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Pumpkin Carving and Pizza Party!

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

A congregational meeting has been called for Sunday, November 6 immediately following worship to approve the slate for the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee.

There will be ways to vote online and in person. 

Trunk or Treat with YTL | Friday, October 28 | 5:30 - 6:30 PM | GCPC Parking Lot

Youth Transformed for Life, our covenant partner, is hosting a Trunk or Treat THIS Friday, October 28, from 5:30-6:30 pm at Grace Covenant in the parking lot. 

They have invited the GCPC Community to join in the festivities. Cars will gather in the parking lot by 5:15 pm. You can decorate your trunk or simply come with some candy to hand out. This is a great opportunity for our communities to celebrate our YTL scholars and get to know one another better. 

Please email dthomas.ytltraining@gmail.com if you are able to join in the fun.

If you can't make it but would like to contribute candy, please drop it off at the front desk during office hours.

Children's Formation (K-5th Grade) | Sundays | 11:00 AM | Sanctuary

Youth Formation (Middle/High School) | Sundays | 11:00 AM | Youth Room

Adult Formation: Faith and Boundaries I Sundays | September 18 -November 20 | 11:00 AM I Fellowship Hall and Zoom

This fall, we will be exploring a faith based approach to boundaries, a vital tool for all communities and relationships searching for ways to create space for love, compassion, and and justice.

Facilitators: Margaret Tierney, Paul Rogers, Libby Kyles, Marta Alcalá, Patty Thompson, and Dean Presson

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86748147293

Meeting ID: 867 4814 7293  Passcode: 789

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

VRQ—BBQ Cook Team | Tuesday, November 1 | 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.

Bible Study | Wednesdays | 12:00 PM | Jerusalem Room & 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/82947867192

Meeting ID: 829 4786 7192 Passcode: 789

October 23, 2022

Deacons Stewardship Video

Dear Grace Covenant Community,

“Serve [Council] practices the biblical principles of solidarity, justice, and stewardship… Serve members are committed to the long-term work of dismantling white supremacy by striving to more equitably share power, resources, and access with directly impacted people through authentic, mutual relationships.” (Serve Council Charter, revised 2022)

Before I even considered joining GCPC, I heard about the church’s Serve Council and the transformative work being done to create a new model of engaging in genuine partnerships with community justice groups led by people of color. For many years I had been engaged in traditional church giving to community groups and was always pushing to do more, so I was intrigued with what Serve was doing. I was deeply committed to racial equity work, and I wanted to be in a faith community that made real the value of radical love and spiritual practices reflected in meaningful connections within the church and wider community. When I was ready to become a member of GCPC just one year ago, there was only one group that I knew I wanted to join—the Serve Council. I was thrilled when I was invited in—there was an actual, on-going budget for sharing funds with Covenant Partners and as I became a co-liaison with two community Partners, there was freedom to explore how we wanted our relationship to grow and deepen.

Over the past nine months, I’ve watched and participated as partnerships with each of our Covenant Partners have been evolving in unique ways. We’ve joined Partners in community outreach distributing food and essential information; Partners have engaged with us in conversations about what it means to create sustaining change. Partners and families came to our Palooza and we’re soon going to an Annual Celebration. One of our Partners held their monthly meeting at our church. We’re about to share our final round of funding with our Partners for this year to support their critical work in addressing root causes of injustice and initiating sustainable change.

Bob and I joyfully increased our pledge this year, assured that we are contributing to faith made real by intention and hard work. With your generosity, our faith community can continue Serve’s commitment “to the long-term work of dismantling white supremacy by striving to more equitably share power, resources, and access with directly impacted people through authentic, mutual relationships.”  

~ Eleanor Lane

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

All Saints Sunday - November 6, 2022

All Saints Sunday is an opportunity for us to remember and honor the great cloud of witnesses of those who have come before us.

We are inviting you to add a photo along with the name(s) of those who have passed away in the last year (11/21-11/22) that you would like to lift up in prayer in the All Saint's worship service on Sunday, November 6th. We will also be doing the traditional necrology of GCPC members who have died in the past year. 

Submissions should be made by Thursday NOON on November 3rd. Please email Micah at micah@gcpcusa.org with the picture, the name(s) of your loved one(s), and their birth and death dates. Please write “Nov 6 slide show” in the subject line.

FINAL CALL! Sign up TODAY!!!

GCPC Advent Devotional Calendar

Would you consider participating in Grace Covenant’s 2022 Advent devotional? You are invited to create an advent devotional for a specific day’s assigned scripture based on the lectionary. We are encouraging creativity - your devotional could be a poem, painting, song or reflections on how the scripture moves you. Your devotional can be inspired by the Biblical texts from your day.

Entries should be submitted by October 31 to Margaret Tierney at margarettierney6@gmail.com, where it will be curated into this year's GCPC Advent Devotional. 

• 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 (10/23-10/29): Pat Cheffins | email: patriciacheffins@gmail.com

Next week (10/30-11/5): Pam Baker | email: pam.dunkin56@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)

Maryann Jennings and Sasso Family

Carolyn McEchern

Eric Mount (Marcia Mount Shoop's father)

Family of Joe Frostick (Peggy and Heath Rada’s nephew)

Dorothy Zuck (Pat Durham's mom)

Bill Ross (Jonathan Ross' dad)

Erik Jacobs (Kathy Jacobs' son)

Bob Higgins

Susan Smialowicz

Doris Prak

Michelle Chromey and family

Earl Fowler

Robin Gaiser

Andrea Rosal

Sharon Sasse

Lisette de Groot

Our sympathy and support are extended to the Mount Shoop family following the death of John's mother, Janet Hartman Shoop, on Tuesday morning, October 25. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, October 31, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Oakmont Presbyterian Church in Oakmont, PA. Here is a link to her obituary. Please keep the entire family in your prayers. 

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection and Thanksgiving for the Life of Bob Schaefer will take place on Sunday, November 6 at 2:00 pm in the GCPC sanctuary.

GCPC Community member, Ernest Jack Griset III, passed away on Sept. 14, 2022. A graveside Service of Witness to the Resurrection will take place Saturday, November 5 at 1:00 pm at Lewis Memorial Park, officiated by Richard Coble.

GCPC Cancer Survivors & Thrivers Dinner | Sunday, November 6 | 5:30 - 7:00 PM | Fellowship Hall

This dinner is open to anyone who has ever been diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, including those newly diagnosed, and their spouses or partners.

Our guest speaker via Zoom will be Richard “Dick” Swanson. Dick is a 25 year survivor of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Lymphoma and is thankful for modern day medicine and for friends and family that have supported and surrounded him with love through this cancer journey. For the past 8 years he has led a men’s cancer support group as a part of the Cancer Ministry at his home church, Westminster Presbyterian, in Greensboro.

Serve Volunteer Opportunity - Monday, November 7

You are invited to assist our Covenant Partner, Colaborativa La Milpa, with sorting, bagging and giving food from their monthly Manna Food Bank shipment at Emma United Methodist - parking lot - 55 Adams Hills Rd (off Bingham Rd. from Emma Rd.) AVL 28806.

Volunteer on Monday, November 7 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. They need volunteers! Bring sunscreen, water, a hat! Knowing Spanish is appreciated yet not required. 

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!

On Saturday, October 22, Team 2 had 6 volunteers that harvested 61 lbs. of cabbage, 4 lbs. of collards, 40 lbs. of tomatoes, and 10 lbs. of turnips. This harvest was shared with Western Carolina Rescue Ministries.

On Friday, October 21, Anthony Cole and 6 Transformation Village Kitchen volunteers harvested 600 lbs. of potatoes that were shared with YWCA, YTL, Loving Food Resources, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, and the YMCA.

Hood Huggers International, Peace Gardens & Market and Blue Note Junction present....

Pisgah Legal presents.... Housing Lunch and Learn | Wednesday, November 9 | 12:00 - 1:30 PM | Roy Johnson Room @ First United Methodist Church

Learn how local advocates are working together to prevent homelessness and create affordable housing opportunities in Henderson County. Thanks to our generous sponsor, Rich Cooke with Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks, REALTORS, lunch will be complimentary, but registration is required. Sign up online here.

Working Wheels

Do you have an extra car that needs to find a new home? Imagine how difficult your life would be without a car! Working Wheels repairs and recycles donated vehicles, transforming them into working wheels for working families. The process is simple, the donation is tax-deductible, and the impact is real. To donate, volunteer, or learn more, please visit www.workingwheelswnc.org or call 828-633-6888.

Watch Pisgah Legal's 12th Annual Justice Forum

with Dr. Jamila Michener

Watch Last Week’s Bilingual Candidate Forum

Last week, the Racial Justice Coalition was excited to co-sponsor a bilingual candidate forum, featuring both City and County candidates for office in the upcoming November election. Candidates answered questions in a pre-forum questionnaire and in the live forum, on issues that included racial justice, immigrant justice, food security, affordable housing, living wages, and transit. In the City portion of the forum, candidates discussed their intentions around following the recommendations of the Community Reparations Commission, and weighed in on whether they’d commit to returning urban renewal land to the Black community. You can watch the City forum here, the County forum here, and read responses from some of the candidates to the questionnaire here.

GCPC's Covenant Partner, Bountiful Cities

Help support FEAST!

Their  FEAST program reaches over 1,150 students a year in Asheville, Buncombe County, and Madison County with hands-on cooking and gardening classes in schools and afterschool programs. Help us fully fund this important program this fall! 

Bountiful Cities FEAST teachers work within Asheville City and Buncombe County schools, Hot Springs Elementary and Francine Delany New School to give students hands on experience. We are not funded by the school systems, and yet we integrate with the grade level curriculum to provide history, science, reading, math, and art education in addition to gardening and cooking. Our goal is to give students tools that will last a lifetime. If they have seeds they will know how to have food.

 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