Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

Grace Notes
Volume 43, Issue 12

December 2013

The Eighty-Second Annual Candlelight Carol Service Sunday, December 15, 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.

A Note from Bobby:

Learn the Address is a project that has been put together by Ken Burns, PBS, and a host of other partners to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. The project is simple: they are encouraging everyone in the United States to record themselves reading or reciting the Gettysburg Address. You can then upload your video to their website (learntheaddress.org). It is a fascinating way not only to remember our history but, in some sense, indwell it through the words. I watched about a couple dozen videos from people around the nation. Some read the address without hardly looking into the camera, some recite it perfectly from memory, still others dress the part with a top hat and long, black beard. Truth be told, I want to make a submission, but after one read-through of the Address, I realize how challenging it is to go beyond merely reading the words. Indeed, Lincoln states his hope that nothing less than a new birth of freedom come to the nation how does ones voice capture the spirit and gravity of such a hope? Its easy enough to get the words right and dress the part, but truly indwelling the speech is wholly another thing. The project made me think about our relationship to Scripture, particularly as we enter this Advent season. We can read and recite Scripture passages related to the theme of God coming fully among us in Jesus. We can even memorize long passages. But how do we truly hear God through Scripture? How do the words so indwell us that our speaking and living them comes forth with integrity? The short answer is the Holy Spirit. Every week in worship we have a Prayer for Illumination in which we ask the Spirit to illumine Scripture such that we might not only hear it but be transformed by God through it. Eugene Peterson adds this: If we have not entered this text (the Bible) as participants we arent going to understand what is going on. This text cannot be understood by watching it from the bleachers or even expensive box seats. We are in on it. In other words, we come to Scripture not aloofly, but by the power of the Holy Spirit fully intent on participating in Gods story. Indeed, Jesus calls for nothing short of new birth in our lives and this world. To participate is life-changing! As we enter this Advent season, I invite you to join me in considering a passage that has endured for centuries as a particularly well-known Scripture. Through poetic form, it richly captures the Gospel. It is easy enough to get the words right and dress the part, but will we allow Christ to indwell our hearts all the more this season? It may start with these words from Philippians 2:5-11.

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In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

An Abiding Hope: The Presence of God in Exodus and Deuteronomy

The PW are currently studying:

All Circles Meet on Tuesday, December 10

PW Circle 1 le Evening Circ 7:00 p.m. venue 1502 Park A ryl Jacobs Hostess: Che

PW Circle 2 11:00 a.m. Vanguard Room Hostesses: Ann Pais & Jean Appich

PW Circle 3 9:30 a.m. Social Room Hostess: Mere lyn Hammett

Stewardship Corner
Octobers contributions of $37,300 were only slightly below those of September, which had five Sundays, and were up 13.4% from those of September a year ago. For the first ten months of the year contributions are up 3.4% from last year, due solely to contributions this year associated with last years pledges. Total income in October included $12,000 received from the Building Fund to underwrite major air conditioning repairs undertaken by the church, and $5,000 transferred from Restricted Accounts to fund designated Mission donations. Expenses in October were high at $68,500, but they included $15,300 in various Mission contributions, $5,200 quarterly insurance expense, and $4,200 in air conditioning repair expenses. Octobers expenses exceeded income by $7,100, and for the first ten months of the year accumulated deficit amounts to $32,000. Our October Loaves and Fishes contributions totaled $885, and our Five Cents Per Meal collection was $151.
__________________________________________________________________________ Since tis the season to be jollyhere is your jolly reminder that contributions for 2013 must be postmarked by December 31. Any contributions received after that date will be applied to your 2014 gifts, unless they have that December 31, 2013, postmark. Should you have any questions regarding your 2013 pledge, please contact Martha at 359-2463, ext. 205, or email: bookkeeper@grace-covenant.org. Have a wonderful holiday Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Meals for December:

December 4: Brunswick Stew, salad, corn bread, and brownies for dessert. December 11: Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, collard greens/kale, salad, and banana pudding. December 18: Rock castle chicken, Harvard beets, salad, and rolls.

Programs for December:

December 4: TBA December 11: Advent Bible Study: See below December 18: Advent: Caroling at Westminster Canterbury and Imperial Plaza
PC(USA) Missionaries Ryan and Alethia White will lead the December 11th Wednesday Night Live! Since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, millions of Persian-speaking peoples have migrated to other parts of the Middle East, to the United States, Europe, and other areas of the world. The migration continues and well over 100,000 Iranians have settled in Germany. The Iranian Presbyterian Church in Berlin, in addition to providing worship opportunities in Farsi, helps Iranian refugees and immigrants begin a new life in Germany. Ryan, Alethia, and their one-year-old daughter, Ariella, will leave for Germany in January of 2014 and work with the pastor and social worker of the congregation to offer pastoral care to those who are now making Germany their home and to serve as church development specialists. They will also provide training and continuing education opportunities for leaders of the Presbyterian Church in Iran. On the 11th, they will share from Scripture about God's heart for refugees as well as the ministry in which they will be engaged.

December
Sunday
1 Handbell Choir 8:30 am Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12:15 pm

Monday
2 Mens Lunch 12 noon 6:10 CDC Staff Meeting

Tuesday 3 Staff Meeting 10:00 am PW Luncheon 12:00 noon Admin. Committee Meeting and Missions Meeting 7:00 pm 10 PW CIRCLES see page 3 Staff Meeting 10:45 am Finance Committee Meeting 6:00 pm 17 Staff Meeting 10:00 am

Wednesday
4 Care Team 3:30 pm Kids Choir 4:30 pm Junior Choir 5:00 pm WNL 6:00 pm Officer Training 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

8 Handbell Choir 8:30 am Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12:15 pm SS Teacher Training 12:30 pm 15 Handbell Choir 8:30 am Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12:15 pm CANDLELIGHT 5:00 pm

9 Mens Lunch 12 noon

CE Committee Meeting 6:00 pm Property Comm. 7:00 pm

11 Care Team 3:30 pm Kids Choir 4:30 pm Junior Choir 5:00 pm CDC Board Meeting 5:00pm WNL 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm 18 Care Team 3:30 pm WNL 6:00 pm Caroling at Westminster Canterbury and Imperial Plaza

16 Mens Lunch 12 noon

22 Prayer 9:15 am Childrens Pageant 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12:15 pm

23 Mens Lunch 12 noon

24 CDC CLOSED 25 CHURCH OFFICE CHURCH OFFICE CLOSES AT 12:00 AND CDC CLOSED NOON Christmas Eve Service w/City Church 4:00 pm 31 Staff Meeting 10:00 am

29 Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12:15 pm

30 Mens Lunch 12 noon

Grace Notes Deadline: December 21 is the deadline for submissions for our January edition.

Page 7

Thursday 5 CDC Chapel 6 10:00 am

Friday

Saturday 7 Decorating the Church 8:30 am

Choir Rehearsal 10:00 am Bread Breakers 6:30 pm 8514 Academy Road 12 CDC Chapel 13 Christmas Party Potluck 10:00 am GCPC kids, CDC kids and Choir kids 6:30 pm Childrens SS Teachers Dinner 6:30 pm CDC Chapel 20 10:00 am DIACONATE & SESSION Party Reveleys Home 7:00 pm 26 CDC Chapel 27 10:00 am 28 14 Candlelight Rehearsal 10:00 am

19

21 PEOPLE Group at 6:30 pm 476 Fords Road

30

Openers/Closers December 1 December 8 December 15 December 22 December 29 Worship Kits Lisa Cardwell Dottie-Ray Koch Fellowship Hour Schedule December 1 December 8 December 15 December 22 December 29 Savage Russell Pritchard Pais/Kessel Nevin Wayne Casey Hank Downing Cal Gray Rick Nochta Rob Rosebro

December Birthdays
2 - Callan Hartman 5 - Karl Rubis 11 - Emily Johnson 13 - Cynthia Holmes 16 - Mary Mitchell 16 - Lloyd Bostian 16 - Pat Bell 18 - Jan Kessel 20 - George Gray, III 21 - Carson Price 21 - Sade White 23 - Louise Buhrman 25 - Cal Gray 25 - Jake Savage 25 - Cissy Mesco 27 - Hampton Harris 27 - Claiborne Hubbard 30 - Michael Luning

A Study of Christian Marriage: During the Adult Sunday School hour (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.) from January 12 through March 2, 2014, Grace Covenant will undertake an eight-week study of Christian Marriage in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The aim of this study is for our worshiping community to be instructed by Scripture and the movement of the Holy Spirit as our church, our denomination, and our culture grapple with issues regarding the significance and th definition of marriage. At the 220 General Assembly (2012), our denomination's commissioners called for each congregation in the PC(USA) to engage in such "serious study and discernment" on the question of marriage. Upon completion of the study, we will report the fruits of our learning, conversations, and prayer to the Presbytery of the James. The course material for our study has been provided by the PC(USA)'s Office of Theology and Worship and is available online: http://www.presbyterianmission.org/ media/uploads/theologyandworship/pdfs/christianmarriagestudy.pdf The study will be structured along the following topics: Week 1: Week 2: Week 3: Week 4: Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Introduction - Overview of past General Assembly actions The Gift of Marriage God Created Us The Expression of Love The Well-Being of Society A Holy Mystery A New Way of Life Conclusion & Reflection - What have we learned?

More details regarding the study will be provided in the coming weeks. For any questions, please contact elders Jack Corley (jackcorley@verizon.net) or Virginia Hudson (vhudson81@gmail.com). We hope that you will join us in considering many important questions about God's gift of marriage as the body of Christ together.

Child Development Center

Grace Covenant Presbyterian, Thank you for all of your support during this Holiday Season! We here at the CDC will be giving thanks to God and our community with many fun and special activities this year. Our toddler 1 classroom will be putting together a donated turkey lunch, with each child brining in a special non-perishable item for a family package. After a high level of interest on Veterans Day, Toddler 2 will be putting together a care package for some of our soldiers stationed overseas away from their family. By bringing in things like granola bars, cosmetic items, drink mixes, and other non perishable and rare items in their remote area, the children will learn how to share with a giving heart to people making sacrifices to protect our country. In addition, our classes have participated in the churchs shoeboxes for the elderly and shoeboxes for children overseas. With activities such as gift exchanges and Secret Santa, our children will also learn how to be generous with each other and share in the joy of having a giving heart. The day before Thanksgiving we will all join together in celebration and fellowship over a turkey luncheon. CDC parents are invited to join their child in their designated classrooms while we re-enact the first thanksgiving and discuss ways to be thankful. For Christmas, we will host our annual Potluck Christmas Reception, celebrating the holiday together. The children, in their respective classes, have all learned a special song to sing for the crowd, and we look forward to lots of jingle bells as we share the joy. GCPC families of young children are also invited to come and join us for fellowship and getting together! In the midst of all the giving and sharing, joying and fellowship, we of course will remember the reason for the season. Children will, yes, be taught the fun tradition of Santa Claus and the spirit of generosity. However, we will focus mainly on the Birthday of Jesus, and how he was born in a humble manger to come and save us from our sins. Well sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, and offer up our prayers of thanksgiving, sounds of joy, and blessings all in his name. God be praised for the blessings of the CDC, and may they continue into the next year with the support and love of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church! - Nicole Williams, CDC Director

CDC NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Please consider donating any of the following items: C and D batteries, masking tape, wide clear packaging tape, and contact paper. You may leave these items in the CDC mail slot in the glass office or in the marked box. Thank you very much from the Members of the Child Development Board, staff, and friends.

POJ Upcoming Youth Events in December:

December 7-8: High School Retreat at Camp Hanover December 8th: Caroling with Ginter Park Presbyterian Church; for more information email Beth Olker at beth.olker@gmail.com December 13: A Hanover Christmas hosted by Camp Hanover. A group will be meeting at Overbrook Presbyterian Church at 5 p.m. where a bus will be available to transport families to Camp Hanover. December 14: Christmas Caroling in the Fan 5 p.m. 8 p.m. (free!) Meet at Grace Covenant. Share the spirit of Christs birth in song, after getting warmed up with hot chocolate, cider, and a hearty winter meal! Well also collect clothes from our own closets for the Sunny Days Thrift Store, a business of the ministry of Boaz & Ruth. For more information contact Katherine Baird: 586-4158 or katherine.laybourn@gmail.com or Virginia Hudson at 385-4698 or vhudson81@gmail.com

GCPC Kids Christmas Pageant

Our Sunday School kids will be rehearsing the next two Sundays (December 8 and 15) for the Annual Christmas Pageant to be held December 22. The pageant begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be held in the Fellowship Hall.

The Bread Breakers Christmas Party will be hosted by Carson and Ashby Price and Vickie and John Overstreet at the Prices home on Saturday, December 7th at 6:30 p.m. Please bring a heavy hors doeuvre or finger food to share. (Please ensure that your dish can be eaten

Decembers

PEOPLE Group
will be Saturday, December 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Dottie-Ray Koch. Please bring an appetizer, salad, side dish, or dessert to share.

without utensils.)

8514 Academy Road Richmond, Virginia 23229. Please respond to Carson Price, ecoprice@gmail.com or 804-928-4875 if you plan on attending.

476 Fords Road Manakin-Sabot, 23103

Chancel Choir Candlelight Rehearsals Begin This Month

Every year we invite members of Grace Covenant and friends from the community to sing with the Chancel Choir at the annual Candlelight Carol Service. Candlelight this year will be Sunday, December 15, 5:00 p.m. In order to sing with the Chancel Choir at Candlelight, singers must attend at least four rehearsals from the list below, including the Saturday morning rehearsal prior to the Candlelight service. Contact Chris Martin for more information. We hope to see you at one of our rehearsals! Wed., December 4, 7:15-9:00 p.m. Sat., December 7, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Wed., December 11, 7:15-9:00 p.m. Sat., December 14, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (mandatory dress rehearsal) The Holly and the Ivy Matthew Owens Silent Night Bob Chilcott Bethlehem Carol Shawn Charton All the Bells in Paradise John Rutter Stay with Us Egil Hovland

Thanks to all who donated Christmas cards and calendars for the PW card ministry to the Greensville Correctional Center. After sorting and matching each card to its envelope, they were bundled and packed and sent. The count was 1,323 cards and 35 calendars! Thanks to everyone for caring for those in prison and ministering to them in this small way.

The session wants to continue and encourage our young families to be present in worship. To that end, they have made the balcony available to all mothers who need to nurse during the worship service.

New members
We welcome our newest members, Ben Gordon, Llewellyn Harvie, and Leah Soukup. In the coming weeks look for a photo and short bios in the Narthex.

Get into the Christmas Spirit! Please come and help decorate the Sanctuary for our Christmas Celebrations on Saturday, December 7, at 8:30 a.m.

Our bookkeeper, Martha Rubin, cordially invites you and your friends to share in her churchs Advent Lessons and Carols.

The Staff
Bobby Hulme-Lippert Pastor bobby@grace-covenant.org Chris Martin Director of Music and Organist martin@grace-covenant.org Vanessa Strait Administrative Assistant strait@grace-covenant.org Martha Rubin Bookkeeper bookkeeper@grace-covenant.org Christopher Tweel Christian Education Coordinator for children Christopher.tweel@upsem.edu Luke Woodcock Seminary Intern luke.woodcock@upsem.edu James Greene Custodian 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: 9:45 a.m. 10:55 a.m. 12:00 noon Sunday School for all ages in the Education Building Worship Service in the Sanctuary Congregational Fellowship in the Social Room

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 Jordan Ball (14) Wayne Casey (13) Jack Corley (13) Matt Hartman (13) Virginia Hudson (14) Cheryl Jacobs (15) Caroline Leith (15) Katie McCullough (13) Dana McKnight (14) Christof Meyer (15) Joy Nevin (14) Everett Reveley (15) Nelson Reveley (15) Robert Rosebro (13) Rob Turner (14) Nominating (M), Finance Property, Small Groups (M) Finance, Missions Missions (M), Small Groups Evangelism (M), CE/Discipleship CE/Discipleship, Fellowship, Worship Administration (Co-M), Property Administration (Co-M) Worship (Co-M), Finance CE/Discipleship (Co-M) Fellowship (M) Finance (M) CE/Discipleship (Co-M), Evangelism Property (M) Worship (Co-M)

Church Officers

DEACONS Compassion Ministry (Flowers, Prayer, Visitation and Care Team) Jan Kessel (14), Ann Pais (14), Dawson Watkins (13), Carol Wood (13) Hospitality Ministry (Ushers/Greeters, Glass Office, Inquirers Class, Guest Follow-up) Lisa Cardwell (15), Courtney Clements (15), Jennifer Schooley (15), Erika Tabor (14) Service (Meals, Transportation, Deacons Fund) Mary Gray (15), Ann Pais (14), Judy Waldron (14), Dawson Watkins (13) TRUSTEES: Lloyd Bostian (13) Kent Cardwell (13) Caroline Leith (14) John Roberts (15)

Grace Covenant Child Development Center Nicole Williams Director director.gccdc@verizon.net www.gracecovenantcdc.com