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Garden volunteers prep beds and plant starts! | |
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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 13, 2022
Second Sunday of Lent
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
Sanctuary and Youtube
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Homily:
"Transformation"
by Marcia Mount Shoop
Scripture:
Philippians 3:17-4:1
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*For the full revised common lectionary, please click here. | |
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Every Sunday of Lent we will celebrate the Communion.
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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Reserve a space for childcare this Sunday!
Please follow this LINK to reserve a space for your child 0-4 years of age for childcare on Sunday, March 13th @ 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
As long as it is dry outside we plan on spending the majority of the morning outdoors. Please dress your children with this in mind. We will have a table in the welcome center to check your child in and do a temperature check. Please do not hesitate to reach out to amykim@gcpcusa.org with any questions or if you have any issues with the reservations.
All families are encouraged to submit a family health & wellness form. This will help us know more about your children’s health needs as we move forward. Please contact Cat Kessler if you have any trouble submitting the form.
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| Thursday, March 10 | PART Mtg. | 6:00 pm on Zoom | | Saturday, March 12 | Garden Team Mtg. | 4:00 pm in GCPC Garden | | Sunday, March 13 | Hybrid Adult Education | 9:00 am in Fellowship Hall (also on Zoom) | | Sunday, March 13 | Kid's Zoom Adventure | 10:15 am on Zoom | | Sunday, March 13 | Hybrid Worship
(In-person and online) | 10:45 am @ GCPC
(also on Youtube) | | Sunday, March 13 | 4th/5th Grade CONNECT Lunch | 12:30 pm @ GCPC
(walk to MOD pizza) | | Sunday, March 13 | Youth Book Club | 3:15 pm @ GCPC | | Sunday, March 13 | Youth Planning Mtg. | 4:15 pm @ GCPC | | Sunday, March 13 | All Youth Group | 5:30 pm @ GCPC | | Monday, March 14 | PW Circle 1 Mtg. | 10:00 am in the Fellowship Hall | | Tuesday, March 15 | Church Office Open! | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm | | Tuesday, March 15 | Finance Council | 5:30 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, March 15 | Serve Council | 6:30 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, March 15 | PW Circle 3 Mtg. | 7:00 pm on Zoom | | Wednesday, March 16 | Hybrid Bible Study | 10:00 am @ GCPC
(also on Zoom) | | Wednesday, March 16 | Hybrid Just Funding Mtg. | 6:00 pm in FH
(also on Zoom) | | Wednesday, March 16 | Choir Rehearsal Pod | 7:00 pm @ GCPC | | |
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PART (Power & Race Team) Meeting | TONIGHT, Thursday, March 10 | 6:00 PM | on Zoom
Join us tonight at the PART meeting as we continue to discuss ways that white supremacy shows up in our community.
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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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Daylight Savings Pajama Lunch! | Sunday, March 13 | 12:30-2:00 PM | Meet @ GCPC
This week we "spring forward" and have our very first Pajama Sunday! With one hour less sleep on this Sunday, you're invited to come to worship in your pajamas (if you want)!
We will meet at 12:30 p.m. to walk to MOD Pizza for lunch and then return to the church for some conversation with pretty amazing people. Friends are always welcome! Please bring $10 for your lunch.
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Youth Book Club: The Visitors | GCPC-only check-in | Sunday, March 13 | 3:15 PM | Atrium
We have been invited to link up with youth from several other churches to participate in a book club discussion about The Visitors, a new novel by Greg Howard.
Join us as we explore the first five chapters of The Visitors; all are welcome — even if you haven't started!
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All Youth Group | Sunday, March 13 | 5:30-7:00 PM | In-person @ GCPC
We will continue to get to know each other through games and our Lenten devotional series.
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Hybrid Lectionary Bible Study | Wednesday, March 16 | 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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Trinity Methodist's CODE PURPLE SHELTER is an amazing effort and has lasted several months and will continue until the end of March.
They still have volunteer needs, especially:
- Dinner for 25 people any evening, 5-7pm
- Intake of shelter guests, 4:30-7:30pm (you will be trained for this)
- Guest Support just helping guests settle in for the evening, 7-11pm
- Overnight hosts, 11pm-9am (there are always 2-3 hosts, taking turns to be awake)
If you are able to volunteer, here is the sign-up sheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_8Mq4IDiEhbPuy3axSvjdsbDnjEKcErfyy_Ph-StTRw/htmlview#
or call Trinity United Methodist minister, Dustin Mailman at 772-214-4116.
Thanks to those who have already helped with this blessing of hospitality!
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CURRENT DONATION REQUESTS: | |
- Socks - men and women
- Underwear - men and women (larger sizes)
- Jeans, pants (larger sizes)
- Coats
- Rain gear
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- Coffee - regular
- Drink mixes - lemonade and tea
- Individual chips, crackers
- Liquid hand soap
- Paper towels
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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 | |
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 (3/6-3/12): Beth Robrecht | email: bethrobrecht50@gmail.com
Next week (3/13-3/19): Jeane Smith | email: jeane.smith22@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
Bill Williamson
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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 volunteers did some onion planting and spring bed preparation this past weekend. They applied lime and fertilizer to our beds, and used broadforks on most of the beds to loosen the soil in preparation for planting spring transplants. Wade Macfie also brought his tractor and tilled some of the beds that had established cover crop. Hundreds of onion plants were planted, and soon there will be a new water source closer to our garden! | |
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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Planning on giving regularly to GCPC? Let us know by submitting a pledge, which helps us maintain sustainable financials and more accurately budget. Anyone can pledge any amount- every single gift helps support the ministry and mission at GCPC!
WAYS TO PLEDGE:
Questions, concerns, or need help setting up eGiving? Contact Natalie Weaver, Stewardship & Financial Administrator at 828.254.3274, natalie@gcpcusa.org, or stop by the office Tuesdays 10am - 4pm.
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Community Working Together | |
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Ukrainian Relief Efforts
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RAZOM (focuses on medical supply purchases)
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Asheville CSA Fair | Friday, March 11, | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. | YWCA of Asheville (185 S. French Broad Ave.)
On Friday, March 11, our partners at Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) will be hosting a CSA Fair in the YW’s Multipurpose Room from 4-7 pm. The event is free, family-friendly, and open to the public. CSA Fairs are a chance to meet local farmers and learn about CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) in your area. By joining a CSA, you get a weekly box of fresh, locally grown produce, meats, flowers, or other local products—and provide a local farmer with valuable financial support before the season starts. Talk to farmers about what products they offer, pickup locations, growing practices, and payment options.
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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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American history: Rooted in Black protest -
The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins discusses his book ‘Unbroken and Unbowed’ ~ by McKenna Britton
The Rev. Jimmie Hawkins recently sat down with Sonia Prescott with the Presbyterian Historical Society on an installment of PHS LIVE, an ongoing webinar series, to discuss his newly published book, “Unbroken and Unbowed: A History of Black Protest in America.” It was published by Westminster John Knox Press and released on Feb. 22.
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Photo by Latrach Med Jamil via Unsplash | |
March 15 webinar will examine the human rights situation in Israel-Palestine -
Webinar is open to all with advance registration
~ by Kathy Melvin
The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Office of Public Witness and Presbyterian World Mission will host a webinar at noon Eastern Time on March 15 titled “Israel/Palestine: A discussion with human rights experts — is this apartheid?”
Many Palestinians have for decades looked to the Black South Africans’ struggles against apartheid as an inspiration for their own struggle for equal rights. Defenders of current Israeli policy have labeled this framing as inaccurate, attacking those using the term “apartheid” as being anti-Israel or anti-semitic.
The webinar is open to everyone, but advance registration is required.
Click here to register.
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After working on the farm all day, a woman in Cameroon gathers firewood to cook the evening meal. (Photo by Valéry Nodem) | |
Fighting erasure: Panelists advocate for Black immigrants -
National conference brings issues to light
~ by Darla Carter
A national immigration conference provided a forum on Saturday to highlight the concerns of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers who are Black.
It’s important to speak out, or “we will not only be forgotten, we will be erased,” said Guerline Jozef, co-founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, a U.S.-based nonprofit that advocates for fair and humane immigration policies.
The panel discussion, “Centering Black Migrant Voices,” was part of a weekend conference, “Together We Welcome: A National Faith Gathering to Strengthen Support for Refugees, Immigrants and Migrants.”
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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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