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 and Sermon
on
Clergy:
The Rev. J. Donald Waring
The Rev. Julia Macy Offinger, preaching
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 morning over breakfast I was reading today’s edition (actual paper) of The New York Times when the title of the lead editorial caught my eye. It reads: “Why Our Spies Say the Future Is Bleak.” Apparently, at the beginning of every new presidential administration, the various intelligence agencies in the country issue a report on global trends, forecasting where the world is headed over the next twenty years. What the prognosticators see is “a more contested world that is rent by a changing climate, aging populations, financial crises and technologies that divide rather than unite, all straining societies and generating shocks that could be catastrophic.” In other words, if you thought 2020 was bad, fasten your seat belt. Yikes!
We are now, thankfully, in the season of Easter. Lent’s long shadows have departed and for the next five Sundays we get to bask in the reality of the resurrection. Eastertide is a season of hope for all creation. As Christians the astonishing claim we make is that God changed everything in raising Jesus from the dead. God did not merely mean to say that we are all going to heaven when we die. Rather (or also), God began the new creation here on earth. Thus, we believe that the world is not headed toward the garbage dump or the grave, but that God’s kingdom will come, and God’s will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. Because of Easter we declare that the future is not bleak.
But what really happened? The Gospels tell us that after the discovery of the empty tomb and all the confusion of Easter Day, the risen Jesus began appearing to various witnesses. The reports of these appearances don’t all agree with each other. So do the discrepancies mean the reports are untrustworthy? For the next two weeks at the Sunday Forum I’ll be leading sessions in which we’ll take a look at as many of the resurrection appearances as time allows. Each one gives us a different angle on Jesus and the new life he offers us all by the power of the Spirit. As you know, the Sunday Forum is on Zoom at 10 am. See below for instructions to join the meeting.
Also, now that the 9 am service is back, plans are afoot to make the Sunday Forum a hybrid event, remaining on Zoom but with limited, safe, in-person participation from the Reception Room. Stay tuned for details on this as the process of reopening continues.
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9:00 am Holy Eucharist and Hymns |
On Easter Day we re-launched the 9 am Sunday service. In pre-pandemic times it was part of our regular Sunday worship offerings at 9 am, 11 am, and 6 pm. It was a joy to gather again for the first time at 9 am since March 8, 2020. Going forward we plan to continue with an in-person 9 am Sunday Eucharist (not on the livestream) and 11 am as always, in-person and on the livestream. We expect to re-launch the 6 pm Eucharist in the Chantry in September.
Clergy:
The Rev. J. Donald Waring
The Rev. Julia Macy Offinger, preaching
The Rev. Thomas John Szczerba Jr.
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10:00 am Children's Chapel
(over Zoom) (New time!)
Join Mother Julia and Father Thomas from 10 - 10:25 am to say our hellos, read and discuss the story of the day from our Children’s Bible, and then say our prayers together. (Designed for ages 4-10, but the whole family is welcome.) For Zoom access, please see The Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba well in advance of the event.
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:
Resurrection Appearances (Over Zoom)
What does the New Testament actually say about the appearances of the risen Jesus that began on the first Easter Day? How long did they last, and what did the first witnesses experience? The Gospel accounts vary, but also lend themselves to some striking overlap. Over the next two weeks the Rector will lead a survey of the four Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles. For Zoom access, please see this Link
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11:00 am Morning Prayer and Sermon
CHURCH IS OPEN
for in-person worship!
Clergy:
The Rev. J. Donald Waring
The Rev. Julia Macy Offinger, preaching
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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45 minutes of your favorite hymns, solos, anthems and voluntaries played on the Bicentennial Organ. Requests taken! Find past recordings at this link.
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Festive Altar Embroideries
On Easter Day, we unveiled a new set of white altar and pulpit hangings as well as clergy stoles for use on Easter, Christmas, and other celebratory occasions in the worship life of the church. The work of the liturgical artist Davis d’Ambly, they were commissioned especially for Grace Church and given by Mr. Charles D. Johnston, in loving memory of his mother, Janet Niven Johnston.
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Impressions from the Pandemic |
As there is very little written about the 1918 Flu Epidemic, the Archives Committee would like to make it easier for future historians to learn what life was like during the year known as “No Ordinary Time.” As we mark the first-year anniversary of the New York City shutdown, we are collecting thoughts, experiences, and memories from Grace Church parishioners about the pandemic and life during “The Pause.” To contribute, please visit our website.
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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.
Midweek In-Person Worship - Tuesday and Thursday Noonday Prayer at 12:15 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. 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)
12:20 pm - 30 minutes of music by J.S. Bach, played on the Bicentennial Organ.
Men’s Bible Study – April 21st 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.
4 pm - 45 minutes of diverse music played on the Bicentennial Organ.
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Sunday, April 25th Sunday Forum: Resurrection Appearances, Part Two –
The Rector concludes the survey of New Testament reports of the risen Jesus. For Zoom access, please see The Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba well in advance of the event.
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Sunday, May 2nd - The Very Rev. Kurt Dunkle -
Dean and President of the General Theological Seminary and a parishioner of Grace Church will be our guest preacher at the 9 and 11 am. At the Sunday Forum at 10 am Dean Dunkle will reflect on new initiatives in Episcopal theological education.
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Men’s Bible Study – May 5th 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
Russell Browning
Claudia Paoloni
Charles Drew
Lewis Zachary Cohen
Jerry Werner
Cheryl Samuels
Lois Queen
Tom Hall
Josephine
all those who suffer due to the coronavirus
and for those who have died
The Rev'd Gordon H. Duggins
The Rev'd John Smith
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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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