, all lodging, daily breakfast and dinner, licensed tour guide and headsets, air conditioned ground transportation, all museum and entrance fees, service charges and local taxes.
Not included: Turkish visa fee, lunches and drinks, gratuities for drivers and guide, personal expenses and travel insurance. Cost: $3,590 (per person, double occupancy) Deadline for registration: January 8, 2020; Deposit of $200 due February 1, 2020; Balance due June 19, 2020
Informational Meeting | Thursday, October 24th | 7 PM | St. Mary’s (337 Charlotte Street)
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church | 828.254.3274
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
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