Thursday, April 1st - Sunday April 4th, 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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Clergy:
The Rev. J. Donald Waring
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,
Today is Maundy Thursday, which means that we are entering the holiest time of the church year, what is traditionally called the Triduum. Triduum means “three days,” and it encompasses the time between Thursday and Sunday evenings of Holy Week. Had we been in normal times we would have begun the Triduum by gathering together in the church tonight. Obviously, we are still living through extraordinary circumstances, so the Maundy Thursday service will be on the livestream only. I encourage you to tune in at 6 pm because, quite frankly, it will be worth it. The service commemorates the day Jesus began with his life intact, but ended deserted by his friends and convicted of a capital crime. Yet he was clear that what he was doing was for us and our salvation. How can it be? Julia Offinger will be the preacher and the Adult Choir will sing. See below for the Maundy Thursday bulletin and the livestream link.
Then tomorrow, Good Friday, we will open the church and observe the day with a 12 noon service of sermons, hymns, prayers, and choral music by the Adult Choir. Four sermons will take us to the foot of the cross and look on Jesus through the eyes of some of the people who were there. I will be preaching about the disciple Peter. Thomas Szczerba will take on the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Harry Krauss will examine the soldiers who pounded the nails into Jesus. Finally, Julia will sort through “all the Marys.” Keeping track of all the Marys practically requires a scorecard, but we’ll have it straight by the time Julia says “Amen!” The Good Friday service is open to the public and will also be on the livestream. See below for the bulletin and link.
Finally on Easter Day, April 4th, we will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with two identical services at 9 am and 11 am. The 11 am service will also be on the livestream. Both services are open to the public, but pre-registration is required due to the reduced seating capacity of the church for social distancing. At this time the 11 am service is full, but there is still room at the 9 am. If you want to attend in person, pre-register here.
Either way you participate, whether it be from a pew or through the livestream, Easter Day will be as glorious as we can make it and still maintain Covid safety. Ellen McElduff and the flower guild will be working their magic to array the church with Easter joy. We will unveil a new festive set of altar and pulpit embroideries that are the gift of Charlie Johnston (read more about them, below). The children will enjoy an Easter egg hunt after both services, and even the magnolia tree in the rectory yard should be in full bloom! The Easter bulletin and livestream links are below.
It all begins tonight at 6 pm today, Maundy Thursday. Here we go!
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Maundy Thursday, April 1st |
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6:00 PM Choral Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar
The Rev. J. Donald Waring
The Rev. Thomas Szczerba
The Rev. Julia Macy Offinger, preaching
Music:
Dr. Patrick Allen, organ
Members of the Adult Choir
Service will 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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12:00 pm Personalities of the Passion
Preachers, in order of appearance:
The Rev. J. Donald Waring
The Rev. Thomas Szczerba
The Very Rev. Harry E. Krauss
The Rev. Julia Macy Offinger
Music:
Dr. Patrick Allen, organ
Members of the Adult Choir
Service will 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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Easter Day, Sunday April 4th |
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11:00 am Festive Choral Eucharist
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 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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Festive Altar Embroideries |
Today we unveil 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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Devotions will be offered every Sunday in Lent at 4:00pm. The event is live streamed only. The program features organ music with hymns for you to sing along with at home, mostly drawn from The Hymnal 1982 and the Lift Every Voice and Sing II: African American Hymnal, with a few other old favorites to enjoy. During Lent the Meditations will feature guest artists and choir. Tune in and sing along during this special time of musical prayer. These offerings will be livestreamed over all the Grace Church channels during Lent. More detailed information can be found at this link.
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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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Holy Week Still to Come
Maundy Thursday, April 1
6:00 pm – Choral Eucharist & Stripping of the Altar
Livestream only
Good Friday, April 2
12:00 pm – The Good Friday liturgy with choir
Four sermons: Personalities at the Foot of the Cross
Open to the public and on the livestream
Easter Day, April 4
9 & 11:00 am – Festive Choral Eucharist and Sermon
Open to the public and on the livestream
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All children in attendance for Easter services are invited to hunt for eggs following the 9am and 11am in Huntington Close. We are looking for parent volunteers to help Mother Julia and Father Thomas hide the eggs. If you are interested in helping, please contact the Rev. Thomas Szczerba by email. |
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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 April 5th - The Church and Parish House are closed on Easter Monday.
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.
The Great Litany: Wednesday 6 pm In-Person or on Zoom during Lent – During the season of Lent we will be doing The Great Litany. For Zoom access, please see this link.
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)
Wednesday - Men’s Bible Study – April 7th 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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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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Sunday Forum: Virtual Coffee Hour - April 11th
The Sunday Forum will be on break for April 4th, Happy Easter! We will resume with a virtual coffee hour on April 11th, grab a cup of coffee and join the clergy for a coffee hour conversation. For Zoom access, please see The Weekly Epistle or email the Rev. Thomas Szczerba well in advance of the event.
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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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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
Cheryl Samuels
Genowefa Latkowski
Lois Queen
Tom Hall
Walton E. McLeod
Josephine
all those who suffer due to the coronavirus
and for those who have died
Bonnie Duckold
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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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