February 2016 Grace Notes

7/25/2019 February 2016 Grace Notes

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Training in Godliness

To train grateful disciples of Christ, by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with ourGod. -The mission of GCPC, as adopted in 2012

I spent a portion of the recent, snow-filled weekend watching one of my veryfavorite moviesRudy. It tells the story of a young man, Rudy, who fights greatodds to become part of the Notre Dame football team. The movie has numerous

scenes that show Rudy by himself quietly putting in hours of study and physical training to make hisdreams come true. As is often the case in such movies, a motivational soundtrack playing in thebackground complimented these scenes.

In real life, training is never so glamorous. Perhaps this is why the Apostle Paul pulls from the imageof sports to make a critical point:

Train yourself in godliness, for physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promiseboth the present life and the life to come. -1 Timothy 4:8

Paul knows that training in godliness, like sports, is not easy. Yes, the Holy Spirit is faithful to form ubut there it is not a magical snap of Gods finger that makes us a people who overflow with gratitudeseek justice, love mercy, and show forth the humility of Christ in all that we do. Looking and acting

Jesus in this world does not happen overnight! It takes routine training through which the Spirit doe

more than we could ask or imagine.

What does your training routine look like this year? And, alongside whom are you training? TheChristian life (unlike the Rudy scenes) is fundamentally lived in community where we spur one anothon (Hebrews 10:24). This is why so much of our Grace Notes is filled with training outlets that are dalongside one another:

Want to develop your justice muscle? Check out opportunities to assist with joblessness and the refucrisis. (see pages 10-11)

Want to develop your prayer muscle? Join in for the Wednesday night post-supper worship servicesduring Lent. (see page 12)

Want to develop the core muscles that serve as the foundation of our hope and motivation in this lifTry a Sunday school. (see page 2-3)

Want to develop your compassion muscle? Join with our care and visitation deacons to assist in visithomebound members. (see page 16)

And, of course, we find God faithfully strengthening every aspect of our lives as gather weekly forSunday worship.

We train in a host of ways, and we give thanks that over time God is faithful! The church does contito look more and more like the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus in this world. And while we may nothave a soundtrack playing behind our routines, we are assured a cheering crowd the whole time.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight thatslows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance therace God has set before us.Hebrews 12:1

ChristianEducation

pp. 2-3

Calendar,pp. 8-9

WNS Schedule,p. 12

Volume 46, Issue 2

February 2016


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Christian Education and Discipleship

Sunday SchoolHeld 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 ofthe fathers in scripture. How did they fare? What was their legacy? How does this inform us how tobe men and fathers in our church family? This exciting study that will continue to shape the men ofour 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 theologyand scripture of the Parables. A great class to come for lecture and some discussion.

Good Books, Room 303 - See page 3 for more details.

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 knowingwhat 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 matri-archs 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 totake our Confirmands on an annual trip to Scotland following their confirmation! We spend ourfirst year in preparation, getting to know one another and finding out how God has an awesomepurpose and plan for our lives.

Youth Mentors-This mentoring program has been walking through the little-known books of theBible. Every word that comes from the mouth of God is precious and awesome; this class is allabout getting together and seeing how that Word is present in our life each day.


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Good Books-Room 303

Good Books is wrapping up this years first reading, calledDesiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview,

and Cultural Formation by James K. A. Smith. For those joining us, continue to finish reading thelast chapters. For anyone wishing to join us for the next group, please see the books coming upnext listed below.

January 31- Chapter 5 "Practicing (for) the Kingdom: An Exegesis of the SocialImaginary Embedded in Christian Worship"

February 7- Chapter 6 "A Christian University Is for Lovers: TheEducation of Desire"

Upcoming books for the winter and spring:

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Strength to Love (Feb. 14 - Mar. 27)

Martin Luther's The Freedom of a Christian (Apr. 10 - 24)

John Calvin's The Christian Life (May 1 - 22)


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The Fellowship Committee is Looking for Volunteers We arelooking for help with hosting the gatherings in the Social Room following each Sundays worship. Its aneasy duty and a good way to interact with members and guests. If interested, please contact Kent Cardwell

(804-477-5630 or [email protected]).

Called Congregational MeetingThere is a called congregational meeting that will happen immediately following the service of worship onFebruary 7, 2016 for the purpose of presenting the 2016 budget and approving the terms of call for ReverenBobby Hulme-Lippert.

Contribution Envelopes & StatementsHave you picked up your 2016 contribution envelopes? Please let Martha know if you would like to contin-

ued receiving envelopes. We have information from our supplier about renewing our order of envelopes fo2017 and we need to know how many to reorder or add. If you have didnt complete the envelope surveyand you have a strong desire to continue using envelopes, please let us know.

Hopefully at this time or in the very near future, you have received or will receive your 2015 Charitable Con-tributions statement. If you dont receive it by the second week in February please call Martha at the churchor email her at [email protected].

Womens Circles Meet Tuesday, January

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Church New
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Church & Community News

Class Name Position

2016

2016

2016

2017

2017

20172018

2018

2018

A Warm Thank You From Marjorie Adams

To all the Grace Covenanters who showered me with cards and fits and thoughts and prayers formy recovery : I am overwhelmed with your thoughtfulness! My appreciation and my love for you are

beyond words. The recovery from my broken hip is a slow healing process, but I hope to be backamong you before you can read this in the next issue of Grace Notes.

With Love in Christ,Marjore Adams

UKirk RVA is Looking for VolunteersMonday Meal Ministry

Students gather for dinner and worship on Monday Nights at 7:00 p.m. We're so grateful for all ofthe volunteers and churches who support this ministry by providing the meals we share at the tabletogether!

The students all agree, this home-cooked meal and table fellowship make Monday night the highlighof their week!

We're excited to share that UKirk RVA Presbyterian Campus Ministries is able to use the Pace Centefor dinner and worship this semester (it's right across Franklin St from Monroe Park)!

WHERE? 700 W. Franklin St.

WHEN? Volunteers should plan on delivering the meal around 6:55 (there is a kitchen with a warm-ing oven at the Pace Center if you need to keep anything warm...feel free to show up earlier.)

HOW MUCH SHOULD I PREPARE? Plan on feeding 15-20 students (leftovers aren't a bad thing,either)

Questions: contact Aaron Houghton, [email protected]


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Preparing for the Season of Lent

The season of Lent begins Wednesday, February 10. There will be a 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday wor-ship service in the chapel that evening. Then, for the following five Wednesdays there will be a servicof worship following each Wednesday Night Supper. Services will go from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. antake place at the back of the Fellowship Hall (the partitions will be closed so that the back section ca

be used for worship). We will celebrate the Lords Supper at the end of service, and the focus of eacof these services of worship will be prayer. Below is the schedule of serviceswe hope you can joinin worship on these evenings!

Wednesday, February 17Prayer: Praying Through the Lords PrayerWednesday, February 24Prayer: Praying with LutherWednesday, March 2Prayer: Lectio DivinaWednesday, March 9Prayer: The Prayer of ExamenWednesday, March 16Prayer: A Heart for Gods World

On Wednesday, March 23, there will not be a Wednesday Night Supper or program. Instead, we willhave a meal on Thursday, March 24, for Maundy Thursday. At 7:00 p.m., we will have a Maundy

Thursday Service worship service in the sanctuary.


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Faces of GCPC

Our new chefAleasha

Seminary intern Lauren Voylesgiving a presentation on

immigration at the January 20WNS

Our church family enjoyingfellowship together at WNS


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Sunday Monday Tuesday Wedn

1 2 34:30pm Ca4:30pm Ca5:30pm Ju6pmWNDr. Brian B7:30pm Ch

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9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm)9:30 Coffee and CareNO SUNDAY SCHOOL10:55 Worship12:15 Fellowship Hour

8

6pm-Admin Committee6pmFinance Committee Mtg.7pm CE7pmWorship Committee Mtg

9

6pm Refugee AssistanceProgram mtg

10 ASH

4:30pm Ca4:30pm Ca5:30pm Ju7pmAshfollowed by

149:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm)9:30 Coffee and Care9:45 Sunday School

10:55 Worship12:15 Fellowship Hour

15

6pm Deacons Mtg7pm Session Mtg

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9:30am PW Circle #311am PW Circle #2

7pm PW Circle #1

174:30pm Ca4:30pm Ca5:30pm Ju

6pm WNSProgram7:30pm Ch

219:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm)9:30 Coffee and Care9:45 Sunday School10:55 Worship12:15 Fellowship Hour

22 23

6pm Deacons meeting

244:30pm Ca4:30pm Ca5:30pm Ju6pm WNS7:30pm Ch

289:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm)9:30 Coffee and Care9:45 Sunday School10:55 Worship12:15 Fellowship Hour

29

February 201


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hursday riday Saturday

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9 am CDC Chapel

12 13

duras

189 am CDC Chapel

19 20

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9 am CDC Chapel

26 27


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An Opportunity to Help Refugees Settling in Richmond

Church World Service, a Christian nonprofit supported by Presbyterian Mission, is settling a numberof new refugee families in Richmond in February and is eager for our help. Refugees designated to

Richmond are largely from Iraq or Afghanistan: they are families who aided American soldiers andtherefore were in need of resettlement due to threats on their lives. Our volunteers will be partnered

with a family rebuilding their lives during their first months in Richmond.The Deacons invite all interested congregants to meet with a CWS representative, Tuesday., February9:00 a.m. at 6:00 p.m. in the Grace Bible Classroom (2nd Floor), for a training session so that we areequipped for this ministry of hospitality. Please direct questions and/or your RSVP to Deacon JessicReveley ([email protected]). You may also RSVP on your communication card and place that inthe offering plate.

Living Waters for the World (LWW) Update

In late March we send our first LWW team to Honduras to assist a community with the installation ofa water purification system. Please be in prayer for our teamReverend Nelson Reveley, KatieMcCullough, and Michelle Hulme-Lippert, as they join with congregants from Trinity Presbyterian

Church in Berwyn, PA for this effort.

As you may recall, just this past January we sent a team to Honduras through KHISH (Key Humani-tarian Initiative for Southern Honduras). While LWW and KHISH are separate entities, they are verymuch related. As the medical teams from KHISH have treated the Honduran population over thecourse of a number of years, they have observed that many of the health problems they encounter aredirectly related to the contaminated water being used. Thus, efforts began to move upstream on theproblem and partner with LWW.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Ash Wednesday Service Background and Details

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 for other people, and I really had no appreciation for it one way oranother until I began serving a couple different Presbyterian congregations which had the service.

As many of you know, there 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 be-hind 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 the Bible).

Around the tenth century, Christians began placing ashes on their forehead to signify their need for repent-

ance, presumably emulating the likes of Job who repented in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). Notably, the asheswere 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.

The first time I had ashes placed on my forehead, it didnt do anything (and never does!). However, the

visible ashen mark helped me consider again my need grace even as the cross-shape prompted me to give

thanks for the Life in which I already stand because of what Jesus has done on the cross. The ashes also made

me face anew the fact that I will one day die, which renewed my hope and thanks for the hope I have inChrist 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.

After receiving ashes, I went to research the topic in more detail. I realized that while there exists no Bibleverse that says we must observe Ash Wednesday or impose ashes, there is a good theological reasoning un-

derpinning the service. In many ways, the service enacts our call to confess our sins to another, to weep with

one another, and to know anew the Gospel hope (which can only be appreciated by naming, not avoiding, thedarkness).

To be sure, there is nothing magical about the service or the ashes. Indeed, when calling the people of God

to repentance, the prophet Joel says, rend your hearts not your clothing (2:13). The prophet Isaiah likewisetells the people to stop fasting and repenting in dust and ashes and instead get up and dojustice (Isaiah 58:5-

8). In other words, the prophets are calling the people out for thinking that they can perform external acts of

worship (like tearing their clothes or wearing ashes in repentance) that will take the place of actually givingtheir 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.

However, because the ashes can be a particularly poignant way for many Christians to know anew our hope

in Jesus Christ, ashes will be offered at our Ash Wednesday service at 7pm on Wednesday, February 18th

in the chapel. The ashes will be entirely optional you may choose whether or not you come forward to re-ceive them. If you do come forward, I will put the ashes on your forehead in the shape of a cross with thewords, 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.

February 3- Reverend Dr. Brian Blount, on his new book Invasion of the Dead: Preaching Resurrec-tion.

Mark your calendars now for a great mid-week event going on at our WNS program.On February 3rd, the President of Union Presbyterian Seminary, Brian Blount, will be here giv-ing an incredible presentation on his latest book, Invasion of the Dead.

February 10- Ash Wednesday Servicein the Chapel 7:00 p.m.Adults $7.00, Seniors (over 65) $5.00, Children under 5 are free, with a $15.00 max for families.

And to make paying each week even easier, we will now be able to accept credit and debit pay-ments.

We are looking for some help for our WNS program.

It takes some love and attention to cook the awesome food we have been used to. We need will-ing hands to help out in the kitchen with the cooking! If you can chop an onion or flip a grilledcheese sandwich then you have all the qualification you need to help out the head chef on

Wednesdays.

Please email to [email protected], if you can help out!


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Ash Wednesday Service Background and Details

I grew up in a Presbyterian Church that did not have an Ash Wednesday service. The whole idea of AshWednesday struck me as something for other people, and I really had no appreciation for it one way or

another until I began serving a couple different Presbyterian congregations which had the service.

As many of you know, there 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 be-hind 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, isnot in the Bible).

Around the tenth century, Christians began placing ashes on their forehead to signify their need for repent-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.

The first time I had ashes placed on my forehead, it didnt do anything (and never does!). However, the

visible ashen mark helped me consider again my need grace even as the cross-shape prompted me to give

thanks for the Life in which I already stand because of what Jesus has done on the cross. The ashes also made

me face anew the fact that I will one day die, which renewed my hope and thanks for the hope I have inChrist 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.

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 un-

derpinning the service. In many ways, the service enacts our call to confess our sins to another, to weep withone another, and to know anew the Gospel hope (which can only be appreciated by naming, not avoiding, the

darkness).

To be sure, there is nothing magical about the service or the ashes. Indeed, when calling the people of Godto repentance, the prophet Joel says, rend your hearts not your clothing (2:13). The prophet Isaiah likewise

tells the people to stop fasting and repenting in dust and ashes and instead get up and dojustice (Isaiah 58:5-

8). In other words, the prophets are calling the people out for thinking that they can perform external acts ofworship (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.

However, because the ashes can be a particularly poignant way for many Christians to know anew our hope

in Jesus Christ, ashes will be offered at our Ash Wednesday service at 7pm on Wednesday, February 18th

in the chapel. The ashes will be entirely optional you may choose whether or not you come forward to re-ceive them. If you do come forward, I will put the ashes on your forehead in the shape of a cross with the

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.

Announcement

No Parents Night Out in FebruaryDue to some staffing challenges this month, there will be no February Parents Night Out. We lookforward to bringing this back to you next month.

Dr. Susan Pillsbury-David checking on ayoung Honduran girl

Drs. Ron David and Su-san Pillsbury-David with

Ana Garcia de Hernan-dez, First Lady ofHonduras

Matthew Oatts on the steps of aHonduran church


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AnnouncementsOpeners and Closers

February 7- Lloyd Bostian

February 14- Rick Nochta

February 21- Rob Rosebro

February 28Hank Downing

1Joy Nevin

2Merelyn Hammett

3George Plunkett

4Ainura Satterfield

6Janet Miller

8Margaret Valentine

8Sue Bridenstine

8James Atchison

9Edward Richardson

11Gordon Gray

13Grace Cardwell

16Jean Appich

17Logan R. Moorhead

20Laura Leigh Savage

20Cameron Baird

24Patrise Sears

25Carl McMillin

28Rick Nochta

Follow GCPC on Instagram!Grace Covenant is on Insta-gram. Follow gcpc_rva to see

what's happening aroundGCPC.


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Weekly Sunday Morning PrayerThe best way to start a Sunday morning, or any morning, is with prayer. Each Sunday morningfrom 9:15 to 9:30 a.m. in the Social Room we have a time of prayer and all are welcome toparticipate. 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, andblessing; please come and pray with us.

STEWARDSHIP CORNERContributions of $119,600 in December were more than double the total for November which had showna significant improvement over the prior month. They included $5,500 ear-marked as being in response toa request for contributions above pledged amounts to help offset the likely deficit for the year, and proba-bly additional contributions for this purpose which were not so indicated. Total income for Decemberincluded $8,600 reimbursement from the Building Fund, $2,200 insurance rebate and $6,200 donated forchairs in the refurnished Fellowship Hall.

Expenses of $59,100 in December were only slightly above those of Novemberand included $7,500 in Mission donations, mostly to local activities. Decembers

total income of $148,000 exceeded expenses by $88,800.

Decembers Five Cents per Meal offering was $122, Loaves and Fishes $275, Mer-cy Fund $84, and $2,284 was collected in the Joy Gift offering.

Contributions of $513,100 for the year were slightly above the total for the previ-ous year. Expenses of $738,700 were about 11% higher than those of 2014, duemainly to higher building and personnel expenses. For the year operating expenses exceeded income by$28,400, excluding the $25,000 transfer from reserves.

Worship

What is Pilgrimage? It's a trip for the youth of GCPC who have completed the confirmation pro-cess. It's an opportunity to connect, not only with leaders and mentors in the church, but alsofriends on a journey that will put us in the shoes of the early reformation church in Scotland andEngland.

It's set to be an incredible trip that will take place in the summer of 2017.


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February 2016 Grace Notes

Documents

Transcript of February 2016 Grace Notes