Sunday, February 14th, 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
The Rev. Julia Macy Offinger
The Rev. Thomas Szczerba, preaching
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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Please see below for weekday worship opportunities, both virtual, and in the church on open days!
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Dear Friends,
Last Wednesday, February 10th, marked a famous anniversary in the long history of Grace Church. It was on that date in 1863 when Charles Stratton and Lavinia Warren exchanged wedding vows in a ceremony here, as many couples had done before and many have done since. What made this wedding noteworthy is the celebrity status of the bride and groom. They toured and performed with PT Barnum’s circus as little people. Both were approximately three-feet tall. Charles Stratton wanted a church wedding, not a circus event. To make a very long and interesting story short, they contacted Grace Church and the rector, the Rev. Thomas House Taylor, agreed to officiate at the rite. Unfortunately, PT Barnum got wind of it and sold tickets to the service, creating pandemonium outside and to some extent inside the church. It was front-page news.
Recently, an historian contacted us about a photograph that he discovered in the National Archives. It shows a crowd of people in front of Grace Church. All the architectural markers are consistent with 1863. What is more, it appears that at the moment of the photo, and bride is arriving at the church steps. Could this be Lavinia Warren? The historian asked us to take an identical photo of the church at noon (the time of the wedding in 1863) last Wednesday to see if the shadow lines of the sun are the same. Alas, it is not quite a match. Apparently, the analysis suggests that the photo in 1863 was taken at about 12:15 pm. Does this mean that the photo doesn’t depict the historic wedding? My guess is that Lavinia Warren simply arrived late! In any case check out the photos, below. Perhaps in an upcoming Sunday Forum we will tell the whole story of the most famous wedding at Grace Church.
On another note, Ash Wednesday is less than a week away, and a number of people have already inquired about how we are going to handle it in these Covid times. The Bishop has strongly urged churches in the diocese not to impose ashes this year, so we will abide by his guideline. Every year Ash Wednesday brings in many people off the street who desire the imposition of ashes. Rather than opening the church for an in-person service that denies them the one thing they want, our Ash Wednesday liturgy will be livestream only at 6 pm. The Adult Choir will sing and I will preach the sermon. I hope you will all tune in as we begin a holy Lent together.
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12 Noon NY City Local Mean Time (1863) |
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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:
Virtual Coffee Hour
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Login to Zoom, grab a cup of coffee and join the clergy of Grace Church for a virtual coffee hour. If you are interested in participating please see this link.
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11:00 am Morning Prayer
The Last Sunday After The Epiphany
CHURCH IS OPEN
for in-person worship!
Clergy:
The Rev. J. Donald Waring
The Rev. Julia Macy Offinger
The Rev. Thomas John Szczerba Jr., preaching
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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The Souper Bowl of Caring |
is a national youth-led effort to use the energy of the Super Bowl for a higher good: collecting dollars and food for the needy in our local communities. This year at our annual meeting we raised a total of $1,124! We predicted correctly that the Buccaneers would be victorious as they had $551 raised and the Chiefs had $463 raised with $110 donated as undecided.
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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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The Weekly Pledge Envelopes have arrived for our Pledging households. If you would like to have your box of Pledge Envelopes set out in the Nave on Sunday, please email Matthew Kopp
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No Ordinary Time: 2021 Annual Campaign |
All parishioners and friends of Grace Church are asked to support our mission by pledging -- or promising -- a financial gift for the coming year. To make your pledge, please fill out the pledge envelope you received in the mail at home (and find in the pews today). You can place it in the offering plate any Sunday, or mail it to the parish office as soon as you can.
You may also make your pledge at the link below (You have all of 2021 to make your payments!)
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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 6 pm Evening Prayer In-Person or on Zoom – Evening Prayer will no longer be livestreamed on YouTube, Facebook, and our website. Join us on Zoom or in person. For Zoom access, please see this link.
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 link below or email the Rev. Julia Macy Offinger well before the event.
Meeting ID: 896 065 849
One tap mobile
+19294362866,,896065849# US (New York)
Men’s Bible Study – February 17th 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.
12:20 pm - 30 minutes of music by J.S. Bach, played on the Bicentennial Organ.
Thursday- 20s & 30s Pub Theology – February 11th from 6:30pm-7:30pm (over Zoom)
If you are in your 20s or 30s and interested in having a discussion on theology, please email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba and he will give you the Zoom information.
4 pm - 45 minutes of diverse music played on the Bicentennial Organ.
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The Sunday Forum – February 21st & 28th "Stump the Rector" |
Join Saving Grace NYC in celebrating the 175th Anniversary of our building with a fun game of historic trivia. A collection of period photos and illustrations will put the Rector’s knowledge of NYC history to the test! If you are interested in participating please contact the Rev. Thomas Szczerba by email.
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Men’s Bible Study – March 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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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
Lois Queen
Bridgette Newman
Cheryl Kelly
Carol Hollander
Leon Leader
Betty Forsman
Maria Montoya
Susan McLean
Luis
Kathleen Curry
Cathy Minuse
Jordan Cave
Frances Givhan
Linda and Tom Hall
John Berringer
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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