Grace La Gracia
33 Church Street White Plains, NY 10601
If you are visiting with us for the first time, we welcome you to Grace Church!
Our liturgy is found in the Book of Common Prayer.
Our communion is open to all baptized Christians.
Please take the time to fill out one of our visitor cards which the ushers have available.
Your presence is a blessing to us may our worship together be a blessing to you.
One of the dinner guests said to Jesus, “Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” Then Jesus said to him, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’ Another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ And the slave said, ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.” Then the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled.'"
Luke 14:15-23
" Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.
The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

" Por lo tanto,si alguien esta en Cristo, el es una nueva creacion.
Lo viejo ha pasado, he aqui, lo nuevo ha llegado. " 2 Corintios 5:17

Ministers of the Liturgy
January 5, 2020
Celebrant and Preacher: Rev. Dr. Chip Graves
Assisting Priest : Rev. Adolfo Moronta
Organist: Peter Roberts
The Grace Church Choir
Lector 8 AM Brinda Bradley
Lectors 10 AM Delores Brathwaite, Jean-Marie Bradford Intercessor: Mailk Bradford
Ushers: Carmen Greenidge, James Henderson, Maria Lewis, Matthew Reid, Jane Washington,
Camille Worrell 


Reminder to Everyone to Greet Our Newcomers and Guests
I want to request our church parishioners to please welcome our visitors and let us share the love of God together. Fr. Chip
THIS WEEK AT GRACE
Sunday, January 5
8:00 AM & 10:00 AM The Holy Eucharist
11:30 AM Teacher’s Meeting - Library
All Sunday School Classes Meet
Distribution of Toys Grace La Gracia Children
12:30 PM La Gracia Santa Eucaristía
Tuesday, January 7
7:30 PM La Gracia Leaders Meeting
Wednesday, January 8
12:10 PM DTM @ Grace
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Ada’s Outreach – Parish Hall
7:15 PM BSF Bible Study – Library
Thursday, January 9
12:05 PM Eucharist in Chapel
Friday, January 10
6:30 PM The ECW Holiday Party at Via Garibaldi Restaurant in White Plains
Saturday, January 11
11:00AM to 1:00PM Confirmation Class with Fr. Chip – Library 

Maria Campos, Grace Church Administrator will be on vacation from Dec. 26, 2019 returning on January 9, 2020. 
Monthly Gratitude
Altar Guild
This month we raise up Brinda Bradley and the Grace Church Altar Guild team. Please recognize them and thank them for this amazing ministry. Brinda Bradley (Chair)
JoAnn B. Boylan
Cynthia Cole
Lyris Cooper
Sandy Gadsden-McAllister
Edith Gonzalez
Melanie Jackson
Matilde Lazcano
Carol Mitchell
Shirley V. Spencer
Audrey Taylor
Dorothy Thompson 

***
Mother Teresa once said to “do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.”
 Any person or group of parishioners interested in underwriting a worship service at Grace Church, please contact Fr. Chip for more information.
                                                                        
TODAY
Sunday, January 5th Toys for The Children of Grace La Gracia:  Every year La Gracia distributes toys to children on the Feast of Epiphany/Three Kings Sunday. This year, we will distribute gifts to all our children – in the morning and in the afternoon.
T he Episcopal Church Weekly Bible Study Is Available Online
We are adding another Bible Study at Grace Church. It has been developed by the Episcopal Church and can be accessed online by clicking - Online Advent Bible Study Year A Once you access the site, you'll see four tabs, one for each week in Epiphany.
Once you access the site, scroll down to Bible Study for Epiphany A. You'll see four tabs, one for each week in Epiphany. Just click the correct tab and enjoy. God Bless, Fr. Chip 
LOOKING AHEAD
Confirmation Class January 2020: Fr. Chip is holding a Confirmation class in January 2020. The class will be similar to his adult education class held earlier this year. The class will cover the basic tenets of the Episcopal church to include history, beliefs, liturgy, sacraments and so much more. Those completing this course will be able to be Confirmed later next spring 2020.The specific class dates will be based on participant feedback. Please email the office or Fr. Chip if you are interested.

  Wednesday, January 8 th God’s Word for Today’s World Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) in the library. A New BSF Satellite Discussion Group will meet, right here, at Grace Episcopal Church, on Wednesday evenings from 7:15pm-8:45pm. There is no cost to join.  

Friday, January 10th ECW Holiday Outing: The Episcopal Church Women invite all women of Grace La Gracia to join us for an evening of food and fellowship at Via Garibaldi Restaurant in White Plains, Friday January 10, 2020 at 6:30pm. Cost is $40 which includes appetizer, main course, beverage and dessert. Please join us! RSVP to melaniejackson41@gmailcom or 914-235-2389 by January 5. 

Sunday, January 12th Census Sunday 2020 - Father Chip and I met with County Executive George Latimer in November and learned that Grace Church/La Gracia can play an important role in the upcoming Census as a “trusted voice in the community”.  A new school to ease overcrowded classrooms. A new road to ease overcrowded commutes. There are many ways the 2020 Census can shape your community. The results, collected once a decade, help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year. ( https://2020census.gov )   Karen M Barnes Partnership Specialist - U.S. Census Bureau will be joining us (during announcements) at the 8, 10 and 12:30pm (in Spanish) Services to address concerns, answer questions and share how we can be involved. Michael Heffner

Monday, January 13th Financial Visioning
Over the past several years we have developed a growing financial deficit. Therefore, your leadership is proactively responding by developing a financial visioning process, eventually leading to a healthier environment. This process will begin with a meeting in the library at 7PM Monday January 13th. All are welcome to attend. The diocese is working with us in this process, allowing us to define what we want at Grace Church and how to support that vision given our resources. If you are interested in attending, please let our office know. If you are unable to attend, then you can catch the next meeting. This process will take several months. 

Monday, January 20 th – Martin Luther King Jr. Grace’s Kitchen Volunteer Luncheon. Parish office closed

Sunday, January 26 th Bilingual Service at 9:30 AM with Annual Meeting after service in the parish hall.  
GENERAL INFORMATION
Lessons
Engraved WALK OF GRACE STONES Forms click here
Grace La Gracia Parish Office Telephone Number 914 949 2874
When calling the parish office, please listen carefully to the new directory extension options. If you know your party's extension you can press it after the greeting.
Maria Campos – Administrator or Front Desk Volunteer - Ext 1
The Rev. Dr. Chip Graves - Ext 2
The Rev. Adolfo Moronta - Ext 3
Maria Romeo- Bookkeeper - Ext 4
In order to economize we will be posting The 2019 Winter Angelus on our E-newsletter and Grace Church website. For those who wish to receive a printed copy of the Angelus, please ask an Usher for a copy. As a general reminder to everyone, please keep the office informed of changes in address, email or phone numbers. Our desire is to communicate effectively, and the lack of the proper information makes that more difficult. Thank you!
Join a Committee or become Greeter or Office Voluntee r
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.
Acolytes

The Grace La Gracia Acolyte Ministry is always in search of new members to aid and assist the Clergy and Congregation in prayer, praise and worship. We welcome adults and youth aged 7 and up. Please contact Lauren Reid at Lrrmink@gmail.com if you would like to join this vital ministry.
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.
Planned Giving
“All that we are, all that we have comes from God (and will one day return to God)”
Our Mission: To establish a meaningful enough relationship with you, the Grace Church La Gracia parishioner, to the extent that you would consider establishing a meaningful long-term financial relationship with Grace Church La Gracia.
Planned Giving encompasses a variety of ways that gifts can be made to the church from accumulated resources. Planned giving is a means by which anyone concerned with the thoughtful use of his or her personal wealth can make a considered choice about how to share it. Planned gifts are either outright gifts or deferred gifts. Please contact Michael Heffner to start (or continue) this conversation.

Altar Flowers  Signup sheet is on the bulletin board near the library. Remember those you love by signing up for flowers to adore the altar. Contribution: $100.00

Lectors Are 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 Michael Heffner

Volunteer to be an Usher
Ushers are needed for all services. Please contact Andrea Spencer E: dreaspencer@aol.com if you would like to join.

Names on Prayer List
If you have a family member or loved one on our prayer list, please provide our office with emergency contact information.
Downtown Music at Grace Concert Schedule -click here
January 2020
January 1st @ 12:10 PM- No Concer t
January 8th @ 12:10 PM
Guitarist  John Lehmann-Haupt is  known equally for his arrangements of popular and traditional songs and for his classical interpretations 
January 15th @ 12:10 PM  The musicians of the Westchester Philharmonic return for one of their exciting chamber music concerts. 
January 22nd@ 12:10 PM
Addie Rose Forstman , Soprano and  Edward Forstman , piano explore the best of American art song  
January 29th @12:10 PM
Karen Marie Marmer,  violin and  Dongsok Shin,  fortepiano, principals of the internationally acclaimed REBEL Ensemble for Baroque Music, play an all Mozart program featuring sonatas for violin and fortepiano and a work for keyboard solo.

FEBRUARY 2020
February 5th @ 12:10 PM
Downtown Sinfonietta  – Our resident chamber orchestra, featuring members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
February 12th @ 12:10 PM
Xinyao Feng - 2018 Laureate of the New York International Piano Competition. Presented in partnership with the Stecher and Horowitz Foundation
February 19, 2020 @ 12:10 PM
The Blithewood Ensemble - Teresa Buchholz, mezzo soprano, Marka Gustavsson,
viola, and Erika Switzer, piano offer a program which features the Brahms viola songs, along with works by Loeffler, Bridge, Strauss, and Marx. A Downtown Music debut.
February 26, 2020 @ 12:10 PM- No Concert
The Episcopal Diocese of New York
Upcoming Anti-Racism Workshop
January 18 and 25
(Two part workshop on consecutive Saturdays)
Church of the Crucifixion, Manhattan

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.  It is required for clergy in our diocese and highly recommended for lay leadership.  

Dialogue is the foundation of the two-day workshop. We use group exercises and examine scientific and historical evidence concerning the origins of the concept of race and its legacy.  
Coffee and lunch are served and there is no cost to attend for members of our diocese. (There is a $25.00 registration fee for members of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark and a $50.00 fee for all others.)  

Of the hundreds of workshop participants, more than 85% have found the workshop to be “very useful” or “extremely useful” in their work and daily lives.      
E:mcampos@gracechurchwhiteplains.org T: 914 949 2874 x1