Grace Notes, October 2009

Grace Notes Richard L. Haney, Interim Pastor, [email protected] Christopher J. Thomas, Associate Pastor, [email protected] Christopher D. Martin, Director of Music, and Organist, [email protected] Janice A. Caldwell, Editor, [email protected] Church Office (804) 359-2463, www.grace-covenant.org

Volume 39, Number 10 October 2009 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Dear Grace Covenant Friends, On Sunday, September 20, the Grace Covenant congregation took the big step of calling a new Minister, Head of Staff. I congratulate the congregation on the decision, the PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee) on their faithful and successful service and Steve Cobb on his calling to lead one of Richmond’s historic churches. It will not take long for Steve to discover the many dedicated disciples that comprise our wonderful congregation. It has been 19 months since the PNC began their diligent search. I imagine that has seemed a long journey for them and, perhaps, for you as well. The time span actually is about average for the time it takes a Presbyterian congregation to find and to call a new pastor. On the other hand, for Pam and me, the time has flown by and seems relatively short. My last interim assignment lasted four years and so this time period seems short by comparison. Plus we have been warmly received and made to feel at home among you. The inevitable decision that signals our leaving “feels to us” that it all has happened so fast. The transition timetable now has begun to take shape. Steve Cobb and his family will relocate to Richmond in early November. He will begin his work on site sometime after November 8. Steve’s first day in the pulpit will be on November 15. Our presbytery wisely encourages interim ministers to leave several weeks before the new minister arrives. This enables a congregation to say good-bye to the interim and begin to get ready for the new pastor. So I will conclude my service and my preaching on October 18.

So what’s next for the Haneys? Two things are in view on the horizon. First, I will take my usual autumn study trip to Oxford a couple of days after I conclude work at Grace Covenant. I originally was going to study in late September so I’ll be going just a little bit later than planned. I am still working to write the final two chapters of my dissertation plus complete a major edit on the other chapters. Secondly, I will be taking on a new interim assignment. The Fairfield Presbyterian Church (Mechanicsville) has asked me to serve them while they begin a search for a new minister. Their minister left in late May to serve a congregation in Gettysburg, PA. They graciously are willing to wait for me to take my study trip and then begin with them in mid-November. I must admit there are moments when the challenge of learning the names of everyone at another congregation seems daunting. I will appreciate your prayers for me as I make a transition to serving in a new setting. Please know that Pam and I will be praying for Grace Covenant, for Steve Cobb and his family, and for God’s grace to be sufficient for your transition to a day with new leadership. We have been blessed to be among you. We will honor the interim covenant that bids us stay away so the new minister can serve his congregation and bond with his new church family. But we will hold you dear in our hearts and mention you frequently in our prayers. Grace and Peace, Richard

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October 2009 Grace Notes Last year over 35 children ages 3-K Grace Covenant Music Ministry year. participated in the combined Carol Choirs! – Moving Forward Finally, this month we have a national concert

Chris Martin, Director of Music

Last month, like every September, our choirs returned from their summer break ready to begin an ambitious fall schedule which runs through the end of December. On Rally Day Sunday the Chancel Choir made their presence well-known, filling the church with the glorious harmonies of Everett Titcomb’s anthem Behold Now, Praise the Lord. The Chancel Choir is excited to welcome Jessie Nunn as their new tenor section leader. Jessie is a sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth University, majoring in vocal performance. Early that same morning, fifteen ringers showed up for the first Handbell rehearsal of the season. Our newest and youngest ringer, Cameron Baird, brought extra enthusiasm to the group (and...lowered the overall median age of the ensemble!!!). The Junior Choir started their rehearsals the following week. This season our Junior Choir rehearsals will include lots of singing, creative Dalcroze movement exercises (more about this in future Grace Notes), handbell ringing, and music theory instruction through the Royal School of Church Music curriculum (more about this later, too). Carol Choir rehearsals began the same day. This year’s curriculum for the Carol Choir is MusikGarten’s “Friend of Jesus” in the God’s Children Sing series. Stop by and look through the choir room door during one of our weekly Carol Choir rehearsals, and you will see children ages 3, 4, and 5: singing all sorts of songs, dancing with scarves, playing rhythm games with jingles and rhythm designed to engage the children’s inner musical traits. As part of our outreach to the community we also offer weekly choir rehearsals for the children of Mothers Together and the Child Development Center. These children are invited to participate with the Carol Choir at different times throughout the

organist coming to Grace Covenant. On Sunday, October 18, 3:00 p.m., Christopher Marks will present a concert on the Schantz organ as part of the Richmond chapter of the American Guild of Organists recital series. More information about Christopher’s concert can be found in this issue of Grace Notes. Grace Covenant’s music ministry has enjoyed a rich heritage of strong programming throughout its history. With God’s grace we continue to grow and move forward as we anticipate the fall season, Christmas, and New Year. We welcome new members in the music ministry at any time. We hope to see you and/or your children at one of our rehearsals!

News of Members Give thanks for the many people in our congregation, who successfully had surgery in recent months. Please remember to pray for them as they recover, as well as those amongst us who are still unemployed, that they will find employment soon! In addition, pray for those members, who are participating in short-term mission trips this fall in both Mississippi and Honduras. We ask you to remember to pray for this year’s Sunday school teachers at Grace Covenant: Preschool–Loretta Albertis, Susan Boze, Patricia Clarke, Mary Gray, Nikki Hazlegrove, Judy Martin, Katie McCullough, Gay Moss, Rebecca Reagan, Lewis Rosebro, Stephanie Thomas and Judy Waldron. Elementary–Katherine Baird, Janet Chenoweth, Catherine Kerns, Jim McCullough and Evelyn Tower. Youth–Rachel Butler, Jason Griffin, Jessie Griffin and Chris Thomas. Adults–Brian Baird, Jack Corley, Richard Haney, Matt Johnson, Tom Miller, John Nevin and Bill Stuart.

October 2009

Grace Notes

Announcements Grace Notes Deadline: October 15 is the deadline for submissions to November’s edition of our monthly newsletter, Grace Notes. Bread Breakers: will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, at the home of Sam Lowe, 1406 Greycourt Avenue, Richmond. Please come, and bring a friend! Volunteers for Grace Notes: are needed to help from 9:00 a.m. until almost 12 noon on Wednesday, October 28. If you would like to help for any, or all, of that time frame, simply come to the church library and enjoy some fellowship with other members as you volunteer in this bite-sized ministry. Serve Meals to the Hungry: Volunteers are needed to serve a meal on Monday, November 16, from 5:15 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., at Conrad Center, 1400 Oliver Hill Way. If you are interested in helping, please contact Patrise Sears at 248-1668. Mothers Together: meet every Thursday in the Fellowship Hall. For more information, contact Patricia Clarke by phone at 342-7481 or by e-mail at [email protected]. William Byrd Community House: Food donations are needed; donations may be left in the basket in the Glass Office (in the office, near the back doors, on the main floor of the Education Building). Please consider giving, as recent phone calls to the church office for emergency assistance have increased significantly, so the need is great! Flowers: If you are interested in donating flowers in the sanctuary on Sundays, then please contact Lisa Gray at 673-0587. There are still openings for the month of November. Fellowship Hour: If you would like to volunteer to make the coffee for the Fellowship Hour on a Sunday, then please sign up on the Calendar in the Glass Office.

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Volunteers’ Duties and Dates Openers/Closers October 4: John Lootens October 11: Jef Londrey October 18: Kent Cardwell October 25: Rick Nochta November 1: Hank Downing Greeters October 4: Bob Copeland, Everett Reveley, Leslie Hartman October 11: Lewis Rosebro and David Martin October 18: Kent Cardwell, Everett Reveley, Leslie Hartman October 25: Brian Baird, Kelly & David Lacy, and Stephanie Thomas November 1: Bob Copeland, Everett Reveley, Leslie Hartman Nursery Volunteers October 4: Stephanie Thomas, Katherine Arthur, Julia Poppell (and Lauren Corby) October 11: Leslie Hartman, Janet Chenoweth, Jo Garber (and Beth Coltrain) October 18: Pam Haney, Ann Hubbard, Katie McCullough (and Susan Boze) October 25: Samara Grinnan, Carson Price, Patricia Clarke (and Nikki Hazlegrove) November 1: Stephanie Thomas, Katherine Arthur, Julia Poppell (and Lauren Corby) Coffee Fellowship Time October 4: Janet and Tom Miller October 11: volunteer needed October 18: Maria Rippe October 25: Sally Leys November 1: volunteer needed Children’s Worship Kits October: Lisa Cardwell November: Kaete Unterzuber

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October 2009

Grace Notes

Guest Register Attendants October 4: Susan Farrell October 11: Lee Farrar October 18: Everett Reveley October 25: Lisa and Cal Gray November 1: Susan Farrell Wednesday Night Supper Glass Office Monitors October 7: Kent Cardwell October 14: Dawson Watkins October 21: Pat Aldridge October 28: Appich November 4: Sam Lowe

Wednesday Night Supper Programs and Menus $5 per adult, $2 children and students, $12 maximum per family unit Here’s a taste of the good things you can expect: October 7–Learn about some shape-note singing Menus for October are as follows (menus are subject to change due to food costs & availability): October 7–Smothered baked chicken breast, wild rice, mixed vegetables, tomato aspic, rolls and bread pudding with lemon sauce. October 14– Roast pork with apricot sauce, macaroni and cheese, green beans, caesar salad, rolls, fruit and cookies. Children’s menu–macaroni and cheese! October 21–Cheese soufflé, panned apples, sausage links, biscuits, sunshine salad and carrot cake. October 28–Spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread, salad bar and a brownie. November 4–Rock castle chicken, Harvard beets, romaine fruit salad, rolls and apple crisp. November 11(Family Night)–Meat loaf, squash casserole, collard greens, tomato aspic, rolls and sheet cake. Children’s menu–chicken nuggets!

Presbyterian Women Circle Meetings October 13 Circle 1–1704 Hanover Avenue 7:30 p.m. Katherine Baird, Leader Janet Miller, Co-Leader Circle 2– Lydian Room 10:30 a.m. Marge McFall, Leader Dottie-Ray Koch, Co-Leader Circle 3–Social Room 9:30 a.m. Lynne Norris, Leader Becky Reeves, Co-Leader (Babysitting provided) Circle 4–208 Oxford Circle West 10:30 a.m. Julia Poppell, Leader Lee Farrar, Co-Leader Circle 5–Covenant Room (Room B-4) 11:30 a.m. Nell Dickenson, Leader Pat Aldridge, Co-Leader

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS 1–Janet Stuart 2–Jo Garber Will Kemp Madden 3–Ann Bryant 4–Bill Bryant Clair McDow 5–Sharon Appich Pat Ball 6–Jed Wilson 8–Benjamin Cardwell 9–Landon Bell Ginny Chandler George G. Turner 10–Bob Radcliffe Samantha Stepahin 11–Amanda Sue Bates 12–Charlie Kennedy 13–Shep Williams 15–Grace Louise Pope 16–Scott Brooks Robert Michaux Madeline Grace Roever

October 2009

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Grace Notes

17–Riley Croxton Nathan Warren Flaherty Susan Pillsbury 18–Scott Boze IV Rachel Wilson 19–Whit Ricks 20–Roman Chenoweth 22–Helen Lanier Reveley 24–Marjorie Adams Jack Lasher Vanessa Cole 25–Maurice Bell Charles Hammett John Parker

25– John Valentine 26–Synclaire Coltrain Jack Corley Shelley Gillman 27–Candace Piepgrass 28–Charlie Nelson Robert Vaughan Linwood Tunstall, Jr. 29–Katie Harris Greta Parrott 31–Jimmy Appich Boyd Maxwell Davis Wilkes Price Joan Young-Ji Weddington

Calendar Thursday October 1

9:30 a.m. Mothers Together 7:00 p.m. Worship Committee Meeting

Fellowship Hall Room 213

Sunday October 4

8:30 a.m. Handbell Choir 9:10 a.m. Prayer Ministry 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Chancel Choir 10:40 a.m. Session Meeting 11:00 a.m. Worship Service: Communion 12:00 p.m. Congregational Fellowship

Monday October 5

10:00 a.m. Child Development Center’s Worship 12:00 p.m. Presbyterian Men’s Lunch 7:00 p.m. Stewardship Committee Meeting

Chapel Room B-4 Room 213

Tuesday October 6

10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting

Room 213

Wednesday October 7

4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:40 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Thursday October 8

9:30 a.m. Mothers Together 9:30 a.m. Older Adult Retreat

Sunday October 11

Carol Choir Junior Choir PVA Meeting (Child Development Center) Wednesday Night Supper Wednesday Night Program: “Shape Note Singers” Chancel Choir

8:30 a.m. Handbell Choir 9:10 a.m. Prayer Ministry 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Chancel Choir 10:40 a.m. Session Meeting 11:00 a.m. Worship Service 12:00 p.m. Congregational Fellowship

Room 312 Social Room Education Building Room 108 Chapel Sanctuary Social Room

Room 108 Room 108 Room B-4 Fellowship Hall Fellowship Hall Room 108 Fellowship Hall Camp Hanover Room 312 Social Room Education Building Room 108 Chapel Sanctuary Social Room

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Grace Notes Offices Closed: Columbus Day 5:30 p.m. Deacons Meeting 7:00 p.m. Christian Education Committee Meeting Presbyterian Women Circle 3 Staff Meeting Presbyterian Women Circle 2 Presbyterian Women Circle 4 Presbyterian Women Circle 5 Presbyterian Women Circle 1

October 2009 GCPC Room B-4 Room 213

Tuesday October 13

9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 7:30 p.m.

Social Room Room 213 Lydian Room 208 Oxford Circle West Covenant Room (Room B-4) 1704 Hanover Avenue

Wednesday October 14

4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:40 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Carol Choir Junior Choir Child Development Center Board Meeting Wednesday Night Supper Wednesday Night Program Chancel Choir

Room 108 Room 108 Room B-4 Fellowship Hall Fellowship Hall Room 108

Thursday October 15

9:30 a.m. Mothers Together 4:00 p.m. Deadline: November edition of Grace Notes 7:00 p.m. Session Meeting

Fellowship Hall GCPC Room B-4

Saturday October 17

Meeting of the Presbytery 6:30 p.m. Bread Breaker’s

Orange Pres. Church 1406 Greycourt Avenue

Sunday October 18

8:30 a.m. Handbell Choir 9:10 a.m. Prayer Ministry 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Chancel Choir 10:40 a.m. Session Meeting 11:00 a.m. Worship Service 12:00 p.m. Congregational Fellowship 3:00 p.m. Organ Recital: Christopher Marks (Richmond AGO) Reception

Monday October 19

10:00 a.m. Child Development Center’s Worship 12:00 p.m. Presbyterian Men’s Lunch

Chapel Room B-4

Tuesday October 20

10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting

Room 213

Wednesday October 21

4:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:40 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

Carol Choir Junior Choir Wednesday Night Supper Wednesday Night Program Chancel Choir

Thursday October 22

9:30 a.m. Mothers Together 3:00 p.m. Westminster Canterbury Bible Study

Saturday October 24

8:30 a.m. “Global Missions Awareness Weekend” - 1:00 p.m.

Room 312 Social Room Education Building Room 108 Chapel Sanctuary Social Room Sanctuary Social Room

Room 108 Room 108 Fellowship Hall Fellowship Hall Room 108 Fellowship Hall 1600 Westbrook Avenue GCPC

October 2009

Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church 1627 Monument Avenue Richmond VA 23220

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Grace Notes

NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID RICHMOND VA PERMIT NO. 161

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Grace Notes

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 Social Room Staff Interim Pastor: Richard L. Haney Associate Pastor: Christopher J. Thomas Music Director and Organist: Christopher D. Martin Church Secretary: Janice A. Caldwell Bookkeeper: Martha Rubin Sexton: Willie C. Alford Child Development Center Director: Beth Lloyd, 213-0200 Church Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. www.grace-covenant.org

October 2009