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The First Sunday of Advent (12/2/12)
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
WEEKLY UPDATE: November 30, 2012
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Janet, Thomas Humeston, Bob and Donna Weber, Yasso Herath, Peter Lubeck, Catherine Lubeck, Al & Carol Lalli, Barbara Harris, Richard Parsekian, Marianna Quinn Parsekian, Elaine MacPhee, Bob Williams, Tankert Mahler, Harte Mahler, Anne Huntington, Marie Haynie, Mary Stierlen, Tim Brady, Marianne Kagan, Joanne Click, Maurice Buckley, Teri Caserto, Peggy Lehrecke, Ron & Pat Mapstone, Gloria Greene
REST IN PEACE Jesse Yanko
PHOEBE COLWELL
The memorial service for Phoebe Colwell, postponed from earlier this month due to Hurricane Sandy, will take place next Saturday, December 8, at 2:00pm. A reception will follow in Memorial Hall.
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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READINGS
CLICK HERE to listen to sermons from previous weeks |
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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CLICK HERE for Bible study resources.
UPDATED FOR ADVENT: 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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It's Advent again. And if anyone cares about Advent, Americans should.
Advent may have more to do with American life than any other season of the year. Yet, Advent remains the period of spiritual preparation that is too often least appreciated, little understood and commonly ignored.
One of the problems with Advent is that it gets swallowed up by Christmas. The truth is, of course, that Advent signals the coming of Christmas. But the kind of Christmas the liturgical period of Advent is meant to signal is not the Christmas we celebrate in the United States. Civil Christmas is about the storing up of things. The Christmas to which Advent points is about being emptied out so we can become full.
Advent is about the spirituality of emptiness, of enough-ness, of stripped-down fullness of soul. Advent points to the essentials of life; commercial Christmas points to its superfluities.
The two great liturgical seasons of the church year, Advent and Lent, are about very different things. Advent is not "a little Lent." Advent is not a penitential period. Advent comes to trigger consciousness, not to provoke our consciences.
The Talmud teaches that every person should wear a jacket with two pockets. In the one pocket, the rabbis say, there should be a note that reads, "I am a worm and not completely human." And in the second pocket, the rabbis say, the note must read, "For me the universe was made."
The story is clear: The function of Lent is to remind us who we are--and who we are not. The function of Advent, on the other hand, is to remind us who God is and who we are meant to be, as well. Advent is about the riches of emptiness.
Joan Chittister
The National Catholic Reporter, 12/12/03
CLICK HERE for the Presiding Bishop's Advent Message, also available to view in a video filmed in the chapel at General Theological Seminary in New York City. For some additional Advent resources, the Episcopal Church offers additional links here, including information on a Pinterest/on-line Advent Calendar.
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Are you on the worship ministry schedule this weekend? CLICK HERE to find out.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1
10:00am Advent Wreath Construction (Memorial Hall)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2
8/9:30/11:00am Holy Eucharist
10:10 Church School Classes
Parish Forum: Grace Finances 101
4:00pm Evensong
6:30pm Senior Youth Group/Blanket-making for Nyack Manor (Rectory)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4
9:00am Staff Meeting (Rector's Office)
7:00pm Boy Scouts (Memorial Hall)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5
12:00pm Clericus (Patterson Hall)
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6
7:30pm Choir Rehearsal
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8
10:00am Midnight Run (Memorial Hall)
2:00pm Memorial for Phoebe Colwell
Followed by a reception in Memorial Hall
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9
8:00/9:30/11:00am Holy Eucharist
10:10am PARISH FORUM: Alternative Christmas Gifts
2:30pm AGC rehearsal (Memorial Hall)
4:00pm GraceMusic presents: Messiah Sing
5:30 - 7:30pm Parish Advent Party (Rectory & Memorial Hall)
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PARISH FORUMS - between the 9:30 and 11:00am services
Join us Sundays from 10:10 to 10:50am to learn more about our faith, our church, our diocese, and our communion.
Sunday, December 2
Jeff McDowell, our senior warden, presents Grace Church Finances 101. Where does our money come from? Where do we spend it? How can we best support our parish and its ministries?
Sunday, December 9
Alternative Christmas Gifts - Get a jump on your Christmas shopping with some great gifts that help support good causes - the senior youth group will have a selection of fair trade items; Maloto will offer hand made goods from Malawi, and there will be lots of information and suggestions for other "non-commercial" gift-giving.
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ADVENT WREATHS that were ordered will be available for pick up at all services on Sunday.
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SERVICE OF CHORAL EVENSONG Sunday, December 2 at 4:00pm
"I look from afar: and lo, I see the power of God coming."
Join the clergy and choir on the first Sunday in Advent in the traditional Anglican service of prayer, music, and reflection. For more information, contact Interim Organist and Choirmaster, Brandon Beachamp or 845-358-1297 ext. 13.
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THANK YOU to those who have made their pledge for 2013: Karen Bachert , Paul & Jo Ann Barnard, Verne Becker, Holly Bee, Sally Bell, Louise Bohr, John & Wendy Brown, Shirley Chalke, James & Sally Cochran, Colantnoni family, John & Beverly Colgan, Partricia Cose, Cindy Cox, Barbara & Charles Cross, Kim Cross,Jefferson & Alison Crowther, Shaun & Nerissa Cusick, Ross & Jeanette Dailey, Pat Decker, Barbara De Francis, Hilda DeLoatch, Diane Deveau & Kevin Fletcher, James & Virginia Dillon, Eugenia Duryea, Gloria English & Barbara Bischoff, Daphne Estwick, Gerald & Marjorie Federico, George & Ruth Fee, Patricia FitzSimons & Karen Hamlyn, Barbara Fleischer, Victoria & Fredrick Frelow, Katharine Fulmor & Theresa Bergen, James & Peggy Gilbert, Vickie Hertz & Rod Greenwood, Michael & Betsy Growney, Eleanor & Harold Hafstad, Ronald Hammond, Hannon Family, Heider Family, Sondra & Leigh HoltKaren Hughes & Joy Barrows, Jimmy & Patty Hyland, Myria Jean-Gilles, Rudolph & Kimberly Knight, Stephen J. Larson, Margaret Lehrecke, Amy Lehman, Mia Leo & Dick Kuczkowski, John & Caroline Lindeman , Evelyn Lombardi & Jeanette Matthews, Ejane & John, MacCartney, Molly MacQueen, Lauren Malone, Orville & Sally Mann, Malcolm & Judy Martin, Jen & Joe Marraccino, Kathy Masters, Jennifer & Susan McCann, Jeffrey McDowell, The McNeill Family, Debbie & Bob McGuinness, Sally Ann Mock, James Monaco, Brian & Elaine Murrell, Emily & Jacob Nevill, Sarah & Thomas Nittoli, Moriah & Keith Olsen, Jim O'Toole & Gregory Birchett, Rosemary & William Owen, Bonnie & Robert Parsekian, Beth & Joe Paskowski, Carlo Pellegrini, Thomas Perry, Winston Perry, Wayne & Karen Phelan, Millicent Pinckert, Caran Pullen, Charles & Judy Reynolds, Roberta Sarvent, Sally & John Sarvent, Phil & Helen Scala, David Scharf, Scott, Jim & Lynn Schnalzer, Betty Abajian-Seaman, Roger & Sally Seiler, Fran & Semo Sennas, Jeffrey & Anna Shalom, Paula Spruck, Carol & Paul Streichert, Clinton Taplin, Jeanne Treat Tozer, Charlotte T. Trott, Claudia Uccellani, Barbara & Homer Wanamaker, Laura & Jeff Wanamaker, Liz & Greg Weber, Paul & Annie Weiss, Alon White, Thayer &Bruce Woodcock, 2 Anonymous
The goal of the Stewardship Commission is to have all the pledges in, if possible, by Sunday. December 16, so that the vestry and the Standing Committee on Finance can begin working on, next year's budget. So why not "avoid the holiday rush" and send in your pledge right now. MISPLACED YOUR PLEDGE PACKET? Click here for the materials. Your Stewardship Committee: Jim Gilbert, chair
Tom Burns, Jennifer McCann, Debbie McGuiness, Sally Ann Mock, Rudy Knight
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CHRISTMAS SERVICES AT GRACE
Monday, Dec. 24-Christmas Eve
Holy Eucharist at 4:00pm
With the Joyful Noise & St. Cecilia Youth Choirs
For young and old alike
Holy Eucharist at 6:30pm
With the Parish Choir
Carols for Choir at Congregation at 10:30pm
Choral Eucharist at 11:00pm
With the Grace Church Choir
Tuesday, Dec. 25 -Christmas Morning - Holy Eucharist with carols at 9:00am
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HELPING HANDS - December 15, 16, 17
On Saturday, December 15, Sunday, December 16 and Monday, December 17, Grace Church will host about 25 homeless Rocklanders for Helping Hands. We already have enough cooks for the evening meals but on each night we need at least one more volunteer to spend the night on the very comfortable couches in Patterson Hall and help to supervise our guests. We also need a team of people who are able to provide a breakfast (as simple or elaborate as you wish) for our guests on Sunday morning at around 7:30. If you can help with either of these needs please contact Charlie Cross (358-4599) or cjcross3ny@yahoo.com.
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CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE
Social Ministry will sponsor a Christmas Giving Tree for the children at NyackCenter this year. Look for the tree in the narthex beginning on December 2. Please take a tag and return a gift by December 23.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9
GraceMusic presents: 43st 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 of borrow one of the limited number of copies available at the door. Not a singer? Not a problem - you're welcome to just come and listen. $10 donation - children are free.
PARISH ADVENT PARTY - Sunday, December 9, at the Rectory
Join us as we gather at 5:30pm - right after the Messiah Sing - to "deck the rectory", trim the tree and share sweet and savory treats.The Fellowship Commission will have stations set up to make paper chains and popcorn&cranberry strings. We also invite you to bring a special ornament for the tree which will later be presented as a "a parish warming gift" to our new rector.
The senior youth group will host a Junior Advent Party, with pizza, movie and a Christmas craft in Memorial Hall. If you would like to help out, bring a treat to share or bring a child to the Junior Advent Party please contact Kris Burns (845-405-1203).
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GREENING OF THE CHURCH!
Many volunteers will be needed to help make the Sanctuary festive for our Christmas celebrations. Join us on Sunday, December 23 at
2:00pm, immediately following the Christmas Pageant.
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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 through Christmas. It's a great place to find eclectic gifts and holiday finery or a special set of china for your entertaining needs! Call the shop at 358-7488 for information. Volunteers are welcome too!
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DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
Click here to go to our Facebook group page -- our cyber-bulletin board. Join in the discussion and 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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We Suspect Angels and Disbelieve Good News
We suspect angels
And disbelieve good news
Ah God, who will save us?
Our cynicism is the fruit of our experience
Not the key to the future
Our suspiciousness helps us to smell the rat
Never to recognise the dove.
Our perfect analysis may describe the mountain
But it is powerless to move it.
It is with little pride we must confess:
We suspect angels
And disbelieve good news.
As Christmas approaches,
Give us a share of that divine naivete
Enjoyed by Elizabeth and Zechariah, Mary and Joseph
And unnamed country folk,
Who encountered angels,
And believed Good News
And recognised Christ coming among them.
Amen
from Cloth for the Cradle, Wild Goose Publications, Iona Community
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GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.130 First Avenue.Nyack.New York.10960.845-358-1297
The Reverend Alon White, Interim Rector
The Reverend Emily Sieracki, Assistant to the Rector
Brandon Beachamp, Interim Organist and Choirmaster
www.gracechurchnyack.org |
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