We are in the final week of Lent and entering Holy Week. It’s always an incredibly busy time in any church’s life, and this year is no different. What makes this particular week so much more emotional is that we are deep in care and prayer for many in our congregation who are ill or in the midst of personal challenges, even as we also mourn the loss of a member of our family.

It is in times such as this when we lean most heavily on Jesus—and each other. GBPC is a Spirit-filled congregation, one with an intense prayer life and a profound faith that we are safe in God’s hands. GBPC members excel at holding a space for those whose faith falters in difficult times, and you especially shine as you care for and love others.

I feel called to remind you just how amazing you are as we continue to go down the interim path. GBPC’s vibrant faith and ministries and your “can-do” and “let’s try it!” attitudes are just what many pastors are searching for in a call. I am in continual prayer for the PNC as well as for that amazing person whom God has already called to be GBPC’s next pastor. You deserve nothing but the best!

Your PNC is moving along quite well with its work. The Session received an update Tuesday night at its meeting, and our new COM liaison, Rev. Dr. Wilbur Douglass, was also a guest. As the Session heard the brief report of the PNC’s work, I was reminded of a phrase I spoke at the beginning of our interim journey: We will not delay, but we will not rush. I see that same approach in our PNC. In all things, we must let God’s plan unfold. Pushing or rushing the process makes me think of that old saying, “Marry in haste, repent at leisure.” We can afford to be patient and careful. At the Session meeting, I reiterated my commitment to GBPC for the duration; insofar as I can control things, I will be with you until you call your new pastor. And what a day of rejoicing that will be!

May this Easter be especially meaningful for you.

Thank you for being a blessing, not only to God’s church, but to me and each other.

Be encouraged, build up one another, and pursue shalom!

Lou

Rev. Dr. Lou Ventura

revventura@gbpres.org

Upcoming Church Events

March 22

• Seasoned Saints' Luncheon, 12:00pm in Fellowship Hall

March 23

• Easter Egg Hunt, 10:00am in the Sanctuary

March 24

Palm Sunday

• 9:30am Traditional Service
• 11:00am Contemporary Service

March 28

Maundy Thursday

• 7:30pm Worship Service with Communion

March 28

Good Friday

• Church Office Closes at 12:00pm

March 31

Easter Sunday

• 9:30am Traditional Service
• 11:00am Contemporary Service
• No Sunday School

April 1

• Church Office is Closed

April 8

• New Security Intercom Goes Live

April 15

• Last Day for Church Officer Nominations

Nominating Church Officers

Nominations are

Due April 15th

The Congregational Nominating Committee (CNC) seeks individuals who are committed to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and are willing to serve Christ’s Church as officers (elders and deacons.) These individuals must be active members of GBPC and are elected for three year terms which begin in June. Serving as an elder or deacon requires a substantial commitment to the work of Christ through GBPC.

Nomination forms can be found in the narthex, the link provided here, or the QR code in the weekly bulletins. Nominations are due April 15th.

Please consider helping this precious young woman recovering from a terrible accident! Greta Marle grew up at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church and is a wonderful example to young adults!

New Security Feature Installed

Sadly, mass shootings are increasing in our country. Churches and other places of worship are not immune to this trend. In fact, with many churches desiring to keep their doors open to those who need access, it can be argued that churches are less secure and more in danger of potential mass shootings.

In light of this, a Security Team has been formed and is putting together emergency preparedness plans and evaluating potential security issues at GBPC.

These actions are not the result of any security breach or incident but are precautionary and preparatory. The best time to take appropriate security measures is before something happens.

A new feature to our existing security system has been installed. Remote access to the main entrance (east sanctuary entrance/large parking lot entrance) and office entrance doors were placed beside the doors (see figure above).

The intercom above will function as a doorbell, allowing video of the person at the door to

appear on a unit in the church office and enabling conversation. If entrance is desired, the office can “buzz” the visitor in.

We will “go live” with the intercom on Monday, April 8. Until then, the doors will be

unlocked according to the previous schedule and as requested via the Building Use Request Form.

The greatest change will be at the office entrance, where the doors have in the past been left

unlocked during office hours.

This installation will mean that the doors will be locked during office hours (Monday-

Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.), and those desiring entrance must ring the doorbell, communicate with an individual (usually the Office Manager) in the office or on a smartphone app (up to 8 users), and be “buzzed” in.

*The doors will remain unlocked from 8:30 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. Monday through Friday for preschool drop-off.

Key fobs will continue to work.

Doors will continue to be programmed to lock and unlock based on activities scheduled through the Building Use form and church calendar.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a new process for us all. It is possible that, as we use this new security feature, we will modify how we use it. We appreciate your patient, constructive feedback as we strive to keep our campus safe.

If you have any questions, you can contact any member of the Security Team: Mike Boron, Jeff Horton, Justin Jaynes, Becky Miles, Tara Vitek, Lou Ventura or Bob Wilks.

Worship and Music

March 24 Palm Sunday

9:30am Traditional Service

11:00am Contemporary Service

March 28 Maundy Thursday

7:30pm Worship Service with Communion

March 29 Good Friday

Church Office Closes at 12:00pm

March 31 Easter Sunday

9:30am Traditional Service

11:00am Contemporary Service

April 1 Easter Monday

Church Office is Closed

ON MAUNDY THURSDAY...  

We celebrate the sacrament of communion together, commemorating Jesus’ last supper with his disciples before his crucifixion. In addition, at GBPC we also combine this service with a Tenebrae service, or Service of Darkness. As we hear each of the final words of Jesus upon the cross, the sanctuary is stripped of communion and liturgical symbols and becomes gradually darker until we are in total darkness. “...and when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.” (Mark 15:33) Worshipers leave the sanctuary in silence pondering the impact of Christ’s death as we wait for the celebration of the coming Resurrection.

Join us for this moving service on Thursday, March 28 at 7:30pm.

Coming in April...

A reprise of the

Shalom Sermon Series

April 7 – Seeking the Welfare

April 14 – The Song of Shalom

April 21 – The Covenant of Peace

April 28 – Peace Be with You

REHEARSAL SCHEDULES:

KIDS SING

• March 24 - No Rehearsal, Kids are Singing for Both Services
• March 31 and April 7 - No rehearsal
• April 14 - Rehearsals Resume

Harmonious Flutes

• April 2 and April 9 - NO rehearsal
• April 16 - Rehearsals Resume

Alleluia Ringers

• April 2 and April 9 - NO rehearsal
• April 16 - Rehearsals resume

Chancel Choir

• Regular Rehearsal Schedule

Contemporary Worship Rehearsal

• March 27 - Combined with Chancel choir
• March 28 - NO rehearsal March 28

Children's Ministry

ADULT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

The Children's Ministry Team is always looking for new teachers*. Use the link below to join the team.

*All volunteers that work with children and youth are subject to a background check.

If your student has not yet completed confirmation and you are interested in having them do so, or if you just want to learn more about confirmation, join us for an informational meeting at noon on Sunday, March 24th in the Youth Room.

Building and Grounds

Thank You!

Buildings and Grounds would like to thank the 2024 Chesapeake Master Gardeners Intern class for installing the new cross and flower bed on the northeast side of the building adjacent to the office entrance. The group used the fellowship hall for their 50 hours of classroom training, which is required to become a Master Gardener. The organization donated the materials and labor to show their appreciation for being allowed to use the space. GBPC had three members in the intern class.

Spring Cleaning

If you or the ministry you represent have items stored in either the 290 storage room or the fellowship hall closet, please email Justin Jaynes, jjaynes@gbpres.org, and inform him of the items you would like to keep.

The plan is to begin purging and reorganizing starting the week of April 8th.

After Meetings, Please:

• Return the rooms to how they were found (including chairs, tables, etc.);
• Bag and remove any garbage (the dumpster is located next to the playground);
• Turn off all of the lights when you leave 

Working as a team will help keep GBPC clean, tidy and efficient!

Opportunities For All

Flowering of the Easter Cross

The flowering of the cross has been traced back to the 6th century. It is an especially striking and beautiful way to symbolize the new life that emerges from Jesus’s death on Good Friday. Traditionally on Easter Sunday, the cross is covered with fresh flowers and greenery. The top is draped in white, symbolizing the new life in our risen Lord. The contrast between the starkly bare cross that worshippers have seen for 40 days and the living flower cross of Easter Sunday dramatically and visually represents the new life that we are celebrating with Christ’s resurrection.

As you come to worship on Easter Sunday, pause by the cross and add your fresh flowers or greenery from your garden.

Nicaragua Mission Trip

GBPC is planning a Mission Trip to Nicaragua, August 3-10, 2024.

We have visited the same youth camp (Vida Joven) since 2004 and have made many Nicaraguan friends over the years.

Last summer we sent a small team to Nicaragua (our first since COVID) and it could not have gone better. We are looking to take a team of 15-20 this year, possibly joining with other churches in the area.

If you are interested in going or finding out more about the trip, please contact Jeff Horton at jrhorton@ditchwitchva.com.

We plan to have an informational meeting soon.

Seeking Office Volunteers

We are currently seeking a pool of volunteers to assist with office tasks and coverage. Tasks would include greeting visitors, answering phones and light clerical work.

If interested, please use the link to sign up.

Congregational Care

DEACON MINISTRY Deacons are responsible for providing pastoral care and support to the members of the church. This may involve visiting the sick, elderly, or homebound members, offering prayers, providing comfort, and meeting practical needs within the congregation. All members and non-members of the congregation, not in small group, should have a deacon assigned. If you don't have a deacon, have not been contacted by a deacon, and are not in a small group, please reach out to Wayne Stover, at waynerstover@gmail.com and he will assign you a deacon.

In Need of Prayer? 

Please use the link below and let us know how we may lift you in prayer.

Stewardship & Finance

Thank you for your generous support and commitment to GBPC.

In Case You Missed It

Last Week's Service

March 17, 2024

Ongoing Signups

Sanctuary Servants

Volunteers are needed to prepare the sanctuary for Sunday morning worship services on Friday mornings. Please use the link below to sign up.

Chancel Flower Donations

Would you care to donate flowers in memory or in honor of a loved one? Pick up an envelope on the information ledge in the Narthex. Please leave the envelope with the included form and check for $75, payable to GBPC, in the Office Manager's mailbox. You may also place your order online using the link below. Please be sure to include the date you would like the flowers to be dedicated. Deadline is the Tuesday prior to the display date.