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This Week at GCPC!

Pics of the week . . .

Confirmation Retreat

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GCPC Chancel Choir Members

Staff CPR and First Aid Training

GCPC welcomes Miriam to the world! (Daughter of Jade and Kevin Baker)

Worship Preview | Sunday, March 27, 2022

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

Sanctuary and Youtube

Homily:

"Reconciliation" 

by Marcia Mount Shoop



Scripture:

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

Live Stream Worship Service

@ 10:45 AM Sunday

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

Every Sunday of Lent we will celebrate 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.

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 27th @ 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.

Friday, March 25

Winter Shelter Support Team Mtg.

11:00 am on Zoom

Friday, March 25

Padrino Lunch

12:45 pm on Zoom

Friday, March 25

BIPOC Women:

Check-in/Meet & Greet

6:00 pm @ GCPC

Saturday, March 26

Memorial Service for Shannan Carlisle

2:00 pm in the Sanctuary

(also on Youtube)

Sunday, March 27

Hybrid Adult Education

9:00 am in Fellowship Hall (also on Zoom)

Sunday, March 27

Kid's Zoom Adventure

10:15 am on Zoom

Sunday, March 27

Hybrid Worship

(In-person and online)

10:45 am @ GCPC

(also on Youtube)

Sunday, March 27

High School Youth Group

5:30 pm @ GCPC

Monday, March 28

Winter/Spring Memoir Series

6:00 pm @ GCPC

(also on Zoom)

Tuesday, March 29

Church Office Open!

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tuesday, March 29

Children's Formation Team

7:00 pm @ GCPC

Wednesday, March 30

Hybrid Bible Study

10:00 am @ GCPC

(also on Zoom)

Wednesday, March 30

MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) Group

11:00 am on Zoom

Wednesday, March 30

Choir Rehearsal Pod

7:00 pm @ GCPC

Thursday, March 31

Men of GCPC

8:30 am on Zoom

BIPOC Women's Event | Friday, March 25 | 6:30 - 7:30 PM | GCPC

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

High School Youth Group | Sunday, March 27 | 5:30-7:00 PM | In-person @ GCPC

This will be our official last High School youth group before the end of the school year! This week, we will continue our Lenten reflections and building on getting to know each other.

Winter/Spring Memoir Series | Monday, March 28 | 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.


  • March 28 | Tastes Like War by Grace M. Cho | Facilitator: Susie Wheelis


Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83487126673


Meeting ID: 834 8712 6673 Passcode: 789

Hybrid Lectionary Bible Study | Wednesday, March 30 | 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

Important Announcements

Winter Shelter Team Update @ Trinity

TRINITY SHELTER EXTENDED TO MARCH 31     

LAST (BUT URGENT) REQUESTS:

Butter and milk ought to be placed in the Code Purple bin on the days for pick up - Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

OR let Robin Gaiser know if you have purchased them and need them delivered on days other than the above.  

  • butter
  • milk
  • cereal 
  • powdered coffee creamer
  • individually wrapped snacks 


  • bowls 
  • coffee cups
  • dinner plates (large)  


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.

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!

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 Circle of Welcome

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  to help with these needs or if you would like to help in other ways. 

Afghan Evacuation Experiences: Humanitarian Perspective by Justin Peele | Sunday, April 3 | Central United Methodist Church (27 Church St.) | 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Afghanistan withdrawal will be the topic shared by Diplomatic Agent Justin Peele based on personal experience with never before published photographs from Kabul airport. Public invited. 

Peele works with the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), which is the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of State. Acting like the Secret Service, DSS is charged with protecting embassies and people overseas and the U.S. Secretary of State as well as foreign non-heads of state.

GCPC has been re-certified as an Earth Care Congregation!

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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 ((3/20-3/26): Martha Ensign Johnson |

email: marthaensignjohnson@gmail.com

Next week (3/27-4/2): Ellen Sizemore | email: ellen.sizemore@gmail.com

Prayer List

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) 

Maria and Esteban Goicoechea (La Mariposa and her husband)

Winnie Martel (Prayers for Winnie and Susie Churchfield)

Jennifer Martin (Yvonne Smith’s daughter)

Phil Noland (Kelly Spradlin's friend)

James F. Smith (Bryant Smith’s father)

Gaden Maney (Emma Maney’s father)

Jeffrey and Jennifer Hedges (Joe and Janice Brumit's godson)

Seth Turnbow (Anne Raustol’s twin brother)

Loyda Kyremes (Amy Kim Kyremes-Park's mother)

Vince and Michele ( Gordon Gaiser’s niece and nephew-in-law)

Connie, Jeff and Kevin (Robin and Gordon Gaiser’s friends)  

Bobby (Robin and Gordon Gaiser’s friend)

Bob Higgins

Susan Smialowicz

Doris Prak

Sharon

Michelle Chromey and family

Martha Kisiah

Baby Miriam, Jade and the whole Baker family

Bill Williamson

Mary Ida Spradlin

Susie Wheelis

Sherrie McCleary-Small



A Memorial Service for former GCPC member, Shannan Carlisle, will be held this Saturday, March 26th at 2pm in the GCPC sanctuary. The service will also be live streamed at this link.

Upcoming @ GCPC

Asheville Area Piano Forum | Sunday, April 24 | 3:00 PM |

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

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.

Need to set up a church zoom meeting?

Contact Anna Louise and she can get you all set up!

GCPC Community Garden

Garden Days are here again!

The first round of garden starts have been planted in the GCPC Community Garden! Over 2200 plants were put in the ground on Tuesday. The goods include collards, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, chard and kale. Peas and carrots were also planted in the World Garden (by the Administrative Building). Many thanks to our dedicated and hardworking volunteers!

Seeking families interested in growing alongside GCPC's Community Garden 🌱🌻


GCPC's Community Garden is a great place to connect with each other, with the earth and with veggies! We are exploring ways to make gardening more accessible for families and for those who might not be able to come out during the regular Wednesday / Saturday morning sessions.


If you are interested in working in the garden, but mornings aren't best for you, would a Monday afternoon (4PM) slot work for your family? If not, what time would work? Please email allison@gcpcusa.org.


Garden work includes weeding, planting / seeding when needed, harvesting vegetables, preparing beds for new crops, and perhaps some compost application to beds. Children are welcome to accompany their parents to help grow the garden. A typical volunteer session is 1.5-2 hours.


Regular sessions begin some time in April and go through September or October, but the schedule for this group can be flexible if summer hours only work. We will also be looking for a team leader if this new group is formed, and deliveries to a partner organization will need to be made when harvesting occurs. Families are welcome to take produce home for their tables as well!


Garden Volunteers

The garden is gearing up for the growing season. We will have Wednesday and Saturday morning workdays for the garden volunteers beginning in April. 


If you would like to join a team, please email Betsy Wilson at betsywilson1111@gmail.com.

Stewardship & Sustainability | GIVE HERE

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.

Community Working Together

Ukrainian Relief Efforts




  • RAZOM (focuses on medical supply purchases)

Habitat for Humanity News!



GCPC will be participating along with a dozen or more faith families in this years' Habitat for Humanity House of Faith. There will be several ways to help, but for now we are looking for construction volunteers, with no experience required.


The house construction begins on Tuesday, April 26 and we work Tuesday through Saturday until July 1st, with the weeks of June 7-18 off. All days are 8:15 -3:15 except Friday which is 8:15-noon. There will be no more than 8 volunteers on the site and we will be closely supervised by a patient and pleasant professional. Anyone age 16 and up can help.


Information is available at the Welcome Desk in the narthex. If you are interested, please contact Bill Ryan at bill73ryan@gmail.com.

Moral Monday March on Raleigh | Monday, March 28 | 5:00 PM |

Bicentennial Plaza (16 West Jones Street, Raleigh)

The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is bringing a Moral Monday March on Raleigh to the steps of the state legislature on Jones Street. In North Carolina we know the power of bringing together a fusion coalition of people around a common set of demands. The Moral Monday March on Raleigh is part of a 10-stop mobilization tour toward the Mass Poor People's and Low Wage Workers' Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls on June 18, 2022. We will lift up the voices of impacted people from across NC, joined by faith leaders, moral allies, and artists to demand that NC and this whole nation do more to live up its possibilities.


If you are interested in attending the Moral March on March 28th and live in Asheville, there will be a bus transporting individuals to and from Raleigh on March 28th. You can register for a spot on the bus here for $75 per spot.

Click here to register

Interfaith Initiative -

Social Justice Opportunities 

March 20th, 2022

Click here to read Calls to Action


Blue Ridge Pride

Click here to read the

March 2022 Newsletter

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor (Photo by Melissa Golden)

A nation of shut-ins -

Best-selling author Barbara Brown Taylor discusses ‘attentiveness from the farm’ on Leading Theologically podcast

~ by Mike Ferguson


Until the pandemic, the Rev. Dr. Barbara Brown Taylor spent a lot of her time meeting deadlines, paying careful attention to a full calendar and making sure to get to the airport two hours before her flight departed. In those days she flew a lot.


Now that she’s retired from teaching, one of the nation’s foremost preachers and theologians works with her husband, Ed, to keep up their farm in the Appalachian foothills. “I need to be grounded in different things,” Taylor told the Rev. Dr. Lee Hinson-Hasty of the Presbyterian Foundation during a Leading Theologically podcast that can be heard here. Those things include family, the “domestic arts,” and “doing things no one is impressed with,” such as remembering birthdays, going to funerals, driving sick friends to the doctor and delivering a meal — “all the things people do but I haven’t done much because I was going to airports and keeping my website updated.”

Read more here

Fred Rogers with King Friday XIII, ruler of the Neighborhood of Make Believe. Rogers was ordained by Pittsburgh Presbytery in 1962 and encouraged to continue his ministry call to children through the media. (Contributed photo)

‘Who didn’t grow up watching Mister Rogers?’ -

Being Matthew 25 broadcast explores ministry gifts and opportunities found in the neighborhood

~ by Mike Ferguson


Thursday’s Being Matthew 25 broadcast, which you can view here or here, was all about neighborliness.


Host the Rev. DeEtte Decker and her guests, the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett and Stephanie Fritz, were pointing toward Sunday, when the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) celebrates Mister Rogers Day. Fred Rogers, who died in 2003, was the Presbyterian pastor turned children’s television pioneer who taught millions of people how to be a good neighbor and the importance of exploring the neighborhood.


“Who didn’t grow up watching Mister Rogers?” said Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. “He always talked about care and respect for one’s neighbor. I didn’t understand until later he was a Presbyterian pastor, but I can definitely see how he helped children to understand what faithfulness requires — loving God and loving neighbor as ourselves. That’s definitely a Matthew 25 piece.”

Read more here

STAY CONNECTED

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:


  1. Call the main office at 828-254-3274.
  2. Listen through the office closure notice, which will then take you to a staff directory.
  3. 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).
  4. You'll be directed to the staff member's individual voicemail, where you can leave a message to be returned as soon as possible.
  5. 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