THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT - Sunday, December 4 | |
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PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Our vestry, lay leaders, and congregation as we prepare to welcome our new rector; Lainie Murrell, our postulant to the diaconate; Robert and Donna Weber, Gerald and Marjorie Federico, Theresa Weber, John and Shirley Federico, Yasso HerathRick & JoAnn Stone, Jean B., Lin, Vicki Hudson, Caroline Tucker, Maura McGrath, Pastor Tyler, Phyllis & Bob Holgerson, Sean Murdock, Peter Ng, Mureedullah Hashimi, Robert and Eunice Ruffin. Victims of gun violence everywhere. In memory of Susie Jackson, Bruce Ruffin, Paul Ruffin, Leona Ruffin
If there are names you would like to add to the prayer list, please contact the church office: parishoffice@gracechurchnyack.org/845-358-1297
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Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. Revelation 3:30
It is while waiting for the coming of the reign of God, Advent after Advent, that we come to realize that its coming depends on us. What we do will either hasten or slow, sharpen or dim our own commitment to do our part to bring it.
Waiting — that cold, dry period of life when nothing seems to be enough and something else beckons within us — is the grace that Advent comes to bring. It stands before us, within us, pointing to the star for which the wise ones from the East are only icons of ourselves.
We all want something more. Advent asks the question, what is it for which you are spending your life? What is the star you are following now? And where is that star in its present radiance in your life leading you? Is it a place that is really comprehensive enough to equal the breadth of the human soul?”
by Joan Chittister, OSB in The Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life
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Sunday, December 4 – The Second Sunday of Advent
ARE YOU ON THE WORSHIP MINISTRY SCHEDULE? CLICK HERE to check.
Readings available HERE
Collect of the Day
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; 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
Christmas Pageant roles will be assigned this week
Church school calendar through end of the year is available HERE.
Newcomers and visitors are always welcome
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
4:00pm Advent Lessons & Carols
followed by Parish Advent Celebration
On Sunday we welcome back The Rev. Judy Ferguson as guest celebrant.
The Rev. Judy Ferguson recently retired from 26 years of active, full-time ministry, most recently as rector at the Church of the Holy Innocents, Highland Falls/St. Mark’s Chapel, Fort Montgomery (21 years). Rev. Ferguson continues to serve as the Episcopal Civilian Chaplain to USMA, West Point (21 years), which is the campus/alumni ministry for Holy Innocents’/St. Mark’s parish. We’re grateful that Mo. Judy can be with us on Sundays through the end of the year as we await our new rector in January.
Rockland County COVID risk has returned to LOW. For recommended precautions, CLICK HERE.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS & REMINDERS | |
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PARISH ADVENT CELEBRATION
Begin the season with a beautiful service of Advent Lessons & Carols at 4:00pm followed by an Advent Party for the whole family from 5 to 7:00pm. You’ll also have a chance to meet our new rector.
We’ll start the Advent Party with appetizers, before moving on to by main dishes and sides, then dessert. There will be a kids’ activity, plus carol singing at 6:30!
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Please RSVP HERE. We invite you to bring your choice of festive appetizers, sides, or desserts to add to our tasty buffet spread. When you respond, please use the link provided to sign up to bring food so we can plan effectively. And if you can help with serving or clean-up, there is space to sign up for that as well.Beverages will be provided, but feel free to bring wine to share as well.
We hope you'll join us!
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CHRISTMAS MEMORIALS
Each year as we gather for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, our worship is enhanced by festive flowers and decorations. Your generosity makes this possible. Please join in the time-honored tradition of making a donation for our Christmas celebrations in memory of loved ones or thanksgiving for God’s blessings. Offering envelopes are available at the church entry, or use THIS LINK to make an online donation and leave names in the comments section. Memorial Names must be received by Sunday, December 18 for inclusion in Christmas bulletins.
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ANNUAL GIVING TREE
We’re once again collecting gifts to be distributed to children served through programs at the Nyack Center and others associated with Grace.. You’ll find the Giving Tree at the entry to the church — take a tag, have some fun shopping, and then bring your UNWRAPPED gift back to Grace BY DECEMBER 11 so they can be sorted, wrapped, and distributed at the Nyack Center in time for Christmas. If you're not coming to church in person, you can just select a gift(s) for a boy or girl ages 5-11. You can drop gifts off on Sundays through the 11th, or drop off at the office during office hours. UNWRAPPED PLEASE.
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ASF PRESENTS: All Generations will call me Blessed
Please join us at 7:00pm on December 14 when the Adult Spiritual Formation Commission will present Roberta Nobleman as she the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos (Christ Bearer) as an older woman reflecting on her life. Watch for details & registration to come.
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CHRISTMAS EVENTS & SERVICES
Sunday, December 18
1:00pm Christmas Pageant - outside in Memorial Garden
Christmas Eve - Saturday, December 24
4:00pm Holy Eucharist - A joyful celebration for all ages
10:30pm Carols for Choir & Congregation
11:00pm Feast of the Nativity & Holy Euchrist
Christmas Morning - Sunday, December 25
10:00am Holy Eucharist with Carols
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STEWARDSHIP & VIRTUAL PLATE | |
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PLEDGE UPDATE
Thank you to all who pledged! We have not yet reached our goal of $340,000 or matched our total pledges from last year so if you would like to pledge, please take a pledge card from the back of the church or CLICK HERE to complete a pledge card online. The 2023 budget that we create based on your pledges — which represent 74% of our income— will determine the resources our new rector has available to lead us into the future.
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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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Observe and contemplate.
Make real. Bring to be.
Because we note the falling tree
The sound is truly heard.
Look! The sunrise! Wait —
It needs us to look, to see,
To hear, and speak the Word.
Observe and contemplate.
The cosmos and our little earth.
Observing, we affirm the worth
Of sun and stars and light unfurled.
So, let us, seeing, celebrate
The glory of Love’s incarnate birth
And sing its joy to all the world.
Observe and contemplate
Make real. Affirm. Say Yes,
And in this season sing and bless
Wind, ice, snow; rabbit and bird;
Comet and quark; things small and great.
Oh, observe and joyfully confess
The birth of Love’s most lovely Word.\
— Madeleine L’Engle
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