Grace La Gracia
33 Church Street White Plains, NY 10601
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. —Deuteronomy 7:9
The wilderness experience forged the people of Israel into a community shaped by God’s everlasting covenant. The footsteps of Lent take us with Jesus as he is led by the Spirit of God into the depths of the wilderness. It is a time and place of testing and preparation for covenant life. Covenant life, loving God through loving our neighbor, is the work of ministry. At the heart of this journey is a question posed by the Baptismal Covenant. Will we seek and serve Christ in all persons? The footsteps are reflection, judgment, repentance, forgiveness, reconciliation and ultimately salvation. Lent is a time to reflect on the temptations that lead us away from acts that preserve human dignity. The path leads us straight into encounter with those who are in poverty, displaced and sick. It is a path of justice that leads to the heart of God. In what ways do you serve and seek Christ?
—   Karen Montagno
MINISTERS OF THE LITURGY
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Celebrant & Preacher   The Rev. Dr. Chip Graves
Organist Peter Roberts
Lectors  8 AM  Linda Heusser, Priscilla Read
10 AM  Karen Southwick, Carlos Munoz              Intercessor Carmen Greenidge
Eucharistic Ministers    8 AM Brinda Bradley
10 AM Jean Chambers, Melanie Jackson
Acolytes   Aaron Bradford, Sam Brown, Eva Bradford Gabrielle Parkinson                
Ushers 10 AM     Jo-Ann B. Boylan, Gloria Chang, Giovanni Green, Michael Heffner,
                            Andrea Spencer         
Eucharistic Visitors:   Sandy Gadsden-McAllister, Arlene Grant
Vestry Greeter:  Michael Heffner
Coffee Hour   Carmen Roberts              Assistant: Sylvia Simon 
Nursery Care is available during the 10:00 AM service.
THIS WEEK AT GRACE  
Saturday, March 23rd
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Acolyte Training - Library
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM  Ada’s Outreach Mardi Gras Party – Parish Hall

Sunday, March 24th
8:00 AM The Holy Eucharist Service- Rite Two
10:00 AM The Holy Eucharist
Tuesday, March 26th
Due to unfortunate scheduling conflicts, there will not be a 12:05 PM Eucharist in the Chapel.
7:30 PM Vestry Meeting - Library
 
Wednesday, March 27th
12:10 PM Downtown Music at Grace
3:00PM - 5:00PM Ada’s Outreach - Library
6:30 PM Stations of the Cross - Library
6:45 PM Labyrinth Walk – Parish Hall
Lenten Educational Series/3rd week –Library
 
Thursday, March 28th
12:05 PM Eucharist in the Chapel
7:30 PM Santa Eucaristia in the Church & Library
 
Friday, March 29 th
The Parish Office will be closed
Maria Campos, Grace La Gracia Office Administrator will be out of the office from Monday, March 25 to Friday, March 29. For a pastoral emergency please call Fr. Chip (304 615 2105). If you need assistance while I'm away, please contact one of our parish office volunteers at (914 949 2874).For Grace Church site rentals email Walter Simon at (waltsimon907@gmail.com) or Maria Romeo at (914 949 2874 x13) for accounting questions. Please note on Friday, March 29th the parish office will be closed.
Monthly Gratitude
Thank you to all our Altar Guild volunteers for your dedication and outstanding commitment to Grace La Gracia.
Be sure to thank and congratulate them next time you see them.
Altar Guild
Brinda Bradley (Chair)
JoAnn B. Boylan
Cynthia Cole
Lyris Cooper
Sandy Gadsden-McAllister
Edith Gonzalez
Cecil Henry
Melanie Jackson
Matilde Lazcano
Carol Mitchell
Shirley V. Spencer
Audrey Taylor
What’s New:
Parking Placards for Maundy Thursday & Good Friday
For the 2019 Pledgers, we have placards for the HAMILTON AVE. municipal garage. Kindly place yours on the dashboard of your car for free parking on non-Sunday holidays only . Please do NOT use these for the metered street parking or you will get a ticket.  I will distribute the placards on this Sunday, March 24th at the 10:00 am services.  If you are a new pledger who has not received your 2019 pledge box, please contact me. 
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation – Cynthia S. Brown

Lenten Educational Series Attendees – March 27, 2019 to April 3, 2019
Parishioners who signed up to attend Father Chip’s Lenten Educational Series are to read
Chapters 4 and 5 before attending the third session on March 27th and Chapters 6 and 7 before attending the final session on April 3rd. 
a each of the remaining sessions, we will have Stations of the Cross starting at 6:30 PM. 
The Labyrinth walk will begin at 6:45 PM.  Please use the slipper socks which were provided at the first session, before walking the Labyrinth.
Youth Ministries: Sunday School, Rite 13 & J2A
  • March 24 10:00 AM ALL Classes meet 11:30 AM SYC meeting: alumni present to eligible campers/parents
  • March 31 10:00 AM ALL Classes meet 11:30 AM Rite 13 – Shop & assemble Easter Baskets for ECW Raffle
  • To Print a copy of 2018 - 2019 Sunday School, Rite 13 & J2A Calendar Click here
ECW Easter Raffle - Sunday April 7, 2019  
     Tickets will be sold starting on Sunday, April 7 th during coffee hour. 
One ticket for $1.00/Six tickets for $5.00.
There will be various baskets "something for everyone ."
Advocacy Forum - Sunday, April 7th at 11:30 AM 
Please join us in the library. Fr. Adolfo Moronta will talk about specific experiences of 
members of La Gracia with immigration issues to help the Grace community see that the threat of ICE and deportation is very much an issue within our church, not just in the surrounding community. Fr. Hilario Albert (Priest-in-Charge) will talk about the involvement of St. Peter's in Port Chester with immigration issues to give us ideas as to how Grace/ La Gracia might become involved. See Michael Heffner, Sorraya Sampson, Priscilla Read or Giovanni Green with any questions.
Downtown Music at Grace
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 12:10 PM
Piano team Duo Lontano plays music from South America including works by Gottschalk, Lecuona, Piazzolla, and Villa-Lobos. Pianist Babette Hierholzer’s debut with the Berlin Philharmonic was followed by numerous performances with this famed orchestra led by renowned conductors Klaus Tennstedt, Colin Davis, and Leopold Hager. Jurgen Appell, a three-time prize winner of the prestigious Berlin Steinway Competition, made his concert debut, at age sixteen, in Berlin’s Philharmonic Hall. In 2010, the Duo performed the Mozart Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra with the celebrated Orquesta Juvenil Simon Bolvar conducted by Maestro Gustavo Dudamel. 
S.A.G.E.
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 3rd at l:30 pm in the library.

Sunday, April 7, 2019 4:30 PM
 The Highbridge Voices Chamber Choi r
Spring Tour Farewell Concert featuring music from around the world and across centuries. Premium seating $50 - Adults, $25.00 – Seniors (65+) $20 – Students $15
A gala reception follows the concert.
UNITED THANK OFFERING
T oday's epistle warns us against complaining. A great way to do that is to list your blessings instead and offer thanks for each one.
Additional Blue Boxes are available in the back of the church. Thank you. ECW  
To learn more about the United Thank Offering (UTO) Click here or refer to the UTO Information Poster on the bulletin board near the parish hall. 
Lifting Up Westchester
Thursday, April 11, 2019
and Live Silent Auction 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM Scarsdale Golf Club
We can't wait to celebrate with you!  
On Palm Sunday, April 14th at the 8 AM Service
We will be following Rite Two Liturgy. On May 12 we will go back to following Rite One liturgy during the second week of each non-summer months   until June 2019   
J2A Palm Sunday Pasta Dinner: Sunday April 14 at 6 PM
Please join J2A in the parish hall for a delicious, homemade pasta dinner. The cost of dinner is $10 per person or $25 for families of 3 or more. The proceeds will benefit Holy Trinity Primary School of Barbuda which was completely devastated in Hurricane Irma. Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 10th to Lauren Reid at  lrrmink@gmail.com
Community Easter Dinner
Saturday, April 20, 2019 10 AM to 1 PM 
Donations and volunteers are needed to help feed
our Soup Kitchen Guests.
Request donations for salads, desserts, rolls, soda, juice, chocolate candy and jelly beans. The signup sheet is posted on the bulletin board near the parish hall. Please contact Ada Raiford Tel: 914 309 3381. Thank you.
Monday, April 22nd and Tuesday April 23rd
The parish office will be closed following Easter Sunday.
Book Club
Sunday, April 28, 2019 after 10 AM Service
 Join the Book Club in discussing this year’s parish-wide read, When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, on Sunday, April 28, in the church library after the 10:00 am service . A memoir, the book explores first-hand what makes life worth living when the author, a neurosurgeon, becomes a patient with a terminal disease.Interested in joining the Book Club? Contact Karen Odom ( karenodom@yahoo.com ).
GENERAL INFORMATION
Bring a friend to Easter because …
We want to share our joy…
We want to get to know new people…
We have an amazing church…
We have a fantastic choir and music…
Jesus wants us to share with others…
Easter is the most important day for us as Christians.
Therefore, let us share this joy with others – friends, family members, other people we meet.
Let the world know that Grace Church is joy-filled and celebrating Easter in a big way this year.
S o, bring a friend to Easter and let’s celebrate!   
Holy Week and Easter at Grace La Gracia 2019
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Palm Sunday/Sunday of the Passion
8:00 AM and 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist with Liturgy of the Palms
12:30 PM La Santa Eucaristía y Domingo de Ramos
April 18, 2019
Maundy Thursday
7:00 PM Bi-Lingual Holy Eucharist
April 19, 2019
Good Friday
12:00 PM Good Friday Liturgy
7:00 PM Viernes Santo
Holy Saturday
Saturday, April 20, 2019
7:00 PM The Great Vigil of Easter – Bi-Lingual Service
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Easter Day
8:00 AM Holy Eucharist - In English
10:00 AM Festival Holy Eucharist with Choir  - In English
12:30 PM Domingo de Pascua Misa en Epañol
Join a Committee or Become a Lector, Acolyte, Usher,
Greeter or Office Volunteer
Grace La Gracia is always looking for more volunteers to serve on our various committees. We rely on our parishioners to help keep our parish going. For more information or to join, contact the parish office or just stop by one of our meetings! 
If any of these roles interest you, please contact the parish office or the committee leaders listed below. 
Formation of a Public Relations Committee
For almost two centuries, Grace Church has been a beacon of hope and service in Westchester county. We have continually provided spiritual, moral and physical support to all regardless of their religious or economic circumstance. It is our responsibility to deliver this message to the greater Community so that they can experience the joy and satisfaction that Grace offers to all. If you are interested please provide your contact information to Maria Campos (mcampos@gracechurchwhiteplains.org) or call the parish office at 914 949 2874

Acolytes
We are building upon our acolyte team. Please contact Lauren Reid at lrrmink@gmail.com
 if you have interest in knowing more.
Pastoral Care
We are inviting members who have a passion for serving others to join our Pastoral Care team. This ministry means so much to our members and it just might change your life. Please contact Sandy Gadsden at  sunaganatag@aol.com for more information. 

Lectors Needed
Volunteers are needed for all services including the Family service, every third Sunday of the month. If you are available for one or both of these services, please provide your contact information to Ray Williams or Michael Heffner.

Join Our Volunteer Choir
Please consider joining our volunteer choir. We have inspiring, soulful and uplifting music for you to enjoy in the warm company of our dedicated, long time members. This invitation also extends to the younger members of our church community. We are delighted to have our kids sing in the10am service every third Sunday of the month. The children's choir will be practicing every Sunday right after service in the choir room.
All are welcome!  Peter Roberts  
The Spring Angelus is available in the church, in our E-newsletter under General Information and on our Grace Church website. The deadline to submit entries to our Summer issue is May 15, 2019.
Copies of Grace Church 2018 Budget –Are available at the table in rear of the church and in the parish office.
Remember those you love by signing up for flowers to adorn the Altar for our worship. The signup sheets for March, April and May are located on the bulletin board near the parish hall.
The Episcopal Diocese of New York
Upcoming Anti-Racism Workshops
The purpose of the diocesan Anti-Racism Workshop is to help us become aware of how the sin of racism impacts all of our lives, and how we all unconsciously and consciously participate in racist systems. I t is required for clergy in our diocese and highly recommended for lay leadership .
Manhattan
May 4 and 11 (two consecutive Saturdays)
St. John’s Church in the Village
  Only a few spaces left!
The April issue of the Episcopal New Yorker will have "Death" as its theme     
We Invite Your Contributions!
 What are we looking for?
 Personal experiences, theological reflection, information -- anything that will interest and enlighten our readers, written from a Christian perspective .
                                Click here
Community News
White Plains Performing Arts Center
LIVE ON STAGE   
"The Bodyguard"   click here  
E:mcampos@gracechurchwhiteplains.org T: 914 949 2874 x10