Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina www.gcpcusa.org May 31, 2015 – 10:30 am Sacrament of Baptism “I can, with one eye squinted, take it all as a blessing.” Flannery O’Connor Prelude Voluntary George Berg [Bridget Ramsey, Clarinet] * Call to Worship Who is this God we have come to worship? God is the Creator of wind and water and wilderness, the Pacifier of storms and fears. Who is this Jesus we seek to follow? Jesus is the Peace which fills our souls, the Constant Companion of our hearts. Who is this Spirit who dwells within us? The Spirit is that which fills us with grace, so our hopes will not perish. * Hymn 275 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God EIN’ FESTE BURG * Call to Reconciliation
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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina
www.gcpcusa.org
May 31, 2015 – 10:30 am Sacrament of Baptism
“I can, with one eye squinted, take it all as a blessing.”
-‐ Flannery O’Connor Prelude Voluntary George Berg [Bridget Ramsey, Clarinet] * Call to Worship
Who is this God we have come to worship? God is the Creator of wind and water and wilderness, the Pacifier of storms and fears. Who is this Jesus we seek to follow? Jesus is the Peace which fills our souls, the Constant Companion of our hearts. Who is this Spirit who dwells within us? The Spirit is that which fills us with grace, so our hopes will not perish.
* Hymn 275 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God EIN’ FESTE BURG * Call to Reconciliation
* Prayer of Confession We know what it is like to be singed by the flames of our lives, Holy God. We look for ourselves in all the wrong places -‐ success, power, adulation. We carve our names in the granite walls of work, hoping we will be remembered when we are gone. We have gone through the waters of baptism, but live as if they have not changed us. We need to hear your sure word, 'do not fear,' Shaper of our lives. Heal us, help us go deeper into the life you have created for us. Help us to trust you with our whole lives. Amen.
* Assurance of Forgiveness
This is the good news of the gospel, and it is for us and for all. Whatever we have done, whatever we have failed to do, whoever we are, whoever we wish we were but are not:
We are accepted, we are welcomed. We are washed clean, we are raised up. we are forgiven, we are set free. In the grace of Jesus Christ, we are loved forever.
* Response
* Passing of the Peace The Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
Faith Sharing with Children Prayer for Illumination Gospel Matthew 6:25-‐34 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God!
Music With a Voice of Singing Kenneth Jennings Old Testament Exodus 16:1-‐12 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God!
Sermon “Into the Wild” Mark Ramsey Silent Meditation
* Hymn 687 Our God, Our Help in Ages Past (Psalm 90) ST ANNE Sacrament of Baptism for Hugo Maddox Kealey Rainey Son of Eric Edward Rainey & Angela Lauren Kealey Rainey * Affirmation of Faith (adapted from a Creed by the Masai)
We believe in One High God, who out of love created the beautiful world. We believe that God made good his promise by sending his Son, Jesus Christ, a man in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left his home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and human beings, and showing that the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his own people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He was buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day he rose from the grave. Amen.
Our Life Together (Please sign the Friendship Pad located in your pew) Graduate Recognition – Caroline Hopkins Offering (Please place prayer cards in the offering plate for the Prayers of the People) Prayer of Dedication Offertory Be Thou My Vision Daniel S. Pinkston
* Doxology
Prayers of the People
Each section of the prayer will conclude: “God, in your grace” Please respond: “Hear our prayer”
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
And the glory, forever. Amen * Hymn 339 Lift Every Voice and Sing LIFT EVERY VOICE * Charge and Benediction Postlude La Rose Jaune Daniel Gawthrop
(Today's postlude marks the end of worship and offers us a joyful transition to the reception that follows. Please join us as we celebrate and honor the work of Mark Ramsey as he prepares to depart for
his new call to ministry in Austin, Texas)
* Please Stand in Body or Spirit.
We gather to worship God who is larger than all our imagination! We encourage all persons to sing the gender nouns and pronouns
Thank you to Hettie Lou Garland for the flowers that decorate our sanctuary, given with love and in memory of her husband and brother, Ernie Melin and Dr. Frederick Neal Garland.
Reception to Honor Mark Ramsey | TODAY | After Worship | Downstairs Please join us today immediately following the 10:30am worship service for a reception to thank Mark Ramsey for his joyful and meaningful work with GCPC.
Welcome Gihani Isaacs, Our New Communications Coordinator! She began her work with us last week alongside Leah Webb who is orienting her to the job. Leah, who has been with us for over seven years, is having to transition out of the church staff in the coming month. Please stop by and greet her!
Congregational Meeting | June 7 | 10:00 AM | Sanctuary The Session calls a meeting of the congregation for Sunday June 7, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary for the purposes of:
#1 -‐ Hearing and acting on the recommendation of the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee that the congregation vote to call a new associate pastor as of July 1, 2015. #2 -‐ Hearing and acting on the recommendation of Session, in their role as designated by the congregation, that the congregation vote to call a part time Designated Associate Pastor for the length of the transition.
GCBC (Building Committee) Update | May 28, 2015 After a hiatus during the capital campaign, the Building Committee has regrouped with an augmented team (see members below) to continue the process of up fitting the facilities with the agreed upon Phase 1 strategic solutions.
We have re-‐engaged with the architects to prioritize the construction elements, plan the approach, and solicit a contractor to manage the progression. Our next step is to consider the options from the architects, consult with interested church members to give input to the committee on details (kitchen, bathroom design elements, etc), and add details to the project plan to make final recommendations to Session. We do not have a firm start date for construction to begin but you should see the first signs of change this summer.
Thank you for your support of this important time in the life of Grace Covenant to ensure our facilities continue to support the heart of our mission.
Mark Clevenger-‐ Building Committee Session Liason John Legerton, Brian Cook, Anna Jarvis, Janet Hovis, Jordan Stokes, Paul Tescione, Nat Burkhardt, Chris Hartbarger, John Curry, Serge Kavalhuna, Joe Brumit, Kristy Farber
Serve Room In the Inn | June 7 – 14 | Needs are Crucial! We desperately need overnight volunteers and some breakfasts provided. Please sign up in the narthex or use this link to sign-‐up online. FYI http://vols.pt/6FPSFb Joining Hands | Guatemala Mission Trip Letters, cards, and first aid supplies are being collected through June 21. Franny’s Farm Fest | June 6 This year, some proceeds from Franny's Farm Fest will be benefiting two great causes: Food Connection and Wild South. Refer to the Weekly News for more information.
Care Prayer List [We are happy to pray for anyone who is in need. Concerns will stay on this list for a month unless we hear otherwise. Please keep us updated.]
Jerusalem Church elders | deacons | congregation; Frank Wilson (Martha Kisiah's nephew); Linda Albin (Les & Susan Stradley's friend); Matt Lyles (Fred & Heather Hudson's friend); JoDell Hawthorne (Donna Robertson's cousin); Frances Buchanan (Brian Buchanan's mother); Michael Siburt (Anna Jarvis' son-‐in-‐law); Dorothy LaRue Sloane (Donna Robertson's cousin); Natalie DeVito (Karen Rohls' daughter); Bubby Crawford (Starla Schnurbusch's sister-‐in-‐law's father); Natalie Taggert ( Kay Cole's friend); Terry Churchfield (Susie Churchfield's brother); Heath & Peggy Rada (Moderator of the PCUSA General Assembly); Barrett & Ali Payne (Commissioned to Columbia Seminary); Richard Simons (Gerry Simons' son); Pam Morrell (Penny Ponder's daughter); Tricia & Steve Minnick (Mary Lou Nash's friends); Kimo Hyatt (Keaton Hill's father); Al Williams; Sandy Jividen; Janet Bondurant; Jack & Betty Smith; Lorraine Formato; Dana Victor Little; Mimi Aldridge; Bettie Pritchard; Sarah Harwell; Mary Ellen Horne; Susan Stradley; Donna Robertson; Charlie Clogston; Carly Stein; Debbie Lee; Alva Bennett GCPC Camping Trip | June 19-‐21 | Briarbottom Campground Registration Deadline: (TOMORROW) June 1 This is a great place for hiking, wading, fishing and fun! Group Campsites have been reserved (tent camping only) and you can secure your spot by registering with Nancy. The cost is $20 per family/tent for the weekend. Wetlands Water Park (Jonesborough, TN) | Monday, August 10 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM $10/person; $40/Family max | (children ages 3 and under are FREE) | scholarships available upon request RSVP by Saturday, August 1 to Nancy Quick Grace Covenant is renting out Wetlands Water Park and you are invited! Toddlers, children, youth, adults -‐ come and play with us! Wetlands is about an hour from GCPC and has a great zero entry pool, lazy river, toddler water slides and a few bigger slides as well. Invite your friends, because Grace Covenant will have the whole place to ourselves! You can go early and enjoy Jonesborough or meet at the church to carpool/caravan. Please see our web site under CARE to learn more!
Grace Covenant’s Annual Congregation Retreat | Sunday, September 12 Montreat, NC | Rev Dr. Willie Jennings-‐Retreat Leader (Associate Professor of Theology and Black Church Studies at Duke Divinity School) | Camping/Lodging available all weekend. Please see our web site under GROW or the Thursday Weekly News email to download a registration form.
Grow 2015 Summer Women’s Memoir Series | Wednesdays | 7:00 PM | Library Join us for a series of book talks focusing on memoirs written by people of faith. Hosted by Kristy Farber, Heather Gast, and Rebecca Gurney, and open to all women of the church. One copy of each book can be found in the newly revamped library annex upstairs in the Memorial Garden Overlook. Please pre-‐read the books to ensure lively discussion.
June 17 | A Severe Mercy | Sheldon Vanauken July 15 | Brown Girl Dreaming | Jacqueline Woodson August 12 | Jesus Land | Julia Scheeres
Support Defibrillator in Narthex We are so thankful to Megan Shook and her family foundation for the recent donation of a defibrillator. It is located in a case on the wall in the narthex and is only to be used by people who are trained. We are planning an Adult CPR/AED training for sometime this summer to have a core group of lay folks trained on how to use the defibrillator when needed. If you are interested in being a part of this training, please email Kristy Farber at [email protected].
Next Sunday, June 7, 2015 Sacrament of Baptism
Worship Service 10:30 AM
Sermon: “Awe” by Kristy Farber & Mark Ramsey Scriptures: Luke 5:21-‐26; Matthew 13:44-‐53
CALENDAR Sunday 31 9:45 AM Session 9:50 AM World Garden
10:30 AM Worship 11:30 AM Mark’s celebration 4:00 PM Worship at Westminster Pres. (15 Overbrook Pl.) JUNE Tuesday 2 9:00 AM Prayer Group 6:00 PM VRQ dinner 6:15 PM Session Wednesday 3 7:00 PM Chancel choir Sun-‐Sun 7-‐14 Room In The Inn Sunday 7 10:00 AM Congregation meeting
10:30 AM Worship 4:00 PM Worship at Westminster Pres. (15 Overbrook Pl.)