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The Second Sunday of Advent
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PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Bob & Donna Weber, Mickey Federico, Peter Federico, Yasso Herath, Peter Lubeck, Catherine Lubeck, Shirley Federico, Dr. John Finn, Bill Weber, Ian, Jean, Ethan Mathews, Al and Carol Lalli, Peggy Lehrecke, Peter Zakrepine, Phyllis Richey, Susan Barraclough, Ellie Hafstead, Russell Fernando, Rislyn Joseph, Ria Meade, Cindy O'Gorman, Suzanne, Phyllis, Dr. Nabil Sayegh, Joe Scalia, Phyllis, Ann Shusterman, Dolores Lentz, Cathy Rae, Hubert Connelly, John Puhl, Jim Craig, Thomas Wolfe, Peter Foley, Joseph, Donna, Art, Karen Masur, Tish Herbert, Karen, Jodi, Caitlyn, Shirley Chalke, Mary Riffle, Marianna Quinn Parsekian, Elaine MacPhee, Mary Pat McSherry, Serena Gwertzman,
Tom Pallister, Allyison, Mary Cochran, Jessica Haile,
John G. Loftin, Susan
REST IN PEACE:
Virginia Hill
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Please note:
If you would like add a name to the list,
please let us know.
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Readings [We are using Track 2 of the indicated readings.]
Collect of the Day
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for the Human Family
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish you purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may sever you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God, our Creator, we are held in your everlasting arms,
Jesus, our Savior, we are healed by your wounded hands,
Holy Spirit, be present as we reach out to one another in love.
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"Advent" means "coming" of course, and the promise of Advent is that what is coming is an unimaginable invasion. The mythology of our age has to do with flying saucers and invasions from outer space, and that is unimaginable enough. But what is upon us now is even more so-a close encounter not of the third kind but of a different kind altogether. An invasion of holiness. That is what Advent is about.
What is coming upon the world is the Light of the World. It is Christ. That is the comfort of it. The challenge of it is that it has not come yet. Only the hope for it has come, only the longing for it. In the meantime we are in the dark, and the dark, God knows, is also in us. We watch and wait for a holiness to heal us and hallow us, to liberate us from the dark. Advent is like the hush in a theater just before the curtain rises. It is like the hazy ring around the winter moon that means the coming of snow which will turn the night to silver. Soon. But for the time being, our time, darkness is where we are.
--Originally published in The Clown in the Belfry
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ARE YOU ON THE WORSHIP MINISTRY SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND?
CLICK HERE
to find out. [Schedules for 10am services on 12/24 & 31 are HERE]
Christmas Eve schedules will be available soon.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9
10:00am Midnight Run (Memorial Hall)
6:00pm Senior Youth Group to Midnight Run NYC (meet in sanctuary)
6:00-10:00pm Private Rental (Memorial Hall)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10
8:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite I)
9:30am Holy Eucharist
10:10am
Church School/Refreshments/Bible Study
11:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite II w/choir)
4:00pm Messiah Sing
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11
7:15pm Prison & Justice Working Group (Bradley)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13
6:00pm Contemplative Prayer (Bradley)
7:00pm Advent Home Gathering (Rectory)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14
7-8:30am Grace's Kitchen (Memorial Hall)
12:00pm Brown Bag & A Bible (Patterson Hall)
7:30pm Choir (Choir Room)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15
5:00pm Pageant rehearsal
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16
9:00am Renewal Works Committee (Bradley Chapel)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17
8:00/9:30/11:00am Holy Eucharist
3:30pm Christmas Pageant
4:30-6:30pm
Parish Party: A Night in Bethlehem
(Memorial)
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MESSENGER CORRECTION
For those who may have opened the December Messenger before the error could be corrected, you may have been surprised to see the figure of $350,000 reported as the Annual Gift distributed by Grace's Thrift Shop. The correct figure is $35,000 -- still an awesome accomplishment! Our apologies to anyone who may have been confused.
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If you would like to make your Christmas Flower & Music Memorial gift online, you may
CLICK HERE, choose "Flower & Music Memorials: from the drop down fund listing, and enter names within the comment section.
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CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE - Bring gifts back by the 17th
If you took a tag from the Giving Tree for kids in programs at the Nyack Center, remember
UNWRAPPED
gift(s) back to Grace BY
DECEMBER 17 so
that they can be sorted, wrapped, and distributed over at the Nyack Center in time for Christmas. Thank you for your generous help, and to Paul Weiss and family for again coordinating this effort.
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CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE - Bring gifts back by the 17th
If you took a tag from the Giving Tree for kids in programs at the Nyack Center, remember
UNWRAPPED
gift(s) back to Grace BY
DECEMBER 17 so
that they can be sorted, wrapped, and distributed over at the Nyack Center in time for Christmas. Thank you for your generous help, and to Paul Weiss and family for again coordinating this effort.
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DROP OFF FOR NYACK HOMELESS PROJECT COAT DRIVE
We are collecting coats and other warm clothing for distribution by Nyack Homeless Project
Bring your New and gently used winter coats, hats, gloves, new socks and underwear, blankets, new toiletries, canned/boxed foods as well as financial donations to purchase additional warm coats and food, especially for children, to church on Sunday or to the office during the week.
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We are so thankful for everyone
who has made a pledge for 2018
YOU MAKE GRACE HAPPEN
With your support we're well on the way
to making our goal for 2018....
But we're not there yet!
Thank you for being part of this place we call Grace
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For a New Beginning
John O'Donohue
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.
For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life's desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
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GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH 130 First Avenue, Nyack, New York 10960
845-358-1297
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