GCPC Weekly News | September 2, 2021
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Worship Preview | Sunday, September 5, 2021 | | |
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Sermon:
“Can Faith Save You?”
by Richard Coble
Scripture:
James 2:1-17
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*For the full revised common lectionary, please click here. | |
| Tuesday, September 7 | CHURCH OFFICE OPEN! | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm | | Tuesday, September 7 | Veterans Restoration Quarters (VRQ)
BBQ Cook Team | 4:30 or 5:45 pm
@ The VRQ | | Tuesday, September 7 | Guatemala Comm. Mtg. | 5:30 pm on Zoom | | Tuesday, September 7 | Worship Council Mtg. | 5:30 pm on Zoom | | Thursday, September 9 | Men of GCPC Gathering | 8:30 am on Zoom | | Thursday, September 9 | PART (Power & Race Team) Mtg. | 6:00 pm on Zoom | | |
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for the GCPC VRQ Cook Team!
(see below for details)
VRQ—BBQ Cook Team | Tuesday, September 7 | 4:30 or 5:45 PM
On the First Tuesday of each month, a team of folks gather at the Veterans Restoration Quarters, (1329 Tunnel Road) to grill hamburgers and prepare supper for more than 200 US Armed Forces Veterans living in transitional housing at the VRQ— an ABCCM Ministry. Team volunteers begin to gather at 4:30 to prepare the meal and fire up the grills; to help serve the meal come at 5:45. The evening meal is served at 6 and the team joins with the veterans at their table for supper. Commitments can be for one Tuesday or more.
Contact Bill Neeriemer if interested in joining the team.
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PART (Power & Race Team) Meeting | Thursday, September 9 | 6:00 PM
After a couple of months of Summer rest, it's time for the Power and Race Team to resume our intentional work together. All of us need to do our PART (get it?! do our PART!) to disrupt and dismantle white supremacy culture within ourselves and in our community. Anyone can come to PART meetings, anytime. Each meeting is a unique opportunity. The more meetings you come to, the deeper we can go together in the work.
This month we will be exploring where GCPC is in our work together around white supremacy culture. What are all the different ways this work is embodied in the life of the church? How has COVID amplified the work?
Due to the current COVID levels in Buncombe County, this meeting will be on Zoom only.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91314445389
Meeting ID: 913 1444 5389 | Passcode: 789
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Prez Beez 2021 Fall Schedule
All games @ MLK Park
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9/14 - 7:30 - (Away Team)
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9/21 - 7:30 - (Home Team)
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9/28 - 6:30 - (Away Team)
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10/5 - 7:30 - (Home Team)
** plus 2 make up games which are TBD.
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WE WANT TO SEE YOU
in our CHURCH DIRECTORY!
Send your photo to pics@gcpcusa.org and
we'll take care of the rest!
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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 (8/29-9/4): Jerry Bleckley | email: jerryb@nexuscorp.com
Next week (9/5-9/11): Bill Ryan | email: bill73ryan@gmail.com
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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
Ryan Lockett (nephew of Denise Lockett)
Jennifer Martin (Yvonne Smith's daughter)
Sheldon Smith (Beth Robrechtʼs brother-in-law)
Marie and Jose Palacios and family (Marie is the presbytery coordinator of Guatemala partnerships)
Harold Shook (Melissa Shook's father)
Bill Ross (Jonathan Ross' dad)
David Good (Amber Cook’s dad)
Kyle Holtz (Tim Hamel's cousin)
Deanna Fleenor (Mike Fleenor's sister)
Rebecca Lorenz (Phil Brown’s daughter)
Glen and Tom Kilbourne (Janet Martin’s parents)
Clara and Bob Crouch (Allen Johnson’s sister and brother-in-law)
Susan Anway (Cathy Walgenbach’s sister)
Vince O'Connor (Robin and Gordon Gaiser’s nephew)
Winnie Martel (Susie Churchfield's friend)
Alexa and Stephanos Iras Catsambis (Janice Kominski’s sister and new nephew)
For all those with chronic pain
Bob Higgins
Florence and Steve Riedesel
Susan Smialowicz
Laura Ross
Bill Williamson
Queen Mother Maggie Belle Gladden
John Mount Shoop
Elizabeth Fisher
Doris Prak
Carolyn Tingle
Irene Richards
Shelia Chapman
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Presbyterianism 101 - | Sundays | Sept. 12, 19 & 26 | 9:00 - 10:00 AM | Zoom
Who are Presbyterians? What do we believe? How are we different from other denominations? Come with your questions as we delve into our rich, complex, and sometimes contentious tradition. Email Richard at rcoble@gcpcusa.org with questions.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86069120237
Meeting ID: 860 6912 0237 | Passcode: 789
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GCPC 20s/30s Gathering: "Tubing Down the River" | Sunday, September 12 | 2:00 - 5:00 PM | Zen Tubing - Midtown (608 Riverside Dr., AVL)
If you are in your twenties, thirties, or beyond, let's start the new school/program year off with a ride down French Broad River! Please arrive on time and feel free to bring your own tube or borrow one from Zen Tubing. GCPC will cover the cost of all tubes and river transportation. If possible, bring some snacks or drinks to share. Don't forget your bathing suit and water shoes (if you have). Friends are welcome!
Questions? Contact Richard Coble (rcoble@gcpcusa.org) or Alex Holifield (alexandralhollifield@gmail.com)
PLEASE RSVP HERE!
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Faith 4 Justice AVL presents ... The Violence and Virtue of White Women's Tears | Thursday, September 30 | 6:30 - 8:00 PM | GCPC's Youtube Channel
Join Faith 4 Justice Asheville and a multi-racial panel of women discussing the Violence and Virtue of White Women’s Tears as they wrestle with…
- How, when and where white women’s tears have resulted in violence against black and brown bodies throughout history
- How are white women’s tears weaponized in multi-racial spaces, and used to control and center white comfort?
- What is our response to white women’s tears and how is that response to Black and Latinx women’s tears different?
- How can white women accept responsibility so their tears don’t manipulate, violate and do harm?
- Where and when should white woman cry and grieve so that they can genuinely and fully heal?
- How do all women strengthen relationships across color-lines as we address these painful and controversial issues?
| | As always, donations are welcome to help Faith 4 Justice AVL continue this important work. Click here to donate. | |
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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.
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Setting up Zoom Meetings:
If you are a part of a group, Team, or Circle at GCPC and you want to have a Zoom meeting, let staff know. We will help you get set up on our GCPC Zoom account for group gatherings and meetings. You can schedule your meeting on the calendar with Anna Louise, and any staff member can help you get set up for your meeting if you have questions.
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Sixteen people worked in the garden on Saturday to harvest 94 pounds of produce, which was delivered to the WNC Rescue Mission. Included in the bounty was eggplant, yellow squash, okra, green and purple beans, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, snacking peppers, and sauce tomatoes. Additional tasks such as weeding and fertilizing with fish emulsion (yum!) was also done.
Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who are making a difference in this community.
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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 | |
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We know that Mental and Spiritual health is a great concern as we move into another season of the COVID-19 pandemic.
All Souls Counseling Center is a great resource near our congregation serving those who are uninsured or underinsured with single and couple's counseling.
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Blue Ridge Pride Festival and the Welcoming WNC Procession have been canceled this year due to COVID concerns.
Here is a link to the press release offering full details.
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Good Trouble: A Critical Race Theory Colloquy | September 14, 21 & 28 | 7:00 - 8:30 PM | via Zoom
This colloquy offers a guide for those who wish to understand and support the underlying tenets of Critical Race Theory in this time when it is under attack in many state and local legislatures and school districts across the country.
This event is hosted by Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary in Atlanta.
Each session will include brief biblical reflections to provide a theological framework for the class, as well as presentations by content providers and an opportunity to discuss this challenging topic with others in the course.
This colloquy is about shaping behavior: Learning Partners (JFSTS for “students”) will be given tools to help them discuss CRT with others in their community with whom they disagree and help them to craft a thoughtful defense of CRT in public spaces.
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Hands and Feet of Asheville
The Asheville YAV site - Hands and Feet of Asheville - is thrilled to welcome three volunteers for the ‘21-‘22 year. Selena Hilemon - our Executive Director & YAV Site Coordinator - works with the board (including GCPC members-Andrea Rosal, Dean Presson, & Kathy Meacham), Homeward Bound’s Jerry Kivett, as well as GCPC friends The Rev. Pat Bacon, The Rev. Dr. Earl Leininger, The Rev. Katherine Johnson (Blankenship), The Rev. Lisle Gwynn Garrity, the Rev. Tyrone Greenlee.
This year the volunteers are staying at and collaborating with the William Black Lodge in Montreat. We look forward to seeing how this new partnership unfolds. We welcome your prayers, your support with meals or visits with the young adults coming to Asheville, and any financial gifts you feel called to provide. Contact Kathy Meacham (KRMeacham@gmail.com) or Selena Hilemon (handsandfeetavl@gmail.com).
INTRODUCING THE 2021-2022 YAVS
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'How children see God'
Study tackles the white image of the Divine
~ by Ryan SK Timpte
“In January 2020, Stanford University’s Social Concepts Lab published a study titled “God as a White Man: A Psychological Barrier to Conceptualizing Black People and Women as Leadership Worthy.” The principal researcher, Dr. Steven O. Roberts, describes the study as asking both how people see God and the social consequences of that image.
The study concludes: “The extent to which congregations conceptualize God as a white man might predict whom they perceive as worthy (and unworthy) of leadership.” In other words, believing in a white God means you tend to believe that white people are more suitable for positions of power. The majority of the children in the study indicated that they believed God to be white and male.
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'Widening pathways to citizenship'
‘Welcoming the Stranger’ webinar links Citizenship For All movement to faithful advocacy
~ by Fred Tangeman
"As part of the PC(USA)’s 'Welcoming the Stranger' webinar series, three leaders of the Citizenship For All movement joined moderator Amanda Craft during an hour-long webinar on Aug. 19.
The presenters were Jung Woo Kim, organizing director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC); Iolando Spinola of Brockton Interfaith Community, a local affiliate of Faith in Action in Brockton, Massachusetts; and Joseph Fleming, senior advisor of Faith in Action.
The next virtual session, “Freedom for Families,” will focus on asylum for families and family detention. It is scheduled for Sept. 22 at noon Eastern Time.”
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Sustainable Stewardship
Stewardship is not just a once a year pledge drive or hopeful number in the budget, it's a daily practice of maintaining a stable financial foundation to fund our ministry and mission. Every penny you give helps support a more sustainable future here at GCPC. Just to name a few, that includes: work in our community; grants for our Covenant Partners; programming for Children, Youth, and Adults; property repair, maintenance, and upgrades; staffing the businesses and ministry functions.... and much much more! Thank you for your thoughtful support and sustainable stewardship.
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WAYS TO GIVE:
MAIL gifts to the office at 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804(the office remains closed but we are checking the mail)
BANK BILL PAY mails checks remotely, one-time or on a recurring schedule – contact your bank to set this up
ONLINE at https://onrealm.org/gcpcusa/give/now
or through your Realm Connect smartphone app
TEXT "giveGCPC" to 73256 on your mobile device, then follow the prompts
Interested in setting up online recurring giving? Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to self-manage eGiving through Realm or return this signed authorization form to have our Finance Office set up on your behalf.
If you have any questions, please contact Natalie in our Finance office at nweaver@gcpcusa.org or by leaving a message for Natalie Weaver at 828-254-3274.
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HOW TO CONTACT STAFF:
Our staff are all still working remotely as the office remains closed due to the pandemic. To leave a voicemail for a staff member to return your call, follow these steps:
- The Church Office is open on Tuesdays, 10am - 4pm.
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Call the office at 828-254-3274.
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Listen through the office closure notice, which will then take you to a staff directory.
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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).
- You'll be directed to the staff member's individual voicemail, where you can leave a message to be returned as soon as possible.
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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
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