PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

Sunday, January 19, 2014

The dedicated life is the life worth living. You must give with your whole heart. - Annie Dillard The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand-new creation. Not to make people with better morals but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnipresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love. This, my friend, is what it really means to be a Christian. - Brennan Manning Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21 Vision Statement As one body of Christ, composed of diverse individuals bound together by the Holy Spirit, we will worship God in a way that not only proclaims Gods glory and identifies His presence in our lives, but also calls us to repent of our sins and kindles due thanks and awe for our creator, sustainer, and redeemer.
- from our 2012 Vision Statement

Hearing Aids and Large-Print Hymnals are available from the ushers. Our worship service is broadcast live on WLES 590 AM and streamed live on its website, http://wles590.com/. For podcasts, go to www.grace-covenant.org, click on We Gather, then on Sermons. Both the sermon and the entire worship service are uploaded every Sunday afternoon.

Welcome to Grace Covenant! We are grateful to have you join in worship with us this morning. We are an historic Presbyterian church with a singular mission: to train grateful disciples of Jesus Christ who are doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God. May you be blessed through worship and fellowship this morning.

WORSHIP NOTES
John Carter (b. 1930) is recognized as one of the most productive and skillful writers in choral composition today. John is a well-known composer with several hundred choral compositions to his credit as well as several musicals, an opera, and a dozen collections for keyboard and organ. Carters arrangement of the hymn O God, Our Help in Ages Past is scored as a piano duet. Allen Pote (b. 1945) is known nationally as a composer of sacred music as well as a clinician for festivals and workshops. For twenty-two years he was Director of Music in churches in Texas and Florida, and is currently a full time composer living in Pensacola, Florida. Whatever is true, whatever is noble...think on these things. The Apostle Pauls admonition to the Philippians is the inspiration in todays anthem, Again I Say Rejoice. John Weaver (b. 1937) served as Director of Music at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City (1970-2005), Head of the Organ Department at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia (1972-2003), and Chair of the Organ Department at The Juilliard School (1987-2004). Weavers Toccata puts the pedal technique of the performer to the test. The piece begins first with a triplet figure in the hands, then jumping to the pedal, and continuing in sequence to the end, where all the resources of both organ and organist are brought into use.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Attention Grace Covenant Run/Walkers! The 10K Approaches! The 2014 Monument 10K is on March 29, and online registration has already started. This year, Grace Covenant will be heading an informal training team for all runners interested in preparing for the race. We will meet at Grace Covenant every Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and we will run various lengths depending on your skill/comfort level. After the run, we will journey to a local coffee shop and there we will have a brief Bible study and discussion on the Letter to the Hebrews. For further information please email Luke Woodcock at lwwoodco11@gmail.com.

Fellowship Hour Volunteers Needed The Fellowship Committee is looking for volunteers to host the fellowship time which occurs every Sunday after Worship. For those who have recently joined Grace Covenant, its a great way to meet other members and guests. The sign-up calendar is located in the Glass Office. To learn more about this important ministry of the church please call Kent Cardwell at 285-7044 or email him at ekcarwell@aol.com for more details. Deacons Fund Grace Covenant has this fund to assist members who are in financial need. Please contact Bobby Hulme-Lippert to make a request. All requests are confidential.

MID-WEEK FELLOWSHIP
Each Wednesday evening we gather at 6:00 p.m. for table fellowship, followed by a program from 6:30-7:15 p.m. All are welcome! For more information contact Vanessa Strait in the church office at 359-2463, or info@grace-covenant.org.
Program: Trivia Night! - Grace Covenant and Christianity in Richmond. Menu: No-peek beef, noodles, lima beans, salad, sheet cake.

*Save the date: Seminary Intern Luke Woodcock will be leading a Wednesday Night Live discussion on the 1001 New Worshiping Communities on January 29. Come see how the Presbyterian Church (USA) is seeking to explore innovative new avenues for ministry and evangelism.

Fourth Thursdays Ministry Boaz & Ruth's restaurant, Firehouse 15, is the only sit-down restaurant in Highland Park and offers job training for program participants. GCPC is supporting this business by joining in fellowship for dinner on the fourth Thursday of each month. When there are five Thursdays in the month, we may shift to the fifth Thursday so as to avoid conflict with the session meeting, so this month's inaugural dinner will take place on Thursday, January 30. No long-term commitment required; intermittent visitors encouraged. If you are interested in participating, please join our email list for a once-a-month reminder to RSVP. Contact Jessica Reveley at jabreveley@gmail.com.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND DISCIPLESHIP

Sunday School is held every Sunday from 9:30 10:30 a.m. The nursery crib room and Sunday School are available for children age 2 and up. CLASS TEACHER Rm# B7 Forum Tom Miller Rm # 212 Grace Bible Class Bill Stuart Rm # B4 Vanguard Matt Johnson Rm # 303 Connections Christof Meyer Fellowship Hall Jack Corley/Virginia Hudson TOPIC Living the Life of Faith, Hebrews 11 Luke Studies in the Gospel of John Exploring questions about faith A Study of Christian Marriage

Disciple Bible Study is a spiritual discipline that entails thirty minutes of prayerful scripture reading per day along with weekly meetings to engage the scriptures more deeply with other participants. This commitment of time and energy to God generates lasting spiritual growth and all are invited to read along with us each week. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Nelson Reveley at nmr2uf@virginia.edu.

Week 18: Our Savior Has Come Monday: Luke 1:1-25, 57-58 Tuesday: Luke 3:1-26; 7:18-35; 9:7-9; Matt. 14:1-12 Wednesday: Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-20 Thursday: Luke 2:21-52 Friday: Luke 3:21-38; 4:1-13 Saturday: Study Manual Sunday: Rest

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Please pray for: Ainura Satterfields father, Sharshen, in Kyrgyzstan; Hannah Siboles mother, Melanie; Ben Gordon; Nela Bostian; Betty Clough; Bob Brooks; Ann Pais daughter-in-law, Jane Pais, with cancer; Susan Farrells grandmother Mary Lou (Uh-Oh), and her father, Jim, facing health issues, Rosie and George Turner; Steve Cobb and his family; Stuart Chapman, David Russell, and Chris Pais, serving in our nations Armed Forces. Those who are homebound Bob Adams, Nela Bostian, Bob Brooks, Louise Buhrman, Betty Clough, Frances Mack, Maria Rachal, Elizabeth Ramsey, C. Edward Richardson III, Virginia Sommers, George Turner, Rosie Turner, Margaret Valentine, Toni Whittet, and Jed Wilson.