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Sunday hybrid worship at GCPC | |
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North Carolina Council of Churches offers this Lenten calendar that is inclusive of six focus areas currently at the forefront of the Council’s work. Each week frames the specific initiative through the lens of faith and offers movement from awareness to action. Click here to access the calendar.
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The Presbyterian Hunger Program strives to walk with people in moving toward sustainable choices that restore and protect all of God’s children and Creation. As people of faith, we seek to “serve and preserve” God’s world. However, some of our collective choices have led to a changing global climate. To turn this tide, we must commit to treading lightly on God’s Earth.
The Presbytery Earth Care Team offers this PC(USA) LENTEN CALENDAR with the hope that it will be the beginning of actions intended to create more mindful behaviors throughout the year.
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Worship Preview | Sunday, March 6, 2022
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
Sanctuary and Youtube
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Homily:
"Generosity"
by Richard Coble
Scripture:
Romans 10:8b-13
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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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| Thursday, March 3 | PW Circle 4 Mtg. | 7:00 pm on Zoom | | Friday, March 4 | Winter Shelter Support Team Mtg. | 11:00 am on Zoom | | Sunday, March 6 | Hybrid Adult Education | 9:00 am in Fellowship Hall (also on Zoom) | | Sunday, March 6 | Kid's Zoom Adventure | 10:15 am on Zoom | | Sunday, March 6 | Hybrid Worship
(In-person and online) | 10:45 am @ GCPC
(also on Youtube) | | Sunday, March 6 | Confirmation | 3:30 pm @ GCPC | | Monday, March 7 | PW Circle 5 Mtg. | 11:00 am on Zoom | | Tuesday, March 8 | Church Office Open! | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm | | Tuesday, March 8 | Property Council | 6:00 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, March 8 | Formation Council | 7:30 pm @ GCPC | | Wednesday, March 9 | Hybrid Bible Study | 10:00 am @ GCPC
(also on Zoom) | | Wednesday, March 9 | MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) Group | 11:00 am on Zoom | | Wednesday, March 9 | Choir Rehearsal Pod | 7:00 pm @ GCPC | | Thursday, March 10 | Men of GCPC | 8:30 am on Zoom | | Thursday, March 10 | PART (Power & Race Team) Mtg. | 6:00 pm on Zoom | | Friday, March 11 - Saturday, March 12 | PYC High School Mission Trip | Camp Grier | | |
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Adult Education: The Poetry of Lent I Sundays | March 6 - April 10 I 9:00 - 10:00 AM | Fellowship Hall or Zoom
This season we will gather around our favorite poems and lyrics about the Lenten journey to explore what this season means for our lives and faith. Retired English professor and clerk of session Kelley Griffith will be leading us. Throughout, we encourage all participants to bring poems that you love and/or have written yourself to share with the group. All sessions will be hybrid. Come and meet masked and distanced in-person in the fellowship hall or meet with us over zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83005641333
Meeting ID: 830 0564 1333
Passcode: 789
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Confirmation | Sunday, March 6 | 3:30-5:00 PM | In-person @ GCPC
Please bring your Confirmation binder, journal, a water bottle and a mask.
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Hybrid Lectionary Bible Study | Wednesday, March 9 | 10:00 AM | Atrium (masked) or 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!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/93439349183
Meeting ID: 934 3934 9183 | Passcode: 789
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Winter Shelter Team Update @ Trinity
TRINITY SHELTER EXTENDED TO MARCH 31
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CURRENT DONATION REQUESTS: | |
- Paper products: dinner plates, bowls, napkins, paper towels, toilet paper
- Individual tissue packs
- Sunscreen
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Drop supplies at Grace Covenant (in black bin in the courtyard labeled Code Purple).
The bin will be emptied by 4pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Contact Robin Gaiser, robingaiser@gmail.com, with questions about donations.
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You can also donate money directly by check to Trinity United Methodist Church with "Winter Shelter" in the memo line. Mail to: 587 Haywood Ave. AVL, NC 28806 | |
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GCPC's Circle of Welcome continues to support our Afghan friends as they acclimate to living in Asheville. Gratitude goes out to all for your prayers and efforts!
Contact Lara Hollaway at lhollaway@gmail.com or Bonnie Parker at bparker17@gmail.com to help with these needs or if you would like to help in other ways.
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Celebrating our Visionary Covenant Partner, Asheville Writers in Schools and Community
Grace Covenant is grateful for our awesome partnership with Asheville Writers in The Schools and Community (AWITSC), an energetic, creative, and visionary group of change-makers in our wider community.
Led by a powerful team, AWITSC is a nonprofit organization “igniting social change through the power of the arts, culture, and restorative self-expression.”
This dedicated and passionate team has been making the word flesh in a myriad of powerful and practical ways since 2011, igniting social change through the power of the arts, culture, and restorative self-expression.
Click here to read a short list of what this magical team is offering to our community.
~ Submitted by Marta Alcala-Williams and John Huie, members of the GCPC Serve Council
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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 (2/27-3/5): Jeff Curtis | email: jandscurtis@msn.com
Next week (3/6-3/12): Beth Robrecht | email: bethrobrecht50@gmail.com
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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
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)
Jack Waskey (Anna Hamel’s father)
Geraldine Haynes (Libby Kyles’ aunt)
Michael Riedesel (Steve Riedesel's nephew)
Marianne Nash (Dave Nash’s daughter)
Phil Noland (Kelly Spradlin's friend)
Ben Nicoll (Christa Hyatt's friend)
Mike Wisecup (Kim Hottle’s brother)
Mimi (friend of Robin and Gordon Gaiser)
Theresa First (friend of Rosal family)
Daniel Lane (Bob Lane's uncle)
JoAnn Combs (friend of Bill McNeff)
James F. Smith (Bryant Smith’s father)
Gudrun DeLaubenfels (Marion’s mother)
Bob Higgins
Susan Smialowicz
Doris Prak
Sharon
Michelle Chromey and family
Marty Dean
Martha Kisiah
Jade Baker
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Winter/Spring Memoir Series | Mondays | March 28, & May 2 | 6:00 PM | Fellowship Hall and Zoom
Join us for a series of book talks focusing on memoirs written by people of faith. Please pre-read the book to ensure lively discussion. The church now has copies of the books. Please contact Richard or Anna Louise if you would like to come by and borrow one of the copies.
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March 28 | Tastes Like War by Grace M. Cho | Facilitator: Susie Wheelis
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May 2 | Poet Warrior by Joy Harjo | Facilitator: Alexandra Lusak
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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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Garden Preparation
The GCPC gardeners are doing bed prep this week and will need volunteer help the week of March 21st to put tspring transplants in the ground (date TBD depending on weather).
Please email Allison (allison@gcpcusa.org) if you would like to help!
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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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Decoding Distributions
As you prepare your taxes, you may notice some of these acronyms "QCD"... "RMD"... "IRA"... but wonder, what does it all mean? We're here to help decode those terms!
QCD = Qualified Charitable Distribution
RMD = Required Minimum Distribution
IRA = Individual Retirement Account
A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your Traditional IRA, payable directly to a qualified charity. Here are some of the basic requirements:
• Donor must be at least age 70-1/2 on the date of the donation
• Donation must be made to a qualified public charity, e.g. Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church - donor advised funds and private foundations are not eligible
• Donation may be up to $100,000 and will satisfy RMD requirements but is not limited by the amount of RMD
• Distribution is not deductible as an itemized deduction on Schedule A
Have more questions? See this helpful overview from the Board of Pensions of PC(USA), check the IRS website, or talk to your CPA or financial consultant.
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Community Working Together | |
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Jubilee! Community is opening its doors as a “warming center” to our unhoused community on Saturdays and Sundays beginning March 5 and 6 and running through March 26 and 27.
The operating hours on Saturdays will be 9am - 5pm and Sundays 1pm - 5pm.
It will be a place to rest and warm up with coffee, tea, water and use the bathroom facilities. A charging station for phones and tablets, an area for simple artwork, etc and a table that advertises current resources.
How can you help?
- Nine volunteers are needed each weekend for the center to be successful; three on Saturday , 9am - 1pm, three 1- 5pm; and 3 Sundays 1 - 5pm.
- Individually wrapped snacks (granola and breakfast bars, fresh fruit, bagels, donuts, pop tarts, etc)
- Adult coloring books, colored pencils, crayons
- Jigsaw puzzles, word searches
- Magazines, paperback books
- Bus tickets
For more information or if you’d like to volunteer contact:
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The Montford & Stumptown Fund
of the Asheville-Buncombe Community Land Trust (ABCLT):
Investing in Black Homeownership
Through resident-led efforts, the Montford & Stumptown Fund has been established with the Asheville-Buncombe Community Land Trust (ABCLT) with the goal of protecting and creating permanently affordable housing for Black families in Montford and Stumptown/Hill Street (census tracts 2 and 3). This fund is designed to help repair the damage caused by centuries of racial inequities in real estate.
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Montford & Stumptown Stories of the Neighborhood
What is important for a community to remember, preserve, and restore? Listen to the recollections and visions of Montford & Stumptown residents.
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Registration has begun for the 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern Time dialogue and listening forum, which is the third in an online series that started last year.
Partners from Mississippi, North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio will share insights about rural poverty and the importance of building community partnerships. This comes as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) works to achieve the Matthew 25 goal of eradicating systemic poverty.
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(Photo by Frank Schultze of ACT Alliance) | |
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seeking support for humanitarian response to Ukraine -
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and World Mission working with partners to aid those impacted by war
~ by Rich Copley
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) launched an appeal Tuesday for funds to help support the Church’s humanitarian response to the war started last week when Russia attacked Ukraine.
According to the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), the situation is on pace to become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century with more than 660,000 having already fled Ukraine to neighboring countries. All neighboring countries are keeping their borders open to Ukrainian refugees, the UNHCR says.
Click here to give to the PC(USA) response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and Central Europe
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(Photo courtesy of the Office of Public Witness) | |
‘Reparations are profoundly biblically correct’ -
Forum focuses on ‘repair to reparation for well-being’
~ by Gail Strange
In the final of three forums celebrating Black History Month last week, the Rev. Dr. Alonzo Johnson, coordinator of the Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People (SDOP); the Rev. Carlton Johnson, coordinator of Vital Congregations; and Christian Brooks, the representative for domestic issues at the PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness, addressed the 2022 theme “Resiliency to Recovery.”
Hosted by the African American Intercultural Congregational Support Ministry, the three forum presenters discussed “repair to reparation for well-being.”
The three led online viewers on a riveting journey through the history of reparations and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s role in that history, followed by evidence of biblical support for reparations. They concluded with a call to action to advocate for H.R. 40, which would establish a commission to study and develop reparations proposals for African Americans.
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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 - Friday. 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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