KGPC SEPTEMBER 2023 ENEWS!

745 Little Neck Road

Virginia Beach, VA 23452

(757) 340-2840

info@kgpc.org kgpc.org

Happy New Year!

While it may not be January 1, September 10 kicks off a new church year at King’s Grant Presbyterian. This newsletter issue is chock full of exciting things: from Locals on the Lawn on September 8, to our Welcome Sunday with celebration after on September 10, to faith formation classes for all ages and a variety of music ministry programs, to our brand new launch of seven LIFE groups, to a parade after church on September 17 to King’s Grant Elementary, to learning about my sabbatical for next year, and sadly saying goodbye to one of our beloved staff members, Pat Kelley upon her retirement. So open your calendars and make time for some wonderful ways in which we can grow closer in our love for God, for one another, and for our neighbors in the world.

Grow Stronger, Shine Brighter, Love Deeper, Transform Your World,

Pastor Chris

Hello KGPC Friends,

The hymn-sing was quite successful the first week of August, and we are planning another similar event for October 1st at 4:00 PM with contemporary-style praise and worship music. Please be thinking of songs you would like to request and submit them to me no later than Sept. 17th so we have time to rehearse. This is not like calling out a hymn I play alone from one book on the spot. The praise team music is spread out over 9 volumes of books and a file cabinet drawer full of sheet music, so I definitely would appreciate your requests ahead of time. Examples could be everything from El Shaddai by Amy Grant to the new Cory Asbury song “Reckless Love” that we did this past Sunday for the youth day.

I am very excited to be starting weekly rehearsals again with the music groups here at church! Musicians need breaks just like anyone else, but for those called to serve God with music, our souls are just not as fulfilled during the downtime. How quickly that will change now! Anyone not already a part of the music ministry but would like to be, please connect with me or 757-544-7138. I would love to speak with you! Please see the rehearsal schedule below:

Praise Team: Wednesdays 5:45-6:15 pm/ Beginning Sept. 6th

Sanctuary Choir: Wednesdays 7:30-9:00 pm/ Beginning Sept. 6th

Chancel Bells: Thursdays at 7:00 pm Beginning Sept. 7th

Children’s Music (Music Makers!): NEW DAY - TUESDAYS 4:30-5:15 ages 4-7; 5:15-6:00 pm ages 8-12

Musically Yours,

Tonya

From the Sabbatical Advisory Team...

One of the ways to maintain church vitality is to care for one another. As part of our Pastor’s call, KGPC has offered Pastor Chris a sabbatical. The primary purpose of a sabbatical is for the physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational renewal of the Pastor. It is a time to draw near to God in an undistracted and prolonged way. The most clear and straightforward definition for sabbatical is “a time off for rest and/or study”. Sabbaticals are most commonly used in academia and pastoral workplaces.

Chris will be on sabbatical from 6/1/2024 to 9/2/2024. The standard call for Pastors in the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia includes a thirteen-week sabbatical for Pastors who have been in place for seven years. Pastor Chris will have been with us next summer for nine years.

A Sabbatical Advisory Team was formed to determine the best way and the best time to communicate the sabbatical details to the congregation. The team consists of Pastor Chris, Dan Duquette, Amanda Pine, Pat Kelley, Julie Seipel, Pat Bowling, Scott Wilhoit, and Bruce MacCall. A list of frequently asked questions for the sabbatical was developed and can be viewed in the link below. The Sabbatical Advisory Team will be available to answer any specific questions at a get-together following the 9/24/2023 worship service.

Chris will start her sabbatical in spiritually Christian sites. Starting in Taize, France, Chris will engage in the work and worship of that community. From there, Chris will travel to Iona, Scotland sharing the common rhythms on a tiny island. In weeks three through seven Chris will be in Jerusalem enrolled in a program at Tantur Ecumenical Institute. The following four weeks will be spent reconnecting with family as the Carrascos travel throughout Europe. The last two weeks of the sabbatical will be back in the United States allowing time for Chris to join Christian to visit assorted colleges and most importantly allow Chris time to reflect on her sabbatical.

KGPC is blessed to have Commissioned Pastor Dan Duquette who has agreed to lead worship during the sabbatical time period. Additionally, our well-equipped Ministry Teams will lead worship services on seven Sunday mornings. Dan will also moderate Session meetings, provide pastoral visitations, and perform any weddings, funerals, or baptisms while Chris is gone.

KGPC has the pieces in place to continue to Grow, Shine, and Love while Chris is on her sabbatical. We will continue to serve God, the community, and each other. Most importantly, KGPC will look forward to Chris’ return in September of 2024 to mutually experience the benefits of her sabbatical not only for herself but also for the congregants of KGPC.

Sabbatical Advisory Team

Click HERE for the FAQ Brochure

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT KGPC:

Sunday, September 3

10:00 AM- Brunch Church

Monday, September 4 LABOR DAY

OFFICE CLOSED

Tuesday, September 5

9:00 AM- Trinity Preschool

5:30 PM- Care Ministry Mtg.

6:30 PM - Grow Ministry Mtg.

Wednesday, September 6

7:00 AM- Prayer Breakfast

9:00 AM- Trinity Preschool

5:45 PM- Praise Team Rehearsal

7:30 PM- Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, September 7

9:00 AM- Trinity Fine Arts Day

7:00 PM- Chancel Bells Rehearsal

Friday, September 8

2:00 PM- Memorials Mtg.

5:00 AM- Locals On The Lawns

7:00 PM- MS & HS Lock-In begins

Saturday, September 9

7:00 AM– MS & HS Lock-In Ends

Click HERE for the Full Calendar

Click HERE for SEPTEMBER Birthdays

WORSHIP AND FAITH FORMATION INFO

Grow In Your Faith!

YOU ARE CHOSEN!

KGPC Fall 2023 Worship Series

Join us as we embark on an 8-week journey to encounter Jesus using the first season of the series “The Chosen,” the first-ever crowd-funded, multi-season series about the life of Christ and the unlikely people whose lives he turned upside down. You will be invited to watch each episode and join in a LIFE group as we gain a broader understanding of the probable context and backstory of many biblical characters. Jesus chose each of them to follow him, and chooses YOU, too. “You Are Chosen” will bring many of the early stories about Jesus’ ministry to life as we relate them to our lives today. So come, sit at the feet of Jesus, watch him in his early ministry, and hear his invitation to you, “Come. Follow me.”

Click HERE for the full series!

Join us as we focus on Jesus to deepen our relationships with God and each other. This worship series will inspire you to engage just like the disciples did-up close and personal! Contact Amanda Pine for more details and to sign up

On the Chosen Series:

Family LIFE Group: This group is for families with children of any age. We will have prayer and discussion followed by a potluck dinner.

When: Sundays from 4-6 PM beginning on September 24^th in JJ Toombs and Shannon Bronaugh’s homes

Lunch Bunch: This group is for anyone to attend. Prayer, discussion, and bring your own lunch!

When: Mondays from 12:30-2 PM in the Connection Point at church

Porch LIFE Group: Meet out at the porch at the leader’s house for discussion and prayer

When: Tuesdays from 6:30-8 PM at Sanford’s home led by Chuck and Pam Sanford and Daryl and Marion Mitchell

Wednesday LIFE Group: Meet for discussion and prayer

When: Wednesdays at 1 PM at church led by Sue Mooney

Thursday LIFE Group: Meet for discussion and prayer

When: Thursdays at 10 AM at church led by Pastor Chris

Zoom LIFE Group: Meet for discussion and prayer

When: Thursday at 7:15 PM on Zoom led by Karen Pleas

Sundays at KGPC Starting September 10th

8:45 AM: Adult Study- The Book of Acts/Parlor

9:00 AM: Middle School & High School Session/

HS Rm 102: Discussion & Donuts

10:00 AM: Worship and King's Kids: During Passing of the Peace, children may follow their teachers to and be picked up from:

Pre-school/ Room 118----- Elementary School/ Room 104

KGPC Card Ministry

Starting September 10, you will notice blank note cards in the back of each pew. These cards will serve two purposes. First, these cards will be used to provide encouragement and share the love of God with those receiving Meals on Wheels, PIN Lunches, and Food Bank Assistance. We encourage you to be a part of this by taking a moment before or after worship each week to write a note and pray for the recipient. You can then leave your note in the collection box by either sanctuary exit. Alternately, you may write notes and home and bring them back to church.

Second, when you sit down in your pew on Sunday morning and see a blank card, we ask that you use this as an opportunity each week to consider who God is calling you to reach out to during that week…maybe a friend, neighbor, co-worker, relative, Compassion child, or someone else, and to commit to doing that. Our hope is that, together, our congregation can use this opportunity to be intentional about combating loneliness and sharing the love of Christ with others.

Thank you,

Your Serve Team

Click HERE for the Fall 2023 Youth Calendar

Click HERE for this week's Wired Word

September Women's Circles

Elizabeth Circle will meet at 10 AM Tuesday, September 12, at Lynn Huffman's home. We will be studying

Sacred Encounters. Contact Cindy Hiddemen for more details.

Lydia Circle will meet at 10 AM on Tuesday, Sept. 12th at the home of Georgia Jones. We will be studying the book of Esther this year. Contact Claudia Hudgens for more details.

Eve Circle will meet at 7:00 PM on Sept. 18th in the Parlor. We will be studying Who Is Jesus. Contact Pam Ponce for more details.

OTHER GREAT STUFF!...

KGPC will be joining with Rise Against Hunger once again on October 8 at 2:00 to pack meals!

Please use this link to sign up if you would like to participate. We encourage you to invite a friend and have them sign up as well!

Click HERE for our Event Page

Contact Amanda Pine for more details

about these amazing LIFE Groups:

ONGOING LIFE Groups:

Tuesday Breakfast Group: Join us every week for breakfast as we take turns sharing our highs and lows with each other. We pray for the struggles and offer praise for all the good things that God has given us.

When: 6:30 AM at Village Inn in Town Center, led by Dan Duquette

Prayer Breakfast: Join us for prayer, discussion, and breakfast

When: Wednesdays at 7 AM in the Fellowship Hall

*NEW - Bible Study LIFE Group: Meet for study, prayer, and discussion

When: Every other week on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM led by Suzy Farley

We will start on Sept. 20th and will meet at the church. We’ll be discussing Luke.

Biscuit Bunch: This monthly group gathers to pray and fellowship over Hardee's biscuits in the Pavilion by the playground.

When: Thursday once a month at 8:30 AM in the Pavilion

Sunday Breakfast Group: Join us every week for breakfast as we take turns sharing our highs and lows with each other. We pray for the struggles and offer praise for all the good things that God has given us.

When: Sundays at 6:30 AM at Denny’s on Virginia Beach Blvd.

Click HERE to REGISTER

BOOK CLUB

Join our discussion on September 26th at 7:15 PM on the book

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

Our Book Club meets on the last Tuesday of the month

at 7:00 p.m. in the Parlor.

Need a book, contact Julie Seipel for information.

Join us on

Mondays at 12:30 in the Connection Point

for Lunch Bunch!!

Bring a lunch and gather around the table as together this small group shares praises, concerns, scripture and study! Contact Julie Seipel for more information.

ALL ARE WELCOME ANYTIME!

Word Share Prayer is a monthly scripture reading/reflection that Session and the leaders of ministries use to start their meetings. We will include this in the monthly ENews for you to use throughout the month to read and meditate on.

READ: Luke 5:1-11

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Our Livestream is available Sundays on YouTube and also on Facebook! Use the links below. The links will also be in the Sunday Morning Worship email.

Click HERE for our 10:00 AM Worship Service

CLICK HERE TO ZOOM FOR BRUNCH CHURCH!

Click HERE for this week's Worship Guide

From the Property Ministry Team….. THANK YOU !!!

27 VOLUNTEERS took their time to put back the shine on Saturday, August 12. Great support, great fellowship, and great results. Our KGPC Family members serving God together was the GREATEST BLESSING!!