Sunday, January 10th, 2021 |
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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 Holy Eucharist
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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Click on the image above to read about the 2021 Annual Campaign |
All parishioners and friends of Grace Church are asked to make a pledge to the Annual Campaign.
By making an annual pledge we not only support the work of the church, but we show our thanks to God for all the blessings of life.
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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,
Most people of good will are still trying to process the events of this week in Washington DC. Because in this space I have to say something, I offer words of lament, caution, and praise. First, the lament for our beloved country. That a sitting President of the United States would incite a mob to storm and desecrate the capitol building is beyond reckless and irresponsible. To see images of an insurrectionist carrying a Confederate flag through the halls of congress should make us all weep, but also fill us with resolve to understand how such a thing could happen. Needless to say, I hope that everyone involved in defacing our nation’s most sacred civil space is identified and held accountable. And yes, I would say the same thing about those who smashed storefronts and ransacked our city streets earlier this year. Violence and vandalism are never noble deeds. They are criminal and shameful. I lament for the state of our country.
I also offer words of caution. The turmoil is enough to make us forget that we are in the deadliest phase of the pandemic. Beginning last September we reopened the church for one Sunday service of in-person worship. So far our strict precautions of limited capacity, social distancing, mask wearing, and frequent sanitizing of the space have kept us safe. At this point our plan is to continue as we are, even though some churches in the city are once again suspending in-person worship. We are watching the numbers very carefully. In the meantime, please be extra cautious. If you are feeling at all unwell, stay home and tune in to the livestream. If you are here, observe all the Covid restrictions and avail yourself of the hand sanitizers. Concerning the church restrooms (how do I say this diplomatically?), use them only for dire emergencies. Take care of your needs at home before and after to reduce the likelihood that nature will call in the house of the Lord.
Finally, words of praise and gratitude for you, the people of Grace Church. As you know, every Christmas our entire offering at all services is directed to the Vestry Fund for Outreach (VFO). It is from this fund that Grace Church makes grants to agencies of mercy in the city: food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and training programs that help people reach for a better life. In normal times we have four Christmas services and literally thousands of people in the pews filling the offering plates. In some years the collection has exceed $20,000. This year we had only three services, two of which were online only. Nevertheless, you responded generously, and the 2020 Christmas offering now stands at $16,838. Don’t underestimate the positive impact of your giving. People do desperate things when they are hungry, homeless, and hopeless. But I remain hopeful that those whom we reach through the VFO will be more inclined towards constructive rather than destructive engagement with society. Thank you for being the people of God in this time and place.
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9:45 am Children's Chapel
(over Zoom)
Join Mother Julia and Father Thomas from 9:45-10:10 am to say hello, read the story of the day from our Spark Children's Bible, talk about it, and then say our prayers together.
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:
175 Years in the Neighborhood
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The year 2021 marks the 175th anniversary of the current building we call Grace Church. The congregation was founded in 1808 and moved to Broadway at 10th St. 38 years later. It was on March 7, 1846 when this glorious edifice was consecrated, and here we have been ever since. Over the next few months, we will be sharing stories about the building itself and life that has taken place within and around it. This week members of the Archives and Saving Grace NYC committees will introduce the theme whet our appetites for features to come. For Zoom access, please see this link.
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11:00 am Holy Eucharist
The First Sunday After The Epiphany
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, The Choir of Men and Boys, The Girl's 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!
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20s & 30s – Pub Theology over Zoom
1/14 from 6:30pm-7:30pm
If you are in your 20s or 30s and interested in having a discussion on theology, please email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba and he will give you the Zoom information.
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Church is Open
Four Days per Week
Tuesday and Thursday, noon to 3 pm
with Noonday Prayer at 12:05 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
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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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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.
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.
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.
Wednesday - Evening Prayer with Homily at 6 pm
(CHURCH IS OPEN for in-person worship. Service continues to be streamed on our Website, Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTubeLive.) All are required to wear a covering over their nose and mouth, and to observe posted safety guidelines while inside the church.
Meeting ID: 995 1333 2155
Password: 01234
One tap mobile
+19294362866,,99513332155#,,#,01234# US (New York)
4 pm - 45 minutes of diverse music played on the Bicentennial Organ.
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The Sunday Forum – January 17: Virtual Coffee Hour: Join fellow parishioners for a thought-provoking conversation lead by one of the members of the clergy. For Zoom access, please see The Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba.
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Men’s Bible Study – January 20th 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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The Church Club of New York lecture – January 21, 6:30 pm: "The Episcopal Black Atlantic: Alexander Crummell and James Theodore Holly" with Prof. Nicholas Birns. The Atlantic Ocean in the nineteenth century encompassed slavery and freedom, Britain and America, whiteness and blackness. It also saw the founding of two modern black countries: Haiti and Liberia. This lecture will explore the role that two African American priests of the Episcopal Church, Alexander Crummell and James Theodore Holly, played in evangelizing and connecting the Black Atlantic.” Nicholas Birns teaches literature at NYU and is a parishioner of Grace Church in Manhattan. For Zoom information visit the Church Club website at www.churchclubny.org
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The Sunday Forum – January 24: Christianity in Liberia. As part of our continuing commitment to explore issues of race in our Sunday Forum discussions, this week we welcome John V. Singler, Professor of Linguistics at NYU and an expert on Christianity in Africa. Professor Singler will focus on the country of Liberia from the arrival of Episcopal missionaries in 1836 to the present. For Zoom access, please see The Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba.
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The Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Sunday, February 7th. It will be a virtual event. Details to follow as they are determined.
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Virtual Advent Drives 2020 Results
A big thank you to all who participated in this year’s Advent drive! We had 17 different households participate and we had over 140 hats, 120 gloves, 10 scarves, 55 pairs of socks, 200 pairs of men’s underwear, 275 toiletries, and a large number of other items donated. All organizations were grateful for our contribution as a parish.
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
Cathy Minuse
Susan McLean
Frances Givhan
Thomas Duane Brennan
Larry Raymond
Marni Rubin Watkins and family
Brooke, Reagan, and Charlotte
The Warren Family
Lois Queen
Russell Browning
Linda and Tom Hall
John Berringer
Claudia Paoloni
Josephine
all those who suffer due to the coronavirus
and for those who have died
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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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GRACE CHURCH IN NEW YORK
212-254-2000
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