1

What Does the Lord Require? Justice is a weighty word. For some it carries only strong political connotations. For others it refers to the work of law enforcement and legal systems. And for the Bible it certainly carries some weight - justice appears 1,576 times, which is twice as many times as love or heaven. Justice is a big deal to God! Undoubtedly, this is one reason it sits at the heart of our mission statement - To train grateful disciples of Christ, by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God. In his book, Generous Justice, Tim Keller puts it this way when explaining the importance of justice: If a person has grasped the meaning of God's grace in his heart, he will do justice. If he doesn't live justly, then he may say with his lips that he is grateful for God's grace, but in his heart he is far from him. If he doesn't care about the poor, it reveals that at best he doesn't understand the grace he has experienced, and at worst he has not really encountered the saving mercy of God. Grace should make you just. But what does it mean to do justice in light of the grace we know in Christ? Most of us are not politicians, police, or lawyers how do ordinary Christians live into this most basic command? Two weeks ago 15 folks from the Justice Small Group explored this question in light of their reading from Generous Justice. The group noted Kellers helpful, three-tiered approach to understanding the ways justice is lived.

Relief Relief is the direct assistance given to meet an immediate physical, material, or economic need. Any work we do providing food, clothing, temporary shelter, or free and low-cost services falls in this category. CARITAS, hosting blood drives, Loaves and Fishes Fund, and the William Byrd Community House are some of the primary ways GCPC lives into this aspect of justice, aside from the numerous ways congregants do so on an individual basis through giving and serving.

Development This level of justice refers to the kind of provision given to an

(Continued on page 4)

Volume 45, Issue 5 June 2015

Summer

Sunday School, pg. 2

Food and Faith Series, pg. 7

Vacation Bible School, pg. 13

New Sermon Series, pg. 14

2

Christian Education and Discipleship

Summer Sunday School

Mens Group The next meeting will be June 3. All those interested, meet at the Bairds house (1704 Hanover) at 7:30 p.m. for fellowship and conversation (topics will rotate month-to-month). We will end by 9:00 p.m. Questions: Talk to or email Brian Baird - brian.baird5@gmail.com.

Worship in the Church over Centuries Join us Sundays this summer at 9:30 a.m. in the Grace Bible Classroom (212). This summer we will be exploring the history of worship from the early church to the pre-sent. What forms have worship taken and why? What has remained constant? What has changed? And how does looking to those who have gone before us inform how we worship faith-fully today? We hope you will join in the class! Bobby Hulme-Lippert and Christopher Tweel will be leading the course.

For more information, visit the GCPC website at grace-covenant.org

DATE CLASS TOPIC TEACHER

May 31 Worship in the Church: Overview Reverend Dr. Ross Mackenzie

June 7 Worship in the Church: The Old Testament Christopher

June 14 Worship in the Church: The Early Church Bobby

June 28 Feasts, Fasts, and Seasons Bobby

June 28 Karl Barth and the Mission of the Church Bobby

July 5 Worship in the Church: Middle Ages Christopher

July 12 Worship in the Church: Reformation Bobby

July 19 Worship in the Church: Early America Bobby

July 26 Worship in the Church: Modern Times Bobby

August 2 Worship in the Church: Challenges and

Opportunities Christopher

3

Christian Education and Discipleship

Mothers Day Worship Service How wonderful to have our children being a part of the worship leadership on Sunday, May 10! Not only through the ministry of song, but through their words in our liturgy, and in their bright hearts and welcoming words at the entry to the sanctuary. Their hospitality and worshipfulness made this a very special Moth-ers Day service. I love seeing our kids in these roles not only because it gives me a chance to be blessed by their gifts, but also because their com-plete vulnerability and transparency in their leadership touches that same vulnerable open part within me. It reminds me that even in midst of all the education and experience there is a part of me that will always need to approach our scripture and litur-gy as a child -- a little unsure, but excited and with the total de-sire for God in my heart that isnt dampened by the mystery, or some of the things I dont know, or cant know. The children lead us in a way that goes far beyond just the words. Leading worship for children also connects worship to them in a way that participating never will. Leading can unlock questions about why we do what we do, or even interest in how and why the church is worshiping the way it does - which is awesome at any age. Not to mention the amazing look on my little girls face, as she watches four-year-old kids who she sees as peers and playmates taking the mic and being an awesome and visible part of her own worship experience. We are looking to do more of this in future. The opportunity for their education and the blessing they bring to our own worship experience is too wonderful to pass up. Proverbs 22:6 could not be more right -- the more we do early in their lives to connect our children to the deep and powerful meaning of worship, the more they will come to know and love it as an integral and inseparable part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Thank you to all our kids who were readers, leaders, greeters, and singers. Thank you to all our par-ents for supporting our children in this meaningful part of Christian life. - Christopher Tweel

4

individual, family, or entire community that allows them to move beyond dependency on relief into a condition of economic self-sufficiency. . . (85). Work done to promote and build education, job creation and training, providing ways for home ownership to be made possible, and financial counseling are included in this category. Partnership with Boaz & Ruth, Richmond Justice Initiative (RJI), Shalom Farms, Church Hill Activities and Tutoring (CHAT), KHISH in Honduras, and Strategies to Elevate People (STEP) in Gilpin Court are a few of the ways GCPC lives into this aspect of justice.

Social Reform This form of justice seeks to change the conditions and social structures that

aggravate or cause that dependency (86) and can involve such things as changing laws, putting pressure on local government to spend money as readily on the poor as they do other sectors of society, exposing corruption, or changing banking policies that discriminate against certain neighborhoods. Currently, Richmonders Involved to Strengthen our Communities (RISC) is the primary way in which GCPC lives into this aspect of justice.

There is much more to explore on the justice front, but the three-tiered is helpful in providing a way to see the breadth of what justice entails once it is enacted. In September, we will have a chance to explore all of this in more depth as we will begin a sermon series in Exodus and consider Gods heart for justice and what that means for those of us who follow such a God. In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about the biblical foundations of justice, the ways justice is rooted in grace, and the myriad ways we can live just lives, the Justice Small Group highly recommends Generous Justice by Tim Keller as a starting place. Or, simply join in on the Justice Small Group when it reconvenes in the fall! Contact Nelson Reveley if you are interested in more details.

(Continued from page 1)

May Moments

5

Mission and Justice Ministry

Shalom Farms Returns! Saturday, June 20

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Join us on the third Saturday of the month at Shalom Farmsa local food access and community development ministry shalomfarms.org - as we help ensure that everyone in our city has access to God's bounte-ous gift of nutritious produce. Please RSVP to Nelson Reveley at nmr2uf@virginia.edu or 387-8094. Carpooling from the church park-ing lot at 8:00 a.m. (and returning by 12:00 noon) is possible if there is interest. Otherwise, you can meet us out on the farm at 9:00 a.m. (1033 Rock Castle Rd., Goochland, VA 23063)! Our upcoming date will be July 18.

Food Donations Needed!

There is an additional way to give to the incredible ministry happening at the William Byrd House. As we know, this ministry for students also feeds them as part of their plan to increase wellness and success at school. Pick up a labeled grocery bag and fill it with the listed items! These are items that this ministry has identified as needed and is a great way to remind ourselves to continue our contributions. Thank you all for the amazing support you continue to show!

STEP out with us this summer from your CE and Mission Committees

Grace Covenant is looking forward to spending two days this summer with the kids from Gilpin Court's STEP program. July 21 and 22 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. we will be hosting the STEP children on two excursions. The first, July 21, is a trip to Shalom Farms. We will need folks to ride along to and from the farm, as well as helping oversee the work. If you have been to Shalom before, we will need your expertise! The second day, July 22, we will spend the afternoon at Maymont, seeing the sights, playing games, and cooking out. It promises to be two days of great fun, and a great way to spend some time with the amazing kids in the STEP program. Contact Susan Farrell at omatalsbh@gmail.com or Christopher Tweel at christopher@grace-covenant.org for more info, and sign up with the church office at info@grace-covenant.org.

6

UKIRK RVA

7

Food and Faith Summer Series

The Wednesday Night Summer Cook-Outs are back! Dinner will be put together by the hosts (see below), and it will start at 6:00 p.m. About 6:45 p.m., a conversation around Scripture and that evenings theme will begin. Its casual, and a great time to bring the whole family! We simply ask that you consider making a $3-4 donation per person to cover food costs ($12 max for a family). June 10 Hulme-Lipperts House 2307 Floyd Ave. From Farm to Table to Disciples June 17 Susan Farrell's House 1704 Park Ave. Hospitality June 24 Reveleys House 2314 Monument Ave. Ethics July 8 Jacobs' House 1502 Park Ave. Generosity July 15 Bairds House 1704 Hanover Ave. Stewardship July 22 Sizemores House 1112 Hollins Rd. Eucharist

Presbyterian Women

Circle Meetings

will resume in

September

8

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 3 7:30pm Mens Group

4 10 am CDC Chapel

5 6 POJYO Virginia Beach Trip

7 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Sunday School (see pg. 2) 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour *Elders and Deacons and Nominating Committee and Trustee Nomination Forms due

8 6pm RISC Action Follow-up & Celebration Event 6pm CE Comm. 7pm Worship Comm.

9 6:35pm Ukirk RVA Night at the Flying Squirrels Stadium

10 2pm Care Team 6pm Food and Faith Cookout (see pg. 7)

11 10am CDC Chapel

12 7am Morning Prayer (Sanctuary) Backpacking Trip

13 Backpacking Trip

14 Backpacking Trip 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Sunday School ( see pg. 2) 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour

15 7pm Session Meeting

16 Staff Retreat 7 pm Nominating Committee meeting Presbytery Meeting at First Baptist Church, Ashland

17 2pm Care Team 6pm Food and Faith Cookout (see pg. 7)

18 10am CDC Chapel

19 7am Morning Prayer (Sanctuary)

20 8am Shalom Farms

21 Fathers Day 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Sunday School ( see pg. 2) 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour

22 9am-12pm Vacation Bible School (VBS) Deadline for Grace Notes Submissions

23 9am-12pm VBS

24 9am-12pm VBS 6pm Food and Faith Cookout (see pg. 7)

25 9am-12pm VBS 10am CDC Chapel 7pm Session meeting

26 7am Morning Prayer (Sanctuary) 9am-12pm VBS

27 5pm Parents Night Out

28 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Sunday School (see pg. 2) 10:55 GCPC Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour 12:30 Prayer Group in the Chapel

29

30

June

9

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 3 7:30pm Mens Group

4 10 am CDC Chapel

5 6 POJYO Virginia Beach Trip

7 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Sunday School (see pg. 2) 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour *Elders and Deacons and Nominating Committee and Trustee Nomination Forms due

8 6pm RISC Action Follow-up & Celebration Event 6pm CE Comm. 7pm Worship Comm.

9 6:35pm Ukirk RVA Night at the Flying Squirrels Stadium

10 2pm Care Team 6pm Food and Faith Cookout (see pg. 7)

11 10am CDC Chapel

12 7am Morning Prayer (Sanctuary) Backpacking Trip

13 Backpacking Trip

14 Backpacking Trip 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Sunday School ( see pg. 2) 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour

15 7pm Session Meeting

16 Staff Retreat 7 pm Nominating Committee meeting Presbytery Meeting at First Baptist Church, Ashland

17 2pm Care Team 6pm Food and Faith Cookout (see pg. 7)

18 10am CDC Chapel

19 7am Morning Prayer (Sanctuary)

20 8am Shalom Farms

21 Fathers Day 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Sunday School ( see pg. 2) 10:55 Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour

22 9am-12pm Vacation Bible School (VBS) Deadline for Grace Notes Submissions

23 9am-12pm VBS

24 9am-12pm VBS 6pm Food and Faith Cookout (see pg. 7)

25 9am-12pm VBS 10am CDC Chapel 7pm Session meeting

26 7am Morning Prayer (Sanctuary) 9am-12pm VBS

27 5pm Parents Night Out

28 9:15 Prayer Team (Social Rm) 9:30 Sunday School (see pg. 2) 10:55 GCPC Worship 12:15 Fellowship Hour 12:30 Prayer Group in the Chapel

29

30

** Reminder! June 22 is the deadline for submissions

for our July edition of Grace Notes.

10

From Our Presbytery Next Presbytery Meeting:

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Location: Second Presbyterian Church, Richmond

CDC Update Grace Covenant Presbyterian, We had a great time sharing our end of the year festival with all of you. With balloon animals, bouncy house, face-painting, and dishes to share, everyone had a spectacular time! Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our children and families. As the school year has come to a close, we at the CDC have been observing the change from cooler, to warmer, to HOTTER (and sometimes back again) weather. With temperatures rising and the official beginning of summer coming up, its time to dive in-to our summer-camp activities like water play, sports, summer safety, and much more! At our next staff meeting, well gather supplies and review safety rules to start up our annual water-play activities. The children love to run, jump, splash, measure, and pour through the water on our playground. They will learn much about the world around them, how their bodies react, as well as motor-skill control through this exciting activity; not to mention have tons of fun! Not only will water-play be on the agenda, but well discuss how to stay safe in the summer; what to wear, staying hydrated, and using sunscreen. Well also discover and prac-tice some amazing summer activities, like camping, sports, and field day games! We cant wait to get our summer started! Nicole Flournoy Director of the Child Development Center

11

May Moments Cont.

12

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 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, 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 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 in Christ 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 with one 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 God to 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 do justice (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 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.

Announcements

Fellowship Hour

June 7 Russell

June 14 Wood

June 21 Jacobs

June 28 Holmes

Openers and Closers

June 7 Rick Nochta

June 14 Rob Rosebro

June 21Hank Downing

June 28Brian Baird

in June 2- Chase Appich 2- Emanuella Dickerson 2- Jim Londrey 3- Cheryl Jacobs 5- Langdon Moss 5- Judy Waldron 6- David Saleeba 9- Deloris Crews 10- Deb Goodloe 11- Ginger Norris 12- Melissa Whitley 13- Julia Poppell 14- Lee Farrar 15- Pat Aldridge 15- Nate McKinnon 17- Kip Moore 20- Ed Adams 20- Kent Cardwell 22- Betty Appich 23- Suzanne Sizemore 24- Sid Yates 25- Bill Stuart 29- Mary Gray 29- Mary Whitley 30- Catherine Horner 30-Patience Mboe

Date Night Grace Covenant is happy to offer this blessing up to our families again on Saturday, June 27, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. A charge of $5 per child will help defray the costs of child care,

though there is a $10 maximum per family with more than two children. Please RSVP to the church at info@grace-covenant.org or 359-2463 with name of child and age.

13

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 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, 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 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 in Christ 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 with one 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 God to 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 do justice (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 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.

Announcements

Join us for Vacation Bible School! When: June 22-26, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon Where: The Chapel This year we are excited to open our VBS experience up to our CDC parents and to have friends from the STEP program at Gilpin Court joining into our ministry. We are excited to see what the Holy Spirit has to teach young and old alike in Jesus' hometown!

Sign up at grace-covenant.org Our needs: If you are interested in volunteering during Vacation Bible School, please contact Christopher Tweel at 359-2463 or christopher@grace-covenant.org.

Leadership -- Small Group leaders to lead the kids from

place to place Dramatic actors to bring the story to life Folks who could be Bead Merchants, Carpen-

ters, Oil Sellers, Farmers Dyers A small team of people to prepare a light

snack each day Decorators!

Items-- Baskets Fabrics Paper bags Newspaper Imitation fruit and flowers A pop-up tent

Appalachian Trail Backpacking Trip We will be taking a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail June 12, 13, and 14. This will be a moderate hike which is great for teenagers and even beginners who are relatively healthy. We would plan on covering a little less than ten miles a day on the trail. We will be "shelter hopping" and look to be going North bound on the trail. Our load out point is a mere two hours from Grace Covenant!

14

Worship Sunday Morning Prayer The best way to start a Sunday morning, or any morning, is with prayer. Each Sunday morning at 9:15 9:30 in the Social Room we have a time of prayer and all are welcome to participate. 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, and blessing; please come and pray with us.

Road Trip Through the Old Testament Summer is a time for road trips. Along the way, you inevitably meet new folks locals, fellow vacationers, curious sojourners, and everything in between. And they all have a story. This summer, in worship, we will be taking a road trip through the Old Testament and visiting with a variety of folks. In particular, we will take time to meet some of the lesser-known characters and con-sider the ways that their stories are our stories and all of them ul-timately part of Gods Story. As with any good road trip, we trust we will be challenged, changed, and refreshed for having made the journey. Sunday Sermon Schedule

Sunday, June 14 Rachel, Genesis 30:1-8,22-24

Sunday, June 21 Joseph, Genesis 45:1-15

Sunday, June 28 Aaron, Exodus 32:1-6, 21-24

Sunday, July 5 Deborah, Judges 4:1-16

Sunday, July 12 Rahab, Joshua 2:1-7

Sunday, July 19 Esther, Esther

Sunday, July 26 Tamar, Genesis 38

Sunday, Aug. 2 Absalom, 2 Samuel 15:1-12

Sunday, Aug.9 Cyrus the Great, Ezra 1:1-11

Sunday, Aug. 16 Elijah, 1 Kings 18:20-40

Sunday, Aug. 23 TBA

Sunday, Aug. 30 Naaman, 2 Kings 5:1-14

15

With one less Sunday than March, Aprils contributions of $33,400 were down a little over 20% from the total in the prior month. For the first four months of this year contributions of $144,300 are down about 10% after adjusting for contributions

prepaid in the year prior to the pledge. Expenses of $55,900 in April were down slightly from those of March and included about $4,000 spent in connection with the Centennial anniversary celebration. Aprils expenses exceeded income by $10,700. Our Five Cents Per Meal offering in April amounted to $133, Loaves and Fishes, $285, and Mercy, $428.50

STEWARDSHIP CORNER

Creeds in Worship this Summer The Presbyterian Church (USA) has as part of its constitution a Book of Confessions (BOC) which con-tains historical documents of what we as the church believe. Currently there are eleven creeds in our BOC (and a twelfth will be added this summer). Oftentimes in worship we use one of those creeds the Apostles Creed to declare together what it is we believe and the foundation on which we stand. This summer in worship we will take time each week to use different portions of some of the other ten creeds in worship. In particular, we will frequently use the Brief Statement of Faith (1989) as it was crafted to be particularly amenable to worship settings. We hope our use of various creeds this summer helps illumine some of the breadth and depth of what we believe and the promises in which we trust. If any portion of a confession raises a question for you, please do not hesitate to talk with an elder or Rev-erend Bobby.

New Prayer Group A new prayer group is starting after the worship service on the last Sunday of each month. We will pray in the chapel from 12:30-1:00 p.m. following the 11:00 a.m. church service. For more information please contact Itunu Adekoya at 309-310-1424 or historybegins1727@yahoo.com, Susan Farrell at 359-6222 or susanbarr311@aol.com, or Carol Wood at 282-2446 or ctwood7@gmail.com Please join us for our next meeting June 28!

Worship

16

Bobby Hulme-Lippert Pastor bobby@grace-covenant.org Christopher Martin Director of Music and Organist martin@grace-covenant.org Christopher Tweel Director of Christian Formation & Pastoral Assistant christopher@grace-covenant.org Nelson Reveley Parish Associate for Outreach & Adult Discipleship nmr2uf@virginia.edu Amy Kempel Director of Communications amy@grace-covenant.org Martha Rubin Office Manager/Bookkeeper bookkeeper@grace-covenant.org Rex Childs Seminary Intern Rex.Childs@upsem.edu Linda Pitts Seminary Intern linda.pitts@upsem.edu

Church Office Hours: Mon., Tue., and Thurs., 9:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.

Wed., 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fri, 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon

Phone: (804) 359-2463

Fax: (804) 278-6298

grace-covenant.org

Sundays: 9:15 a.m.

Prayer Together in the Social Room 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School for all ages in the Education Building

10:55 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary

12:15 p.m. Congregational Fellowship

in the Social Room

GCPC Child Development Center Nicole Flournoy Director (804) 213-0200 director.gccdc@verizon.net 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 Covenants ministries.

CLERK OF SESSION: Everett Reveley

ELDERS James Atchison (16) - Finance (C-M) Virginia Hudson (17) - Mission (M), Nominating Cheryl Jacobs (15) - CE (M) Caroline Leith (15) - Property (Co-M), CE Katie McCullough (16) - Administration (M) Everett Reveley (15) Stewardship (M) Lewis Rosebro (17) - Property (Co-M) Pete Sizemore (16) - Administration (Co-M) Rob Turner (17) - Worship (M) MODERATOR OF THE BOARD OF DEACONS: Lisa Cardwell DEACONS Itunu Adekoya (16) - Prayer (M) Lisa Cardwell (15) - Flowers (M) Courtney Clements (15) - Visitation (Co-M), Fellowship Phil Coltrain (16) - Glass Office (M), Deacons Fund Mary Gray (15) - Meals (M), Visitation (Co-M) Cynthia Holmes (17) - Fellowship (M) Jan Kessel (16) - Care Team (M), Transportation (M) Dottie-Ray Koch (17) - Fellowship (Food Committee) Sallie Leys (17) - Greeters/Ushers Jessica Reveley (16) - Justice (M) Jennifer Schooley (15) - Guests Follow-Up, New Members (M), Deacons Fund Dawson Watkins (17) - Deacons Fund (M) Care Team TRUSTEES: Caroline Leith (15) John Roberts (15) Warren Zirkle (16)

The Staff Church Officers