PARISH FORUMS - between the 9:30 and 11:00am services

NEW FROM THE FELLOWSHIP COMMISSION: Sunday Shorts

An hour to energize your body and mind. Join the Fellowship Commission for a short hike, the first Sunday of every month.  We will choose local parks, so you can be home in an hour.  No rough terrain, just beautiful scenery and pleasant companions. We will pause briefly for silent reflection. This month, we will meet on December 5 at 12:30 at the entrance to TackamackPark off of Clausland Mountian Road: As you drive over the mountain from Nyack, TackamackPark is on the right side of Clausland Mounatin Road, just before you get to Blauvelt. This way we can work up a healthy appetite for the Messiah Sing and then  Annual Advent Party at 5:30! Those attending the 11:00 service can meet outside the front of the church immediately afterwards and we can caravan/carpool. If you have any questions, please contact Tom Perry at perryt@optonline.net or 914-282-5172.

FROM THE THRIFT SHOP: HUNTING FOR THAT PERFECT GIFT?

 Don't forget to check out Grace's Thrift Shop which, in addition to its usual times, is open Sunday afternoons from noon until 4:00pm between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's a great place to find eclectic gifts, vintage items, holiday finery or a special set of china for your entertaining needs.   Volunteers are welcome too!                                                 

SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, December 5

GraceMusic presents: 41^st ANNUAL MESSIAH SING at 4:00pm

A GraceMusic tradition, this yearly sing-along features the audience (that's you) and professional soloists and organist in the Christmas portion of Handel's oratorio. Bring in the Christmas season with some joyous singing. Use your own score or borrow one of the limited number of copies available at the door.   Only $10 and children are free.

The Annual Parish Advent Party, from 5:30 to 8:00pm at the rectory, immediately following GraceMusic's annual Messiah Sing.  Plan to bring a tasty appetizer or dessert to share if you can, and come celebrate the beginning of this joyful season with friends and family. All ages are welcome; there will be supervised activities for youngsters.  Watch for details and sign-up sheets, and please be in touch with Kris Burns (kmpburns@optonline.net) and the Fellowship Commission if you can bring food or help with setup/cleanup.

 To all of you who have sent in your pledge cards:  THANK YOU!  As of November 22, we have 146 pledging units (87 increased from 2010 pledge, 35 stayed the same, 12 decreased, 12 are new) for a total of $266,512.80.  Our financial health depends on the generosity of every member of Grace. Extra pledge packages are in the narthex and in Memorial Hall at coffee hour; please take one, and consider your pledge prayerfully.  If you have questions, don't hesitate to speak with, Fr. Richard, Mtr. Emily, Moriah Olsen, chair of the Stewardship committee, or vestry members. Thank you to our new pledgers: Mary Lynn Alton-Martinez, Betty Birchett, Susan & Jerry Carroll, Ruby & Alan Frae, Ed & Suzanne Grant, Jennifer Hausler, The Heider Family, Karen Kyle, Dyahan & Jonathan Marsland, Connie Pinkus, Schnalzer Family, Anna Shalom, Anonymous (2)

Can't find your pledge materials?   The pledge card is also available online (CLICK HERE); just print it out and mail to us, or place in the offertory plate on Sunday.There's also a very helpful new Question & Answer sheet that answers many of the questions we receive concerning pledging, and,  for those who would like to make their pledge payments via scheduled credit card payments or electronic bank debits (e-pledge), the authorization forms are also on line.

SAVE THE DATE...December  3, 6- 7:30pm

Holiday Benefit Show for CYSM trip & Amazing Grace CIRCUS!
The AGC! Youth Troupe will perform selected acts from their new show in Memorial Hall. One publication described AGC!'s show as 'a cacophony of kaleidoscopic proportions, all under one tent (er, roof), performed by teenagers who are beyond talented for their ages.' The SYG will serve hot dogs, popcorn, soda, juice and other circus comestibles both before and after the show. Suggestion Donation: $15 Adults, $5 Kids under age of 18, Seniors: $10; Children under 2 must sit on parent's lap (free). Memorial Hall sits 100 people. Doors open at 5:00pm. Come hungry. All proceeds benefit Grace's SYG Mission Trip and AGC!'s Gang Prevention Program in the NyackMiddle School (pilot funding from Trinity Wall Street 'All Our Children' program). One show only...general admission at the door. See you at the Circus!

Advent

By Thomas Merton

Charm with your stainlessness these winter
  nights,
Skies, and be perfect! Fly vivider in the fiery dark,
  you quiet meteors,
And disappear.
You moon, be slow to go down,
This is your full!

The four white roads make off in silence
Towards the four parts of the starry universe.
Time falls like manna at the corners of the wintry
   earth.
We have become more humble than the rocks,
More wakeful than the patient hills.

Charm with your stainlessness these nights in
   Advent,
holy spheres,
While minds, as meek as beasts,
Stay close at home in the sweet hay;
And intellects are quieter than the flocks that feed
   by starlight.

Oh pour your darkness and your brightness over
   all our
solemn valleys,
You skies: and travel like the gentle Virgin,
Toward the planets' stately setting,

Oh white full moon as quiet as Bethlehem!