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 Holy Eucharist
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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Please see below for weekday worship opportunities, both virtual, and in the church on open days!
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Dear Friends,
This coming Sunday at the 11 am service we will celebrate the 175th Anniversary (to the minute) of the Consecration of Grace Church at 10th and Broadway. It was on Saturday, March 7, 1846 when the doors of this grand edifice first opened to the public. Apparently, earlier that morning a large crowd – including numerous pick-pockets – gathered outside. For some it was unclear if the upcoming service were to be a ticketed event for pew holders only, or open to anyone on a first-come basis, or a hybrid of the two (it was to be a hybrid). In any case, despite the confusion the service began at 11 am, and life in Christ for this parish family has emanated from here ever since.
If these were normal times we would have made much more of the anniversary than we are able to do in a pandemic. Frankly, I had seen the milestone coming up several years ago and imagined a grand service with combined choirs, tables in Tuttle Hall laden with food, and a whole array of parish gatherings and parties surrounding the day. Alas, it is still unsafe to congregate in such ways, but the 11 am service will be special for those here in-person and on the livestream. Also, think of Sunday as the launch, rather than the culmination of our celebrating 175 years in this neighborhood. Our hope is that by September the vaccines will have outpaced the virus, allowing us to do in the fall what we might have done this spring.
Also, you will want to tune into the Sunday Forum on Zoom this week at 10 am (see below for details). A combined group of parishioners from the Archives Committee and Saving Grace NYC will be presenting a fascinating look at early receipts and records from the construction of the building. What did it cost to complete? How much did the architect, James Renwick, Jr., get paid? How did a worker die in an explosion? Tune in to see these records as well as early drawings and photographs.
Finally, you will see below the schedule of our Holy Week services, beginning with Palm Sunday on March 28. In the coming weeks we will have more details about these worship opportunities. For now, note that on Easter Day, if the positive trends in the virus continue, we will have two services and not just one. It will be the first 9 am liturgy since March 8, 2020. Seating will still be limited for Covid-safety, but we anticipate that many people will want to come. Therefore, to avoid the confusion (and the pick-pockets) of 1846, everyone must pre-register for the Easter service you wish to attend. (And once you pre-register, please make sure that you, in fact, do attend).
I am looking forward to being with you on Sunday – virtually, actually, personally, and spiritually!
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Liturgical Changes for Lent |
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Our Sunday worship takes on a different tone for the five weeks of Lent. We will begin each service with a Penitential Order, which includes a recitation of the Ten Commandments. The word “Alleluia” is omitted from all hymns, versicles, and responses, and you will see no flowers on the altar. The goal of the scarcity is to highlight the abundant life that will be ours to claim at Easter. |
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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:
The Construction of Grace
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Join Saving Grace NYC and the Archives Committee in celebrating the 175th Anniversary of our building with a presentation on the construction of our historic church. A history illustrated through period photos and documents will detail the work of the Building Committee in 1846. If you are interested in participating please see this link.
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11:00 am Holy Eucharist
The Third Sunday In Lent
Celebrating 175 Years
It will be 175 years ago to the minute when our predecessors gathered for the first worship service in our current building: the Consecration of Grace Church on Broadway at 10th. Hymns, Scripture readings, and choral anthems appropriate for the anniversary will be part of the liturgy, and the Rector will preach about the spirituality of the architecture and our ministry of presence all these years.
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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Devotions will be offered every Sunday in Lent at 4:00pm. The event is live streamed only. The program features organ music with hymns for you to sing along with at home, mostly drawn from The Hymnal 1982 and the Lift Every Voice and Sing II: African American Hymnal, with a few other old favorites to enjoy. During Lent the Meditations will feature guest artists and choir. Tune in and sing along during this special time of musical prayer. These offerings will be livestreamed over all the Grace Church channels during Lent. More detailed information can be found at this link.
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Each year it is the generous donations from parishioners that bring a glorious display of spring flowers to Grace Church for Easter. If you would like to support the Walter J. Parker Flower Fund, donations can be accepted by credit card on our website or by check made payable to Grace Church. Please note your dedication in the online comment box, or on your check memo. Thank you!
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Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the Episcopal dioceses of Dallas, Texas and West Texas as they provide emergency relief to individuals and families impacted by the unprecedented ice storm, low temperatures and power outages last week. We invite you to give directly to their US Disaster Response Fund by clicking here.
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Church is Open
Four Days per Week
Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 3 pm
with Noonday Prayer at 12:15 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
All are required to wear a covering over their nose and mouth, and to observe posted safety guidelines.
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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. 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.
The Great Litany: Wednesday 6 pm In-Person or on Zoom during Lent – During the season of Lent we will be doing The Great Litany. 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 – March 10th 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.
20s & 30s – Pub Theology – March 11th 6:30-7:30pm (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. We will be concluding our discussion the book, Take this Bread by Sara Miles.
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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Holy Week at Grace Church
Palm Sunday, March 28
11:00 am – Palm Sunday Liturgy and Holy Eucharist
Open to the public and on the livestream
Holy Wednesday, March 31
6:00 pm – The Great Litany and Homily
Open to the public and on Zoom
Maundy Thursday, April 1
6:00 pm – Choral Eucharist & Stripping of the Altar
Livestream only
Good Friday, April 2
12:00 pm – The Good Friday liturgy with choir
Four sermons: Personalities at the Foot of the Cross
Open to the public and on the livestream
Easter Day, April 4
9 & 11:00 am – Festive Choral Eucharist and Sermon
Open to the public and on the livestream
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Men’s Bible Study – March 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.
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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
Walton E. McLeod
Linda Flood
Frances Givhan
Lois Queen
Bridgette Newman
Cheryl Kelly
Carol Hollander
Leon Leader
Betty Forsman
Linda and Tom Hall
John Berringer
Josephine
all those who suffer due to the coronavirus
and for those who have died
Beryl McLeod Wheaton
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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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Your engagement on our social media helps Grace Church!
Please Subscribe, Follow, Like and Share
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GRACE CHURCH IN NEW YORK
212-254-2000
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