Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

Grace Notes
Volume 44, Issue 3

March 2014

A Good Problem
Have you ever had a good problem? The early church ran into one of these in the fourth century as Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Many people became Christians, and many more were seeking to be baptized and become Christians. This was wonderful! This also raised an important question: how could the church be certain that people truly wanted to follow Jesus and not simply become a Christian because it was the state religion? The church developed a forty-day time period leading up to Easter during which new converts would study Scripture, pray, and fast as they prepared to be baptized on Easter. Yes, the church would take in the many new converts, but not without spending some time showing them what it really meant to follow Christ. This forty days became known as Lent (which comes from the Middle English meaning spring). Professor of Music and Worship at Calvin College Dr. John D. Witvliet observes, Lent was the churchs way of saying yes to the free offer of salvation and no to cheap gracebaptism without discipleship. Lent was one way of dealing with their good problem. The season also became important for the already-baptized. For them, the forty days offered a space in which they could grow in the grace they already knew. Romans 6:3-4 was a key scripture for both groups: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (NRSV)

-continued on page 5

This week in the Childrens Chapel

The Chapel program is going great -- due to the commitment of our volunteer leaders! Not only are we creating a loving worship experience that honors God, we also have the opportunity to connect worship in the hearts and minds of our children. This past week, we were blessed with two extra helpers and 19 children worshiping together. We know all the hand-signs to the Doxology, and read together the story of David talking to God about the temple. It's great to worship with our children. A great big thanks to all our leaders who are taking part in this awesome ministry.

Parents Night Out/Date Night

What a great success we had last time! With 12 children who had a great time, and adults who got the night to go out on a date, out to a movie, or even just rest in a clean and quiet house for a minute or two. Grace Covenant is happy to offer this blessing up to our families again on March 22, from 5:00 -8:00 p.m. A charge of $5 per child will help defray the costs of child care -- though there is a $10 maximum for families with more than two children.

Introducing the Confirmation Class of 2014

This year Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church is blessed with three young ladies who make up the Confirmation class. Cameron Baird is in her second year at Lucille Brown Middle School in their IB program. Reagan McCullough is a first-year student at Robious Middle School. Avery McKay is also in her second year in the Lucille Brown Middle School IB program and lives in the Fan. The girls are under the tutelage of Virginia Hudson and are meeting Wednesday evenings. They are undertaking a ten-week course which has been delayed given the recent weather we have been experiencing. The girls are sponsoring a young girl from South America, Genesis Sinai Jeronimo Hernandez, through Compassion International. Please extend greetings as we welcome these young disciples into our church family.

An Abiding Hope: The Presence of God in Exodus and Deuteronomy

The PW are currently studying:

All Circles Meet on Tuesday, March 11

PW Circle 1 le Evening Circ 7:00 p.m. rle Ave. 329 Albema ie Leys Hostess: Sall

PW Circle 2 11:00 a.m. Vanguard Room Hostesses: Becky Yonan & Bev Proffitt

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

Grace Covenant Presbyterian, Thank you for all your support during our month of February! We had a blast learning all about our own families, different kinds of families, and our friends! We LOVED learning how to LOVE each other, and had many fun activities for Valentines Day. We learned about ourselves as well, comparing our own characteristics to each others. We even learned about the heart symbol and compared it to our own real hearts. We discovered that heart symbols dont really look like real hearts, and we had fun counting our heartbeats! This month, children will be exploring the wide world of animals! They will learn that animals are living things, and discover what kinds of animals live here near us. They will learn to recognize parts of an animals habitat, and what factors help them to survive. Theyll be able to identify different local habitats, like farms, houses, woodlands, rivers, and learn how and when to interact with different animals safely. Theyll even compare our habitats to other places far away, and learn how animals adapt to those environments. Our Pre-K kids will even take a field trip to Maymont to see their animals! Learning about animals is always fun, and presents many-hands on learning experiences including hatching some chicken eggs! Nicole, CDC Director -Continued from front page While you cannot find Lent in Scripture, many in the church recognize how these forty days continue to invite us into a season of intentional growth. How is God leading you to grow in the grace of God this spring? Perhaps God is inviting you to join in one of our three unique offerings during this Lenten season: Praying Through the Psalms Wednesday Night Live Fruit of the Spirit Chapel Services Confessing Our Faith, Living Our Faith Sunday School See pages 9 and 12, for specific details about each of these opportunities. As well, we will have three unique worship offerings during this season: Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and a Good Friday Prayer Vigil. Details about Ash Wednesday are on page 9. Look for more details about the other two events in the coming weeks. I look forward to journeying alongside you in this season. Grace and Peace, Bobby

Missions Project
Do you have blankets or pots sitting around unused? Donate them to refugees from South Sudan! The Missions Committee will be collecting blankets and pots in the back of the stage in the Fellowship Hall. Blankets must be clean and without holes, and pots must be at least 11" wide and 6" deep (no frying pans). Donations must be received by March 20. We will be partnering with other churches to send a container-load of blankets and pots to missionaries serving these refugee camps. To learn more, go to RVA4SUDAN.org or contact Matt Hartman (mchartman@vcu.edu, 212-1961). - Matt Hartman

3rd Saturdays at Shalom Farms!

Join us the third Saturday of every month, for a morning out on the farm as we assist in ensuring local, healthy produce is available to everyone in our city. We will leave from the GCPC parking lot at 9:00 a.m. and return by 1:00 p.m. Bring along a sack lunch. Please RSVP to Nelson Reveley, nmr2uf@virginia.edu or 3878094.

March
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
2 Handbell Choir 8:30 am Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12:15 pm

3 Mens Lunch 12 noon

4 Staff Meeting 10:00 am

5 Care Team 3:30 pm Kids Choir 4:30 pm Junior Choir 5:00 pm Worship Committee Meeting WNL 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm 7:00 pm

9 Handbell Choir 8:30 am Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12:15 pm

10 Mens Lunch 12 noon

Christian Education Meeting 6:00 pm

11 PW CIRCLES see page 3 Staff Meeting 10:45 am Finance Committee Meeting 6:00 pm

12 Care Team 3:30 pm Kids Choir 4:30 pm Junior Choir 5:00 pm CDC Board Meeting 5:00pm WNL 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

16 Handbell Choir 8:30 am Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12:15 pm

17 Mens Lunch 12 noon

18 Staff Meeting 10:00 am

19 Care Team 3:30 pm

Kids Choir 4:30 pm Junior Choir 5:00 pm WNL 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

23 Handbell Choir 8:30 am Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12:15 pm
30 Handbell Choir 8:30 am Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12:15 pm

24 Mens Lunch 12 noon

25 Staff Meeting 10:00 am

26 Care Team 3:30 pm Kids Choir 4:30 pm Junior Choir 5:00 pm WNL 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

31 Mens Lunch 12 noon

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

Thursday

Friday

Saturday 1 10K Training 7:30 am

Service Day 8:30 am

CDC Chapel 10:00 am

10K Training 8:00 am

13

CDC Chapel 14 10:00 am

15

10K Training 8:00 am

20

CDC Chapel 10:00 am SESSION Meeting 7:00 pm

21 GRACE NOTES ARTICLES DUE!!!!!

22

10K Training 8:00 am

27

CDC Chapel 28 10:00 am

29 Monument 10K

Openers/Closers March 2 March 9 March 16 March 23 March 30 Worship Kits

8- Sudie Wood

Cal Gray Lloyd Bostian Rob Rosebro Wayne Casey Jake Savage Pete Sizemore

9- Carol Wood 9- Bennett Corby 10- Liam Peters 10- Lily Spangler 11 Caroline Leith 11 Susan Farrell 12- Dawson Watkins 12- Jason Peters 13- John Nevin 13- Brannan Boze 14- Becky Yonan 14- Gay Moss 16- John Alexander 17- Helen Holt 20- Lucy Harvie 23- Helen Bond Reveley 23- Debbie Pritchett 23- Maria Spitzer 23- Ann Londrey 24- Betty Clough 26- Langdon Moss III 27- Holly Crockett Anderson 27- Bob Adams 27- Jeremiah Zobule 29- Courtney Clements 29- Jonathan Hubbard 29- Matthew Gray 30- Jane Osborne Johnson 30- Tiffany Williams

Dottie-Ray Koch 2 x a month Fellowship Hour March 2 March 9 March 16 March 23 March 30 Corleys Elizabeth Russell Savages Corbys Jacobs

March Birthdays
2- Reagan McCullough 3- Maria Rachal 3- Zoe Koch 4- Lewis Rosebro 5- Chuck Massey 6- Katherine Baird 6- Alex Robinson 7- Mac Janney II 8- Steve Booth

Meals for March:

March 5: Chicken Pot Pie, green beans, rolls, salad, and banana pudding March 12: No peek beef with rice, mixed vegetables, salad, rolls, and apple crisp March 19: Barbeque sandwiches, beans, cole slaw, and sheet cake March 26: Beef casserole, broccoli, salad, rolls, and brownies

Ash Wednesday Service March 5, 7:00 p.m., Chapel 6:00Dinner in the Fellowship Hall

Preparing for the 10K

My breath is heavy with the frost that clings to it, and my feet strike ice with every unsure stride. Every muscle in my body is screaming against the cold for me to stop, yet somehow I am running greater distances than I have in years. To make matters worse, I am being spurred by some strange competitive compulsion to keep in front of this group of runners, the exertion of the effort leaving me a huffing mess, and completely unable to engage in the casual (and what theyre making seem so easily maintained) conversation of the lead runners. This will pay off, Im getting back in shape and if I keep at it Ill have no problems with this 10K, I continue to assure myself as we hit somewhere around the three-mile mark. One day, this will pay off. But it already has. The Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Monument 10K Training Team has now been meeting every Saturday for over a month. During this time we have enjoyed some beautiful crisp spring-like mornings. We have also enjoyed the winter weather that hasnt been so pleasant. Weve had as many as a dozen people come out, and as few as three. Weve taken turns catching colds in our group, and some have missed because of that. Some have missed because of prior obligations, some have missed because they couldnt find a babysitter, some have missed because of those pesky PC(USA) ordination exams, some have missed because theyve been off getting engaged, but we all seem to be having fun and, hopefully, growing from our time together. Our training group has been studying the Letter to the Hebrews. With the help of New Testament scholar N. T. Wright weve been exploring several aspects of our faith with a focus on a sustainability of faith, and the endurance required for a loving discipleship. Hebrews 12:1b summarizes what weve been exploring: And let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. In the upcoming weeks (which were hoping will be increasingly ice-free and a little warmer), we will continue to add miles to our runs, strength to our lungs, and joy in our fellowship. If you have considered joining us and havent been able to make it out, let me assure you, it is not too late! Every week we have two routes (a shorter run and a longer run) from which you may choose, depending on your ambition or comfort level. It would be a blessing to add to our numbers and build our team, so if youre curious, come on out, or contact Luke Woodcock at lwwoodco11@gmail.com. Additionally, if you dont have any interest in running, we would still love to see you come out the day of the race (Saturday, March 29). Grace Covenant, per tradition, will be hosting a hospitality station on our front porch in partnership with Boaz and Ruth. Please come out and support our team and support the ministry of Boaz and Ruth. Im very excited about this race, and I look forward to seeing everyone there. So, even if this winter refuses to warm, and even if the route looks a little long at times, I say to you, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

- Luke Woodcock

The 10K is coming! On Saturday, March 29, Grace Covenant will be opening its doors and hosting a hospitality station for the Monument Avenue 10K, alongside our ministry partners Boaz & Ruth! We will have coffee, snacks, and water for spectators and runners alike. We will also be cheering on GCPC members of Team Boaz & Ruth, who are running to support this organization which focuses on faith-based urban renewal in Richmond. Interested in bringing food and drink items for the station? Contact Virginia Hudson at vhudson81@gmail.com or 385-4698. Items we will particularly need are bottled water, half and half for coffee, and healthy snacks like granola, fruit, and nuts. Please also talk with Virginia if you'd like to lend a hand with the Hospitality Station before or after the event. The station will be up by 8:00 a.m., and we will be finished packing up by about noon. Interested in running for Boaz & Ruth? You can still register at boazandruth.com or by emailing Jessica Reveley at 908-433-1532 or jabreveley@gmail.com. Also, if you'd like to cheer on fellow Boaz & Ruth team members in an official 10K B&R Team T-shirt, please contact Jessica by March 14.

Fourth Thursdays Ministry Boaz & Ruth's restaurant, Firehouse 15, is the only sit-down restaurant in Highland Park and offers job training for program participants. GCPC is supporting this business by joining in fellowship for dinner on the fourth Thursday of each month. When there are five Thursdays in the month, on occasion we may shift to the fifth Thursday. No long-term commitment required; intermittent visitors encouraged. If you are interested in joining, please join our email list for a once-a-month reminder to RSVP. Contact Jessica Reveley at jabreveley@gmail.com.

Stewardship Corner
As expected, Januarys total contributions of $29,700 were down considerably from Decembers total, and were slightly above those of January a year ago. Income in January was augmented by the transfer into income of $20,800 of contributions received in 2013 and designated for 2014 pledges. A similar figure in January of 2013 was $13,500. Expenses in January were routine except for a large fuel bill of $7,600 and $4,400 paid in taxes on the Stuart Circle building. Due to the contributions received in 2013 for 2014 pledges, income for January exceeded expenses by $8,400. In January $464 was collected for Loaves and Fishes and $237 for Five Cents Per Meal.

Connections Sunday School Class (March 12 - April 13): Confessing Our Faith, Living Our Faith
During the first few centuries of the Church, the time leading up to Easter was often used to reflect on what Christians believed and how faith impacted daily life. Drawing on this heritage, our 6-week class will introduce some of the central confessions of the Reformed Tradition. In conversation with these texts, we will consider: What we made for? Who is Jesus Christ? What is Scripture? And how are we to live in response to Gods grace, beauty, truth, and justice? Teacher: Joshua Ralston (Instructor, Union Presbyterian Seminary). The class will meet in Fellowship Hall.

The Staff
Bobby Hulme-Lippert Pastor bobby@grace-covenant.org Chris Martin Director of Music and Organist martin@grace-covenant.org Vanessa Strait Administrative Assistant strait@grace-covenant.org Martha Rubin Bookkeeper bookkeeper@grace-covenant.org Christopher Tweel Christian Education Coordinator for children Christopher.tweel@upsem.edu Luke Woodcock Seminary Intern luke.woodcock@upsem.edu James Greene Custodian 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. 10:55 a.m. 12:00 noon Sunday School for all ages in the Education Building Worship Service in the Sanctuary Congregational Fellowship in the Social Room

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. CLERK OF SESSION: Everett Reveley ELDERS Jordan Ball (14) Matt Hartman (16) Virginia Hudson (14) Cheryl Jacobs (15) Caroline Leith (15) Katie McCullough (16) Dana McKnight (14) Christof Meyer (15) Joy Nevin (14) Everett Reveley (15) Pete Sizemore (16) Rob Turner (14) - Nominating (M), Finance (Co-M), Property (Co-M) - Missions (M) CE/Discipleship (M), Fellowship (C-M), Administration (Co-M) Worship (Co-M), Evangelism (M) Fellowship (Co-M) Finance (Co-M), Property (Co-M) - Administration (Co-M) - Worship (Co-M) Flowers Fellowship Deacon Fund Meals Care Care and Deacon Fund Greeters and Ushers Visitation

Church Officers

DEACONS Lisa Cardwell (15) Courtney Clements (15) Phil Coltrain (16) Mary Gray (15) Jan Kessel (15) Ann Pais (14) Jennifer Schooley (15) Judy Waldron (14)

Greeter/Usher - Jennifer Schooley (Jan - Apr), Courtney Clements (May-Aug), Erika Tabor (Sept - Dec) Guest follow-up/Inquirer Class - Erika Tabor (14) Justice Ministry - Jessica Reveley (16) Glass Office - Phil Coltrain (16) Moderator - Erika Tabor (14) Secretary - Judy Waldron (14) TRUSTEES: Caroline Leith (14) John Roberts (15) Warren Zirkle (16)

Grace Covenant Child Development Center Nicole Williams Director director.gccdc@verizon.net www.gracecovenantcdc.com