Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church · Thank you to Mary Byers for the flowers that decorate the...

GraceCovenantPresbyterianChurchAsheville,NorthCarolina

www.gcpcusa.org

May26,2019SixthSundayofEaster

Thelightflowsfromtheirbranches.Andtheycallagain,“It’ssimple,”theysay,“andyou,too,havecomeintotheworldtodothis,togoeasy,tobefilledwithlight,andtoshine.”~MaryOliver,"WhenIAmAmongTrees"

BellPeal✜

Prelude✜ EarthandAllStars MichaelBurkhardt * CalltoWorship(adaptedfromPsalm67)

Letthepeoplespraiseyou,OGod!Letallthepeoplespraiseyou.Letthenationsbegladandsingforjoy.Godjudgesthepeopleswithequity.Letthepeoplespraiseyou,OGod!

*Hymn17 SingPraisetoGod,YouHeavens! WIELIEBLICHISTDERMAIEN*CalltoReconciliation *PrayerofConfession

HealingGod, Forgiveusforthedestructivewaysweliveinthisworldyoumade.Wedenytheimpactwearehavingontheearth.Wedenythemassextinctionthatisunderwaybecauseofourgreed,ourshort-sightedness,andourwaste.Wedenyhowwearepoisoningourownwatersourcesand foodsourcesandoxygensources.Wedenyourself-destructivehabitsandhowstuckweareinlife-diminishingwaysoflivingandthinking.Weneedyourhealing.Weneedyourforgiveness.Weneedyourlove.Amen.

*AssuranceofForgiveness* Response✜ GlorytoGod,WhoseGoodnessShinesonMe Hymn582 * PassingofthePeace ThePeaceofChristbewithyou. Andalsowithyou.

FaithSharingwithChildren✜ OurLifeTogether✜(Pleasesignthepadlocatedinyourpew) PrayerforIllumination Psalter✜ Psalm67 TheWordoftheLord ThanksbetoGod!

Anthem✜ PeaceILeaveWithYou WalterPelz GospelLesson John5:1-9 TheWordoftheLord ThanksbetoGod!

Sermon “DoYouWanttoBeWell?” MarciaMountShoop*Hymn713✜ TouchtheEarthLightly TENDERNESS SacramentofCommunion(8:15only)

*AffirmationofFaith✜(adaptedfromTheConfessionof1967)

ThereconcilingactofGodinJesusChristexposestheevilinpeopleassininthesightofGod.Insin,peopleclaimmasteryoftheirownlives,turnagainstGodandeachother,andbecomeexploitersanddespoilersoftheworld.Theylosetheirhumanityinfutilestrivingandareleftinrebellion,despair,andisolation.God’sredeemingworkinJesusChristembracesthewholeofhumanlife:socialandcultural,economicandpolitical,scientificandtechnological,individualandcorporate.Itincludesthenaturalenvironmentasexploitedanddespoiledbysin.Withanurgencybornof…hope,thechurchappliesitselftopresenttasksandstrivesforabetterworld.ItdoesnotidentifylimitedprogresswiththekingdomofGodonearth,nordoesitdespairinthefaceofdisappointmentanddefeat.Insteadfasthope,thechurchlooksbeyondallpartialachievementtothefinaltriumphofGod.

Offering(PleaseplaceprayercardsintheofferingplateforthePrayersofthePeople) Offertory✜ BecauseYouLive,OChrist JohnFerguson

* Doxology✜

* PrayerofDedicationGraciousGod,Thankyouforyourunendingandunfailinglove.Blessthisofferingthatitmightserveyourhighestgoodandprovideintheplacesofgreatestneed.Amen.

PrayersofthePeople✜ Eachsectionoftheprayerwillconclude:“God,inyourgrace” Pleaserespond:“Hearourprayer”

TheLord’sPrayer✜OurFather,whoartinheaven,Hallowedbethyname,Thykingdomcome,thywillbedone,Onearthasitisinheaven.Giveusthisdayourdailybread;andforgiveusourdebts,aswe forgiveourdebtors;and leadusnotintotemptation,butdeliverusfromevil.Forthineisthekingdom,andthepower,andtheglory,forever.Amen.

*Hymn757 TodayWeAllAreCalledtoBeDisciples KINGSFOLD

*Charge&Benediction

*Postlude✜ TubaTune C.S.Lang-------------------------------------------------

(Forsome,thePostludeservesasfestivemusictoaccompanytheirgoingbackoutintotheworld.Othersprefertoremainseatedandlisten.Pleasebemindfulofthesedifferentneedsasyoudepart.Thankyou!)

✜Indicates10:45worshiponly.*PleaseStandinBodyorSpirit.

WegathertoworshipGodwhoislargerthanallourimaginations!WeencourageallpersonstosingthegendernounsandpronounstheypreferinreferringtoGod.

OurLifeTogether…

ThankYou!8:15HeadUsher:ConnieJones10:45HeadUsher:CathyFroehlich|Liturgists:BuzzDurham&RickPhilipsenDeaconoftheWeek:GordonGaiser,email:gordongaiser@yahoo.comThankyoutoMaryByersfortheflowersthatdecoratethesanctuarythismorning,giventothegloryofGod,withthanksforalovingfamilyandfriends.

NewSummerWorshipTimes|8:15&10:15am|June2–September1SummerChoirwillbeginonJune2at9:15am!AnyonewhowantstogivesingingatryisencouragedtoshowuponSundaymorningsat9:15aminthesanctuary.Wewillspendabout40minuteslearningmusicforthatdayandthenleadworshipatthe10:15amservice.(NoEducationHourduringsummer)

PART(Power&RaceTeam)TheRacialJusticeBookSeries|Thursday,June13|6:00PM|GardenRoomForJune,wearereadingTearsWeCannotStop:ASermontoWhiteAmericabyEricDyson.

MuseumoftheCherokeeIndian|Saturday,June8||12–7PM|Cherokee,NCAnafternoonintheCherokeeMuseum,picniconthegroundsandaneveningofCherokeestorytellingaroundabonfire.Youcanaccesstheregistrationformathttp://bit.ly/CherokeeMuseumortherearesomehardcopiesattheWelcomeDesk.

SAVETHESEDATES:(Registrationformswillbeavailablesoon!)• Monday,July8|“UntoTheseHills”OutdoorDrama|4–10PM

AnafternoonpicniconthegroundsbeforetheplayinCherokee,NC.• Saturday,August10|OconalufteeIndianVillage|12-7PMAnafternoonintheOconalufteeVillage,picniconthegroundsandan

eveningofCherokeestorytellingaroundabonfire.

ServeVRQ-BBQCookTeam|Nextdate:June4th|4:45or5:45PM|1329TunnelRd.InvitingyoutojointheBBQCookTeamattheVRQonthefirstTuesdaytohelpprepare,cookandservetheeveningmeal!ABCCM-VeteransRestorationQuartersprovidestransitionalhousingformorethan200USArmedForceVeterans.Ifthisservicefitsyourschedule,comeat4:45tohelpprepareandcookor5:45toservetheeveningmeal.Afterservingthemealwejointheveterans,sharingthemealandconversation.Theeveningusuallyendsby7.Nokitchenclean-up—itisagoodtimeandgoodcamaraderie.Questions?ContactBillNeeriemer,bill.nmer@gmail.com.CallingallPRITCHARDPARKVOLUNTEERS!|Sunday,June16We’relookingfor“veteran”and“newlyenlisted”volunteerstojoinusinprovidingbreakfasttoourfellowbrothersandsistersatPritchardParkonSunday,June16.Wedothisjust6timesperyearonthe3rdSundayoftheevennumberedmonths.Won’tyoujoinusbyeitherprovidingthevariousfoodsweserve;orhelpingusdo“prepwork”onSaturdaymorningJune15;orservethebreakfastonSundaymorningJune16?Youcandoall3ifyoulike!!Asusualsign-upsheetswillbelocatedintheNarthexonSunday,June2andSunday,June9.GCPCfeedsbetween100and144peopleeachtime,atacostof$185indonatedfood;breakfastinAshevillefor$1.28…suchadeal!!

PleasepromiseyourselftoparticipateatleastonceayearinthisimportantGCPCministrytoourcommunity.Questions?PleasecontactRickNobleat803-422-1977oremailhimatrick@noblebelfast.com.

EducationMarketplace,AD-VBS:“LoveYourNeighbor”|June24-27|FirstPres.AVL DEADLINETOREGISTER:MAY31ST!Marketplaceisforchildrenages3yearsold (byJanuary1,2019ANDfullypottytrained)-childrenwhowillbecompleting5th grade.Allformsandpaymentareonlineathttp://bit.ly/MarketplaceAD.Youth &adultvolunteersalsoneeded.EmailHeatherathferguson@gcpcusa.orgforinfo.

SummerWomen’sMemoirSeries|LastMondayofmonth|6PM|GardenRmJoinusforaseriesofbooktalks.Opentoallwomenofthechurch.Onecopyofeachbookcanbefoundinthechurchlibrary.Pleasepre-readthebookstoensurelivelydiscussion.

• June24|Heartland:AMemoirofWorkingHardandBeingBrokeintheRichestCountryonEarthbySarahSmarsh|Facilitator:MargaretTierney

SummerBibleStudy–TheGospelofMark|WednesdaysinJuneandJuly|11:00–11:45AM|GardenRoom"Howcouldsuchapainfulstoryoffear,betrayal,sufferingsanddeathalsobethe'goodnewsofJesusChrist'(1:1)"asksonecommentatoroftheGospelofMark.ComejoinusasweseektoanswerthisquestionthroughadeepreadingofMark,theoldestcanonicalGospelintheNewTestament.Together,wewillexaminewhatMarkbelievedaboutJesus,howheunderstoodthis"GoodNews"fortheworld,andwhatthisbookmeansforourlivestoday.Cometoeverymeetingorstopbywhenyoucan.ContactRichard,rcoble@gcpcusa.org,formoredetails.*OurregularlectionaryBibleStudywillresumeinthefall.

EarthTeamEarthTeamMeeting|Wednesday,June5|5:30PM|JerusalemRoom

GCPCCommunityAnnualBloodDrive|Sunday,June2|8:30AM–1:30PM Desperatelyneeded:Atleast10additionalblooddonorsfortheRedCrossBloodDriveonSunday,June2.Weareshortofourgoalthisyearandencourageyoutosupportthisimportantmission.CallMarilynSchmidt(694-0869),registeratthetableintheNarthexonMay26,orcheckattheregistrationtableinFellowshipHallthedayofthedrivetoseeiftherehavebeencancellations.GCPCGoestotheBallpark!|Friday,June21|7PM|Tourists’GameJoinusfortheballgame!GraceCovenanthasreserved100seats.Ticketsare$7foradultsand$5forchildren(12andunder)andseniors.PleasecallthechurchofficeoremailSherrietoreserveyourtickets.TicketsmustbepurchasedbySunday,June16th.MakecheckspayabletoGCPC.

YouthNewsThankyouforawonderfulYouthGroupandSundaySchoolyear!

GRADUATINGFROMHIGHSCHOOLINJUNE?SeniorHighGraduationSunday!OnSunday,June23rd,GCPCwillbehonoringourhighschoolgraduatesduringthe10:15worshipservice.Ifyouwillbegraduatingfromhighschool,pleasesavethedateandcontactSamantha,sgblock@gcpcusa.org,inordertofilloutthegraduationinformationformBYTODAY,Sunday,May26th.THANKS!

EducationHourwillresumeinthefall!

*NurserycareisavailablethroughoutSundaymorningbeginningat8:10am.

PrayerList[Concernswillstayonthislistforamonthunlesswehearotherwise.Pleasekeepusupdated.]IglesiaJerusalemcongregation;SherryHarcke(LesStradley’sfriend);PatCocke(LesStradley’sfriend);DeborahStrong(RobinGaiser’scousin);NancyandRichardSchaadt(DonnaRobertson’ssisterandbrother-in-law);LouiseSeitz(JanetSchifflin’sfriend);JeffreyFerris(MaryLouNash’sson);JuneCollins(CarolynTingle’smother);RobinSmith(BethRobrecht’ssister);JamesMartin(StacyShelley’sdad);RebeccaWells’brother,Jamey;NatalieC.;SandraRummel&Family(friendsoftheKavalhunas);JenniferMoore(AmandaPressley’sdaughter);DorothyZuck(PatDurham’smother);RichardStump(MarciaMountShoop’sfriend);WestAshevillePresbyterianChurch;MichelleElhert(BillMcNeff’sfriend);JenniferVaughn(MaryBerg’sfriend);HettieLouGarland;DotHolladay;BettySmith;MargaretRada;BobHiggins;JoyceSummerlin;JamesHarwell;CoryHartbarger;MaryEllenHorne;SherrieMcCleary-SmallAMemorialServicefortheRev.Dr.AlanGraggwillbeheldnextSunday,June2at3:00pmatGraceCovenantPresbyterianChurch.Allarewelcome.

CALENDAR

May Sunday268:15AM Worship 10:45AM Worship Monday27 OFFICECLOSED–MemorialD Tuesday289:00AM PrayerGroup 5:00PM PresbyteryPlanningMtg. 6:15PM Session Wednesday2910:00AM Knitters&KnattersJune Sunday28:00AM AnnualBloodDrive 8:15AM Worship 9:15AM SummerChoirRehearsal 10:15AM Worship/NewMemberSunday 11:15AM PritchardParkMtg. 12:15PM MemorialGardenMtg. 3:00PM MemorialServiceforAlanGragg

NextSunday,June2,2019SeventhSundayofEaster

SacramentoftheLord’sSupperNewMemberSunday

Worshipservicesat8:15&10:15AMCourtyardFellowshipat11:15AM

Homily:“One-ing”byMarciaMountShoopScriptures:Psalm97;John17:20-26