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First in-person Program Staff Mtg at the church ... starring Sally Booher!

First in-person Full Staff Mtg at the church ... starring Kelley Griffith!

This Sunday we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Remember that our COVID practice has been to use anything you have at home for your elements. Your bread can be a cracker, bagel or even a donut. Your cup can be a glass or water or anything else you have on hand.

The spirit of our Presbyterian practice of Communion is that the body of Christ is not found in the elements themselves, but in the community gathered together to share this meal of revolutionary love.

Power and Race Team (PART) Meeting  | Thursday, June 10 | 6:00 PM | Outdoors at GCPC

All are welcome to join us as we continue disrupting and dismantling white supremacy in our culture and communities. This time we will see each other in person outside at GCPC!

Senior High Youth Gathering | Thursday, June 10 | 8:00-9:30 PM on the GCPC Lawn (after Vespers)

Meet your fellow senior high youth (completed 9th-12th grades) for an in-person evening of fellowship and games on the GCPC lawn. Bring a mask and water bottle, and please invite your friends!

Summer 2021 @ GCPC

​Please see the latest GraceNote for the "face to face"

events calendar

at GCPC this summer! 

The GCPC Serve Council would like to feature one of our church's ministry partners: a married couple by the names of Jenny Bent and Mark Hare, who serve as missionaries for the PCUSA. They currently live in Costa Rica along with their two school-aged daughters, and have also served in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. They are currently partnered with the Latin American Biblical University in San Jose to promote environmental sustainability. Their goal is to help the LABI become a “green” seminary by leading it towards more sustainable ecological practices. They also make an effort to reach out to the local community to make theology practical by focusing on human development, empowerment, and ecological development.

Jenny and Mark both have fathers who were pastors. Jenny received her bachelor’s degree in laboratory science from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, and enjoys sewing, crochet, and growing roses. Mark has a B.A. in environmental studies from Warren Wilson College and an M.S. in forestry from Michigan State University. Their daughters are Keila Rosa and Annika Estela.

GCPC has been supporting Mark and Jenny for several years now. They are interested in visiting us some time in the future when international travel is more feasible.

Their specific requests as to how we may best support them are for our prayers, letters, birthday cards, and financial gifts. You can learn more about them and sign up for their email newsletter on their web site: Presbyterian Mission Agency Mark Hare and Jenny Bent | Co-Workers | Presbyterian Mission Agency

Birthdays: Mark – December 9; Jenny – October 9; Keila – July 16; Annika – July 10

• GCPC Devotionals



• Email prayer@gcpcusa.org 

Deacon of the Week:

In this time of physical distancing, the deacons of Grace Covenant continue to be available to talk and pray with you by phone or online and to coordinate care. If

you have difficulty reaching your assigned deacon or if you do not know who your assigned deacon is, please feel free to reach out to our deacon of the week.

This week (5/30-6/5): Martha Ensign Johnson

email: marthaensignjohnson@gmail.com 

Next week (6/6-6/12): Karen Rohls email: kzprobie2720@gmail.com

Prayer requests will stay on the GCPC Prayer List for one month. Please let any staff know if you (or your loved one) would like to remain on the list for longer.

Iglesia Jerusalem congregation

Ryan Lockett (nephew of Denise Lockett)

Jennifer Martin (Yvonne Smith's daughter)

Bertilda Arteta (Marta Alcala-Williams' mother)

Sheldon Smith (Beth Robrechtʼs brother-in-law)

Alyse Pryzant Pribish (Ashley Cooper's mom)

John Maddrell (Martha Seddonʼs step-father)

William Johnson (Marty Johnsonʼs dad)

Denise Currie-Lowe (Karen Rohlʼs sister)

Barb Patterson (Friend of Mount Shoops)

Bob Crouch (Allen and Frances Johnsonʼs brother-in-law)

Bob Higgins

Florence and Steve Riedesel

Roslyn Carney

Susan Smialowicz

Laura Ross

Bill Williamson

Queen Mother Maggie Belle Gladden

John Mount Shoop

Elizabeth Fisher

Doris Prak

Dan Blake

Betsy Rhodes

Martha Branden

Kimo Hyatt

Angie Everett

Peggy Rada

Chuck Reiley

Long time GCPC member, Liz Rupp, died Friday, May 28 surrounded by family in her Givens apartment. Please hold close in prayer her husband, GCPC member, Bill Rupp, and all of their children and grandchildren, including GCPC members Susan and Dawson Mims and their sons, Dawson and Will.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection and Thanksgiving for the Life of Liz Rupp will be held outdoors at GCPC on Saturday, July 3 at 2:00pm.

Our sympathy and support are also extended to Lynn and Leonard Hollifield on the passing of Lynn's Mother, Thomasine Paxton Harkins, on Tuesday, June 1 at Givens Estates Health Center. Please keep the family in your prayers.

Note from Mary Lou Nash:

Thank you to all who blessed me in celebrating moving into a new decade of life with cards, notes, texts and calls last week. It was a delightful surprise and another reason to know that Grace Covenant is a special community of faith. Being 80 doesn't seem too bad after all!

“Holy Imagination: Envisioning GCPC Worship After the Pandemic” 

Sunday, June 13 | 7:00 PM | via Zoom

God is calling Grace Covenant to keep stretching our Holy Imagination--one of our community’s greatest assets--and an asset that has strengthened our faith community during COVID. The GCPC Session and Staff invite you to come and hear about an exciting vision for what worship at GCPC can be as we embrace our sanctuary without walls. There will be space for you to learn more, reflect, and share your wisdom, hopes, and dreams as well. Join us at 7pm on Zoom and come ready to connect, reflect, and imagine together! 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/91065271514

Meeting ID: 910 6527 1514 | Passcode: 789

The Racial Justice Book Series |​ June 13, June 29 & July 25

The Racial Justice Book Series will return this summer with three books by Black female authors about the systems, consequences, and remedies of the deep entrenchment of white supremacy culture in our country and church.

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Racial Justice Book Series discussion of Isabel Wilkerson's Caste: The Origins of our Discontents on Sunday, May 30. We had to end the discussion quickly and there was still much to be said and learned from this book, so we will host a follow up discussion on zoom Sunday, June 13 at 9am. Please come as we continue to dive deeper into this important work! 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/97239066867

Meeting ID: 972 3906 6867 |Passcode: 789

We will hold our June and July book series meetings in person and outdoors!

Both meetings will go 6:30-8:00pm. Bring your own dinner and be ready to discuss these important texts from a faith perspective.

• Tuesday, June 29 | Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America by Ijeoma Olua
• Sunday, July 25 | White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America by Anthea Butler 

GCPC Compassion Camp | June 12, July 10 & August 14

On the second Saturday of each month we will meet on the church lawn for a Bible story, community building, music, movement, creating, playing and a sending. The theme for these times is Lovingkindness.

These sessions are designed for families to participate together (no drop-off).

• Families with Children 0-5 years old will meet from 9-10:30 am.
• Families with Children current 1st-5th graders will meet from 11-12:30pm.

If you have families that span the age groups, please attend the one most convenient for you. Please wear comfortable clothes, a water bottle and a blanket to sit on. As always, this is open to the community, please invite friends to join us!

Let us know who will be joining us by filling out this form.

We still need some volunteer help before, during and after each camp day. Please

contact Amy Kim at amykim@gcpcusa.org. 

Presbyterian Womenʼs Circles are Zoom meetings. ​​Please join us.

Circle 1: First Tuesday of each month, 10:00 a.m.

• Carol Kavalhuna - 658-1088, carolkavalhuna@gmail.com
• Cathy Froehlich - 775-1016, oremont2@gmail.com

Circle 2: First Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.

• Barbara McLean - 254-1034, Barbaram_2@charter.net
• Heather Hudson - 501-442-6223, hehudson@charter.net

Circle 3: Third Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m.

• Grace Hall - (828) 215-3922, gracehall2@gmail.com
• Margaret Tierney - (828) 506-2742, margarettierney6@gmail.com

Circle 4: First Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m.

• Frances Johnson – 628-4742, facjohnson@gmail.com
• Connie Jones – 231-2680, Conjones@charter.net

Circle 5: First Monday of each month, 11:00 a.m.

• Lynne Noble – 803-206-3821, lynnesnoble@gmail.com 

Setting up Zoom Meetings:

If you are a part of a group, Team, or Circle at GCPC and you want to have a Zoom meeting, let staff know. We will help you get set up on our GCPC Zoom account for group gatherings and meetings. You can schedule your meeting on the

calendar with Anna Louise, and any staff member can help you get set up for your meeting if you have questions. 

At GCPC on Saturday morning 10 members of team 2 harvested almost 800 lbs of Napa cabbage and 50 lbs of other produce including chard, lettuce, collards, and kale. Produce went to YTL, Loving Foods and WNC Rescue Mission.  

On Wednesday, 8 members of team 3 harvested 420 lbs of Napa cabbage, 30 lbs of broccoli, and 10 lbs of chard. Produce went to YWCA, Southside, and YMCA.

Big harvest day!

We’re excited to see potatoes growing at Jasperwood Farm!! 

Transplanting in the garden with Youth Transformed for Life.

Buncombe Community Remembrance Project

June, 2021 Issue

Click here to read their latest news.

City of Asheville to launch Information and Truth-Telling Speaker Series

Please join us for the first phase of the City of Ashevilleʼs process to deliver community reparations for Black Asheville, the Information and Truth Telling Speaker Series. The series will include opportunities for community members and local and national speakers to share information about past policies, present trends and disparities, and future initiatives. See more details on the City's Engagement HUB on dates and how to participate. 

Information Sharing and Truth Telling Speaker Series

June 10 and 17, 2021 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Thomas Wolfe Auditorium | Harrahʼs Cherokee Center Asheville

87 Haywood Street , Asheville, NC 28801

Series moderated by: Dr. Darin Waters, Ph.D.

Honors Director, Direct of for Community Engagement, and Professor of History

• PRESENT: June 10, 2021 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm |Featuring: Rinku Sen, Executive Director of the Narrative Initiative; Dr. Dwight Mullen, Professor Emeriti, UNCA, Jorge Redmond, Assistant District Attorney, Buncombe County; Dr. Marcus Harvey, Associate Professor or Religious Studies, UNCA
• FUTURE: June 17, 2021 | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |Featuring: Tracey Greene- Washington, President, Indigo Innovation Group; Lakesha McDay, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant; Robert Thomas, Racial Justice Coalition Community Liaison

To register for events, please click here. 

A Summer Virtual Sunday School on the Climate Crisis | Sundays | July 11, 18, 25 and August 1 | 4:00 - 5:15 PM | via Zoom

This program is taught by the southern Indiana group Presbyterian Climate Advocates, made up of the Rev. Dr. Trisha Tull and Carol Dunn of Scottsburg (Indiana) Presbyterian Church, Beth Snyder of Jeffersonville (Indiana) First Prez, and Kristina Lindborg, an Indiana Citizensʼ Climate Lobby volunteer.

To register and receive your Zoom invitation, please go to our website: https://www.presbyclimateadvocates.org/upcoming-classes/ 

June 2021 Virtual Enneagram Series  

The Enneagram & Discernment: All Nine Types

Facilitated by the Rev. Carol Hovis

Starting the week of Monday, June 7th

Ending the week of Monday, June 28th

4 weeks and 4 different classes each week from which to choose

Details on attached flyer

Scholarships always available  

Contact Carol for more details:  cmhovis@gmail.com

Story Medicine Worldwide class offerings

When you shop for Father's Day gifts

at smile.amazon.com/ch/56-0588479,

AmazonSmile will donate a portion of your eligible purchases to

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church at no cost to you!

Summertime Stewardship​

Are you looking forward to time outside and away

from screens, but concerned about staying on top of your pledged giving? Don't worry, there are ways to give easily remotely, even automatically!

MAIL gifts to the office at 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804(the office remains closed but we are checking the mail)

BANK BILL PAY mails checks remotely, one-time or on a recurring schedule – contact your bank to set this up

ONLINE at https://onrealm.org/gcpcusa/give/now or through your Realm Connect smartphone app

TEXT "giveGCPC" to 73256 on your mobile device, then follow the prompts

Interested in setting up online recurring giving? Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to self-manage eGiving through Realm or return this signed authorization form to have our Finance Office set up on your behalf.

If you have any questions, please contact Natalie in our Finance office at nweaver@gcpcusa.org or by leaving a message for Natalie Weaver at 828-254-3274. 

IRA Charitable Rollover

Did you know that if you're 70 1⁄2 or older, you can make a tax-free contribution from your IRA? The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act (PATH) allows you to make a charitable gift directly from your IRA without counting the donation as income. You can use your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to pay your

church pledge or donate to a charity... all without having to pay income tax on

those dollars!

IMPORTANT: The donation must come directly from the IRA to the charity to avoid being considered taxable income. Contact your investment fund manager to request a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) made payable to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, mailed to the office at 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804. Be sure to remind them to list your name as the donor in the memo line so we can apply it to any pledges you may have. 

HOW TO CONTACT STAFF:

Our staff are all still working remotely as the office remains closed due to the pandemic. To leave a voicemail for a staff member to return your call, follow these steps:

1. Beginning in June, the office will be open on Tuesday, 10am - 4pm.
2. Call the office at 828-254-3274.
3. Listen through the office closure notice, which will then take you to a staff directory.
4. Enter the first 3 letters of either the staff member's first or last name on your phone keypad (i.e. to reach Natalie Weaver, you'd enter 628 for NAT or 932 for WEA).
5. You'll be directed to the staff member's individual voicemail, where you can leave a message to be returned as soon as possible.
6. If you just want to leave a message for the general voicemail box, press 0.   

You can also reach our staff by email- please see our website for each staff member's individual email address. 

• Click for the Online Calendar
• Click to Make a Secure Donation or Give a Gift  

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804

828.254.3274 

www.gcpcusa.org