Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina

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Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina www.gcpcusa.org April 8, 2018 Presbyterian Women Sunday Second Sunday of Easter Love recognizes no barriers.

1 Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina April 8, 2018 Presbyterian Women Sunday Second Sunday of Easter Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope. ~ Maya Angelou Prelude Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing! Michael Burkhardt * Call to Worship We cry out in pain, and God offers us peace. Sing, in every land! Sing the good news! We walk the road alone, and God shows us the way. Sing, every voice! Sing the good news! We fear the end, and God promises a new beginning. Sing, every age! Sing the good news of Easter! * Hymn 251 * Call to Reconciliation Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia MFURAHINI HALELUYA

2 * Prayer of Confession Eternal God, forgive us. You are here, and yet, we fail to recognize you. Too often, we shut our eyes, and we allow fear to control our hearts. We choose to forget that you call us to be your hands and feet in the world. Instead, we stay safe on the sidelines. Where we are weak, grant us strength. Where we are uncertain, grant us wisdom. Where we are frozen, grant us movement. Help us to remember who we are and to live as the disciples you call us to be. * Assurance of Forgiveness * Response * Passing of the Peace The Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. Faith Sharing with Children Our Life Together (Please sign the pad located in your pew)

3 Prayer for Illumination New Testament Acts 4:32-35 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Anthem Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! Traditional Caribbean Gospel Lesson John 20:19-31 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Sermon Resurrection Tales Samantha Gonzalez-Block, Mary Lou Nash, Keaton Hill & Elizabeth Propst Hymn 470 There Is a Longing in Our Hearts LONGING (Refrain only to be sung during the sermon as directed) Sacrament of Communion (8:30 only) * Hymn 462 I Love to Tell the Story HANKEY * Affirmation of Faith (adapted from The Belhar Confession) We believe that God has been revealed as the one who wishes to bring about equality and true peace among people, who brings justice to the oppressed and gives bread to the hungry, who frees the prisoner and restores sight to the blind, who entrusts the church with the message of reconciliation through Jesus Christ. We believe that the church is called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, to be a witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth, to stand where the Lord stands, namely with those suffering and in need, to strive against any form of injustice, so that justice may roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Offering (Please place prayer cards in the offering plate for the Prayers of the People) Offertory Hymn of Promise arr. John Carter

4 * Doxology * Prayer of Dedication Miraculous God, Accept these gifts offered to you in thanksgiving for the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, whom you so generously gave to us. May all that we give be used to bring about your world-changing hope. Amen. 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 246 Christ Is Alive! TRURO * Charge & Benediction * Postlude Gaudeamus Pariter James Biery

5 (For some, the Postlude 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!) Indicates 10:30 worship only. * 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. Our Life Together Thank You! 8:30 Head Usher: David Bailey 10:30 Head Usher: Geneva Neeriemer Liturgist: Sandra Dykes Deacon of the Week: Betsy Rhodes, betsyrhodes@charter.net Thank you to Jeannette Williams for the flowers that decorate the sanctuary this morning, given to the glory of God and Happy Birthday great-grandson, Austin Lee. A brief congregational meeting has been called immediately following the 10:30 AM worship service on Sunday, April 15, for the purpose of electing an elder to fill an unexpired term on Session. Earth Team Meeting TODAY!, April 8 11:45 AM Garden Room Agenda includes: Earth Team participation in Earth Day Service (April 22), blessing of the animals service on a Sunday afternoon and a bird watching trip in early May. The Creating Sanctuary Team (CST) will NOT meet this Sunday, April 8. Our next meeting will be Sunday, May 13th at 11:45 AM. PART The Racial Justice Book Club Thursday, April 12 12:15 PM Jerusalem Room For April, we will be reading Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. "Catch Up" Book Discussion Sunday, April :30 PM Habitat Tavern The novels are: Sula by Toni Morrison, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead, and Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. PART Meeting Thursday, April 19 7 PM Garden Room Serve Clothing Bin Volunteers Needed! Haywood Street Congregation has placed clothing receptacle bin in our parking lot. Volunteers are needed to empty the bin and transport the donations to the Haywood Street facility. Also, we are looking for a lead volunteer who would manage the volunteer calendar. To sign up or for more information, contact Nancy Kramer at nancykramer1981@gmail.com.

6 Time for PRITCHARD PARK Sunday, April 15 Sign-up for the next Pritchard Park are in the Narthex today, April 8! Food donations and volunteers are needed. The GCPC youth will be preparing and serving the breakfast this month! Questions? Please contact David Bailey at or him at Grow Critics of Christianity Class Sundays April 15 May PM FH Three of the most powerful critiques of the Christian faith have come from the disciplines of political science, psychology, and feminism. Covering foundational figures in these areas, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and contemporary feminist scholars, our class will look at how our faith fares under their analysis, and how we can be in conversation with them and learn from them, in order to deepen our faith and to make it more authentic and thoughtful. Facilitators: Barry Sharpe, Richard Coble and Marcia Mount Shoop. Lord's Supper Workshop Sunday, April 22 9:15 AM Sanctuary We welcome all elementary aged children and their parents to join Marcia and Samantha as we explore this sacrament of our faith. We will talk about the history of Communion and how it is celebrated in our church community today. Care SOS ~ Save Our Sanity 7 PM Monday, April 9th at Taryn Duncan s home A social, prayer, support group for mothers of young children! Come with an appetizer or dessert; leave the kids at home. GCPC 20s/30s Gathering: "Trivia Night" Tuesday, April 17 7:45-9:30 PM Twin Leaf Brewery (144 Coxe Ave) If you are in your twenties or thirties, get ready for a night of trivia fun together! Let's meet at the brewery and form an unbeatable team(s). This event is free and drinks are available for purchase. RSVP to Samantha sgblock@gcpcusa.org so that we can get a table that is big enough. *If you need childcare, Sherrie by Tuesday, April 10. Retired and Senior Adult Potluck Sunday, April 22 12:30 PM (following worship) Fellowship Hall All are invited and a special invitation for Older Adults looking for a good time, sharing the joy of aging well. *Critical to Note the church kitchen is still under construction. Each must bring their fully prepared dish to share, ready to serve, and bring your tableware. Sponsored by the J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) Group. Youth News Youth Group "Pritchard Park & BeLoved House" Sunday, April 15 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM Meet/pick up at GCPC We will serve breakfast to people experiencing homelessness and then walk to BeLoved House for worship. Lunch provided! Feel free to bring a musical instrument. Sign up online or contact Samantha sgblock@gcpcusa.org. If you want to help with food prep the day before, Cathy Byers byersabc@gmail.com.

7 Next Sunday s Education Hour for All Ages 9:15 AM Adult Education - Spring Term April 8 May 20 Pressure Points: Islam 101 for Christians at Such a Time as This Choir Room This adult Sunday School seven-week course will begin with a brief overview of the theology, practices, and history of Islam, the fastest growing religious tradition in the world. Topics to be included over the remaining sessions will include: Women in Islam, the teachings of the Qur an, the Hadith, and the Shar iah, Islam and other religious traditions; the varieties of Islam, and contemporary issues in Islam. Facilitator: Kathy Meacham Digging In: Apocalypse Past and Future: The Book of Revelation Jerusalem Rm With an eye to our current fascination of popular apocalyptic books and movies, this class will examine what drove John of Patmos to write the book of Revelation. How was Revelation a response to the situation of early Christians under the threat of Rome and what does its message of hope, judgement, and the end of time have to say to us today? Is Revelation really about escape and heaven, or is there also a message about how to live our lives today, in this world, in a trying time such as this? Facilitator: Richard Coble The Improv: The Enneagram Atrium & Fellowship Hall The Enneagram is a dynamic system that identifies nine personality types. The enneagram system is spiritually rich because of its commitment to transformative growth and its ability to name personality habits that keep us from living more authentically. Knowing our ennea-type enhances how we show up in relationships, in work and in the world. Facilitator: Carol Hovis CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION [Contact Samantha] Preschool/Kindergarten (ages 3-5) anytime from 8:30 11:30 AM Preschool Sunday School Room (downstairs, Children s Center) Elementary (grades 1-5) 9:10 10:10 AM Temple Room (upstairs, Promise Zone) Middle School (grades 6-8) 9:15-10:10 AM Middle School Classroom, PZ Senior Highs (grades 9-12) 9:15-10:10 AM Senior High Classroom, PZ CALENDAR Sunday 8 Presbyterian Women Sunday 8:30 AM Worship 9:15 AM Education Hour 10:30 AM Worship 11:45 AM Earth Team Mtg. Monday 9 7:00 PM SOS ~ Save Our Sanity Tuesday 10 9:00 AM Prayer Group 6:00 PM Building & Property Comm. Mtg. Wednesday 11 10:00 AM Knit & Knatter (Knitting Group) 11:00 AM Bible Study 11:45 AM Sanctuary open for prayer 4:30 PM Memorial Garden Mtg. 7:00 PM Chancel Choir Thursday 12 12:15 PM Racial Justice Book Club Sunday 15 Healing Art Missions/Pritchard Park 8:00 AM Youth at Pritchard Park & BeLoved House 8:30 AM Worship 9:15 AM Education Hour 10:30 AM Worship 11:30 AM Deacons

8 Prayer List [Concerns will stay on this list for a month unless we hear otherwise. Please keep us updated.] Jerusalem Church congregation; Sherry Harcke (Les and Susan Stradley s friend); Nikita Norris, Regina Hunter & family (Habitat for Humanity partner family); Pat Cocke (Les and Susan Stradley s friend); Roy and Maxine Hicks (Melissa Hicks parents); Glen Russell (Robin Gaiser s brother); Betsy Needle (Robin Gaiser s friend); Pieter van den Bergh (Lisette de Groot s brother); Steve and Joanna Bowman (Mike Fleenor s brother-in-law and sister); Virginia Bradley; Hettie Lou Garland; Dot Holladay; Teresa Stern; Cindy Egerer; Jana Watts; Susan Stradley; Sally Richardson; Betty Smith; John Curry; Rick Noble; Joyce Summerlin Next Sunday, April 15, 2018 Third Sunday of Easter Worship services at 8:30 & 10:30 AM Education Hour at 9:15 am Sermon: Who New? by Jeff Jones Scriptures: 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36-48

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina www.gcpcusa.org April 1, 2018 Easter...philosophy may not neglect the multifariousness of the world the fairies dance, and Christ is nailed