Sunday, January 24th, 2021 |
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In response to the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic, Grace Church is open for limited in-person worship and visiting hours. Most events will remain virtual for the time being. |
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11 am Morning Prayer
on
Clergy:
The Rev. J. Donald Waring, preaching
The Rev. Julia Macy Offinger
The Rev. Thomas Szczerba
Music:
The Adult Choir
Dr. Patrick Allen, organ
THIS WEEK:
Outdoor
Children's Chapel
with Father Thomas!
You’ll find videos of past services and events on Vimeo and YouTube.
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Click on the image above to read about the 2021 Annual Campaign |
All parishioners and friends of Grace Church are asked to make a pledge to the Annual Campaign.
By making an annual pledge we not only support the work of the church, but we show our thanks to God for all the blessings of life.
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Please see below for weekday worship opportunities, both virtual, and in the church on open days!
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Dear Friends,
150 years ago the Episcopal Diocese of New York had much less of a foothold on the island of Manhattan than it does today. The Cathedral of St. John the Divine at 110th St. was still decades away from being built, and the large midtown churches we know today had not yet migrated north. But Grace Church was right here, looking very much like a cathedral. Also nearby on Lafayette St. was the office of the Bishop of New York, Horatio Potter. What is more, the Rector of Grace Church, Henry Codman Potter, was Bishop Potter’s nephew.
In practical terms the confluence of geography and family connections resulted in numerous diocesan events occurring in Grace Church. One of those was the consecration of James Theodore Holly in 1874, the first Black bishop in the Episcopal Church. For years Bishop Holly had been engaged in missionary work in Haiti. He believed that establishing the Episcopal Church there would help to steady the healthy development of a nation for Blacks in the western hemisphere. His new role would be Missionary Bishop to Haiti. He was tireless in his efforts, and often had to fight for support from a reluctant Episcopal Church. Bishop Holly is a hero of the church and we should always celebrate our connection to him. By the way, I received a Christmas card this year from his great-great-great granddaughter!
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean was – and is – Liberia, also established as a nation where Black Americans might pursue and enjoy prosperity in a way that was not possible in the United States. The Episcopal Church was engaged in missionary work to Liberia as well as to Haiti, and this will be the subject of this week’s Sunday Forum at 10 am. We will be blessed to have with us John V. Singler, Professor of Linguistics at NYU and an expert on Christianity in Africa. Professor Singler will focus on the country of Liberia from the arrival of Episcopal missionaries in 1836 to the present. See below for instructions for joining us on Zoom. It should be a fascinating presentation.
See you in church – or on the livestream this Sunday.
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The Vestry Has Accepted the Nominating Committee’s Report and is pleased to announce the following slate of persons to be voted on at our Annual Meeting (Feb 7, see details below, under “Coming Soon.”) For a second two-year term as a Churchwarden: OWEN BOGER. For a first three-year term as a Vestry member: GINGER BLAKE, PETER GILMAN, JESSE LAWRENCE, SARA QUEEN. Many thanks to the committee and to those who have agreed to stand for election. |
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Baptism, Confirmation, and Reception |
Are you interested in learning more about membership in the church through baptism (available to anyone of any age), confirmation (a mature affirmation of one’s baptism for anyone in 7th grade or older), or reception (formally becoming Episcopalian from another Christian tradition)? Email the Rev. Julia Macy Offinger by Wednesday, February 10 to learn more about preparation this Spring.
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9:45 am Children's Chapel
(over Zoom)
Join Mother Julia and Father Thomas from 9:45-10:10 am to say hello, read the story of the day from our Spark Children's Bible, talk about it, and then say our prayers together.
Meeting ID: 618 396 533
Password: praisegod
One tap mobile
+19294362866, 618396533# US (New York)
NOTE TO PARENTS:
This week during the 11 am service, we will hold an outdoor Children's Chapel with masks and social distancing. Details below.
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10:00 am Sunday Forum:
Christianity in Liberia
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As part of our continuing commitment to explore issues of race in our Sunday Forum discussions, this week we welcome John V. Singler, Professor of Linguistics at NYU and an expert on Christianity in Africa. Professor Singler will focus on the country of Liberia from the arrival of Episcopal missionaries in 1836 to the present. For Zoom access, please see this link.
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11:00 am Morning Prayer
The Third Sunday After The Epiphany
CHURCH IS OPEN
for in-person worship!
Clergy:
The Rev. J. Donald Waring, preaching
The Rev. Julia Macy Offinger
The Rev. Thomas John Szczerba Jr.
Music:
The Adult Choir, The Choir of Men and Boys, The Girl's Choir; Dr. Patrick Allen, organ
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Service will continue to be video streamed every week. Access via any of our live channels. If you experience buffering, you can simply switch to another channel.
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45 minutes of your favorite hymns, solos, anthems and voluntaries played on the Bicentennial Organ. Requests taken!
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Church is Open
Four Days per Week
Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 3 pm
with Noonday Prayer at 12:05 pm
Wednesday, 5:30 to 6:30 pm
with Evening Prayer at 6 pm
Sunday, 11 am to 12:30 pm
with Worship Service at 11 am
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Grace Parish Showcase Sponsored by the Grace Church Women - Online Now! |
We have had a great response to this project, which attempts to display how the creative spirit of our people was at work during the lockdown. Many have submitted, photography, videos, art, stories, and photos of themselves and their families and more!
The show is live! Find it here. Don't miss it! |
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Monday - Centering Prayer (over Zoom)
12:15-12:45 pm Christian silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of God’s presence. Led by Currie Estreich, MA, Spiritual Direction, the General Theological Seminary.
Meeting ID: 337 800 858
Password: 058288
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,337800858# US (New York)
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - Enter, Rest, Pray (CHURCH IS OPEN)
Tuesday, noon–3 pm, Wednesday, 5:30-6:30 pm, and Thursday, noon–3 pm. Tuesday and Thursday Noonday Prayer at 12:05 pm. Wednesday Evening Prayer at 6 pm. All are required to wear a covering over their nose and mouth, and to observe posted safety guidelines.
Tuesday, Thursday – Bach at Noon
12:20 pm - 30 minutes of music by J.S. Bach, played on the Bicentennial Organ.
Wednesday - Women’s Bible Study (over Zoom) – 10:30 am-noon – Long-running program of guided Bible study and discussion for women. For Zoom access info, please see The Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Julia Macy Offinger well before the event.
Meeting ID: 896 065 849
One tap mobile
+19294362866,,896065849# US (New York)
Thursday - 20s and 30s – Prayer & Fellowship 6:30pm-7:30pm: If you are a parishioner in your 20s and 30s join us for a time of prayer and fellowship on Zoom. We will catch up with one another and talk about some of the things we are looking forward to in this new year and conclude with Evening Prayer. For Zoom access, please email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba. .
12:20 pm - 30 minutes of music by J.S. Bach, played on the Bicentennial Organ.
4 pm - 45 minutes of diverse music played on the Bicentennial Organ.
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The Sunday Forum – January 31: Walking in Faith at the United Nations
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Parishioner Ayaka Suzuki discusses her almost 30-year career in peacekeeping and international relations through the lens of her Christian faith. Most of her career has been with the UN in different capacities. Ms. Suzuki holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science magna cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University. For Zoom access, please see The Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba.
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The Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the church on Sunday, February 7th immediately following the 11:00 am service. Members of the parish may participate in-person or watch the proceedings via the livestream. We will hear reports by the Nominating Committee, the Treasurer, the Head of Grace Church School, the Senior Warden, and the Rector.
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Men’s Bible Study – February 3rd from 6:30pm-7:15pm (over Zoom) - The men of Grace Church are invited to join us via Zoom for a bible study on the lectionary for the coming Sunday. This bible study will take place on the first and third Wednesday of the month and will run until June. If you are interested in participating please contact the Rev. Thomas Szczerba by email.
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Virtual Advent Drives 2020 Results
A big thank you to all who participated in this year’s Advent drive! We had 17 different households participate and we had over 140 hats, 120 gloves, 10 scarves, 55 pairs of socks, 200 pairs of men’s underwear, 275 toiletries, and a large number of other items donated. All organizations were grateful for our contribution as a parish.
Our food ministry partner, now called The Red Door Place at The Church of the Village, is one of the few pantry/soup kitchens remaining open to serve those in need during the Covid-19 crisis. Donations are desperately needed. Non-perishable food item(s) may be dropped off in the collection baskets in the narthex when you visit Grace Church during open hours.
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We pray for those who suffer
Nitza Bravo
Russell Browning
Julia and Gogo Suklevski
Maria Montoya
Betty Forsman
Cathy Minuse
Susan McLean
Frances Givhan
Thomas Duane Brennan
Larry Raymond
Lois Queen
Linda and Tom Hall
John Berringer
Claudia Paoloni
Josephine
all those who suffer due to the coronavirus
and for those who have died
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Send your photos of milestone events for possible publication in the Weekly Epistle to Matthew Kopp, Membership and Development Manager.
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GRACE CHURCH IN NEW YORK
212-254-2000
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