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New windchimes in the Memorial Garden

GCPC Youth Kick-off

GCPC Youth Kick-off

GCPC Joy!

*For the full revised common lectionary, please click here.

Come Celebrate with Us!

Sunday, October 3rd

10:45am | Outdoor Worship Service and World Communion Sunday 

12:15pm-2:30pm | Palooza Outdoor Community Celebration 

• Food trucks- let us treat you to lunch! You will be able to choose from Deli Volv, Doc Brown's BBQ, and Cecilia's Kitchen.

• Guided tours of the GCPC building in small groups, masked. Check out the technology upgrades in the sanctuary, new artwork, new entry way, the quilts the congregation created during COVID, new parament closet, basketball court, garden tours and more. 

• A magician, a balloon twister and games - outdoor fun for all ages! 

Prayer Shifts @ GCPC

Join a Prayer Shift this fall! 

We encourage you to register soon so that you can participate in kickoff on Sunday!



Prayers Shifts are small groups of 6-8 folks that pray with and for one another. Since we can’t yet be together in large in-person groups, Prayer Shifts are a way to engage in the spiritual practices of prayer, mutual support, and relationship building with your church community this fall. The ways Prayer Shift groups connect will be up to the group to decide. Texting, zooming, phone calls, walks, or socially distanced in-person gatherings may be some of the ways your group chooses to connect. 

A kickoff meeting will take place on Sunday, October 3 from 5-6 pm via Zoom, where you will meet your group and get oriented. Please reach out to Anna Louise with any questions.

Faith 4 Justice AVL presents ... The Violence and Virtue of White Women's Tears | TONIGHT, September 30 | 6:30 - 8:00 PM | GCPC's Youtube Channel

Join Faith 4 Justice Asheville and a multi-racial panel of women discussing the Violence and Virtue of White Women’s Tears as they wrestle with…

• How, when and where white women’s tears have resulted in violence against black and brown bodies biblically and throughout history
• How are white women’s tears weaponized in multi-racial spaces, and used to control and center white comfort?
• What is our response to white women’s tears and how is that response to Black and Latinx women’s tears different?
• How can white women accept responsibility so their tears don’t manipulate, violate and do harm?
• Where and when should white woman cry and grieve so that they can genuinely and fully heal?
• How do all women strengthen relationships across color-lines as we address these painful and controversial issues?

As always, donations are welcome to help Faith 4 Justice AVL continue this important work. Click here to donate.

VRQ—BBQ Cook Team | Tuesday, October 5 | 4:30 or 5:45 PM

On the First Tuesday of each month, a team of folks gather at the Veterans Restoration Quarters, (1329 Tunnel Road) to grill hamburgers and prepare supper for more than 200 US Armed Forces Veterans living in transitional housing at the VRQ— an ABCCM Ministry. Team volunteers begin to gather at 4:30 to prepare the meal and fire up the grills; to help serve the meal come at 5:45. The evening meal is served at 6 and the team joins with the veterans at their table for supper. Commitments can be for one Tuesday or more.

Contact Bill Neeriemer if interested in joining the team.

Bible Study (Hybrid) | Wednesday, October 6 | 10:00 AM | Outside @ GCPC (also on Zoom)

Join the pastoral staff to read and study our sermon texts for Sunday. No preparation needed; just come ready to open scripture and discuss!

20s/30s/Beyond: Cookout and Pumpkin Carving | Thursday, October 7 | 6:30 PM | Alex Hollifield and Ben Kees' House

If you are a young adult-ish, get ready for an evening of outdoor pumpkin carving! Before the weather gets too cold, we are excited to mask up for a spooky socially distanced event to remember! We will provide pumpkins, s'more stuff and some pumpkin carving supplies. Please bring extra supplies and blanket/towel/small table and/or chair for yourselves. Don't forget your mask and any special dinner snacks you might enjoy! 

Let's enjoy the opportunity to catch up and carve together!

Questions? Contact Richard Coble: rcoble@gcpcusa.org

Prez Beez 2021 Fall Schedule

All games @ MLK Park



• 10/5 - 7:30 - (Home Team)

  ** plus 2 make up games which are TBD.

• 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 (9/26-10/2): Louise Root | email: lcr@rootandroot.com

Next week (10/3-10/9): Earl Fowler | email: earljfowler@aol.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)

Sheldon Smith (Beth Robrechtʼs brother-in-law)

Marie and Jose Palacios and family (Marie is the presbytery coordinator of Guatemala partnerships)

Bill Ross (Jonathan Ross' dad) 

David Good (Amber Cook’s dad)

Kyle Holtz (Tim Hamel's cousin)

Deanna Fleenor (Mike Fleenor's sister)

Rebecca Lorenz (Phil Brown’s daughter)

Vince O'Connor (Robin and Gordon Gaiser’s nephew)

Winnie Martel (Susie Churchfield's friend)

Alexa and her baby boy (Janice Kominski’s sister and new nephew)

The Family of Lisa Sims (Aunt to Karen Rohl’s children)

Marge and Warren Weidner (Jane Stoffer’s sister and brother in law)

Jami Schaefer (friend of Sarah Van Gunten’s life long friend, Sherry) 

Debi Miller (friend of Marcia Mount Shoop) 

Joan Haag (Carolyn Haag’s mother)

Jeff (Tricia Hynes’ son)

Dick Gibson (Jeff Gibson’s dad) 

Davis (son of Linda Upchurch) 

Bob Higgins

Florence and Steve Riedesel

Susan Smialowicz

Laura Ross

Bill Williamson

Queen Mother Maggie Belle Gladden

John Mount Shoop

Elizabeth Fisher

Doris Prak

Carolyn Tingle

Irene Richards

Shelia Chapman

The Seddon Family

Bill McNeff

Our sympathy and support are extended to Libby Kyles on the death of her father, Charles Thomas, who died on September 25. Please keep the family in your prayers.

GCPC Compassion Camp | Saturday, October 9 | 9:30 - 11:00 AM 

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.  

Lovingkindness is the utmost form of selfless love toward ourselves and others. The practice begins with focusing on self-compassion because once we have compassion for ourselves, we can have compassion for others.

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

Families with Children 0-5th grade will meet from 9:30-11:00 am.

Please wear comfortable clothes, a water bottle and a blanket to sit on. 

Masks will be worn by staff and volunteers.



As always, this is open to the community, please invite friends to join us!

Fall Adult Education - Caste | Sundays | October 10 - November 21 | 9:00 AM | via Zoom

A Close and Spiritual Reading of Isabel Wilkerson's Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. We will go through Caste chapter by chapter on Sunday mornings. Leaders from the Racial Justice Book Series will take turns leading the discussion. Whether you were a part of the summer gatherings or not, whether you read the book years ago, or are coming to it for the first time, please join us!

Reading Schedule 

• 10/10: Part 1, p. 1-35
• 10/17: Part 2, p. 39-96
• 10/24: Part 3, p. 99-164
• 10/31: Part 4, p. 167-260
• 11/7: Part 5, p. 263-308
• 11/14: Part 6, p. 311-357
• 11/21: Part 7, p. 361-388

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

Circle 1: Second Monday of each month, 10:00 a.m.

• Cathy Froehlich - 775-1016, oremont2@gmail.com

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

• Ann Brown - (828) 279-4917, hbcove@aol.com 
• Heather Hudson - 501-442-6223, hehudson@charter.net

Circle 3: Varies (Click here to see schedule for 2021-2022), 7:00 p.m.

• Andrea Rosal- (828) 545-8466, ameach@gmail.com
• Angela Kemper - (828) 301-1475, angela@hunter-kemper.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 

Need to set up a church zoom meeting?

Contact Anna Louise and she can get you all set up!

This week gardeners harvested tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, snacking peppers, okra, eggplant, green beans, winter squash, and summer squash. 

Ten Saturday gardeners harvested 115 pounds of produce for use by Western Carolina Rescue Mission and Loving Food Resources (who got the tomatoes). 

Seven Wednesday gardeners harvested 201 pounds for distribution by Loving Food Resources.

It's never too late to sign up to volunteer in the garden. Please contact Betsy Wilson at betsywilson1111@gmail.com if you are interested.

“Culture and Conflict: Presbyterian Missionaries to Native Americans”  | Saturday, October 9 | White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Raleigh, N.C (also on Zoom)

What happened when our Scottish and Scotch-Irish ancestors tried to establish missions among the American Indian tribes? Dr. Nancy Midgette will speak to the North Carolina Presbyterian Historical Society on the seldom-explored topic of “Culture and Conflict: Presbyterian Missionaries to Native Americans.”

There is no registration fee for this meeting, but you must register by October 6 with an email or phone number so we can send the Zoom link and let you know of any changes. Send registration information to floanddan74@gmail.com or to P.O. Box 20804, Raleigh, NC 27619-0804.

Supportive Accountability presents. . .

Calvary Presbyterian Church Celebrates 130 Years!



Calvary Presbyterian Church in Asheville celebrates its 130th anniversary the entire month of October, and they are inviting the community of Asheville to these events. They'll have a series of programs on Sundays. You can find the schedule of events here.

Join the New Energy-Efficiency Revolution to help out your Neighbors: Volunteer to Weatherize Low-income Homes

Energy Savers Network is working to restore the climate while improving the lives of limited-income households who struggle with rising energy costs. By training volunteers to implement simple but effective energy-efficiency upgrades to low-income homes, we can help our fellow neighbors save money on their energy bills AND provide more comfort to residents during the cold winter and hot summer months. Watch this short video on our efforts.

Learn more at www.energysaversnetwork.org/volunteer where you can watch a short 10-minute video training, signup as a volunteer, and then RSVP on the calendar for your day of choice.

Faith and the Death Penalty | Sunday, October 10 | 4:00 - 5:00 PM | Online

Join the North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (NCCADP) for an online conversation about faith with those most impacted by our capital punishment system. Panelists include George Wilkerson, who is living on North Carolina’s death row; Andre Smith, who teaches Buddhism to men in prison and lost his son to homicide; and Rev. Sharon Risher, who lost her mother and two cousins in the shooting at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston. Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove, noted writer and leader in the Red Letter Christian movement and the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, will moderate the panel.

The North Carolina Council of Churches is a sponsor of this event.

YWCA's Racial Justice Workshop | Thursdays | October 7, 14, 21 | 11:00 AM

Join the YWCA in a 3-Part Racial Justice Training that explores anti-Black racism, overlapping systems of oppression, and racial equity in Asheville and Buncombe County. The training will take place over three sessions, each lasting one hour and fifteen minutes.

The 5th Annual Mental Wellness Walk is right around the corner on October 2nd! Along with our partners at NAMI Western Carolina, we're excited to host this event. Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, we decided to hold the walk virtually this year.



~ The All Souls Counseling Center team

October-November 2021 Virtual Enneagram Series  

Introduction to the Enneagram: All Nine Types

Facilitated by the Rev. Carol Hovis

Tuesdays, 4pm-6pm and Wednesdays, 7-9pm, for Six Weeks

Starting Tuesday, October 5th and Wednesday, October 6th

You can mix & match which days you participate. 

Contact Carol for more information:  cmhovis@gmail.com

Sustainable Stewardship

Stewardship is not just a once a year pledge drive or hopeful number in the budget, it's a daily practice of maintaining a stable financial foundation to fund our ministry and mission. Every penny you give helps support a more sustainable future here at GCPC. Just to name a few, that includes: work in our community; grants for our Covenant Partners; programming for Children, Youth, and Adults; property repair, maintenance, and upgrades; staffing the businesses and ministry functions.... and much much more! Thank you for your thoughtful support and sustainable stewardship.

WAYS TO GIVE: 

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. 

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. The Church Office is open on Tuesdays, 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