GraceCovenantPresbyterianChurchAsheville,NorthCarolina

www.gcpcusa.org

January8,2017–10:30amBaptismoftheLordSunday

SacramentoftheLord’sSupper

“Thingsaresuch,thatsomeoneliftingacup,orwatchingtherain,pettingadog,

orsinging,justsinging--couldbedoingasmuchforthisuniverseasanyone.”~Rumi

BellPeal

Prelude AdoroTeDevote HealeyWillan

*CalltoWorship(AdaptedfromPsalm29) Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to theLORDgloryandstrength.The voice of the LORD is over thewaters, the God ofglorythunders.ThevoiceoftheLORDispowerful.ThevoiceoftheLORDisfullofmajesty.ThevoiceoftheLORDshakesthewilderness.AndinGod’stempleallsay,"Glory!"MaytheLORDblessthepeoplewithpeace!

* Hymn484 OutofDeep,UnorderedWaters RUSTINGTON

*CalltoReconciliation

* PrayerofConfession LovingGod,Tellingthetruthisachallengeforus,especiallywhenthe truth is something we deny. Deep down we areafraid our truthwill be toomuch for you. Heal us ofourdistortedwaysof understandingourselves. Helpustotrustyourvoice.Giveusthecouragetotakeyourhand.Amen.

* AssuranceofForgiveness

* Response

* PassingofthePeace ThePeaceofChristbewithyou. Andalsowithyou.

OurLifeTogether(PleasesigntheFriendshipPadlocatedinyourpew)

PrayerforIllumination

OldTestament Isaiah42:1-9 TheWordoftheLord ThanksbetoGod!

Anthem HeavenlyLight A.Kopylov

NewTestament Matthew3:13-17 TheWordoftheLord ThanksbetoGod!

Homily “TakenByTheHand” MarciaMountShoop

* Hymn488 IWasTheretoHearYourBorningCry WATERLIFE

Communion&RememberingOurBaptism

InvitationtotheTable

PrayerofThanksgivingandtheLord’sPrayer

OurFather,whoartinheaven,Hallowedbethyname,Thykingdomcome,thywillbedone,Onearthasitisinheaven.Giveusthisdayourdailybread;andforgiveusourdebts,asweforgiveourdebtors;andleadusnotintotemptation,butdeliverusfromevil.Forthineisthekingdom,andthepower,Andtheglory,forever.Amen.

BreadandCupAsyoucomeforwardforCommunionyoumaypauseatthefonttorememberyourbaptismandreceiveablessing.Communionisservedbyintinction.Takeapieceofbread,dipitinthecup.Returntoyourpewbytheoutsideaisles.Youmaybeservedinyourpewifyoudonotwishtocomeforward.Allbreadisgluten-free.

MusicDuringCommunion

Offering(PleaseplaceprayercardsintheofferingplateforthePrayersofthePeople) Offertory Lord,WhenICameintoThisLife GeorgeShearing (basedonHymn691)

* Doxology

PrayerofDedication

GraciousandGivingGod,Receivethesegiftsasexpressionsofourgratitudeandcommitment.Help them to feedwhat trulynourishesthosewhohungerandthirstthemost.Amen.

*Hymn485 WeKnowThatChristIsRaised ENGELBERG* ChargeandBenediction

(ChildrenwillbeinvitedtocomeforwardandhelptaketheremainingCommunionelementsoutforalife-givingpurpose)

Postlude TrumpetTune DavidJohnson-------------------------------------------------

(Forsome,theVoluntaryservesasfestivemusictoaccompanytheirgoingbackoutintotheworld.Othersprefertoremainseatedandlisten.Pleasebemindfulofthesedifferentneedsasyoudepart.Thankyou!)

*PleaseStandinBodyorSpirit.

WegathertoworshipGodwhoislargerthanallourimagination!WeencourageallpersonstosingthegendernounsandpronounstheypreferinreferringtoGod.

Children’sUnderstandingofCommunionWewelcomeallGod'schildrentocelebrateinthejoyfulfeastofcommunion.Ifyouhaveanyspecificquestionsaboutthis,pleasefeelfreetomeetwiththestafforjoinusforourLord'sSupperWorkshoponFebruary26duringEducationHour.

OurLifeTogether…

ThankYou!HeadUsher:BethKissling|Liturgist:RebeccaHarrison

ThankyoutoJamesHarwellfortheflowersthatdecorateoursanctuarythismorning,giventothegloryofGod,andinlovingmemoryofSarahCannonHarwell.

DeaconoftheWeek:NanClarke;email:frauclarke41@gmail.comEachweekwefeatureadeaconwhoisavailableforanyneedsyoumayhaveduringtheweek(praying,churchtour,otherassistance.)Thisdeaconwillbewearingapurplesashandwillbestationedinthenarthexbefore10:30worshipandatthefrontofthesanctuaryafterworship.

2017StewardshipCampaignUpdateWehavereceived$718,347inpledges.Thankyou!Ourgoalistoraise$760,000,andweneed$41,653toreachourgoal.Pleasemakeyourpledgebyfillingoutapledgecardoremailinggiving@gcpcusa.org.FeelfreetocontactPaulTierneypaul@weavervillerealty.net,KateShemkateshem@gmail.com,JoeBrumitjoeb@ncarbys.com,orMargaretTierneymargarettierney6@gmail.com

AssociatePastorNominatingCommittee(APNC)NewsOurnewlyformedAPNCisnowmeetingonaweeklybasis.Thisweek,thejobpostingforanewAssociatePastorhasbeenuploadedtothePCUSA'sChurchLeadershipConnectionandchurchwebsite.Ifyouknowofinterestedparties,pleaseaskthemtosubmittheirPIFstoapnc.search@gcpcusa.org.

2017FlowerChart(onbulletinboardnexttotheelevator)Aftersigningup,emailSherrie(smeehan@gcpcusa.org)yourdedicationfortheSundaybulletinandsendinyourcheckfor$40.

GrowSistersattheSea|February2–5,2017|FollyBeach,SC|$160Areyouawomenage25-50ishwhowouldlikeaweekendofcontemplationandtogetherness?Markyourcalendarsforour8thannualSOS(“saveoursanity”/“sistersatthesea”/”womenneedingtoreplenishandrejuvenate”)retreat!Thisyear’sleaderwillbeMargaretLaMotteTorrence.ShewillbeguidingusinacloselookatscripturesinvolvingJesus’encounterswithwomenandwhatthatlookslikeforustoday.RegistrationendsonJanuary15th!Scholarshipsavailable.

CareSOS~SaveOurSanity|7:00PM|MeetsfirstMondayofthemonthAsocial,prayer,supportgroupformothersofyoungchildren!Together,we’llcreatethefunandsupportweneedasweworktoraiseourlittleones.Tobeaddedtolist,emailalmurchison@gcpcusa.org.(Scheduleispostedonthewebsite,underCAREtab.)NextMeeting:Monday,January9–PhyllisEngels’home.Forspecificquestionsaboutthisevent,pleaseemailPhyllisatphyllisengels@yahoo.com.

PNO~Parents’NightOut|5:00–8:00PM|MeetsoneSaturdayamonthLeaveyourchildrenatthechurchforchildcare,andlet’sallgooutonthetowntogether!ContactthechurchtoreserveaspaceforchildcaretheMondaypriortoouroutingSaturday.Dropyourchildand$10atthechurchonthenightoftheevent.Carpoolormeetuswhereverwearetogather!Emailalmurchison@gcpcusa.orgtobeaddedtothelist.(Scheduleispostedonthewebsite,underCAREtab.)Nextmeeting:Saturday,January21|Hosts:AllisonandJohnFalkattheirhome.PleaseRSVPtosmeehan@gcpcusa.orgbyMonday,January16forchildcareorifyouwishtoattend.PrayerList[Wearehappytoprayforanyonewhoisinneed.Concernswillstayonthislistforamonthunlesswehearotherwise.Pleasekeepusupdated.]JerusalemChurchcongregation;BobKeever(CynthiaKeever’sFather);MargoSteyer(Mother(in-law)ofLynne&RickNoble);NatalieDeVito(KarenRohl’sdaughter);KathyDowdle(KarenRohls’friend);AnnEverettBelk(MargaretTierney’smother);EvelynMilford(MaryGreen’ssister);PeteNigro(BobWalther’scousin);ParkeWaggoner&family(HeatherBrown’sfriend);BobRoot(AlRoot’sbrother);Michael,Claire&WillSiburt(familyofAnnaJarvis);DavidChiles(AngelaKemper’sdad);BarbaraMcLean(2016ModeratorofPresbyteryofWNC);Barrett&AliPayne;SusanStradley; VirginiaBradley;HettieLouGarland;DotHolladay;SherylAikman&family;JerryBleckley;MauriceStone;BeckyStradley;JoanBass

OursympathyandsupportareextendedtothefamilyofNealPrescottwhodiedonTuesday,January3.Pleasekeepthefamilyinyourprayers.

YouthNewsBagelBrunchwiththeBunch!|TODAYSunday,January8|(afterchurch)12-1:30PM|Meet/pickupatGCPCYouth&Advisors,let'smeetinthenarthexafterworshiptodayandwalkovertoBruegger'sBagels(671MerrimonAve)toenjoyayummybrunchtogether,aswellasfunicebreakers&games.OurexcitingSpring&SummerYouthCalendarwillberevealed!Bring$forfood(scholarshipsavailable).Seeyouthen!

PleasekeepourtwelveyouthwhohavebeguntheirConfirmationjourneythisweekendinyourthoughtsandprayers.

NextSunday’sEducationforAllAges|9:15AMAdultEducationWinterTerm|January8–February26

AskingtheHardQuestions:PressurePoints|ChoirRoomThisclassexploresthornyissuesandnewideasthatchallengeus,the21stcenturychurch,wherewelive—attheintersectionofourfaithandtheworld.Wediscussweightyandimportanttopicswithaninteractive,non-judgmentalapproach,whichfostersasafeenvironmentwherenoquestionistrivialortoo“dumb”toask.Infact,differentviewpointsandlifeexperiencesenhanceourspiritedconversations.WinterTerm|PressurePointswillcompletediscussionofBiblicalLiteracy:AGentileHeresybyretiredEpiscopalbishopJohnShelbySpong,whichusestheJewishliturgicalyeartohelpusappreciatethegospelofMatthew.Bymid-January,theclasswillselectanotherenlighteningtopicforreading,discoveryanddiscussion.ClassHosts:DeniseSnodgrass,BillandAnneSatterfield

TheImprov:ResponsiveFaithinanEver-ChangingWorld|JerusalemRoomAstaticfaithcanbeunhelpfulinaddressingadynamicandchangingworld.TheImprovclasslooksatscripture,life,andpracticethroughvarioustheologicallenses,seekingtodiscovercredibleandpromisinggroundforfaithfulimprovisationinourlives.WinterTerm|Whydosportsmattersomuchtosomanypeople?Andwhyshouldwecare?Farfrombeingadistractionoratrivialpastime,sportstellusdeeptruthsaboutourselves.Big-timesportsareaparticularlypotentmirrorforhumanityreflectingbothourpromisingpossibilitiesandourdemonicdistortions.MarciaandJohnMountShoopwillteachTheImprovthisWinterusingMarcia’sbook,TouchdownsforJesusandOtherSignsoftheApocalypse:LiftingtheVeilonBig-TimeSports(CascadeBooks,2014).Togetherwewilltakeacloserlookattheholdthatsportshaveonusandexploresomeofthemostchallengingissuesinsportstoday:fanaticism,sexism,racism,andabuseofpower.Ifyoulovesports,orifyoujustwonderwhyothersdo,thisclasswillgiveyouawholenewwaytoviewthegamespeopleplay.ClassHost:DeanPresson

DiggingIn:EncounteringScripture|SunroomThisclassreadstheBible,aswellasotherworksthatengagetheBible,withtheexpectationthat—whetherwecometothetextwithtrustorskepticism,finditcomfortingordisturbing,havebeenreadingitourwholelivesorarecrackingitopenforthefirsttime—theBiblehassomethingtosayaboutwhoGodisandwhoweare,bothofwhicharedeeplyimportantforhowwelive.WinterTerm|ThiswinterwewillcontinueastudyofthebookofActs,beginningwithSaul’sconversiontoPaul.WewilllookatthehistoricalandsocialcontextaswereadthestoryofhowtheearlychurchspreadoutwardfromJerusalem,butourlensforinterpretationwillalwaysinvolvethequestion,“WhatdoesthismeanforthoseofustryingtofollowJesustoday?”ClassHosts:ScottandPhyllisEngels,MaryLouNash

CHILDREN&YOUTHEDUCATION[ContactHeatherorSamantha]

Preschool/Kindergarten:Ark&theTempleElementary:ExileandReturn

MiddleSchool&SeniorHigh:Thissemester,wearetakingacloserlookatourBiblicalancestors!Youthmeetinyourclassroomsandgetreadyforamorningofgreatfun,aswetakeacloserlookat"JohntheBaptist."Breakfastsnackswillbeserved.TherewillbenoConfirmationclassnextSundaybecauseoftheAtlantaWinterMissionTrip.

NextSunday,January15,2017

WorshipServicesat8:30&10:30AMEducationHourat9:15AM

Sermon:“ComeandSee”byMarciaMountShoopScriptures:Isaiah49:1-5;John1:29-42

CALENDAR Sunday 8 8:30AM Worship 9:15AM EducationHour 10:30AM Worship 12:00PM YouthGroup

5:00PM Childrens’Choirs Monday 9 7:00PM SOS Tuesday 10 9:00PM PrayerGroup 6:00PM Finance 6:00PM Serve Wednesday 11 11:00AM RITIPlanningMeeting 11:00AM BibleStudy 5:30PM HandbellChoir 7:00PM ChoirPractice Thursday 12 6:30PM APNCMeeting Friday–Monday(13-16) YouthGroupMissionTrip Sunday 15 8:30AM Worship 9:15AM EducationHour 10:30AM Worship 11:00AM Deacons 4:00PM PWCoordinatingTeam 5:00PM Childrens’Choirs