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"Religion is meant to transform anxiety into peace, arrogance into humility,
envy into compassion, to awaken the pure souls in humans and their love
for the Source, which is God."
~ Radhanath Swami
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Sunday Preview
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Christ the King
Worship Services @ 8:15 & 10:45 AM
ADVENTure (for all ages) at 9:15 AM
Sermon:
"Across a Crowded Room" by Samantha Gonzalez-Block
Scriptures:
2 Samuel 23:1-7; John 18:33-39
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ADVENTure! | THIS
Sunday, November 25 | 9:15-10:15 AM | Fellowship Hall
A special time for getting ready… to GET READY!
Christ the King Sunday (November 25) is the last Sunday of the liturgical calendar. The four Sundays that follow make up the season of Advent. Advent is the season for getting ready! A time for preparing our hearts and homes for the coming of the Christ child.
So on the morning of November 25, all ages are invited to come to the Fellowship Hall during the education hour
(there will be no regular Sunday School classes this morning)
for a fun time of fellowship, breakfast snacks and hand-crafting items to help us prepare for Advent. We will have tables of various crafts and activities and materials for you and/or your family to create your own unique Advent Wreath.
If you would like to help at one of the craft tables or with the morning snacks, please contact Heather Ferguson,
hferguson@gcpcusa.org
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Did you go to Adult Sunday school this fall?
We want to hear from you!
Adult Education Committee.
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"How Can We Keep From Sharing?" Update
As of 11/21/18, here's where we are on our pledging:
203 Pledges Received, 88% of 230 Goal
$
877,488.00
Pledged, 86% of Goal
This includes 29 new pledges from families that did not pledge in 2018. 63% of pledge renewals have increased their pledge from last year.
If you haven't already, please complete you 2019 pledge card, handwritten or
online
, and return to the Finance Office as soon as possible. If you have questions about your gifts or pledge, please contact Natalie Weaver, Stewardship & Financial Administrator, at 828-254-3274, ext. 202 or
giving@gcpcusa.org.
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Creating Sanctuary Team (CST)
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Creating Sanctuary Team Meeting | Sunday, December 9 | 11:45 AM | Garden Room
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Power and Race Team (PART)
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Racial Justice Book Club | Thursday, December 13 | 6:00 PM | Jerusalem Room
The Racial Justice Book Club is reading a list of 12 books examining institutional and interpersonal racism and racial equity. All are welcome, whether you have read closely or are just interested in learning more about the subject. A copy of the book can be found in the church library
.
For December
, we are reading the novel
Salvage the Bones
by Jesmyn Ward.
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PART Meeting | Thursday, December 13 | 7:00 PM | Jerusalem Rm
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*This Sunday, please join us for
ADVENTure (for all ages)
at 9:15 am in the Fellowship Hall.
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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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*Beginning Sunday, December 2:
Calm & Bright: Intergenerational Advent Class | December 2-23 | 9:15-10:15 AM | Fellowship Hall
For the four Sundays of Advent, you are invited to join Grace Covenant folks (1st grade through adults) for an experience sure to stir your spirit through sacred music, lively exploration and mutual blessing. This year marks the 200-year anniversary of the beloved hymn, Silent Night. Come join Heather Ferguson, Lynn Bledsoe and an intergenerational music team as we celebrate this Advent season the GCPC way!
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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!
*
In December,
Bible Study will meet on December 5 and 12 and then take a break for the holidays. Bible Study will resume on January 9.
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News from our Ministry Partner, Working Wheels
Do you have an extra car that needs to find a new home? Imagine how difficult your life would be without a car! Working Wheels repairs and recycles donated cars, transforming them into working wheels for working families. The process is simple and the donation is tax deductible, plus your donation benefits local nonprofits whose clients need these cars. We also need volunteer drivers and mechanics. To donate or volunteer, please call (828) 633-6888 or visit
www.workingwheelswnc.org
.
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Pisgah Legal Ambassador Workshop "Speak Up for Justice" | Thursday, November 29 | 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM | Pisgah Legal Offices (
62 Charlotte St.
)
Come learn more about the work that Pisgah Legal Services is doing to improve lives in our community and find out how you can be an advocate. Lunch will be served. Please RSVP to
Jodi@Pisgahlegal.org by November 27th.
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Haywood Street Congregation -
Ways to engage this holiday season:
- Wednesday, December 5th, 12:30pm: GCPC pastors will be leading communion at the Haywood Street worship service. All are welcome to come worship! Arrive at 12pm for lunch.
- Saturday, December 22 | Christmas feast meal prep | All day between 9am-3pm
- Worship every Wednesday at 12:30 pm and Sunday at 3:15 pm.
- Regular Wed/Sun meal and worship schedule remains without changes throughout the holiday season. Check "About/Visit" on website for full details, www.haywoodstreet.org.
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Sisters at the Sea Retreat 2019 - | February 21-24, 2019 | Folly Beach, SC | $170 (early bird rate)
Are you a woman age 25ish-50ish who would like a weekend of connecting and rejuvenating? Mark your calendars for our 10th
annual SOS (“save our sanity”/“sisters at the sea”/”women needing to replenish and rejuvenate”) retreat! This year’s leader will be our own Heather Ferguson. We will dig into some unique ways to tap into Celtic spirituality, a very earthy spirituality that is rooted in the natural elements. The beach will be a perfect place to explore
"Fire, Earth, Wind and Water: Praying with the Elements of Creation."
Early Bird Rate:
$170 per person ($40 non-refundable deposit by Dec. 23rd)
Cost after Dec. 23rd:
$190 per person
*Full and partial scholarships available upon request. Registration ends on February 3rd. Registration forms will be available on the wall near the Welcome Desk; or you can use the
online form.
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GCPC 20s/30s Gathering:
“Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness
Discussion"
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Thursday, Nov. 29 | 7:00-8:30pm |
The Hop
(640 Merrimon Ave)
If you are in your twenties or thirties, you are invited to meet at the Hop to enjoy some ice cream (on us) and discuss racism and racial equality, using a portion of Austin Channing Brown's book
"Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness."
RSVP to Samantha
sgblock@gcpcusa.org
.
*Contact Heather
hferguson@gcpcusa.org
for childcare by TODAY, November 21st.
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SOS ~ Save Our Sanity | Monday, December 3 | 7:00 PM | Amy Fowler's home
A social, prayer, support group for mothers! Come with a snack, drinks will be provided; leave the kids at home. To be added to the list, email
Anna Louise
. For questions about the upcoming meeting, email Amy Fowler at
amy@wncgcm.com
.
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Support Group for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI Group) | Wednesday, December 5 | 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 1
st
and 3
rd
Wednesdays of every month.
New participants are welcome at any time.
Contact
Richard
with questions.
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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 10:30 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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Youth Group: "Richmond, Here We Come" Preparations | Next Sunday, December 2 |
5 - 7 PM | GCPC
Next weekend, we will be getting prepared for our winter mission education trip to Richmond, Virginia. If you are signed up to go on the trip, you must attend this youth group. If you are unable to go on the mission trip, but would still like to come learn more about Richmond, we would love for you to attend next Sunday. At least one parent should be at our trip info session at 6:30pm. Excited to hit the road soon!
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Confirmation 2019 Sign up & Preliminary Meeting for Parents & Youth | Sunday, December 9 | 4 - 5 PM | Jerusalem Room
8th - 12th graders, you are invited to take part in this exciting step on your faith journey: Confirmation! GCPC's Confirmation class is offered every other year and will run from January - May 2019. It is a meaningful time for youth to explore their faith, ask questions, receive tools, and learn more about what it means to be members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Youth and parents will be receiving emails shortly with sign up information. For now, please save the date for this preliminary meeting for parents, youth and Confirmation teachers. Questions? Contact Samantha
sgblock@gcpcusa.org.
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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)
Francis Miller (Nancy Miller's son)
Nancy and Richard Schaadt (Donna Robertson's sister and brother-in-law)
Shaketia Simpson and children (Habitat Partner family)
Louise Seitz (Janet Schifflin's friend)
Lynne Norris (Mary Lou Nash's friend)
Jeffrey Ferris (Mary Lou Nash's son)
Erik Jacobs (Kathy Jacob's son)
Jack Waskey (Anna Hamel's father)
Hettie Lou Garland
Dot Holladay
Teresa Stern
Betty Smith
Margaret Rada
Bob Higgins
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Grace Covenant Community Out and About...
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Enneagram learning opportunities
with Carol Hovis!
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Feel free to join our weekly enneagram gatherings on different topics pertaining to all 9 types. We meet Monday evenings, 6-8pm and Friday mornings, 10am-12noon in the A-Frame Room through December 14th, facilitated by Carol Hovis. For more information, including cost and content, email Carol,
cmhovis@gmail.com. All are welcome. Click
HERE to see flyer.
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Asheville Gay Men's Chorus presents "
Appalachian Spirit - Music for the Holidays
" | Saturday, December 15 @ 7:30 PM and Sunday, December 16 @ 4:00 PM | GCPC Sanctuary
The Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus claims our role as the transforming and transcending choral voice for our LGBTQ and affirming community. The Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus entertains, advocates and connect community through choral excellence.
Before November 30, VIP tickets - $25 and General Admission - $20. Children under 12 years old - $10.
(Note: After November 30, VIP Tickets - $30 and General Admission - $25)
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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - California Wildfires
PDA is working with Santa Barbara Presbytery, Sacramento Presbytery and the Presbytery of the Pacific to respond to the recent wildfires in California. PDA has deployed National Response Team members to the Presbytery of the Pacific to be embedded into the American Red Cross shelters in Pacific Palisades and San Fernando Valley, at the ARC’s request, as Disaster Spiritual Care Providers. Grants are being disbursed and more deployments are forthcoming.
Click here for ways to give.
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church | 828.254.3274
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
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