GRACE COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

May 20, 2012

Loving God & Our Neighbors in the Heart of the City

WELCOME TO GRACE COVENANT!

We are an historic Presbyterian congregation offering traditional worship and multiple ministries for persons of all ages. Please join us after worship for fellowship in the Social Room.
Thank you for turning off your cell phones, pagers, cameras, and other electronic devices during worship, and for leaving food and beverages outside the sanctuary. Interim Pastor: Director of Music: Administrative Assistant: Bookkeeper: Temporary Sexton: Child Development Center Director: Student Assistant for Christian Ed: Brint Keyes Christopher Martin Vanessa Strait Martha Rubin James Greene Nicole Williams Christopher Tweel

1627 Monument Avenue Richmond, VA 23220 Phone: 804.359.2463 Fax: 804.278.6298 www.grace-covenant.org info@grace-covenant.org

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Radio: WLES 590 AM www.wlesradio.com

Hearing Aids, Large Print Hymnals, and Bulletins are available each week from the ushers.

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection. Acts 1:21-22 (NRSV) I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. John 17:14-16 (NRSV) You can tell whether you are becoming a servant by how you act when people treat you like one. - Gordon MacDonald, quoted in Christianity Today (v. 37, no. 5)

A SERVICE OF WORSHIP
May 20, 2012 Seventh Sunday of Easter 10:55 a.m.

WE GATHER TO GLORIFY GOD

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Please fill out the communication card and place it in the offering plate during the offertory. PRELUDE The Head that once was crowned with thorns
Please stand for these parts of the service.

Robert Hobby

(b. 1962)

CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The Lord has set apart the faithful for Himself; People: the Lord hears when His people call to Him. Leader: You have put gladness in my heart more than when grain and wine abound; People: I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for You alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety. Leader: The Lord is risen! People: He is risen, indeed! All: Hallelujah!

from Psalm 4

HYMN 115 (Blue Hymnal)

Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain

St. Kevin

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Almighty and heavenly Father, In Christ Jesus You bore the burden of our sin, suffering the pain of death, and rising from the dead to new life. But we confess that we have taken Your grace for granted. We rejoice in Your Resurrection, but divert our eyes from the Cross. We proclaim the mercy of Your forgiveness, but disregard its cost to You. We celebrate the blessing of new life in Christ, but continue old habits that keep our Selves on the throne. Lord, have mercy upon us, and forgive us our sins, we pray. Melt our hard hearts with the brilliance of Your glory; Open our eyes to the sins we ignore; and spark in us a longing for holiness; That we may truly repent of self-serving ways, and seek to serve You in newness of life; Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, and in the name of Jesus, Your risen Son, we pray.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON EASTERTIDE ALLELUIA

Alleluia, music by William Monk, 1823-1889, 1986 by G.I.A. Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-715262.

WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD

PRESENTATION OF TITHES, OFFERINGS, AND GIFTS ANTHEM Christ Hath a Garden Gerald Near (b. 1942)

Christ hath a garden walled around, A paradise of fruitful ground, Chosen by love and fenced by grace From out the worlds wide wilderness. Like trees of spice his servants stand, There planted by his mighty hand; By Edens gracious streams, that flow To feed their beauty where they grow. Awake, O wind of heaven, and bear Their sweetest perfume through the air: Stir up, O south, the boughs that bloom, Till the beloved Master come: That he may come, and linger yet Among the trees that he hath set; That he may evermore be seen To walk amid the springing green.
- Words by Robert Bridges, after Isaac Watts

DOXOLOGY 592 (Blue Hymnal) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Old Hundredth

Dana McKnight

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Dana McKnight

EPISTLE READING CHILDRENS SERMON GOSPEL READING

Acts 1:15-26

Holy Bible, p. 113 NT Brian Baird

John 17:6-19

Holy Bible, p. 107 NT

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. SERMON HYMN 353 (Blue Hymnal) People of God, Chosen by God Great God, Your Love Has Called Us Here B. Brinton P. Keyes Das Neugeborne Kindelein

ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF ELDERS

Wayne Casey Jack Corley

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

GLORIA PATRI 579 (Blue Hymnal) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen. PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORDS PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Greatorex

WE GO FORTH IN GODS NAME

HYMN 287 (Red Hymnal) BENEDICTION CHORAL RESPONSE POSTLUDE Threefold Amen Dialogue Anonymous Nicolas de Grigny (1672-1703) Come, Labor On Ora Labora

Please join us in the Social Room following worship for refreshments and fellowship. The flowers are given to the glory of God and in memory of Bob McCrickard by Kip Moore.

Give thanks for: Chris Martins organ recital (and John Harriss presentation) last Wednesday which drew a large number of visitors to Grace Covenant Daniel Reas safe return home from military service overseas Continue to pray for: Willie Alford, at home recuperating from surgery; Ben Gordon, for health, and his mother Alice, undergoing chemo; Cheryl Jacobs and her father, Rolland, recovering from surgery; Ann Pais daughter-in-law Jane, with cancer, and nephew Paul, with ALS; Juliette Harriman White; Susan Farrells grandmother, Mary Lou (Uh Oh) and father, Jim; Svetlana Chicus mother, Estera, with lymphoma; Evelyn Turner; Peter Albertis; Rosie and George Turner; Nela Bostian Our Christianity Explored outreach that began April 18, and this summers Vacation Bible School, that God would use both to plant and nurture seeds of faith Erika Tabor and Carlos Juara, facing vocational challenges; and Leslie Hartmans community garden ministry Our Session, that they may faithfully lead us by humbly following Gods Word; and our Pastor Nominating Committee, that they might seek faithfully and listen patiently to discern the pastor whom God is calling to GCPC Beth Lloyd Stuart Chapman, William Bridenstine, David Russell, Chris Pais, and Mike Child, serving in our nations Armed Forces The people of Egypt, Libya and Syria, as they seek peaceful ways forward for their countries; the governments of Iran and Israel, that they may pursue peaceful coexistence rather than mutual aggression; and the people of Haiti and the Midwest US, as they continue to recover from natural disasters Missionaries we support: Elizabeth Gee, for protection and blessing while on travel to SE Asia May 5 June 9; Valentin and Svetlana Chicu in Moldova; The Zobule family in the Solomon Islands, facing employment uncertainty; Beth Baleke in Uganda For the Churches and religious institutions of Metropolitan Richmond: For all pastors, ministers, missionaries, and servants of Christ; for all religious communities, abbeys, orders, brotherhoods, sisterhoods, religious societies, and para-church organizations.

This Sunday and next Sunday we welcome Sharon Freude as our guest organist. Sharon has been a regular substitute organist at Grace Covenant since 2006. Before retirement her last full-time position was as Director of Music and Organist at St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Richmond. Todays choral anthem is by Gerald Near (b. 1924) who is considered one of the finest composers of church music writing today. He has an extensive catalogue of well-crafted, published, choral and organ music. His beautiful setting of the English folksong O WALY, WALY is combined with a text by English hymn writer Isaac Watts. The simplicity of the organ accompaniment combined with the opening and closing unison vocal verses frames the rich harmonies of the introspective third verse, imploring our Master, the Savior, to come.

The Chancel Choirs last Sunday for the season is June 10. Our summer music ministry series begins June 17 and continues through September 2.

August Musicales Returns!

August Musicales, our annual series of three separate concerts, returns this year as a patron series. More information about the artists will be available in the next issue of Grace Notes. Save the dates: August 8, 15, and 22. All concerts will be held in the sanctuary and are at 7:00 p.m.

The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) has now met three times and is working diligently on completing the Church Information Form (CIF). The committee welcomes input from our congregation regarding the qualities they wish to see in a new pastor. Please feel free to contact any member of the PNC to offer your input. Members of the GCPC PNC are: Brian Baird (Clerk) Pat Ball Kent Cardwell (Computer Clerk) Leslie Hartman Will Madden Marcia Manning (Congregational Communications Clerk) Everett Reveley (Moderator)

Vacation Bible School

Save the date! Vacation Bible School this year will take place June 24 (Sunday) - June 28 (Thursday). This is the week after the week of Father's Day. Mark the date now on your calendars; more information will follow. If you can be of help in any part of this ministry, please contact Christopher Tweel at christopher.tweel@upsem.edu or call 304-488-1610. Thanks!

Church Work Day We are going to have a church work day on Saturday, June 16, from
8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon in order to spruce the place up a bit in advance for VBS. Anyone willing to participate should contact or speak to Dick Cardwell or Bob Brooks regarding their availability. Dick Cardwell can be reached at 804-282-3606 or Bob Brooks at 804-338-5129.

Stewardship of Our Buildings

While our sexton, Willie Alford, is on sick leave, the Property Committee has hired James Greene to handle many of Willies duties. He is here on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays; please introduce yourself if you see him and welcome him to Grace Covenant. The committee has also asked Wayne Casey to coordinate our temporary janitorial work with church volunteers and cleaning duties at the church. If you have any questions, concerns, or requests, please contact Wayne at 804-222-3468 or by email at caseywt1@verizon.net. Thank you.

Flower Donations We need someone to donate flowers for Sunday, July 1, 2012.
Please contact Lisa Gray at 804-673-0587 or by email at c.lgray@comcast.net if you are interested.

Sunday Mornings
CLASS
(all begin at 9:30 a.m.)

TOPIC

TEACHER

Forum (Room B-7) Grace Bible (Room 212) Vanguard (Room B-4) Connections (Room 303)

Did Jesus Really Have to Die? The Three Epistles of John Bible Study (no information)

Tom Miller Jack Corley Matt Johnson

The last Sunday for individual Adult Sunday School classes will be June 17. On June 24 we will begin Combined Sunday School on Heroes of the Christian Faith.

Sunday Afternoons
DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY is a 34-week in-depth Bible
study for small groups. Led by a trained facilitator, the study includes 30 minutes of daily reading and a weekly 2-1/2 hour seminar. If the curriculum looks appealing, then youre invited to consider signing up for the next class. Here are the topics for the coming week:

Week 17: Context- The Time of Transition

Monday Tuesday Read The Bible Teaching. Esther 1-4 (to remind us that many Jews were scattered all over the known world)

Wednesday Esther 5-10 (Jews triumph over enemies) Thursday Friday Saturday Jonah 1-4 (to remind Israel of its mission to the world) If you have a Bible handbook or commentaries, read information about the time between testaments. Also check articles on history in your Bible. Read the introduction to the New Testament in your Bible or notes before each Gospel. Review Lesson 1-16 noticing how the story of Gods chosen people fits the chart of biblical history on page 126. Read and respond to Marks of Discipleship.

Wednesday Evenings
Join us this Wednesday, May 23, at 6:00 p.m. Menu: Chicken tetrazzini, Harvard beets, peas, salad, rolls and sheet cake This weeks program is the fifth session of our seven-week series on the curriculum Christianity Explored. More information can be found at www.christianityexplored.org.

Summertime Sunday Childcare Please Volunteer for One Sunday This Summer! Our Childrens Ministry is now scheduling summertime volunteers for the preschool room. Volunteers need to be here by 9:30 to lead Sunday School, and remain with the children through the worship hour (until 12:15). This is a longer time commitment than during the school year; however, our prayer is that enough people step up to allow each volunteer to commit to only one Sunday for the entire summer. The summer schedule begins May 27th and continues through September 2nd. Please contact Carson Price (804/928-4875, chefcarson@alacarson.com) to get on the schedule and fathers are encouraged to sign up, too! The Christian Education committee met Tuesday, May 15, and set Sunday, June 17, 2012 as the last adult Sunday School class meeting. The CE committee and all members appreciate the outstanding teachers who have faithfully led the classes and shared their faith and love of studying the Word of God from Septemeber 2011 through June 17, 2012. The Sunday adult class will begin June 24 in the Fellowship Hall. The theme will be Favorite Heroes of the Christian Faith and the importance of the Bible in their lives. We invite all to attend and participate in these opportunities to study and grow in your personal Christian faith. More details will follow. Grace Covenant Child Development Center Needs Your Help The CDC is requesting donations of AA, C, and D batteries and thermometers to take underarm temperatures. There is a special designated box in the Glass Office in which you may place your items. Thanks you very much for being so generous.-The CDC Board

Honduras Mission Yard Sale BenefitJune 9

SPRING CLEANING? Once again, a collaborative yard sale will be held to benefit the Honduras Mission. Immanuel Episcopal Church in Old Church, Grace Covenant's partner in this important mission, has once again agreed to host the event and to supply all the manpower. We are looking for "STUFF!" In anticipation of the yard sale on SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE 9, please begin to set aside items for donation. We will be collecting yard sale items in the parking lot on Wednesday evenings, May 23, and June 6, from 5:30-6:30. Larger items that may need pickup, please have folks contact us. Ron David and Susan Pillsbury David can be reached at 804-328-2207 or by email at clwturtle@aol.com. MUCHAS GRACIAS!

THIS WEEK AT GRACE COVENANT

Sunday, May 20 9:15 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:55 a.m. 12:00 noon 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Prayer Social Room Sunday School Various Rooms Worship Service Sanctuary Fellowship Hour Social Room Lunch for Disciple & Community GroupFellowship Hall Disciple Bible Study Room 303 Community Group Discussion Fellowship Hall

Monday, May 21 12:00 noon Tuesday, May 22 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m.

Mens Luncheon

Vanguard Room

Staff Meeting Care Team Meeting

Room 213 Pastors Office

Wednesday, May 23 5:15 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

Lay Reader Meeting Wednesday Night Live

Sanctuary Fellowship Hall

Thursday, May 24 7:00 p.m.

SESSION MEETING

Vanguard Room

Sunday, May 27 9:15 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:55 a.m. 12:00 noon 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.

PENTECOST SUNDAY Prayer Social Room Sunday School Various Rooms Worship Service Sanctuary Fellowship Hour Social Room Farewell to Kelsey Snyder Lunch for Disciple & Community GroupFellowship Hall Disciple Bible Study Room 303 Community Group Discussion Fellowship Hall

2012 Officers
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) - Nominating (M); Finance Kent Cardwell (12) - Fellowship (M) Matt Hartman (13) - Mission (M) Virginia Hudson (14) - Evangelism (M) Cheryl Jacobs (12) - Worship (M); Fellowship Katie McCullough (13) - Administration (M) Dana McKnight (14) - Finance, Worship Christof Meyer (12) - Christian Ed (M), CDC (M) Tom Miller (12) - Christian Education Joy Nevin (14) - Administration Everett Reveley (12) - Finance (M) 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

TODAY (May 20 ): Opener Hank Downing Greeters Presbyterian Women Circle #2 Nursery Worker Ann Hubbard Elementary Sunday School Erika Tabor Worship Kits Lewis Rosebro

NEXT SUNDAY (May 27): Opener Jake Savage Greeters needed Nursery Worker needed Elementary Sunday School Chenoweth Worship Kits Lewis Rosebro

Janet

PEOPLE GROUP
On Saturday, June 16, Sid Yates has graciously opened his River House to host the next People Group Event. Flyers and maps are available around the church, and also will be in Junes edition of Grace Notes. All are welcome. Feel free to invite a friend. Please bring with you a lawn chair, bathing suit, towel and a dish to share. Suggestions are: Finger foods, appetizers, side dishes, salads, breads or desserts.
*Burgers, hot dogs and drinks will be provided.

SERMON NOTES
People of God, Chosen by God B. BRINTON P. KEYES