Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

Grace Notes

Volume 46, Issue 6

June 2016
Directory
Christian
Education
(pp. 5-7)
Calendar
(pp. 8-9)
WNS
Thank You
(p. 7)

Important
Dates
Shalom
Farms
(June 18)
PEOPLE
Group Mtg
(June 18)
VBS
Registration
Due!
(June 20)
For more dates to
remember, see the
calendar

Training in Godliness
To train grateful disciples of Christ, by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking
humbly with our God. -The mission of GCPC, as adopted in 2012
There continues to be plenty going on around Grace Covenant. As we
turn toward the summer, lets take a moment and give thanks to God
for Gods faithfulness!
We give thanks for
- The continued flourishing of the Child Development Center
which currently has 85 children enrolled
- Our dedicated Sunday school teachers and classes
- Our children and adult choirs who have led us beautifully in worship all year
- Our partnership in the Gospel with the Presbyterian church in Ghana made known through our friendship with Samuel, David, Sampson, and Gershon.
- Our mission and justice ministries which have supported numerous opportunities, including most
recently Jobs for Life.
- The friendship that has formed between many at GCPC and the Noori family, a refugee family that
recently moved from Afghanistan to Richmond.
- Our radio ministry which continues to minister to many beyond our walls each Sunday
- The recent updates made to the Fellowship Hall stage and the first floor nursery
- The dedicated, prayerful work of our elders and deacons
- The call of Christopher Tweel as Associate Pastor for Christian Education
As we turn toward the summer, we give thanks for the opportunity to grow together by participating in the
Back to the Basics series. You can read more about it on page 5. It is the latest opportunity for us as a
church to train in godliness (1 Timothy 4:8). I hope you will take up the training challenges that are before
us this summer and may God be faithful to stretch us into the full maturity of our faith.
In Christ,
Bobby

Highlights of the past month

The Noori Family had a

great day at the Science
Museum on May 22, 2016.

The Bread Breakers met on

May 21, 2016.

The Fellowship Hall stage

was completed!

Wednesday Night Suppers

wrapped up for the season
on May 25, 2016.

Church News/Announcements
Openers & Closers

Fellowship Schedule

June 5: Jake Savage

June 12: Rick Nochta
June 19: Rob Rosebro
June 26: Brian Baird

June 5: Laura Leigh and Jake Savage

June 12: Dana McKnight
June 19: Dawson Watkins
June 26: Carol Wood

Happy
The Tweels Are Moving Again!
Birthday Wishes to: Are you available to lend a helping hand on June 22?
2 Chase Appich
2 Emanuella Dickerson
2- Jim Londrey
3- Cheryl Jacobs
5 Langdon Moss
5- Judy Waldron
6- David Saleeba
9- Deloris Crews
10 Deb Goodloe
11 Ginger Norris
12 Melissa Whitley
13 Julia Poppell
14 Lee Farrar
15 Pat Aldridge
15 Nate McKinnon
17 Kip Moore
20 Ed Adams
20 Kent Cardwell
22 Betty Appich
23 Suzanne Sizemore
24- Sid Yates
25 Bill Stuart
29 Mary Gray
29 Mary Whitley
30 Mary Waters

Psalm 9: 1

Leah and Christopher Tweel are

moving into their new place at
7706 Anoka Rd, Richmond, VA
23229, and will be unloading
their belongings from portable
storage units, so no driving will
be required for this phase of the

move! If you can make it, just

come on over anytime between
10 a.m. and 4 p.m. or contact
Leah or Christopher (304-48801610) for more details!

Stewardship Corner
Aprils contributions of
$28,000 were down about onefourth from Marchs total and
down about 15% from April a
year ago. For the first third of
this year contributions are up
about 6% over the same period
last year, due partially to payments on prior year pledges.
Aprils expenses of $57,300
were down slightly from the
prior month and included
$5,500 in insurance premiums
and $3,500 contributed to the

Honduras vision project. Expenses for the year are 6% lower than the same period in 2015
due to lower personnel costs.
Expenses exceeded income in
April by $17,900.
During April a bequest was received from a trust originally
established by the estate of
Georgia Wright. Aprils Five
Cents per Meal offering was
$79, Loaves and Fishes $225,
and Mercy offering $108.

GCPC Work Day (June 11)

Saturday, June 11, from 8:00
a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Come lend a helping hand completing odd jobs around the
church. We will be vacuuming
Sanctuary cushions, cleaning
wood panels in the Chancel,

packaging florescent tubes for

recycling, and more. Please bring
shop-vacs, 3 prong adapters,
extension cords, rags and enthusiasm! There are jobs for every
skill level. It is fun work when
we all pitch in together.

~Property and Maintenance Committee

Lewis Rosebro, Katherine Baird, Bill Jacobs, Cal Gray, and
Caroline Leith

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Welcome Baby Gift Baskets

The Announcement:

A Thank You Note:

On behalf of the congregation of Grace

Covenant, the Deacons will be delivering
welcome baby gift baskets to members
who have added a new little one to their
family. So, along with meals, a basket full
of fun goodies will be delivered to each
new baby (and their families) from their
friends and family at Grace Covenant.

Dear Family of Grace Covenant,

You all were so thoughtful and generous to give us such a lovely
gift basket to welcome baby Jackson. Every item was perfect and
will be put to good use! We are so grateful to have such a supportive
church family as we begin our journey as new parents. We look forward to Jackson growing up in such a wonderful community. Many
thanks for your kindness.
Matthew, Lea, and Jackson Gray

Letter from Nicole Flournoy, Director of GCCDC

Grace Covenant Congregation,
We have had so much fun in the
month of May learning all about transportation! We have discovered that our
bodies themselves can move us where we
need to go with nothing but our feet. We
played games to practice controlling our
bodies, like Red Light Green Light, as
well as demonstrated our bodies abilities
with the help of our own trikes from
home. We learned that cars can travel
too, and trains, trucks, boats, and planes
all have a purpose for their travel. We
learned their parts as well as their over-all
functions, like transporting goods and
people from place to place.
Now that we are wrapping up our
transportation lessons, we will begin to
learn about the season of summer as we
feel summer come in. As the rain finally
passes and the warm days finally start to
show themselves, well talk about the
weather, animal, and plant life changes
that we see around us. Well discuss how
to be safe in summer, like applying sun-

PEOPLE Meeting

screen and staying hydrated. We will also

June Meeting at Sid Yates house:
participate in fun summer activities like
water play, sports, and other activities.
Come enjoy a meal and time of felWe cant wait to get started with summer!
lowship at Sid Yates house (5506
With summer comes the end of another wonderful season of choir with Mr.
Country Creek Court) on Saturday,
Martin. Our older toddlers, threes, and
June 18, at 6:00 p.m. Please bring one
preschool classes all benefit from the
early music skills that Mr. Martins sesof the following with enough to serve
sions provide. Early development and
ten adults: hors doeuvres, main dish,
understanding of music will also help
children later in life with reading, lanvegetables, salad, bread, or dessert. If
guage acquisition, and math skills. Its
you have any questions, call Sid Yates
also super fun! None of these would be
possible without the amazing skills and
at 387-3677.
patience of music director and organist,
Mr. Martin. We want to give a very special thank you to him for all of his hard
work and dedication, without which we
The beach trip that was originally schedwould not have our music program.
uled for June 26, 2016, has been cancelled
Thank you, Mr. Martin!
and will be rescheduled for sometime later
Nicole Flournoy
in the summer. Keep watching Covenant
Director of the Child Development
Connection for any updates.
Center

Youth Trip to VA Beach

Luke 9: 24
For those who want to save their life will love it, and those who love their life for my sake will save
it.

Music News

looking ahead...

Christian Education & Discipleship

Back to Basics (Our Summer Worship)
Back to the Basics: Hearing the Essential Word of God
What would you tell someone about Christianity if they had never heard of it? What would
you tell them about Jesus? If you gave them a
Bible, where would you have them start? What
Scriptures show forth some of the essential
aspects of what you believe and how you seek

to live? John Leith said that every generation of

Christians should seek to know certain Scriptures by heart as they anchor what we believe
and how we live. It is not that all of Scripture
isnt important, but rather that certain Scriptures so clearly state forth the essential heart of

Back to the Basics: Summer Fitness Challenge!

We walk, jog, and go to the gym to keep up our

physical fitness recognizing that repetition has a
way of shaping us over time. And, being in
shape ends up proving beneficial not only to
our health but to others around us as we find
we have more energy and focus when our body
is healthy!
How about a spiritual challenge this summer?
Would not we and those around us benefit
greatly from a spiritually fit church!? This sum-

mer we are inviting you to do a simple exercise

each week: memorize a portion of Scripture.
Each week in worship we will be looking at a
passage from Scripture that articulates something essential about the Christian faith. You
are then invited to memorize that Scripture
during the following week.
The hope is that by letting Gods word dwell in
your heart over and over during the week you
begin to see God alive and working in, through,

God for us and the world that we would surely

want to know them! Join us in Sunday Worship
this summer as we look at 13 of those essential
Scriptures and consider how we are shaped by and
live from them.

and around your life.

A spiritually fit person is not the one who
knows the most Scripture but the one who is
shaped by and lives in light of Gods voice through
Scripture. Want to join in the challenge? See
below or online at www.gracecovenant.org
under the Worship tab for each weeks scripture.

Back to the Basics: 50 Scriptures on One Bookmark

In 2001, Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in
New York City produced a bookmark with 50
Scriptures listed. At the top of the bookmark it
read, The 50 Passages That Every Christian
Should Have At Our Fingertips.
The plan was to give those to congregants during a certain sermon series. However, 9/11
happened and all the bookmarks were distributed to the masses of people entering their sanc-

tuary for refuge and prayer on that day. The

church ultimately shared over 15,000 of these
bookmarks with people hungry to read Gods
word in the aftermath of the terrorist attack.
With their permission, we have made our own
version of that bookmark for we know that
God had a timely word then and God has a
timely word for us now. Look for bookmarks
to be placed in your bulletins and around the

church beginning on Sunday, June 12.

We hope these bookmarks prompt you to consider anew some of the essential passages from
Gods word and how God is speaking to us
through them in our time.
NOTE: 12 of the 50 Scriptures listed are in the
color blue those are the 12 that will be
preached on this summer in worship.

Back to the Basics: Our Tradition Speaking in Our Time

Presbyterians hold to certain essential tenants of

the Christian faith. While we stand as sisters
and brothers with all who believe in and follow
Jesus Christ, we do have some distinctions!
These distinctive tenants have anchored the
way we understand and live out faith in this
world. Join us this summer as we take a fresh
look at those anchors and the ways that they
intersect with our world today and inform how
we are to live in these changing times. The class
will meet weekly in the Fellowship Hall. Class
begins at 9:40a.m.

June 5 - Authority of Scripture (Bobby)

June 12 Authority of Scripture (Bobby)
June 19 - Humanity (Christopher)
June 26 - Jesus (Christopher)
July 3 - Jesus
July 10 - Salvation by Grace Through Faith
July 17 - Election for Salvation and Service
July 24 - Covenant and Covenant Life (Bobby)
July 31 - Sacraments (Bobby)
August 7 - Polity (Charles)
August 14 - Polity (Charles)
August 21 Priesthood of All Believers (Christopher)
August 28 Stewardship (Christopher)

Luke 14: 34
Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?

Summer Fitness
Challenge Scriptures
June 12: Isaiah 6:1-8
June 19: Isaiah 55:1-5
June 26: Romans 8:22-30
July 3: Psalm 139:23-24
July 10: Matthew 5:3-11
July 17: Matthew 6:25-34
July 24: John 3:16-17
July 31: Luke 15:29-32
August 7: Matthew 11:20-30
August 14: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
August 21: 1 Corinthians 13:1-7
August 28: Micah 6:6-8

Christian Education & Discipleship

GCPC Summer of 2016 Book Discussion: Gilead
by Marilynne Robinson

If you are looking for a summer read,

Pastor Bobby invites you to join him
and read Gilead! It is a Pulitzer Prize winner novel written by Narrative Calvinist (as Christianity Today has called her)
Marilynne Robinson. She tells a story
spanning three generations, from the
Civil War to the 20th century. The story
is told from the perspective of an aging
preacher who is writing a letter to his
seven-year old son in which he renders
an account of his life. As Kirkus Reviews put it, the novel is "as big as a nation, as quiet as thought, and moving as
prayer. Matchless and towering. Publishers Weekly adds, "Robinson's
prose is beautiful, shimmering and precise; the revelations are subtle but never
muted when they come, and the careful
telling carries the breath of suspense.

There is no simple redemption here;

despite the meditations on faith, even
readers with no religious inclinations will
be captivated. Many writers try to capture life's universals of strength, struggle,
joy and forgivenessbut Robinson truly
succeeds. Once you read the novel (or
even if you dont make it all the way
through!), you are invited to join in for
an evening of light snacks, drinks, and
hearty discussion and reflection on the
novel. The discussion will take place on
July 28 - location TBA.

Childrens Chapel
Announcement
Childrens Chapel has wrapped up
for the season and will not be
meeting over the summer. It will
resume on September 11, 2016.

Massanetta Springs Middle School Conference

e are really excited to have Christopher Tweel, the Director of

Christian Formation, deliver the
keynote speech during the July sessions of
the Massanetta Springs Middle School
Conference! In this conference packed
with keynotes, music, recreation, workshops, and small groups, youth will be
challenged to think about what it means
to be a disciple of Christ. Led by high
school, ministry-minded Enablers, middle

schoolers will foster a

deeper understanding of
the broader church. For
more information see
www.grace-covenant.org
under the Connect tab
then Other Events or call
the church office at 3592463.

Psalm 90: 1-2

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Thank You to All WNS Organizers & Helpers

Another year of Grace Covenant's Wednesday Night Supper's program
draws to a successful close and we have to
thank all the folks who make that incredible
weekly moment possible. First to our great
cooks, Kendall and Aleasha. Without you all
making delicious, fresh food each week
where would we be? Thank you for your
commitment to preparing amazing menus
and homemade food with a heart for hospitality for our ever growing church family. To
the Christian Ed Set Up Crew, who faithfully
appear week after week to set the tables, prepare the coffee, plate and serve the food,
take the money, and clean up afterward. It's
an incredible service that you do, and I hope
you hear the resounding appreciation from
everyone who eats and enjoys our Wednesday Night together. To the Christian Ed
Committee and our Chairs, who continue to

brainstorm and commit resources and time

to making our WNS program the best that it
can be. Thank you for your work and commitment to their touchstone in the life of our
Church family. To Cheryl Jacobs, who for
two years has been getting together with the
kids after each meal for an awesome craft.
The kids look forward to it, and having them
engaged creatively while parents finish coffee
and conversation is an amazing blessing. To
Bill Jacobs for continuing to take pictures
each week! There's a lot going on and it's
great to have a log of it! Thank you to everyone who works to make these nights great!
We look forward to seeing you next fall for
more good fun, Bible studies, music, amazing
food, and the fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ.
Grace and peace,
Christopher Tweel

VBS Registration Ends June 20!

See grace-covenant.org for full registration details!
June 27-30, 2016 /9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon)
VBS is a week packed full of faith and fun,
including service projects, outdoor games,
cool crafts, yummy snacks, awesome music,
and of course-- hearing from God's true
word, the Bible. Kids will hear about Joseph's epic journey to Egypt, and how God
was with him the whole way. Can't wait to
see you there! Parents, you are invited to join
the fun, by helping as a Drama Leader, a Station Leader (crafts, games, service projects,
or snacks), or on the Set-Up Team (preVBS).

Register online at www.grace-covenant.org

under the Connect Tab. Ages for signup
are between years 2007-2013. Questions:
Contact Christopher at christopher@gracecovenant.org or 804-359-2463.

1 Corinthians 12: 27
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Summer
Suppers
Join us for a
Wednesday evening
meal this summer!
Wednesday, June 29 (6 p.m.) at
the Hulme-Lippert house (2307
Floyd Ave., Richmond, VA
23220). Come for hotdogs and
burgers!
Suggested donation: $3
Wednesday, July 28 (6 p.m.) at
the Tweel house (7706 Anoka
Rd., Richmond, VA 23229).
Meal TBD.

If you have any questions,

contact Christopher Tweel at
christopher@grace-covenant.org
or call the church office at 3592463.

June 2016 Calendar

Monday

Sunday

Tuesday

Wedn
1

Notes:
1) No Sunday Childrens Chapel during
the summer; it will resume September 11, 2016
2) Sunday School from now until fall
will be a combined class in the
Fellowship Hall

5 9:15 a.m. Prayer Team (Social Room)

6 6:30 p.m. Missions Committee

9:30 a.m. Coffee and Care

(Susan Farrells house)

7 6:00 p.m. STEP Jobs For Life

8 2:00 p.m. Care

Graduation (Fellowship Hall)

9:45 a.m. Combined Sunday School

10:55 a.m. Worship
12:15 p.m. Fellowship Hour
12:30 p.m. 1st Sunday Prayer Group
(chapel)

129:15 a.m. Prayer Team (Social Room) 13

9:30 a.m. Coffee and Care
7:00 p.m. Property Meeting
9:45 a.m. Combined Sunday School
10:55 a.m. Worship (last choir in service) 7:00 p.m. Admin Committee
12:15 p.m. Fellowship Hour
2 p.m. POJs Youth River Cleanup
5 p.m. Choir Celebration (Chris Martins
house)
5:30 p.m.: Metro-wide Transit Justice
Meeting (Fellowship Hall)
199:15 a.m. Prayer Team (Social Room) 20
9:30 a.m. Coffee and Care

Registration due for VBS!

9:45 a.m. Combined Sunday School

6:00 p.m. Deacons Meeting

6:00 p.m. Finance Committee
7:00 p.m. Worship Committee

10:55 a.m. Worship

12:15 p.m. Fellowship Hour

14

15

7:00 p.m. GCPC Softball Game

9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. A
(Polegreen)

7:50 p.m. GCPC Softball Game

2:00 p.m. Care Te

5 p.m. CDC Boar

(Vanguard)

21 7:00 p.m. GCPC Softball Game

22

7:50 p.m. GCPC Softball Game

26 9:15 a.m. Prayer Team (Social Room)

27 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon VBS

28 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon VBS

9:30 a.m. Coffee and Care

7:00 p.m. Session Meeting

6:00 p.m. Summe

12:00 p.m. Partners in Parenting
Luncheon (1617 Monument Avenue, Hulme-Lipperts h
Suite 202)
2:00 p.m. Care Te

9:45 a.m. Combined Sunday School

10:55 a.m. Worship

12:15 p.m. Fellowship Hour

29 9:00 a.m. - 12

nesday

Friday

Thursday
2

Saturday

3 5:00 p.m. Margaret Taylor

4 12:00 p.m. Cookout with the

Wedding Rehearsal

Noori Family (see Covenant Connection

& RSVP to Jessica Reveley)
3:30 p.m. Margaret Taylor Wedding

Team

9 9:00 a.m. CDC Chapel

10

Work Day (see Covenant Connectino)

1:00 - 6:00 p.m. Vivien Chen, Piano
Recital (Fellowship Hall)

16 9:00 a.m. CDC Chapel

17

Annual Staff Retreat

rd Meeting

23 9:00 a.m. CDC Chapel

24 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

25 1 p.m - 8 p.m. Bolton & Mayer

Bolton & Mayer Wedding

Wedding (City Church)

Rehearsal (City Church)

2:00 noon VBS

30 9:00 a.m. CDC Chapel

er Supper at the

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon VBS

eam

18 9:00 a.m. Shalom Farms Outing

12:45 p.m. Ligon Family Kinsman
Association (Private Worship Service)
6:00 p.m. PEOPLE Meeting (Sid
Yates House)

eam

house (see p. 7)

11 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon GCPC

Photos of the past month

Celebrating our partnership in ministry with Reverends Sampson Lodo and Gershon Abassah on
their final Sunday with us before heading home to Ghana!

The Bread Breakers group had a successful meeting filled with a good meal and lots of fellowship at Dana McKnights house
on May 21, 2016.

Psalm 8: 9
O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth.

The Fellowship Hall stage is finished being sanded and sealed and is now
complete with a lovely new set of curtains. Thank you to everybody who
helped during this journey.! photo: Phil Coltrain

The Noori Family explored the Science Museum of Virginia on May 22, 2016.
Above: Wednesday Night Suppers in May
were filled with a lot of fun and fellowship.
The last WNS until fall was on May 25, 2016.
Did you take some interesting pictures of a church related event or activity? If so, please
send them to us at info@grace-covenant.org and they may end up here! Please include your
name, the name of the photographer, where and what the event was, and when it happened.
Thanks for all of your help.

2 Corinthians 4: 18
...we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary,
but what cannot be seen is eternal.

Mission & Justice

Collecting Baby Carriers for Refugees

he CDC and GCPC have been asked

to participate with the YMCA and
organization Carry the Future to collect
new or gently used baby carriers. These
carriers will be sent to Greece as an relief
effort for refugees there. From May 16
June 17 we will be both asking for contributions as well as serving as a drop site for
this drive. Carriers should be soft structured and strap to the body, like a Baby
Bjrn or Ergobaby. No wraps, slings, or
other non-structured carriers please. You
may leave these in the glass office for pick
up by Nicole (CDC Director) and Itunu
(CDC Assistant Director) on Monday
mornings. We appreciate your help!

BabyBjrn

Shalom Farms Outings

Join us the third Saturday of the month at Shalom Farms a local food access
and community development ministry (shalomfarms.org). We will help ensure
everyone in our city has access to Gods bountiful gifts of nutritious produce.
Well be out on the farm from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Please RSVP to Nelson
Reveley at nmr2uf@virginia.edu or by calling 387-8094. This months visit will be
on June 18. A group will be carpooling from the church parking lot at 8:00 a.m.
and will be returning by noon. Otherwise, you can meet us out on the farm at
9:00 a.m. Address: 1033 Rock Castle Rd., Goochland, VA

Ergobaby

A Thank You from the

Visiting Ministers
We wish to use this opportunity to
express our heartfelt gratitude to the Pastor, the leadership and the entire Grace
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Richmond, Virginia, for your love and concern
for us during our nine months stay in
Richmond. We really appreciate your love,
care, and concern for us. Thank you for
the gifts you gave us. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love
which you have shown toward His name,
in that you have ministered to the saints,
and do minister.
Hebrews 6:10 (NKJV). God richly bless
you all. - Sampson and Gershon

Exodus 23: 4
When you come upon your enemys ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.

Faith Movement

RISC Nehemiah Action

for Metro-wide Transit There was a great turnout on May 2 at St. Pauls Baptist
Metro Richmond currently
ranks 92nd out of 100 top metro
areas in terms of public transportation connectivity. Come learn
more about initiatives afoot for
metropolitan-wide transit systems
and why clergy and congregants
from across the region are joining
hands in this effort as a ministry
of reconciliation and justice for
our metro area. We will be meeting Sunday, June 12, from 5:30 6:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Dominic Carter and Nelson Reveley from the Metro Richmond
Clergy Committee for Rapid
Transit out of Richmond Hill will
be leading our presentation and
discussion. For additional information, please contact
nmr2uf@virginia.edu and
see www.rvarapidtransit.org.

Partners in Parenting

Enormous thanks to all those who

have been able to volunteer to help
out with this soft skills job training
ministry. Jobs for Life uses a biblically- based curriculum paired with a
team of mentors, pastors, and business leaders to help this group of students discover who they are, what
gifts and interests they possess, and
what roadblocks they face in achieving their goals. The program will continue running Tuesday evenings
through June 7.
If you would like to sit in on a
class or volunteer (help with set up,
meals, or child care), please contact us at info@grace-covenant.org or
359-2463.

Partners in Parenting is one of the

Grace Covenant tenants in the
East Building (1617 Monument
Ave.). They are beginning a new
teaching-and-discussion series to
help parents! Every fourth Tuesday they are hosting a brown bag
lunch in their office, Suite 202.
Bring your own lunch; water and
dessert will be provided.
The next luncheon is June 28,
2016.

e had an excellent RISC

Nehemiah Action at St.
Pauls Baptist Church Monday, May
2. Over 1000 congregants and clergy
from around Metro Richmond gathered to call for a low cost job training
program for entry level health care
positions. VCU officials made commitments on this front as did HCA
and community partner CHAT (go
CHAT!). We also gathered to call
upon the Henrico School Board to
allow principals and teachers in eastern Henrico to pilot a proven reading
curriculum, which has been successful in schools in Baltimore, at ele-

mentary schools that are currently

struggling with widespread illiteracy.
One school board member attended
the Nehemiah Action and made positive commitments on this front. Congregants and clergy will continue to
work diligently with other school
officials and school board members
to help ensure all students learn to
read so that they can move on to
reading to learn and flourishing as
God intends. If you are interested in
learning more about RISCs ministry
or helping with either of the above,
please contact info@gracecovenant.org.

Jobs for Life, Upcoming Graduation

Please come celebrate with our
four graduates from the Jobs for
Life program that has been going on
each Tuesday evening in our Fellowship Hall this winter and spring. Even
if you have not been involved to date,
we would love to have you come join
in the celebration. Come see what
weve been up to and how everyone
has grown through this biblically
based soft skills job training program.
There will be a light reception in the
Fellowship Hall as well right afterward (many thanks to Deacons for
help on this front!). God is working
in wonderful ways. Thank you for all
your prayerful support!

Philippians 1: 9
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight...

Worship
Sunday Morning
Prayer Time
The best way to start a Sunday morning, or any morning, is with prayer. Each
Sunday morning at 9:15-9:30
in the Social Room, we have
a time of prayer, and all are
welcome to participate. It is
a prayerful time when hearts
are quieted and focused on
God, joys and concerns are
shared, and prayers are
raised in word and in spirit.
It is a special time of caring,
friendship, and blessing;
please come and pray with
us.

Children
and Worship
We know all kids can be
wiggly and noisy. Its okay!
Were glad that you and they
are here. Please feel free to
sit anywhere: up front where
they can see; in the balcony
where there is room to move
around; or wherever is most
convenient for you. Worship
Bags and Binders are available in the narthex. Ask an
usher or greeter! Children
under 6 are welcome at any
time for childcare in room
102. Our excellent nursery is
in room 103 across from the
Social Room.

Summer Schedule of Sermons

Are you eagerly anticipating this Summers Worship Schedule?

Check out some of the scheduled sermon titles as they are now
for a glance ahead.

Date:

Sermon:

June 12:

Its about God

June 19:

Its an Invitation

June 26:

Its the Unwithered Leaf

July 3:

Its about a God Who Is Near

July 10:

Its Upside Down

July 17:

Its Peace

July 24:

Its Love for Everybody

July 31:

Its a Celebration for Everybody

August 7:

Its Woe for Everybody

August 14:

Its a Whole New Thing

August 21:

Its Love or Its Nothing

August 28:

Its a Life of Justice, Mercy,

and a Humble Posture

For more information on the summer schedule and the Summer Series: Back to the Basics, see p. 5.

First Sunday Prayer Group

Join the prayer team from 12:30-1:00 p.m. after worship on the first Sunday of
each month. The group meets in the chapel and prays over the church, our city,
our nation, and the world. The next meeting will be June 5.

Join Us in Worship on Sundays:

Pray Together (Social Room)
Sunday School all ages (Education Building)
Worship Service (Sanctuary)

9:15 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
10:55 a.m.

Session Report
May 2016
Information
For April 2016, income came to $39,356.85, which is consistent with our usual pattern. Expenses came
to $57,252.92. There were no extraordinary expenses for the month.

Recent Actions
The Session voted to:
1) Approve the minutes for the Session meetings of April 18, 2016 and April 24, 2016.
2) Approve removal of Margaret Jones Valentine from the church rolls following her passing.
3) Approve Continuing Education Leave for Bobby Hulme-Lippert Aug. 1-Aug. 4, 2016.
4) Approve the minutes of the Congregational Meeting held May 1, 2016.
5) Approve removal of Campbell Hackett from the church rolls following her ordination in the Presbyterian Church
(USA)
6) Accept with regret the resignation of Virginia Hudson from the Session.
7) Request the Building Fund to cover the cost to prepare and repaint the exterior windows and trim of the church.
($12,000.00.)

The Session provides this summary to help ensure that the congregation remains informed of its
decisions and actions. If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Dana McKnight (Clerk of Session) or any of your active ruling Elders.

Nehemiah 9: 6
You are the Lord, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the
earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.

The Church Administration

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 Covenants ministries.

The Church Officers

Clerk of Session: Dana E. McKnight

Moderator of the Board of Deacons: Lisa Cardwell

Elders:

Deacons:

James Atchison (16)

Susan Boze (18)
Ray Davis (18)

Itunu Adekoya (16)

Lisa Cardwell (18)

- Finance (M)
- Christian Education (M)
- Evangelism, Admin &
Personnel
Bill Jacobs (18)
- Stewardship (M),
Property
Katie McCullough (16) - Mission (M)
Lewis Rosebro (17)
Pete Sizemore (16)
Rob Turner (17)

- Property (M)
- Admin & Personnel (M),
Nominating
- Worship (M)

Trustees: Caroline Leith (17)

John Roberts (18)
Warren Zirkle (16)

Phil Coltrain (16)

Mary Gray (18)
Margaret Harvie (18)
Cynthia Holmes (17)
Steve Kemp (18)
Jan Kessel (16)
Dottie-Ray Koch (17)
Sallie Leys (17)
Jessica Reveley (16)
Dawson Watkins (17)

- Prayer (M)
- Fellowship;
Deacons Fund
- Glass Office (M);
Deacons Fund
- Greeters/Ushers (Co-M);
Meals (Co-M)
- Visitation & Flowers
- New Members (M)
- Media & Technology
- Care Team (M),
- Fellowship
- Greeters/Ushers (Co-M);
Meals (Co-M)
- Justice (M)
- Deacons Fund (M);
Care Team

The Staff
Bobby Hulme-Lippert
Pastor
bobby@grace-covenant.org

Nelson Reveley
Parish Associate for Outreach & Adult Discipleship
reveley@grace-covenant.org

Christopher Martin
Director of Music and Organist
martin@grace-covenant.org

Martha Rubin
Administrative Support/ Bookkeeper
bookkeeper@grace-covenant.org

Christopher Tweel
Director of Christian Formation & Pastoral Assistant
christopher@grace-covenant.org

Meredith Bond
Office Manager
meredith@grace-covenant.org

GCPC Child Development Center

Nicole Flournoy, Director
(804) 213-0200

director.gccdc@verizon.net
gracecovenantcdc.com

Office Hours:

Contact Us:

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday

Wednesday
Friday

9am-3:30pm
9am-4:30pm
9am-noon

Phone: (804) 359-2463

Fax: (804) 278-6298
www.grace-covenant.org