THE SEASON OF THANKFULNESS
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The Second Sunday of Advent
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
WEEKLY UPDATE: 12.3.10 |
| PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS |
Janet, Doug Doller, Jack Seeman, Charles Drumm, Yasso Herath, Bob and Donna Weber, Elizabeth, Nick DeRosa, Patrick Kelly, Kyle Warnall, Thomas Humeston, Ellie, Peggy Lehrecke, Ruth Ingram, Bill and Catherine Lubeck, Linda McManus, Irene Fortunato, Peggy McCann, Fred Fee, Phil Cifuentes, Chris Brigando, Phyllis Darrin, Dale Brunken, Elizabeth Uccellani, Ruth Boepple, Matthew, Michael Barraclough, Margaret, Mark Ciraldo, Carmen
The prayer list is refreshed monthly please call the office to add a name, or to request that a name be carried forward. There is a book in the narthex where -- before the service begins -- you may add names to be read during the Prayers of the People for the day. |
READINGS
CLICK HERE to listen to sermons from previous weeks |
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
CLICK HERE to visit the Episcopal Church's weekly Bible study website. You'll find all the readings along with background and commentary, and there's an opportunity to add your own comments as well. |
When we watch, we're watching for signs. Signs are things we watch for because they are the leading edge of a larger reality we await. We may await recovery, rescue, or reconciliation. We may await fulfillment, recognition, or love. We long for so many things. We need signs that they are on the way, or even already present. . . .
God was up to something in Jesus. What Jesus said God was up to was the kingdom of God. In his living and teaching, Jesus pointed to the reign of God in justice, compassion, reconciliation. Jesus' coming and his preaching of God's reign signified, or signed, that God cherishes human history. Our story is a prime location for God's presence and action-not the only location, but a prime location.
God's up to something now. What's God up to? That's where signs come in. "Keep awake!" "Watch!" For what? Signs of the kingdom, signs of what God is up to! Where? Right here in the world where God has set up shop!
Expecting, not waiting, is the keynote of this season. We wait in ticket lines and doctors' offices as we idly thumb the magazines. But when the pitcher winds up or the interviewer asks the jaw-dropping question-then we're watching, eager for signs of what will happen next. What if we were to take the quality of our watching at a sporting event, or at a movie, or in a delicate conversation, and turn that attention on our life direction, or the life of our family, or the life of our community? And ask: What's God up to? . . . That's the key question, because being on mission means joining what God is up to in the world. Discerning what God is up to means watching for signs of God's presence and action. Where in our particular place do we see signs of the reign of God pushing up through the debris of people's confusion and wrangling? Where do we see signs of God reconciling? God healing? God renewing?
From Alert for Signs: Seeing and Praying through Advent by Titus Presler (Cincinnati: Forward Movement, 2007).
Like counting down? Check out these online Advent Calendars:
from Trinity Wall Street Love Revealed
from Beliefnet Advent a Spiritual Countdown
from Busted Halo 2010 Advent Surprise Calendar with daily "microchallenges"
(for more options, click here for a story from the Huffington Post, or click here for a list of Advent resources -- including calendars -- from Anglicans Online. Particularly striking, a Hubble Telescope Advent Calendar -- it's dated for 2009, but equally workable for this year.) |
| Click here to go to our Facebook page -- our cyber-bulletin board. What's your favorite Advent tradition or holiday recipe or Grace Church memory? Remember to share items that you find of interest -- pictures, links, etc --make or ask for book or movie recommendations, etc.... Not into Facebook? Click here to send an email and we'll post your note to the Grace Church Nyack page. |
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THIS WEEK
CLICK HERE TO SEE IF YOU'RE ON THE SERVICE MINISTRY SCHEDULE
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3
6:00pm AGC! Holiday Benefit Performance (Memorial Hall)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5
8:00/9:30/11:00am Holy Eucharist
10:10am PARISH FORUM: The Season of Thankfulness
12:30pm Sunday Shorts: Tackamack Park hike
2:30pm AGC rehearsal (Memorial Hall)
4:00pm GraceMusic presents: Messiah Sing
5:30 - 8:00pm Parish Advent Party (Rectory)
6:30pm Senior Youth Group (Patterson Hall)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7
10:00am Staff Meeting (Patterson Hall)
4:00pmAmazing Grace Circus After School
7:00pm Boy Scouts (Memorial Hall)
8:00pm Senior Choir (Choir Room)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8
4:00pm Amazing Grace Circus After School
7:00pm Confirmation Class (Patterson Hall)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9
7:00pm Men's Prayer Breakfast (Patterson Hall)
4:00pm Amazing Grace Circus After School
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11
10:00amMidnight Run (Memorial Hall)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12
8:00/9:30/11:00am Holy Eucharist
10:10am ChurchSchool Classes
PARISH FORUM: Taking the Commercialism out of Christmas (Memorial Hall)
12:00pm Choir Rehearsal
2:30pm AGC rehearsal (Memorial Hall)
6:30pm French Creole Mass
6:30pm SYG: blanket making |
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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!
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PARISH FORUMS ON SUNDAYS - between the 9:30 and 11:00am services
December 5: The Season of Thankfulness
December 12:Taking Commercialism Out of Christmas
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THIS SUNDAY
FROM THE FELLOWSHIP COMMISSION: Sunday Shorts - 12:30pm at Tackamack Park
An hour to energize your body and mind. Join the Fellowship Commission for a short hike, the first Sunday of every month. 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.
GraceMusic presents: 41st 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. |
PLEDGE 2011
To all of you who have sent in your pledge cards: THANK YOU! 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.
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. |
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WEEKLY BULLETIN INSERT FROM EPISCOPAL LIFE CLICK HERE
DIOCESE OF NEW YORK WEBSITE CLICK HERE
EPISCOPAL CAFE For daily Episcopal news/reflection/commentary CLICK HERE
ON FAITH conversations about faith and current events from all angles CLICK HERE |
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Waiting, Darkness, Patience
I heard a preacher say recently that hope is a revolutionary patience; let me add that so is being a writer. Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.
Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird (Anchor Press) | | | | | |
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| GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.130 First Avenue.Nyack.New York.10960.845-358-1297
The Reverend Richard L. Gressle, Rector
The Reverend Emily Sieracki, Assistant to the Rector
Robert Barrows, Organist & Choirmaster
www.gracechurchnyack.org |
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