GCPC Weekly News | October 14, 2021

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This Week at GCPC!

Pics of the week

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Session New Member Mtg.

Adult Education - Caste

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2021 Confirmation Class

Important Announcements

This week's Stewardshift video!

This year, pledging through Realm is even easier! (Watch a tutorial video here.) Simply CLICK HERE 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. 


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


WAYS TO PLEDGE:

  • Online pledge card HERE
  • Email Nweaver@gcpcusa.org
  • Call 828.254.3274 and leave a message for Natalie Weaver
  • Request a mailed pledge card from the office

Pledges & Prepay

Now that 2022 pledges have started to come in, you may wonder if you can prepay that before the end of the year. The answer is "yes," but please be sure to differentiate between the current year (2021 General Fund) and next year (2022 General Fund). 


If you are prepaying a 2022 pledge for next year, please be sure to notate that on your gift- simply write "2022 pledge" in the memo line of your check or select 2022 General Fund online.


If you have questions about your 2021 pledge balance or need assistance in submitting a 2022 pledge, please reach out to Natalie Weaver in the Finance Office at nweaver@gcpcusa.org or leave a message at 828.254.3274. 

Deacon and Elder Nominations

The Nominating Committee is seeking recommendations from the congregation for persons to serve as an Elder or Deacon, beginning in February 2022. Please fill this out by October 31st.


The Nominating Committee, relying on the Holy Spirit, will be guided by prayer, their sense of the gifts that are needed to be called into service in this way, and by the guidance of the Book of Order. 

Elders should be persons of faith, dedication, and good judgment. Their manner of life should be a demonstration of the Christian gospel, both within the church and in the world.” 

The office of Deacon...“is one of compassion, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, of exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion, and sound judgment should be chosen for this office.”

Click here to submit nomination

Or you can email Anna Louise your nominations.



How to Check-In for worship on the Realm app


Worship Preview | Sunday, October 17, 2021

Sermon:

Friendshift

by Marcia Mount Shoop



Scripture:

Hebrews 5:1-10

Live Stream Worship Service

@ 10:45 AM Sunday

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

Thursday, October 14

PART Mtg.

6:00 pm on Zoom

Friday, October 15

Padrino Lunch

12:45 pm on Zoom

Sunday, October 17

Adult Education Class - Caste

9:00 am on Zoom

Sunday, October 17

Kids Zoom Adventure

10:15 am on Zoom

Sunday, October 17

Livestream Worship

10:45 am on Youtube

Sunday, October 17

Long Range Visioning Team

12:30 pm on Zoom

Sunday, October 17

Deacon Mtg.

12:30 on Zoom

Sunday, October 17

Middle School Youth Group

5:30 pm on Zoom

Tuesday, October 19

CHURCH OFFICE OPEN!

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tuesday, October 19

Finance Council Mtg.

5:30 pm on Zoom

Tuesday, October 19

Serve Meeting:

Resonant Listening

Online at 6:30 pm

Wednesday, Oct. 20

Bible Study

10:00 am on Zoom

Wednesday, Oct. 20

MCI Group

11:00 am on Zoom

Wednesday, Oct. 20

Just Funding Mtg.

6:00 pm on Zoom

PART Meeting | TONIGHT, October 14 | 6:00 PM | via Zoom

We are excited to gather the Power and Race Team tonight at 6p. We will continue to examine ways to deconstruct white supremacy culture within ourselves and our community. We hope to see you there! 


Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/91314445389


Meeting ID: 913 1444 5389 | Passcode: 789


Fall Adult Education - Caste | Sundays | October 10 - November 21 | 9:00 AM | via Zoom

A Close and Spiritual Reading of Isabel Wilkerson's Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. We will go through Caste chapter by chapter on Sunday mornings. Leaders from the Racial Justice Book Series will take turns leading the discussion. Whether you were a part of the summer gatherings or not, whether you read the book years ago, or are coming to it for the first time, please join us! Questions? Email Richard Coble.


Reading Schedule 

  • 10/17: Part 2, p. 39-96 - Carol Hovis leading
  • 10/24: Part 3, p. 99-164
  • 10/31: Part 4, p. 167-260
  • 11/7: Part 5, p. 263-308
  • 11/14: Part 6, p. 311-357
  • 11/21: Part 7, p. 361-388

GCPC Kids Zoom Adventure | Sundays | 10:15 AM | via Zoom

You will receive an email on Friday with the zoom information.


Email Cat Kessler (ckessler@gcpcsua.org) if you would like to be added to the list.

Lectionary Bible Study | Wednesday, October 20 | 10:00 AM | 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!

20s/30s/Beyond: Cookout and Pumpkin Carving | Thursday, October 21 | 6:30 PM | Alex Hollifield and Ben Kees' House

If you are a young adult-ish, get ready for an evening of outdoor pumpkin carving! Before the weather gets too cold, we are excited to mask up for a spooky socially distanced event to remember! We will provide pumpkins, s'more stuff and some pumpkin carving supplies. Please bring extra supplies and blanket/towel/small table and/or chair for yourselves. Don't forget your mask and any special dinner snacks you might enjoy! 


Let's enjoy the opportunity to catch up and carve together!


Questions? Contact Richard Coble: rcoble@gcpcusa.org

RSVP HERE by Monday, October 18

Clerk's Corner

Hello everyone—

As promised, here are highlights of our latest Session meeting, which took place on Tuesday, 28 September 2021.


Marcia announced that the new Task Force to advise staff about coping with COVID is up and running. Members are Roger Meade and Anne Raustol (Property Council), Malissa Hicks (Serve Council and a medical doctor), Margaret Tierney (Worship Council), and Bill Neeriemer (Personnel Council). Serving as consultants are Libby Kyles (a parent, educator, and part of YTL), Lisa Reed (a medical doctor and parent of young children), Paul Rogers (a medical doctor), and Laurie Stradley (trained in public health, parent of small children). 


The Session voted unanimously to approve new and changed parts of GCPC’s Child Protection Policy, now titled “Child, Youth, and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy.” The key changes are as follows:

1)  The addition of “vulnerable adults” to those protected. Vulnerable adults are people whose ages place them past twelfth grade and who have cognitive or physical conditions that cause them to need protection. 

2)  The inclusion of rules about online events in which adults interact with vulnerable people, such as Zoom meetings, text messages, chats, pastoral counseling, and telephone calls. In general, the rule is that two adults must be present in any meeting involving a vulnerable person.

Details about these and other parts of the Session meeting will be available on the church website as soon as the Session approves the minutes. To gain access to these minutes, go to www.gcpcusa.org. Click on “The Latest,” then on “Session Minutes Archive,” then on the month you want. For these minutes, click on October 2021, where you will find the September minutes several pages in from the first (agenda) page.


You are invited to attend all Session meetings. The meetings occur at 6 pm on the fourth Tuesday of almost every month. Exceptions are November and December. Because of the holidays therein, Session meetings will take place 16 November and 14 December. You can find links to all Zoom meetings on the church calendar. Go to www.gcpcusa.org. Click on “The Latest,” then on “Calendar.” 


--Kelley Griffith, Clerk of Session



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 (10/10-10/16): Cathy Byers | email: byersabc@gmail.com

Next week (10/17-10/23): Jeane Smith | email: jeane.smith22@gmail.com

Prayer List

Prayer requests will stay on the GCPC Prayer List for one month. Please let any staff know if you (or your loved one) would like to remain on the list for longer.


Iglesia Jerusalem congregation

Marge and Warren Weidner (Jane Stoffer’s sister and brother in law)

Jami Schaefer (friend of Sarah Van Gunten’s life long friend, Sherry) 

Debi Miller (friend of Marcia Mount Shoop) 

Joan Haag (Carolyn Haag’s mother)

Jeff (Tricia Hynes’ son)

Dick Gibson (Jeff Gibson’s dad) 

Davis (son of Linda Upchurch)

Maria and Esteban Goicoechea (La Mariposa and her husband)

Winnie Martel (Prayers for Winnie and Susie Churchfield)

Bob Higgins

Florence and Steve Riedesel

Susan Smialowicz

Laura Ross

Bill Williamson

Queen Mother Maggie Belle Gladden

Elizabeth Fisher

Doris Prak

The Seddon Family

Upcoming @ GCPC

Wedding of Keith Prince and Rick Pollard

Saturday, October 23 | 1:00 PM | via livestream

Keith and Rick regret not having an open invitation to their wedding for the GCPC church family due to COVID protocols around limited seating in the sanctuary. However, they would like to invite you to join via YouTube for their wedding on October 23rd at 1 pm.

The livestream for the wedding will begin at 12:30 pm to enjoy the Celtic duo performing for 30 minutes before the service.


For more information about their wedding, go to: theknot.com/rickandkeith


GCPC Kids & Families: Pizza & Pumpkins | Sunday, October 24 | 3:30 - 5:30 PM | GCPC Lawn

Join us on the church lawn for pumpkin carving followed by pizza.  Bring your own Pumpkin(s) and we will have everything else you need. 



Masks will be required for all in-person events.

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

 While work in the garden – harvesting, planting, testing, and pest control --  continues, gardeners and distribution partners met in the garden Sunday afternoon to celebrate.

It's never too late to sign up to volunteer in the garden. Please contact Betsy Wilson at betsywilson1111@gmail.com if you are interested.

Community Working Together

The Center for Participatory Change (CPC) is hiring a Co- Executive Director to be part of our community-based, movement building organization.


CPC is a 501c3 non-profit based in Asheville, NC. CPC ‘s vision is collective liberation, la liberación del pueblo. Our mission is to ignite collective power, transform systems of oppression and heal in community.


CPC’s work is rooted in racial equity, popular education, and language justice. Our work at the core combines these strategies:

  1. Create intersectional spaces for healing;
  2. Build skills and structural analysis to lead and sustain movements for collective liberation; and
  3. Support and lead collective action.


CPC is taking the time to shift and adapt from the unprecedented time we have and are still living in. We are looking for someone who thrives in innovation, creativity, who is adaptive and open to change. The Co-Executive Director will participate in the strategic direction of CPC and our vision of collective liberation.


Click here to see the full job description

Earth Team ACTION ALERT

Please join people all over the World to contact our legislators and UN COP26 in Glosgow and ask them to make bold commitments for the EARTH.


Click here for actions you can take.

Supportive Accountability presents. . .

Calvary Presbyterian Church Celebrates 130 Years!



Calvary Presbyterian Church in Asheville celebrates its 130th anniversary the entire month of October, and they are inviting the community of Asheville to these events. They'll have a series of programs on Sundays. You can find the schedule of events here.


What is Advocacy? | Wednesday, November 3 | 6:00 - 7:30 PM | Online

This advocacy training seminar will be shaped around the Matthew 25 Initiative and answer questions like, "What is advocacy?", "What are the various forms of advocacy with examples?", and "What does advocacy mean in a church contact?"

Register here

'LGBTQIA+ leaders in PC(USA) reflect on coming out, history and the church' -

We asked several church leaders to reflect on National Coming Out Day, LGBTQIA+ History Month

~ by Rich Copley


With LGBTQIA+ History Month and National Coming Out Day Oct. 11, October has a lot of significance in the LGBTQIA+ community.


The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a place in that history, as one of the few denominations and churches that welcomes people in the LGBTQIA+ community. Along with ordaining ministers of word and sacrament, ruling elders and deacons, the denomination also recognizes same sex marriages and permits ministers of word and sacrament to perform them. But even with affirming church policy, people in the queer community still face challenges in the PC(USA), which has a long history of exclusion, and full inclusion remains elusive.


With these celebrations upon us, Presbyterian News Service asked a few church leaders who are in the LGBTQIA+ community questions on this month’s observances and the church.

Read more here

Robin DiAngelo

‘Author of ‘White Fragility’ and ‘Nice Racism’ shatters comfort zone’ -

Robin DiAngelo ‘dives deep’ at National Council of Churches gathering

~ by Darla Carter


"New York Times bestselling author Robin DiAngelo, who coined the phrase “white fragility,” gave a provocative presentation on systemic racism, white culture and white dominance during a two-day gathering of the National Council of Churches (NCC) this week.


DiAngelo, author of White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism” (Beacon Press), began her talk by acknowledging that she is a white woman with a white frame of reference, a white worldview, and white experiences — and why that’s relevant.


'Unlike I was taught to see it, it’s not just an objective, neutral or even innocent social position,' she said. 'It is deeply infused with meaning.'


Later in the presentation, which was aimed at white people, she said, 'We’ve all been taught by white people, who’ve been taught by white people, who’ve been taught by white people, who’ve been taught by white people, using curriculum written for, by, about and centering white people but presented as objective and neutral,' and anything else as biased, she said. '… I want you to feel the weight of that whiteness. It means something. It shapes us. It is ongoing work for us to uncover how it shapes us.'”

Read more here

The Rev. Carlton Johnson

"Hymns from the heart of the Black church" -

‘Delicate, heavy history’ informs the ‘pain’ heard in the swells, seen in the embodiment of those singing

~ by Paul Seebeck


"Whenever the Rev. Carlton Johnson talks about hymns from the heart of the Black church, he feels a responsibility to carry on the tradition of his ancestors. For their hymns are, as W.E.B. Du Bois observed, “the most original and beautiful expression of human life and longing born on American soil.”


Johnson learned from his late father, hymn leader Deacon David Johnson, the importance of maintaining the tradition of singing lined hymns in the Black church.

Johnson began the conversation on his article “Stretching Out: Hymn Interpretation in the Black Church,” with what he called “some delicate and heavy history.” In the late 1400s in Ghana, the Elmina Castle was originally built as a trading post and a house for missionaries. Johnson said there was a church in the castle compound that held Christian etchings, including a cross. In nearby adjacent buildings were enslaved and imprisoned African American people, where young boys and girls and older men and women were abused. Before or after the abuse, abusers would go to worship in the church.


“Such irony that both occurred in the same place,” Johnson said. “Keep in mind when we’re doing discipleship that today’s young people now know these two things were going on simultaneously in the compound.”"

Read more here

GCPC Out and About

John Philip Newell presents Spiritual Exile & Seeds of Promise | Saturday, November 20 | 1:00 PM | Online | Cost: $25

In his widely acclaimed series Spiritual Exile & Seeds of Promise, John Philip Newell explores the yearnings that have led countless numbers of people into an experience of exile from the religious traditions of their inheritance, whether in literally leaving church or in looking well beyond its bounds for vision and nourishment.


‘Listening to the Inner Child’, the fifth episode in the series, will explore our longing for interconnectedness. This is a yearning that honors the way of the child again, whose instinct from birth is for relationship. The diaspora of today is disillusioned with religion’s path of separateness, prompting as it has done the divisions that lead also to hatred and violence. A vital characteristic of today’s vast spiritual quest is the search for interrelationship in all realms of life as the way of wellbeing.

Click here for more information

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 - Wednesday. 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