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The Parks Family lighting the Advent Wreath | |
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Worship Preview | Sunday, January 2, 2022
Second Sunday of Christmas
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
ONLINE ONLY Service
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Sermon:
"New Year" by Richard Coble
Scripture:
John 1:10-18
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*For the full revised common lectionary, please click here. | |
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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.
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| Sunday, January 2 | Kid's Zoom Adventure | 10:15 am on Zoom | | Sunday, January 2 | Livestream Worship
(ONLINE ONLY) | 10:45 am on Youtube | | Sunday, January 2 | Confirmation | 3:30 pm on Zoom | | Monday, January 3 | PW Circle 5 Mtg. | 11:00 am on Zoom | | Tuesday, January 4 | CHURCH OFFICE OPEN! | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm | | Tuesday, January 4 | VRQ Cook Team | 4:30 or 5:30 pm @
the VRQ | | Tuesday, January 4 | Guatemala Mtg. | 5:30 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, January 4 | Worship Council Mtg. | 5:30 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, January 4 | PW Circle 2 Mtg. | 7:30 pm on Zoom | | Wednesday, January 5 | Bible Study | 10:00 am on Zoom | | Wednesday, January 5 | MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) Group | 11:00 am on Zoom | | Wednesday, January 5 | Garden Steering Team Mtg. | 4:00 - 6:00 pm on Zoom | | Wednesday, January 5 | Youth Committee Mtg. | 6:00 pm on Zoom | | Wednesday, January 5 | Choir Rehearsal Pod | 7:00 pm in Sanctuary | | Thursday, January 6 | PW Circle 4 Mtg. | 7:00 pm on Zoom | | |
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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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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
VRQ—BBQ Cook Team | Tuesday, January 4 | 4:30 or 5:30 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.
The VRQ continues to have a good record of preventing COVID infection for staff, residents and volunteers. They are still using the infection control method of preparing the trays then the residents are allowed in, spaced apart, and seated one per table. They have also been responsible in cancelling or limiting our participation if there has been any significant exposure or community conditions change. Policy is that all employees are to wear masks. I have been assured by Danny Szemple, volunteer coordinator, that any volunteer may ask an employee to put on their mask to cover both mouth and nose.
Because changes may occur without notice IT IS IMPORTANT THAT I KNOW WHO IS COMING each month so that I can communicate any changes. The second concern is that the number of volunteers has been down. Some of our regulars are unable to come because of the pandemic. We need to have at least four and preferably six willing to be there to cook and three to help prepare the trays each month. If more want to come, we can always find things for them to do.
Thanks for responding if you can be there. We do this routine on the first Tuesday of each month. Hope to see you there.
~ Bill Neeriemer, bill.nmer@gmail.com
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Lectionary Bible Study | Wednesday, January 5 | 10:00 AM | 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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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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Year End Giving Cut Off 12/31/21
The end of the year is almost here! If you would like to make a year-end gift to be included on your 2021 contribution statement for tax purposes, here are the ways to make your year-end gift before the 12/31/21 cut off date:
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Give online here up to 11:59pm on 12/31
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Log into your Realm account, select Giving, then click + Give
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Text "giveGCPC" to 73256, then follow the prompts
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Mail gifts to the church office at 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804 *must be postmarked 12/31/21 or before*
2021 Giving statements will be issued via email through Realm in late January after we have received and posted all gifts. You can check your giving history and pledge balance at any time by logging into Realm and clicking Giving.
Wishing you a safe and Happy New Year!
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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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Sisters at the Sea Retreat 2022 - | February 3-6, 2022 | Folly Beach, SC | $275 | “Shift Happens”
Are you ages 25ish-50ish and 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.
REGISTRATION ENDS ON JANUARY 15TH!
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The church office will be closed on Friday, December 31st. | |
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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 (12/26-1/1): Cathy Froehlich | email: oremont2@gmail.com
Next week (1/2-1/8): Jeff Curtis | email: JandSCurtis@msn.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)
Buster Carswell (Amanda Pressley’s brother-in-law)
Jack Waskey (Anna Hamel’s father)
Brenda Young (Leslie Sharpe’s mother)
Joel Holtzclaw (Leslie Sharpe’s uncle)
Geraldine Haynes (Libby Kyles’ aunt)
Ormond Anthony Cole (Anthony Cole's father)
Michael Riedesel (Steve Riedesel's nephew)
Leo (extended family member of Janice Kominski)
Seminarians
Bob Higgins
Susan Smialowicz
Laura Ross
Bill Williamson
Doris Prak
The Seddon Family
Barry Sharpe
Sharon
Michelle Chromey and family
Marilyn Roderick
Marty Dean
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Winter Adult Education: The Difficult Words of Jesus | Sundays | 9:00 - 10:00 AM | January 16* (note new start date) - February 27 | via Zoom
"Jesus provided his disciples teachings for how to follow Torah, God's word; he told them parables to help them discern questions of ethics and of human nature; he offered them beatitudes for comfort and encouragement. But sometimes Jesus spoke words that followers then and now have found troubling."
Using a DVD series from NT scholar Amy-Jill Levine, we will explore the meaning and implications of these difficult texts together. Topics include Jesus's commandments to sell all you own, hate father and mother, be a slave to all, and other texts that have been used to justify anti-semitic, racist, and sexist violence through the ages.
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Winter Women's Memoir Series | Mondays | Feb. 21, March 28, & May 2 | Location and time: TBD
Join us for a series of book talks focusing on memoirs written by people of faith. Open to all women of the church. One copy of each book can be found in the church library. Please pre-read the book to ensure lively discussion.
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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 | |
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Join the launch of the Asheville Community Bail Fund,
a grassroots project led by Asheville community members who believe that “people shouldn’t have to sit in cages simply because they don’t have the money to buy their freedom.” Following the launch, they will be taking bailout requests via email, phone call, and text. See their website and their message below to learn more about the project and the NYE Bailout and Launch event.
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Introducing Food Connection Mobile Meals, a complimentary food truck experience. They have already met 79% of their fundraising goal and need your help to close the gap and make this a reality. They now have an anonymous donor matching funds up to $55,000.
When caterers and institutions find themselves with surplus prepared food, Food Connection connects this food to families, seniors, and veterans who do not always have enough to eat. Their Mobile Meals program will allow them to go into low wealth neighborhoods to meet the need directly providing a complimentary and equitable food truck experience.
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from The Christian Century . . .
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(Illustration by Chelsea Charles) | |
The book of Exodus includes a story about reparations for slavery
White Americans aren’t the Israelites; we’re the Egyptians. Maybe we should follow their lead.
Read full article here
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Year End Pledge Balance Check
Want to make sure you've fulfilled your 2021 pledge before the year ends? The best way to check your pledge balance is to log into Realm on your smartphone or computer and click Giving. You'll see your 2021 and 2022 pledges listed on the right hand side with the total pledge, amounts applied, and remaining balance. You can also manage your payment methods, set up scheduled recurring online gifts, and see your giving history on this page.
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Mobile View
Due to the high volume of work being done this time of year in our single-person Finance Office, responses for year end pledge balance requests may be delayed. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Year end statements for tax purposes will be issued via email in late January once the month has been closed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Natalie Weaver, Stewardship & Financial Administrator, at nweaver@gcpcusa.org or 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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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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