Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church of Nacogdoches, TX
A Reformed Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Members of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches [C.R.E.C.].
Sunday School: 9:45 am
Worship Service: 10:45 am
Fellowship meal each Sunday after the Worship Service
GCPC is a traditional, evangelical Christian church, committed to working together with other
Christian churches in our community to advance God’s work in every area of life.
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church was founded in 1998.
Our Gothic Revival style building was completed in May, 2012.
Designed by Nacogdoches Architect Laura Culpepper and constructed by builder Alvin Stanaland.
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday.
Children 12 and under should gather in the narthex 10 minutes before the worship service
to get their palms and to line up for the palm processional.
SCHEDULE FOR HOLY WEEK
Monday, April 15th — Noon service (25 minutes)
Tuesday, April 16th — Noon service (25 minutes)
Wednesday, April 17th — Noon service (25 minutes)
No Wednesday night service
- Maundy Thursday, April 18th — 6:00 pm. A meal will be prepared and served by the officers of the church to the congregation. This is a commemoration of Jesus’ command to His disciples to wash one another’s feet: “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:14-15). We will follow this meal with a short worship service and the Lord’s Supper. The word “Maundy” comes to us as an Anglo-French word derived from the Latin “mandatum,” which means “commandment.” It refers to when Jesus, in the Upper Room during the Last Super, said to the disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34).
- Good Friday Tenebrae Service — April 19th — 5:30 pm. We encourage those who can to fast during the day on Friday. That terrible Friday has been called Good Friday because it led to the resurrection of Jesus and his victory over death and sin and the celebration of Easter, the very pinnacle of Christian celebrations. The word "tenebrae" comes from the Latin meaning "darkness." The Tenebrae is an ancient Christian Good Friday service that makes use of gradually diminishing light through the extinguishing of candles to symbolize the events of that week from the triumphant Palm Sunday entry through Jesus' burial. The increasing darkness symbolizes the approaching darkness of Jesus' death and of hopelessness in the world without God. The service concludes in darkness and the ringing of a bell symbolizes the closing of Jesus' tomb. The worshipers then leave in silence to ponder the impact of Christ's death and await the coming resurrection.
- Easter Sunday — April 21st — 10:00 am (no Sunday School). There will be a special worship service with choir. Our annual Easter Feast will begin with our traditional reading of Psalm 23 and the “Pouring of the Wine.” This year the high school girls (Adelphe), has planned and will serve our noon meal. Church families are encouraged to bring your “fanciest desserts.” There will be activities for the children. Each child should bring a dozen filled plastic eggs. At around 3:00 we will gather to hear selected readings about the resurrection (men, women and children can present your readings. Please see Elder Jonathan Landrum ahead of time to get on the schedule). Bring board games and other activities. There will be volleyball and a jump house. An evening meal (to be determined) will be served around 5:30.