Grace Notes

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Volume 41, Issue 4 April 2011

Brothers and sisters – was younger in the faith. Time and time again I
Grace and peace to you in have been blessed to see God‟s faithfulness,
Christ‟s name this fourth week such that my experience is a strong buttress to
of Lent. It‟s hard to believe my faith.
that the forsythia in our back-
yard is already shedding its There is a flip side, however. Because the
bright yellow starbursts of longer I spend on this earth, the more I sin – and
color and pushing forth fresh the dearer and more humbling grows the grace
green leaves. Spring has sprung, and the signs of of God‟s forgiveness. When I was younger in
new life are everywhere. the faith, “working out” my salvation and seeing
new evidence of God‟s love and power daily,
New life. It‟s what the gospel is about, really – my confession of sin in prayer often echoed the
God‟s gift of a new life, purchased for us by the sins of my life before I accepted the gift of sal-
costly grace of Christ‟s sacrifice on the cross. vation, as well as the sins I was struggling with
Not just a new outlook, or a new set of rules, or a at the moment. But over two decades have
new schedule for Sundays, or a new set of passed since that day – and I find that the sins I
friends, but a whole new life that surpasses the bring before God these days are not infrequently
old life in every conceivable aspect. Once we the same sins that I have been bringing before
accept Christ as our Lord and our Savior, and the Lord for years. And I find that, as far as this
surrender our old selves to Him in obedience and aspect of my discipleship is concerned, my years
love, into us is poured the inexhaustible life of of walking with the Lord actually make it
the risen Christ, free from the power of death and harder, not easier, to continue in this practice.
sin, and ruled by the Holy Spirit. Consider the analogy of a college student: It‟s
one thing to ask a professor for an extension on
In the context of that new life, I was talking with a paper. It‟s quite another to approach that pro-
a church member the other day about not letting fessor for the 40th time in one‟s college career to
ourselves be enslaved by anxiety, but trusting our ask for an extension on a paper. When I come
present and our future to the One who is Lord of before God for the umpteenth time to confess
all time and circumstance, constantly remember- the same sin, I am now aware not just of my sin
ing that our lives are in God‟s hands, and that we (in what I confess), but also of my pitiable
are never outside of His perfect and loving care. weakness in not having “gotten better.”
This person was younger than I, and I remarked
as to how I thought it must be harder to do this I know that, as a father, I can pretty easily for-
when one is young. For myself, I have seen God give Deborah the first time she neglects to put
“make a way out of no way” so many times in the cordless phone back in its cradle to charge
my life (and in the lives of others) that, in all after having spent almost an hour in her room
honesty, I don‟t think it‟s nearly as hard for me to chatting on it to a friend. -
trust God with my future now as it was when I continued on page 12-
Chris Martin‟s Article
Volume 41, Issue 4 Page 3

The Presbyterian Women’s Circle Groups will be meeting Tuesday, April 12, at the following:

PW Circle
2 3
C ircle 9:30 a.m.
ircle
4
P W C
: 0 0 a.m. A ppich Hostess: Ev
elyn Tower
PW a.m. o ndrey
11 a n 0 L t
s t ess: J
e Social Room 10:3 ss: Jane cle Wes
H o te ir
m B-4 Hos xford C
R o o O
208

PARTY ON THE TERRACE for 10K

Grace Covenant will again be hosting a party and
hospitality center on the front porch during the
Monument Avenue 10k race on Saturday, April
2nd. Invite your friends to come by and cheer on the record-setting field of over
40,000 runners. The party will begin by 8 a.m. and continue until after noon. If
you'd like to set up, tear down, serve coffee or otherwise help out, please contact
Brian Baird at 586-4156 or brian.baird5@gmail.com

Sermons are online every week!

You can access the Sunday services on grace-
covenant.org; click on WE GATHER then on
SERMONS. You have a choice of CHILDREN’S
SERMON, SUNDAY SERMON or FULL SERVICE
by clicking on the MP3 icon of your choice.
 Page 4

Stewardship Corner and Finances

5 CENTS A MEAL 15 CENTS A DAY $1.05 A WEEK $4.50 A MONTH
Many people go hungry right here in Richmond. You can help support
the Feed the Hungry program by participating in the Five Cents a Meal
Offering. Every meal, set aside 5 cents. Save this money and bring it to
church the first Sunday of each month. (Or each week.) The money col-
lected goes to the Presbytery Hunger Committee to support hunger pro-
jects in the area and around the world.

STEWARDSHIP CORNER
February’s contributions of $29,500 were down slightly from January’s total and were about 10%
lower than February of last year. Excluding $18,800 in contributions in 2010 for 2011 pledges,
which was transferred to the current fund in January, contributions for the first two months of
this year are 2.4% less than last year at this time. February’s expenses of $56,000 were up 17%
from January’s level due to fuel costs and payment of one quarter’s insurance bill. Expenses in
February exceeded income by $8,400, but for the total for the first two months
of the year income exceeded expenses by $6,600 due to the $18,800 transfer
mentioned above.

Our ―Souper Bowl‖ offering in February amounted to $517, and the total hunger
offering for the month was $632.

Tax Time
The tax deadline is fast approaching. Please contact Martha at extension 205 or
bookkeeper@grace-covenant.org if you need another copy of your 2010
charitable contribution statement.

We are entering the second quarter of 2011, if you

have questions regarding your contributions for the
first quarter, please give Martha a call about that,
too. Otherwise, quarterly statements will be pro-
vided in July, at the end of the second quarter.
Page 5 Grace Notes

Our Children and Upcoming Events

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL:
Yes, it’s only March, but we’re planning
for June. Save the date: June 19 –
June 23, 2011. Our theme this year is
―Hometown Nazareth: Where Jesus
Was a Kid.‖ Please contact Jim McCul-
lough at jkmcc@mindspring.com, this year’s director, or Leslie Hartman, at ltomandlhart-
man@yahoo.com this year’s assistant director, to volunteer.

Japan Disaster Relief

Gobble– Gobble

The Kids Club and Confirmation Class have both been moved by the
recent tragedy in Japan. Kids Club decided to host a Crafts Sale at
our Palm Sunday Breakfast in order to raise money to be donated to
the PCUSA funds that will be going for aid in Japan. Our Confirma-
tion Class has eagerly jumped in to help the Kids Club in this effort.
Please help us to spread the love of Christ to the world.

ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT

It’s time to join in a good old-fashioned Easter Egg Hunt at
10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at Margaret and Dick
Cardwell’s home, 7105 University Drive. This is a great event to
invite your family, friends and neighbors! Bring an Easter egg
basket and come join in on the fun! For further information,
call Kelley Lane at the church office at (804)359-2463 ext.
203
Page 6 Grace Notes

Grace Covenant Child Development Center

The CDC is welcoming Spring, Clouds, Rain, and Rainbows! The children es-
pecially enjoyed making kites. We are having a busy Spring with field trips
and an in-school soccer program provided by the Richmond Kickers. Several
classes are going to Maymont as part of their farm theme.

We are planning a special time for mothers in May with “Muffins for Moms.” It will be a time for mothers
to come to their child's class during their snack time to enjoy muffins and visit with other moms.

Look for “Donuts for Dad's” in June and “Grand Friends Day” later in the summer, which will be a time
for grandparents or another special friend of the child's to visit the CDC.

We are planning a Summer Pre-Reading camp for rising Kindergartners. The dates for the program are
July 5 – Aug 5. The children will meet Monday -Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Before and after
school care will be provided. The cost is $130/wk with $175/wk being the fee if before and after school
care is chosen. Breakfast, lunch, and a snack will be provided. Weekly field trips are planned. The theme
will be “Under the Sea” with fun, hands- on activities provided. The program will be taught by a former
Kindergarten teacher and will use research- based reading/teaching strategies.

For more information or to register for the program please call the Child Development Center – 213-0200.
CDC Board Members are: Cal Gray, Brenda Van Pelt, Jean Appich, Jordan Ball, Susan Boze, Cherry Corley,
Catherine Kerns, Marcia Manning, Janet Miller, Christof Meyer, and Beth Coltrain
 PRESBYTERIAN OLDER Older people know who they are, and
hold closely to certain values. Seniors are
ADULT MINISTRY often very clear about what is important to
them. Older people have a wealth of life
-Reverend Charles E. Sutton- and work experience to draw upon and
share.
Sunday, May 1, is identified as Older Adult Usually the lessons of a long life teach pa-
Sunday. Attention will be given to the Seniors tience, problem solving, and working coop-
of our congregation at Morning Worship. eratively with others. (Usually!) Older
This month our Presbytery Older Adult Pur-
people are less likely than younger people
pose Group finalized their plans for the annual
to shy away from telling or facing the truth.
fall retreat at Camp Hanover. The date set is Mitch Albom asked Morrie, in the book:
October 13, a Thursday, beginning at 9:15 a.m. “Tuesdays With Morrie,” “How do you
When I announced Older Adult Sunday at the keep from envying?” Morrie replies, “ It
Purpose Group meeting this month, one member is impossible for the old not to envy the
replied, “Every Sunday is Older Adult Sunday at young. But the issue is to accept who you
my church.” “ Yes,” we all know how that is,
are and revel in that. You have your time to
and are grateful. At the retreat this year atten- be in the thirties. You have to find what is
tion will be given to “ Faith Legacy,” Topics of good and true and beautiful in your life as it
interest will be: “Sharing Faith Journeys,” is now. Looking back makes you competi-
“Small Book Writing,” “Scrapbooking,” with a tive, and age is not a competitive issue.”
presentation titled “This Is Your Testimony.” I
look forward to having several persons from
Grace Covenant in attendance. An additional
success story is that while, as a Purpose Group,
we endeavored to enlarge the benefits of our an-
nual retreat to include churches in the western
section of the presbytery, we received an eager
welcome from Massanetta Springs and the Pres-
bytery of Shenandoah. They have just recently
announced a retreat for May 5, 2011. This is
being promoted among churches in the greater
Charlottesville area that are in the Presbytery of
the James.
Aging is for everyone. Michele Shulz
Hendrix says, in this year‟s “Planning Guide”
for Older Adult Sunday, that the good news
about aging is that maturity brings certain gifts.
These gifts need to be recognized in ourselves
and in the congregation and need to be utilized
in the life of the church.
 April
Page 8

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

3 Handbell Choir 8:30 am 4 Men’s Lunch 12 noon 5 Staff Meeting 10:00 am 6

Prayer ministry 9:15 am Carol Choir 4:30 pm
Sunday School 9:30 am Junior Choir 5:00 pm
Worship 11 am Chancel Choir 7:00 pm
Deacon Meeting 12:30 pm Wed. Night Supper 6:00 pm
New Members Class 12:30pm

10 11 Men’s Lunch 12 noon 12 Staff Meeting 10:00 am 13

Handbell Choir 8:30 am Worship Committee PW Circles Meet, see pg. 3 Carol Choir 4:30 pm
Prayer ministry 9:15 am Meeting 7:00 pm Christian Education Meeting Junior Choir 5:00 pm
Sunday School 9:30 am 7:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:00 pm
Worship 11 am Property Committee Meet- Wed. Night Supper 6:00 pm
Missions Meeting 12:30 pm ing 7:00 pm
New Members Class 12:30pm
17 PALM SUNDAY PARADE 18 Men’s Lunch 12 noon 19 Staff Meeting 10:00 am 20
Handbell Choir 8:30 am GRACE NOTES DUE!
Continental Breakfast 9:00 am Finance Committee *SESSION MEETING!
Meet outside at 9:30 am Meeting 7:00 pm
Worship 11 am
New Members Class 12:30pm

24 EASTER SUNDAY 25 26 Staff Meeting 10:00 am 27 GRACE NOTES MAIL

Handbell Choir 8:30 am CHURCH OFFICE Carol Choir 4:30 pm
Prayer ministry 9:15 am CLOSED! Junior Choir 5:00 pm
Sunday School 9:30 am CDC Closed! Chancel Choir 7:00 pm
Worship 11 am Wed. Night Supper 6:00 pm
 Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2
Community Group 5:45 pm Monument Martins/Ukrop’s 10k
Party on the Terrace

7 8 9 Property Committee
Mothers Together 9:30 am Community Group 5:45 pm Church Work Day 9:00 am
MT Children’s Choir 10 am
Children’s Chapel 10:30 am
m

14 15 16
Mothers Together 9:30 am Community Group 5:45 pm
MT Children’s Choir 10 am
Children’s Chapel 10:30 am
m

21 MAUNDY THURSDAY 22 GOOD FRIDAY 23 Annual Easter Egg Hunt 10:00 am

Children’s Chapel 10:30 am Community Group 5:45 pm at Margaret and Dick Cardwell’s home
Evangelism Comm. 6:30 pm Prayer Vigil Service 8:00 am 7105 University Drive
Dinner 6:00 pm OFFICE CLOSES AT
M. Thursday Service 7:00pm NOON
Chancel Choir 8:00 pm

28 29 30
Mothers Together 9:30 am Community Group 5:45 pm PEOPLE GROUP at Joy and John Nevin’s
MT Children’s Choir 10 am
Children’s Chapel 10:30 am
m Chancel Choir 7:00 pm
Easter Sunday Flowering Cross
Please bring blossoms for the “flowering cross” on Easter Sunday April
24, 2011 when you may place your flowers on the cross before the wor-
ship service begins. Please bring flower blossoms for Easter Worship
service to place on the “Flowering Cross”.

Easter Lilies
“Consider the Lilies…” If you would
like to place an Easter Lily in the sanctu-
ary for use on Easter Sunday, please pick up a form in various newslet-
ter locations. The lilies may be given in memory of or to honor family
and friends for $11.00 each this year. Deadline is Monday, April 11,
2011 for all orders. Requests may be dropped off in Glass Office in
designated box or to the church office.

Good Friday Prayer Vigil

You are invited to take part in a twelve hour (from 8 a.m. until 8p.m.) prayer vigil in the sanctuary on
April 22nd, Good Friday. Please find the poster for sign-up on the easel inside the back door through-
out the week; on Sunday we will move it to the narthex for your convenience. The day has been di-
vided into 1/2 hour blocks of time; please sign up for a time that suits you best. You may sign up as
individuals, families, or small groups to come into the
church and simply pray. You will find materials in the pews
that day to help you focus your time of prayer. God's will for
us as His church is to pray and ask for His help in all
things. Our precious Lord Jesus even took the time to teach us
how to pray. Our goal is to have someone at Grace Covenant
praying in our sanctuary for the twelve continuous
hours. Please help make this happen this year on Good Friday!

In Memoriam: Walter Bundy, Ollie Kittrell and Pauline Kirkpatrick

Openers/Closers Children’s Worship Kits
April 3: Hank Downing
April 10: Jake Savage Judy Waldron
April 17: Pete Sizemore
April 24: Lloyd Bostian Guest Register Attendants
April 3: Betty Appich
Nursery Volunteers April 10: Dawson Watkins
April 3: Mary Gray
April 17: Everett Reveley
April 10: Carson Price April 24: Lisa and Cal Gray
Jo Garber
Glass Office Monitor Schedule for WNL
April 17: Beth Coltrain
April 6: Pat Aldridge
April 24: Julia Poppell April 13: Kent Cardwell
April 21: MAUNDY THURSDAY
Greeters John Lootens
April 3: Bob Copeland
Megan Meyer April 27: Nikki Hazlegrove
Everett Reveley
Leslie Hartman
Volunteers for Grace Notes are needed to
April 10: Lewis Rosebro
David Martin help prepare our monthly newsletter for bulk
mail from 9:00 a.m.—12 noon on
April 17: Kent Cardwell Wednesday, April 27. If you would like to
Carol Wood help for part, or all, of that time frame, sim-
Everett Reveley
Leslie Hartman ply come to the church library and enjoy
some fellowship with other members as you
April 24: Carrie Rose volunteer in this ministry.
Brian Baird

Host/Hostess for The Fellowship Time

Volunteers host our Fellowship Time
in the Social Room after Worship on Sun-
days. If you would like to volunteer to host
the Fellowship Hour one Sunday, please sign
up on the calendar in the Glass Office.
All you need is a willing heart, coffee or juice
and your choice of cookies, muffins or cof-
fee cake to share.
Grace Notes Deadline: Monday, April 18 is
the deadline for submissions for our May
edition.
Flowers: If you are interested in
donating flowers for the sanctuary
for Sunday mornings, please con-
tact Lisa Gray at 673-0587
Page 12 Grace Notes

-continued from page 1-

But the tenth time that happens, when I am subsequently cut off during a conversation because the
phone runs out of charge, the impulse to forgive is largely overshadowed by maddening frustration.
I know how I feel when my child doesn‟t “learn from her mistakes,” and that realization echoes in my
heart when I am convicted in my own heart of a stubbornly familiar sin. Approaching God with this
realization, I feel that my sins are compounded, and the urge to turn and hide is stronger than ever.

And yet every time, without fail, God shows that He is not like me. His forgiveness is neither quali-
fied nor restricted by the chronic nature of my sin. Instead, the complete and utter forgiveness of
every sin, the complete removal of every weight that clings so closely, is no less fresh and true and
real after twenty years than it was that first morning that I surrendered my life to the Lord. But be-
cause I am even more conscious of my sin now than I was at that time, the grace of His forgiveness is
that much more astonishing and humbling. No matter how far I have strayed, or how deeply I have
worn the ruts on that familiar detour of sin, God‟s gift of new life in forgiveness through Christ is just
as new, just as fresh, just as real and solid and free as it ever was. And just so does the forsythia break
forth in brilliant color every spring – no matter how cold the winter, how deathly the bare branches,
how dreary and unrelenting the parade of gray days may have been. Year after year the winds and
rain and cold of winter punish the earth – and yet every spring, the forsythia is no less yellow, no less
joyous, no less assertive in its testimony to life, than at any time before.

That‟s the miracle of salvation. The new life won for us by Christ is not new the day we receive it,
then to age and become worn as everything else in our lives. Because it is a new life – always. Come
Easter, many of us may bring Easter baskets out from the attic once again, baskets that have cradled
many years‟ worth of chocolate bunnies and decorated eggs, baskets that herald the promise of spring
while betraying the passage of time in broken pieces of wicker and old strands of plastic grass stuck in
the bottom. Not so for the empty tomb. It is just as bare, just as terrifying, just as glorious and just as
powerful as the first day we peered into it and beheld our freedom. Remember that as we travel the
rest of the Lenten journey, and approach the Cross where our Lord bore the full weight of our sin.
 Wednesday Night Live
(Also known as WNL)

Wednesday Night Dinners are served from 6:00 p.m. till 6:30
p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Please join us for a home-cooked
meal!

April 6 : “Southern Style” fried chicken, Meals are:

mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, cole-
slaw and banana pudding.
April 13: “It‟s Italian” lasagna, garlic bread,
green salad bar and cheese cake
Maundy Thursday
April 21: “Comfort Food” Rock Castle
Chicken (chicken, rice and green bean casse-
role), salad bar and Brownies
April 27: “Family Style” roast pork, scalloped
potatoes, green peas, rolls and romaine fruit
salad, peach cobbler for dessert.
$5 per adult
$2 children and students
$12 maximum per family
Every Wednesday Night the children who do
not want to eat from the adult menu will be of-
fered a choice of grilled cheese sandwiches or
peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with either
applesauce or a fruit cocktail cup.
Each Wednesday we also have a program from
6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall
while we finish dinner. Programs include spe-
cial speakers or people in our own
congregation, sharing various topics.

Wednesday Night Programs for April

April 6 Fellowship Activity with Jim McCullough

April 13 Dr. Tom Miller on Jesus’ Crucifixtion

April 21 * NOTE– THURSDAY Dinner at 6:00 pm Maundy Thursday Service 7:00 pm

April 27 Handbell Concert– Chris Martin

Food Pantry
This year we have blessed the William Bryd Community House with so
much food for their pantry. Please place dry canned goods, baby prod-
ucts, canned goods and toiletry items in the basket in the Glass Office
(near the back doors, on the main floor of the Education Building). The
William Byrd Community House is located in the historic Oregon Hill
neighborhood in Richmond, VA. William Byrd Community House is a
community-based nonprofit organization that has been helping families
build self-sufficiency for more than 85 years.

Church Work Day– Saturday, April 9

To prepare for Easter, a Church Work Day is planned for Sat-
urday, April 9, from 8:00 - 12:00. We will be cleaning and
making small repairs. If you can volunteer for part or all of
this time please call the Church office. Vanessa will pass your
name along to Bob Brooks or Dick Cardwell, who are putting
together the task list and planning for the materials that we
will need. We have a few volunteers but can always use more.

Help Wanted:
Computer Tech/Consultant
Do you have experience in website management or
design? Server maintenance (Windows Server
2000) or LAN management? The church's tech
needs are not large, and certainly not sufficient to
hire a full-time technician. Nevertheless, what we
have does require occasional support, and we would
be much happier working with a qualified church
member than with an outside technician. If you
have skills that might be useful in this area, please
contact the church office at 359-2463 or info@grace-covenant.org.
April Birthdays 2011 Officers
Our Elders serve the church as leaders; our Dea-
3- C. T. Anderson cons lead the church in service. Please feel free
to approach them with any questions or feedback
3- Dick Cardwell about GCPC's ministries.
3- Nolen Spivey
CLERK OF SESSION: Everett Reveley
4- Leslie Hartman
ELDERS:
5- Jordan Ball Jean Appich („11) - Christian Education
5- Carrie Rose Brian Baird („11) - Evangelism (M)
Maurice Bell („13) - Finance/Stewardship
6- Paul Wilson
Kent Cardwell („12) - Missions (M)
6- Theo Zobule Cal Gray („11) - Property (M)
7- Sanny Zobule Matt Hartman („13) - Worship; Evangelism
Cheryl Jacobs („12) - Worship (M); Administration
10- Joe Garrett Catherine Kerns („13) - Christian Education; Evangelism
10- Ashby Price Caroline Leith („11) - Worship
David Martin („13) - Administration (Co-M); Property
12- George Gray
Katie McCullough („13) - Administration (Co-M); Mission
12- Sandra Lumpkin Dana McKnight („11) - Finance/Stewardship (M)
13- Harrison Hackett Tom Miller („12) - Christian Education (M)
Everett Reveley („12) - Finance/Stewardship
14- Rob Rosebro
16- Philip Janney DEACONS:
Pat Aldridge (‘11) - Cards and Prayer Ministry
19- John Mustanski
Betty Appich (‘11) - Deacon Support
22- Grace Clarke Pat Ball (‘12) - Flower Deliveries
26- Stephen Coltrain Cherry Corley (‘12) - (Moderator)
Susan Farrell (‘12) - Visitation, Transportation
27- Jane Bundy Jim McCullough (‘13) - Deacons‟ Fund
28- Jo McMillin Nikki Hazlegrove (‘13) - Meal Deliveries
Julia Poppell (‘11) - (secretary) Visitation
29- Christopher Winston
Carrie Rose (‘13) - Visitation and Card Ministry
Dawson Watkins (‘11) - (Vice-Moderator) Visitor follow up
Carol Wood (‘13) - Visitation and Prayer Ministry
Sid Yates (‘12) - Ushers

(M=Moderator)
 Non Profit Org.
US POSTAGE PAID
RICHMOND VA
PERMIT NO. 161

Address Service Requested

April April April April April April April April April April April April April April April April April April

Phone: (804) 359-2463 Fax: (804) 278-6298

9:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages in the Education Building
11:00 a.m. Worship Service in the Sanctuary
12:00 p.m. Congregational Fellowship in the Social Room

Staff
Temporary Supply Pastor: Brint Keyes
Director of Music and Organist: Chris Martin
Christian Educator: Kelley Lane
Administrative Assistant: Vanessa Strait
Bookkeeper: Martha Rubin
Sexton: Willie Alford
Grace Covenant Child Development Center
Director: Brenda Van Pelt

Church Office Hours: Monday—Friday, 8:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m.

www.grace-covenant.org