THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT - March 19, 2023 | |
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PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Our rector, vestry, lay leaders, and congregation, Lainie Murrell, our postulant to the diaconate; Robert and Donna Weber, Gerald and Marjorie Federico, Theresa Weber, John and Shirley Federico, Yasso Herath, Rick & JoAnn Stone, Lin, Vicki Hudson, Caroline Tucker, Maura McGrath, Pastor Tyler, Phyllis & Bob Holgerson, Mureedullah Hashimi, Robert and Eunice Ruffin, Peter Zakrepine, Kayden Germosen, Nancy Haile, Mari, Richard Holt, Alice Uy, Marlene Van Saders, Jan Conley, John Burton, Audrey Washington, victims of gun violence everywhere, those who are alone, and all of those lost and suffering in the aftermath of the earthquaks in Turkey and Syria.
REST IN PEACE John Peter Federico beloved brother of Gerald M Federico on 3/13/2023
If there are names you would like to add to the prayer list, please contact the church office: parishoffice@gracechurchnyack.org/845-358-1297
God, our Creator, we are held in your everlasting arms,
Jesus, our Savior, we are healed by your wounded hands,
Holy Spirit, be present as we reach out to one another in love.
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"And that, perhaps, is the greatest genius of a parable: it doesn't grab you by the lapels and scream in your face, 'Repent, you vile sinner! Turn or burn!' Rather, it works gently, subtly, indirectly. It respects your dignity. It doesn't batter you into submission but leaves you free to discover and choose for yourself.
"Maybe that's why the message of the kingdom of God comes, then, not as a simple formula or list of information and not as an angry threat or ultimatum, but instead as a secret hidden in a parable, like a treasure hidden in a field, like a seed hidden in soil, like yeast hidden in dough.
"Human kingdoms advance by force and violence with falling bombs and flying bullets, but God's kingdom advances by stories, fictions, tales that are easily ignored and easily misunderstood. Perhaps that's the only way it can be."
Bruce McLaren in The Secret Message of Jesus
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SUNDAY, MARCH 19 - The Fourth Sunday in Lent
ARE YOU ON THE WORSHIP MINISTRY SCHEDULE? CLICK HERE to check.
Readings available HERE
Collect of the Day
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
8:00am Holy Eucharist Rite1
9:30am Family Eucharist followed by church school classes
Newcomers and visitors are always welcome - CLICK for 2023 church school calendar
10:15-10:55am Weekly informal Bible study of the day’s readings,
led by Roy Kepler, in Patterson Hall each Sunday. All are welcome – join us
11:00am Holy Eucharist Rite II Also available via live-stream
Order of service for 11:00am service available HERE
Rockland County COVID risk is rated as LOW. For recommended precautions, CLICK HERE
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ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS | |
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EASTER FLOWER AND MUSIC MEMORIALS - April 3 Deadline
We invite your memorial gifts for special flowers and music to enhance our festive Easter celebrations. Envelopes will be available in the church on Sundays beginning in March or you may make a memorial gift via Giving Fire (https://gecnyack.givingfire.com/?fund=4577) Donations will be split between music and flowers. Please leave names in the comments section.
Names must be received by Monday April 3 to be included in the Easter bulletins.
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CONTINUING NEXT TWO WEEKS - Join Anytime!
LENTEN OFFERINGS FROM OUR ADULT SPIRITUAL FORMATION COMMISSION
Programs Begin This Week
Spiritual Memoir: Writing about Our Own Sacred Moments and Journeys
Workshop led by Margie Winslow
Tuesday Evenings -- March 7, 14, 21, 28
7:15 to 8:45 pm, Patterson Hall
"Spiritual" can mean sacred, inspirational, transcendent, challenging, life-changing, or revealing moments in our lives. Participants will explore several ways to capture those experiences using some simple tools of memoir writing. No prior writing experience necessary.
Margie Winslow has published three award-winning memoirs and has taught Memoir Writing at The Learning Center, both at Long Island University and at the New City Jewish Center. She is a member of the Columbia Fiction Foundry and has participated in memoir writing workshops for the International Women Writers Guild and the Hudson Valley Writers Center. A professor emerita of Geology of the City University of New York, Margie has been a member of Grace Church since 1985.
Spiritual Memoir CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Lenten Suppers
Theme: 4 Kinds of Prayer
Wednesday Evenings -- March 8, 15, 22, 29
6:30 pm supper, 7 to 8:15 program, Memorial Hall
After a simple supper of soup, salad and bread, we will focus on four types of prayer -- thanksgiving, praise, petition, and intercession -- one each week. There will be a brief introduction, followed by a hands-on activity that serves as a "window" to that type of prayer. There will also be time to reflect, share in groups, and actually pray. Our goal is to offer tools that allow us to experience prayer in a fresh way.
For Lenten Suppers CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT - Turkey Syria Earthquake Response Fund
February 21, 2023
With the support of Episcopal Relief & Development, Action by Churches Together (ACT Alliance) continues to respond to emergency needs in Syria. This work includes:
- Provision of temporary accommodation and safe shelter
- Distribution of emergency supplies including food baskets and hygiene kits
- Repairing damaged bakeries to restart bread production to provide fresh food for local communities
- Constructing solar power systems to provide electricity for schools, homes for the elderly, and to provide clean water
- Implementing cholera prevention awareness
- Conducting life skills and job training for youth
- Providing mental health and psycho-social support for people affected.
Please continue to pray for those who have been affected by the earthquake. Donations to the Türkiye (Turkey)-Syria Earthquake Response Fund will help the organization to continue to respond to communities impacted by this disaster.
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STEWARDSHIP & VIRTUAL PLATE | |
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We are so grateful to all of you who have made a pledge for 2023. Thank You.
If you would like to pledge, it is not too late! CLICK HERE to complete a 2023 pledge card.
For answers to some frequently asked questions regarding payment of your pledge, please CLICK HERE.
You'll find further instructions on using Giving Fire, our online payment platform, HERE. Note that if you already use Giving Fire for your pledge payments, you may need to update your recurring payments to reflect the amount of your 2023 pledge.
If you need assistance with GivingFire, please contact Pat Cose (pacose@msn.com)
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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 Offering Plate to make an online gift. Use the drop down menu under "FUND" to choose "Other Gifts" or "Pledge Payments".
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The Journey
Above the mountains
the geese turn into
the light again
Painting their
black silhouettes
on an open sky.
Sometimes everything
has to be
inscribed across
the heavens
so you can find
the one line
already written
inside you.
Sometimes it takes
a great sky
to find that
first, bright
and indescribable
wedge of freedom
in your own heart.
Sometimes with
the bones of the black
sticks left when the fire
has gone out
someone has written
something new
in the ashes of your life.
You are not leaving
you are arriving.
David Whyte, The House of Belonging
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