Grace Notes
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
Grace & Peace to You…
Steve Cobb, Pastor
taught through rainforest
animal friends- a frog, a
jaguar, a monkey, a toucan,
and a butterfly. Jim
McCullough and Julia Pop-
pell are leading us this
year. I emphasize us be-
cause this is a ministry of
the whole church. Grace
Covenant is a faithful ser-
vant, and like the Parable
of the Faithful Servant we
know that, ―...to whom
much is given, much is re-
quired.” Luke 12:48 We
Vacation Bible School
June 20-24 have been blessed with a
rich history, a powerful
present, and have been
Vacation Bible School is a
equipped for a formidable
terrific way to introduce
future, in short we have
young people to Jesus. We
been given much.
are called, as the church of
Jesus Christ, to reach the
God has planted us here to
world as his ambassadors.
fulfill His purpose. That
One of the wonders
purpose is to share Christ
brought to light through
with the world and one
Vacation Bible School is
another. Please come out
that God often uses chil-
and experience kid‘s
dren to awaken their par-
classes for the heart, and
ents to the beauty of Jesus.
adult classes for the mind,
body, and soul. Come be a
Our theme this year is ---
part of the Holy Spirit
SonQuest Rainforest. As
filled acts of breaking
our week together unfolds
bread together, laughing
our children will learn the
together, and learning the
Parables of the Sower, The
Word of God together for 5
Lost Sheep, The Good Sa-
nights. The opportunity to
maritan, The Friend at
develop and to strengthen
Midnight, and The Talents.
our sense of community is
They will discover, or in
being offered; let‘s take
some cases rediscover,
hold of this gift from God.
these parables of Jesus
Please step up to lend a
hand, to participate, and to
invite others to share in the
blessings of Grace Cove-
nant.
The Summer of 2010
The emphasis this year, as
it is every year, is to pull
together as a congregation
to bring people before
God‘s throne of grace.
Recalling the Holy Spirit
inspired words of the apos-
tle Paul, “I planted, Apol-
los watered, but only God
can give increase.” 1 Co-
rinthians 3:6, we seek to
plant and water the people
of Richmond. As the Body
of Christ at 1627 Monu-
ment Avenue
we are blessed to commu-
nicate Christ to the world.
We do this by allowing
room for people, many of
whom we do not even
know yet, to worship
alongside us as we glorify
God. In seeking to fulfill
the Great Commission, our
focus must be first and
foremost on others and not
on ourselves. As Chris-
tians, we are simply beg-
gars who have found an
eternal source of bread and
desire more than anything
to share it with those who
are still hungry.
Volume 40, Issue 6
June 2010
invite people we know to
worship. At the risk of writ-
ing the obvious, the most
effective inviting happens
between people who
already know one another
(when we have an extra
ticket to a ballgame or thea-
tre event who do we think of
first?) When the question is
asked: ―Why did you visit
our church for the first
time?‖ somewhere between 75
and 90 percent of the answers
are, ―Because someone invited
us.‖ The summer months are
the time we are around people,
some we haven‘t even met yet,
who become our strongest
friends. This is the time that
―we take the time‖ to grow in
relationship with others.
Summer is the season we most
spend enjoying leisure activi-
ties with the people we most
cherish. What better way to
show just how much we cher-
ish them than to make them
aware of this wonderful
church.
As the summer season begins
please remember:
God never takes a vacation
from loving us, so please don‘t
take a vacation from praising
God.
In His Love,
Page 2 Grace Notes

A Note from The Director of Music

Dear Members and Friends of Grace Covenant:

Thank you for the heartfelt reception last month in recognition of

my ten years of service to Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church.
Since 1923 there have been seven full-time Directors of Music at
Grace Covenant—I happen to be the lucky number seven! It is an
honor and a privilege to serve as the Music Director for such an his-
toric church. As I begin my second decade with you, I am very ex-
cited about the many opportunities for growth in the church’s mu-
sic ministry, much of which we have already witnessed. I look for-
ward to many more years of service with you as your Director of
Music and Organist. To God be the glory through music!

Christopher Martin

Director of Music

Music Ministry End of the

Year Fellowship
Sunday, June 13, 2010
5:00 p.m.

Home of Katherine and Brian Baird

1704 Hanover Avenue

All members of Grace Covenant’s Music Ministry (Chancel Choir, Children’s Choirs, and
Handbell Choir) are invited to the Baird’s for an end of the year fellowship potluck din-
ner. Spouses and friends are invited, too! Please bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share.
Volume 40, Issue 6 Page 3
Chancel Choir Handbell Choir Carol Choir (Grace
Covenant, ages 3-K)
SOPRANO Cameron Baird
Brian Baird Declan Barras
Betty Appich Mary Beth Bird Betsy Clarke
Katherine Baird Wayne Casey Callan Hartman Grace Covenant
Jacquiline Bowles Beth Coltrain Mary Reid McCullough
Lisa Edwards-Burrs* Nell Dickenson Jack Schooley
Leslie Hartman* Julia Kerns Emi Thomas Music Ministry
Dottie-Ray Koch Sophia Kerns Anna Thomas
Caroline Leith Reagan McCullough
Jennifer McCluskey* Dana McKnight Mothers Together
2009-2010
Lynne Norris* Bakoma Mboe (Carol Choir, ages 3-K)
Candace Piepgrass Janet Miller The 2009-2010 season
Audrey Tillack Rick Nochta Chloe Abrams was one of the
Kaete Unterzuber Ruth Shaver Ann-Cason Blanchard strongest program
Carol Wood Rob Turner Leland Bonkovsky
Keya Wang Adrian Chenoweth years in the past
ALTO Leo Chenoweth decade for Grace
Junior Choir William Crawford Covenant’s music
Loretta Albertis (grades 1-6) Charlotte Gardner ministry.
Jean Appich Eva Gardner
Stephanie Auld* Cameron Baird Campbell Jebo
Kari Craig Colin Barras Allie Mackay Our music ministry
Dawn Gillis Roman Chenoweth Ellias Miller would not be possible
Lynn LaBarre* Grace Clarke Mary Grace Rotter without the dedicated
Janet Miller Philip Clarke Maris Smutz commitment from the
Ruth Shaver Camden Cobb Mia Smutz individuals listed to
Suzanne Sizemore Hollis Cobb Finn Whipple
Evelyn Tower Andrew Kennedy the left.
Charlie Kennedy Summer Musicians
TENOR Julia Kerns Even though some of
Sophia Kerns Alana Carithers, violin these individuals did
Peter Albertis Reagan McCullough Lisa Edwards-Burrs, not participate in the
Wayne Casey Eoghain Thomas soprano
Bitaseme Mboe Mike Davison, trumpet music ministry for the
Jessie Nunn Child Development Matt Gillis, baritone entire season, all
Rob Turner Center Choir Marilyn Goff, soprano names appear in
Dawson Watkins Carol Choir, ages 3-K) Anastasia Jellison, harp recognition of their
Tracey Welborne* Jennifer McCluskey, service to the church.
Benjamin Williams Milo Benedetti soprano
Maggie Bothwell Dana McKnight, handbell
BASS Adam Breed quartet I am grateful to all
Dominic Brown Janet Miller, handbell these musicians who
Bob Brooks Zamel Carter quartet make Grace Covenant’s
John Ford* Cabell Chenault Anne O‘Byrne, soprano music ministry possible.
Matt Gillis Virginia Griffin George Pavelis, oboe
Dana McKnight Cole Hafer Audrey Tillack, soprano
Jim McCullough Asher Jaffe John Tyndall, baritone - Christopher Matin
John Tyndall Walker Lloyd Tracey Welborne, Director of Music
Norah McCullagh tenor
*Candlelight 2009 Tallulah Mac Ben Williams, bassoon
Ivan Outkin and handbell quartet
Virginia Snider Tiffany Williams, flute
Emily Tromly
Page 4
Grace Covenant Ministries, 2010
Clerk of Session– Matt Johnson, '10
Mission– Elders: Kent Cardwell '12, Joy Nevin '10;
Deacons: Susan Farrell '12, Betty Appich '11; Mem-
bers: Jack Corley, Cherry Corley, Patrise Sears,
Susan Pillsbury, Dawson Watkins; Ex officio: Steve
Cobb, Chris Thomas
Evangelism– Elders: Steve Clarke '10, Brian Baird
'11; Deacons: Sam Lowe '10, Lauren Corby '10;
Members: Matt Gillis, Ashby Price, Carol Wood,
Elizabeth Russell; Ex officio: Chris Thomas, Steve
Cobb
Christian Education– Elders: Jean Appich '11, Tom
Miller '12; Deacons: Julia Poppell '11, Cherry Corley
'12; Members: Carson Price, Mary Gray, Bill Jacobs,
Erika Tabor; Ex officio: Chris Thomas, Steve Cobb,
Rachel Butler
Property– Elder: Cal Gray; Deacons: Pat Ball '12,
John Lootens '10; Members: Logan Moorhead, Rob
Rosebro; Members & Caretakers: Bob Brooks, Dick
Cardwell; Caretakers only: Hampton Harris, Pete
Sizemore; Ex officio: Steve Cobb
Finance/Stewardship– Elders: Dana McKnight '11,
Everett Reveley '12; Deacon: Dawson Watkins;
Members: Jordan Ball, Ashby Price, Jack Corley, Jim
Londrey, John Nevin; Ex officio: Steve Cobb
Administration– Elders: Laura Leigh Savage '10,
Kaete Unterzuber '10; Deacon: Derek Rogers '10;
Members: Bob Copeland, Candace Piepgrass,
David Martin; Ex officio: Steve Cobb
Worship– Elders: Caroline Leith '11, Cheryl Jacobs
'12, Stephen Piepgrass '12; Deacons: Pat Aldridge
'11, Sid Yates '12; Members: Dana McKnight,
Wayne Casey, Dottie-Ray Koch, Charlene Mahurin,
Jane Londrey, Phil Coltrain; Ex officio: Chris Martin,
Steve Cobb
Grace Notes
PRESBYTERIAN
OLDER ADULT MINISTRY
Rev. Mr. Charles E. Sutton
If you were born near the close of World War II, say
around 1945 to 1950, you are a Baby Boomer. And
Baby Boomers are beginning to enter another stage
of living - retirement. The question is, ―Will the con-
gregation help them be happier, healthier, and more
productive in the days ahead?‖ This is something
we need to begin considering soon. Of course there
is no single answer. Someone will just have to take
an interest in this and get something started.
Our Presbytery of the James has an active ―purpose
group‖ (a new title for ―committee‖) dedicated to
assisting churches to conduct this type of ministry.
Each year they stage an ―event‖ at Camp Hanover.
This year it will be held on October 14. Put that date
down somewhere.
In recent years attendance has been at camp capac-
ity; therefore, in April of 2011 the same program
agenda will be repeated at Massanetta Springs to in-
terest churches in that end of our Presbytery. This is
a new endeavor for our Purpose Group.
Good news–More and more conferences about aging
are including topics on spirituality, as ours will be
doing, and in American medical schools, medical
students are taking courses that deal with spirituality.
To ENSHRINE your life – seek the counsel of God,
not your GPS: ―Show me your ways O LORD, teach
me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you
all day long.‖– Psalm 25:5
To ENTHRALL your life – don‘t stop playing be-
cause you are growing old; you grow old because
you stop playing!
Volume 40, Issue 6 Page 5

News and Announcements

CONGRATULATIONS!
We join with the Peters family;
Jason, Sarah, and big brother
Liam in thanking God for the
birth of Cullen John Peters.
Cullen was born at 4:37 p.m.
Wednesday (May 5) at St.
Baby Cullen‘s first photo in the hospital
Mary's Hospital. He weighs 8
pounds 1 ounce and is 21.5
inches in length.

Attention All Theatre-Lovers

Janet Chenoweth’s hilarious
play, A Thorn Between Two
Roses, will be performed at
several venues this June. The
first two shows will be at The
Barksdale Theatre in Willow
Lawn on Thursday, June 3, at
1:00 p.m. Tickets cost $10.00
and you may bring a bag
lunch if you like. After that the
play goes on the road to vari-
ous retirement communities in
and around Richmond, in-
cluding Westminister Canter-
bury and Imperial Plaza. Usu-
ally there is no charge for
these shows. Check your
community newsletter for
dates and times. Janet prom-
ises you will love this 40 min-
ute comedy produced by the
Bifocals Theatre Company.
For more info call 804-278-
9545

Adult Sunday School Classes:

During the summer months
our regular Sunday School
Classes, (Forum Class, Grace
Bible Class, Vanguard, and
Connections) do not meet.
However we will have one
church wide Sunday School
Class that will meet in the Fel-
lowship Hall. Steve will intro-
duce the summer session and
lead them for several weeks.
Other favorite teachers and
guests teachers will share on
Sunday mornings as well.
Please join us at 9:30 a.m. Cof-
fee will be served.
Page 6 Grace Notes

Stewardship Corner and Five Cents Per Meal

Contributions in April totaling $28,400 continued the lackluster levels of the
first quarter of the year. So far this year the total is running almost 22% below that of
the same period last year, which had been up 10% from the preceding year‘s five
month total. With normal expenses, the operating deficit for the five month period
stood at $61,000, a little over twice the level of last year‘s deficit at this time.

During April $4,487 was disbursed for the Honduras Medical Mission and
$1,884 for Haiti earthquake relief. Our Five Cents per Meal offering in April was
$268, somewhat lower than the $409 total in March.

Work Day
Property and Maintenance is scheduling a work day on June 12 from 8:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We will be doing the normal general clean up tasks
plus some specific maintenance needs. ―Many hands make work light!‖
Your participation is encouraged. Please advise Dick Cardwell or Bob
Brooks if you plan to join the party.

William Byrd Community House

Next time you go to the grocery store pick up a couple extra canned goods. Food donations
are needed. A few suggestions are canned fruit, tuna, boxes of macaroni and cheese, boxes of
pasta, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, and other non-perishable food items. Dona-
tions may be left in the basket in the Glass Office (near the back doors, on the main floor of
the Education Building). Please consider giving and being a blessing!

Christian Education Appreciation Sunday

To honor Grace Covenant‘s teachers and volunteers we will be having an apprecia-
tion luncheon on Sunday, June 13, after the worship service. All members and
visitors are invited to join in the celebration and enjoy Lee‘s Fried Chicken and
Potato Salad.
Sign ups will be in the Narthex and the Glass Office. Please make sure you sign
up and RSVP so we can plan accordingly. We are also in need of desserts, rolls,
salads and sides. Please indicate what you will be bringing when you sign up.
Jean Appich, Cheryl Jacobs and Tom Miller
 By Chris Thomas
Takeaways

Many of you know I recently returned from a week-long study trip to Tacoma, Washington. It was a remark-
able experience in so many ways. The legendary tales about rain and Seattle were proven untrue, at least for
the week I was there. Blue skies, 65 degrees, amazing. And have you ever seen how massive Mount Rainier
is?!? You have to see it to believe it. But the most memorable and heartening part of my time away was what I
was able to study and learn about our identity and call as God‘s people. Here are a couple of highlights that
have really rocked my world:

Discipleship: God continues to impress upon me just how central the Great Commission is for who we are as
the church and all that we do as the church. Our highest calling is to be disciples of Jesus, people who love and
listen to him in all that we do, and a large part of following Jesus means discipling others, coming alongside
people to help them know the Lord and grow in maturity. I believe the call to discipleship/disciple-making is
meant to be THE organizing principle of the church, and if we fail here, we will fail everywhere else.

So, how can we be faithful to this call?

Gospel: A big piece of the discipleship process, perhaps the most important piece, is the ongoing transition
from seeing ourselves primarily through the lens of our culture‘s story to seeing ourselves as a part of God‘s
unfolding story, as described throughout the pages of the Bible. This isn‘t an easy thing. We‘re bombarded
with the conflicting narratives of our culture all the time, so we need to rehearse God‘s story, the Gospel story,
and let it sink into our bones. As pastor Tim Keller likes to point out, the Gospel isn‘t the ABC‘s of the Chris-
tian life, it‘s the A-Z. And it‘s only when the Gospel story becomes the A-Z for us that we‘ll be able to help
others see the beauty of it.

Community: We really can‘t know or rehearse this Gospel story if we‘re living in isolation from other fol-
lowers of Jesus. God has given us to each other so we can help each other grow and lean into Christ. We were
made to build each other up, to pray together, to remind each other of how good God is, and to reflect on
God‘s word together. Take some time to flip through the New Testament sometime to notice how often the
language of familial relationships is used. We are God‘s new family, we are blood-relatives in Christ, and we
are called to commit our lives to one another, for the sake of the Gospel.

Mission: Finally, as we learn the gospel story and grow to love each other as family, we are also called to go
out into the world to reveal God‘s good news in what we say and what we do. We become disciples and we
help others do the same in a community of people actively engaged in God‘s missionary enterprise. And where
does that work primarily take place? Right here in our neighborhoods, where God has planted us.

The questions raised are good ones. How well do we know the content of the Gospel story, the story of God’s
grace as seen throughout the Bible? How deep is our love for one another in Jesus Christ? Are we actively
engaged as God’s people in his work of revealing the good news about Jesus, both in what we say and what
we do, right here in our neighborhoods and city?

It‘s my prayer that each year, even each month or week, we will recommit ourselves to this central call to be
disciples and make disciples. Beyond that, do you know what I really want? I want for God to move so power-
fully in our hearts and lives that others would take note, and would come to say, ―Hmm, they sure seem to love
-continued on page 8-
each other, and a lot more than my family ever did. And they don’t seem to worry about life as much as I do, in
fact, they seem to be pretty joyful. And look, they even love my annoying neighbor! I wonder why they do all
that?” Then we will be able to tell them the reason we hope, the reason we forgive, the reason we love… we
have been loved, we have been forgiven, and we have been given hope in Jesus Christ, the risen one.

Associate Pastor Chris Thomas

Congratulations Graduates!
Hat‘s off to you graduates!
We would like to congratulate the following class of 2010!

Eddie Cardwell Douglas Freeman High School

Bitaseme Mboe Varina High School

Rachel Butler Union Theological Seminary and

Presbyterian School of Christian
Education

Emily Cobb Union Theological Seminary

of New York

Youth Group
Sunday, June 6 @ Grace Covenant

Friday, June 11 Party for Diana Dankova @

The Bairds‘ (1704 Hanover Ave.
Richmond, 23220)
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Volume 40, Issue 6

Memorial Day 1 2 3 4 5
10:00 Staff Meeting 5:00 and 6:30 10:30 Children’s Community
Church Office Women’s Yoga Chapel Group 5:45
is Guy’s Group– The
CLOSED Fan/Baird’s

6 9:15 Prayer min. 7 8 10:00 Staff Meet 9 10 11 12

9:30 Sunday School 12 noon Presb. Painting 5:00 and 6:30 10:30 Children’s Community
11:00 Worship Men’s Lunch Guy’s Group– W. Women’s Yoga Chapel Group 5:45
Parent Meeting on Painting End Piepgrass Painting
Childcare 12:30 Administration
Finance Commit-
Painting prep Committee
Meeting 7:00 pm tee 7:00 pm CDC/PVA 5:30

13 9:15 Prayer min. 14 15 10:00 Staff 16 17 18 19 6:00 p.m.

9:30 Sunday School 12 noon Presb. Worship/ 5:00 and 6:30 10:30 Children’s Community PEOPLE GROUP
11:00 Worship Evangelism Com- Women’s Yoga
Men’s Lunch Chapel Group 5:45 Sid Yates place
Christian Education Thank mittee’s
you Luncheon Christian Educa-
tion Committee Guy’s Group– The Staff Retreat– 9-4
Music Groups Potluck Bairds
Fan/Baird’s
SESSION 7:00

20 9:15 Prayer min. 21 Grace Notes 22 23 24 25 26

9:30 Sunday School DUE! 10:00 Staff Meeting VBS Yoga Class 10:30 Children’s Community
11:00 Worship 12 noon Presb. Chapel Group 5:45
Father’s Day Men’s Lunch 6:00-8:00 p.m. 6:00-8:00 p.m. 6:00-8:00 p.m.
June Church Calendar

6:00-8:00 p.m. VBS 6:00-8:00 p.m. VBS VBS VBS

Kickoff! VBS

27 9:15 Prayer min. 28 29 30

9:30 Sunday School 12 noon Presb. 10:00 Staff Meeting
11:00 Worship Men’s Lunch
Property
Prayer & Praise Committee
Gathering 4:00 pm Meeting
Page 9
Page 10 Grace Notes

Katie’s Lessons in Living

The following are remarks presented by John H. Harris at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia,
during the funeral service for his mother, Katherine Kraft Harris, on April 27, 2010.

Life is jolly:

You never know what life is going to bring, so be prepared and have a hobby.

Do the best with what you‘ve got.

Money doesn‘t mean that much. It should not mean that much.

You get a job by knowing somebody.

Be sure and take advantage of every opportunity, because you never know when something good is going to
come out of it.

When you make your reservations to go on your honeymoon, be sure that they have a double bed.

I don‘t drink, but I do drink milk.

I advise you all to take up painting. Everybody can do it. Just do it and have a good time. That‘s what I did.

Life is wonderful, it really is. Just grab these opportunities and go with them.

Childcare Updates

On Sunday, June 6 after our Wor-

ship Service we will be having a
meeting about the improvements
we are moving forward with our
Childcare Rooms. Come to the
Fellowship Hall immediately fol-
lowing our worship service.
Lunch and childcare will be pro-
vided. We will then be prepping
the rooms to get ready for painting
that week. We are very excited
about this transformation taking
place and hope you can join us.
Volume 40, Issue 6 Page 11

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IS BACK!

This summer, bring your kids to SonQuest Rainforest VBS - an ex-
perience of discovery they'll never forget! Based on five key Bible
verses that will change a child's life-including John 3:16- SonQuest
rainforest VBS-transports young minds into a vivid rainforest envi-
ronment of jungle sounds, sights and smells, where they'll dig into the
Bible and meet Jesus in every day's story. Your kids will learn Bible
stories, fun crafts and new songs while in the rainforest. Even your
littlest adventurers will be well cared for by our top-notch team of
childcare workers, so be sure to bring the whole family along for the
adventure!

THERE ARE GREAT CLASSES FOR THE GROWN-UPS, TOO!

The great thing about Grace Covenant’s VBS is that it truly is a family affair. We intentionally plan a sched-
ule, meals, activities, and classes that are great for the whole family. Interested in growing in your faith?
Here are the classes we are offering this year for adults…
Apologetics Course: Showing How a Biblical Worldview is Reasonable, Reliable, and Fits Reality as Nothing Else Does
This worldview and apologetics course is designed to give roots to the faith of Christians, assist seekers in their quest for truth, and
gently and respectfully challenge those who hold competing worldviews. The course will be taught by Chris Daniel, Executive Di-
rector of the Richmond Center for Christian Study. Topics to include The Bible as a reliable word of God, the Resurrection of Jesus
as historical reality, and how to know truth and navigate through competing worldviews.

Gospel in Life: In our hearts, in our community, and out into our world
"Gospel in Life is an intensive course on the gospel and how it is lived out in all of life — first in our hearts, then in community, and
out into the world." Join Dr. Tom Miller and our own pastor, Steve Cobb, as they co-moderate this new video series hosted by Tim
Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. A great class to be inspired and a great opportunity to discuss
ways in which Keller's ideas can be relevant to our fair church in the heart of the Fan. I smell a white paper.

Experiencing Prayer through Yoga and Meditation

Prayer is part of every Christian's daily life. Ok, so some of us would like it to be more of a part of our daily lives. Well, help is on
the way. In this class, Emily Cobb, will lead participants through five different types of prayer using Yoga and Meditation. You'll
have prayer forms for every occasion. That guy that cut you off in traffic. Check. Your kid just came home with a tattoo. Check.
Long line at Starbucks. Check. DMV. Ummm, you're on your own. Breathe with me. Amen.

Renew
Love thy neighbor but build a fence? Hardly, Love thy neighbor by serving them. In this class, you will reflect on your call to be a
good neighbor and then get out into the Fan and tackle a neighborhood renewal project dreamt up by our very own Associate Pastor
Chris Thomas. Think Gospel (call). Think hard work (sweat). Think iced coffee (hey, this is Chris we're talking about).

***You can sign up for all these classes in the Narthex any day of the week. Or go to the
church’s website where are registration form is as a PDF. Detailed registration forms are at
the sign up table with cost for dinner on the nights of VBS as well. If you would like to volun-
teer in any area for VBS please call the church office.***
 June 24 -
Sid Yates
June 25 -
Bill Stuart
June 2 - Chase Appich June 26 -
Sharon Michaux
Jim Londrey June 29 -
Mary Gray
June 3 - Cheryl Jacobs Mary Swing
Todd McCoy Mary Whitley
June 4 - Madisyn Sullivan June 30 - Catherine Bayer Horner
June 5 - Ginny Creech
Shirley Ferguson
Ritchie Holt
Langdon Moss
Judy Waldron
June 6 - Tom Grove
David Saleeba, Jr.
June 7 - Ryan Richard Pope
- David Horner
June 8 - Jenny Lake
June 9 - Deloris Crews
June 10 - Deb Goodloe
June 11 - Ginger Norris Come join us at Sid Yates for the
June 12 - Melissa Kennedy Whitley People Group
June 14 - Lee Farrar
Cookout
June 15 - Pat Aldridge
June 17 - Kip Moore
June 18 - Addy Lowe
June 20 - Ed Adams
Kent Cardwell
June 22 - Betty Appich
June 23 - Helen Gray
Suzanne Sizemore
Yoon Jung Kong Ji
 JUNE 19, COOKOUT
Water View, VA
Sid Yates’ home away from home
(see map on reverse side)

Come early and enjoy the river!

We will eat around 6:00 P.M.

THE FOLLOWING WILL BE PROVIDED!!!
¤HOT DOGS ¤HAMBURGERS ¤ALL THE FIXINGS
¤BEVERAGES ¤SERVING SPOONS ¤PAPER PRODUCTS
COME AND BRING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
› HORS D’OEUVRES › SALAD
› VEGETABLE › DESSERT
(Please bring enough for 10 adults)

The plan is for sunny skies and NO RAIN!

If on June 19 the weather causes a concern or question
as to if we will be able to have the cookout please call
288-7757 or 516-5349
—Questions, call Suzanne and Pete Sizemore 288-7757 —
Dear members of Grace Covenant,
Peace be with you! I am writing to share with you about the work God has done and is doing in my life
right now.
First and foremost, God brought me here, to Grace Covenant to do my internship. In seminary, there
are two types of internships; one that lasts only a summer, or a full 8 month school year term. I chose the
longer one because I wanted to see the inner workings of a church during all seasons. Several churches who
usually hire interns had to forgo the program for the 2009-2010 school year due to the economy and the hits it
was making in their budget. Further, my graduating class is larger than the previous class, and there were a
large number of us looking for internships. So when I had the opportunity to meet with Chris Thomas and
Richard Haney back in September of 2009, I was very excited. When I realized I would get to intern at a
church going through a transition from interim to permanent pastor, my opportunity became even more excit-
ing as my look at the inner workings of a church would be even more in depth!
Clearly the interview went well and here I am—preparing to say goodbye to a congregation that I have
grown to love. Some of you know a little bit about my background; I am a member at Northside Presbyterian
in Chattanooga, TN. This is the only church I have ever called home, the only church that has ever supported
me, and the only church that I have ever really loved…until now. The welcome I received upon coming to
Grace Covenant was overwhelming. Everyone was so warm and friendly. It almost sounds cliché to say so,
but I have visited my fair share of churches and I can honestly say that GCPC is one of the friendliest congre-
gations around! You were supportive of my endeavors; teaching Sunday school classes, emceeing Wednesday
nights, leading worship, and even preaching. You invited me to your homes, you invited me to teach your
classes, you encouraged me in times I needed it most. You were quick to learn my name and to tell me yours,
you laughed when I attempted humor, and you appreciated the work I put into any part of worship that I was
leading. You were able to constructively criticize me when it was necessary, you asked questions that made
me dig deeper, and you allowed me to try on a new identity as a ‗seminary intern‘. For all of these things and
so many more, thank you. Thank you for loving me, and please know that I have loved you back wholeheart-
edly.
I want to say a special thank you to Chris Thomas. Since we knew Richard would be leaving before
my internship was over, we decided that Chris would be my supervisor. He has put in numerous hours, filling
out stuff for school, listening to me as I brainstormed out loud, or just talking theologically with me. He has
challenged me on some ways of thinking and whether or not I changed my mind, the challenge was always a
growing opportunity. Steve Cobb has been equally wonderful and I‘ve enjoyed working with and learning
from him! Steve, along with Chris Martin and Chris Thomas have been an excellent team to work with when
it comes to planning weekly worship services. I have learned so much from each of them and I want to thank
them publicly for being so patient with me, for helping me to learn, and for showing me a model worship plan-
ning team.
I‘ve only been with you for 8 months, but goodbye is still difficult. As a lot of you know, I have ac-
cepted a position at the Medical Center of Virginia as a chaplain resident. This is a program through VCU that
allows me to earn a second master‘s degree in patient counseling. It is a year- long program so I will definitely
be in Richmond until at least July 2011. In that time, I hope to visit, run into you in the community, and come
back for some special occasions. Should you acquire another intern, he or she will
be the luckiest seminary student in Richmond, and I won‘t mind letting him or her know it!
Thank you for your support and your prayers; in fact I hope you will continue both! Please know I will
always keep Grace Covenant in my prayers and I look forward to seeing what God has in your future as a
church and as a pillar in our city.

Peace and love,

Rachel M. Butler
Worship Support Duties and Dates
Guest Register Attendants
Openers/Closers June 6: Betty Appich
June 6: Cal Gray June 13: Dawson Watkins
June 13: John Lootens June 20: Everett Reveley
June 20: Jeff Londrey June 27: Lisa and Cal Gray
June 27: Kent Cardwell

Nursery Volunteers Fellowship Hour

June 6: Samara Grinnan, Lauren
Corby, Carson Price, Caroline Appich
June 13: Leslie Hartman, Rebecca
Horner, Jo Garber, Beth Coltrain
June 20: Stephanie Thomas, Ann
Hubbard, Katie McCullough
June 27: Katherine Arthur, Julia
Poppell, Nikki Hazelgrove
Greeters
June 6: Bob Copeland, Everett
Reveley, Leslie Hartman
June 13: Lewis Rosebro, David
Martin
June 20: Kent Cardwell, Everett
Reveley, Leslie Hartman
June 27: Brian Baird, Stephanie
Thomas
Children’s Worship Kits
Judy Waldron
If you would like to volunteer to host the
Fellowship Hour one Sunday, please sign up
on the calendar in the Glass Office.
Deacons Fund
Grace Covenant has a Deacon’s Fund to assist
members who are in financial need. Contact
Pastor Steve Cobb, or Associate Pastor Chris
Thomas, to make a request. All requests are
kept confidential.
Volunteers for Grace Notes are needed
to help prepare our monthly newsletter for
bulk mail from 9:00 a.m.—12 noon on
Monday, June 28. If you would like to help
for part of, or all of that time frame, simply
come to the church library and enjoy some
fellowship with other members as you
volunteer in this ministry.
Grace Notes Deadline: Monday , June 21 is
the deadline for submissions for our July
edition.

Flowers: If you are interested in donating

Host/Hostess for The Fellowship Time
June 6: The Winston’s flowers for the sanctuary for Sunday morn-
June 13: Luncheon ings, please contact Lisa Gray at 804-673-
June 20: Dana McKnight 0587
June 27: The Baird’s
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Non Profit Org.
1627 Monument Avenue US POSTAGE PAID
Richmond, VA 23220 RICHMOND VA
PERMIT NO. 161
Address Service Requested

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 the Social Room

Staff
Pastor: Steve Cobb
Associate Pastor: Chris Thomas
Director of Music and Organist: Chris Martin
Administrative Assistant: Vanessa Strait
Bookkeeper: Martha Rubin
Sexton: Willie Alford
Child Development Center Director: Beth Lloyd, (804) 213-0200

Church Office Hours: Monday—Friday, 8:30 a.m.—5:30 p.m.