PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

Sunday, November 10, 2013

The true, living faith, which the Holy Spirit instills into the heart, simply cannot be idle. - Martin Luther [To have Faith in Christ] means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you. - C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Vision Statement As one body of Christ, composed of diverse individuals bound together by the Holy Spirit, we will share the Gospel in an intellectually rigorous manner that does not belittle doubt yet calls all to acknowledge their need for Gods grace offered through Jesus Christ. We will endeavor to fulfill Christs commandment to go and make disciples of all nations. - 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.

MUSIC NOTES
Blind English-born jazz pianist Sir George Shearing (1919-2011) moved to the United States in 1947. For many years Shearing led a popular jazz group that recorded for Discovery Records, MGM Records, and Capitol Records. In 1977 he composed a collection of organ works based on American folk hymns. I Love Thee, My Lord has simple tonal harmonizations which incorporates Shearings style of jazz improvisation. George Herbert, a seventeenth century university scholar and church leader, wrote The Call as a text of praise and acknowledgement of the joy and steadfastness of faith. American composer Z. Randall Stroope (b. 1953) created a choral setting on this text, preserving the inherent simplicity of the text, while acknowledging the power of a life that follows "The Call." Our Handbell Choir rings an arrangement of a festive German hymn tune. The piece requires four octaves of handbells and tonechimes. Louis Vierne (1870-1937) was the principal organist at the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris from 1900-1937. The postlude is based on the carillon of the Chapel of the Castle of Longpont (Aisne, France). The work opens with full organ, the carillon theme entering in an energetic perpetuum mobile in the pedals, above which powerful, detached chords appear. In the middle the volume drops and the carillon theme continues in the manuals. Striking features are the modulations, the highly effective staccato articulations, and the dymanic effects created by the organs swell box. A gradual crescendo leads into the reprise of the opening, ending with a coda.
Chancel Choir Rehearsals for Candlelight have begun. If you would like to sing with the Chancel Choir at CandlelightDecember 15contact Chris Martin or check Grace Notes for more information.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
STEP: Strategies To Elevate People is in need of volunteers to help Gilpin Court children learn to read. If interested, please contact Susan Farrell at 314-1937. Share Thanksgiving Day with an International Student: International students and scholars are eager to learn more about our culture, to experience the warmth of a home, and to make American friends. Thanksgiving Day provides a unique opportunity to show hospitality and friendship. If you would be interested in sharing this special American holiday with a VCU international student or scholar, please contact Pam Haney pohaney@vcu.edu by November 15 or call 828-8309. A Thanksgiving volunteer form can also be found at http://www.global.vcu.edu/pdf/American_Volunteer_Thanksgiving.pdf.

Poinsettias and Christmas Greens: The Worship Ministry offers you the opportunity to give thanks this Christmas by donating poinsettias and greens in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone special. If you would like to purchase a poinsettia or give toward Christmas greens, please fill out a designated form and include payment. Order forms will be available beginning this Wednesday, November 13. The deadline for receiving poinsettia orders is Monday, December 2.

Operation Christmas Child Since 1993, more than 100 million boys and girls in over 130 countries have experienced God's love through the power of simple shoebox gifts from Operation Christmas Child. Samaritan's Purse works with local churches and ministry partners to deliver the gifts and share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ. Shoeboxes and more information will be provided on the stage in the Fellowship Hall; pick up a shoebox bring it back filled in two weeks! Again this year, Grace Covenant will be participating in this projectcheck out the information on the table outside of the choir room to see what to fill a shoebox with. GCPC Shoeboxes will be due on Wednesday, November 20.

National Collection Week is November 18-25

Presbyterian WomenAll Circles meet November 12 Circle 1 Hostess Sallie Leys 329 Albemarle Ave. Circle 2 Hostess Suzanne Sizemore Vanguard Room Circle 3 Hostesses Betty Appich Social Room Susan Boze

7:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m.

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. Bread Breakers Please join us this Saturday, November 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the home of Rob Turner (353 Lexington Road). Please bring an appetizer, main dish, side dish, or dessert to share. All are welcome!

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. The menu this week is: Roast beef and gravy, mashed potatoes, Harvard beets, salad, rolls, and sheet cake for dessert. This Wednesdays program: Guest speaker, Lea Whitehurst, and an update on RISC.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND DISCIPLESHIP

Sunday School is held every Sunday from 9:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. The nursery crib room and Sunday School are available for children age 2 and up. CLASS TEACHER TOPIC Forum Tom Miller Living the Life of Faith, Hebrews 11 Grace Bible Class Bill Stuart The Gospel According to Luke Vanguard Matt Johnson Studies in the Gospel of John Connections Christof Meyer Exploring questions about faith 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.

DISCIPLESHIP STUDY Week 8: God Works for Good Monday: Genesis 42-43 and Psalm 90 Tuesday: Genesis 44-45 and Psalm 91 Wednesday: Genesis 46-47 and Psalm 27 Thursday: Genesis 48-50 and Psalm 121 Friday: Romans 8 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 (UhOh), 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, Betty Phillips, Elizabeth Ramsey, C. Edward Richardson III, Virginia Sommers, George Turner, Rosie Turner, Margaret Valentine, Robert Vaughan, Toni Whittet, and Jed Wilson.