Sunday, January 29, 2023

The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Holy Eucharist 

in person at

 8:00, 9:15, and 11:00 am

and online

  Vimeo link for 11:00 am

Service Bulletin Here

Online services can be viewed on our live Vimeo feed.

More than 125 Households Have Pledged to Annual Giving. That’s Great – But We Need More!

The Celebrate Grace Campaign is happy to report that so far, more than 125 donors have generously stepped up to support Grace’s strong, vibrant future.

But we need many more pledges from more households in order to meet our goal.

At the January 8 Annual Parish Meeting, the Rev. Allen Robinson and Treasurer Charlie Henry walked everyone through Grace’s 2023 budget of $1.75 million.

Everything that goes into maintaining and growing our faith community at Grace costs money. Every Sunday School gathering, every outreach or social justice program, every choir practice, every heating and water bill and light bulb to be changed... If it’s happening in Grace, or has Grace’s name on it, Grace has to pay for it.

If you haven’t yet made your pledge–please do so today.

If you’ve already made your pledge– thank you!—we humbly ask you to prayerfully consider increasing it. You can do so by contacting Melissa in the Parish Office at parishoffice@gracebrooklyn.org.

We all receive so much from Grace – we should all give back as much as we are able.

Please go to https://onrealm.org/gracebrooklyn/AddPledge/2023pledge – or pick up a Pledge Card at the back of the church. Just fill out your Pledge Card and place it in the envelope provided. You can drop it in the offering plate, give it directly to one of the ushers, or return it to the Parish Office. 

Please join us in Celebrating Grace’s past, present, and future with a meaningful gift. 



Are you making your pledge online on REALM? We've created an online pledging and automated giving instruction guide to help you successfully set up your online pledge!

Winterfair 2023 -- 

Donations Welcome!

We are collecting donations for the WinterFair now through 5 pm on February 2nd.

If you have donations to drop off, please follow these instructions:

You can come by the church Monday through Thursday from 3-5pm (Fridays 1-5 pm) and ring the bell at the Grace Court entrance. On Saturday from 9am-3pm or Sunday 1pm-3pm, use the main doors on Hicks St. and ring the bell on the right hand side, and Felipe will let you in.

Please leave donations in the pews on the left (pulpit) side of the church. Signs are posted for where things should be placed more specifically, including in the gym. Sporting equipment should be left in the narthex. 

Donations will be accepted until Thursday, February 2nd at 5 pm.

The WinterFair will be held on Saturday, February 4th. If you have questions or would like to help — it takes many volunteers! — please reach out to Marilyn Grant at marilyn.prycegrant@icloud.com or Barbara Becker at bejbecker@gmail.com. We look forward to all your contributions!

The most recent issue of the Justice Journal, a newsletter of our Social Justice and Reconciliation Ministry is now available. Click here for an e-copy. Hard copies will be available for pick up at the church.

Assistance for Asylum Seekers

**The most urgent needs are for men’s winter coats, socks and shoes**

With the massive influx of our migrant brothers and sisters arriving in NYC from the southern border, Grace Church has an opportunity to provide care by donating new packaged items to meet their immediate needs. You may also donate through Realm, selecting Migrant Assistance Relief. Once items are ready, please contact our Associate Rector for Social Justice & Reconciliation, the Rev. Leandra Lambert at llambert@gracebrooklyn.org for drop-off instructions.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper

Hello parents and families! It’s that time of year again — Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, and Lent are all just a few weeks away. As you know, every year on Shrove Tuesday, Grace Church has a family-led Pancake Dinner event to fundraise for our youth programming. The event will take place on Tuesday, February 21st from 6-7:30 pm in the Guild Hall. We're reaching out to ask for your to donate your time and talents to help us make this year’s Pancake Supper our best yet!

Please email Jess at jsmith@gracebrooklyn.org if your family would like to help set up or cook for the event, or with any follow-up questions you might have. We look forward to seeing you there!

Diocesan Lenten Program for 2023

SACRED GROUND

The Episcopal Church's Series on Race, Grounded in Faith 

This Lent, join the hundreds of people in our diocese who have participated in Sacred Ground. A new online and in-person series begins Monday, February 27th, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm, over Zoom.

Over eleven sessions, small groups representing parishes across our diocese walk through chapters of America's history of race and racism. The online curriculum includes documentary films and readings focusing on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. 

The series begins immediately after the first Sunday of Lent, on Monday, February 27, 7:30-9:00 pm with a gathering of all participants over Zoom. 

After this initial meeting, small groups continue independently, with a reunion of all former Sacred Ground participants held at the Cathedral in the fall. 

When you register, please indicate your parish, and your preference for:

Format: Zoom or Hybrid (small groups will not meet on Memorial Day or July 4)

Frequency:

• Every week, beginning February 27 (ends by Memorial Day)
• Every other week, beginning February 27

Register here.

Sunday School 

Children in grades K-5 are invited to participate in Sunday School. Classes meet immediately following the 9:15 am service in the Poplar Room (classroom 2 downstairs at the bottom of the stairs). Trained volunteers lead children in 45 minute sessions focusing on the week’s Bible readings, using the Storymakers curriculum. Please email Jess Smith, Intern for Youth Education, with any questions.

Rector's Bible Study

The Rector’s Bible Study group meets in person on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 am in the McKittrick Choir Room. All are welcome to join Bible Study. We are reading and discussing Thirst, a book of poetry by Mary Oliver. If you would like to attend via Zoom, please use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7186241850.

The Rector's Discretionary Fund

As the Grace Church community continues to deal with the after-effects and continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to ask parish members to consider making an offering to the Rector's Discretionary Fund.

With this fund, the Rector is able to help those in our community when they need it most.

If you would like to contribute to this important fund, you can do so by check or via our online payment system, Realm. If you prefer to make a donation by check, it should be made out to Grace Church with "Rector's Discretionary Fund" in the memo.

Evening Prayer

Grace Church offers Evening Worship every Tuesday - Friday at 5pm online.*

To attend Evening Prayer online, please use the following Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7186241850 .

Parish Prayer Concerns & Thanksgivings

In thanksgiving for all the blessings God has given us, and especially for the precious gift of God’s son, Jesus Christ, who reminds us of the hard lives of those whom Jesus calls blessed, and the sharp edges of their blessedness by worldly standards, so that we do not tame or blunt the radical meaning of the cross. That we, who are called by our Baptism to share the message of the cross with those who do not know Christ, may be trustworthy messengers of God’s love. That we at Grace Church may live in gratitude, doing what is right and generous, and speaking the truth with our hearts and lives. That God will inspire many to relieve the suffering of those who are poor, homeless, hungry and without opportunity, so that they may find hope, healing and a wider and more caring sense of community. That our call to serve may be blessed and strengthened by the riches of God’s grace. That God will give Joe, our president; Kathy, our governor; Eric, our mayor, and all world leaders the strength, courage and vision necessary to work to free those who live in fear, poverty, war, or oppression. That God may heal the hearts of all who use guns in anger, resentment, frustration or despair, and guide them to seek peaceful ways to resolve differences; may God also grant wisdom and grace to the peacemakers. In grief for the world’s brokenness, we pray that God will forgive us for our part in it, and will use that stinging knowledge of suffering to lead us to lives oriented toward God’s loving kindness, and aligned with God’s creation and grace. That we may all “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.” For students everywhere and the stresses they encounter daily. For high school students who are applying to colleges, and for middle-school students who have entered the lottery for high-school placements. For those who lack the opportunity for better schooling or higher education. And for those who have been commended to our prayers, especially, Pastor Sam Colón & family; Emily; Ginny; Isabel; Patricia; Claude; the Manning and Dash families; Vivian H.; Judith & Sandra; Pam; Jane P.; Barbara; Carrie; Stephanie; Cecilia; Lois; Helen; Joanne T.; Demetrios; Debbi; Lauren; Monica & Harry; Willie; Susan; Jane; Stuart; and Michelle. For those who endure chronic or incurable illnesses; and those who care for sick or aging loved ones. For those whose names and needs are known only to God. For all who have died, and for all who mourn.  Blessed Son of God; shine in us today.

Sunday Services

Grace Church holds in-person services at 8 am, 9:15 am, and 11 am each Sunday unless otherwise noted. All are welcome. Masks are no longer required to attend Sunday services. We have child care available for those who need it during the 9:15 am and 11 am services. 

Join us for coffee hour! Please join us for coffee and snacks after each service. 

The 11 am service will be live-streamed for anyone unable to attend in person.

If you have any questions about our worship schedule, please contact Melissa Kelly, Parish Administrator, at parishoffice@gracebrooklyn.org or (718) 624-1850 x 10.

Giving to Grace

We are happy to let you know that you can make a pledge or general offering donations by text! 

Please send a text to 73256 with the message "GraceBrooklyn". The first time, you will be prompted to provide your name and address, including your card number. If you save that information for future use, the second offering by text will be immediate. You can also make one-time pledge payments and general offering donations online here.

If you would like to set up a recurring pledge payment on Realm, please contact Melissa Kelly, parish administrator, for an invitation to join. 

In Remembrance or Gratitude...

Altar flowers are a wonderful way to express gratitude for life's blessings or to memorialize a loved one.

If you would like to contribute Altar flowers, please contact Marilyn Grant. An acknowledgment will be included in the service bulletin.

Weekday Visits to Grace

When you visit, please use the Clergy Door, which is the first door on your right in the Hicks Street courtyard. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.