Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina

Transcription

1 Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina October 13, :30 am Loving God, we love how you love us. We love how you free us. We love what you have given and created to surround us. Help us to recognize, and to rejoice in, what has been given, even in the midst of what is not given. Help us not to doubt all that you have given us, even when we feel our very real shortcomings. We thank you for the promise and sign of your love in the Eternally Risen Christ, pervading all things in the universe, unbound by any of our categories of logic or theology. We offer you ourselves back in return. We offer you our bodies, our little lives, our racing minds and restless hearts into this one wondrous circle of Love that is You. My life is no longer just about me, but it is all about you. - Richard Rohr Organ Voluntary * Call to Worship Two Chorale Partita Settings of "O God, Thou Faithful God" J. S. Bach On an ordinary Sunday, we come to worship God: We come, trusting God will speak to us; we come, hoping God will surprise us. On this day, like every other day, we seek to follow Jesus: we follow, believing Jesus will be with us; we follow, hoping Jesus will work through us. On this day, we lift our souls to God's Spirit: we open our hearts, that the Spirit may fill us; we open our hands, that we might be a gift to others.

2 * Hymn 420 God of Grace and God of Glory CWM RHONDDA * Call to Reconciliation * Prayer of Confession * Kyrie eleison You tell us not to worry, Mothering God, but we cannot seem to help ourselves. We make lists and arrange things just right and worry about how much is enough. With a simple invitation to 'follow me,' we form committees to help us decide. We lift our hearts to you, Tender God, so you would fill them with your mercy and hope. May we continue to seek your presence in every moment to come, hoping and trusting in the peace and love of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. * Assurance of Forgiveness There is no shame in the good news only hope, only life, only joy, only peace. Even now, God is forgiving us; even now, God is making us new. Thanks be to God. Amen.

3 * Response * Passing of the Peace The Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. Faith Sharing with Children Nickel- A- Meal Buzz Durham Prayer for Illumination New Testament Psalm 66 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Romans 12:1-2, 9-13 Gospel The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Matthew 13:24-30 Sermon Why Doesn t God Do Something? Mark Ramsey Silent Meditation * Hymn 369 I m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me I M GONNA LIVE * Affirmation of Faith (from the United Church of Canada) We are not alone, we live in God's world. We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the Church:

4 to celebrate God's presence, to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen. Our Life Together (Please sign the Friendship Pad located in your pew) Offering (Please place prayer cards in the offering plate for the Prayers of the People) Prayer of Dedication Choir Anthem Chantez à Dieu Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck * Doxology Chantez à Dieu chanson nouvelle, Chantez, ô terre universelle, Chantez, et son Nom bénissez. Et de jour en jour annoncez sa délivrance solennelle. Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing, all the whole earth. Sing and bless God s name; And day to day announce the good news of God s salvation. Psalm 96: 1, 2 Prayers of the People and the Lord s Prayer (using debts debtors ) Each section of the prayer will conclude: Hear us, O God Please respond: Your love is great * Hymn 263 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ST DENIO * Charge and Benediction Organ Voluntary Fanfare on "Immortal, Invisible" J. Bert Carlson (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. All musical pieces used with permission.

5 We gather to worship God who is larger than all our imagination! We encourage all persons to sing the gender nouns and pronouns they prefer in referring to God. Welcome to Grace Covenant Thank you: to the Head Usher: David Bailey ~ Liturgist: Chris Hartbarger and to Al & Louse Root for the flowers that decorate our Sanctuary, given in memory of their parents, Anna and Hubert Critz, Inez and Joseph Root. GROW Young Adults Group Monday Evenings at 7:00 PM Fellowship Hall College, post- college and young- at- hearts are invited to gather for food, fellowship and reflection.. Contact Nathan McMahan for details (nmcmahan@gcpcusa.org). SERVE Pritchard Park Breakfast Ministry NEXT Sunday, October 20 Donations & Volunteers Needed The sign up sheets will be in the narthex. We are still in need of donations of food. If you have any questions, contact Jane Lee Vondette at JLVO@aol.com or Thank you for all your support! Critical Food Shortages Due to Government Shutdown Affect WIC (Women Infant Children Program) If the Government shutdown continues, critical shortages of food are expected within the week. As Buncombe County is already consider a hungry county, this need is urgent, particularly for infants and young children. We have set up collection boxes in the Information Station in the narthex. Please bring the following in any amounts to the church starting today and running through next Thursday all donations are gratefully accepted: Formulas or Nutritional Products (Similac, Enfamil, or their generic equivalents) Infant Cereal 8 oz Infant Meats 2.5 oz Infant Fruits oz Infant Vegetables oz This shutdown will not only affect our most vulnerable, infants and children, but everyone who lives with even a small amount of Food Insecurity. In addition to food for the young ones, please grab a few items, such as nut butters and canned meats, and drop them in our shopping cart to be delivered to ABCCM s Crisis Food Pantry. Also many students at Asheville Middle School are experiencing a decrease in food security since the shutdown. AMS does not participate in the MANNA Packs For Kids - instead they run their own program, and are in need of help. In addition to the boxes for the WIC items (and the shopping cart), there will boxes labeled AMS. Items needed are non- perishable proteins (cans of beans, chicken, tuna, peanut butter) and kids' snack items (granola bars, milk boxes, juice boxes, breakfast cereal). Thank you for considering our neighbors in this challenging time. Thank you!

6 Nickel- A- Meal Collection TODAY Today we re collecting the offering at the doors after the worship service. The simple act of putting a nickel in a bank for each meal eaten nets only $54.75 a year. But the impact is tremendous. Not only are regional agencies, like Manna Food Bank and A Hope, helped, but also international programs, this year in Malawi, Haiti and Guatemala. Make the change. Make a difference. Homeward Bound Needs Donations of House- wares for Newly Housed Clients They would love any donations of kitchen items, linens and other basic household items. They also have an ongoing need for washers and dryers. To donate, please contact: Ashley Campbell volunteer@homewardboundwnc.org or CARE Friendship Circles Luncheon TODAY After worship Join us to learn about your new Friendship Circle and to break bread. The VRQ's Culinary Commandos are providing box lunches ($7 each) and for the children (or adults) there will be the peanut butter and jelly along with fruit. Please plan to come. Vegetarians will be accommodated as well. If you have questions, call Joanne at Prayer List As we gather together for worship, we invite your continuing prayers for: Jerusalem Church elders deacons congregation; Linda Albin (Les & Susan Stradley's friend); Mary Owen (Cecil & Sandy Jividen's friend); Melissa Wills (Anna Thomas' friend); Ann Irwin (Kathy Jacobs' sister- in- law); Katherine Fulford (Steve Riedesel's cousin); Sister Maria del Rosario (Jerusalem Church Member); Sam Bradley (Virginia Bradley's son); Hazel Dare (Heath Rada's sister); Martin Havens (Carmen Haven's father); Jan & Dick Stagneth (Bob Walther's friend); Billy & Mollie Johnson (Ann Goodpasture); Melanie Rutledge (Amanda Rutledge's mom); Joe Meigs (Ted Meigs' father); Brenda Taylor (Florence Riedesel's cousin); Nikki Hebert (Nancy Quick's niece); Edwin Shealy (Cathy Fodi's father); Jared Stokes (Jordan Stokes' brother); Pam Morrell (Penny Ponder's daughter); Kimberly Glenn (Elizabeth Mullen's sister); Joan Irwin (Kathy Jacobs' mother); Debbie Leon (Cecil & Sandy Jividen's friend); Marsi Brewer (Carmen Havens' friend); Linda Parker (Anna Jarvis sister- in- law); Anne- Marie Shealy (Cathy Fodi s mother); Jacob & Annie Heartsong (Michelle Heartsong s children); Sandy Fodi (Jeff Fodi's mother); Corey Ellis (Don Gast s friend); William Griffin (Holly Griffin s father- in- law); Daisy dewalder (George dewalder s mother); Beth Newman; Ruth Anne Blakely; Al Williams; Sandy Jividen; Ruth Barnett; Janet Bondurant; Jack Smith; Rachel & Buddy Gill; Elizabeth Fisher Next Sunday, October 20, 2013 Children s Sabbath Worship at 8:30 and 10: 30 AM Mark Torgerson During the Education Hour at 9:15 AM Courtyard Fellowship at 11:30 AM Sermon: God In the Dark by Kristy Farber Scripture: Genesis 32:22-31

7 Next Sunday During the Education Hour at GCPC Calvin Grant Series Mark Torgerson Worship & Architecture NEXT Saturday, October 19 & Sunday, October 20 The first event of our year- long focus on Hospitality & Worship will be offered next weekend. These programs are meant to engage our heads, our hands and our hearts as we move forward with facility renovations. The funding for these programs is provided by a Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. To learn more visit our web site (Current Events > GROW). The Saturday event begins at 10:00 AM, and is a walk through of the church with Judson University Professor of Worship Mark Torgerson. Please come and see the church through his experienced eyes and then enjoy a Q&A session. All are welcome. Lunch will be served and child care will be provided. Then join us Sunday, during the Education Hour at 9:15 AM, in the Fellowship Hall, for a synthesis of ideas. Pressure Points (Jerusalem Room) Join us as we continue to discuss a recent book: Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity by David M. Felten and Jeff Proctor- Murphy. This study continues our wrestling with the tough questions for us as Christians and for the church in the 21st century. Preschool Free from Slavery; Exodus 5:1-6:13 K 5 th Grade (TPZ) Our Kindergarten through fifth grade children will be learning about "Wandering in the Wilderness" and exploring this story from Exodus with music, cooking and bible games. Middle School Youth We will be exploring many questions such as who wrote the Bible? Is the Bible True? And Why does the Bible contradict itself at times...join us for the discussion! High School Youth (High School Room) The High School Youth will meet with Nathan and members of the Session to discuss parables of Jesus. There will also be food and time to connect with one another. Calendar Sunday 13 8:30 AM Worship 9:15 AM Education Hour 10:10 AM Pick up children 10:30 AM Worship 11:30 AM Friendship Circle lunch 4:30 PM Treble Choir 5:30 PM Youth Group

8 Monday 14 7:00 PM Young Adults Tuesday 15 9:00 AM Prayer Group 5:00 PM GROW/Worship 6:15PM Session Wednesday 16 11:00 AM Wed. Bible study 6:15 PM Sections rehearsal 7:00 PM Chancel Choir Thursday 17 6:30 PM Writing workshop Sat Sun Calvin Grant weekend Sunday 20 Pritchard Park Children s Sabbath 8:30 AM Worship 9:15 AM Education Hour 10:10 AM Pick up children 10:30 AM Worship 11:30 AM Child Protection Policy training 11:30 AM Courtyard Fellowship 4:00 PM PW coordinating team 4:30 PM Treble Choir 5:30 PM Youth Group