Grace Notes December 2012

Grace Notes Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church December 2012 Volume 42, Issue 12

The Eighty-First Annual Candlelight Carol Service

Sunday, December 16, 5:00 p.m.

A traditional service of Lessons and Carols with music led by the Chancel, Junior, and Handbell Choirs

of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Reception sponsored by the Presbyterian Women. Childcare provided.

Missions

Give the Gift of Dignity This Christmas! This year in lieu of our participation in Angel Tree, we will be involved the Pride for Parents Christmas Store, a ministry of STEP. The Missions Committee is seeking donations of new, un-wrapped children’s gifts with the original purchase price marked on them. These gifts will be marked down to 50% or less of the original price and made available to low-income urban resi-dents during STEP’s 22nd annual Pride for Parents Christmas Store held on December 8. Each year the store assists low-income parents by providing a dignified, affordable opportunity for them to give sacrificially in providing for their own children. The Missions Committee will be coordinating the donations, which need to be received by Sunday, December 2. Excellent gift ideas include: Black Baby Dolls, Electronics, Skateboards, Video Games, Arts & Craft Kits, Toy Cars & Trucks, Sports Equipment, Trains, Doll Accessories, Educational Toys, Building Blocks, Bicycles, etc. Gifts will be collected on stage in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, contact Matt Hartman ([email protected], 212-1961) or the STEP office at 648-7552.

Children’s Christmas Pageant Please join the children's Sunday school classes as they perform their annual Christmas pageant during the Sunday school hour on Sunday, December 9, 2012. The children will be performing on the stage in the Fellowship Hall. We look forward to seeing you there! -Megan Meyer and Erika Tabor

mailto:[email protected]

http://steprichmond.org/city

Openers/Closers December 2 Cal Gray December 9 Wayne Casey December 16 Charlie Appich December 23 Rob Rosebro December 30 Wayne Casey Worship Kits Lisa Cardwell Grace Notes Deadline: December 21 is the deadline for submissions for our January edition. Elementary Sunday School Megan Meyer Sunday Fellowship Hour December 2 The Bairds December 9 Carol Wood December 16 The Spitzers December 23 Debbie Pritchard December 30 Kent Cardwell

Stewardship Corner and Financial Update October’s contribution total of $32,900 was only 3.2% less than September’s,

which had five Sundays. For the first ten months of this year total contributions

are about 8.1% higher than the same period last year. In October total income of

$50,300 was slightly lower than that of September and benefited from a $10,000

transfer from Restricted Funds. October’s expense total of $55,500 was up about

10% from September, due, in part, to annual elevator maintenance contract costs

of $5,400 and insurance premiums of $4,900. Expenses for year-to-date are

almost 10% higher than the same period last year, due mostly to building-related

expenses including air conditioning repairs and tenant improvements for the Stuart

Circle Building. Expenses in October exceeded income by $5,300, bringing the

year’s General Fund deficit to $29,900.

The Five Cents Per Meal offering in October was $267, and the Loaves and Fishes offering was $1,882. Both

totals were close to September’s numbers.

The Finance and Stewardship Committee is responsible for preparing an annual budget for Session approval.

November 18 was Dedication Sunday, the time when we were to commit to God a portion of all He has given

us. It is important that the Committee know the expected income for 2013 so that a realistic budget can be pre-

pared to ensure that the ministries and programs of the church continue. If you have not yet returned your

pledge card, please do so at your earliest convenience so that we can enter the new year with a new budget.

Resolution of the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund and Building

Fund Boards of Directors acknowledging the

retirement of John W. Roberts

WHEREAS, Mr. Roberts plans to retire on November 13, 2012 as a Director of the Grace Covenant

Presbyterian Church Endowment Fund and the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Building Fund after ac-

tively serving both funds for over 51 years and 32 years, respectively; and,

WHEREAS, Mr. Roberts has been a faithful member of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and has

served in numerous offices and positions of responsibility through the years; and,

WHEREAS, Mr. Roberts has earned the admiration and respect of his fellow Directors for his insightful

leadership, dedication, thoughtfulness, faithfulness, loyalty, enthusiasm, professionalism, sense of humor and

hard work on behalf of the Funds:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Boards of Directors of the Grace Covenant Presbyte-

rian Church Endowment Fund and the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Building Fund that they appoint

John W. Roberts Director Emeritus.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Boards of Directors take great pleasure in recognizing the sig-

nificant achievements of John W. Roberts, and herewith express their sincere gratitude for the invaluable con-

tributions he has made to the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Funds.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be expressly entered into the permanent minutes of

the Boards of Directors of both Funds and that copies be sent to Mr. Roberts’ family and to the Reverend B.

Brinton P. Keyes, interim pastor of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, to share with our church community.

http://actionbootcamp.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/piggy-bank.jpg

PW Circle 1

Evening Circle

7:00 p.m.

329 Albemarle Ave.

Hostess: Sallie Leys

PW Circle 3 9:30 a.m. Social Room Hostess: Jane Londrey

PW Circle 2

11:00 a.m.

Covenant Room

Hostess: Julia Poppell

All Circles Meet on Tuesday, December 11

Tuesday, December 4 at 12:00 noon in the Sanctuary

Come hear the J. R. Tucker High School Choir

and join us for lunch in the Fellowship Hall following the concert.

Any questions, please contact Suzanne Sizemore at 288-7757.

Thank You - Merci - Danke - Gracias - Grazie - Tak - Kösz

Dear Grace Covenant family,

I would like to thank all of you who have prayed for me over the past

year for a healthy recovery from my foot surgery. Thanks to all of your

prayers, my foot healed without any problems and I had the courage to

start running again (after more than 10 years of not running). I would

also like to thank my anonymous friend here at church who made it

possible for me to purchase running shoes to start my journey. On Sat-

urday, November 10, 2012, I successfully ran the HCA Virginia 8K

race, almost exactly a year after my foot surgery on November 18,

2011. I met my personal time goal that I had set for myself (1 hour),

finishing with a time of 1:00:16, running the whole race (4.97 miles)

and feeling great!!

Thank you again for your prayers;

I am proof of the

power of prayer!

-Erika Tabor

Thank you to everyone who graciously donated Christmas cards to the Greensville Correctional

Center.

The inmates are always so grateful to receive these cards so that they can mail them to their fami-

lies and friends. Any cards you do not use please save for next year.

Thank you to Becky Reeves for organizing this.

Many, many thanks to my Grace Covenant friends, for the surprise tributes on Wednesday night!

I was deeply moved to see the great friendship rewards shown to me. Thank you, thank you,

thank you! And God bless us, every one. I shall think of you a lot (and also, think a lot of you!) in

my California home. I'm around till Candlelight.

Love,

Evelyn

December Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2

Prayer 9:15 am

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am

Fellowship Hour 12 noon

Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

3 Men’s Lunch 12 noon

City Church Women’s

Bible Study 7:30 pm

4

Staff Meeting 10:00 a.m.

Care Team Meeting 2:00 pm

5 CC Women’s Bible

Study 9:30 am

Carol Choir 4:30 pm

Junior Choir 5:00 pm

WNL 6:00 pm

Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

6 CDC Chapel 10:00 am 7 8 Hanging of the Greens 8:30 am

Chancel Choir Rehearsal 10:00 am

9 Prayer 9:15 am

Kid’s Christmas Pageant 9:30

Worship 10:55 am



10

Men’s Lunch 12 noon

11 Staff Meeting 11:00 am

PW Circle Meetings see page 5


Finance and Stewardship

Meeting 6:00 pm

12

Carol Choir 4:30 pm

Junior Choir 5:00 pm

CDC Board Meeting

WNL 6:00 pm

Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

13 CDC Chapel 10:00 am

14

Caroling at Westminster

6:00pm

CDC pot luck dinner 6:30pm

15

Chancel Choir Rehearsal 10:00 am

PEOPLE Group 6:00 pm

476 Fords Road

Manakin-Sabot 23103

16 Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am



CANDLELIGHT

SERVICE 5:00 pm

17

Men’s Lunch 12 noon

18 Staff Meeting 10:00 am


CDC Parent Meeting 5:00pm

19

20 CDC Chapel 10:00 am

SESSION Meeting

21 GRACE NOTES DUE! 22

23 Prayer 9:15 am

Sunday School 9:30 am

Worship 10:55 am



24 Church Office and

CDC Closed.

Christmas Eve

Service 5:00 pm

25 Merry Christmas!

Church Office and CDC

Closed.

26

27 28 29

30 31

The Sanctuary will be decorated on Saturday, December 8, at 8:30 a.m.

Join in the fun! All are welcome– we guarantee you will leave with the

Christmas Spirit!

It’s That Wonderful Time of the Year!

Our Candlelight Carol Service is December 16. Once again we ask that you display a yard

sign in front of your house as an invitation to neighbors and friends to share this wonderful

Grace Covenant tradition. The signs will be available for you to pick up on Sundays, Decem-

ber 2 and 9, and also on Wednesdays, December 5 and 12. The signs will be near the front

West door and near the glass office at the rear door of the church. Please place the signs in

your yard where all can see for the two weeks before our service. After the service on Decem-

ber 16, please bring the signs back to the church to be cleaned and stored until we’re ready to

use them again next Christmas. Please help us reach as many friends and neighbors as possi-

ble to share the Good News of the birth of our Savior this Christmas.

Wednesday Night Live! Each Wednesday evening we gather at 6:00 p.m. for ta-

ble fellowship, followed by a program from 6:30-7:15

p.m. We provide child care for preschoolers, and a

children’s program for school-age children. All are welcome! Take a break from cooking din-

ner and join us for a friendly, relaxing, and inspiring evening. For more information, contact

Vanessa Strait in the church office at 359-2463, or [email protected].

Meals for December:

December 5: Roast pork with apricot sauce, new potatoes, kale, salad, rolls, and sheet cake.

December 12: Baked ham, sweet potato casserole, green peas, biscuits, salad, fruitcake cookies.

All meals are $5.00 per person,

$12.00 per family, and $2.00 for students.

First-time guests eat free.


Grace Notes

A Note of Thanks from the Worship Committee

As the end of the year draws near, we want to take a moment to thank all of those who have helped

make worship at Grace Covenant on Sunday mornings such a meaningful and joyful time for us to be

together proclaiming our love for God our Father. Our Reformed traditional style of worship is en-

riched each Sunday with the beautiful music from our choirs and organ; thank you, Chris and all the

members of all the choirs. Each week our gifts are collected and we are greeted by our ushers; thank

you. Thank you to the greeters who give a handshake and smile before we even enter the sanctuary.

The Word is read and the prayers are offered and children’s stories are presented – thank you to the

lay readers and children’s ministers. Thank you to the openers and closers of the building each Sun-

day; you come early and stay late so that we may enter with ease. Thank you to the child care work-

ers who care for our smallest so that their parents may be in worship with us. Thank you to those who

prepare the communion elements and light the candles and change the paraments with the season.

Thank you to those who donate and arrange the flowers each week, and those who then rearrange and

deliver them to the sick or to homebound members and friends. Thank you to those who decorate the

sanctuary at Easter and Christmas to make us more aware of our Savior’s life and death given for us.

Thank you to those who tend to all the details of weddings and funerals to make those special worship

services even more special for the families and friends of our loved ones. Thank you to the radio min-

istry and sound system operators that enable all to hear the Good News being rightly preached at

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. Thank you to those who serve refreshments after worship to

show our hospitality to all who worship with us. Thank you to those who dust and polish and vacuum

our beautiful worship space. And thank you to all who have preached God’s holy Word from our pul-

pit this year. We all long to know Him better and to follow the calling He has for each of us.

Our thanks to all of you—from the Worship Committee

Congratulations to Matt and Leslie (and Callan and Thatcher, too)

Hartman on the birth of their daughter!

Ellery Jane Hartman

November 22, 2012 (Thanksgiving Day)

8 lbs 10 oz and 20"

Grace Notes

December

Birthdays

1- Geoff Campbell

2- Callan Hartman

5- William Cole

11- Emily Johnson

13- Cynthia Holmes

16- Mary Mitchell

16- Lloyd Bostian

16- Pat Bell

17- Bitaseme Mboe

18- Jan Kessel

20- Jane Horner

20- George Gray III

21- Carson Price

21- Aaliyah Tunstall

23- Louise Buhrman

23- Gaynelle Worley

25- Cal Gray

25- Jake Savage III

25- Travis Croxton

25- Cissy Mesco

25- Pritchard Whitley

27- Harris Hampton

27- Claiborne Hubbard

30- Michael Luning

Child Development Center

Thank you for all of your support during our

Fall Festival! Our little ones were able to have fun

dressing up in costumes in a safe, Christian envi-

ronment. Without use of the Fellowship Hall, we

would not have been able to set up so many fun

booths for the children and parents to participate

in games. The Moon Bounce was a huge hit, and

we appreciate you allowing us to borrow your

equipment for a day. During the month of Octo-

ber, we learned all about harvesting crops, farm-

ers, and the end of the summer season. Thank you

for your help in teaching our children to thank

God for another season of success, and to appreci-

ate how God sends us our blessings.

In chapel for the month of November, we are

learning all about what it means to have a thankful

heart. We will serve turkey for lunch on Novem-

ber 21, and the children will re-enact the very first

Thanksgiving.

They will discuss why the pilgrims were so

thankful for their food, and how the Indians were

so nice to share it. Our teachers will discuss what

we have to be thankful for, such as family,

friends, and school. We'll talk about how fortunate

we are to have the food we eat and the school we

go to. Last month, we learned how to pray to God

and what prayer means. Now, we'll put that into

practice by thanking him for our blessings every

day!

The Christmas season is coming up fast! In ad-

dition to our turkey lunch, we also look forward to

a Christmas pot luck dinner for parents of the

CDC. Our parents will build the sense of commu-

nity by congregating and getting to know each

other. We will continue to minister to the commu-

nity by providing a strong, Christian support sys-

tem for young families and their children.

-Nicole Williams

Director of CDC

To my dear Grace Covenant family –

As I write this, Thanksgiving is behind us, and Advent is just days away. We

have celebrated God’s ministry through our dear sister Evelyn Tower as she pre-

pares to move to California, and we have given thanks for the safe arrival of

Ellery Jane Hartman. We will baptize two infants this month, and several in our

fellowship will make the commitment of membership on December 16. Terms

for eight of our officers (deacons, ruling elders, and trustees) are drawing to a

close, and as many as five more are preparing to be ordained in January. “To

every thing there is a season,” writes Qo’heleth, the author of Ecclesiastes, “and a

time to every purpose under the heaven” (Eccles. 3:1, KJV).

I am grateful for the season of Advent. No matter where I find myself – welcoming new officers

and new members, or saying farewell to others; attending holiday events at the kids’ schools or travel-

ing to visit with family; praying, reading, writing, preaching – the season of Advent arrives and directs

my gaze to the majesty and the scandal of the Incarnation. It reminds me that, however intent I may

be upon living a faithful life, it has no meaning or value apart from the gracious and precipitating

event of Christ’s birth. As Paul reminds us, “to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). In the midst of year-end

budget discussions, pastor searches, engineering assessments, discipleship programming, fellowship

events, Lessons and Carols Candlelight, chapel services with the CDC children, and Honduras Mis-

sion Trip preparations, Christ comes. It is His coming, His leaving heaven and arriving on earth “to

dwell among us” – or, Eugene Peterson put it, to “move into the neighborhood” (John 1:14, The Mes-

sage) – that undergirds our faith and life.

I pray that God may use this season to direct your gaze similarly toward His humble glory. Let His

amazing grace refresh, inspire, terrify, and comfort your heart. In the midst of the busy-ness of the

holidays, be still – and know that the Lord is God (Ps. 46:10). Carla, Deborah, and Elijah join me in

praying that the Lord may lead you to a closer, brighter, and more blessed walk with Him in the weeks

to come.

Yours in the gracious fellowship of His Holy Spirit,

There are many passages in Scripture relating to prayer. The Psalms are essentially prayers.

Jesus taught His disciples, and us, to pray—The Lord’s Prayer. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy

and urged “. . . that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all

people…” Prayer is a vital part of the life of a Christian. It is what keeps us close to God.

A small group of Grace Covenanters gathers in the Social Room at 9:10 every Sunday morning

to pray for the ministries of our church, for those who are suffering pain, illness, or loneliness, for the

missionaries we support, for the leading of the Holy Spirit so that God’s Word is truly and faithfully

taught and preached, and that we are led by the Holy Spirit to the true worship of God.

This small group would like to become a larger group. An invitation to make this happen is ex-

tended to all who would like to add this time of prayer to their Christian witness. Please prayerfully

consider joining in this important ministry of Grace Covenant.

-Finances Continued Offering Envelopes- Envelopes for 2013 may be picked up beginning December 9. If you don't have envelopes and would like envelopes, we will happily assign a box of envelopes for your 2013 contributions. Please contact Martha Rubin, the bookkeeper, in the church office at 359-2463 x. 205. A. E. Schlieser Charitable Trust Makes Gift to Building Fund The Building Fund of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church wishes to acknowledge and give thanks for a bequest of $243,000 from the A. E. Schlieser Charitable Remainder Trust. Edwards Schlieser, born in 1917, was a life-time member of Grace Covenant. His wife, Stella, joined Grace Covenant in 1956. Mr. Schlieser passed away in August 2011 and Mrs. Schlieser joined him in the Church Triumphant in June of this year. By including the Building Fund among their beneficiaries, the Schliesers recognized the Fund’s essential ministry of faithfully stewarding the care and maintenance of our build-ings. We are most thankful for this gift, and humbled by the thoughtfulness of the Schliesers in providing such a significant bequest. This is a major step in achieving the Building Fund goal of $2,000,000. As we express deep appreciation for this generous gift, our hope is that you will follow their example and consider naming our Church and/or our Endowment and Building Funds in your Will, no matter the amount. Each director of the Funds has done so. For more information on how to include Grace Covenant in your bequests, please contact

Jake Savage at [email protected] 780-3230 or Jennifer Schooley at [email protected] 938-7544

Grace Notes



Christmas Memorials The Worship Ministry offers you the opportunity to give thanks this

Christmas by donating poinsettias and greens in memory of a loved one. Names of those remembered will be printed in the bulletin of worship for the

December 16th Lessons and Carols Candlelight Service.

Deadline is Monday, December 3.

Poinsettias The poinsettias are $10 each. Please make checks payable

to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and write Poinsettias in the memo line.

POINSETTIAS IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF __________________________________________________________ BY

Christmas Greens Donations for greens in any amount will be accepted. Please make checks payable to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church and write Christmas Greens in the memo line. IN MEMORY OF IN HONOR OF __________________________________________________________

BY

Brint Keyes Interim Pastor [email protected] Chris Martin Director of Music and Organist [email protected] Vanessa Strait Administrative Assistant [email protected] Martha Rubin Bookkeeper [email protected] James Greene Temporary Sexton Christopher Tweel Seminary Intern [email protected] Church Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Phone: (804) 359-2463

Fax: (804) 278-6298

www.grace-covenant.org

Sundays: 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages in the Education Building 10:55 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary 12:00 noon Congregational Fellowship in the Social Room Grace Covenant Child Development Center Nicole Williams Director [email protected] www.gracecovenantcdc.com

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 Covenant’s ministries.

CLERK OF SESSION: Everett Reveley

ELDERS: Jordan Ball (’14) - Nominating (M); Finance Kent Cardwell (’12) - Fellowship (M) Wayne Casey (’13) - Property, Small Groups (M); Jack Corley (’13) - Finance, Mission Matt Hartman - Missions (M) Virginia Hudson (’14) - Evangelism (M) Cheryl Jacobs (’12) - Worship (M); Fellowship Katie McCullough (’13) - Administration (M) Dana McKnight (’14) - Finance, Worship, Stewardship Christof Meyer (’12) - Christian Ed (M), CDC (M) Tom Miller (’12) - Christian Education Joy Nevin (’14) - Administration Everett Reveley (’12) - Finance (M), Stewardship Robert Rosebro (’13) - Property (M) Rob Turner (’14) - Worship, Nominating DEACONS: Pat Ball (’12) - Flowers Cherry Corley (’12) - Communication Cards Susan Farrell (’12) - Transportation, Care Team Nikki Hazlegrove (’13) - Vice-Moderator - Meals Jan Kessel (’14) - Care Team Jim McCullough (’13) - Deacons’ Fund, Nominating Ann Pais (’14) - Care Team Erika Tabor (’14) - Secretary - Communication Cards Judy Waldron (’14) - Moderator - Cards Dawson Watkins (’13) - Care Team Carol Wood (’13) - Prayer, Communication Cards Sid Yates (’12) - Ushering

TRUSTEES: Lloyd Bostian (’13) Kent Cardwell (’13) Caroline Leith (’14) John Nevin (’12) Taylor Reveley (’12)

The Staff 2012 Officers

Grace Notes December 2012

Documents

Transcript of Grace Notes December 2012