GCPC Weekly News | December 9, 2021
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Click "View entire message"
at bottom of email to see the FULL newsletter
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Behind the scenes on Sunday morning | |
The Johnson family lighting the Advent candles | |
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This year, pledging through Realm is even easier! (Watch a tutorial video here.) Simply CLICK HERE to submit your pledge online, all in one form.
If you would also like to set up automatic eGiving from your bank account or credit card, be sure to checkmark Add a scheduled gift for this pledge after the pledge confirmation and follow the prompts.
You will receive an email confirmation of your pledge and a separate confirmation for eGiving, if applicable. Questions or concerns? Please contact Natalie Weaver, Stewardship & Financial Administrator, at nweaver@gcpcusa.org or leave a message at 828.254.3274.
WAYS TO PLEDGE:
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Online pledge card HERE
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Email Nweaver@gcpcusa.org
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Call 828.254.3274 and leave a message for Natalie Weaver
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Request a mailed pledge card from the office
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PLEDGING vs. GIVING - What's the Difference?
Understanding our Church Budget
Money is money, right? You may be asking why it matters if you pledge or just give throughout the year, but there is a difference in our budget between pledged offerings and unpledged gifts. All are welcome and appreciated, but understanding the difference highlights just how important your pledge is to GCPC programming and planning.
Pledges are what the Finance Council uses to help set the next year's budget- they are revenue we can reasonably expect to receive in the year because you told us you plan to give. We take every $ of pledged revenue and use that to plan the programming, grants, and operating expenses for the next year. Every dollar you pledge and give helps directly support the ministry and mission in our community here at GCPC.
We are currently in the process of developing the 2022 budget, but can't finalize it until we hit our pledge goal. If you haven't already, please prayerfully consider submitting your 2022 pledge online HERE to help us fund the budget and start the new year strong.
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Sisters at the Sea Retreat 2022 - | February 3-6, 2022 | Folly Beach, SC | $275 | “Shift Happens”
Do you identify as a woman age 25ish-50ish who would like a weekend of connecting and rejuvenating in a beautiful natural setting? Mark your calendars for our 12th (we think!) annual SOS (“Save our Sanity”/“Sisters at Sea”) retreat! This year’s theme will be “Shift Happens,” facilitated by our own Marcia Mount Shoop. Register today to ensure this special time of building friendships and centering your faith in the new year!
All attendees must be “fully vaccinated” against the Covid-19 virus.
Click here to read the COVID mitigation plan for this year.
Your Retreat Includes:
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3 nights’ shared-room stay in 1-2 vacation rental homes at beautiful Folly Beach, SC, including our traditional gathering spot, The Tabby House
- All meals from Thursday evening through Sunday morning, including potentially a “podded” version of traditional experiences like Bowen Island seafood Thursday night!
- 4 facilitated sessions together
- Free time, camaraderie, creative activities, dance party, time and permission for you to “do you!” and be together again!
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Sermon:
"Shift Change"
by Marcia Mount Shoop
Scripture:
Luke: 3:7-18
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*For the full revised common lectionary, please click here. | |
| Sunday, December 12 | Kids Zoom Adventure | 10:15 am on Zoom | | Sunday, December 12 | In-person and
Livestream Worship! | 10:45 am @ GCPC
(also on Youtube) | | Sunday, December 12 | Summer Youth Trip Planning Meeting | 2:00 pm on Zoom | | Sunday, December 12 | ALL Youth Group: Christmas Party | 5:30 pm @ GCPC | | Monday, December 13 | PW Circle 1 Mtg. | 10:00 am @ GCPC (FH) | | Monday, December 13 | PART attends Dr. Dwight Mullen's event | 6:00 pm online
(Register Here) | | Tuesday, December 14 | Church Office Open | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm | | Tuesday, December 14 | Session Mtg. | 6:00 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, December 14 | PW Circle 3 Mtg. | 7:00 pm on Zoom | | Wed., December 15 | Hybrid Bible Study | 10:00 am @ GCPC
(also on Zoom) | | Wed., December 15 | Hybrid MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) Group | 11:00 am @ GCPC
(also on Zoom) | | Wed., December 15 | Just Funding Mtg. | 6:00 pm on Zoom | | Wed., December 15 | Choir Rehearsal Pod | 7:00 pm in Sanctuary | | Thursday, December 16 | Men of GCPC Gathering | 8:30 am on Zoom | | Thursday, December 16 | 20s/30s/& Beyond Gathering: Winter Lights | 6:00 pm @ Asheville Pizza and Brew | | Thursday, December 16 | Earth Team Mtg. | 7:00 pm on Zoom | | |
There will be no PART meeting tonight. Rather, participants are encouraged to attend Dr. Dwight Mullen's event on Monday evening. Details below. | |
What It Means to be Black in Asheville | Monday, December 13 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM | Online
Join Dr. Dwight Mullen for an update from The State of Black Asheville. Dr. Mullen will present data that describes policy outcomes in education, healthcare, housing, justice, and economic mobility. A critique of the significance of these findings will follow.
| GCPC Kids Zoom Adventure | Sundays | 10:15 AM | via Zoom | |
You will receive an email on Friday with the zoom information.
Email Cat Kessler (ckessler@gcpcsua.org) if you would like to be added to the list.
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All Youth Group Christmas Party | Sunday, December 12 | 5:30 - 7:00 PM @ GCPC
Celebrate the season with the whole youth group! We will have games, pizza and hot chocolate, and festive dress is encouraged!
🎁 Bring a wrapped gift ($10 max) for our gift exchange. 🎁
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Lectionary Bible Study (Hybrid) | Wednesday, December 15 | 10:00 AM | @ GCPC and via 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!
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20s/30s/& Beyond Gathering:
NC Arboretum “Winter Lights” & Dinner | Thursday, December 16
- 6:00 PM | Asheville Pizza and Brew
- 7:00 PM | GCPC Parking Lot
If you are in your twenties, thirties, or beyond, let's celebrate the Advent / Christmas season together!
Dinner: For those who want to meet up for dinner, join us at AVL Pizza and Brew (645 Merrimon Ave) at 6:00. The restaurant does require proof of COVID vaccination. Please bring a picture of the front and back of your vaccination card along with a photo ID in order to enter the restaurant.
Lights: From there, we will head over at 7pm to the church parking lot (789 Merrimon Ave) to divide up into 4 cars (we had to purchase tickets in advance, so we have spots for 20 people!). From there, we will head to the Arboretum. Note: If you won’t be joining us for dinner, you can still join us at the church at 7p to head to the lights!!!
Friends are welcome!
Questions? Contact Richard Coble (rcoble@gcpcusa.org) or
Alex Hollifield (alexandralhollifield@gmail.com)
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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 (12/5-12/11): Ellen Sizemore | email: ellen.sizemore@gmail.com
Next week (12/12-12/18): Earl Fowler |email: earljfowler@aol.com
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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
Debi Miller (friend of Marcia Mount Shoop)
Jeff (Tricia Hynes’ son)
Maria and Esteban Goicoechea (La Mariposa and her husband)
Winnie Martel (Prayers for Winnie and Susie Churchfield)
Jennifer Martin (Yvonne Smith’s daughter)
Gregg Young (Leslie Sharpe’s brother)
Don Pressley (Amanda Pressley’s brother-in-law)
Buster Carswell (Amanda Pressley’s brother-in-law)
Jack Waskey (Anna Hamel’s father)
Family of Abigail Carter (family member of Alexandra Lusak)
Valerie Simon (Alexandra Lusak’s daughter-in-law)
Brenda Young (Leslie Sharpe’s mother)
Joel Holtzclaw (Leslie Sharpe’s uncle)
John Hamel (Tim Hamel's dad)
Seminarians
Bob Higgins
Florence Riedesel
Susan Smialowicz
Laura Ross
Bill Williamson
Elizabeth Fisher
Doris Prak
The Seddon Family
Tyler Elstrom
Barry Sharpe
Sharon
Michelle Chromey and family
Marilyn Roderick
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The Longest Night: A Service of Consolation | Tuesday, December 21 | 6:00 PM | Sanctuary
The Longest Night service is a time to be together around the Lord's Table with space for lament, for grief, and for a collective yearning for God to come closer to the world's struggles. Scripture, sacrament, song, silence, and prayer will help us welcome God's merciful and mysterious presence with us.
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Christmas Eve Services | Friday, December 24
3:30 PM | Interactive Outdoor Worship Service for all ages
Join us as we journey together through this Holy Story. Dress warmly because rain or shine we will be traveling to the manger.
7:00 & 9:00 PM | Candlelight Communion Services
The 7 and 9 pm services will be identical and will include Holy Communion as we gather to celebrate the nativity of our Lord.
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Presbyterian Womenʼs Circles are Zoom meetings. Please join us.
Circle 1: Second Monday of each month, 10:00 a.m.
Circle 2: First Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.
Circle 3: Varies (Click here to see schedule for 2021-2022), 7:00 p.m.
Circle 4: First Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m.
Circle 5: First Monday of each month, 11:00 a.m.
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Need to set up a church zoom meeting?
Contact Anna Louise and she can get you all set up!
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Community Working Together | |
Congregational Need: A GCPC family is in need of housing during the winter of 2022. If anyone has a spare apartment or is in the need of a home-sitter during this time, please contact Richard Coble (rcoble@gcpcusa.org) for more information. | |
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BeLoved Toy Drive
Toy Drive focusing on BIPOC children and youth
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Interfaith Initiative for Social Justice
Calls to Action/Engagement
The Interfaith Initiative for Social Justice is committed through their e-newsletter to offer articles, blog posts, opinion pieces, and video and audio segments on social justice issues to educate, inspire, and offer ways to take action. Below are links to two documents that provide those opportunities.
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Here are such items focused on racial and criminal justice issues.
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Here are other social justice issue items.
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Presbyterians for Earth Care publishes online Advent devotional
Volunteers working with Presbyterians for Earth Care have published an online Advent daily devotional guide from perspectives related to Creation care.
According to the Rev. Bruce Gillette, PEC moderator, the hope is that the free Advent 2021 Daily Devotional, available here, “will help preachers, lectionary Bible study groups, families and individuals with new insights on these beloved texts during this special season.”
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Buncombe County Remembrance Project Historical Markers' Installation Ceremony 2021 | |
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If you weren't able to attend the Historical Markers Ceremony or wanted to view it again, this video captures the opening ceremony and the unveiling of the markers at each of the three sites.
This 70 minute presentation includes the speeches from three key staff from the Equal Justice Initiative as well as the top three winners for the Buncombe County Essay Contest reading their essays.
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‘Sixty-four African American churches receive booster grants’
Mission partners’ collaborative efforts benefit historically underserved congregations
~ by Paul Seebeck
"When Theology, Formation & Evangelism ministries realized they had some underspent funds in their budget this year, the Rev. Carlton Johnson, coordinator for Vital Congregations, had an idea: Why not use the funds to support historically underserved African American churches in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)?
Johnson shared his idea with the Rev. Michael Moore, associate for African American Intercultural Congregational Support ministries in Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries.
Using a portion of funds from his office and additional Presbyterian Mission Agency funds from TFE — in collaboration with the National Black Presbyterian Caucus and the RE&WIM grant team — Moore’s office was able to identify a large portion of African American churches and communicate this grant opportunity to them.
The result of these expeditious efforts: Sixty-four congregations received grants ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 to help them with their continual and changing ministry needs brought on by the pandemic."
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‘You too can help bend the moral arc’ -
Two PC(USA) congregations in Princeton, New Jersey, offer up an example of how holding difficult conversations can result in real progress healing the nation’s racial divide
~ by Paul Seebeck
"During a webinar this week, lay leaders from two congregations — one predominately Black, the other primarily white — shared how their conversations about race and justice in the past year have strengthened their resolve to learn more about systemic racism.
They also discovered what they can do together and as individuals to bend the moral arc toward justice. That phrase was first used by Theodore Parker, who was an abolitionist minister in 19th century, and more famously a century later by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The two congregations are bringing Bending the Moral Arc to the larger Church.
Nassau Presbyterian Church and Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, both in Princeton, New Jersey, have a long history as Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations. In Nassau’s beginning in 1766 as First Presbyterian Church of Princeton, enslaved and free Black Americans worshiped in segregated seating. In 1836 they formed their own church on Witherspoon Street."
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Pledges & Prepay
Now that 2022 pledges have started to come in, you may wonder if you can prepay that before the end of the year. The answer is "yes," but please be sure to differentiate between the current year (2021 General Fund) and next year (2022 General Fund).
If you are prepaying a 2022 pledge for next year, please be sure to notate that on your gift- simply write "2022 pledge" in the memo line of your check or select 2022 General Fund online.
If you have questions about your 2021 pledge balance or need assistance in submitting a 2022 pledge, please reach out to Natalie Weaver in the Finance Office at nweaver@gcpcusa.org or leave a message at 828.254.3274.
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STOCK DONATION CHANGES
The DTC and account number for our stock brokerage receiving account has changed since the BB&T and Truist merger in 3/2021. Please contact Natalie Weaver at nweaver@gcpcusa.org or 828.254.3274 for the updated account information before initiating any transfers- if you try to send them to the old account, it will not go through.
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Ordination and Installation of Lynn Turnage
Saturday, December 11 | 1:30 PM
Upper Anderson - Montreat
Black Mountain, NC
Join in person or click the link below to watch online.
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It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Black Mountain Center for the Arts
December 10-19
Fridays/Saturdays @ 7:00 PM
Sundays @ 2:00 PM
Tickets $20
Featuring Matt Wiedle and Lara Hollaway!
It's the holiday classic like you've never seen before: the story is staged as a live radio broadcast! Actors portray numerous characters, and sound effects are done through Foley artists. It’s a Wonderful Life is about the life of George Bailey, a generous and well-meaning man who has become too downcast and tired to continue living. It will take help from a lovable angel to show George what life would be like if he wasn’t born for George to have a change of heart and understand the true spirit of the holidays. (Proof of vaccination is required for indoor performances.)
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HOW TO CONTACT STAFF:
The church office is open weekly for walk-ins on Tuesdays, 10am - 4pm. Our staff can also be reached by email or voicemail Monday - Wednesday. To leave a voicemail for a staff member to return your call, follow these steps:
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Call the main office at 828-254-3274.
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Listen through the office closure notice, which will then take you to a staff directory.
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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).
- You'll be directed to the staff member's individual voicemail, where you can leave a message to be returned as soon as possible.
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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.
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804
828.254.3274
www.gcpcusa.org
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