Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina www.gcpcusa.org

December 3, 2017 First Sunday of Advent

Prelude ✜









Prelude in E Minor

Advent Preparation for Worship Sung Prayer Wait for the Lord





I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. ~ Psalm 130:5-6











Bach/Krebs

Chancel Choir & Congregation



* Litany





Long awaited, Come, Lord Jesus. Long expected, Come, Lord Jesus. As the night ends, Come, Lord Jesus. As the day breaks, Come, Lord Jesus.



* Hymn 88 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel VENI EMMANUEL * Call to Reconciliation * Prayer of Confession God, we grow impatient and tired. We begin to go through the motions, choosing the path of least resistance, living on autopilot. In a season of waiting, of expectation, we grow weary in the waiting; we miss signs of your presence; we stop looking for you altogether. How quickly waiting can become disillusionment, mistaking the feeling of your absence for your abandonment. Hold us, Lord, in the waiting. Empower us anew to seek your Spirit, the wind that blows wherever it pleases. Amen.

* Assurance of Forgiveness * Response ✜ (Hymn 132, Stanza 3) Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!

* Passing of the Peace The Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. Our Life Together ✜ (Please sign the pad located in your pew) Prayer for Illumination Hebrew Scripture The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God!







Isaiah 64:1-9



Gospel Reading Homily * Hymn 352 ✜

The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God!







Mark 13:24-37

“Awaiting Now”





Richard Coble

My Lord! What a Morning



MY LORD, WHAT A MORNING



Sacrament of the Lord's Supper



Invitation to The Table



Prayer of Thanksgiving



The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise! Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, And the glory, forever. Amen.

The Bread And The Cup Communion is by intinction. Come to one of the stations as directed by ushers. Return to your pew by the outside aisles. You may also be served in your pew. All bread is gluten-free. Music During Communion Prayer After Communion Offering (Please place prayer cards in the offering plate. Staff will pray for them this week.) Offertory Anthem ✜ E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come Paul Manz * Doxology ✜ Sung to REGENT’S SQUARE Praise the Lover of Creation, Praise the Spirit, Friend of Friends, Praise the true Beloved, our Savior, Praise the God who makes and mends, Strong, surrendered, many-splendored, Three whose Oneness never ends.

* Prayer of Dedication Faithful God, renew us in hope, that we may be awake and alert to the return of our judge and savior, and may these, our gifts and offerings, help carry your message of hope to us and to our community. Amen. * Hymn 357 The Days Are Surely Coming * Charge and Benediction * Postlude ✜ Chaconne -------------------------------------------------





LLANGLOFFAN



Louis Couperin

Wait for the Lord, Jacques Berthier © 1984 Les Presses de Taize (admin. GIA Publications.Inc.) All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission. Copyright license Onelicense.net A-724-337. Praise the Lover of Creation, Brian Wren © 1989 Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL. All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission. Copyright license Onelicense.net A-724-337.

(For some, the Postlude serves as festive music to accompany their going back out into the world. Others prefer to remain seated and listen. Please be mindful of these different needs as you depart. Thank you!)

✜ Indicates 10:30 worship only. * Please Stand in Body or Spirit.



We gather to worship God who is larger than all our imaginations! We encourage all persons to sing the gender nouns and pronouns they prefer in referring to God.

WORSHIP NOTES:

Invitation to the Table for Everyone Everyone of all ages is welcome at the Lord's Table. GCPC provides a workshop each spring to help school aged children gain a better understanding of the meaning and practice of Communion and to assist parents in talking about this with their children. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask any of the staff.





Our Life Together…





Thank You! ✜ Head Usher: Lynn Milner | ✜ Liturgist: Tim Hamel

Thank you to Jeannette Williams for the flowers that decorate the sanctuary this morning, given to the glory of God with blessed holiday wishes for family & friends.

Deacon of the Week: Anne Sayers email: [email protected]

A Congregational Meeting has been called for December 17th immediately following worship for the purpose of voting on a new slate of Elders and Deacons. Advent Fellowship Fun! | TODAY, Dec. 3 | 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Narthex Celebrate the start of Advent immediately following 10:30am worship today. We will have Advent donuts to make and enjoy, as well as hot cider and coffee. We will also be making cards for our homebound congregants and drawing potential covers for the Christmas Eve bulletin. See you then!

This year, our Advent Ministry Partner is Asheville Writers in the Schools and Community (AWITSC). AWITSC creates safe spaces for young people of color to express themselves creatively through creative writing and the arts. Programs include "Word on the Street," a bilingual arts and culture magazine for and by youth; Family Voices, a family writing program, and residencies by local Artist Mentors. Our Christmas Eve offering will support the important work of AWITSC. 2018 Flower Chart (on bulletin board next to elevators) Sign up for flowers in the sanctuary! Email your bulletin dedication to Anna Louise at [email protected] and send in your check to GCPC for $45.

Serve

Time for PRITCHARD PARK | Sunday, December 17 Sign-ups for the next Pritchard Park are in the Narthex today, December 3 and Sunday, December 10. Food donations and volunteers are needed. Questions? Please contact David Bailey at 777-3990 or email him at [email protected]. “Reclaiming Christmas” | Alternative Gift Giving Guide An email was sent on Friday with this year’s Alternative Gift Giving Guide. If you are looking for a way to give a gift that keeps on giving and that directly impacts our Ministry Partners, “Reclaiming Christmas” is a great way to do both. We have community partners in Asheville, Guatemala and Haiti. Click on a link to make an online donation directly to the nonprofit of your choice. If you would like to make your donation in memory or in honor of someone this holiday season, you can get a card indicating your gift from Anna Louise in the main office or after 10:30 worship on Sundays in the narthex during Advent season.

Grow

The Racial Justice Book Club | Thursday, Dec. 14 | 12:15 PM | Jerusalem Room This year, GCPC is committing to reading a book every month by an author of color who examines issues of race and justice. For December, we are reading Ebony and Ivy: Slavery and the Troubled History of America’s Universities by Craig Steven Wilder.

Care PNO and 20s & 30s Group | “Joint Christmas Party” | Saturday, December 16 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM | Shem’s home A combined gathering for PNO and 20s/30s Group. Leave your children at the church for childcare, and let’s all go to the Shem’s for holiday cheer! Contact Sherrie ([email protected]) to reserve childcare by Monday, December 11. To be added to the PNO list, email Anna Louise at [email protected]. A Support Group for Cognitive Impairment | Wed., Dec. 6 | 12 PM | Garden Rm A support group for those experiencing cognitive impairment or decline, whether this means a diagnosis from your physician or just a personal concern that you are having trouble keeping track of things and would like a place to talk about your experiences and concerns. The group will be lead by Paul Rogers, a retired physician in our congregation. Contact Richard if you have any questions.

Sisters at the Sea | February 1-4, 2018 | Bodies Alive! | Folly Beach, SC Early Bird Deadline: Dec. 10! Are you a women age 25ish-50ish who would like a weekend of connecting and rejuvenating? Mark your calendars for our 9th annual SOS (“save our sanity”/“sisters at the sea”) retreat! Marcia will lead us in spiritual practices, energy work and movement to help revitalize our bodies. If you reserve your spot by Dec. 10 with a $40 non-refundable deposit, you will receive the early bird rate ($160). Registration ends on January 14th. Forms available at Info Station or online. Scholarships available upon request.

Youth News

Youth Group "Love Your Body, Everybody!" | TONIGHT, Sunday, December 3 | 5 – 7 PM | GCPC Senior highs & Middle Schoolers, what does it mean to love the bodies that God has given us? Get ready for a thrilling youth group focused on body health and selfesteem. One of our ministry partners, the Center for Disordered Eating will be leading us in a bunch of interactive, meaningful activities. We will also be hearing your ideas/hopes for the Spring Semester. Dinner will be provided. Don't miss out on the fun!

Looking for Youth Leaders for 5 PM Christmas Eve Service! Christmas Eve is right around the corner and we need YOUth! Youth are invited to be "angel, magi and shepherd" leaders in this engaging service geared toward GCPC children of all ages! If you can participate, contact Samantha [email protected].

Next Sunday’s Education for All Ages | 9:15 AM Adult Education - Advent Term | December 3 - 17

Pressure Points: Theology through the Lens of Disability | Choir Room How does the experience of disability affect one’s understanding of God, and what can the church learn from the perspective of disability theology? This class will touch on three groundbreaking works: The Disabled God: Toward Liberatory Theology of Disability by Nancy Eiesland; A Healing Homiletic by Kathy Black; and Julia Watts-Belser’s lecture on “Violence, Disability, and the Politics of Healing.” Disability theology will be explored within the context of Traumatic Brain injury, which is receiving growing national attention. Optional readings will be offered electronically through the church newsletter and by email. Facilitators: Tamara Puffer, Joyce Hollyday, Michael Galovic Digging In: The Christology of John | Fellowship Hall The Gospel According to John distinguishes itself from the three synoptic gospels for many reasons, not the least of which is that it tells the story of Jesus with a unique Christological slant. This gospel has helped to shape both the development of Christian doctrine and the dynamic that put some on the outside of Christian orthodoxy because of their beliefs about who Jesus was. The highs and lows of who Christ is in John’s gospel are worthy of attention during our season of Advent waiting. Facilitator: Marcia Mount Shoop



The Improv: Spiritual Pathways | Jerusalem Room The Improv class this Advent Season offers three class sessions exploring Listening as a spiritual practice. We hope to discuss how any spiritual pathway inherently involves attention to listening: listening to oneself, to other people in our lives, and to God. Listening is a spiritual path when someone listens for the sacred Spirit that breathes in us and in our lives. How we listen to each other forms the bonds between us. Our class will be guided by Reflections for Cultivating a Spiritual Practice: The Sacred Art of Listening, a book of forty reflections by Kay Lindahl. No text required. Facilitator: Dean Presson

CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION [Contact Samantha] Preschool/Kindergarten (ages 3-5) | anytime from 8:30–11:30 AM | Preschool Sunday School Room (downstairs, Children’s Center) Elementary (grades 1-5) | 9:10–10:10 AM |Temple Room (upstairs, Promise Zone)



Middle School (grades 6-8) | 9:15-10:10 AM | Middle School Classroom, PZ Senior Highs (grades 9-12) | 9:15-10:10 AM | Senior High Classroom, PZ



CALENDAR



Sunday



3















Monday





4

















Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday Sunday



5 6



7 10









































8:30 AM 9:15 AM 10:30 AM 11:45 AM 12:00 PM 5:00 PM 5:00 PM 10:30 AM 5:30 PM 9:00 AM 4:15 PM 11:00 AM 11:45 AM 12:00 PM 5:30 PM 7:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:30 AM 9:15 AM 10:30 AM 11:45 AM 11:45 AM 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM

Worship Education Hour Worship Guatemala Mtg. Biltmore Choir Rehearsal Children’s Choirs Youth Group Circle 5 Christmas Gathering Handbell Choir Prayer Group VRQ Dinner Bible Study Sanctuary open for prayer MCI Support Group Stewardship Mtg. Chancel Choir PART Mtg. Worship Education Hour Worship Executive Session Child Protection Training Biltmore Choir Rehearsal Treble Choir Caroling/Christmas Party Youth Group

Prayer List [Concerns will stay on this list for a month unless we hear otherwise. Please keep us updated.]

Jerusalem Church congregation; Betsy Needle (Robin Gaiser’s friend); Sherry Harcke (Les and Susan Stradley’s friend); Nikita Norris, Regina Hunter & family (Habitat for Humanity partner family); Glen Russell (Robin Gaiser’s brother); Betty Weller (sister of Lucy Reiley and Margaret Peery); John Harvey (Penny Harvey’s son); Art Brown (Bob Walther’s friend); Pat Cocke (Les and Susan Stradley’s friend); Ben Johnston-Krase (Nancy Gaskin’s friend and pastor of the Farm Church); Ron Kaussner (Ron Hawkins’ friend); Virginia Bradley; Hettie Lou Garland; Dot Holladay; Jerry Bleckley; Teresa Stern; Cindy Egerer; Florence Riedesel; Gerry Simons; Pat Cheffins; Jana Watts; Serge Kavalhuna; Bob Busey

Next Sunday, December 10, 2017 Second Sunday of Advent New Member Sunday



Worship services at 8:30 & 10:30 AM Education Hour @ 9:15 AM Sermon: “Free Spirit” by Samantha Gonzalez-Block Scriptures: Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8