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We carry tears in our eyes: good-bye father, good-bye mother
We carry soil in small bags: may home never fade in our hearts
We carry names, stories, memories of our villages, fields, boats
We carry scars from proxy wars of greed...
We carry yesterday, today and tomorrow
~ from "Things We Carry On the Sea" By Wang Ping
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Sunday Preview
Sunday, August 8, 2019
Worship services @ 8:15 & 10:15 AM
Courtyard Fellowship @ 11:15 AM
Sermon:
"Desiring a Better Country" by Marcia Mount Shoop
Scriptures:
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20; Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
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Summer Music Happenings
- Summer Choir rehearses Sunday morning at 9:15am and is open to all. If you'd like to give singing a try, please join us in the sanctuary.
- Instruments of Grace - GCPC is blessed with a number of talented members. This week we are blessed with musical talent from Josie Moe, violin, Leonard Hollifield, guitar, and Barbara McLean, piano.
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Name tags on Summer Break
We are excited that the alcove in the narthex has some beautiful updates. Soon, we will have a fabulous new name tag caddy thanks to the creativity of a GCPC member. For now, we want everyone to be able to enjoy some space to sit down and visit for a while. If you can't remember somebody's name, find a fun way to ask them!
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Attention All Women of Grace Covenant!
Please scroll down to the "GCPC Community" section of the newsletter to see the PW Kick-Off announcement!
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Believe it or not, the 2020 Stewardship Committee (AKA the Stew Crew) is already being formed and will begin meeting in August to develop a campaign for the coming year. The Stew Crew helps educate the congregation about the financial needs of the church for the coming year and how we can collectively use our resources to support the mission. Stewardship enables all of GCPC ministries to function and flourish, not just during the campaign season, but throughout the whole year.
Keep your eyes and ears open in the coming months for more Stew Crew news!
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Community Garden Potluck | Friday, August 23 | 6:00 PM | Fellowship Hall
An invitation to all the community gardeners and friends of the garden! Come enjoy a mid-Summer's garden celebration together. Please bring your favorite covered dish to share. Come early (at 5:30 pm) and help set up or stay late and help clean up. We have much to share and discuss, including solid numbers on the amount of vegetables planted, tended and harvested. It is a time to celebrate your garden work!
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Creating Sanctuary Team (CST)
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Shelter office poster of migrants
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Susan Murty, a resident of Highland Farms, spent two weeks in May volunteering at one of the eleven shelters operated by Annunciation House in El Paso. The following is the first of her journal entries.
"When I arrived at the intake center, I expected a day of orientation before I began assisting with the tasks of welcoming immigrants and gathering the information we needed from them. Shortly after my arrival, however, a bus carrying 47 immigrants arrived from ICE Detention. I had to jump right in. All of them were parents with children. Each immigrant was assigned cots in a large dormitory room, families together: women with their children on one side, men with their children on the other, and families consisting of both parents plus children in the middle. We then began the intake process: name and age; children’s names and ages; name, address and phone number of the contact person expecting them in the US. Other volunteers made phone calls to arrange transportation by bus or plane to their destination. Each immigrant received clothes, one towel, and soap; they then took a shower and were fed. Baby formula and diapers were provided."
~ Contributed by Tish Anderson
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Ride Help for Pisgah Legal Services
Mission: as part of our Creating Sanctuary effort, we have offered to find rides for Pisgah Legal Services (PLS) clients.
How it works: staff at PLS contact us and we send out an email to all volunteers on the list about the date, time and trip origin and destination. If a volunteer is able to provide the ride, they reply all so that we know it's covered and PLS knows who to contact with more detailed information.
When and Where: The rides are on weekdays and may involve early morning appointments, some at the PLS office in Asheville, also sometimes at the Immigration Court in Charlotte or the Immigration office in Greer, SC. There are usually only one or two requests per month.
Who: YOU are needed. If you are willing to volunteer one time or occasionally please send an email to Bill Neeriemer at
sancttransport@gmail.com to be put on the list. You may take your name off of the list any time. You do not need to be bilingual. The clients are pleasant and appreciative. Most speak English although sometimes limited.
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Power and Race Team (PART)
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The Racial Justice Book Series will NOT be meeting in August.
Check back in the fall for new titles.
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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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More Light Teach-In: Racial Justice
Jessica Vazquez Torres is the Lead Trainer for the 3-part series and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion around racial justice. As the National Program Coordinator for
Crossroads Anti-Racism Organizing and Training
, Jessica has years of experience training folks on how to begin the conversation about dismantling systemic racism.
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Part 3 will: Distinguish between decentering whiteness and white silence; Discuss the ways white supremacy appears in spaces even when no white people are present; Offer a theological praxis for working to dismantle systems that uphold white supremacy and division.
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Climate Justice Rally | Friday, September 20 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM | Pack Square
Show your support for God's Creation, the Earth! The WNC chapter of the Climate Reality Project is hosting this rally. Pack up the kids and come out and help us support the effort. Speakers, Music, etc. For more information, click
HERE
.
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Education Hour (for all ages) will resume on September 15th!
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*Nursery care is available throughout Sunday morning beginning at 8:10 am.
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Presbyterianism 101 - Brown bag lunch discussions | Sundays | August 11, 18 & 25 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Choir Room
Who are Presbyterians? What do we believe? How are we different from other denominations? Come with your questions as we delve into our rich, complex, and sometimes contentious tradition. Bring a brown bag lunch if you would like. Email Richard at
rcoble@gcpcusa.org
with questions.
Facilitators
:
Richard Coble, Samantha Gonzalez-Block, Marcia Mount Shoop, and Heather Ferguson
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2019 Summer Women’s Book Series | Last Monday of the month | 6 PM | Garden Room
Join us for a series of book talks. Open to all women of the church. One copy of each book can be found in the church library. Please pre-read the books to ensure lively discussion.
- August 26 | If the Oceans Were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran | Carla Power
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Summer Bible Study has finished.
Please join us for our regular Wednesday lectionary Bible Study, which will resume on September 18.
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Serve Potluck/Educational Event for Steady Collective | Wednesday, August 14 | 5:30 - 7:30 PM | Fellowship Hall
All are invited to join the Serve Council for a potluck/educational event with GCPC ministry partner, Steady Collective. Hill Brown will update us about their work utilizing the mobile unit purchased with funds from GCPC and opioid use and needle exchange in our community. Serve Council will provide the fried chicken, and all others are encouraged to bring a dish to share.
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Calling all PRITCHARD PARK VOLUNTEERS | Sunday, August 18 | Sign-ups in the courtyard/narthex on August 11
Looking for a “hands on” experience? Well, we’ve got one for you.
We’re looking for volunteers to join us in providing breakfast to our fellow brothers and sisters at Pritchard Park on Sunday August 18.
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 August 17; or serve the breakfast on Sunday morning August 18?
You can do all 3 if you like!! Many thanks to all who have been regular contributors over the years to this effort. We need some of you newer folks to step up and “carry the water.”
Please promise yourself to participate at least once a year in this important GCPC ministry to our community.
Questions? Please contact Rick Noble at 803-422-1977 or email him at
rick@noblebelfast.com
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Habitat for Humanity Shifts
The 2019 Presby/UMC house is underway. As of last week, all the first floor exterior walls were up. Anyone wishing to volunteer for the construction of the house should contact Bill Ryan (
bill73ryan@gmail.com
). Minimum age to volunteer at a site is 16.
We have scheduled slots on:
- Tuesday, August 13
- Wednesday, August 21
- Thursday, August 22
- Thursday, August 29
- Monday, September 9
We hope to schedule some September days for our Youth, GCPC Mamas and the 20s/30s group soon. If you cannot come out and build, pray for the endeavor and our partner family (yet to be named) and donate to and shop at the ReStore. Thank you for your continued support of Habitat!
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Ministry Partner News and Events...
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Summer Food Shortage at ABCCM North
During summer, parents are faced with additional food costs because their children are out of school for 10 weeks. Due to the increased demand, ABCCM North is in need of more food donations. Please consider donating to help alleviate food insecurity here in Buncombe County. You can leave your donations in the narthex in the basket labeled "Food Donations." For more information, please contact Cathy Byers at
byersabc@gmail.com
or 828-253-8022.
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Presbyterian Women Fall Kick-Off! | Saturday, August 24 | 10 AM – 1 PM | Atrium & Fellowship Hall
All women of Grace Covenant are invited to the Presbyterian Women’s Fall Kick Off brunch. Come discover our 2019-2020 Horizon’s Bible Study,
Love Carved in Stone: A Fresh Look at the Ten Commandments
, a study that helps us reframe the way we look and live in the world. Lynne Noble will lead us in the first lesson. This is a great opportunity to socialize with women of our church and to hear about our Circles and the times and dates they meet. Keep watch for our Mission project.
Sign up in the Church Narthex on August 4th, 11th or 18th
. Any questions, please contact Cathy Froehlich at (828) 775-1016 or at
oremont2@gmail.com
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SAVE THE DATES!
- Saturday, September 7 | GCPC Palooza/Cookout & Night at the Improv! | FH & Atrium | 6:00 - 8:30 PM
- Sunday, September 8 | GCPC Palooza/One worship service @ 10:15 am/ Lunch (provided)/Rally Day
- Sunday, September 15 | Education Kick-Off /First Day of Classes | 9:15 am
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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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Welcome Potluck Pool Parties for Youth, Parents & Advisors:
August 11th & 13th!!!
Let's celebrate the start of a new youth group year! Come catch up with old friends, meet new ones, and have a whole lot of fun. Bring a bathing suit and towel (and an optional game to share).
*Parents, you may drop off your youth, but we
highly encourage
you to stay and mingle with the other adults. Siblings are also welcome!
- Welcome "Senior High" (incoming 9-12th grade) Potluck Pool Party | Sunday, August 11th | 5:30 - 7:30PM |Anna-Olivia Ungert's family home
- Welcome "Middle School" (incoming 6-8th grade) Potluck Pool Party | Tuesday, August 13th | 5:30 - 7:30PM |Lucas Rogers' family home
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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)
Robin Smith (Beth Robrecht's sister)
Rebecca Wells' brother, Jamey
Natalie C.
Jennifer Moore (Amanda Pressley's daughter)
Dorothy Zuck (Pat Durham's mother)
Jeff Combs (Bill McNeff's friend)
Jennifer Vaughn (Mary Berg's friend)
Louise Hill (Geneva Neeriemer's mother)
West Asheville Presbyterian Church
Nicholas Kmecza (Carolyn Haag’s husband)
Hettie Lou Garland
Betty Smith
Margaret Rada
Bob Higgins
James Harwell
Joyce Summerlin
Cory Hartbarger
Mary Ellen Horne
Penny & Ray Ponder
Doris Prak
Jack Smith
Steve and Florence Riedesel
Walt Justice
Jim McLean
Nell Payne
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Grace Covenant Community Out and About...
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August Enneagram Gatherings
at GCPC with Carol Hovis
- Mondays, 6:00-8:00pm: August 12
- Fridays, 10am-12noon: August 9 & 16
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Enneagram Retreat:
Saturday, August 31st,
10am-4pm @ GCPC
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CoInspire - Liberating Imagination, Eviscerating Racism | October 7-10, 2019 | Montreat Conference Center
Montreat Conference Center will host CoInspire, the second in a series of conferences addressing systemic racism in the church. Their first conference, DisGrace, lived in lament for the ways in which the sins of racism thwart individual people and institutions, infecting congregations and denominations with death-dealing dehumanization.
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.
Traci Blackmon, executive minister of justice & local church ministries for The United Church of Christ and senior pastor of The Kind United Church of Christ, will be the conference’s preacher.
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church | 828.254.3274
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
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