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1 Grace Notes Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Volume 43, Issue 2 February 2013 Brothers and sisters in Christ Breaking with the tradition of past newsletters, I don’t have a primary focus in my letter to you this month. However, I’d like to share with you a few random thoughts for the month of February. Leadership Changes With the new year comes new developments in the life and leadership of Grace Covenant. Tom Miller and Kent Cardwell are rotating off the Session, while Pat Ball, Cherry Corley, Susan Farrell, and Sid Yates are rotating off the Diaconate. I know you join me in thanking them for their faithful service over the past years, and in praying for them a season of well-deserved rest and refreshment. In their place, Lisa Cardwell, Courtney Clements, Mary Gray, and Jennifer Schooley are all beginning service as Deacons, and Nelson Reveley is beginning service as a Ruling Elder, while Caroline Leith returns to Session after a year of time off. As Christopher Tweel shared with us on Sunday, they will be leading us in bearing God’s image to one another, and to the world. I have been en- couraged, corrected, comforted, instructed, and inspired over the past two years by God speaking through the people He has called to lead this congregation, and I am eager to see His Spirit leading us in the months to come. New Members Also in this Grace Notes you will see pictures and information about those who made the commitment of membership to Grace Covenant in 2012. Thanks to ruling elders Joy Nevin and Cheryl Jacobs of our Fellowship Ministry for their efforts in putting this together. As you read this, we have already begun another Inquirers’ Class. It runs for six weeks, and those who choose to become members will join the church during our Easter Sunday worship service. PNC Your Pastor Nominating Committee is continuing their faithful ministry to discern the per- son God has called and prepared to serve as GCPC’s next pastor. Please keep in mind that what may seem like a long delay from your perspective is simply an indication of the prayerful attentive- ness and the sober, thoughtful evaluation of candidates being conducted by the men and women you elected to this ministry. Your prayerful support is deeply appreciated, and I gently encourage you not to ask the question that’s at the front of all our minds (“Have you found someone yet?”), but rather simply to offer them your sincere thanks for their faithful perseverance. -continued on page 14-

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Page 1: GCPC Newsletter

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Grace Notes Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Volume 43, Issue 2 February 2013

Brothers and sisters in Christ –

Breaking with the tradition of past newsletters, I don’t have a primary focus in

my letter to you this month. However, I’d like to share with you a few random

thoughts for the month of February.

Leadership Changes – With the new year comes new developments in the life

and leadership of Grace Covenant. Tom Miller and Kent Cardwell are rotating

off the Session, while Pat Ball, Cherry Corley, Susan Farrell, and Sid Yates

are rotating off the Diaconate. I know you join me in thanking them for their faithful service over

the past years, and in praying for them a season of well-deserved rest and refreshment. In their

place, Lisa Cardwell, Courtney Clements, Mary Gray, and Jennifer Schooley are all beginning

service as Deacons, and Nelson Reveley is beginning service as a Ruling Elder, while Caroline

Leith returns to Session after a year of time off. As Christopher Tweel shared with us on Sunday,

they will be leading us in bearing God’s image to one another, and to the world. I have been en-

couraged, corrected, comforted, instructed, and inspired over the past two years by God speaking

through the people He has called to lead this congregation, and I am eager to see His Spirit leading

us in the months to come.

New Members – Also in this Grace Notes you will see pictures and information about those who

made the commitment of membership to Grace Covenant in 2012. Thanks to ruling elders Joy

Nevin and Cheryl Jacobs of our Fellowship Ministry for their efforts in putting this together. As

you read this, we have already begun another Inquirers’ Class. It runs for six weeks, and those who

choose to become members will join the church during our Easter Sunday worship service.

PNC – Your Pastor Nominating Committee is continuing their faithful ministry to discern the per-

son God has called and prepared to serve as GCPC’s next pastor. Please keep in mind that what

may seem like a long delay from your perspective is simply an indication of the prayerful attentive-

ness and the sober, thoughtful evaluation of candidates being conducted by the men and women you

elected to this ministry. Your prayerful support is deeply appreciated, and I gently encourage you

not to ask the question that’s at the front of all our minds (“Have you found someone yet?”), but

rather simply to offer them your sincere thanks for their faithful perseverance.

-continued on page 14-

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We WELCOME Our New Members!

Carlton Boisseau comes to us from All Souls Presbyterian

Church where he had been a member "all of his life." While there,

he served as an Elder and Treasurer. Retired from corporate life at

AT&T as well as the City of Richmond, Carlton now enjoys fish-

ing, golfing, and the outdoors. Married for over 30 years to his

wife Sandy, he is also the father of a daughter who lives in Provi-

dence, Rhode Island, and is on the faculty at Brown University.

We welcome Carlton to our Grace Covenant family and pray that

his involvement with us is wonderfully gratifying.

Ronald David, MD, is a Richmond native whose expertise

is in Child Neurology at St. Mary's Hospital, specializing in chil-

dren with developmental disabilities and autism. Ron and his

wife Susan Pillsbury, also a physician, live in Hanover County.

Their special passion is for the Honduran Mission of Grace

Covenant, and they have dedicated a few weeks each year to

helping our Honduran brothers and sisters in need. Ron leads

KHISH Proyecto Vision, part of the Honduras mission, begun in

2010. It is dedicated to surgical and nonsurgical care for the eye

and vision services, for the people of Valle, Honduras. We are so

grateful to you, Ron, and are blessed to have you as a new and

vibrant member of GCPC!!

Afua Ossei, a GCPC visitor for some years prior to her joining

last December, is a registered nurse currently attending graduate

school to become a nurse practitioner. Her introduction to GCPC

was at the invitation of Pam Haney, wife of our former interim

minister, Richard Haney. Afua has become faithfully involved

with life in our church and occasionally serves as a lay leader

during our weekly worship service. We are delighted that Afua

has become part of our church family.

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Debbie Pritchett is married and works for ProteinSimple, a

company that makes biology lab equipment. Although she often

travels for business, she finds time to help serve meals at The

Conrad Center and to help usher. Her lovely smile brightens up

many a dreary Sunday morning! She tells us that the reason she

joined Grace Covenant is because of the “warm, friendly con-

gregation.” Thank you, Debbie – we are delighted you are with

us!

Jessica Bonney Reveley is a native of New Jersey

and a graduate of Princeton University – which she is most

grateful to for leading her to her future husband Nelson

Reveley. The young couple is happily expecting their first

baby, a boy, this coming May. We imagine he will become

a frequent visitor to the Crib Room! Jessica is a lawyer

who unapologetically enjoys Harry Potter. How wonderful

to include Jessica in the hearts of our church family!

Alexander Robinson joined Grace Covenant last

December after having visited us regularly for several

months. He tells us that he likes to laugh and "enjoy good

dining." When he attended the annual Men's Oyster Roast

this fall, he revealed to all those in attendance his excellent

talent as a horseshoe player! We are happy Alexander has

joined our community of faith, and we welcome him

warmly.

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Ainura Satterfield

Although each of our new GCPC members is special in

his or her own way, Ainura is unique in that she is new to

the USA, having lived her life in Kyrgyzstan. This past

summer Ainura left her job there with Campus Crusade

for Christ and arrived in Richmond to marry Steve

Satterfield. Since then she has been adjusting to our cul-

ture, our language, and our climate. She deserves FIVE

STARS! Besides "making Steve's and her apartment

home" she is studying English online, and learning to sew

and knit. She likes to run a couple times a week and,

when possible, she and Steve walk after dinner or go

swimming. For now Ainura is planning on reading the

novels of Dostoyevski. She thinks English is a beautiful language and hopes she will

soon be able to understand all the pastor’s preaching and understand the people here.

We welcome you, Ainura! May each day be a blessing to you here in the USA!

Eric Spitzer Born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Eric

graduated with a degree in Economics from the

College of William and Mary, where he also earned

his MBA. He is employed as a Research Analyst

for the US Department of the Treasury, and consid-

ers himself a "political junkie" with a strong inter-

est in current events. Eric also loves reading,

watching sports, and writing comedy, with a dream

of one day creating a sitcom! For now, however, he

is serving as our new church treasurer! How

blessed we are to welcome the Spitzers into our

GCPC family of believers!

Maria Spitzer Although Maria was born in Pennsylvania she considers Roanoke, Virginia, to be her

hometown. A graduate of Roanoke College with a degree in Economics, she is currently

a Business Analyst at Virginia Farm Bureau. In her free time, she loves to knit, read, do

arts and crafts, and help with projects for family, friends, and Project Linus (making

blankets for, traumatized or critically ill children and teens). Maria (and Eric) often

usher at worship, and their gracious welcoming smiles make us glad to see them.

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Warren Zirkle A tall, lanky, good-looking fellow, Warren considers him-

self a “somewhat rare bird” because he graduated from

both Virginia Tech (Economics major) and from UVA Law

School! He first moved to Richmond in 1975 to join

McGuireWoods LLP. In 2000 he transferred to their Ty-

son's Corner office, but returned here last year. As a Fan

resident he found GCPC (just the second church he vis-

ited) a mere four blocks away. Like Debbie Pritchett, War-

ren was immediately impressed by the "exceptionally

friendly reception" he received. YEA! In former churches,

Warren has not only been a Trustee, but has also served in

missions, finance, and stewardship/finance areas. We are

so glad you chose GCPC, Warren! We hope this is your

Happy-Ever-After Church Home!

Logan Moorhead is the proud great-grandfather

(first time) of Genevieve Hope McCauley born on

January 24, 2013, at Georgetown University Hospi-

tal in Washington, D.C. She weighted 8 lbs and is

20 inches.

On the first Sunday of April 1915, two congregations

worshiped together for the first time and a new church was

born: Grace Covenant Presbyterian. It would be fitting to

commemorate the centennial anniversary of Grace Covenant.

Although it is two years in the future, it is not too early to be-

gin the planning of an appropriate celebration.

The efforts of many people will be needed to make this

happen. Are you one of them? If you are interested in being a

part of the planning team, please contact Jack Corley at 515-7330

or Marjorie Adams at 264-6786.

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Nell Featured in Horizons Magazine

The current issue of Horizons (the magazine for Presbyterian

Women) has just been released. The following is an excerpt

from Bligh Jones' column, "Going in Circles."

"I have heard from good sources that Nell Dickenson at

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (Richmond, Virginia) is

an excellent planner when it comes to their church events.

Perhaps it's her years of experience in planning for the masses or maybe she

actually does have a crystal ball. Nell is cool as a cucumber when dishing out

her delicious meals; she never seems to worry about quantity.

I think I need to adopt Nell's motto and then I won't get any more grey hairs or

suffer with sleepless nights. Nell's motto: ‘When it's gone, it's gone!’"

Nell's famous Old-Fashioned Golden Raisin Cookie recipe is featured with the article. Unfortunately, the

quantity for butter was a misprint. Here is the correct recipe.

Nell's Old-Fashioned Golden Raisin Cookies

½ pound butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 ¼ cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 box golden raisins

Additional granulated sugar for topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter

with brown and white sugars. Add eggs to

mixture. Add vanilla. Gradually add flour to

mixture, beating well. Add salt and baking

soda to mixture. Add raisins and mix. Spray

cookie sheets with cooking spray. Drop heap-

ing teaspoons full of dough to pan. Bake

about eight minutes, until edges are golden

brown. Sprinkle with sugar and cool on rack.

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PRESBYTERIAN OLDER ADULT MINISTRY

Rev. Charles E. Sutton

For many of us life in our church has changed. At-tention is given to things and ways that are quite new to us. Important to Church leaders now is a different calendar. Presbyterians are among the many denominations using what is called the Church Year Calendar. This calendar revolves around a three-year cycle and be-gins with the first Sunday in the season of Advent, which starts four Sundays before Christmas. The celebration of Advent has come into our worship ser-vices since the 1970’s. When a church I served first included the Advent wreath in morning worship, in 1970, the local newspaper reported it on the front page with a picture. In the Church Calendar from Advent until Pentecost Sunday, the days and Sundays are identified by the events surrounding the life and ministry of Jesus as portrayed in the Gospels. As an example, Sunday, February 10, recognizes the Transfiguration of the Lord. For each Sunday in the Church Calendar at least four Scripture lessons have been chosen to be used in worship: one each from Psalms, the Old Testament, the Epistles or Letters, and the Gospels. These have been arranged into three cycles: A, B, and C. They are referred to as the Lectionary Readings. This past Advent we began reading selections in Cycle C. The thought behind the Table of Lectionary Readings is that congregations of many denominations are united in this manner by their common use of Scripture and celebration of biblical events. For the busy worship leader the Church Calendar presents both a challenge and help. It offers the challenge of finding a connecting thread between the Scripture readings and the concerns and needs of the congregation, and at the same time offers a starting point and theme for the sermon and the music. “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:8

February Birthdays

1- Elijah Keyes

1- Joy Nevin

2- Merelyn Hammett

3- George Plunkett

4- Ainura Satterfield

6- Becky Reeves

6- Janet Miller

7- Grace Kim Weddington

8- Margaret Valentine

8- Sue Bridenstine

8- Chip Coleman III

9- Edward Richardson III

11- Gordon Gray

13- Grace Cardwell

14- Ellwood Meeteer Jr.

16- Jean Appich

17- Logan Moorhead

17- Bob Davis

19- Drew Roever

20- Diane Valentine

20- Laura Leigh Savage

20- Cameron Baird

21- Kristi Croxton

22- Megan Meyer

22- Teagan Spivey

23- Jessie Griffin

24- Patrise Sears

24- Sarah Peters

25- Carl McMillin

25- Elizabeth Flaherty

27- Sarah Kemp Bell Bogin

28- Sally Warthen

28- Rick Nochta

Page 8: GCPC Newsletter

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February

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Community Group 5:45 pm

2

Bread Breakers 6:30 pm

1727 Park Avenue

3 SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY

Inquirers’ Class 2/6 9:00 am

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am

Fellowship Hour 12 noon

Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

4 Men’s Lunch 12 noon

CDC Staff Meeting

6:10pm

City Church Women’s

Bible Study 7:00 pm

5

Staff Meeting 10:00 a.m.

6 City Church Women’s Bible

Study 9:30 am

Care Team Meeting 3:00 pm

Carol Choir 4:30 pm

Junior Choir 5:00 pm

WNL 6:00 pm

Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

7 CDC Chapel 10:00 am 8 9

PEOPLE Group at Westminster

Canterbury at 6:00 pm

10 Inquirers’ Class 3/6 9:00 am

Prayer 9:15 am

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am

Fellowship Hour 12 noon

Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

Fellowship Comm. Meet 12:30pm

11 Men’s Lunch 12 noon

Worship Committee

Meeting 7:00 pm Property Meeting 7:00pm

City Church Women’s

Bible Study 7:00 pm

12 Staff Meeting 11:30 a.m.

PW Circles Meet

(see page 11)

Finance Committee

13 City Church Women’s Bi-

ble Study 9:30 am

Care Team Meeting 3:00 pm

Carol Choir 4:30 pm

Junior Choir 5:00 pm

WNL 6:00 pm

Worship Service 7:00 pm

Chancel Choir 8:00 pm

14 Valentine’s Day

CDC Chapel 10:00 am

CDC Parent’s Night Out

6:00 pm

15

Community Group 5:45 pm

16 Presbytery Meeting of The James 9:00 am

17 Inquirers’ Class 4/6 9:00 am

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am

Fellowship Hour 12 noon

Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

18 Men’s Lunch 12 noon

CDC Closed

CDC Parent Meeting

5:30 pm

City Church Women’s

Bible Study 7:00 pm

19 Staff Meeting 10:00 a.m.

20 City Church Women’s Bible

Study 9:30 am

Stuart Circle Meeting 12:00 noon

Care Team Meeting 3:00 pm

Carol Choir 4:30 pm

Junior Choir 5:00 pm

WNL 6:00 pm

Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

21 CDC Chapel 10:00 am

SESSION MEETING

7:00 pm

22 23 Deacons’ Retreat at Westminster

Canterbury 9:00 am

24 Inquirers’ Class 5/6 9:00 am

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am

Fellowship Hour 12 noon

Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

25 Men’s Lunch 12 noon

City Church Women’s

Bible Study 7:00 pm

26 Staff Meeting 10:00 a.m.

27 City Church Women’s

Bible Study 9:30 am

Care Team Meeting 3:00 pm

Carol Choir 4:30 pm

Junior Choir 5:00 pm

WNL 6:00 pm

Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

28 CDC Chapel 10:00 am

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Page 9 February

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Community Group 5:45 pm

2

Bread Breakers 6:30 pm

1727 Park Avenue

3 SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY

Inquirers’ Class 2/6 9:00 am

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am

Fellowship Hour 12 noon

Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

4 Men’s Lunch 12 noon

CDC Staff Meeting

6:10pm

City Church Women’s

Bible Study 7:00 pm

5

Staff Meeting 10:00 a.m.

6 City Church Women’s Bible

Study 9:30 am

Care Team Meeting 3:00 pm

Carol Choir 4:30 pm

Junior Choir 5:00 pm

WNL 6:00 pm

Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

7 CDC Chapel 10:00 am 8 9

PEOPLE Group at Westminster

Canterbury at 6:00 pm

10 Inquirers’ Class 3/6 9:00 am

Prayer 9:15 am

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am

Fellowship Hour 12 noon

Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

Fellowship Comm. Meet 12:30pm

11 Men’s Lunch 12 noon

Worship Committee

Meeting 7:00 pm Property Meeting 7:00pm

City Church Women’s

Bible Study 7:00 pm

12 Staff Meeting 11:30 a.m.

PW Circles Meet

(see page 11)

Finance Committee

13 City Church Women’s Bi-

ble Study 9:30 am

Care Team Meeting 3:00 pm

Carol Choir 4:30 pm

Junior Choir 5:00 pm

WNL 6:00 pm

Worship Service 7:00 pm

Chancel Choir 8:00 pm

14 Valentine’s Day

CDC Chapel 10:00 am

CDC Parent’s Night Out

6:00 pm

15

Community Group 5:45 pm

16 Presbytery Meeting of The James 9:00 am

17 Inquirers’ Class 4/6 9:00 am

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am

Fellowship Hour 12 noon

Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

18 Men’s Lunch 12 noon

CDC Closed

CDC Parent Meeting

5:30 pm

City Church Women’s

Bible Study 7:00 pm

19 Staff Meeting 10:00 a.m.

20 City Church Women’s Bible

Study 9:30 am

Stuart Circle Meeting 12:00 noon

Care Team Meeting 3:00 pm

Carol Choir 4:30 pm

Junior Choir 5:00 pm

WNL 6:00 pm

Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

21 CDC Chapel 10:00 am

SESSION MEETING

7:00 pm

22 23 Deacons’ Retreat at Westminster

Canterbury 9:00 am

24 Inquirers’ Class 5/6 9:00 am

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am

Fellowship Hour 12 noon

Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

25 Men’s Lunch 12 noon

City Church Women’s

Bible Study 7:00 pm

26 Staff Meeting 10:00 a.m.

27 City Church Women’s

Bible Study 9:30 am

Care Team Meeting 3:00 pm

Carol Choir 4:30 pm

Junior Choir 5:00 pm

WNL 6:00 pm

Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

28 CDC Chapel 10:00 am

“Don’t knock the weather;

nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation

if it didn’t change once in a while.”

—Kin Hubbard

Page 10: GCPC Newsletter

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Page 10

Stewardship Corner and Financial Update The Finance and Stewardship Ministry would like to thank everyone for their generous giving in 2012. Your

pledged offerings are a testament to your faith in God’s providence and your gratitude for the blessings we have all

received so generously from His hand. Our Ruling Elders, in turn, steward these offerings to support our mission

of training grateful disciples of Christ by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.

The coming year offers us numerous opportunities to grow closer to God through worship, fellowship, Bible study,

and love of neighbor. Our weekly worship service and numerous special services throughout the year, including

our annual Candlelight service, proclaim God’s glory and help us to identify His presence in our lives. The flour-

ishing of our city is advanced by our largest mission, the Grace Covenant Child Development Center, through

which we share the love of Christ with infants and toddlers from the neighborhood. We grow deeper in our faith

through our weekly Sunday School classes and Disciple Bible Studies. Our community grows closer in the bonds

of Christian fellowship as we come together at various gatherings, including our weekly Wednesday night dinners,

and as we care for each other within the church with the help of our pastor, Deacons, and Care Team. And the

greater Body of Christ is built up as we go out to care for others in service to the Lord. We pray that God will con-

tinue to use us to help awaken a love for Christ in the heart of Richmond, and we encourage you to become in-

volved in the many great ministries at Grace Covenant.

Below is our ministry budget for 2013. While much of our budget goes toward property maintenance and staff

salaries, we have apportioned it in the table below to reflect the extent to which those recipients directly support the

various ministries of the church—for example, most (but not all) of Chris Martin’s compensation is apportioned to

worship, since that is clearly the ministry that receives the bulk of his service. The Finance and Stewardship Minis-

try felt this was a helpful way for the congregation to see “where” their giving was used.

December’s contributions of $67,700 were about

twice those of November, but were only about

two-thirds the unusually high amount received in

December of 2011. While the level of 2012’s

contributions had generally been running ahead

of those of the prior year, the year’s total was

one percent below 2011’s due to the effect of

that December giving. December’s total income

was $77,200, exclusive of $16,400 transferred

from Restricted accounts to fund their designated

expenses. Expenses in December totaled

$61,000, including expenditures (e.g., mission)

funded by the Restricted accounts.

December’s income exceeded expenses by

$32,700. For 2012, income exceeded expenses

by $6,800, including $12,000 from a bequest and

$25,000 from our Reserve account.

Our Joy Gift offering in December was $2,234,

our Five Cents Per Meal, $265, and our Loaves

and Fishes, $2,900. For the year the Loaves and

Fishes mission received $22,000 and Five Cents

Per Meal $3,100.

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PW Benevolence Fund

Interest earned on the GCPC Presbyterian Women Memorial Fund is available for benevolent pur-

poses as determined by the PW Coordinating Team. Anyone wishing to suggest a worthy cause is

invited to put their suggestion in writing with the dollar amount, address it to Becky Reeves, and

place it in the PW Mailbox in the glass office by March 31, 2013. Briefly describe how the

money would be used, and include the name and address of the person to receive the check if the

purpose is chosen.

PW Circle 1

Evening Circle

7:00 p.m.

1727 Park Avenue

Hostess: Laura Leigh Savage

PW Circle 3 9:30 a.m. Social Room Hostess: Mary Gray

PW Circle 2

11:00 a.m.

Covenant Room

Hostess: Brenda Harris

All Circles Meet on Tuesday, February 12

Any questions, please contact Suzanne Sizemore at 288-7757

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Wednesday Night Live!

Each Wednesday evening we gather at 6:00 p.m. for table

fellowship, followed by a program from 6:30-7:15 p.m.

All are welcome! Take a break from cooking dinner and

join us for a friendly, relaxing, and inspiring evening. For more information, contact Vanessa

Strait in the church office at 359-2463, or [email protected].

February Programs: February 6 - Virginia Hudson, attorney, will share Christianity at work February 13 - No program; Worship Service at 7:00 p.m. February 20 - CHAT (Church Hill Activities & Tutoring) February 27 - TBA

All meals are $5.00 per person, $12.00 per family, and $2.00 for students. First-time guests eat free.

Openers/Closers February 3 Cal Gray February 10 Hank Downing February 17 Rick Nochta February 24 Rob Rosebro

Worship Kits Lisa Cardwell

Grace Notes Deadline: February 21 is the deadline for submissions for our March edition.

Elementary Sunday School Erika Tabor

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Page 13 Grace Notes

Music Ministry

February 2013

February 3 Prelude Brother James’ Air Searle Wright

Communion Anthem Hymn (O for a Closer Walk with God) Charles Villiers Stanford

Postlude Fanfare on “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus” Gordon Young

February 10 Prelude Phoenix Processional Dan Locklair

Transfiguration Anthem Psalm 150 Walter Pelz

of the Lord Jr. Choir Lord, We Are Your People Mark Patterson

Postlude Toccata in D Minor Albert Renaud

February 13 Prelude I Call to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ Johann Sebastian Bach

Ash Wednesday Introit Lord, Make Me to Know Thy Ways William Byrd

Anthem Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God Carl Mueller

Postlude Jesus, My Joy and Salvation Johann Sebastian Bach

February 17 Anthem Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God Carl Mueller

Lent I

(Guest Organist)

February 24 Prelude Adagio in E Frank Bridge

Lent II Anthem Hearken! Stay Close to Jesus Christ Clarence Dickinson

Postlude Chaconne Louis Couperin

Junior Choir Sunday, February 10

11:00 a.m.

A Service of Worship

on Ash Wednesday, February 13

6:00 p.m. – Dinner in the Fellowship Hall

7:00 p.m. – Worship in the Chapel Special Music:

Lord, Make Me to Know Thy Ways (William

Byrd) - sung from the Social Room

Procession with Handbells

Responsorial Psalmody

Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God (Carl Mueller)

Page 14: GCPC Newsletter

14

-continued from page 1-

Ron David, Susan Pillsbury David, and Nelson Reveley are back from their mission trip to Hon-

duras with Project Khish, and will be sharing with us a presentation of their trip in the next few

weeks. Grace Covenant’s support has been instrumental to the flourishing of this medical out-

reach, and I’m grateful for the doors that this involvement opens to the sharing – and the living out

– of the Gospel. I hope and pray that the Grace Covenant component of the team will grow larger

with each year, and that our witness and service to our brothers and sisters in Honduras – as well

as to those at the CDC, in the Fan, and at VCU – will bear more and more fruit to God’s glory in

the years to come.

Lastly, I wanted to draw your attention to a recently-published book that has caught the attention

of a number of congregants, as well as myself. Center Church, written by Tim Keller (pastor of

Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City), is notable not only for its Gospel-centered,

faithfully-reasoned approach to ministry, but also for its strong harmony with Grace Covenant’s

recently-adopted Mission Study and Vision Statement. As we heed God’s call to us to “train

grateful disciples of Christ,” to “awaken a love for Christ in the heart of Richmond,” and to

“worship God… join in community… grow in the faith…do justice and love mercy… and share

the Gospel…”*, I commend Center Church to you. Offering theologically robust (and Reformed)

reflection alongside scripturally-grounded principles, this book presents a “Gospel-centered, City-

Centered, and Movement-centered” approach to being Christ’s Church in a 21st-century American

city. If you’d like to learn more or leaf through a copy of the book, you’re welcome to come by my

office and take a look (but check with me first, since I also take it home to read).

* from the GCPC Mission Study Report

Have a blessed February –

In Christ,

Page 15: GCPC Newsletter

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FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY

BREAD BREAKERS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2013 6:30 PM

at the home of JAKE & LAURA LEIGH SAVAGE

1727 PARK AVE.

Please join us for our first Bread Breakers of 2013. Please bring either an appetizer, main dish, side dish, or dessert to share.

ALL ARE WELCOME! Please RSVP 359-5737

PEOPLE GROUP will meet on Saturday, February 9 at Westminster Canterbury, 6:00

p.m., with Jo Garber acting as official hostess! Time to launch our post-HAPPY NEW YEAR

2013 or pre-VALENTINE'S DAY get-together of friends, old and new...Please join us...You

will be glad you did! All you need to do is bring a favorite

dish to share, plus a hearty appetite for food and fun!

A Thank-You Letter from Christ Episcopal Church, Middletown, NJ

Dear friends at Grace Covenant: December 19, 2012 Thank you so much for your generous assistance to those on the Jersey Shore who have experienced catastrophic loss in the October storm. When I knew the check was on its way I disbursed about one third of it to a family for food and basic necessities who lost major employment income because of the evacuation of the elderly to other sites for the first 30 days. It was received with tears of thanks and gratitude. The rest is slated to go to two other households (one living on Social Security) who lost everything on the first floors of their small homes. The floors and walls have been removed and we are waiting for the places to dry out enough that mold remediation can be finished and the rehab begin. When that is completed, hopefully in six weeks or so, the next immediate need will be furniture and appliances. Even with insurance, the losses have been so great that you cannot get your house back in livable condition with out additional assistance. So I want you to know your gift has made a big difference in the lives of those affected by the storm and they and I am very grateful for your assistance! God bless you with the joys of the Christmas season. Yours, Pastor Becky Michelfelder

Page 16: GCPC Newsletter

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Brint Keyes Interim Pastor [email protected] Chris Martin Director of Music and Organist [email protected] Vanessa Strait Administrative Assistant [email protected] Martha Rubin Bookkeeper [email protected] James Greene Custodian Christopher Tweel Seminary Intern [email protected] Church Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

Phone: (804) 359-2463

Fax: (804) 278-6298

www.grace-covenant.org

Sundays: 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages in the Education Building 10:55 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary 12:00 noon Congregational Fellowship in the Social Room Grace Covenant Child Development Center Nicole Williams Director [email protected] www.gracecovenantcdc.com

Our Elders serve the church as leaders.

Our Deacons lead the church in service.

Please feel free to approach them

with any questions or feedback about

Grace Covenant’s ministries.

CLERK OF SESSION: Everett Reveley

ELDERS Jordan Ball (’14) - Nominating (M); Finance Wayne Casey (’13) - Property, Small Groups (M); Jack Corley (’13) - Finance, Missions Matt Hartman (’13) - Missions (M), Small Groups Virginia Hudson (’14) - Evangelism (M), CE/Discipleship Cheryl Jacobs (’15) – CE/Discipleship, Fellowship Caroline Leith (’15) - Administration (Co-M), Property Katie McCullough (’13) - Administration (Co-M) Dana McKnight (’14) - Worship (Co-M), Finance Christof Meyer (’15) – CE/Discipleship (Co-M) Joy Nevin (’14) - Fellowship (M) Everett Reveley (’15) - Finance (M) Nelson Reveley (’15) – CE/Discipleship (Co-M), Evangelism Robert Rosebro (’13) - Property (M) Rob Turner (’14) - Worship (Co-M) DEACONS (Ministry Responsibilities TBD) Lisa Cardwell (’15) Courtney Clements (’15) Mary Gray (’15) Nikki Hazlegrove (’13) Jan Kessel (’14) Jim McCullough (’13) Ann Pais (’14) Jennifer Schooley (’15) Erika Tabor (’14) - Moderator Judy Waldron (’14) - Secretary Dawson Watkins (’13) Carol Wood (’13)

TRUSTEES: Lloyd Bostian (’13) Kent Cardwell (’13) Caroline Leith (’14) John Roberts (’15)

The Staff Church Officers