October 2015 GraceNotes

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God Is at Work Among Us!

We are just three months from the end of 2015 – a landmark year for this congregation! We have spent much of this year living into the centennial motto, Celebrating Our Past; Believing in Our Future. As we stand on the cusp of 2016 and beyond we have a chance to consider how Jesus is leading us into our future. Already, in the month of September, God is showing us signs of the Spirit’s leading and work among us!

We have 23 Sunday School teachers for adults and children for the 2015-16 school year who are living into our mission statement “to train grateful disciples of Christ, by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God”!

21 folks from Grace Covenant participated in serving at Shalom Farms during our monthly outing. We give thanks for the continued growth of this ministry! The parents of our young children have been especially appreciative of how Shalom Farms has ways for the entire family to serve.

We sent Reverend Nelson Reveley to Honduras to begin laying the groundwork for our partnership with Living Waters for the World (see page four for his reflection on that trip).

Five folks from Grace Covenant have begun their weekly commitment to mentoring and tutoring with STEP in Gilpin Court.

Because of the Building Fund we were able to renovate the Fellowship Hall this past summer, and the first three Wednesday Night Suppers have each had over 70 people in attendance!

We have invited the former Moderator of the PC(USA), Reverend Joan Gray, to join us on October 30 and 31. She will be leading us to consider how we might continue to live faithfully into the future God has for us.

Five people/families were chosen to participate in the 100 Project. The church will be giving Kent Cardwell, Janet Chenoweth (and family), Sallie Leys, Wilkes Price, and Jennifer Schooley (and family) each $100 to discern one question: How is God leading me (or us) to use the $100 this week?

We are excited to hear how God leads them! Look for testimonies later in October. In many ways they are participating in an exercise that is fundamental to stewardship – recognizing that all that we have is a gift entrusted to us by God, and so we are called into this same discernment – as individuals and as a church. As

(Continued on page 4)

Wednesday

Night Supper, pg. 3

Living Waters

for the World, pg. 4

Life and Loss

in the Lord, pg. 6

Dinner for Six, pg. 13

Thank You to GCPC Volunteers, pg. 15

Volume 45, Issue 10 October 2015

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Christian Education and Discipleship

Please update us! The church needs to be able to keep in touch with your college students this year. Please provide Christopher Tweel with the mailing address, email address, and phone number for your college stu-dents. Presbyterian Women will continue their special support to our students by lifting them up in prayer and sending them cards and other remembrances.

The Rhythm of our Sundays @ GCPC 9:20 a.m. —Coffee and Care 9:45 a.m. —Education Small Groups (Sunday School Classes) 10:30 a.m.— Choir Practice 10:55 a.m.— Announcements 11:00 a.m. — Worship

Sunday School Held every Sunday from 9:45-10:30 a.m.

The Nursery Crib Room (Rm. 103) and Sunday School are available for children ages 2 and up. The Vanguard Class, Basement, Room B4 - This year the men's class will be looking at each of the fathers in scripture. How did they fare? What was their legacy? How does this inform us how to be men and fathers in our church family? This exciting study that will continue to shape the men of our church to face each day being who God created us to be. Forum of Grace, Room 212 - A newly combined class that will be going deeper into the theology and scripture of Exodus. What does it mean to wander as God's people? To look forward to the prom-ised land? To exist and be faithful in exile? A great class to come for lecture and some discussion. Good Books, Room 303 - Looking for a good book and conversation about God in our everyday lives? The "Good Book Small Group" will be meeting to engage in precisely those kinds of books and discus-sions. Our conversations will be framed devotionally through scripture, hymn, and prayer (including prayer for each other) that relates to the book we will be exploring. Pre-K, Room 102 - For our youngest Disciples there is a heavy emphasis on knowing one another, get-ting in tune with the teachers and their classmates, as well as just starting the process of knowing what God's Love is, and just who is God anyway? Early Elementary, Room 209 - This year they begin with the stories of the patriarchs and matri-archs of our faith and move with the seasons through the liturgical year. Pilgrims' Prep, Room 302 - Confirmation is a big deal, here at GCPC even more so as we plan to take our Confirmands on an annual trip to Scotland following their confirmation! We spend our first year in preparation, getting to know one another and finding out how God has an awesome purpose and plan for our lives. Youth Mentors- This mentoring program has been walking through the little-known books of the Bible. Every word that comes from the mouth of God is precious and awesome; this class is all about getting together and seeing how that Word is present in our life each day.

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Christian Education and Discipleship

All Women’s Circles Meet Tues., Oct. 13

PW Circle 1

7:00 p.m

1727 Park Ave.

Hostess: Laura Leigh Sav-

age

PW Circle 2

11:00 a.m.

Vanguard Room

Hostesses: Dottie-Ray

Koch and Janet Miller

PW Circle 3 9:30 a.m. Social Room Hostess: Lynne Norris

Presbyterian Women

Wednesday Night Supper

Menu*

Join the Excitement at 6:00 p.m. "Celebrating Our Past - Believing in Our Future"

Save yourself the trouble of cooking dinner and come join us Wednesday nights for a time of growth in fellowship and faith. Every night we'll have arts and crafts for the kids, timely announcements, worship preparation cards for the coming Sunday, and either faith-infused live music, a trivia night, or an ex-cellent presentation! $5 per adult, $2 per child, with $12 max per family. Our upcoming schedule is below: Oct. 14 - Gifts and Wisdom of Aging Reverend Stephanie Hamilton, Lead Chaplain, M.Div, BCC Oct. 21 - Aging and Spiritual Health Reverend Keith Johnson, Chaplain Oct. 28 - Aging and Physical Health Aimee Watkins, Nurse Practitioner * Our menu is reliant on fresh and in-season ingredients; for this reason the menu may vary slightly to accommodate the freshest ingredients

October 14: Tortilla chips with fresh salsa, southwestern chopped salad, chicken fajitas, Mexican rice, and pumpkin de leche cake

October 21: Seasonal chopped salad bar, eggplant parmesan with homemade dinner rolls and tiramisu

October 28: Seasonal salad bar, autumn harvest pork roast with apples and butternut squash, cauliflower mash, Brussel sprouts, dinner rolls, and pecan pie tarts

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you consider how you will make a financial pledge on Sunday, October 25, I invite you to be asking the same question: How is God leading me (or us) to use that which has been entrusted to me/us?

(Continued from page 1)

Mission and Justice Ministry Living Waters for the World Recap of Our Covenant Trip, September 21-24 The Missions Committee is excited to share some updates on Grace Covenant's in-volvement with Living Waters for the World (LWW). As many know, LWW is a PC(USA) mission project rooted in the confession that “Jesus Christ is Living Waters for our Bodies and Souls.” LWW bears witness to Christ by assist-ing communities and congregations around the world that lack access to clean drinking water, empowering their local leaders to build, operate, and sustain water purification systems and health education for their communities.

In last month's Grace Notes, Katie McCullough gave an excellent overview of the water purification system. This month we have got a recap of the recent Covenant Trip that Nelson Reveley took with two LWW team members from Trinity Presbyterian Church just outside Philadelphia, Don Bovais and Mary Westervelt. We arrived in Honduras on Monday afternoon, September 21, and met up with the LWW in-country coordinator, Melvin Flores, who served as our ex-pert guide and transport during the trip. We were staying in Guaimaca, which is about an hour drive from Agalteca Presbyterian Church, where we are part-nering with the local community to install the water purification system and help educate the community on the key times to use purified water.

On Tuesday, we were able to meet with over 20 leaders of Agalteca Presbyterian Church and the local community, including key local government officials and the pastor Antonio Zavala. There are about 60 members and 45 children in this congregation and about 2,300 people living in Agalteca over all. This water system, while housed in the church, will serve and be available for purchase to the entire community. The likely price for a 5 gallon jug of water will be about 10-15 lempiras, which depending on the exchange rate is about 50-75 cents. This revenue will go direct-ly toward ensuring the sustainability of the system and paying for the operators wages and replacement parts as needs for them arise. Our meetings on Tuesday were extremely successful, as the community members pressed us on key questions, expressed their joyful and deep com-mitment, and signed up enthusiastically for respective roles on the Water Committee, the community education team, and the operation team. At the end of the day, friendships had begun to blossom as we had our covenant signed and firm plans for the installation of the system, the education com-ponents, and a few pieces of construction that will need to occur before the system can be installed. On Wednesday, Don, Mary, Melvin, and I were able to see a bit more of the Honduran countryside before Melvin dropped us off at the airport in Tegucigalpa to fly back home on Thursday.

5

Mission and Justice Ministry

Shalom Farms Join us Saturday, October 17, from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon at Shalom Farms—a lo-cal food access and community development ministry shalomfarms.org—as we help ensure that everyone in our city has access to God's bounteous gift of nutri-tious produce. Please RSVP to Nate McKinnon at [email protected] or 385-2505. Carpooling from the church parking lot at 8:00 a.m. (and returning by 12:00 noon) is possible if there is interest. Otherwise, you can meet us out on the farm at 9:00 a.m. (1033 Rock Castle Rd., Goochland, VA 23063)!

Living Waters for the World Walk for Water

Sunday, October 25, 3:15 p.m.

Join us on Sunday afternoon, October 25, for the Liv-ing Waters for the World "Walk for Water." We are joining with First Presbyterian Church to raise money and awareness regarding the need for purified water in communities around the world. The 3.7-mile round trip is the distance that many people in developing countries must walk each day for water for their fami-lies. Onsite registration opens at 3:15 p.m. and the walk begins at First Presbyterian Church (4602 Cary Street Road, 23226) at 3:30 p.m. Registration fee/donation is a suggested $20 per person, and proceeds from GCPC registrants will go toward our LWW mission in Agalteca, Honduras, while proceeds from First Presbyterian registrants will go to their LWW partnerships in Haiti and Nicaragua. To register, please contact Nelson Reveley, [email protected] or 387-8094. If you cannot join the walk, please consider giving a donation!

Help a Child Learn to Read Looking for a way to love our neighbors in the Fan? William Fox Elementary School is seeking volun-teers to tutor struggling readers in second and third grades. Tutors work one-on-one with the same stu-dent throughout the school year and will receive training, easy-to-follow lesson plans, and on-going support. Tutoring falls on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, 8:00 a.m-8:55 a.m. If you are interested, con-tact Samantha McLean at [email protected].

We are currently in planning stages for determining when to undertake the installation and education trip, but it will likely occur sometime this coming February or March, 2016. We want to send enormous thanks to all the sup-port we have received so far, and ask for your continued prayers and energy! If you would like to learn more - or join the LWW team, please reach out to Nelson Reveley ([email protected]) or anyone from our LWW crew (Katie McCullough, Michelle Hulme-Lippert, Susan Pillsbury David, Jessica Reveley, and Nelson Reveley). You can also see photos from this first trip here: https://goo.gl/photos/SCAd4aJ5a6KLWfAFA.

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Join us for a six-week program centered on aging faithfully – an opportunity

for every generation to consider how to best love God and one another

amid life’s progression. The program begins at 6:45 p.m. in the Fellowship

Hall immediately following Wednesday Night Supper.

Life and Loss in the Lord

GCPC and Bon Secours

Presents

October 14 Gifts and Wisdom of Aging

Reverend Stephanie Hamilton, Lead Chaplain, M.Div, BCC

October 21 Aging and Spiritual Health

Reverend Keith Johnson, Chaplain

October 28 Aging and Physical Health

Aimee Watkins, Nurse Practitioner

November 4 Care for Parents and Loved Ones

Reverend Braunda Ridley, Chaplain

November 11 Faith and Finances

Reverend Carson Rhyne

November 18 Death, Dying, and Grief

Reverend David Benshoff, Chaplain

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SAVE THE DATE 6:00 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2015

An Evening with Reverend Dr. Joan Gray, author of Sailboat Church

On Friday, October 30, please join us for a special event in the Fellowship Hall. We will begin the evening at 6:00 p.m. with a chili cook-off! All are welcome to bring a chili. Sign-ups for the chili cook-off will be available in October. All others are invited to provide a small dessert to share. Following dinner, we will have a special presentation on the mission of the church from Reverend Dr. Joan Gray, the author of Sailboat Church, which is the book that the GCPC officers have been reading, discussing, and praying through during the course of this year. This event will go from 6:00-8:15 p.m. and childcare will be provided throughout that time.

Reverend Dr. Joan Gray Joan Gray grew up in South Carolina. She received a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude from Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, then gradu-ated from Columbia Theological Seminary with her Masters of Divinity. In 1994 Joan received a Masters of Sacred Theology in Spiritual Direc-tion from General Theological Seminary (Episcopal), New York City. She earned her Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Semi-nary, Washington, DC, in 2009. The topic of her D.Min. research was helping congregations heal after conflict. In 1978, Joan was the first woman ordained to pastor a church in Atlanta Presbytery, PCUS. Since then she has worked with ten churches in the Atlanta area. Her ministries have included solo pastor, associate pastor, lead pastor/head of staff, parish associate, and interim pastor. Joan

served as Moderator of the 217th General Assembly (2006-2008) of the PCUSA. More recently, Joan has served as Interim Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students for Colum-bia Theological Seminary. Currently, she is the Interim Associate Pastor at Decatur Presbyterian Church, Decatur, GA. Joan's publications include Presbyterian Polity for Church Officers (fourth edition, 2012), co-authored with the Rev. Joyce C. Tucker in 1986, and Spiritual Leadership for Church Officers, released 2009. Sailboat Church: Helping Your Church Rethink Its Mission and Purpose was published in 2013. Joan is married to Bill Gray, a ruling elder in the PC(USA) and an attorney in the firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, and Stewart. The Grays live in Atlanta, GA.

Save the Date

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9 am CDC Chapel

2

3 CARITAS

4 World Communion Sunday CARITAS 8:30 Handbell Choir 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Coffee and Care 9:45 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour

5 CARITAS 7pm CE Meeting

6 CARITAS

7 CARITAS 4pm Care Team 4:30pm Carol Choir 5:30pm Junior Choir 7pm Chancel Choir

8 CARITAS 9 am CDC Chapel

9 CARITAS

10 CARITAS 10am Parents and Playground

11 8:30 Handbell Choir 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Coffee and Care 9:45 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour

12 6pm Finance Comm. 7pm Worship Comm.

13 9:30am PW Circle #3 11am PW Circle #2 7pm PW Circle #1

14 4pm Care Team 4:30pm Carol Choir 5:30pm Junior Choir 6pm WNS—Life & Loss in the Lord 7pm Chancel Choir

15 9 am CDC Chapel

16 6:30pm Young Adults’ gathering at the Prices’ house

17 8am Shalom Farms Presbytery Meeting at Second Presbyterian Church

18 8:30 Handbell Choir 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Coffee and Care 9:45 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour

19 7pm Session Meeting

20 Deacons’ Meeting

21 4pm Care Team 4:30pm Carol Choir 5:30pm Junior Choir 6pm WNS—Life & Loss in the Lord 7pm Chancel Choir

22 9am CDC Chapel

23

24 2pm Men’s Oyster Roast 5pm Parents Night Out

25 8:30 Handbell Choir 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Coffee and Care 9:45 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour 1:00 Boxed Lunch in Fellowship Hall 2:00 POYJO Service and Scavenger Hunt

26 Deadline for Grace Notes submissions 6:30pm RISC Community Problems Assembly

27 28 4pm Care Team 4:30pm Carol Choir 5:30pm Junior Choir 6pm WNS—Life & Loss in the Lord 7pm Chancel Choir

29 9am CDC Chapel

30 11am CDC Fall Festival 6pm chili cook-off and evening with Joan Gray

31 8am Officer Retreat at Union Seminary

October

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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9 am CDC Chapel

2

3 CARITAS

4 World Communion Sunday CARITAS 8:30 Handbell Choir 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Coffee and Care 9:45 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour

5 CARITAS 7pm CE Meeting

6 CARITAS

7 CARITAS 4pm Care Team 4:30pm Carol Choir 5:30pm Junior Choir 7pm Chancel Choir

8 CARITAS 9 am CDC Chapel

9 CARITAS

10 CARITAS 10am Parents and Playground

11 8:30 Handbell Choir 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Coffee and Care 9:45 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour

12 6pm Finance Comm. 7pm Worship Comm.

13 9:30am PW Circle #3 11am PW Circle #2 7pm PW Circle #1

14 4pm Care Team 4:30pm Carol Choir 5:30pm Junior Choir 6pm WNS—Life & Loss in the Lord 7pm Chancel Choir

15 9 am CDC Chapel

16 6:30pm Young Adults’ gathering at the Prices’ house

17 8am Shalom Farms Presbytery Meeting at Second Presbyterian Church

18 8:30 Handbell Choir 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Coffee and Care 9:45 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour

19 7pm Session Meeting

20 Deacons’ Meeting

21 4pm Care Team 4:30pm Carol Choir 5:30pm Junior Choir 6pm WNS—Life & Loss in the Lord 7pm Chancel Choir

22 9am CDC Chapel

23

24 2pm Men’s Oyster Roast 5pm Parents Night Out

25 8:30 Handbell Choir 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Coffee and Care 9:45 Sunday School 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour 1:00 Boxed Lunch in Fellowship Hall 2:00 POYJO Service and Scavenger Hunt

26 Deadline for Grace Notes submissions 6:30pm RISC Community Problems Assembly

27 28 4pm Care Team 4:30pm Carol Choir 5:30pm Junior Choir 6pm WNS—Life & Loss in the Lord 7pm Chancel Choir

29 9am CDC Chapel

30 11am CDC Fall Festival 6pm chili cook-off and evening with Joan Gray

31 8am Officer Retreat at Union Seminary

** Reminder! October 26 is the deadline for submissions

for our November edition of Grace Notes.

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Next Presbytery Meeting:

Saturday, October 17, 2015 Location: Second Presbyterian Church,

Richmond

From Our Presbytery

Faith Seeking Understanding Charlotte Campus Featuring Rev. Dr. Jill Duffield (M.Div.'96), editor and publisher of The Presby-terian Outlook

Sunday, October 4, 4:00-5:30 p.m. - Public Presentation

"Saying Yes: Start Where You Are and Use All You Have to Imitate Christ" Free and open to the public.

Monday, October 5, 2015, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Workshop with Clergy

"Telling the Story: Heeding the Risen Christ" Reservations requested for Workshop with Clergy. Complimentary lunch provided. For reservations, contact Nadine Moran at 980-636-1661 or [email protected]

Syngman Rhee Global Mission Center for Christian Education Richmond campus Dedication & Groundbreaking October 14, 2015, Watts Chapel at 11:45 a.m. Lunch reception to follow.

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Grace Covenant Presbyterian, We finished up our month of community helpers with a visit from the fire truck this week! Children got to sit behind the wheel, touch the fire truck, and see a fireman all dressed up! We learned all about doctors and nurses, and talked about going to the hospital. We learned about the people in our neighborhood like mailmen, teachers, librarians, and grocery store workers. We had so much fun learning about community helpers! Now we’re falling into fall with a very sudden weather shift as we track the progress of hurricane Joaquin! We’ll be teaching the children how to stay safe in thunderstorms and floods, and what to wear to be comfortable. Then we’ll start learning about the fall harvest and how God blesses us with so much every year. We’ll explore pumpkins when we take our annual pumpkin patch field trip. We’ll go on walks to collect leaves of all colors and shapes. We’ll learn about the weather, and how to determine what’s real and pretend for Halloween. We’ll also have our annual Fall Festival in the fellowship hall one day during school! We would especially like to thank you all for your support as we have made our plans to expand to the Forum classroom. We greatly appreciate all of the positivity from both the congregation and session! We are planning to get the room ready and move the children in by October 12, right after CARITAS. Thank you so much for your support of our program! Nicole Flournoy Grace Covenant CDC Director

CDC Update

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Ash Wednesday Service Background and Details

I grew up in a Presbyterian Church that did not have an Ash Wednesday service. The whole idea of “Ash

Wednesday” struck me as something for “other people,” and I really had no appreciation for it one way or

another until I began serving a couple different Presbyterian congregations which had the service.

As many of you know, there is no biblical requirement to hold an Ash Wednesday service or to use ashes –

much as there is no biblical requirement to celebrate Christmas or Easter (though we celebrate the truths be-

hind them year-round). Still, Ash Wednesday has been observed by many Christians for at least the past ten

centuries. It is the day that marks the beginning of Lent – a six-week period preceding Easter (‘Lent’, too, is

not in the Bible).

Around the tenth century, Christians began placing ashes on their forehead to signify their need for repent-

ance, presumably emulating the likes of Job who repented “in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). Notably, the ashes

were done in the shape of the cross – a symbol of the Good News. Thus, even as the ashes spoke of a need to

repent (turn to God) they also spoke of resurrection power and hope.

The first time I had ashes placed on my forehead, it didn’t ‘do’ anything (and never does!). However, the

visible ashen mark helped me consider again my need grace even as the cross-shape prompted me to give

thanks for the Life in which I already stand because of what Jesus has done on the cross. The ashes also made

me face anew the fact that I will one day die, which renewed my hope and thanks for the hope I have in

Christ Jesus. Paradoxically, then, the ashes-receiving proved uplifting! Of course, this is in keeping with the

Gospel which always ‘cuts to the heart’ (Acts 2:37) and convicts even as it heals and binds up wounds.

After receiving ashes, I went to research the topic in more detail. I realized that while there exists no Bible

verse that says we must observe Ash Wednesday or impose ashes, there is a good theological reasoning un-

derpinning the service. In many ways, the service enacts our call to confess our sins to another, to weep with

one another, and to know anew the Gospel hope (which can only be appreciated by naming, not avoiding, the

darkness).

To be sure, there is nothing magical about the service or the ashes. Indeed, when calling the people of God

to repentance, the prophet Joel says, “rend your hearts not your clothing” (2:13). The prophet Isaiah likewise

tells the people to stop fasting and repenting in dust and ashes and instead get up and do justice (Isaiah 58:5-

8). In other words, the prophets are calling the people out for thinking that they can perform external acts of

worship (like tearing their clothes or wearing ashes in repentance) that will take the place of actually giving

their hearts and doing the real work of the Lord in the world. We are wise to avoid any imposition of ashes if

we think they gain us favor with God or have some power in and of themselves.

However, because the ashes can be a particularly poignant way for many Christians to know anew our hope

in Jesus Christ, ashes will be offered at our Ash Wednesday service at 7pm on Wednesday, February 18th

in the chapel. The ashes will be entirely optional – you may choose whether or not you come forward to re-

ceive them. If you do come forward, I will put the ashes on your forehead in the shape of a cross with the

words, “Consider yourself dead to sin and alive in Jesus Christ“ (Rom 6:11). My prayer is that through the

service of worship God will meet us in such a way that we are renewed in our hope and assured once again

that we rest in the promise of the One who has come to bring Life and Life Eternal.

Announcements Fellowship Hour

October 4 Nevin

October 11 E. Reveley

October 18 Cardwell

October 25 Baird

Openers and Closers

October 4 Lloyd Bostian

October 11 Cal Gray

October 18 Rob Rosebro

October 25 Hank Downing

in October... 1-Janet Stuart 2-Jo Garber 2-Will Madden 3-Pat Ball 5-Sharon Appich 6-Jed Wilson 8- Benjamin Cardwell 9-Ginny Chandler 9-George Turner 12-Charlie Kennedy 16-Miriam Ralston 17-Susan Pillsbury David 17-Afua Ossei 18-Rachel Wilson 20-Roman Chenoweth 20-Jennifer Schooley 22-Helen Lanier Reveley 23-Ann Pais 24-Marjorie Adams 25-John Parker 26-Jack Corley 27-Sarah Miller 31-Jimmy Appich 31- Wilkes Price

Date Night Grace Covenant is happy to offer this blessing up to our families again on Saturday, October 24, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. A charge of $5 per child

will help defray the costs of child care, though there is a $10 maximum per family with more than two children. Please RSVP by 3:00 p.m. Thursday, October 22, to the church at [email protected] or 359-2463 with name of child and age.

The 82nd Men’s Oyster Roast, spon-sored by the Vanguard class, will be 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, at the Pearsons’ cabin. The car pool will leave at 2:00 p.m. Please RSVP to the church of-fice at [email protected] or 359-2463.

Follow GCPC on Insta-gram! Grace Covenant is on Instagram. Follow gcpc_rva to see what's hap-pening around GCPC.

Camp Hanover Scav-enger Hunt and Ser-vice Day We will have a scavenger hunt all over camp, a time to do some work, and share a meal around the campfire. We will meet there at 2:00 p.m. on October 25, and be done after supper. Email Christopher Tweel and let us know you are coming.

13

Ash Wednesday Service Background and Details

I grew up in a Presbyterian Church that did not have an Ash Wednesday service. The whole idea of “Ash

Wednesday” struck me as something for “other people,” and I really had no appreciation for it one way or

another until I began serving a couple different Presbyterian congregations which had the service.

As many of you know, there is no biblical requirement to hold an Ash Wednesday service or to use ashes –

much as there is no biblical requirement to celebrate Christmas or Easter (though we celebrate the truths be-

hind them year-round). Still, Ash Wednesday has been observed by many Christians for at least the past ten

centuries. It is the day that marks the beginning of Lent – a six-week period preceding Easter (‘Lent’, too, is

not in the Bible).

Around the tenth century, Christians began placing ashes on their forehead to signify their need for repent-

ance, presumably emulating the likes of Job who repented “in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). Notably, the ashes

were done in the shape of the cross – a symbol of the Good News. Thus, even as the ashes spoke of a need to

repent (turn to God) they also spoke of resurrection power and hope.

The first time I had ashes placed on my forehead, it didn’t ‘do’ anything (and never does!). However, the

visible ashen mark helped me consider again my need grace even as the cross-shape prompted me to give

thanks for the Life in which I already stand because of what Jesus has done on the cross. The ashes also made

me face anew the fact that I will one day die, which renewed my hope and thanks for the hope I have in

Christ Jesus. Paradoxically, then, the ashes-receiving proved uplifting! Of course, this is in keeping with the

Gospel which always ‘cuts to the heart’ (Acts 2:37) and convicts even as it heals and binds up wounds.

After receiving ashes, I went to research the topic in more detail. I realized that while there exists no Bible

verse that says we must observe Ash Wednesday or impose ashes, there is a good theological reasoning un-

derpinning the service. In many ways, the service enacts our call to confess our sins to another, to weep with

one another, and to know anew the Gospel hope (which can only be appreciated by naming, not avoiding, the

darkness).

To be sure, there is nothing magical about the service or the ashes. Indeed, when calling the people of God

to repentance, the prophet Joel says, “rend your hearts not your clothing” (2:13). The prophet Isaiah likewise

tells the people to stop fasting and repenting in dust and ashes and instead get up and do justice (Isaiah 58:5-

8). In other words, the prophets are calling the people out for thinking that they can perform external acts of

worship (like tearing their clothes or wearing ashes in repentance) that will take the place of actually giving

their hearts and doing the real work of the Lord in the world. We are wise to avoid any imposition of ashes if

we think they gain us favor with God or have some power in and of themselves.

However, because the ashes can be a particularly poignant way for many Christians to know anew our hope

in Jesus Christ, ashes will be offered at our Ash Wednesday service at 7pm on Wednesday, February 18th

in the chapel. The ashes will be entirely optional – you may choose whether or not you come forward to re-

ceive them. If you do come forward, I will put the ashes on your forehead in the shape of a cross with the

words, “Consider yourself dead to sin and alive in Jesus Christ“ (Rom 6:11). My prayer is that through the

service of worship God will meet us in such a way that we are renewed in our hope and assured once again

that we rest in the promise of the One who has come to bring Life and Life Eternal.

Announcements

Social Hour on the Terrace During the months of September and October the post-worship social hour will take place on the terrace, weather-permitting. We look forward to enjoying the fall weather together! Of course, if the weather does not cooperate, then we will gather in the Social Room. Look in your bulletin for any updates or changes.

Dinners for Six Would you care to participate in a few evenings of casual, small group fellowship, en-joying great food with an opportunity to get to know some people in church? The dinners will be hosted in homes, on dates selected by the hosts, with pot-luck meals. Sign up by calling or emailing the church, or by signing up on the poster outside the social room. Deadline October 18.

Fellowship Announcements

Parents and Playground

GCPC parents! Bring your young children and join us, Saturday, October 10, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on the Grace Covenant Playground. This will be a time for GCPC and CDC parents to gather while their kids get to play.

Stewardship Celebration Luncheon You are invited to a congregational luncheon in the Fellowship Hall after worship. The lunch will be box lunches provided by Cuisine A La Carte. The box lunch options will be chicken salad on wheat, veggie de-light, and honey ham on sourdough. Each lunch will be $7. Please RSVP by Tuesday, October 20, for the luncheon in one of the three following ways: email [email protected], phone 359-2463, or provide your RSVP on the communication card in the weekly bulletin.

Young Professionals and Parents of Young Children You are invited to a social time/party at the home of Carson and Ashby Price, Friday, October 16, at 6:30 p.m. Please bring heavy hors d'oeuvres to share. Questions? Email [email protected].

Greeters Needed! We are looking for members who would like to offer a friendly smile and a warm handshake to our members and guests as they enter our doors for worship Sunday mornings. You can volun-teer once a quarter, once a month or as often as you like. If you would be interested in finding out more or want to participate in this important ministry, please contact Sallie Leys at 358-6071.

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Worship Weekly Sunday Morning Prayer The best way to start a Sunday morning, or any morning, is with prayer. Each Sunday morning from 9:15 to 9:30 a.m. in the Social Room we have a time of prayer and all are welcome to participate. It is a prayerful time when hearts are quieted and focused on God, joys and concerns are shared, and prayers are raised in word and in spirit. It is a special time of caring, friendship, and blessing; please come and pray with us.

Monthly Prayer Group A prayer group meets after the worship service on the last Sunday of each month. We will pray in the chapel from 12:30-1:00 p.m. following the 11:00 a.m. church service. For more information please contact Itunu Adekoya at 309-310-1424 or [email protected], Susan Far-rell at 359-6222 or [email protected], or Carol Wood at 282-2446 or [email protected] Please join us for our next meeting on Oc-tober 25!

STEWARDSHIP CORNER

After a large deficit was recorded in July, August’s financial results were improved, with higher contributions and lower expenses, but the improve-ment was not enough to avoid a deficit in the current fund for the month. Aided by having five Sundays, August’s contributions of $37,400 were up

21% over July’s, but for the year they trail those of the same months last year by 9%, almost a third of which is accounted for by differences in pledges paid in advance. Expenses in August of $57,800 were down about 14% from those in July, and they included $5,400 in insurance pay-ments and about $4,000 for improvements to the parking lot. For the year through August ex-penses are up about 12% over the same period last year, with most of the increase accounted for by higher personnel costs. Expenses exceeded income in August by $5,300. August’s Five Cents Per Meal offering was $98, Loaves and Fishes, $325, and Mercy Offering $104.

Stewardship in 2016 The stewardship season is once again upon us – a time for us to reflect purposefully on our commit-ment of financial support for the mission of God’s church at Grace Covenant in the coming year. The theme for this year’s stewardship campaign is God’s Generosity; Our Response. We kicked off our Stewardship campaign with the 100 Project, and we look forward to hearing testimonies from those participating. In the coming weeks be on the lookout for a stewardship letter and pledge card in the mail. You will have an opportunity to return your pledge card during Worship on October 25, Steward-ship Sunday. After worship that day join us in the Fellowship Hall for a stewardship celebration lunch-eon!

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Thank You to GCPC Volunteers!

Thank you to all the volunteers that help Grace Covenant run smoothly from week to week. Everything you do from answering telephone calls and editing the bulletin

to coordinating weddings and helping the GCPC family remember our history is greatly appreciated by staff and members alike.

Thank you for everything you do!

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Bobby Hulme-Lippert Pastor [email protected] Christopher Martin Director of Music and Organist [email protected] Christopher Tweel Director of Christian Formation & Pastoral Assistant [email protected] Nelson Reveley Parish Associate for Outreach & Adult Discipleship [email protected] Amy Kempel Director of Communications [email protected] Martha Rubin Administrative Support/ Bookkeeper [email protected] Lauren Voyles Seminary Intern

Church Office Hours: Mon., Tues., and Thurs., 9:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.

Wed., 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fri, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon

Phone: (804) 359-2463

Fax: (804) 278-6298

grace-covenant.org

Sundays: 9:15 a.m.

Prayer Together in the Social Room 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School for all ages in the Education Building

10:55 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary

12:15 p.m. Congregational Fellowship

in the Social Room

GCPC Child Development Center Nicole Flournoy Director (804) 213-0200 [email protected] gracecovenantcdc.com

Our Elders serve the church as leaders.

Our Deacons lead the church in service.

Please feel free to approach them

with any questions or feedback about Grace Covenant’s ministries.

CLERK OF SESSION: Everett Reveley

ELDERS James Atchison (’16) - Finance (C-M) Virginia Hudson (’17) - Mission (M), Nominating Cheryl Jacobs (’15) - CE (M) Caroline Leith (’15) - Property (Co-M), CE Katie McCullough (’16) - Administration (M) Everett Reveley (’15) – Stewardship (M) Lewis Rosebro (’17) - Property (Co-M) Pete Sizemore (’16) - Administration (Co-M) Rob Turner (’17) - Worship (M) MODERATOR OF THE BOARD OF DEACONS: Lisa Cardwell DEACONS Itunu Adekoya (’16) - Prayer (M) Lisa Cardwell (’15) - Flowers (M) Courtney Clements (’15) - Visitation (Co-M), Fellowship Phil Coltrain (’16) - Glass Office (M), Deacons’ Fund Mary Gray (’15) - Meals (M), Visitation (Co-M) Cynthia Holmes (’17) - Fellowship (M) Jan Kessel (’16) - Care Team (M), Transportation (M) Dottie-Ray Koch (’17) - Fellowship (Food Committee) Sallie Leys (’17) - Greeters/Ushers Jessica Reveley (’16) - Justice (M) Jennifer Schooley (’15) - Guests Follow-Up, New Members (M), Deacons’ Fund Dawson Watkins (’17) - Deacons’ Fund (M) Care Team TRUSTEES: Caroline Leith (’17) John Roberts (’15) Warren Zirkle (’16)

The Staff Church Officers