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“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was:
'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?'
But...the good Samaritan reversed the question:
'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”
~ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Sunday Preview
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Worship services @ 8:15 & 10:15 AM
Sermon:
"Borders and Thresholds" by Marcia Mount Shoop
Scriptures:
Psalm 150; Luke 10:25-37
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We welcome the Kingdom Bound Dance Troupe from the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women this Sunday, July 14 at the 10:15 AM worship.
They will be sharing their gift of dance in worship and we will have an opportunity to enjoy fellowship with them at lunch immediately following worship in the Fellowship Hall.
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2
nd
QUARTER CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS AVAILABLE NOW
If you gave tax deductible gifts during the 2
nd
Quarter (April - June),
your contribution statement is available for pick up at the Welcome Desk until 7/29/19.
Help us save on postage by picking yours up on Sunday!
Please check the contribution details and pledge balances for accuracy.
Keep in mind, this statement only includes gifts made
4/1/19 – 6/30/19
; any gifts made in July will be reflected on the 3
rd
Quarter statement issued in September.
If you gave during the quarter, even if online/automatic, a statement will be generated for you. Statements help catch any errors prior to year-end and give you a more accurate pledge balance status mid-year.
If you have questions or concerns about your statement, please contact Natalie Weaver, Stewardship & Financial Administrator, at
nweaver@gcpcusa.org
or 828-254-3274, ext. 202.
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REALM READY
GREAT NEWS! We’ve switched to a new contribution software called Realm. One of the perks you’ll notice is an easier to read statement, which now includes non-deductible gifts and a more clear pledge balance.
We now also have the capability to email contribution statements if preferred, instead of printing and requiring pick-up or mailing. This will help save time and money for GCPC and provide the timeliest delivery to you!
To sign up for paperless statement delivery, please contact Natalie Weaver at 828-254-3274, ext. 202 or
nweaver@gcpcusa.org
with your preferred email address.
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You can make a difference while you shop Amazon Prime Day deals on July 15 & 16. Simply shop at
smile.amazon.com/ch/56-0588479
and AmazonSmile donates to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
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Creating Sanctuary Team (CST)
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Instead of meeting this Sunday after worship, CST members are encouraged to help with lunch and fellowship with the Kingdom Bound Dance Troupe from the Swannanoa Women's Correctional Facility.
This is a great opportunity to practice what we preach: to cultivate sanctuary, equity, and justice in the way we build community at GCPC.
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Souper Wednesdays at Pisgah Legal
The staff of Pisgah Legal Services enjoyed another revitalizing Souper Wednesday in June, as GCPC members Diana Bilbrey and Connie Jones served delicious Greek lemon-chicken and fresh vegetable minestrone soups, respectively. Adding to the lunch were Rebecca Falls, who offered a variety of fresh fruit, Beth Philipsen bread, and Betsy Rhodes brownies, lemon squares, and oatmeal raisin cookies. Kathy Meacham and Glenda Burgin joined Diana and Connie as hosts for the monthly event.
~ Contributed by Tish Anderson
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Power and Race Team (PART)
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Join us for lunch with the Kingdom Bound Dance Team this Sunday, July 14th after the 10:15am worship service.
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The Racial Justice Book Series | TONIGHT, July 11 | 6:00 - 7:30PM | Choir Room & Indie Room
For July
,
we are reading
Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America
by Jennifer Harvey.
Heather and Richard invite young families to our next Racial Justice Book Series, where we will be meeting to discuss Jennifer Harvey's book. We are hoping to have the adults in one room talking about the book while Heather and our volunteers separate to talk through an age appropriate book or movie on the themes of racial justice. Then we will all come back together for debriefing together and pizza! Please RSVP at this
Google Form.
"
With a foreword by Tim Wise, Raising White Kids is for families, churches, educators, and communities who want to equip their children to be active and able participants in a society that is becoming one of the most racially diverse in the world while remaining full of racial tensions. For white people who are committed to equity and justice, living in a nation that remains racially unjust and deeply segregated creates unique conundrums." (Amazon)
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100 Ways to Support—Not Appropriate From—Native People
by Simon Moya-Smith
Don't even think about calling anyone/anything your spirit animal.
"
Natives have been so cancelled out of the American conversation that people don’t even know where to begin to include us. “What do we call you? ... American Indian? Native American? Do you guys still live in tipis?” These questions are still asked today—and they will continue to be asked unless we put together some kind of list, a collection of do’s and don’ts, and share it widely... Wait. Hang on a tick. What do we have here?..."
This article was originally published on Broadly, a former VICE website focused on gender and identity.
Click
HERE to read the full article.
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Oconaluftee Indian Village | Saturday, August 10 | 12-7 PM | Cherokee, NC
Carpool or van for an afternoon in the Oconaluftee Village, picnic on the grounds and an evening of Cherokee storytelling around a bonfire. Registration form is available at
http://bit.ly/CherokeeVillage or there are also some hard copies at the Welcome Desk. Adults - $20; Children (6-12) - $12; Children 5 & under - FREE. Pre-registration is required and full payment (made to GCPC) is due to Sherrie in the office by August 4th.
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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 2 will:
Define white fragility and identify how it shows up in conversations about racial justice; Look at how white fragility can be triggered even when we aren't discussing race; Discuss ways to engage our own fragility and that of the people with whom we are working.
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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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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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OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES...
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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.
- July 29 | Wearing God: Clothing, Laughter, Fire and Other Ways of Meeting God | Lauren Winner
- August 26 | If Oceans were Ink: An Unlikely Friendship and a Journey to the Heart of the Quran | Carla Power
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Summer Bible Study – The Gospel of Mark | Wednesdays in June and July | 11:00 – 11:45 AM | Garden Room
"How could such a painful story of fear, betrayal, sufferings and death also be the 'good news of Jesus Christ' (1:1)" asks one commentator of the Gospel of Mark. Come join us as we seek to answer this question through a deep reading of Mark, the oldest canonical Gospel in the New Testament. Together, we will examine what Mark believed about Jesus, how he understood this "Good News" for the world, and what this book means for our lives today. Come to every meeting or stop by when you can. Contact Richard,
rcoble@gcpcusa.org
, for more details.
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Service Opportunity for Women
GCPC has a team of women who cook and serve a meal every 5th Tuesday at a transitional home for women and children in Asheville. It is a great opportunity to be present in our community with a spirit of healing, support, and love. Our team needs 3 more people to round it out.
You arrive about 5:15pm and are done by 7pm on 5th Tuesdays and enjoy a meal with about 40 women and children. The same menu is prepared each time. If you are interested in helping but cannot be present on Tuesday evenings, the team would also welcome your help with cooking.
For more details, call Nan Clarke at home 828-669-5728 or text her on her cell, 828-989-0569.
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Habitat for Humanity News
The 28th Presbyterian/United Methodist Habitat house is about to kick off in Habitat's new neighborhood, Curry Court in Candler.
We have spots available on:
- August 5, Aug. 13, Aug. 21, Aug. 22, Aug. 29, Sept. 9
- GCPC Mamas Group will have a day on Saturday, Sept. 7th (probably)
- Youth and Youth Advisors will have Saturday, Sept. 14th
Please contact Bill Ryan (
bill73ryan@gmail.com) with any questions or to get a shift scheduled. Thank you for your continued support of Habitat!
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Room In The Inn (RITI) | July 7-14 | GCPC
The RITI Team would like to extend a huge thank you to all the volunteers that helped make the inn run smoothly this week. We appreciate all your hard work!
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Ministry Partner News and Events...
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Hands & Feet End of Year Storytelling Event | Monday, July 15 | 5:30 - 7:00 PM | THE BLOCK off Biltmore (
39 S. Market St.
)
Come and hear stories of the challenge and growth that can happen through service and help us say goodbye to our 2018-2019 volunteers! Bring your family and friends and mingle with the Hands and Feet of Asheville (YAV) Board of Directors, volunteers and our community partners. Snacks and good company provided! *Please notice the new location! You can register for this event
HERE.
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Food Connection Volunteer Opportunity
Food Connection needs your help! We are currently seeking volunteer drivers, food packers and distributors to help us rescue the surplus fresh meals from Ridgecrest Conference Center and connect them with mobile home communities in Swannanoa and Black Mountain. This is an ideal opportunity for faith groups, couples, or parents with teenage children.
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Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) Group | Wed., July 17 | 12 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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Men @ GCPC | Thursday, July 25 | 8:00 AM | HomeGrown (371 Merrimon Ave.)
We will meet to discuss the recent New York Times story about Rev. Amy Butler and Riverside Church in New York and what it means for progressive churches more widely.
Follow this
LINK
or google "
She Led a Famed Progressive Church. Then She Said She Was Harassed."
Contact Richard,
rcoble@gcpcusa.org
, with questions.
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Centering Prayer | Wednesday Nights | 6:30 - 7:00 PM | Sanctuary
Sacred and shared silence is a profound gift of many religious traditions of the world. And Christianity has a rich and ancient tradition of intentional and prayerful silence as a spiritual practice. There are many gifts in these practices that touch every part of who we are as human beings. Centering silence calms the nervous system and positively supports all body systems. It teaches the mind to quiet and to open itself up to mystery and creativity. Centering silence strengthens our connections to each other and to the world around us. Sacred silence teaches us to listen devoutly, humbly, and with trust. It helps us befriend the unknown.
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.
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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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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)
Michelle Elhert (Bill McNeff's friend)
Jennifer Vaughn (Mary Berg's friend)
Louise Hill (Geneva Neeriemer's mother)
Carlton Parker (Ed Parker's dad)
West Asheville Presbyterian Church
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
Carolyn & Trey Tingle and family
Walt Justice
Jim McLean
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Grace Covenant Community Out and About...
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July & August Enneagram Gatherings
in the A-Frame at GCPC with Carol Hovis
- Mondays, 6:00-8:00pm: July 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5 & 12
- Fridays, 10am-12noon: July 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9, & 16
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"Resilience for Social Activists" Workshop with Margaret Benefiel | Wednesday, July 17 | 5:45-8:30 PM | Black Mountain Library Education Room (
105 N Dougherty St, Black Mountain
)
In twenty-first century Western (white supremacist) culture, leaders are rewarded for
drive, decisiveness, productivity,
and
long work hours.
Especially in
the social justice arena, burnout is rampant. And in these times, when we add in current levels of anxiety and grief about the climate crisis, there is often an additional layer of exhaustion and despair that activists must contend with.
What might it look like for activists to step back and take time to cultivate depth in their inner lives, to step off the treadmill and take time away for personal reflection, in order to
develop more resilience?
What might leadership that arises from a core of contemplative grounding and compassion look like?
This will be an experiential workshop, in which your own experiences will serve as the basis for reflection and discernment. Stories of resilient activists and principles of resilient activism will complement personal reflection.
Margaret Benefiel is a long time Quaker and Contemplative. She is the Executive Director of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation and Program Director of the Soul of Leadership Program. (Find out more at shalem.org)
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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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