God Is at Work Among Us!

We are just three months from the end of 2015 a landmark

year for this congregation! We have spent much of this year
living into the centennial motto, Celebrating Our Past;
Believing in Our Future. As we stand on the cusp of 2016 and
beyond we have a chance to consider how Jesus is leading us into our future.
Already, in the month of September, God is showing us signs of the Spirits leading
and work among us!
Wednesday

Night Supper,
pg. 3
Waters
for the World,
pg. 4

Living

Life

and Loss
in the Lord,
pg. 6

Dinner

pg. 13

for Six,

Thank You to
GCPC
Volunteers,
pg. 15

We have 23 Sunday School teachers for adults and children for the 2015-16
school year who are living into our mission statement to train grateful
disciples of Christ, by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with
our God!
21 folks from Grace Covenant participated in serving at Shalom Farms during
our monthly outing. We give thanks for the continued growth of this
ministry! The parents of our young children have been especially
appreciative of how Shalom Farms has ways for the entire family to serve.
We sent Reverend Nelson Reveley to Honduras to begin laying the
groundwork for our partnership with Living Waters for the World (see page
four for his reflection on that trip).
Five folks from Grace Covenant have begun their weekly commitment to
mentoring and tutoring with STEP in Gilpin Court.
Because of the Building Fund we were able to renovate the Fellowship Hall
this past summer, and the first three Wednesday Night Suppers have each
had over 70 people in attendance!
We have invited the former Moderator of the PC(USA), Reverend Joan Gray,
to join us on October 30 and 31. She will be leading us to consider how we
might continue to live faithfully into the future God has for us.
Five people/families were chosen to participate in the 100 Project. The
church will be giving Kent Cardwell, Janet Chenoweth (and family), Sallie
Leys, Wilkes Price, and Jennifer Schooley (and family) each $100 to discern
one question: How is God leading me (or us) to use the $100 this week?

We are excited to hear how God leads them! Look for testimonies later in October.
In many ways they are participating in an exercise that is fundamental to
stewardship recognizing that all that we have is a gift entrusted to us by God, and
so we are called into this same discernment as individuals and as a church. As
1

Volume 45, Issue 10

October 2015

(Continued on page 4)

Christian Education and Discipleship

The Rhythm of our Sundays @ GCPC
9:20 a.m. Coffee and Care
9:45 a.m. Education Small Groups (Sunday School Classes)
10:30 a.m. Choir Practice
10:55 a.m. Announcements
11:00 a.m. Worship

Please update us!

The church needs to be able to keep in touch with your college students this year. Please provide
Christopher Tweel with the mailing address, email address, and phone number for your college students. Presbyterian Women will continue their special support to our students by lifting them up in
prayer and sending them cards and other remembrances.

Sunday School
Held every Sunday from 9:45-10:30 a.m.
The Nursery Crib Room (Rm. 103) and Sunday School are available for children ages 2 and up.

The Vanguard Class, Basement, Room B4 - This year the men's class will be looking at each of the
fathers in scripture. How did they fare? What was their legacy? How does this inform us how to be
men and fathers in our church family? This exciting study that will continue to shape the men of our
church to face each day being who God created us to be.
Forum of Grace, Room 212 - A newly combined class that will be going deeper into the theology
and scripture of Exodus. What does it mean to wander as God's people? To look forward to the promised land? To exist and be faithful in exile? A great class to come for lecture and some discussion.
Good Books, Room 303 - Looking for a good book and conversation about God in our everyday lives?
The "Good Book Small Group" will be meeting to engage in precisely those kinds of books and discussions. Our conversations will be framed devotionally through scripture, hymn, and prayer (including
prayer for each other) that relates to the book we will be exploring.
Pre-K, Room 102 - For our youngest Disciples there is a heavy emphasis on knowing one another, getting in tune with the teachers and their classmates, as well as just starting the process of knowing what
God's Love is, and just who is God anyway?
Early Elementary, Room 209 - This year they begin with the stories of the patriarchs and matriarchs of our faith and move with the seasons through the liturgical year.
Pilgrims' Prep, Room 302 - Confirmation is a big deal, here at GCPC even more so as we plan to take
our Confirmands on an annual trip to Scotland following their confirmation! We spend our first year
in preparation, getting to know one another and finding out how God has an awesome purpose and
plan for our lives.
Youth Mentors- This mentoring program has been walking through the little-known books of the
Bible. Every word that comes from the mouth of God is precious and awesome; this class is all about
getting together and seeing how that Word is present in our life each day.
2

Christian Education and Discipleship

Wednesday Night Supper
Join the Excitement at 6:00 p.m.
"Celebrating Our Past - Believing in Our Future"
Save yourself the trouble of cooking dinner and come join
us Wednesday nights for a time of growth in fellowship and faith.
Every night we'll have arts and crafts for the kids,
timely announcements, worship preparation cards for the coming
Sunday, and either faith-infused live music, a trivia night, or an excellent presentation! $5 per adult, $2 per child, with $12 max per
family. Our upcoming schedule is below:
Oct. 14 - Gifts and Wisdom of Aging
Reverend Stephanie Hamilton, Lead Chaplain, M.Div, BCC
Oct. 21 - Aging and Spiritual Health
Reverend Keith Johnson, Chaplain
Oct. 28 - Aging and Physical Health
Aimee Watkins, Nurse Practitioner
* Our menu is reliant on fresh and in-season ingredients; for this
reason the menu may vary slightly to accommodate the freshest
ingredients

Menu*
October 14: Tortilla chips
with fresh salsa,
southwestern chopped salad,
chicken fajitas, Mexican rice,
and pumpkin de leche cake
October 21: Seasonal
chopped salad bar, eggplant
parmesan with homemade
dinner rolls and tiramisu
October 28: Seasonal salad
bar, autumn harvest pork
roast with apples and
butternut squash, cauliflower
mash, Brussel sprouts,
dinner rolls, and pecan pie
tarts

Presbyterian Women
All Womens Circles Meet Tues., Oct. 13
1
PW Circle
7:00 p.m
Ave.
1727 Park
va Leigh Sa
r
u
a
L
:
s
s
e
t
Hos
age

PW Circle 2
11:00 a.m.
Vanguard Room
Hostesses: Dottie-Ray
Koch and Janet Miller

PW Circle 3
9:30 a.m.
Social Room
Hostess: Lynne Nor
ris

(Continued from page 1)

you consider how you will make a financial pledge on Sunday, October 25, I invite
you to be asking the same question: How is God leading me (or us) to use that which
has been entrusted to me/us?

Mission and Justice Ministry

Living Waters for the World
Recap of Our Covenant Trip, September 21-24
The Missions Committee is excited to share some updates on Grace Covenant's involvement with Living Waters for the World (LWW). As many know, LWW is a PC
(USA) mission project rooted in the confession that Jesus Christ
is Living Waters for our Bodies and Souls. LWW bears witness to Christ by assisting communities and congregations around the world that lack access to clean
drinking water, empowering their local leaders to build, operate, and sustain water
purification systems and health education for their communities.
In last month's Grace Notes, Katie McCullough gave an excellent overview of
the water purification system. This month we have got a recap of the recent
Covenant Trip that Nelson Reveley took with two LWW team members from
Trinity Presbyterian Church just outside Philadelphia, Don Bovais and
Mary Westervelt.
We arrived in Honduras on Monday afternoon, September 21, and met up
with the LWW in-country coordinator, Melvin Flores, who served as our expert guide and transport during the trip. We were staying in Guaimaca, which
is about an hour drive from Agalteca Presbyterian Church, where we are partnering with the local community to install the water purification system and
help educate the community on the key times to use purified water.
On Tuesday, we were able to meet with over 20 leaders of Agalteca Presbyterian Church and the local community,
including key local government officials and the pastor Antonio Zavala. There are about 60 members and 45 children
in this congregation and about 2,300 people living in Agalteca over all. This water system, while housed in the
church, will serve and be available for purchase to the entire community. The likely price for a 5 gallon jug of water
will be about 10-15 lempiras, which depending on the exchange rate is about 50-75 cents. This revenue will go directly toward ensuring the sustainability of the system and paying for the operators wages and replacement parts as
needs for them arise.
Our meetings on Tuesday were extremely successful, as the community
members pressed us on key questions, expressed their joyful and deep commitment, and signed up enthusiastically for respective roles on the Water
Committee, the community education team, and the operation team. At the
end of the day, friendships had begun to blossom as we had our covenant
signed and firm plans for the installation of the system, the education components, and a few pieces of construction that will need to occur before the
system can be installed. On Wednesday, Don, Mary, Melvin, and I were able
to see a bit more of the Honduran countryside before Melvin dropped us off
at the airport in Tegucigalpa to fly back home on Thursday.

Mission and Justice Ministry

We are currently in planning stages for determining when to undertake the installation and education trip, but it
will likely occur sometime this coming February or March, 2016. We want to send enormous thanks to all the support we have received so far, and ask for your continued prayers and energy! If you would like to learn more - or
join the LWW team, please reach out to Nelson Reveley (nmr2uf@virginia.edu) or anyone from our LWW crew
(Katie McCullough, Michelle Hulme-Lippert, Susan Pillsbury David, Jessica Reveley, and Nelson Reveley). You
can also see photos from this first trip here: https://goo.gl/photos/SCAd4aJ5a6KLWfAFA.

Shalom Farms
Join us Saturday, October 17, from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon at Shalom Farmsa local food access and community development ministry shalomfarms.orgas we
help ensure that everyone in our city has access to God's bounteous gift of nutritious produce. Please RSVP to Nate McKinnon at nathaniel.mckinnon@gmail.com
or 385-2505. Carpooling from the church parking lot at 8:00 a.m. (and returning
by 12:00 noon) is possible if there is interest. Otherwise, you can meet us out on
the farm at 9:00 a.m. (1033 Rock Castle Rd., Goochland, VA 23063)!

Help a Child Learn to Read

Looking for a way to love our neighbors in the Fan? William Fox Elementary School is seeking volunteers to tutor struggling readers in second and third grades. Tutors work one-on-one with the same student throughout the school year and will receive training, easy-to-follow lesson plans, and on-going
support. Tutoring falls on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, 8:00 a.m-8:55 a.m. If you are interested, contact Samantha McLean at samantha.mclean20@gmail.com.

Living Waters for the World

Walk for Water
Sunday, October 25, 3:15 p.m.
Join us on Sunday afternoon, October 25, for the Living Waters for the World "Walk for Water." We are
joining with First Presbyterian Church to raise money
and awareness regarding the need for purified water in
communities around the world. The 3.7-mile round
trip is the distance that many people in developing
countries must walk each day for water for their families. Onsite registration opens at 3:15 p.m. and the walk begins at First Presbyterian Church (4602 Cary
Street Road, 23226) at 3:30 p.m.
Registration fee/donation is a suggested $20 per person, and proceeds from GCPC registrants will go
toward our LWW mission in Agalteca, Honduras, while proceeds from First Presbyterian registrants will
go to their LWW partnerships in Haiti and Nicaragua. To register, please contact Nelson Reveley,
nmr2uf@virginia.edu or 387-8094. If you cannot join the walk, please consider giving a donation!

GCPC and Bon Secours

Presents

Life and Loss

in the Lord

Join us for a six-week program centered on aging faithfully an opportunity

for every generation to consider how to best love God and one another
amid lifes progression. The program begins at 6:45 p.m. in the Fellowship
Hall immediately following Wednesday Night Supper.

October 14

Gifts and Wisdom of Aging

Reverend Stephanie Hamilton, Lead Chaplain, M.Div, BCC

October 21

Aging and Spiritual Health

Reverend Keith Johnson, Chaplain

October 28

Aging and Physical Health

Aimee Watkins, Nurse Practitioner

November 4

Care for Parents and Loved Ones

Reverend Braunda Ridley, Chaplain

November 11

Faith and Finances

Reverend Carson Rhyne

November 18

Death, Dying, and Grief

Reverend David Benshoff, Chaplain

Save the Date

SAVE THE DATE
6:00 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2015
An Evening with Reverend Dr. Joan Gray, author of Sailboat
Church
On Friday, October 30, please join us for a special event in the Fellowship
Hall. We will begin the evening at 6:00 p.m. with a chili cook-off! All are
welcome to bring a chili. Sign-ups for the chili cook-off will be available in
October. All others are invited to provide a small dessert to share.
Following dinner, we will have a special presentation on the mission of the
church from Reverend Dr. Joan Gray, the author of Sailboat Church, which is
the book that the GCPC officers have been reading, discussing, and praying
through during the course of this year.
This event will go from 6:00-8:15 p.m. and childcare will be provided
throughout that time.

Reverend Dr. Joan Gray

Joan Gray grew up in South Carolina. She received a Bachelor of Arts

summa cum laude from Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, then graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary with her Masters of Divinity.
In 1994 Joan received a Masters of Sacred Theology in Spiritual Direction from General Theological Seminary (Episcopal), New York City. She
earned her Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC, in 2009. The topic of her D.Min. research was
helping congregations heal after conflict.

In 1978, Joan was the first woman ordained to pastor a church in Atlanta
Presbytery, PCUS. Since then she has worked with ten churches in the
Atlanta area. Her ministries have included solo pastor, associate pastor,
lead pastor/head of staff, parish associate, and interim pastor. Joan
served as Moderator of the 217th General Assembly (2006-2008) of the PCUSA. More recently,
Joan has served as Interim Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students for Columbia Theological Seminary. Currently, she is the Interim Associate Pastor at Decatur Presbyterian
Church, Decatur, GA.
Joan's publications include Presbyterian Polity for Church Officers (fourth edition, 2012), coauthored with the Rev. Joyce C. Tucker in 1986, and Spiritual Leadership for Church Officers,
released 2009. Sailboat Church: Helping Your Church Rethink Its Mission and Purpose was
published in 2013. Joan is married to Bill Gray, a ruling elder in the PC(USA) and an attorney in
the firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, and Stewart. The Grays live in Atlanta, GA.

October
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

4 World Communion Sunday

CARITAS
8:30 Handbell Choir
9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm)
9:30 Coffee and Care
9:45 Sunday School
10:55 Worship
12:15 Fellowship Hour

5
CARITAS
7pm CE Meeting

6
CARITAS

7
CARITAS
4pm Care Team
4:30pm Carol C
5:30pm Junior
7pm Chancel C

11
8:30 Handbell Choir
9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm)
9:30 Coffee and Care
9:45 Sunday School
10:55 Worship
12:15 Fellowship Hour

12
6pm Finance Comm.
7pm Worship Comm.

13
9:30am PW Circle #3
11am PW Circle #2
7pm PW Circle #1

14
4pm Care Team
4:30pm Carol C
5:30pm Junior
6pm WNSLif
the Lord
7pm Chancel C

18
8:30 Handbell Choir
9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm)
9:30 Coffee and Care
9:45 Sunday School
10:55 Worship
12:15 Fellowship Hour

19

20

21

7pm Session Meeting

Deacons Meeting

4pm Care Team

4:30pm Carol C
5:30pm Junior
6pm WNSLif
the Lord
7pm Chancel C

25
8:30 Handbell Choir
9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm)
9:30 Coffee and Care
9:45 Sunday School
10:55 Worship
12:15 Fellowship Hour
1:00 Boxed Lunch in Fellowship Hall
2:00 POYJO Service and Scavenger
Hunt

26

27

28
4pm Care Team
4:30pm Carol C
5:30pm Junior
6pm WNSLif
the Lord
7pm Chancel C

Deadline for Grace Notes

submissions
6:30pm RISC Community
Problems Assembly

Wednesd

** Reminder!
October 26 is the deadline for submissions
for our November edition of Grace Notes.

day

Thursday

m
Choir
r Choir
Choir

m
Choir
r Choir
fe & Loss in

Friday

Saturday

1
9 am CDC Chapel

3
CARITAS

8
CARITAS
9 am CDC Chapel

9
CARITAS

10
CARITAS

15
9 am CDC Chapel

16
6:30pm Young Adults
gathering at the Prices
house

17
8am Shalom Farms

23

24

10am Parents and Playground

Presbytery Meeting at Second

Presbyterian Church

Choir
22

m
Choir
r Choir
fe & Loss in

9am CDC Chapel

2pm Mens Oyster Roast

5pm Parents Night Out

Choir

m
Choir
r Choir
fe & Loss in

Choir

29

30

31

9am CDC Chapel

11am CDC Fall Festival

8am Officer Retreat at Union

Seminary

6pm chili cook-off and

evening with Joan Gray

Faith Seeking Understanding

Charlotte Campus
Featuring Rev. Dr. Jill Duffield (M.Div.'96), editor and publisher of The Presbyterian Outlook

Sunday, October 4, 4:00-5:30 p.m. - Public

Presentation
"Saying Yes: Start Where You Are and Use All You Have to Imitate Christ"
Free and open to the public.

Monday, October 5, 2015, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Workshop with Clergy

"Telling the Story: Heeding the Risen Christ"
Reservations requested for Workshop with Clergy. Complimentary lunch provided.
For reservations, contact Nadine Moran at 980-636-1661 or nadine.moran@upsem.edu

Syngman Rhee Global Mission Center for Christian

Education
Richmond campus
Dedication & Groundbreaking
October 14, 2015, Watts Chapel at 11:45 a.m.
Lunch reception to follow.

From Our Presbytery

Next Presbytery Meeting:
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Location: Second Presbyterian Church,
Richmond

10

CDC Update
Grace Covenant Presbyterian,
We finished up our month of community helpers with a visit
from the fire truck this week! Children got to sit behind the wheel,
touch the fire truck, and see a fireman all dressed up! We learned all
about doctors and nurses, and talked about going to the hospital. We
learned about the people in our neighborhood like mailmen, teachers,
librarians, and grocery store workers. We had so much fun learning
about community helpers!
Now were falling into fall with a very sudden weather shift as
we track the progress of hurricane Joaquin! Well be teaching the children how to stay safe in
thunderstorms and floods, and what to wear to be comfortable. Then well start learning about the fall
harvest and how God blesses us with so much every year. Well explore pumpkins when we take our
annual pumpkin patch field trip. Well go on walks to collect leaves of all colors and shapes. Well learn
about the weather, and how to determine whats real and pretend for Halloween. Well also have our
annual Fall Festival in the fellowship hall one day during school!
We would especially like to thank you all for your support as we have made our plans to expand
to the Forum classroom. We greatly appreciate all of the positivity from both the congregation and
session! We are planning to get the room ready and move the children in by October 12, right after
CARITAS. Thank you so much for your support of our program!
Nicole Flournoy
Grace Covenant CDC Director
11

Announcements
Ash Wednesday Service Background and Details
IOpeners
grew up in a Presbyterian
Church that did not have an AshFellowship
Wednesday service.
The whole idea of Ash
Hour
and Closers
Wednesday struck me as something for other people, and I really had no appreciation for it one way or
4 which Nevin
October
Lloyd
Bostian
another
until 4
I began serving
a couple
different PresbyterianOctober
congregations
had the service.

October
11
E.
Reveley
October
11 know, Cal
As
many of you
there Gray
is no biblical requirement to hold
an Ash Wednesday
service
or to use ashes
much as there is no biblical requirement to celebrate Christmas or Easter (though we celebrate the truths beOctober
18Christians
Cardwell
October
18
Rob
Rosebro
hind
them year-round).
Still, Ash
Wednesday has been observed
by many
for at least the past ten
centuries.
It
is
the
day
that
marks
the
beginning
of
Lent

a
six-week
period
preceding
Easter (Lent, too, is
October 25
Baird
October
25
Hank
Downing
not in the Bible).
Around the tenth century,
Christians
Date
Nightbegan placing ashes on their forehead to signify their need for repentance, presumably emulating
the
likes of Job
Grace Covenant
is who repented in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). Notably, the ashes
were done in the shapehappy
of the cross

a
symbol
to offer this of the Good News. Thus, even as the ashes spoke of a need to
repent (turn to God) they
also spoke
power and
hope. Stuart
1-Janet
blessing
up of
to resurrection
our

in October...

families again on

2-Jo Garber

The first time I had ashes placed on my forehead, it didnt do

anything
(and never does!). However, the
2-Will
Madden
Saturday, October 24,
visible ashen mark helped me consider again my need grace3-Pat
even asBall
the cross-shape prompted me to give
from 5:00-8:00 p.m. A
thanks for the Life in which I already stand because of what5-Sharon
Jesus has done
on the cross. The ashes also made
Appich
charge
$5day
perdie,
child
me face anew the fact that
I willofone
which renewed my hope and thanks for the hope I have in
6-Jed Wilson
will help
defray
the costs
of child
care,
Christ
Jesus.
Paradoxically,
then,
the ashes-receiving
proved uplifting! Of course, this is in keeping with the
8- Benjamin Cardwell
thoughwhich
therealways
is a $10
family
Gospel
cutsmaximum
to the heartper
(Acts
2:37) and convicts even as it heals and binds up wounds.

9-Ginny Chandler
with more than two children. Please
9-George
Turner
RSVP
by 3:00
p.m.
Thursday,
After
receiving
ashes,
I went
to research the topic in more detail.
I realized
that while there exists no Bible
October
22,wetomust
the observe
churchAsh
at info@grace
verse
that says
Wednesday or impose 12-Charlie
ashes, there isKennedy
a good theological reasoning unRalston
derpinning
-covenant.org
the service.
or 359-2463
In many with
ways,name
the service
of enacts our16-Miriam
call to confess
our sins to another, to weep with
17-Susan
Pillsbury
one
another,
and
to
know
anew
the
Gospel
hope
(which
can
only
be
appreciated
byDavid
naming, not avoiding, the
child and age.
17-Afua Ossei
darkness).
18-Rachel Wilson
nd Mens Oyster Roast, sponThe
82
To be sure, there is nothing magical about the service or the20-Roman
ashes. Indeed,
when calling the people of God
Chenoweth
sored
by thethe
Vanguard
class,
beyour
3:00to
repentance,
prophet Joel
says,will
rend
hearts not your
clothing
(2:13).
The prophet Isaiah likewise
20-Jennifer Schooley
7:00
p.m.
on
Saturday,
October
24,
at
the
tells the people to stop fasting and repenting in dust and ashes
and instead
get upReveley
and do justice (Isaiah 58:522-Helen
Lanier
Pearsons
cabin.the
The
car pool
will leave
at
8).
In other words,
prophets
are calling
the people
out for
thinking
that
they
can
perform external acts of
23-Ann Pais
2:00 p.m.
to theorchurch
worship
(likePlease
tearing RSVP
their clothes
wearingofashes in repentance)
that
will
take
the
place
of actually giving
24-Marjorie Adams
their
and doing the real work of the
We are wise to avoid any imposition of ashes if
fice hearts
at info@grace-covenant.org
or Lord
359-in the world.25-John
Parker
we
think
they
gain
us
favor
with
God
or
have
some
power
in
and
of themselves.
2463.
26-Jack Corley
27-Sarah
Miller
However, because the ashes can be a particularly poignant way
for many
Christians to know anew our hope
Camp
Hanover
Scav31-Jimmy
Appich
in Jesus Christ, ashes will be offered at our Ash Wednesday service at 7pm on Wednesday, February 18th
Hunt
Wilkes
Price
inenger
the chapel.
Theand
ashesSerwill be entirely optional you may31choose
whether
or not you come forward to revice
Day
ceive them. If you do come forward, I will put the ashes on your forehead in the shape of a cross with the
We will
have ayourself
scavenger
words,
Consider
dead to sin and alive in Jesus Christ (Rom 6:11). My prayer is that through the
hunt
all
over
camp,
a
service of worship God will meet us in such a way that we are renewed in our hope and assured once again
time
doinsome
work,ofand
a meal
that
weto
rest
the promise
the share
One who
has come to bring Life and LifeFollow
Eternal. GCPC on Instaaround the campfire. We will meet there
gram! Grace Covenant is
at 2:00 p.m. on October 25, and be
on Instagram. Follow
done after supper. Email Christopher
gcpc_rva to see what's hapTweel and let us know you are coming.

pening around GCPC.

12

Announcements

Ash Wednesday Service Background and Details

Parents
and Playground
I grew up in a Presbyterian
Church that did not have an Ash Wednesday service. The whole idea of Ash

Wednesday
struck
me as
something
other people,
andus,
I really
had no appreciation for it one way or
GCPC
parents!
Bring
your
youngfor
children
and join
Saturday,
another until
I began10:00
serving
a couple
different
Presbyterian
congregations
which had the service.
October
10, from
a.m.
to 12:00
noon
on the Grace
Covenant
Playground. This will be a time for GCPC and CDC parents to
As many
of you
know,
there
biblical requirement to hold an Ash Wednesday service or to use ashes
gather
while
their
kids
getistonoplay.

much as there is no biblical requirement to celebrate Christmas or Easter (though we celebrate the truths behind them year-round). Still, Ash Wednesday has been observed by many Christians for at least the past ten
centuries. It is the day that marks the beginning of Lent a six-week period preceding Easter (Lent, too, is
not in
Bible). to a social time/party at the home of Carson and Ashby Price, Friday, October
You
aretheinvited

Young Professionals and Parents of Young Children

16, at 6:30 p.m. Please bring heavy hors d'oeuvres to share. Questions? Email info@graceAround the tenth century, Christians began placing ashes on their forehead to signify their need for repentcovenant.org.
ance, presumably emulating the likes of Job who repented in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). Notably, the ashes
were done in the shape of the cross a symbol of the Good News. Thus, even as the ashes spoke of a need to
repent (turn to God) they also spoke of resurrection power and hope.

Greeters Needed!

We
are looking for members who would like to offer a friendly smile and a warm handshake to
The first time I had ashes placed on my forehead, it didnt do anything (and never does!). However, the
our
members
and helped
guestsme
as consider
they enter
our
for worship
Sunday
mornings.
You
volunvisible
ashen mark
again
mydoors
need grace
even as the
cross-shape
prompted
me can
to give
teer
once
a
quarter,
once
a
month
or
as
often
as
you
like.
If
you
would
be
interested
in
finding
thanks for the Life in which I already stand because of what Jesus has done on the cross. The ashes also made
out
or want
to participate
this
ministry,
please
contact
Sallie
Leys
at in
358memore
face anew
the fact
that I will oneinday
die,important
which renewed
my hope
and thanks
for the
hope
I have
6071.
Christ Jesus. Paradoxically, then, the ashes-receiving proved uplifting! Of course, this is in keeping with the
Gospel which always cuts to the heart (Acts 2:37) and convicts even as it heals and binds up wounds.

Fellowship Announcements

After receiving ashes, I went to research the topic in more detail. I realized that while there exists no Bible

verse that says we must observe

Ash Wednesday or impose
ashes, there is a good theological reasoning unStewardship
Celebration
Luncheon

derpinning
the service.
In many ways, theluncheon
service enacts
ourFellowship
call to confess
our sins to another, to weep with
You
are invited
to a congregational
in the
Hall
one another,
and The
to know
anew
thebe
Gospel
hope (which
can onlyby
beCuisine
appreciated
by naming, not avoiding, the
after
worship.
lunch
will
box lunches
provided
A La
darkness).
Carte. The box lunch options will be chicken salad on wheat, veggie delight, and honey ham on sourdough. Each lunch will be $7. Please
To be sure, there is nothing magical about the service or the ashes. Indeed, when calling the people of God
RSVP
by Tuesday, October 20, for the luncheon in one of the three
to repentance, the prophet Joel says, rend your hearts not your clothing (2:13). The prophet Isaiah likewise
following
ways: email info@grace-covenant.org, phone 359-2463, or
tells the people to stop fasting and repenting in dust and ashes and instead get up and do justice (Isaiah 58:5provide
your
RSVP
the communication
cardout
in for
thethinking
weeklythat
bulletin.
8). In other words,
theon
prophets
are calling the people
they can perform external acts of
worship (like tearing their clothes or wearing ashes in repentance) that will take the place of actually giving
their hearts and doing the real work of the Lord in the world. We are wise to avoid any imposition of ashes if
we think they gain us favor with God or have some power in and of themselves.

Dinners for Six

Would you care to participate in a few evenings of casual, small group fellowship, enfood
opportunity
to get
people
in church?
However, joying
becausegreat
the ashes
canwith
be aan
particularly
poignant
wayto
forknow
manysome
Christians
to know
anew ourThe
hope
dinners
will
homes,
on dates selected
the
with pot-luck
in Jesus Christ,
ashes
willbe
behosted
offered in
at our
Ash Wednesday
service at by
7pm
onhosts,
Wednesday,
Februarymeals.
18th
SignThe
upashes
by calling
emailing
thechurch,
by signing
on you
the come
poster
outside
the
in the chapel.
will beor
entirely
optional
you mayor
choose
whetherup
or not
forward
to receive them.
If youroom.
do come
forward,October
I will put18.
the ashes on your forehead in the shape of a cross with the
social
Deadline
words, Consider yourself dead to sin and alive in Jesus Christ (Rom 6:11). My prayer is that through the
service of worship God will meet us in such a way that we are renewed in our hope and assured once again
that we rest in the promise of the One who has come to bring Life and Life Eternal.

Social Hour on the Terrace

During the months of September and October the post-worship social hour will take place on
the terrace, weather-permitting. We look forward to enjoying the fall weather together! Of
course, if the weather does not cooperate, then we will gather in the Social Room. Look in your
bulletin for any updates or changes.
13

Worship
Weekly Sunday Morning Prayer
The best way to start a Sunday morning, or any morning, is with prayer. Each Sunday morning from
9:15 to 9:30 a.m. 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.

Monthly Prayer Group

A prayer group meets after the worship service on the last Sunday of each
month. We will pray in the chapel from 12:30-1:00 p.m. following the
11:00 a.m. church service. For more information please contact Itunu
Adekoya at 309-310-1424 or historybegins1727@yahoo.com, Susan Farrell at 359-6222 or omatalsbh@gmail.com, or Carol Wood at 282-2446
or ctwood7@gmail.com Please join us for our next meeting on October 25!

Stewardship in 2016
The stewardship season is once again upon us a time for us to reflect purposefully on our commitment of financial support for the mission of Gods church at Grace Covenant in the coming year. The
theme for this years stewardship campaign is Gods Generosity; Our Response. We kicked off our
Stewardship campaign with the 100 Project, and we look forward to hearing testimonies from those
participating. In the coming weeks be on the lookout for a stewardship letter and pledge card in the
mail. You will have an opportunity to return your pledge card during Worship on October 25, Stewardship Sunday. After worship that day join us in the Fellowship Hall for a stewardship celebration luncheon!

STEWARDSHIP CORNER
After a large deficit was recorded in July, Augusts financial results were
improved, with higher contributions and lower expenses, but the improvement was not enough to avoid a deficit in the current fund for the month.
Aided by having five Sundays, Augusts contributions of $37,400 were up
21% over Julys, but for the year they trail those of the same months last year by 9%, almost a
third of which is accounted for by differences in pledges paid in advance. Expenses in August of
$57,800 were down about 14% from those in July, and they included $5,400 in insurance payments and about $4,000 for improvements to the parking lot. For the year through August expenses are up about 12% over the same period last year, with most of the increase accounted for
by higher personnel costs. Expenses exceeded income in August by $5,300.
Augusts Five Cents Per Meal offering was $98, Loaves and Fishes, $325, and Mercy Offering
$104.
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Thank You to GCPC Volunteers!

Thank you to all the volunteers that help Grace Covenant run smoothly from week
to week. Everything you do from answering telephone calls and editing the bulletin
to coordinating weddings and helping the GCPC family remember our history is
greatly appreciated by staff and members alike.
Thank you for everything you do!

15

The Staff
Bobby Hulme-Lippert
Pastor
bobby@grace-covenant.org
Christopher Martin
Director of Music and Organist
martin@grace-covenant.org
Christopher Tweel
Director of Christian Formation &
Pastoral Assistant
christopher@grace-covenant.org
Nelson Reveley
Parish Associate for Outreach &
Adult Discipleship
reveley@grace-covenant.org
Amy Kempel
Director of Communications
amy@grace-covenant.org
Martha Rubin
Administrative Support/ Bookkeeper
bookkeeper@grace-covenant.org
Lauren Voyles
Seminary Intern
Church Office Hours:
Mon., Tues., and Thurs., 9:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Wed., 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Fri, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon
Phone: (804) 359-2463
Fax: (804) 278-6298
grace-covenant.org
Sundays:
9:15 a.m.
Prayer Together in the Social Room
9:30 a.m.
Sunday School for all ages
in the Education Building
10:55 a.m.
Worship Service
in the Sanctuary
12:15 p.m.
Congregational Fellowship
in the Social Room

GCPC Child Development Center

Church Officers
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
James Atchison (16)
Virginia Hudson (17)
Cheryl Jacobs (15)
Caroline Leith (15)
Katie McCullough (16)
Everett Reveley (15)
Lewis Rosebro (17)
Pete Sizemore (16)
Rob Turner (17)

- Finance (C-M)
- Mission (M), Nominating
- CE (M)
- Property (Co-M), CE
- Administration (M)
Stewardship (M)
- Property (Co-M)
- Administration (Co-M)
- Worship (M)

MODERATOR OF THE BOARD OF DEACONS: Lisa Cardwell

DEACONS
Itunu Adekoya (16)
Lisa Cardwell (15)
Courtney Clements (15)
Phil Coltrain (16)
Mary Gray (15)
Cynthia Holmes (17)
Jan Kessel (16)
Dottie-Ray Koch (17)
Sallie Leys (17)
Jessica Reveley (16)
Jennifer Schooley (15)
Dawson Watkins (17)

- Prayer (M)
- Flowers (M)
- Visitation (Co-M),
Fellowship
- Glass Office (M),
Deacons Fund
- Meals (M),
Visitation (Co-M)
- Fellowship (M)
- Care Team (M),
Transportation (M)
- Fellowship
(Food Committee)
- Greeters/Ushers
- Justice (M)
- Guests Follow-Up,
New Members (M),
Deacons Fund
- Deacons Fund (M)
Care Team

TRUSTEES:
Caroline Leith (17)
John Roberts (15)
Warren Zirkle (16)

Nicole Flournoy
Director
(804) 213-0200
director.gccdc@verizon.net
gracecovenantcdc.com

16