Click "View entire message"

at bottom of email to see the FULL newsletter 

Little Luke at the WAMC Conference Track Championship!

Little Luke in the garden!

Power and Race Team (PART) Meeting | TONIGHT | 6:00 PM | Outdoors @ GCPC

All are welcome to join us as we continue disrupting and dismantling white supremacy in our culture and communities. This time we will see each other in person outside at GCPC! Please bring your own dinner and a chair or blanket.

You can also join this meeting via Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/91314445389

Meeting ID: 913 1444 5389 |Passcode: 789

Evening Vespers | TONIGHT | 7:30 - 8:00 PM | Outside @ GCPC

Evening vespers will be outside. In the event of rain, we will use the narthex with all the doors open and canopy in the courtyard. 

You can also join this service via Zoom.

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/98906064373

Meeting ID: 989 0606 4373 | Passcode: 789

Senior High Youth Gathering | TONIGHT | 8:00-9:30 PM on the GCPC Lawn (after Vespers)

Meet your fellow senior high youth (completed 9th-12th grades) for an in-person evening of fellowship and games on the GCPC lawn. Bring a mask and water bottle, and please invite your friends!

GCPC Compassion Camp | Saturday, June 12

On the second Saturday of each month we will meet on the church lawn for a Bible story, community building, music, movement, creating, playing and a sending. The theme for these times is Lovingkindness.

These sessions are designed for families to participate together (no drop-off).

• Families with Children 0-5 years old will meet from 9-10:30 am.
• Families with Children current 1st-5th graders will meet from 11-12:30pm.

If you have families that span the age groups, please attend the one most convenient for you. Please wear comfortable clothes, a water bottle and a blanket to sit on. As always, this is open to the community, please invite friends to join us!

Let us know who will be joining us by filling out this form.

We still need some volunteer help before, during and after each camp day. Please

contact Amy Kim at amykim@gcpcusa.org. 

The Racial Justice Book Series | Sunday, June 13 | 9:00 AM | via Zoom

Thanks to everyone who came out for the Racial Justice Book Series discussion of Isabel Wilkerson's Caste: The Origins of our Discontents on Sunday, May 30. We had to end the discussion quickly and there was still much to be said and learned from this book, so we look forward to a follow up discussion on zoom Sunday, June 13 at 9am. Please come as we continue to dive deeper into this important work! 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/97239066867

Meeting ID: 972 3906 6867 |Passcode: 789

“Holy Imagination: Envisioning GCPC Worship After the Pandemic” 

Sunday, June 13 | 7:00 PM | via Zoom

God is calling Grace Covenant to keep stretching our Holy Imagination--one of our community’s greatest assets--and an asset that has strengthened our faith community during COVID. The GCPC Session and Staff invite you to come and hear about an exciting vision for what worship at GCPC can be as we embrace our sanctuary without walls. There will be space for you to learn more, reflect, and share your wisdom, hopes, and dreams as well. Join us at 7pm on Zoom and come ready to connect, reflect, and imagine together! 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/91065271514

Meeting ID: 910 6527 1514 | Passcode: 789

from the Creating Sanctuary Team (CST)...

An Urgent Request to Meet Critical Needs of Latinas Seeking Safety in the US.

Stewart Detention Center now detains hundreds of women who were apprehended at the southern border. SDC is processing out 5 - 10 women each night, dropping them off at the bus station in Columbus, GA, where the El Refugio staff and volunteers, in partnership with Paz Amigos and Casa Alterna, work to get everyone to their next place in their journey. 

The women desperately need fresh clothes and toiletries. And because they tend to be dehydrated, El Refugio needs powdered drink mix that contains electrolytes. 

El Refugio’s Target registry - https://bit.ly/3fFmNPO - specifies items that El Refugio is seeking.

Of course, checks are always welcome. Donors wishing to support this effort should make checks payable to El Refugio. Indicate "Women's Initiative" in the memo line. 

Address: El Refugio, P.O. Box 3996, Decatur, GA 30031 

If you have questions about this outreach opportunity, please be in touch with Tish Anderson at 19ppanc40@gmail.com. And, of course, you can learn more about El Refugio at its website: elrefugiostewart.org. 

• GCPC Devotionals



• Email prayer@gcpcusa.org 

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 (6/6-6/12): Karen Rohls email: kzprobie2720@gmail.com

Next week (6/13-6/19): Mike McCauley email: mikemccauley28@gmail.com

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)

Bertilda Arteta (Marta Alcala-Williams' mother)

Sheldon Smith (Beth Robrechtʼs brother-in-law)

Alyse Pryzant Pribish (Ashley Cooper's mom)

John Maddrell (Martha Seddonʼs step-father)

William Johnson (Marty Johnsonʼs dad)

Denise Currie-Lowe (Karen Rohlʼs sister)

Barb Patterson (Friend of Mount Shoops)

Bob Crouch (Allen and Frances Johnsonʼs brother-in-law)

Marie and Jose Palacios and family (Marie is the presbytery coordinator of Guatemala partnerships)

Sarah (Phil Brown’s daughter)

Libby Shook (Melissa Shook's mother)

Bob Higgins

Florence and Steve Riedesel

Roslyn Carney

Susan Smialowicz

Laura Ross

Bill Williamson

Queen Mother Maggie Belle Gladden

John Mount Shoop

Elizabeth Fisher

Doris Prak

Dan Blake

Betsy Rhodes

Martha Branden

Kimo Hyatt

Angie Everett

Peggy Rada

Chuck Reiley

William Madamba

A Service of Interment for Ida Edge will take place on Thursday, July 17 at 1:00pm in the Memorial Garden at GCPC.

Outdoor Worship Service | Sunday, June 20 | 10:45 AM | GCPC Lawn (also livestreamed on Youtube)

We will have a few outdoor canopies set up outside for shade. For outdoor services please bring: 

• A chair 
• A mask 
• A bottle of water

If you do come into the building for any reason, please wear a mask. 

Our outdoor worship service will also be live streamed and available online. In the event of rain, the service will be online only that day. 

Bible Study | Wednesday, June 23 | 10:00 AM | Outside @ GCPC

The program year is over, but in an effort to continue our deep study of scripture and to see one another in fellowship, the lectionary Bible study will have two in-person, outdoor meetings over the summer on June 23 and July 14. Bring your Bibles and an open heart as we discern together what God is saying to use through the week’s lesson! All are welcome! 

Middle School Youth Gathering | Wed., June 23 | 6:00-7:30 PM | GCPC Lawn

Hang out with fellow middle school youth (completed 6th-8th grades) for an in-person evening on the GCPC lawn. We'll order some pizzas for dinner and then enjoy games and fellowship. Bring a mask and water bottle, and please invite your friends!

Men of GCPC Gathering | Thursday, June 24 | 8:30 AM | @ GCPC

The men will gather in person and outdoors on June 24. Bring your own breakfast and coffee and we will gather for conversation and fellowship around important topics of the day. If you are not on the email distribution list, please contact Richard for more information. 

The Racial Justice Book Series |​ June 29 & July 25

The Racial Justice Book Series will return this summer with three books by Black female authors about the systems, consequences, and remedies of the deep entrenchment of white supremacy culture in our country and church.

We will hold our June and July book series meetings in person and outdoors! Both meetings will go 6:30-8:00pm. Bring your own dinner and be ready to discuss these important texts from a faith perspective.

• Tuesday, June 29 | Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America by Ijeoma Olua
• Sunday, July 25 | White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America by Anthea Butler 

Presbyterian Womenʼs Circles are Zoom meetings. ​​Please join us.

Circle 1: First Tuesday of each month, 10:00 a.m.

• Carol Kavalhuna - 658-1088, carolkavalhuna@gmail.com
• Cathy Froehlich - 775-1016, oremont2@gmail.com

Circle 2: First Tuesday of each month, 7:30 p.m.

• Barbara McLean - 254-1034, Barbaram_2@charter.net
• Heather Hudson - 501-442-6223, hehudson@charter.net

Circle 3: Third Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m.

• Grace Hall - (828) 215-3922, gracehall2@gmail.com
• Margaret Tierney - (828) 506-2742, margarettierney6@gmail.com

Circle 4: First Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m.

• Frances Johnson – 628-4742, facjohnson@gmail.com
• Connie Jones – 231-2680, Conjones@charter.net

Circle 5: First Monday of each month, 11:00 a.m.

• Lynne Noble – 803-206-3821, lynnesnoble@gmail.com 

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. 

This week gardeners harvested broccoli, collards, kale, chard, and lettuce for use by Western Carolina Rescue Mission and Southside Café. 

Harvest!

One lone garlic bulb harvested to check the crops readiness.

City of Asheville to launch Information and Truth-Telling Speaker Series

Please join us for the first phase of the City of Ashevilleʼs process to deliver community reparations for Black Asheville, the Information and Truth Telling Speaker Series. The series will include opportunities for community members and local and national speakers to share information about past policies, present trends and disparities, and future initiatives. See more details on the City's Engagement HUB on dates and how to participate. 

Information Sharing and Truth Telling Speaker Series

June 10 and 17, 2021 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm

Thomas Wolfe Auditorium | Harrahʼs Cherokee Center Asheville

87 Haywood Street , Asheville, NC 28801

Series moderated by: Dr. Darin Waters, Ph.D.

Honors Director, Direct of for Community Engagement, and Professor of History

• PRESENT: TONIGHT! June 10, 2021 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm |Featuring: Rinku Sen, Executive Director of the Narrative Initiative; Dr. Dwight Mullen, Professor Emeriti, UNCA, Jorge Redmond, Assistant District Attorney, Buncombe County; Dr. Marcus Harvey, Associate Professor or Religious Studies, UNCA
• FUTURE: June 17, 2021 | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |Featuring: Tracey Greene- Washington, President, Indigo Innovation Group; Lakesha McDay, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant; Robert Thomas, Racial Justice Coalition Community Liaison

To register for events, please click here. 

RJC and Urban3 present "Racial and Class Bias in Property Assessment" | Wednesday, June 16 | 5:00 PM | via Zoom

The City of Asheville and Buncombe County, NC (home to Asheville) both adopted resolutions of Reparations in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Several months later in January of 2021, the County released its property reassessment.

Urban3 analyzed the County’s approach to reassessment to see if there was any form of racial bias or inequity within assessment methodology. The essence of the query was '”is the property tax system inadvertently causing financial harm in communities of color and for those of lower wealth?” The answer is "yes." Before any community moves toward Reparations, they should first consider the economic harm in how the government exacts income from property owners and residents.

Joe Minicozzi and Ori Baber will present their findings and the evidence of inequity. They will also outline a path to balance out the economic injustice in the tax system.

Anyone is welcome to attend. You can sign up here.

GRINDfest | June 18 - 20 | 346 Depot St.

This year, GRINDfest celebrates that Black Wall Street Still Lives. Let's come together and make this a year to remember.

During the weekend of Juneteenth, we will have GRINDfest - a celebration of black business and entrepreneurship. After slavery was abolished the people held as slaves began to use their skills and talents to do business in an economy that previously thought of them as property. Nonetheless, they made progress and became business owners.

GRINDfest will bring people together to celebrate Black Business and Black Entrepreneurs. It will highlight the progress made by people of color while also connecting people across cultures. Economies do not exist in a bubble. They include everyone.

During this weekend, we will have vendors, food, and events that facilitate the connection of what it means to be human. Click here for more info or to register.

2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration | Saturday, June 19 | 12 - 8 PM | MLK Park (50 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., AVL 28801)

Buncombe Community Remembrance Project

June, 2021 Issue

Click here to read their latest news.

NPR | The Picture Show

"The 400 Years Project Looks At Native American Identity

Through The Native Lens"

photo by Dawnee LeBeau

A Summer Virtual Sunday School on the Climate Crisis | Sundays | July 11, 18, 25 and August 1 | 4:00 - 5:15 PM | via Zoom

This program is taught by the southern Indiana group Presbyterian Climate Advocates, made up of the Rev. Dr. Trisha Tull and Carol Dunn of Scottsburg (Indiana) Presbyterian Church, Beth Snyder of Jeffersonville (Indiana) First Prez, and Kristina Lindborg, an Indiana Citizensʼ Climate Lobby volunteer.

To register and receive your Zoom invitation, please go to our website: https://www.presbyclimateadvocates.org/upcoming-classes/ 

June 2021 Virtual Enneagram Series  

The Enneagram & Discernment: All Nine Types

Facilitated by the Rev. Carol Hovis

Wednesdays, 10am-12noon, Wednesdays, 7-9pm & Thursdays, 4-6pm

Each week is stand alone material; you can come once or every week. You can also mix & match which days you participate. 

Details on flyer below.

Scholarships always available  

Contact Carol for more information:  cmhovis@gmail.com

Story Medicine Worldwide class offerings

When you shop for Father's Day gifts

at smile.amazon.com/ch/56-0588479,

AmazonSmile will donate a portion of your eligible purchases to

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church at no cost to you!

Summertime Stewardship​

Are you looking forward to time outside and away

from screens, but concerned about staying on top of your pledged giving? Don't worry, there are ways to give easily remotely, even automatically!

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. 

IRA Charitable Rollover

Did you know that if you're 70 1⁄2 or older, you can make a tax-free contribution from your IRA? The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act (PATH) allows you to make a charitable gift directly from your IRA without counting the donation as income. You can use your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to pay your

church pledge or donate to a charity... all without having to pay income tax on

those dollars!

IMPORTANT: The donation must come directly from the IRA to the charity to avoid being considered taxable income. Contact your investment fund manager to request a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) made payable to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, mailed to the office at 789 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804. Be sure to remind them to list your name as the donor in the memo line so we can apply it to any pledges you may have. 

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:

1. Beginning in June, the office will be open on Tuesday, 10am - 4pm.
2. Call the office at 828-254-3274.
3. Listen through the office closure notice, which will then take you to a staff directory.
4. 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).
5. You'll be directed to the staff member's individual voicemail, where you can leave a message to be returned as soon as possible.
6. 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. 

• 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