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#GCPCinthesanctuary

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

This Sunday we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Remember that our at home practice has been to use anything you have 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.

Serve Volunteer Opportunity -

Fight Food Insecurity!

Join the “Kool Kids” Monday, December 5, at the MANNA FoodBank mobile market organized by our covenant partner Colaborativa La Milpa. Help put food on the tables of food insecure families in the Emma community of Asheville. 

Come for an hour or the whole afternoon. We need more GCPC helping hands and loving ❤️ hearts. 

DATE: Monday, December 5

LOCATION: Emma United Methodist Church, 55 Adams Hill Rd., Asheville 

SCHEDULE: 

• 1-3 PM Set up tables of dry and canned goods; bag produce.  
• 3-5 PM Restock items, assist families as they fill their carts. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

VRQ—BBQ Cook Team | Tuesday, December 6 | 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.

Remember that there will be no Bible Study gatherings during Advent.

We hope that you will engage with the GCPC Advent Calendar for devotional time. You can sign up to receive alerts at the bottom of our home page on the website.

Here is a direct link to the Advent Calendar: https://gcpcusa.org/advent-calendar/.

November 20, 2022

Finance Council 

Stewardship Video

Dear Grace Covenant Community, 

We’re moving from stewardship into Advent, a season of waiting and readying. In the movement of this moment, I wonder how participating in a grace-economy has been for you, and how it lingers for us. We have 128 pledges so far of the 255 we are hoping for to fund our budget for 2023. We are getting closer to the $1,000,000 in pledges that we are hoping for by the end of December. As of today, we are at  $646,669.00.

Like many in our GCPC family, my family has lost and gained in profound ways this stewardship season. In the loss of my father-in-law, my family is receiving your abundant care through cards, texts, Emails, condolences, meals and prayers. We grieve alongside each other, in the deaths of GCPC members and loved ones. In encounters with loss, we are met. What I named 8 weeks ago feels all the more true today: GCPC is a place where we can participate in an economy of grace, where we’ll experience security not through striving but through sharing, even — especially – in the face of uncertainty and loss.  

In the culmination of stewardship, the arrival of Advent, and in the grief of loss, I find space to encounter anew 2 Corinthians 9.7: Each one must give as they have decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 

Sharing freely is freeing: This year I experienced the liberation of giving prayerfully and heartfully. Sharing is not an obligation, but an invitation: we freely decide to give. It’s an act of freedom, not constraint; eagerness, not unwillingness. Heartful giving is freedom, because it occurs in freedom. We are all too familiar with the pain, unwillingness, and sorrow of doing things under compulsion. Let us share what we know of the delightful creativity of giving freely.

God delights in our joy: “Cheerful” is but one definition of this animated word used only here in the New Testament. Its other definitions include: joyous, not grudging, prompt to do anything, merry. It is the source of the English word “hilarious.” I like to imagine God delighting in this playful, fun, hilarious giver. Such a giver is full of merriment because they are acting freely. When we act in the freedom of a heartful decision, it frees up space for playfulness, for hilarity, unhindered by obligation, force, or fear. 

This stewardship season, in the pleasures and sorrows, I experienced grace as giving out of heartful, free joy. If you haven’t already pledged, I invite you into this joyful, freeing act. My prayer for us continues to be that our collective giving be gracious, that it supports repair and healing in both our community and in ourselves. Together, may we celebrate and delight in the blessings of our grace-filled giving. 

In community,

We started this year's Faith and Fury stewardship campaign with the goal of hitting the $1 million mark by the end of the year. We've got 30 days to go to raise the $353,331 remaining to fund the 2023 budget before 12/31.

Let's do this, GCPC!!

From a Friend in Finance…

You may not have met me in person before since I'm not around on Sunday, so if we haven't met yet, hi, I'm Natalie Weaver, GCPC's Stewardship & Financial Administrator! And hello again to all of you lovely folks I have had the pleasure of getting to know, in person, on Zoom, or by email/phone in my past 6 years in the GCPC Finance Office. 

This is definitely the busiest time of the year for my job, when stewardship and pledge season converge at the same time as budget development and year end accounting close. Oh yeah, and just a few holidays. Wish me luck, y'all!! That said, I end up having quite a few similar questions come up, so wanted to go over a few answers that might be helpful:

• eGiving ≠ Pledging: These are two separate things... While you absolutely can set up eGiving to fulfill your pledge, that online gift won't count towards our stewardship goal for the budget unless you submit a pledge as well. They're both quick and simple processes, but require two steps. You can pledge online here and check the box at the end to do the extra step to also set up eGiving. If you did it in reverse and set up eGiving first, Realm will ask if you'd like to add a pledge at the end. Both ways work!

If you're not sure if you've done one or the other, connect with me and I can easily check for you (or look under your Giving tab in Realm - eGiving is under Scheduled and your pledge will be listed on the right side). 

READY TO SUBMIT YOUR 2023 PLEDGE?

Submitting your pledge is quick and easy! (Watch a tutorial video here.) Simply CLICK HERE or scan the Qr code to the right 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. These are two separate steps and forms - setting up a pledge does not renew eGiving automatically and eGiving without a pledge doesn't count towards our Stewardship and budget goals.

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 giving@gcpcusa.org or leave a message at 828.254.3274. 

Keep in mind, anyone can pledge any amount - every single penny helps support the ministry and mission at GCPC!

WAYS TO PLEDGE:

• Online pledge card HERE
• Email giving@gcpcusa.org
• Call 828.254.3274 and leave a message for Natalie Weaver
• Fill out a pew pledge card and put in the Sunday offering plate
• Request a mailed pledge card from the office

• 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 (11/27-12/3): Bill McNeff | email: wpmcn6@yahoo.com

Next week (12/4-12/10): Emma Maney | email: emmabrynn14@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)

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

Eric Mount (Marcia Mount Shoop's father)

Dorothy Zuck (Pat Durham's mom)

Bill Ross (Jonathan Ross' dad)

Erik Jacobs (Kathy Jacobs' son)

Hillary Frye (Steve Riedesel’s friend)

Rebecca Harrison's husband, Nigel

Marianne Nash (Dave Nash’s daughter)

Sharon and Loman Hatfield (Karen Rohl’s friend and her son)

Pattie Ellis (Paul Tierney’s aunt) 

Dan Bronson (Laurie Stradley’s dad) 

Katharine Meacham Conover (Kathy Meacham’s mom)

Bob Higgins

Susan Smialowicz

Doris Prak

Michelle Chromey and family

Earl Fowler

Robin Gaiser

Andrea Rosal

Sharon Sasse

Lisette de Groot

Reed Carney

Tim Moe

A Memorial Service for Roslyn Carney will be held on Monday, December 12 at 6:30 pm at Madison High School.

Asheville Gay Men's Chorus HOLIDAY CONCERT! | Saturday, December 10 @ 7:30 PM and Sunday, December 11 @ 4:00 PM | Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Sanctuary

Please join us for the return of the live Holiday Concert! The Asheville Gay Men’s Chorus will once again gather to provide great fun and music.

The Chorus is offering General Admission Tickets for $30 per ticket, and VIP Tickets (first 5 rows) for $40 per ticket.

*Tickets to Biltmore's Christmas Festival of Lights may be purchased here.

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: Second 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!

Bountiful Cities - Other Ways to Support Food Security 

You can advocate for racial justice in our community every week.

Here’s how:



Subscribe to the Government Accountability Project (GAP) Report today and you’ll receive:

• Weekly reports that keep you informed on what's happening in our city and county governments with racial justice implications.
• Timely actions you can take to advocate for racial justice.
• Email templates that you can personalize and send in just a few minutes.

You can check out the most recent report at gapavl.org.

Montreat College Annual Christmas Concert | Saturday, December 3 | 7:00 PM | Anderson Auditorium, Montreat

Montreat College will host its annual Christmas Concert in the Anderson Auditorium on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. This event is free of charge as a gift to the community—a highlight of the holiday season.

The concert will feature Montreat College choir students and alumni as well as faculty and staff performers. The concert will also feature a live orchestra made up of Montreat students and community members.

Join us for this special evening as we celebrate our hope in Christ at the beginning of the Advent season.

NEW DATES!!

Fraught & Flummoxed: Courage and Creativity for the Elevation of the Gospel | January 30–February 2, 2023 | Montreat

In a time when the gospel of Jesus is threatened by the ascendance of Christian nationalism and white supremacy, what is the apprehensive, overstretched church leader to do? How does a leader tend one’s soul for the elevation of the gospel? How do followers of Jesus meet this moment with courage and imagination?

Building on the content of past conferences such as CoInspire, DisGrace, and MLK’s Unfinished Agenda, we will engage in three days of peer learning group work in partnership with Crossroads to examine the current challenges of leadership in this time and place. Furthermore, we will critically reflect on the obstacles of leadership as well as explore tangible and embodied practices involving creativity, movement, and contemplative exercises with the goal of building capacity and endurance for this important work. All levels of interest and experience are welcome as we will host three customized tracks of learning, nurture, and growth.

 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
• Click to Make a Secure Donation or Give a Gift  

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

789 Merrimon Ave. Asheville, NC 28804

828.254.3274 

www.gcpcusa.org