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The Feast of St. Francis (10/2/11)
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
WEEKLY UPDATE: September 30, 2011 |
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PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
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Janet, Doug Doller, J Charles Drumm, Thomas Humeston, Bob and Donna Weber, Yasso Herath, Peter Lubeck , Catherine Lubeck, Al Lalli, Fred Hudson, Roberta Mathsen, Dave, Eloise, Raymond, Bill Owen, Julia Lochner, Julia Marason, Tasha, Jill F, Jim McClure, Pat Decker, Dolores Lentz, Peggy Lehrecke, Sue Lindsay, Jo Ann Winter, Barbara Harris, Vera Collins, Deborah Federico, James Buckout
REST IN PEACE: James Case
There will be a Requiem for James at Grace on Wednesday, October 5 at 11:00am. Condolences to the Case family may be sent to 190 Depew, Nyack, NY, 10960.
There will be a Requiem for Jane Colgan on Friday, October 7 at 11:00am. Condolences to the Colgan family may be sent to 107 Wydendown Road, Upper Nyack, NY 10960.
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.
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COLLECT OF THE DAY
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and 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.
To listen to a wide variety of Episcopal "faith stories," CLICK HERE to open I AM EPISCOPALIAN. Be patient, it takes forever to load! |
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Anyone familiar with the writings of St. Francis and with his life is aware that the Saint was always urging his Friars to be at peace with each other and to go among men as peacemakers. A remarkable chapter on missions among the Saracens (RnB 16) anticipates the ecumenical ideas of our own time, even though it was written in the age of crusades...and we know that St. Francis, toward the end of his life, made peace between the Mayor and Bishop at Assisi by sending one of the friars to sing his wonderful hymn in praise of God in His creatures in their presence. He thought (as did Pope John) that the best way to turn men's minds to peace was to remind them of the goodness of life and of the world. The friar came, sang the "Song of Brother Sun," to which St. Francis had added two lines, about peace. The Mayor listened in tears. The Bishop confessed his own haughtiness. And there was peace between them.
This is a charming story. No doubt we will need more than charming stories to bring peace to the world of our time. But the meaning is there: where there is a deep, simple, all-embracing love of man, of the created world of living and inanimate things, then there will be respect for life, for freedom, for truth, for justice and there will be humble love of God."
Thomas Merton (in "The Christian in World Crisis: Reflections on the Moral Climate of the 1960s") |
Are you on the service ministry schedule this weekend? CLICK HERE to find out.
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| SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1
Enquirers Class - rescheduled to Monday, October 10, 7-10:00pm
10:30am AGC Sensory Circus Class (Memorial Hall)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2 - Feast of St. Francis
PET BLESSING AT ALL SERVICES
8:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite I)
9:30am Holy Eucharist (Family Service)
10:10am Community Activity/Refreshments
11:00am Holy Eucharist
2:30 AGC! Youth Troupe rehearsal (Memorial Hall)
MONDAY - FRIDAY, 3:30 - 6:30pm - AGC! CIRCUS SCHOOL
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4
10:00am Staff Meeting (Patterson Hall)
8:00pm Senior Choir (Choir Room)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5
11:00am Requiem for James Case
12:15 Clericus (Patterson Hall)
7:00pm Confirmation Class (Patterson Hall)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7
11:00am Requiem for Jane Colgan
4:00pm Malone/Van Slooten wedding rehearsal
6:00pm JYG Nightwatch
(continues on reverse)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8
10:00am Midnight Run (Memorial Hall)
10:30am AGC! Sensory Circus (Memorial Hall)
11:30am Malone/Van Slooten wedding
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
8:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite I)
9:30am Family Service (baptism), followed by Church School classes
10:10am Parish Forum: CYSM Breakfast
11:00am Holy Eucharist (baptism)
2:30pm Amazing Grace Circus rehearsal (Memorial Hall)
6:30pm French Creole Mass
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PARISH FORUMS - between the 9:30 and 11:00am services
Join us Sundays from 10:10 to 11:00am to learn more about our faith, our church, our diocese, and our communion. Each week features a different topic led by members of the congregation and/or invited speakers.
THIS SUNDAY - 10/3: Feast of St. Francis Community Activity - Pet Blessing at all services
Children, adults, and all their multi-legged friends are invited to join in our joyous parade through Nyack in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis.
COMING: (10/9) CYSM YOUTH BREAKFAST - All Morning All proceeds will go to this year's Church Youth Service Mission trip. |
PARISH FORUMS - between the 9:30 and 11:00am services
Join us Sundays from 10:10 to 11:00am to learn more about our faith, our church, our diocese, and our communion. Each week features a different topic led by members of the congregation and/or invited speakers.
THIS SUNDAY - 10/3: Feast of St. Francis Community Activity - Pet Blessing at all services
Children, adults, and all their multi-legged friends are invited to join in our joyous parade through Nyack in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis.
COMING: (10/9) CYSM YOUTH BREAKFAST - All Morning All proceeds will go to this year's Church Youth Service Mission trip. |
HAVE YOU MADE YOUR 2012 PLEDGE YET?
Thank you to everyone who has already made their commitment for the coming year. Can't find your pledge materials? The pledge card is also available online (CLICK HERE); just print it out and mail to us, for place in the offertory plate on Sunday.There's also a very helpful 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. This year more than ever, every pledge counts.
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CHURCH SCHOOL COLLECTING FOR ANIMAL SHELTER
In honor of St. Francis, the Church School is collecting donations of supplies for the Hi Tor Animal Shelter - they have many cats at the moment and are in desperate need of both dry & wet cat food and cat litter. They also really, really need old linens for bedding and/or gift certificates to supermarkets or animal stores. Forgot your offering this morning? We'll collect through next week, so drop it by the office, or bring next Sunday and it'll still make our delivery to the shelter.
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ENQUIRERS CLASS MOVED TO MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 10
For adults who would like to consider being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church when Bishop Sisk is here on November 5, and for those who would just like to know more about the Church, we will have an Enquirers Class on Monday, October 10 from 7:00 tto 10:00pm. Attendance does not obligate you to become a member of the Episcopal Church, however if you do wish to be confirmed or received, it is required. If you're interested, please call the office to register so that we have enough material on hand (as well as coffee & carbs!). If you'd like to know more, or cannot make this date, please speak with Fr. Gressle (358-1297.)
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COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS...AND CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF GRACE Join us on Saturday, October 15, in Memorial Hall from 9:00am. to 1:00pm for Blessings of Grace. We will break into small groups to create individual expressions of what Grace means to each of us. Each group will have a leader and focus on a different medium, from collages to baking bread for Eucharist to word montages to hanging wind messages. Or bring your own ideas for expressing how you feel blessed by being a part of the Grace community and its history. Then we'll all join together for a soup lunch and a chance to share our creations. And... on that Sunday, October 16, the Church School classes will participate in related activities.
WHAT IS A SEARCH COMMITTEE? At the September vestry meeting, Moriah Olsen was appointed to be our Search Committee Chair. The Episcopal Church has a unique process to call the next priest to serve. The priests are neither appointed by the Bishop (although they must be approved) nor are they voted upon by the congregation (although as much as possible the congregation participates). The search committee ideally is made up of representatives from all areas of our congregation. Since it is limited to 9-12 people that will be our challenge. If you are interested in serving on such a committee for 12 - 18 months, please let the Wardens know or email Moriah (moriahso@Yahoo.com) by Oct. 11.
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Partners In Care
A subsidiary of The Visiting Nurse Service of New York will have an
OPEN HOUSE AT GRACE
Wednesday, October 5, 2011 10:00AM - 2:00PM
For Home Health Aides
Offering:
Free Physical, Flexible Hours, 1 Day Refresher Course
Free Training Available¨ We offer a starting salary of $9.50 per hour and an excellent benefits package. Our employees average 30+ hours weekly. Numerous types of cases are available in Rockland County. Applicants must live in Rockland County¨
For information please call 212-609-7973. PARTNERS IN CARE is an equal opportunity employer.
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GRACEMUSIC presents
New York Polyphony: "Tudor City"
Sunday, October 30, 2011 at 4:00pm
"A stunning tour through chant, polyphony and renaissance harmonies" (Minnesota Public Radio), a compelling synthesis of ancient and contemporary vocal music performed by this preeminent male vocal quartet, their "Tudor City" CD featured on All Things Considered and on Billboard's Classical top 10. Tickets $15; Seniors $10; Students $5 Available at the Door Meet-the-artists receptions follow the concert. For more on the artists, check their website: http://www.newyorkpolyphony.com/
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NOMINEES FOR BISHOP CO-ADJUTOR ANNOUNCED
The nominees for Bishop Coadjutor were announced on August 29 -- click here for details, including bios of the candidates and a timeline of the election process. Convention delegates and anyone interested will have the opportunity to meet the candidates at Grace on Wednesday, October 12, beginning at 7:00pm.
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ADULT SPIRITUAL FORMATION COMMISION AND
THE DIOCESE OF NEW YORK
TO HOST PRESENTATION ON ISLAM, SHARIA, AND REFORMATION
October 22 9:30am - 2:00pm
On Saturday, October 22, Professor Mark Welton of the Episcopal Muslim Relations Committee of the Diocese of New York will lead a presentation , entitled Islam, Sharia, and Reformation: Understanding the Current Revolution in the Muslim World. The program will offer a comparative perspective that recognizes the important differences between Islamic and Western history and culture - but also highlights important similarities, centered on the law -both the Sharia and the rule of law - that may be helpful in understanding the Islamic world and its current revolution, and perhaps help form a foundation for common understanding and future dialogue. Open to all, the program costs $10, which includes coffee and a light lunch. For information or to reserve a place: 845-359-1297 ext. 10 or parishoffice@gracechurchnyack.org.
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CHURCH MEMORIALS
In association with the 150th anniversary of Grace, the list of altar, liturgical and music memorials is being updated (Garden memorials are maintained as a separate list and are not part of this update effort). If you have any information regarding church memorial gifts (such as altar cloths, communion sets, bells) given in 2000 or later, please forward the information to Stephanie Campbell at lsnmcampbell@optonline.net by September 30.
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PEOPLE TO PEOPLE PLEA
People to People, our local food bank, is desperate for food donations. They have specifically requested the following items: cereal and oatmeal, canned vegetables & juices, chili, beef stew, individual servings fruit snacks, dry and canned soups & beans, mac & cheese boxes, flour, rice, sugar, tomato sauce and puree, tuna, mayo, oil, peanut butter, jelly and powdered milk. Please try to bring something with you whenever you come to church - there's a basket in the narthex for your donations.
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| Click here to go to our Facebook page -- our cyber-bulletin board. 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. |
ONLINE NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF NEW YORK CLICK HERE
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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An abbot who was immensely depressed wrote to Hildegard to ask for advice. Her reply drew on her visions, and her knowledge of gardens and agriculture.
Drench your thoughts in the streams of scripture
and study the example of the saints, then try to live like them.
Do all this modestly
and let the blossom flourish in your brothers
like leaves and flowers on a tree.
Be like the sun with your teaching,
like the moon in your readiness to adapt,
like the wind by your unwavering guidance,
like gentle breezes in your forbearance,
and like fire in the arousing and inspiring force of your instruction.
Everything should begin
with the first gleam of early dawn
and end in blazing light.
A letter of Hildegard of Bingen, quoted in Invincible Spirits: A Thousand Years of Women's Spiritual Writings, compiled by Felicity Leng (Eerdmans, 2006).
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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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