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, 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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Please see below for weekday worship opportunities, both virtual, and in the church on open days!
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Dear Friends,
I am almost certain that in the recent past – either in a sermon or perhaps in this newsletter – I referenced a genre of YouTube video described as “never celebrate too early.” The scenes are usually comical. A football player, seeing nothing but empty turf between himself and the end zone, begins a victory dance before crossing the goal line, only to be clobbered by a player who comes out of nowhere. A basketball team scores what they think is a buzzer-beater and takes a one-point lead. In the thrill of victory they drop their guard and fail to see a few seconds left on the clock. The other team inbounds the ball, scores, and wins. A soccer goalie successfully blocks a penalty kick and jumps for joy, but fails to notice that the ball has significant backspin on it. When it hits the ground in front of the goal, it rolls in and the other team scores. Never celebrate too early.
Likewise, on Thursday the CDC announced what is a great moment in our struggle against the pandemic. As vaccinations continue and cases of Covid-19 decline, we heard that those who have been fully inoculated no longer need to wear masks either inside or outside. The announcement took most people by surprise. Prior to Thursday the conventional wisdom was that we’d still need to mask-up well into the fall. When I heard the news I wanted to jump for joy and dispense with masks this very Sunday. Not so fast! Never celebrate too early. We still need to hear what the State of New York and the Diocese have to say about our Sunday precautions. So for now the safeguards remain in place. Let’s stay vigilant until we are certain that the virus has no backspin on it. As for the face coverings, we still have a number of Grace Church masks that are doing no one any good here. If you come on Sunday we will be tossing them your way like Frisbees.
At the Sunday Forum this week I will be completing the New Testament survey of resurrection appearances. What I thought would be a two-part series has turned into four. This week the focus will be the Book of Acts. Hopefully we will have time to talk about what the Christian hope for eternal life is and is not. You can join the Sunday Forum either on Zoom, or in-person in the Reception Room at 10 am.
See you in church.
The Rev. J. Donald Waring
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9:00 am Holy Eucharist and Sermon |
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, preaching
The Rev. Julia Macy Offinger
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, Part Four
The Rector concludes the survey of New Testament reports of the risen Jesus with a focus on the Book of Acts. How do the resurrection appearances inform the Christian hope for life eternal? During the month of May we are experimenting with a hybrid format for the Sunday Forum. You can attend in person from the Reception Room or tune in at 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, 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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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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Please Get Fully Vaccinated |
Vaccines against Covid-19 are now available for anyone 16 years of age and older who wants to be inoculated. Receiving the vaccine protects not only you, but those you love and everyone around you. It is the best way to help speed along the reopening of society. Please speak with your doctor or go to the NYC Vaccine Finder to make an appointment.
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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, 9 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)
Men’s Bible Study – May 19th 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.
12:20 pm - 30 minutes of music by J.S. Bach, played on the Bicentennial Organ.
4 pm - 45 minutes of diverse music played on the Bicentennial Organ.
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Sunday Forum May 23rd Saving Grace Presentation – Join Saving Grace for a presentation on the Roman Urn in the Rectory Garden. What is it? Where did it come from? How is it related to the first Episcopal Church founded in Rome? For Zoom access, please see The Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba well in advance of the event.
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Episcopal Charities Sunday – May 23rd - Next Sunday, we will celebrate the wonderful work that Episcopal Charities does in ten counties throughout New York. They fund programs that provide vital services like food, rent support, and childcare to those most affected by COVID-19, including essential workers, the unemployed, recently incarcerated individuals, and immigrants. As always, 100% of your donation goes to those who need it most. Donate by clicking here.
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Final Men’s Bible Study before summer recess – June 2nd 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. After this bible study, we will go on a summer recess, we will pick things back up in September. If you are interested in participating, please contact the Rev. Thomas Szczerba by email.
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Parish Picnic – June 6th - After the 11 am service we will close out the program year with as much of a parish picnic as the CDC allows us to have! We anticipate lite-bites and beverages on the lawn of Huntington Close.
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May is Peanut Butter Month - In May everyone is invited to contribute a jar (or jars) of peanut butter to the Grace Church food collection. All food donations are appreciated - but this month we focus on peanut butter as a very important staple item for The Red Door Place food ministry. Let’s see how many jars we can collect. Collection baskets are near the doors of the main church.
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We pray for those who suffer
Gardner Rankin
Richard Johnson
Lewis Zachary Cohen
Russell Browning
Claudia Paoloni
Tom Hall
Josephine
all those who suffer due to the coronavirus
and for those who have died
Bong Yu
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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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