Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

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Dec 17, 2017 - Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Asheville, North Carolina www.gcpcusa.org

December 17, 2017 Third Sunday of Advent

Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and shield. Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. ~ Psalm 33: 20-22







Prelude ✜ O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Kevin McChesney Advent Preparation for Worship Sung Prayer Sing Out My Soul Chancel Choir & Congregation



* Litany

Deliver us, Come, Lord Jesus. From fear, Come, Lord Jesus. Ready us, Come, Lord Jesus. For healing, Come, Lord Jesus. My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN

* Hymn 100 * Call to Reconciliation * Prayer of Confession God of Mercy, You ask us for the truth about our wounds and the harm we have caused. We struggle to trust that it is really in our best interest to tell you what ails us. And we struggle to even know our wounds enough to tell you the truth about them. We want everyone to think we are fine. We try to deny our need for you and for each other. Stir in us the courage to see ourselves clearly and to trust that you have the power to heal us. AMEN. * Assurance of Forgiveness * Response ✜ (Hymn 93, Stanza 3) Redeemer, come! I open wide my heart to thee; here, Lord, abide. Let me thy inner presence feel; Thy grace and love in me reveal. * Passing of the Peace The Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. Faith Sharing with Children ✜ Our Life Together ✜ (Please sign the pad located in your pew) Prayer for Illumination Hebrew Scripture Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God!



Anthem ✜ A Waiting Carol Helen Kemp Cherub & Treble Choirs Gospel Reading Luke 1:46b-55 The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God! Sermon “Patience, Probability, and a Panacea” Marcia Mount Shoop Sacrament of Communion (8:30 only) Anthem ✜ Come Now, Savior of the Nations Michael Burkhardt * Affirmation of Faith ✜ (adapted from A Brief Statement of Faith) In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”



Offering (Please place prayer cards in the offering plate for the Prayers of the People) Offertory ✜ Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming Kevin McChesney * 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 Gracious God, Thank you for your constant generosity and for your wise provisions in our lives. Receive these gifts as an expression of our gratitude. And fill them with your purpose and your promise. Amen. Prayers of the People ✜ Each section of the prayer will conclude: “God, in your grace”



Please respond: “Hear our prayer”

The Lord’s Prayer ✜ 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.

* Hymn 79 Light Dawns on a Weary World * Charge & Benediction Congregational Meeting * Postlude ✜ Tell Out My Soul -------------------------------------------------





TEMPLE OF PEACE

Paul Manz



Sing Out My Soul, Jacques Berthier © 1978 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.





Our Life Together…





Thank You! Head Usher: Bill Wolcott | Liturgist: Paul Rogers

Deacon of the Week: Walt Justice, email: [email protected]

A Congregational Meeting has been called for today, December 17th immediately following worship for the purpose of voting on a new slate of Elders and Deacons.

Earth Team Meeting | TODAY! | after Congregational Meeting | Indie Room Please join the EARTH TEAM as we plan for our Sunday School series, "Healing the Earth, Living into God's Covenant" in January. We will also discuss options for going forward in efforts to get solar panels on our GCPC roofs.

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.

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.

Advent and Christmas Happenings

Sunday, December 17 | The Longest Night: A Service of Consolation | 6 PM | Sanctuary The holiday season can be a difficult time when grief, health challenges, and loneliness are part of what we carry. All are welcome at this simple service of prayer and Communion.

Wednesday, December 20 | Biltmore Choir Preview Concert & Reception | 8 PM | Sanctuary Once again, members of the Chancel Choir will be offering holiday favorites at the Biltmore Candlelight Christmas. If you would like a sneak preview, please join us for refreshments and sounds of the season at our final dress rehearsal.

Sunday, December 24 | 10:30 AM Service only | (No 8:30 service or Education Hour)

Sunday, December 24 | Christmas Eve Services 5 PM | A Night Like No Other – Service for all ages Calling all angels, shepherds, and wise women and men: This service is truly a treat with carols, stories of the first Christmas, and all the children of Grace Covenant taking part! Kids, arrive a little early to pick out your costume. Hope to see you there! 9 PM | Candlelight Communion Service The 9:00 PM service will include Holy Communion as we gather to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord.

The church office will be closed Monday – Wednesday, December 25-27th.

Sunday, December 31 | 10:30 AM Service only | (No 8:30 service or Education Hour)

The church office will be closed on Monday, January 1st. MLK Commemoration Pilgrimage | April 2 - 5, 2018 | Memphis, TN April 4, 2018 marks the 50th commemoration of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Power and Race Team (PART) is planning a four-day intergenerational pilgrimage to Memphis to participate in this national remembrance. The cost, payable to GCPC, will vary from $300 - $700 per person, depending on food, lodging, and activity choices. There may be additional food and travel costs not included in this amount. There will be an information table in the narthex before and after worship today, December 17. Please stop by if you have questions and/or want to sign up.

Serve “Reclaiming Christmas” | 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. (If you need Anna Louise to resend the gift giving guide, please email her at [email protected]).

Grow

There will be NO Bible Study on Wednesday, December 27th. Racial Justice Book Club: Fall Wrap-up | TODAY, December 17 | 3 - 5 PM | Habitat Tavern & Commons (174 Broadway St.) This fall, our congregation has been reading three books centered around systemic issues of racial justice by authors of color: Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow, Carol Anderson's White Rage, and Craig Steven Wilder's Ebony and Ivy. Our Power and Race Team (PART) is hosting a "wrap-up" session open to GCPC and our community partners. If you have read one or all of the books, or would just like to discuss and learn more about the issues they cover, please join us.

Care

Sisters at the Sea | February 1-4, 2018 | Bodies Alive! | Folly Beach, SC | $180 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. Registration ends on January 14th. Forms available at Info Station or online. Scholarships available upon request.

Youth News

Looking for Youth Worship Leaders for 5pm 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 children of all ages! There are no speaking roles. If you can participate, contact Samantha [email protected].



NO Education Hour or 8:30 service on December 24th and December 31st.

CALENDAR



Sunday



17











Tuesday Wednesday



19 20



















Thursday Sunday













21 24

Mon.-Wed. 25-27

8:30 AM 9:15 AM 10:30 AM 11:30 AM 12:00 PM 12:00 PM 12:00 PM 3:00 PM 4:00 PM 6:00 PM 9:00 AM 5:00 PM 6:15 PM 11:00 AM 11:45 AM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 5:30 PM 10:30 AM 5:00 PM 9:00 PM

Pritchard Park Worship Education Hour Worship Congregational Meeting Earth Team Mtg. Sisters at the Sea Planning Mtg. Biltmore Choir Rehearsal Racial Justice Fall Book Club Wrap-Up PW Coordinating Team The Longest Night Service Prayer Group Finance Comm. Mtg. Session Mtg. Bible Study Sanctuary open for prayer Chancel Choir Biltmore Choir Preview Concert DCFM Search Comm. Mtg. Christmas Eve Worship Family Service Candlelight Communion Service OFFICE CLOSED

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

Jerusalem Church congregation; Sherry Harcke (Les and Susan Stradley’s friend); Nikita Norris, Regina Hunter & family (Habitat for Humanity partner family); Betty Weller (sister of Lucy Reiley and Margaret Peery); John Harvey (Penny Harvey’s son); 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); Betsy Needle (Robin Gaiser’s friend); Glenn Russell (Robin Gaiser’s brother); Virginia Bradley; Hettie Lou Garland; Dot Holladay; Jerry Bleckley; Teresa Stern; Cindy Egerer; Gerry Simons; Pat Cheffins; Jana Watts; Serge Kavalhuna; Bob Busey

Next Sunday, December 24, 2017 Fourth Sunday of Advent



Worship service at 10:30 AM NO 8:30 service or Education Hour Scripture and Reflections: Marcia Mount Shoop, Samantha Gonzalez-Block and Richard Coble