Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina

Transcription

1 Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina October 16, :30 am Called to Christ Called to Compassion Children s Sabbath Christ and the Children, Emil Nolde God's dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion. ~ Desmond Tutu Gathering Music Dreaming Peter Tschaikowsky from Album for the Young Bell Peal Treble Choir Introit We Are the Church Cherub Choir * Call to Worship (adapted from Psalm 121) I lift up my eyes to the hills, From where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The LORD will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in forevermore. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

2 * Choral Response Children Join the Happy Chorus Treble Choir * Hymn 14 For the Beauty of the Earth DIX * Call to Reconciliation * Prayer of Confession * Assurance of Forgiveness * Response Dear God, It can be hard to admit we re wrong. It can be hard to say we are sorry. Thank you for not expecting us to get every single thing right. And thank you for listening to us when we say we are sorry. Sometimes we decide to get mad at people instead of to try and understand where they are coming from. Thank you for calling us to love others. Thank you for teaching us to treat others how we would like to be treated. Thank you for showing us what love really looks like in Jesus. AMEN. * Passing of the Peace The Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

3 Faith Sharing with Children Anthem Jesus Loves Me arr. John Ferguson Barbara McLean, piano Bible Presentation for Kindergarten and 4 th grade children Our Life Together (Please sign the pad located in your pew) Prayer for Illumination Old Testament Genesis 32:22-31 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! New Testament Luke 18:1-8 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Sermon Life Keeping Marcia Mount Shoop Silent Meditation * Hymn 377 I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light HOUSTON * Affirmation of Faith (from the Study Catechism) How do you understand the love and power of God? Through Jesus Christ. In his life of compassion, his death on the cross, and his resurrection from the dead, I see how vast is God's love for the world a love that is ready to suffer for our sakes, yet so strong that nothing will prevail against it. What comfort do you receive from this truth? This powerful and loving God is the one whose promises I may trust in all the circumstances of my life, and to whom I belong in life and in death. Called to Compassion Stewardship Moment Ashley Parks Susan Mims Offering (Please place prayer cards in the offering plate for the Prayers of the People) Offertory Andante Felix Mendelssohn (composed at age 14)

4 * Doxology * Prayer of Dedication Prayers of the People Dear God, Thank you for giving us what we need. Thank you for asking us to help give others what they need. Bless these gifts we share today. We pray that they can help make the world a healthier and happier place. In Christ, AMEN. Each section of the prayer will conclude: God, in your grace Please respond: Hear our prayer * Hymn 435 There Is a Wideness in God s Mercy IN BABILONE * Charge and Benediction * Postlude Autumn Fires John Leavitt from Scenes of Childhood (For some, the Voluntary serves as festive music to accompany their going back out into the world. Others prefer to remain seated and listen. Please be mindful of these different needs as you depart. Thank you!) * Please Stand in Body or Spirit. We gather to worship God who is larger than all our imaginations! We encourage all persons to sing the gender nouns and pronouns they prefer in referring to God.

5 Thank You! Head Usher: Bill Wolcott Our Life Together Thank you to all of the children who are helping to lead worship this morning. We have over 30 of our elementary school children taking part in this service to make it a meaningful one for everyone! The rose in the chancel this morning is in honor of the birth of Charles Shane Allen on Monday, October 10 th. Congratulations to parents, Davis Allen and Britt Beckworth. Today's flowers are given in loving memory of Josh Meade by his parents, Susan and Roger. This morning we welcome Andy Thomas, Rachel Betty, Sammie Smith, Jeremy Gladden, and Briana Joseph, the Hands and Feet of Asheville volunteers, to worship. We are glad you are here and look forward to praying for you and supporting you in your work this year. Deacon of the Week: Jan Brunk, janbrunk@aol.com Each Sunday morning there is a deacon available for everything from praying with you to giving you a tour of the building. This deacon will be wearing a purple sash and stationed in the narthex before 10:30 worship and in the front of the sanctuary after worship. He or she is also available during the week if you or someone you love needs assistance from our board of deacons. SERVE Guatemala Scholarships Thank you for your generous support of the Timothy Scholarship Program with our sister church, Iglesia Jerusalem, in Coatepeque, Guatemala. Funds for over 40 scholarship students that attend primary, middle, and secondary schools in the Coatepeque area are being sent to our partners in Guatemala. The scholarships help them with tuition, purchase of uniforms, books, shoes, school supplies, and many other items that their families could not afford. Without this aid, these children would not be able to attend school. In addition to your generous support of the Scholarship Program the GCPC Serve Committee is providing additional funds for student healthcare, such as immunization, vitamins, nutrition workshops under the care of the two church health promoters. Shalom, The GCPC Guatemala Partnership Committee

6 Grow Upcoming 16 for 16 events: Movie Night Part 1 Race: The Power of an Illusion Friday, October 28 6:45 PM Movie Night Part 2 Race: The Power of an Illusion Friday, November 4 6:45 PM Sanctuary Open for Prayer Wednesdays 11:45 AM 5:30 PM Each Wednesday the sanctuary will be open for silent prayer. Some evenings will close with a brief time of centering prayer. Bible Study Wednesdays 11 AM Conference Room Join the pastoral staff to read and study our sermon texts for Sunday. No preparation needed, just come ready to open scripture and discuss. Care Fellowship Fun Night-"Did you get my message?" Sunday, October 23 5:45-7:15 PM GCPC Fellowship Hall Please join us for a potluck dinner and interactive and intergenerational experience (appropriate for all ages). Our youth group will join us at 6 PM and children's choir members and families are welcome to do the same. Fried chicken and drinks will be provided by the church; please plan to bring a ready-to-eat side dish or dessert for the meal. We will need a few volunteers to set up & break down. Please kateshem@gmail.com to volunteer. The GCPC Monday, October 24 7:00 PM Thirsty Monk North NEW DAY AND DATE! We are going to try out Monday nights to see who can join us for our monthly men's fellowship event. almurchison@gcpcusa.org to get reminders about this group or be added to the contact list. 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 congregation; Bob Keever (Cynthia Keever s dad); Mark Hassall (Bob and Sue Hassall s son and Robby Hassall s father); Karen Arrowood (Teresa Stern s cousin); Margo Steyer (Lynne & Rick Noble s mother); Natalie DeVito (Karen Rohl s daughter); Kathy Dowdle (Karen Rohl s friend); Barbara McLean (Moderator of WNC Presbytery); Barrett & Ali Payne (In Seminary); Craig, Elsa and Josie Plocica (Sheryl Aikman s family); Betty Smith; Susan Stradley; Virginia Bradley; Hettie Lou Garland; Pat Callison; Gerry Simons; Dot Holladay; Sherrie Meehan; Serge Kavalhuna; Jerry Bleckley; Ray Kisiah Youth News Senior High Brunch! TODAY, Sunday, October 16 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Meet/pick up GCPC Courtyard (MOD Pizza: 873 Merrimon Ave) Senior highs, we are excited to announce the very first Senior high brunch! This will be a time to gather around a meal and share in relaxed conversation about the struggles and joys pertaining to life/school/faith/family. Meet Amy Palmer and Rev. Samantha Gonzalez-Block in the courtyard after worship and we will walk there together.

7 Next Sunday s Education for All Ages 9:15 AM The Improv: Responsive Faith in an Ever-Changing World Jerusalem Room This class looks at scripture, life, and practice through various theological perspectives, seeking to discover credible and promising ground for faithful improvisation as we live in a dynamic and changing world. The next four Sundays will explore contemporary applications of Process theology. This coming Sunday we will explore bioethics. Asking the Hard Questions: Pressure Points Choir Room This class explores thorny issues and new ideas that challenge us where we live, at the intersection of our faith and the world. During fall term, we are reading and discussing Bishop Spong s book Biblical Literalism: A Gentile Heresy. Digging In: Encountering Scripture Sunroom This class reads the Bible with the expectation that whether it is comforting, disturbing or challenging it has something to say about who God is and who we are. Next week, we continue with chapter five of the Book of Acts. CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION [Contact Heather or Samantha] Preschool/Kindergarten: Great Family Elementary: Exodus Middle School Let's continue diving into our faith together. Next Sunday, we will explore the question "How can God be three in one?" with JD and Carlyn. Enjoy a bagel breakfast and a great time! Senior High Get ready to learn and grow together, with teachers, Sheryl, Amy W. and Amy P. We will look at this week's headlines through the lens of faith. Come enjoy a delicious bagel breakfast and great conversation with fellow youth! Next Sunday, October 23, 2016 Called to Christ Called to Witness Worship at 8:30 & 10:30 AM Education Hour at 9:15 AM Courtyard Fellowship at 11:30 AM Sermon: Call Your Next Witness by Marcia Mount Shoop Scriptures: Joel 2:23-32; Luke 18:9-14

8 CALENDAR Sunday 16 Children s Sabbath 8:30 AM Worship 9:15 AM Education Hour 10:30 AM Worship 11:30 AM Deacons 11:30 AM Child Protection Policy Training 12:00 PM Senior High brunch 4:00 PM PW Coordinating Team 5:00 PM Childrens Choirs 5:00 PM Youth Group Monday 17 7:00 PM Fall Book Discussion, Speaking of Faith Tuesday 18 9:00 AM Prayer Group 6:15 PM Session Wednesday 19 11:00 AM Bible Study 11:45 AM Sanctuary open for prayer 5:30 PM Handbell Choir 7:00 PM Choir Thursday 20 6:00 PM Safety Training 6:30 PM Fall Book Discussion - The Warmth of Other Suns Sunday 23 8:30 AM Worship 9:15 AM Education Hour 10:30 AM Worship 11:45 AM Celebration Team 5:00 PM Childrens Choirs 5:00 PM Youth Group 6:00 PM Fellowship Fun Night 6:30 PM Playing with Power