Grace Notes

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church

Volume 43, Issue 4 April 2013

We welcome Bobby Hulme-Lippert!

In June, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church will be blessed to welcome the Reverend Mr. Robert Hulme-Lippert as its 14th installed pastor. Rev. Hulme-Lippert was called by God to pastor a congregation that seeks to be His means for Awakening a Love for Christ in the Heart of Richmond. Bobbys gifts for preaching and evangelism reveal an infectious love for the Gospel. With the humility and confidence of one who has truly taken the Good News to heart, Bobby offers an appealing witness for all to the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Pastor Nominating Committee received 95 applications for the position of Pastor and Head of Staff at Grace Covenant. After reviewing the applications received and interviewing a number of candidates, all seven members of the Committee enthusiastically discerned that Rev. Hulme-Lippert was the one whom God had chosen to lead our congregation. Bobbys passion for the Gospel and dedication to discipleship and missions clearly resonate with our vision for Grace Covenant. One of his mentors described the ideal church for Bobby as one that takes the Gospel seriously, cares for everybody, and seeks to engage the community with the hope and grace of Jesus Christ. Grace Covenant aspires to be just such a church. For the past five years, Rev. Hulme-Lippert has served as the Associate Pastor of Clairmont Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Georgia. His colleagues described Bobby as someone with a maturity well beyond his years a gifted visionary with the practical skills to shepherd aspirations to fruition. Loved by all generations at Clairmont, Bobby fostered a thriving young adult ministry and guided the entire congregation toward greater involvement with the community outside the walls of the church. Rev. Hulme-Lippert also ably served as Clairmonts Acting Head of Staff for six months between the churchs last installed pastor and its recent interim pastor providing calm, steady leadership during a testing transition. As a chaplain in the Army Reserves, Rev. Hulme-Lippert has offered spiritual leadership to a diverse community by meeting individuals where they are. Bobby faithfully nurtures lasting, long-term relationships that create a space for the Holy Spirit to manifest its power. In his preaching and ministry, Rev. Hulme-Lippert proclaims a robust Gospel that highlights Gods vision of the new creation being made known through Christ the living hope that opens our inward-bending hearts. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Rev. Hulme-Lippert is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary and Davidson College, where he met his wife, Michelle, who is studying to complete her Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies at Emory University. Bobby and Michelle eagerly look forward to joining what God is doing at Grace Covenant and in Richmond. Together we will fulfill our mission to train grateful disciples of Christ by doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.
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Grace Covenant Handbell Choir

Wednesday Night Live April 24, 2013 Dinner 6:00 p.m. Program 6:30 p.m.

Gra ce Cove na nts Mus ic Minis try

Final Rehearsals of the Season
Handbell Choir
Sunday, April 21 8:30 a.m.

Carol and Junior Choirs

Wednesday, April 24 4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m.

Chancel Choir
Wednesday, May 15 7:15 p.m.

Come Do Justice! Thursday, April 18, at 6:00 p.m. at Grace Covenant Background on RISC (www.riscrichmond.org) RISC (Richmonders Involved to Strengthen our Communities) is an amazingly diverse local faith organization engaged in justice ministry for the Greater Richmond Area. Grace Covenant has been a member congregation of RISC for almost five years now, and like us, RISC recognizes our calling as Christians in the prophet Micah's declaration that God enjoins us "to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). Justice ministry is the interwoven complement of mercy ministry, but justice ministry is distinct from mercy efforts in that it aims at the root causes of suffering in our communities while mercy ministry cares generously for the symptoms of that suffering. For instance, we engage in mercy ministry through CARITAS by providing meals and temporary shelter for the homeless. We engage in justice ministry through RISC by focusing on problems like unemployment and a lack of affordable housing that push people to need the emergency support of CARITAS in the first place. Mercy ministry gives a man a fish, while justice ministry strives to make sure that that man has access to the resources necessary to learn how to fish (and then the opportunity to exercise those skills and embrace the abundant life of community and vocation God intends for all of us to enjoy together!). Nehemiah Action: Thursday, April 18, at 6:00 p.m. at Grace Covenant! RISCs main event is the Nehemiah Action, which is scripturally modeled on Nehemiah, chapter five, when Nehemiah brought together a great assembly of Gods people in order to hold its leaders to account for addressing injustices plaguing the community. Like Nehemiah, RISC focuses on listening for communal concerns, researching means to address them, and then at the Nehemiah Action gathering together a great assembly of Gods people to provide our local leaders with the support, encouragement, and perhaps pressure they need to press forward in righting injustices afflicting our city and surrounding counties. This year RISC has been focused on unemployment (in particular problems of transportation to jobs) and affordable housing (specifically urging City Council to move forward with funding Richmond's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. More information on each issue can be found at RISCs website: www.riscrichmond.org). We are blessed to have the privilege of hosting this years Nehemiah Action at Grace Covenant on Thursday, April 18, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. On this invigorating evening, our pews will be overflowing with an amazingly diverse, vibrant gathering of the faithful from across the Greater Richmond Area. Everyone from the Grace Covenant family is invited, encouraged, and called upon to join in this unique opportunity to do justice in our very own sanctuary. It will be a beautiful thing. If you can commit to joining in this joyous, prayerful time of justice ministry, please contact Nelson Reveley 387-8094 or [email protected]. Also, if you have questions or if you feel called to participate even more fully in RISCs mission at Grace Covenant and beyond, please contact Nelson Reveley as well.
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Stewardship Corner
Februarys total contributions of $36,900 increased from Januarys total, after making appropriate adjustments. Januarys total included $13,500 paid in the prior year and transferred to the current funds early this year, while Februarys total included $3,000 payments on last years pledges. For the year to date total contributions of $80,000 are 6.4% lower than the total for the first two months of last year. Expenses in February were routine, except for $3,600 paid on roof repairs to the Stuart Circle Building, for which insurance reimbursement was received last year. Expenses exceeded income by $3,700 for the month. Our Five Cents Per Meal offering in February totaled $549, two-thirds of which was our Souper Bowl offering. In February we received $876 in Loaves and Fishes contributions and disbursed $575 for local projects. -Lloyd Bostian, Treasurer Emeritus -Eric Spitzer, Treasurer 305-0139, [email protected]

Last Chance for Disciple Bible Study Before the Summer!!

The Disciple Bible Study crew will have one final study before summer begins. This study will start on Sunday, April 7 (Sunday after Easter), and run through Sunday, May 19. We will meet during the normal Sunday school time, 9:30-10:30 a.m., and we will be focusing on either 1 Corinthians or Timothy Keller's book The Reason for God along with select scripture passages. As many of you know, Disciple is a spiritual discipline that entails 30 minutes of prayerful scripture reading per day along with weekly meetings to engage the readings more deeply with others participants. Any and all are welcome to delve into this communal spiritual discipline with us! If you are interested or have questions, please contact Nelson Reveley, [email protected] or 387-8094. As always, it will be good, fruitful times! Disciple has been different from any other Bible Study that I have attended in one main way: Community. The sense of community that was created in our small group made me feel accountable to group to make sure I attended, I completed my readings and I pushed through even when the readings got long and difficult. I feel that I have learned a lot from the lessons and all the others that participated. -- Maria Spitzer

Newcomers Small Group

Are you new to Grace Covenant? All newcomers are invited to a series of six weekly dinners on Monday nights from April 15 through May 20. These dinners will be held in Grace Covenant members' homes, and will be followed by a light discussion. The focus of the group is to get acquainted and connected to our church body. Child care will be provided during the discussion time. For more information please contact Wayne Casey (221-2599) or Matt Hartman (212-1961).

GCPC Seeks Librarian

Are you familiar with the blessing that is the Grace Covenant library? Fiction, reference, theology, non-fiction, inspirational, biographies, commentaries, and other treasures line its shelves and, until recently, it was stewarded by our own Evelyn Tower. Now that she has headed west, our Christian Education & Discipleship Ministry is looking for a volunteer librarian(s) to oversee this ministry. Immediate tasks will include a small amount of processing of materials, occasional straightening of books and magazines, and monitoring usage and check-out of materials. Looking further ahead (and with available funds), this is a golden opportunity for someone who has a vision for the library and/or a passion for stewarding these treasures to the benefit of the congregation, and continuing the Reformed traditions strong emphasis on learning. Better yet, Diane Davis has volunteered to provide some initial training. If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please contact the church office at 359-2463. It can be fun and it might be the volunteer opportunity you dont want to miss!

Church Work Day

The Property Ministry sends a big Thank You to all who participated in Work Day on March 16. We covered a lot of ground. Thanks to Alexander Robinson, Pete Sizemore, Judy Waldron, Jack Corley, Cherry Corley, Hank Downing, Susan Pillsbury David, Jake Savage, Dana McKnight, Rob Rosebro., Dick Cardwell, Everett Reveley, Carol Wood, and Cal Gray. Sincerely, Wayne Casey.

Calling All Cooks!

One of our Deacons, Mary Gray, is shepherding the Meals Ministry. If you are interested in providing meals for families in need, please give her a call at 247-4899 or email [email protected]. Thank you.

April Birthdays
3- Dick Cardwell 3- Nolen Spivey 4- Leslie Hartman 5- Jordan Ball 6- Paul Wilson 6- Theo Zobule 7- Sanny Zobule 10- Ashby Price 12- George Gray 12- Sandra Lumpkin 13- Harrison Hackett 14- Rob Rosebro 14- Emma Lowe 15- Jane Nelson 16- Ann Hubbard 16- Philip Janney 19- John Mustanski 20- Judith Frayser 26- Stephen Coltrain 28- Jo McMillin 29- Christopher Winston

April
Sunday Monday 1 Tuesday Wednesday
3 City Church Womens Bible Study 9:30 am Carol Choir 4:30 pm Junior Choir 5:00 pm WNL 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm 10 CC Bible Study 9:30 am
Care Team Meeting 3 pm Carol Choir 4:30 pm CDC Board Meeting 5:00 pm Junior Choir 5:00 pm WNL 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

Mens Lunch 12 noon 2 Missions Meeting 7:00 pm CDC Staff Meeting 6:10 pm Nominating Comm. Meeting City Church Womens 7:00 pm Bible Study 7:00 pm
7 Handbell Choir 8:30 am Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12 noon Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

8 Mens Lunch 12 noon City Church Womens Bible Study 7:00 pm Property Ministry Meets 7:00 pm 15 Mens Lunch 12 noon CDC Parent Meeting 5:30 pm City Church Womens Bible Study 7:00 pm Worship Ministry 7:00pm

9 Staff Meeting 11:30 am PW Circles Meet (see page 11) 16 Staff Meeting 10:00 am

14 Handbell Choir 8:30 am Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am Fellowship Hour 12 noon SUPER SENIOR LUNCHEON 12:30 pm

17 CC Womens Bible Study 9:30 am Care Team Meeting 3 pm Carol Choir 4:30 pm Deacons Meeting 6:00 pm Finance Ministry Meeting 6:00pm Junior Choir 5:00 pm WNL 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

21 Handbell Choir 8:30 am 22 Mens Lunch 12 noon Prayer 9:15 am Sunday School 9:30 am City Church Womens Worship 10:55 am Bible Study 7:00 pm Fellowship Hour 12 noon Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

23 Staff Meeting 10:00 am

24 CC Womens Bible
Study 9:30 am Care Team Meeting 3 pm Carol Choir 4:30 pm Junior Choir 5:00 pm WNL 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

28 Handbell Choir 8:30 am 29 Mens Lunch 12 noon 30 Prayer 9:15 am Staff Meeting 10:00 am Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:55 am City Church Womens Fellowship Hour 12 noon Bible Study 7:00 pm Congregational Lunch 12:30pm

31CC Womens Bible Study

9:30 am Care Team Meeting 3 pm WNL 6:00 pm Chancel Choir 7:15 pm

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Thursday 4 CDC Chapel 10:00 am 5

Friday

Saturday 6

11

CDC Chapel 10:00 am

CE Ministry Meets 7:00 pm

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13 MONUMENT 10 K

y 18

19 CDC Chapel 10:00 am RISC EVENT 6:00 pm

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25 CDC Chapel 10:00 am

SESSION MEETS 7pm

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Child Development Center

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church,

Page 10

Thank you for hosting the Easter Egg Hunt event! Several of our families attended, and they reported having a great time! A special thank you to Ms. Itunu, who was there to greet and introduce families. It is such a blessing whenever we can all fellowship together and celebrate Christ's love. I hope your Easter Sunday was a joyous occasion, and that your sanctuary was full of visitors who will choose to return! It took longer than usual, but spring has arrived in Richmond! With the arrival of spring, we also begin our new curriculum of the spring theme starting this April. The children will learn all about spring weather, and be able to identify Lion weather vs. Lamb weather. Spring certainly came in like a lion this year! They will discuss the weather each day, identify which category it falls under, and decide what kinds of clothing would be appropriate to wear. They will take a look at springtime plants, identifying different flowers, and recognizing the signs of growth in the budding trees and plants. They'll even plant a garden of their own that used to be a water table! They'll learn how to take care of the plants they grow, and discuss the life cycle of seeds to plants. Spring brings new life, and they will compare the seed cycle to that of eggs, bugs, babies, etc. We look forward to learning all about new life, and how we can praise and thank our Lord for this special gift. We have also put in our first order for Grace Covenant Child Development Center tee shirts! The order was open to parents and staff. With children's sizes, youth sizes, adult sizes, and plenty of colors to choose from, the fun was for everyone! From this point forward, we will be placing an order at the end of every month. If you would like to place an order to go through on May 1, please e-mail me at [email protected]. Thank you for all of your support, GCPC! - Nicole Williams, Director
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Memorial Flowers
Memorial Flowers are an integral part of our worship service. The flowers are donated by members and friends of the church in honor or memory of their loved ones and cost $45. We have a number of vacancies in the calendar for the rest of this year. A calendar has been placed in the Narthex showing the available dates. If you wish to donate flowers on a particular Sunday we would appreciate it if you would sign your name and phone number on that date. You will be contacted the month prior to the month of your donation for wording in the bulletin. There are two immediate dates that are available. Both Sundays, April 28 and May 5. For additional information please contact Lisa Gray at 673-0587

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
All Circles Meet on Tuesday, April 9
PW Circle 2 11:00 a.m.

ircle PW C cle ng Cir Eveni 7:00 p 32 .m. e Avenu Leys

PW Circle 3 9:30 a.m. Social Room Hostess: Lynne Norris

Covenant Room Hostess: Cheryl Jacobs & Jean Appich

marle 9 Albe

ie ss: Sall Hoste

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Openers/Closers April 7 April 14 April 21 April 28 Worship Kits Lisa Cardwell Grace Notes Deadline: April 21 is the deadline for submissions for our May edition. Elementary Sunday School Erika Tabor Fellowship Hour Schedule April 7 April 14 April 21 April 28 Debbie Pritchett Ann Pais and Jan Kessel Joy Nevin Dana McKnight Kent Cardwell Wayne Casey Hank Downing Cal Gray

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Page 13

Grace Notes

Brothers and sisters in Christ Congratulations and blessings to you all on the calling of Bobby Hulme-Lippert as your next pastor. You have been faithful through many challenges over the past few years, and while the church is not the pastor, I know that for many of you the search process has been at the back of your minds. The grace covering all of this is the knowledge that, even as it was Gods will to bring me here during a season of hurt and healing, so it is Gods will to bring Bobby here for the next season of Grace Covenants life, as you continue in training disciples and in awakening a love for Christ in the heart of Richmond. While my terms of call extend until May 31, my last Sunday leading worship will be May 19. Between now and then, I will continue my ministry of preaching, visitation, prayer, and administration, including an upgrade to the church offices computers and a final review with the Session of the roll of active members. My aim is to have most of the administrative concerns up-to-date and ready to go when Bobby arrives so that he will be able to focus his energies on the more important aspects of pastoral ministries. I have one more Grace Notes letter to write, and I will take the opportunity at that time to offer my final thoughts, thanksgivings, and blessings to Grace Covenant. Until then, I look forward to sharing with you this Easter season of new life, won for us on the Cross and lived by the power of the Holy Spirit In Christ,

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Every Wednesday Night at 6:00 p.m.!

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! Take a break from cooking dinner and join us for a friendly, relaxing, and inspiring evening. For more information, contact Vanessa Strait in the church office at 359-2463, or [email protected]. April Programs: April 3: Christianity at Work - Everett Reveley will talk about the challenges of being an Internal Auditor April 10: TBA April 17: Missions Committee with Matt Hartman April 24: Hand Bell Choir April Dinners: April 3: No-peek beef, noodles, lima beans, salad, rolls, and sheet cake April 10: Boaz and Ruth catering Lasagna, both meat and veggie, salad, garlic bread, and cookies April 17: Chicken casserole, scalloped tomatoes, kale, rolls, salad, and pineapple upside-down cake April 24: Meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, salad, rolls, and brownies

All meals are $5.00 per person, $12.00 per family, and $2.00 for students. First-time guests eat free. 14

New Electronic Pictorial Directory of GCPC Members

One of the first tasks to be faced by our new pastor will be getting to know each of us. It has been suggested that an electronic pictorial directory be available to facilitate this getting-to -know-you process. As with the print directory, your cooperation is needed. We ask that everyone who has a digital camera or a phone with a camera take a picture of the family group (not individuals) and e-mail it to [email protected]. Members without this capability are asked to contact Jack Corley, 515-7330, or Vanessa Strait in the church office, 359-2463, to arrange an appointment to take your photo at the church.

Congregational Luncheon
THE FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY of Grace Covenant cordially invites you to attend SUPER SENIOR SUNDAY LUNCHEON on Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Everyone is welcome to join in a Gala Celebration honoring our eighty + years young members for their many years of service, devotion, and love for our landmark church...We promise you: Good food, good fun, and good memories! Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 10, to Vanessa Strait in the church office at 359-2463 or by emailing her at [email protected]

April 13 - Monument Avenue 10k Come Support the Community and Team Boaz & Ruth!
Each year, we join in fellowship and community to hand out coffee to spectators and water to runners on the day of the Monument Avenue 10k. This year, we are excited to also be cheering on a very worthy cause -- Team Boaz & Ruth! GCPC's own Katherine and Brian Baird, Leslie Hartman, Nate McKinnon, Everett Reveley, and Nelson Reveley will be running as part of the Team to support Boaz & Ruth -- an energized organization that focuses on faith-based urban renewal in Richmond. Come share our GCPC Hospitality Station with some new additions to the cheering section -- staff, board members, and graduates of Boaz & Ruth. T-shirts will be available for $10 so you can cheer on our runners in style, or you can pledge your support to our runners online at http:// www.boazandruth.com/monument10k.cfm. Enjoy some coffee and baked goods, and bring your little ones along to play in our bouncy castle! If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Reveley at [email protected]. See you on April 13!
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The Staff
Brint Keyes Interim Pastor [email protected] Chris Martin Director of Music and Organist [email protected] Vanessa Strait Administrative Assistant [email protected] Martha Rubin Bookkeeper [email protected] James Greene Custodian Christopher Tweel Seminary Intern [email protected] 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:
9:30 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

Church 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) 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)

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 Grace Covenant Child Development Center (14), Dawson Watkins (13) Nicole Williams Director TRUSTEES: [email protected] Lloyd Bostian (13) www.gracecovenantcdc.com Kent Cardwell (13) Caroline Leith (14) John Roberts (15)
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