Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina

Transcription

1 Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina November 25, 2018 Christ the King "Religion is meant to transform anxiety into peace, arrogance into humility, envy into compassion, to awaken the pure souls in humans and their love for the Source, which is God." ~ Radhanath Swami Bell Peal Prelude Fanfare on Coronation Janet Linker * Call to Worship (adapted from Psalm 93) God is king. The Lord is robed in majesty. God has established the world and it shall never be moved. God is queen. The Lord is wondrous and everlasting. God is more majestic than the thunders of mighty waters. God s decrees are sure. Holiness befits the Lord s house. How majestic is our God. Praise, praise the Lord!

2 * Hymn 268 Crown Him with Many Crowns DIADEMATA * Call to Reconciliation * Prayer of Confession * Assurance of Forgiveness God of Mercy, You have sent us prophets and a Savior and still we have not opened our eyes to you. We have not always listened for your truth or made way for your reign in our lives, our church, and our society. Forgive us, we pray, and renew your covenant within us, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. * Response Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me Hymn 582 * 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) Prayer for Illumination Hebrew Scripture 2 Samuel 23:1-7 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Anthem Christus Paradox Alfred Fedac Based on Hymn 274 Ednamae Fisher, organ Gospel Lesson John 18:33-39 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Sermon Across a Crowded Room Samantha Gonzalez-Block Sacrament of Communion (8:15 only) * Hymn 450 Be Thou My Vision SLANE

3 * Affirmation of Faith (adapted from A Brief Statement of Faith) We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God s new heaven and new earth, praying, Come, Lord Jesus! Offering (Please place prayer cards in the offering plate for the Prayers of the People) Offertory Cantilène on Coronation Janet Linker * Doxology * Prayer of Dedication Prayers of the People The Lord s Prayer Miraculous God, Accept these gifts offered to you. May all that we give be used for your holy purpose in bringing justice, mercy and joy to your world. Amen. Each section of the prayer will conclude: God, in your grace Please respond: Hear our 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.

4 * Hymn 821 My Life Flows On HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING? * Charge & Benediction * Postlude Marche Triomphale Sigfrid Karg-Elert (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 10:45 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! 8:15 Head Usher: Amy Wiesner 10:45 Head Usher: Tim Hamel Liturgist: Sidney Shoop Deacon of the Week: Anne Sayers, annesayers432@gmail.com Thank you to Jeannette Williams for the flowers that decorate the sanctuary this morning, given to the glory of God and in loving memory of her sister, Jean Ralph Greiner, and her husband, John Greiner. Asheville Gay Men's Chorus presents Appalachian Spirit - Music for the Holidays" Saturday, December 7:30 PM and Sunday, December 4:00 PM GCPC Sanctuary The Asheville Gay Men s Chorus entertains, advocates and connects community through choral excellence. Before November 30: VIP tickets - $25 and General Admission - $20. Children under 12 years old - $10. (Note: After November 30, ticket prices will go up $5 each.) For tickets and more info, visit PART (Power & Race Team) The Racial Justice Book Club Thursday, Dec. 13 6:00 PM Jerusalem Room For December, we are reading the novel Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. PART Meeting Thursday, December 13 7:00 PM Jerusalem Room Earth Team Earth Team Meeting Wednesday, December 5 5:30 PM Garden Room Creating Sanctuary Team Creating Sanctuary Team Mtg. Sunday, Dec. 9 11:45 AM Garden Room

5 Serve VRQ BBQ Cook Team Next cook date: Tuesday, December 4 4:45 or 5:45 PM Come help us serve a meal to the veterans! Come at 4:45 to help cook or 5:45 to help serve. This mission service has a long history. We would love for you to be a part of the service & camaraderie. Questions? Contact Bill Neeriemer, bill.nmer@gmail.com. Education Bible Study Wednesdays 11:00 AM Garden 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! In December, Bible Study will meet on December 5 and 12 and then take a break for the holidays. Bible Study will resume on January 9. GCPC Community J.O.Y. Group Gathering Thurs., Nov AM Smith-McDowell House Tour The J.O.Y. group (anyone 55 years or older) will be visiting the Smith-McDowell House to tour its lively Christmas Decorations on Thursday, Nov. 29. We will then head over for lunch at 12 Bones on the River. The tour is $5 per person. Please call Richard in the church office at to see if there is still space available. GCPC 20s/30s Gathering: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness Discussion" Thurs., Nov. 29 7:00-8:30pm The Hop (640 Merrimon Ave) If you are in your twenties or thirties, you are invited to meet at the Hop to enjoy some ice cream (on us) and discuss racism and racial equality, using a portion of Austin Channing Brown's book, Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness. RSVP to Samantha sgblock@gcpcusa.org. SOS ~ Save Our Sanity Monday, December 3 7:00 PM Amy Fowler's home A social, prayer, support group for mothers! Come with a snack, drinks will be provided; leave the kids at home! To be added to the list, Anna Louise at almurchison@gcpcusa.org. For questions about the upcoming meeting, Amy Fowler at amy@wncgcm.com. (Of course, infants are welcome.) Support Group for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI Group) Wednesday, December 5 12 PM Garden Room This support group introduces techniques for daily living with such issues, led by Paul Rogers, a retired physician in our congregation. We meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month. Contact Richard, rcoble@gcpcusa.org, with questions. *New participants are welcome at any time. 2 nd Wednesday Fellowship Dinner and Biltmore Preview Concert Wednesday, December 12 6:00 PM Fellowship Hall & Sanctuary Join us for 2nd Wednesday dinner followed at 7:00 pm by a festive evening of seasonal carols sung by members of our Chancel Choir as they put the final touches on their Biltmore Candlelight concert.

6 Sisters at the Sea February 21-24, 2019 Folly Beach, SC $170 (Early Bird) Are you a woman age 25ish-50ish who would like a weekend of connecting and rejuvenating? Mark your calendars for our 10th annual SOS ( save our sanity / sisters at the sea ) retreat! Heather Ferguson will lead this year s retreat. We will dig into some unique ways to tap into Celtic spirituality. The beach will be a perfect place to explore Fire, Earth, Wind and Water: Praying with the Elements of Creation. If you reserve your spot by Dec. 23 with a $40 non-refundable deposit, you will receive the early bird rate ($20 off). Registration ends on February 3 rd. Scholarships available upon request. Forms available near Welcome Desk or online. Youth News There will be no youth group Thanksgiving weekend. Youth Group: "Richmond, Here We Come" Preparations Next Sunday, December PM GCPC Next weekend, we will be getting prepared for our winter mission education trip to Richmond, Virginia. If you are signed up to go on the trip, you must attend this youth group. If you are unable to go on the mission trip, but would still like to come learn more about Richmond, we would love for you to attend next Sunday. At least one parent should be at our trip info session at 6:30pm. Excited to hit the road soon! Confirmation 2019 Sign up & Preliminary Meeting for Parents & Youth Sunday, December PM Jerusalem Room 8th - 12th graders, you are invited to take part in this exciting step on your faith journey: Confirmation! GCPC's Confirmation class is offered every other year and will run from January - May It is a meaningful time for youth to explore their faith, ask questions, receive tools, and learn more about what it means to be members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Youth and parents will be receiving s shortly with sign up information. For now, please save the date for this preliminary meeting for parents, youth and Confirmation teachers. Questions? Contact Samantha sgblock@gcpcusa.org. Next Sunday s Education for All Ages 9:15 AM Intergenerational Advent Class December 2-23 Calm & Bright Fellowship Hall For the four Sundays of Advent, the Education Hour (for 1st grade through adults) will be an experience sure to stir your spirit through sacred music, lively exploration and mutual blessing. This year marks the 200-year anniversary of the beloved hymn, Silent Night. Come join Heather Ferguson, Lynn Bledsoe and an intergenerational music team as we celebrate this Advent season the GCPC way! CHILDREN S EDUCATION [Contact Heather] Toddlers (ages 2-3) God Loves Me 9:15 10:15 AM Toddler Room (downstairs, Children s Center) Preschool/Kindergarten (ages 4-5) Godly Play 9:15 10:15 AM Preschool Sunday School Room (downstairs, Children s Center) *Nursery care is available throughout Sunday morning beginning at 8:10 am.

7 Prayer List [Concerns will stay on this list for a month unless we hear otherwise. Please keep us updated.] Iglesia Jerusalem congregation; Sherry Harcke (Les Stradley s friend); Pat Cocke (Les Stradley s friend); Glen Russell (Robin Gaiser s brother); Francis Miller (Nancy Miller s son); Nancy and Richard Schaadt (Donna Robertson s sister and brother-in-law); Shaketia Simpson and children (Habitat for Humanity partner family); Louise Seitz (Janet Schifflin s friend); Sondra Dorn (Jonathan Tetzlaff s partner); Lynne Norris (Mary Lou Nash s friend); Jeffrey Ferris (Mary Lou Nash s son); Erik Jacobs (Kathy Jacob s son); Jack Waskey (Anna Hamel s father); Hettie Lou Garland; Dot Holladay; Teresa Stern; Betty Smith; Margaret Rada; Bob Higgins CALENDAR Nov. Sunday 25 8:15 AM Worship 9:15 AM ADVENT-ure (for all ages) 10:45 AM Worship 12:00 PM Biltmore Choir Rehearsal 5:00 PM Children s Choir 6:00 PM Evening Prayer Service 7:00 PM Hand Bell Choir Monday 26 6:00 PM Enneagram Gathering Tuesday 27 9:00 AM Prayer Group 6:15 PM Session Wednesday 28 10:00 AM Knit and Knatter (Knitting Group) 11:00 AM Bible Study 5:30 PM Nominating Comm. Mtg. 5:30 PM Stewardship Mtg. 7:00 PM Chancel Choir Thursday 29 10:00 AM J.O.Y. Group Outing 7:00 PM 20s/30s Gathering Friday 30 10:00 AM Enneagram Gathering Dec. Sunday 2 8:15 AM Worship 9:15 AM Education Hour (for all ages) 10:45 AM Worship 12:00 PM Biltmore Choir Rehearsal 5:00 PM Children s Choir 5:00 PM Youth Advent Fun Event

8 Next Sunday, December 2, 2018 First Sunday of Advent Worship services at 8:15 & 10:45 AM Education Hour (for all ages) at 9:15 AM Sermon: The Days Are Surely Coming by Richard Coble Scriptures: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 21:25-36