Almighty God, who created us in your own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Collect for Social Justice - Book of Common Prayer

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

Our vestry, lay leaders, and congregation as we journey together on the search process for a new rector; Lainie Murrell, our postulant to the diaconate; Barbara and Peter dePinto, Carol Streichert, JoAnn Stone, Chris Mitchell, Bob, Ginny, Maura McGrath, Gerald and Marjorie Federico,  Bob and Donna Weber, Bill & Theresa Weber, Yasso Herath, John and Shirley Federico, Robert Michael Weber, John Pluhowski, Margaret Fulmor Wagner, Diana Grace, Al and Carol Lalli, Jean B., Lynn Johnson, Kim Hewlett, Maude M, Giuseppe Cristofalo, Carmela Cristofalo, Carmelo Cristofalo, Thomas Sproviero, Domenico Fragale, Marianina Fragale, Peter Zakrepine, Ileya Robinson, Sztyk Family, Drozdyk family, William,Ian, Jean, Stephen Yaw, Gloria Karpinsky, Tasha, Melissa Frustaci, Gina Lacey, Shirley Chalke, Amy Miller, David, Suzanne,Diane Churchill, Nancy Collins, Rebecca Gnann, Elizabeth M., Russell Fernando, Gilberto Rodriguez and family, Pastor Tyler, Ruth Case, Lynn. Vicki Hudson. Victims of gun violence everywhere.

REST IN PEACE: Kenneth L. Sosna, former parishioner

FLOWER MEMORIALS Andrew Dutterer, Clifford R. Barraclough, Ethel E. Hunt, Benson Blake, Josephine M. Doller, and The Rev. Ernest Churchill

PLEASE NOTE: We will begin a new prayer list on October 2. If there are names you would like to continue, please let me know.

“You meet saints everywhere. They can be anywhere. They are people behaving decently in an indecent society.”

― Kurt Vonnegut

Sunday, September 25 - The Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

ARE YOU ON THE WORSHIP MINISTRY SCHEDULE? CLICK HERE to check.

Readings available HERE

Collect of the Day

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

8:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite I

9:30am Family Eucharist, followed by church school registration

11:00am Holy Eucharist Rite II Also available via live-stream

Order of service for 11:00am service available HERE

Out of an abundance of caution for our neighbors, we recommend that our visitors continue to mask inside. In Rockland County, New York, community level is Low.

Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines

Get tested if you have symptoms

People may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test,

or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.

THIS WEEK

OUR FINAL SUNDAY WITH PASTOR TYLER -Sunday, September 25

Join us at services on the 25th to say farewell to Pastor Tyler as his time with us comes to an end. We’ll gather to honor him and bid farewell at a special reception following the 11:00am service. We hope you’ll join us!

CHURCH SCHOOL REGISTRATION CONTINUES

SUNDAY AT THE 9:30am SERVICE

We'll continue church school registration on Sunday, September 25 after the 9:30am service. If you're interested in registering your child(ren) for church school, including Junior Youth Group, please fill out a form that will be available at the entry to the church. The church school calendar through the end of the year is available HERE.

We have lots of exciting things happening this year, and can’t wait to welcome you all back! In anticipation of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (10/2/22), we will also start collecting donations for the Hi Tor Animal Care Center in Pomona on the 18^th. They are always in need of paper towels, old blankets, towels, and pet food! Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Love and Peace, Sandy Rodriguez, church school director

JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP

Kids in 6th-8^th grade can learn more about our Junior Youth Group after the 9:30am service this Sunday. The group, led by Jen Marraccino, will focus on community service, friendship, and fun and will meet during the regular church school time most Sundays. Includes refreshments! All faiths welcome.

SENIOR YOUTH GROUP INVITES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO JOIN

Our Senior Youth Group welcomes all high school-aged students. The group seeks to build a sense of community with a focus on service to others. We meet most Sundays at Grace Church, unless we have a service event that weekend or a group event like an evening BBQ. We use the meeting times to catch up on the events of the week, including topics on the minds of the group. We also save time for games (the card game Uno and cornhole are fan favorites).

Our service events include activities supporting those in need, such as Midnight Run (providing food, clothing, toiletries to the unhoused population in NYC), supporting local non-profits with needs-based support, and wrapping up our year with a summer service trip (last year’s trip was in support of a school in Puerto Rico).We also make time throughout the year for fun, including traditional events like a fall hike, a winter ski day, and other outings as suggested by the group (for instance, we also enjoyed a paintball outing last year).

Want to know more?

Contact Brian or Kristin, and follow us on Facebook @GraceNyackSYG.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR COMMISSION ON SOCIAL MINISTRIES

As you have likely read, we are excited to welcome a family of 6 from Afghanistan to Rockland County at the end of this month. We need your help! We are looking for volunteers who can make a commitment of 3 to 6 months, and have a variety of roles available. Please contact Heidi if you are interested in learning more. In addition, if you are able to purchase some items for the home we are setting up for them, please consider logging on to our Amazon Wish List. When it is time to pick shipping options, simply click on “Kathy Sestak for HHR Gift Registry” to ship to the proper location. 

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3QFC8QS5TNR3?ref_=wl_share

If you have any questions regarding this wonderful outreach that Grace is involved in, please ask any of those who have been helping with this endeavor: Karin Baere, Heidi Hill, Kathy Sestak or Paul Weiss. 

Heidi R. Hill, Chair Commission on Social Ministries   nyack13@gmail.com

REMEMBER YOUR PEOPLE TO PEOPLE DONATIONS - THE NEED IS GREAT

When you come to church please bring non-perishable food items to leave in the basket in the narthex. Peanut butter, tuna fish and cereal are greatly appreciated. If you don’t make it to church, you can always drop items off during office hours.

GIFT CARDS & LAUNDRY SUPPORT NEEDED

Occasionally individuals and families come to us with very basic immediate needs, like food and diapers for their children. When possible we try to help with small gift cards for stores like ShopRite, Target, or Walgreen’s. We’ve also found that help with laundry needs is appreciated, and have put together bags with quarters/soap pods/dryer sheets.We welcome donations of gift cards or materials/change laundry packages so we are prepared when the need arises — just bring them to the office or drop cards in the plate on Sundays. 

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THESE EFFORTS IN THE PAST

A REQUEST FOR HELP

Parishioner Elisabeth Sydor has asked for help in locating some hand-me-downs for a soon-to-be mom who is new to the area and with very limited resources. From Elisabeth: "she could use the entire range of baby (boy) things including: 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 winter (baby expected around Thanksgiving) or looking ahead to spring a bit: onesies, footy pajamas, mittens, beanies, bibs, towels, burb cloths, small blankets, a baby bjorn-type carrier (and bunting?), stroller, infant car seat and even nursing bras (but she needs to find her size first). And if anyone is so inclined to purchase some sanitary napkins for post partum. And anything anyone is inclined to pass down, much appreciated." Items can be left in the church office during the week,or look for Elisabeth on Sundays.

MORE DATES TO SAVE

• Sunday, October 2 - The Feast of St. Francis - Pet Blessing ;                     

                                                    Choral Evensong at 4:00pm

• Saturday, October 22 - FUN(d) Raiser: Dinner & A Movie: Moonstruck
• Sunday, October 23 - Annual Parish Hike

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has given throughout 2022.

As we move forward your willingness to support our church is more important than ever.

Click here to estimate your annual gift (Pledge) for 2023 by completing a pledge card online.

We are so grateful for your support.

Our Virtual Offering Plate

Please keep your pledge current!

To help ensure continuity for the church and our outreach programs to the community, please keep your pledge current if you are able, or make one-time donations as you would on Sunday. You can mail a check to us at 130 First Avenue, Nyack, NY 10960 or use our Virtual Offeering Plate to make an online gift. Use the drop down menu under "FUND" to choose "Other Gifts" or "Pledge Payments".

Three Songs at the End of Summer

BY JANE KENYON

A second crop of hay lies cut

and turned. Five gleaming crows

search and peck between the rows.

They make a low, companionable squawk,

and like midwives and undertakers

possess a weird authority.

Crickets leap from the stubble,

parting before me like the Red Sea.

The garden sprawls and spoils.

Across the lake the campers have learned

to water ski. They have, or they haven’t.

Sounds of the instructor’s megaphone

suffuse the hazy air. “Relax! Relax!”

Cloud shadows rush over drying hay,

fences, dusty lane, and railroad ravine.

The first yellowing fronds of goldenrod

brighten the margins of the woods.

Schoolbooks, carpools, pleated skirts;

water, silver-still, and a vee of geese.

*

The cicada’s dry monotony breaks

over me. The days are bright

and free, bright and free.

Then why did I cry today

for an hour, with my whole

body, the way babies cry?

*

A white, indifferent morning sky,

and a crow, hectoring from its nest

high in the hemlock, a nest as big

as a laundry basket ...

In my childhood

I stood under a dripping oak,

while autumnal fog eddied around my feet,

waiting for the school bus

with a dread that took my breath away.

The damp dirt road gave off

this same complex organic scent.

I had the new books—words, numbers,

and operations with numbers I did not

comprehend—and crayons, unspoiled

by use, in a blue canvas satchel

with red leather straps.

Spruce, inadequate, and alien

I stood at the side of the road.

It was the only life I had.

Jane Kenyon, “Three Songs at the End of Summer” from Collected Poems