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GCPC @ Blue Ridge Pride

Children's Formation

Youth Formation

Adult Formation

GCPC Chancel Choir

Farewell to Jeff Jones

Sunday, October 9 is Jeff Jones’ last Sunday at Grace Covenant. We want to give Jeff a celebratory goodbye filled with gratitude for all the ways he has shared his gifts at GCPC. He has nourished and nurtured our music ministries in some amazing ways and through some trying times. Come and celebrate with us Sunday, October 9 in worship and between worship and the formation hour. There will be a reception honoring Jeff from 10:30-11am.

You can also share your gratitude by contributing to the love offering for Jeff. To contribute to this offering online, go to the GCPC giving website and select "Jeff Jones Love Offering" from the fund list. If you prefer to give by check, please make payable to GCPC and write "Jeff Jones" in the memo line mail to the office at 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804 or bring on Sunday. Cash can be dropped off in the office or on Sunday with "Jeff Jones" specified on the envelope.

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

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 of 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.

Children's Formation (K-5th Grade) | Sundays | 11:00 AM | Sanctuary

The children will begin in the Sanctuary with prayer, music and storytelling. At 11:25 am they will travel to their "wondering rooms" (second floor of Education Wing) to finish their Godly Play lesson. Pick up is at noon and children are invited to take a snack home.

Youth Formation (Middle/High School) | Sundays | 11:00 AM | Youth Room

After worship service starting at 11 a.m. Middle and High Schoolers will meet together in the new youth room. We will provide breakfast-like snacks and will be learning about Holy Troublemakers and Unconventional Saints. We are excited to explore this time together!

Adult Formation: Faith and Boundaries I Sundays | September 18 -November 20 | 11:00 AM I Fellowship Hall and Zoom

Does life feel like it's out of control? Perhaps you feel like you have to say yes to everyone's requests. Maybe you find yourself readily taking responsibility for others' feelings and problems. Or perhaps you focus so much on being loving and unselfish that you've forgotten your own limits and limitations. Or maybe it's all of the above. This fall, we will be exploring a faith based approach to boundaries, a vital tool for all communities and relationships searching for ways to create space for love, compassion, and and justice.

Facilitators: Margaret Tierney, Paul Rogers, Libby Kyles, Marta Alcalá, Patty Thompson, and Dean Presson

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86748147293

Meeting ID: 867 4814 7293    Passcode: 789

Serve Volunteer Opportunity -

Monday, October 3

You are invited to assist our Covenant Partner, Colaborativa La Milpa, with sorting, bagging and giving food from their monthly Manna Food Bank shipment at Emma United Methodist - parking lot - 55 Adams Hills Rd (off Bingham Rd. from Emma Rd.) AVL 28806.

Join us on Monday, October 3 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm.  Bring sunscreen, water, a hat! Knowing Spanish is appreciated yet not required. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

VRQ—BBQ Cook Team | Tuesday, October 4 | 4:30 PM to cook or 5:30 PM to work the serving line | Veterans Restoration Quarters

On the first Tuesday of each month a team from GCPC gathers at VRQ, 1329 Tunnel Road, to grill hamburgers, prepare and serve supper for the veterans housed there. Volunteers are still masking while they are there.

If you can help please contact Bill Neeriemer, bill.nmer@gmail.com.

Bible Study | Wednesdays | 12:00 PM (note new time) | Atrium and 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!

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82947867192

Meeting ID: 829 4786 7192 Passcode: 789

GCPC Advent Devotional Calendar

Would you consider participating in Grace Covenant’s 2022 Advent devotional? You are invited to create an advent devotional for a specific day’s assigned scripture based on the lectionary. We are encouraging creativity - your devotional could be a poem, painting, song or reflections on how the scripture moves you. Your devotional can be inspired by the Biblical texts from your day.

Entries should be submitted by October 31 to Margaret Tierney at margarettierney6@gmail.com, where it will be curated into this year's GCPC Advent Devotional. 

Volunteer with the Bereavement Team!

The Bereavement Team is looking for new volunteers. There are two ways to help serve:

• Join a monthly team for providing a receptions in the event of Memorial Services (1 month per year).
• Join a cookie prep team that would bake or buy 2 dozen cookies for the reception.

This is a wonderful way to serve the families of the church and get to know people better!

Please contact Cathy Froehlich, oremont2@gmail.com, or Susan Curtis, jandscurtis@msn.com, if you are interested.

LAST CHANCE: Kitchen Lost & Found

Several items were found during the kitchen clean up that are missing their original homes.

Please stop by Communion Kitchen to see if any of them might be yours.

They will be donated by Thursday, October 6th.

POSITIVITY POSTCARDS

Now located in the Atrium!

If you haven't already at Palooza (or just want more of that goodness), please take a moment to grab a pre-stamped Positivity Postcard. You can write your name and address and leave it there for a secret GCPC penpal swap (leave your card and take one already there) or take one to go and spread some goodness in the mail to someone else in your life. 

Please be sure to mail all postcards this Sunday, 10/2. 

• GCPC Devotionals



• Email prayer@gcpcusa.org 

Deacon of the Week:

The deacons of Grace Covenant are 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 (9/25-10/1): Paul Tierney | email: paul@tierneyandco.net 

Next week (10/2-10/8): Skip Stansell | email: skipstansell1@gmail.com

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

Iglesia Jerusalem congregation

Maria and Esteban Goicoechea (La Mariposa and her husband)

Seth Turnbow (Anne Raustol’s twin brother)

Trey and Alisha Thompson and 3 kids - Gabi, Arlo, and Eldon (Patty and Brent Thompson's son and daughter-in-law and grandchildren)

Sarah Ralston (Susie Bleckley’s mom)

Sarah, Haley, and Keaton Talley after the death of Jason (husband/father) (family friend of the Wiesner Family) 

Joe Frostick (Peggy and Heath Rada’s nephew)

Rebecca Longenecker-Singer (sister-in-law of Loidaly & Hans Rosario-Singer)

Maryann Jennings and Sasso Family

Bob Higgins

Susan Smialowicz

Doris Prak

Michelle Chromey and family

Gloria Moe

Earl Fowler

Robin Gaiser

Daniel Breen

Bill Williamson

Our sympathy and support are extended to Lynne Meacham and Kelley Griffith and Kelley’s daughter, Bronwen, and granddaughter, Gillian, following the death of his son-in-law (husband and father), Graham McCormick. Please hold all impacted families in your prayers - McCormick, Griffith, Meacham, Legerton, and Rosal families.

Back in August, I read a commentary in the New York Times about vulnerability in the workplace written by Emma Goldberg titled When Your Boss Is Crying, but You’re the One Being Laid Off which you may want to read. She said the workplace is changing and it’s becoming okay to show vulnerability there. She quotes several managers and CEO’s who are paving this way in different ways.

Ryan Coldbeck laid off almost 15 percent of his 45-member team and broke out in tears. Another leader was forced to lay off 2 of his 17 employees. He began to cry and took a selfie which he posted on Linked In. The response was swift, and the post generated nearly 10.000 comments with some folks angry that a CEO would take advantage of a difficult situation for his employees and turn it toward himself.

I have mixed feelings about the commentary. On one hand, I think it is wonderful that those in positions of power feel like they can open up more freely to their employees. On the other hand, except for the title, little attention was paid to the employees and how they are becoming more vulnerable. 

I wonder how this new idea of vulnerability is filtering down to those who must be concerned about being promoted or moving up in their jobs. She did mention how some employees felt forced to be more open and when they did, they didn’t receive promotions.  

Nancy Rothbard, a professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania who completed a survey of more than 300 young Black, Hispanic and otherwise underrepresented professionals showed they preferred being vulnerable with folks like them. Being vulnerable in the workplace requires people to trust the space enough to risk vulnerability but It is clear that white spaces are hard to trust for People of Color, with good reason. There is a history of harm that needs to be attended to for workplaces to be trustworthy. 

When I first sustained my brain injury back in 1996, I hid my weaknesses because I thought I would serve a church again. If I showed my weaknesses, I wouldn’t get the position. As the years went by, I knew I wouldn’t be serving a church again so when I moved to Asheville in 2004, I abandoned any idea of hiding my difficulties. As a Presbyterian minister who will never serve a church again as a called pastor, I am free to be vulnerable. I wonder how it would be if I was in competition for ministry positions. 

I will always remember that time many months ago when we were still worshiping remotely, and Marcia began her sermon by saying she didn’t have a sermon that week because she just couldn’t write one. She proceeded to launch into an extemporaneous sermon, but she began it by being vulnerable. I’m sure that caused her a great deal of frustration but she trusted God to show her the way.

I would be interested in folks’ experiences with vulnerability in the workplace. If you have any thoughts about the New York Times commentary or about how – or if – you feel free to share your vulnerabilities at work or at home, feel free to contact me. My email is tamara@noggin-notions.com/. Perhaps you don’t feel comfortable about writing to me, but I hope you’ll talk about it with your friends, spouses, or trusted colleagues. It’s an important subject.

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: Second Tuesday of each month (some Zoom and some in-person), 7:00 p.m.

• Andrea Rosal - (828) 545-8466, ameach@gmail.com
• Lynn Saul - (704) 451-5268, lynniesaul@gmail.com

Circle 4: First Tuesdays of each month, 10:30 a.m.

• Marcy Onieal – (828) 775-9433, marcy.onieal@gmail.com
• Connie Jones – 231-2680, Conjones@charter.net

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

• Lynne Noble – (828) 582-9346, lynnesnoble@gmail.com 

Need to set up a church zoom meeting?

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

On Thursday, September 22 the Jasperwood Team had 10 volunteers that harvested 1,050 lbs. of potatoes from Anthony's farm that were shared with YWCA, YTL, Loving Food Resources, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, and Bounty and Soul.

On September 24, Team 2 had 10 volunteers that harvested 5 lbs. of basil, 13 lbs. of beans, 5 lbs. of collards, 2 lbs. of kale, 1 lb. of okra, 5 lbs. of snacking peppers, 4 lbs. of hot peppers, and 57 lbs. of tomatoes. This harvest was shared with Western Carolina Rescue Ministries.

On September 27, YTL had 8 volunteers and harvested 5 lbs. of snacking peppers and 10 lbs. of tomatoes that was shared with YTL families. They also planted spinach seeds in the World Garden.

Stay tuned for the 2023 Stewardship Campaign Kick Off

this Sunday, October, 2nd!

Burton Street Agricultural Fair | Saturday, October 1 | 12:00 Noon

Celebrate the harvest season with music, food, games & fun for the entire family! This free event is a revitalization of a festival founded by E.W. Pearson in 1913. Known then as the Buncombe County and District Colored Agricultural Fair, at its peak the event drew thousands of attendees and helped the historically Black neighborhood to be self sufficient. Today, we celebrate the rich history of the community as well as the present as we gather with neighbors and work together toward a vision of connectivity and sustainability. RSVP here!

Outlook Webinar with Jimmie Hawkins | Tuesday, October 11 | 7 PM 

Join Teri McDowell Ott for a 60-minute conversation and Q&A with PC(USA) Advocacy Director for the Office of Public Witness & Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations Jimmie Hawkins on October 11, 2022, at 7 p.m. EST.

They will be discussing Hawkins' new book Unbroken and Unbowed: A History of Black Protest in America — the only account of its kind that covers the whole history of Black protest through recent 21^st-century events. Learn more.

Can't make the webinar? A recording will be made available to all registrants.

The “Jubilee Alternative Micro Shelter” needs volunteers. Volunteer at Jubilee! on Patton Ave. for the 5:15-8:30pm “intake” shift or come for the 8pm-9:30am “overnight” shift.

New volunteers will be oriented and will follow a veteran volunteer. To learn more and to help out, call: Pat Cheffins at (585) 766-1782. 

This shelter will be open until November. 

GCPC's Covenant Partner, Bountiful Cities

Help support FEAST!

Their  FEAST program reaches over 1,150 students a year in Asheville, Buncombe County, and Madison County with hands-on cooking and gardening classes in schools and afterschool programs. Help us fully fund this important program this fall! 

Bountiful Cities FEAST teachers work within Asheville City and Buncombe County schools, Hot Springs Elementary and Francine Delany New School to give students hands on experience. We are not funded by the school systems, and yet we integrate with the grade level curriculum to provide history, science, reading, math, and art education in addition to gardening and cooking. Our goal is to give students tools that will last a lifetime. If they have seeds they will know how to have food.

More Light Presbyterians announce 6 new Board Members!

Greetings on behalf of More Light Presbyterians! We are excited to announce six new members to the Board of Directors.

Our process was both inspiring and insightful as this year we made an open call for applications. With nearly 50 inquiries and 40 applications, we learned quite a bit that will inform future board recruitment. What was made clear is that there are many amazingly gifted people serving this church and who share common passions with MLP. We also learned that, while the application pool had a great deal of diversity in many areas: gender, sexuality, age, geography, etc. the pool did not draw many folx of color. Because we are committed to doing our work with an intersectional lens, we decided that constructing a board made up of a disproportionate number of white folx would not be appropriate at this time. For that reason, we have decided to leave a number of board spots vacant for a year while committing to do better recruiting and interpretation in the future.

So with that brief background, we are excited to announce that, joining continuing Board Members: Ann Deibert (2023), Bruce Reyes-Chow (2023), Jessica Vazquez Torres (2023), Adrian White (2023), and Ashley McFaul-Erwin (2024), the following folx will begin their terms this Fall:

An Evening with John Philip Newell | Monday, October 24 | 7 - 9 PM | Anderson Auditorium, Montreat

The Three Graces: An introduction to the vision of John Philip Newell’s new book Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul.

John Philip Newell will be introducing the main themes of his award-winning book, Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul, focusing especially on the three graces of Celtic wisdom for today:

• The Grace of Nature
• The Grace of the Human Soul
• The Grace of Awakening

Following the presentation (including Q&A) there will be a reception and book signing.

 The church office is open Tuesday - Thursday, 10am - 4pm.

We recommend calling ahead or emailing to set up an appointment if you are wanting to meet with a specific staff member. Please note, many staff are off or work remotely on Monday and the office is not open on Friday.  

Coming to visit?  We have a new video doorbell to assist with security. To access the building or office, please enter through the far left glass doors off the courtyard (labeled Enter). Ring the doorbell to have the door unlocked. The GCPC office is down the hall to the right, just past the Sanctuary. 

You can also reach our office by phone at 828.254.3274. Follow the prompts for the staff directory to dial by name or press 0 for the main office.

• Click for the Online Calendar
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804

828.254.3274 

www.gcpcusa.org