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 The Liturgy of the Palms and 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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Please see below for weekday worship opportunities, both virtual, and in the church on open days!
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Dear Friends,
These days many people are trying to anticipate what our post-pandemic society will look like. How much of the remote working experience will remain? Will office employees be back to braving the daily commute, and if not, what will become of all the vacant real estate that they used to occupy? The same holds true for the church. Will people ever again feel safe sharing the Eucharist from the common cup, singing hymns without masks, and worshipping in pews that are not socially distant?
When I think about what Sundays used to be at Grace Church, it is enough to exhaust me! Three services (and sometimes four) with a variety of coffee hours and classes connected with each. The church would be open all day, and I would often find myself racing to button up my cassock before the opening hymn of one service or another. For the past 13 months we have been just a shadow of our former self. An argument could be made that we are out of shape, and the time for spring training has come.
My vision is that we will be back to full strength come September of this year. Of course, common sense and science will guide our actions, but I am imagining that Welcome Back Sunday on September 12 will be a grand occasion. Vested choristers will be back in the choir pews, Sunday school students back in the classrooms, coffee hour back in Tuttle Hall, the 6 pm service back in the chantry, and perhaps we will even have a party on lawn of Huntington Close as we used to do “in the before time.”
To get back in shape we need to take things one step at a time. It begins this Sunday with the re-introduction of the 9 am service. One thing we are learning is that some of the essential volunteers who offered their valuable time and talent to make the service happen may have moved out of the city, or are not yet ready to return. Thus, if you would like to get involved, now is a great time. We need repopulate our teams of lay readers, ushers, and altar guild members. If you are interested, please let Julia, Thomas, or me know.
This week as we re-integrate the 9 am service into the morning, the Sunday Forum will be on recess, but will return on April 18. Also, Children’s Chapel on Zoom is moving to the new time of 10 am. Read all about it below.
I am looking forward to getting back in shape, and exercising some Sunday muscles that have grown soft. See you in church.
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9:00 am Holy Eucharist and Hymns |
Last Sunday 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
The Rev. Thomas John Szczerba Jr., preaching
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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:
Sunday Forum on Recess
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The Sunday Forum will not meet today as we adjust to the incorporation of the 9 am service into the morning. The Forum will resume next Sunday (4/18) at its regular time, 10 am on Zoom. |
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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
The Rev. Thomas John Szczerba Jr., preaching
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.
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.
20s & 30s Pub Theology on April 15th from 6:30pm-7:30pm (over Zoom) - All parishioners in their 20s and 30s are invited to join us for a discussion on Rowan Williams book, Tokens of Trust. For Zoom access, email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba well before the event.
4 pm - 45 minutes of diverse music played on the Bicentennial Organ.
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Funeral for Linda Hall - April 17th at 11am
All those wishing to give thanks to God for the wonderful life of Linda Hall may gather in-person in the church or participate in the service through the livestream. If you plan to attend in-person, it would be extremely helpful to pre-register for the service. The livestream link will be available here.
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April 18th Sunday Forum: Virtual Coffee Hour
The Sunday Forum will be on break this week. We will resume on April 18th. For Zoom access, please see The Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba well in advance of the event.
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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.
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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
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
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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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