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 |
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 is the great day on the church calendar when we celebrate the Communion of Saints. What we proclaim through this wonderful and sacred mystery is that the church is a family – a community – that death does not divide. Once we become a member of the family through baptism we are marked as Christ’s own forever. Thus, even though everyone’s biological life comes to an end, we trust in Jesus that death does not extinguish our own individual stories. In Sunday’s bulletin you’ll see a long list of names. Who are they? These are the loved ones and friends who have entered into larger life in the closer company of God. During the Eucharist we will light candles to remind ourselves that the Spirit of the Lord shines upon them and within them from this time forth, even forever.
Sunday is also the launch of the 2021 Annual Campaign for Grace Church. Hopefully you have received a letter and brochure either by conventional mail or email. If you haven’t, rest assured that it’s on the way. You can also read the brochure here. The reason for the convergence of All Saints’ Day and Pledge Sunday has everything to do with someone’s procrastination (mine). When I finally finished writing the brochure it was too late to get it back from the printer in time for last Sunday – October 25 – our intended date for Pledge Sunday. Nevertheless, concerning my sloth, the Latin phrase, “O felix culpa” comes to mind. What it means is, “O happy fault.” All Saints’ Day and Pledge Sunday make perfect sense together. The saints of God are those who gave of themselves, which is exactly what we are asking everyone to do as a member of the Grace Church family.
Also, I hope you will Zoom into the Sunday Forum at 10:15 am. NYU Professor Nicholas Birns will be leading Part 3 of our series, “Where Faith and Politics Intersect.” The focus will be the life and legacy of the late U.S. Representative John Lewis, and a 2015 graduation speech of his that we hope you’ll have time to read in advance.
Finally, don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday night. Yes, we all get an extra hour of sleep. “O felix somnum” is what I want to say about that. O happy sleep!
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2021 Annual Campaign: No Ordinary Time
Today we launch the 2021 Annual Pledge 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 online. (You have all of 2021 to make your payments!) To make an online gift, navigate to our Pledge Giving Form here. Questions about pledging? Contact Matthew Kopp or call 212-254-2005.
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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 try an outdoor Children's Chapel with masks and social distancing. Details below.
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10:15 am – The Sunday Forum: Where Faith and Politics Intersect |
On All Saints Day, join parishioner and NYU professor Nicholas Birns to discuss what qualities a saint might or might not have. Our example of somebody whose life might be considered a saintly one is John Lewis (1940-2020), Congressman and civil rights leader. In discussing Lewis's 2015 commencement speech at Washington University, we will examine where Lewis's penchant for getting into what he calls "good trouble" might be, along with what our well-known hymn calls being "patient, brave, and true," an attribute of saintliness. For Zoom access, please see your recent Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba well in advance of the event.
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11:00 am Morning Prayer
The Twentieth Sunday
after Pentecost
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; 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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Baptism of Charles Edward Dean |
After the 11 am service join us at this link for the baptism of Charles Edward Dean. |
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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 - November 2 online |
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 goes live on Monday, November 2nd, find it here. Don't miss it! |
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Trick or Treat at Grace Church - On the rectory lawn
Halloween Night from 1pm-2pm
(Time change!)
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On October 31st, stop by Grace Church to show off your costume to Mother Julia & Father Thomas. They will be on the rectory lawn for an hour giving out candy to all who stop by to say hello. We are looking for families to donate bags of candy that can be given to the kids in the neighborhood. If you have any questions or want to donate please contact the Rev. Thomas Szczerba.
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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.
Meeting ID: 896 065 849
One tap mobile
+19294362866,,896065849# US (New York)
12:20 pm - 30 minutes of music by J.S. Bach, played on the Bicentennial Organ.
Wednesday - Evening Prayer with Homily at 6 pm
(CHURCH IS OPEN for in-person worship. Service continues to be available over Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTubeLive.) All are required to wear a covering over their nose and mouth, and to observe posted safety guidelines while inside the church.
Meeting ID: 995 1333 2155
Password: 01234
One tap mobile
+19294362866,,99513332155#,,#,01234# US (New York)
4 pm - 45 minutes of diverse music played on the Bicentennial Organ.
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Sunday Forum – November 8th - 10:00am (New Time!) |
Our Faith and Politics conversation concludes on November 8, the Sunday after Election Day, when John Avlon of CNN and Margaret Hoover, host of PBS “Firing Line” will lead the Forum. We are moving the time up to 10am to give us more time for learning and discussion. For Zoom access, please see The Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba well in advance of the event.
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Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist – November 25th – 6pm |
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We will celebrate an in-person and livestreamed service of Holy Eucharist on Thanksgiving Eve. The church opens at 5:30 pm, and we encourage those attending in-person to bring a non-perishable food offering for the bins in the narthex. The rector will be preaching and we will sing beloved Thanksgiving hymns. Masks required! Do join us either in-person or on the livestream. |
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Stay Tuned for information about the Grace Church Advent Drive! |
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We pray for those who suffer
Charles McLean
Russell Browning
Florence Benzon
Gordon Matheson
Linda Hall
Claudia Paoloni
John Berringer
Tom Hall
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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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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