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Reflection

by Joan Chittister, Rowan Williams

"The kind of unity that is born out of differences and becomes the glue of a group has four characteristics: it frees, it enables, it supports, and it listens.

"A group that is genuinely unified is a group that has freed every member to be themselves. In fact, the truly united group knows that every idea, every voice, counts in the process of idea formation. Without the collection of ideas, no consensus is possible. Then the group is reduced to the kind of compliance that wilts in the noonday sun. Then we begin to hear: 'Well, I never thought it was a good idea in the first place.' Then we know that even at the height of its power, underneath it all the group lacked heart.

"For the freedom to ask questions without reprisal in the face of contrary concepts, sing alleluia.

"To seek unity means that enabling people to speak without fear and without hesitation must become the cornerstone of discussion. Ideas must be sought out. Answers must be elicited. Hesitations must be defined. Cautions must be honored before unity in diversity is possible. But when it comes, sing alleluia because then all the talents of the population are wholeheartedly engaged in the enterprise.

"For a people to know unity they must also know the support that comes when people who speak another truth are as respected for that perception as they would have been for agreeing with the majority in the first place. I can only give myself to a group that not only tolerates my differences but seeks them out. That way, when a decision is finally forged out of the fire of differences, there is no doubt that it carries within it all the passion the group has to give.

"Finally, unity depends on listening, not only to begin it but also to sustain it. No decisions are made once and forever. No unity can be perpetual if it revolves around a changing center. No good thing can be guaranteed to stay good throughout time. It is so easy to make an idol out of a time, a place, a decision, a group that once was united but now, in the light of another, newer day, is not.

"Then it is time to begin again. Then the unity must be tested and reshaped. It is a very holy process, the search for unity. It is an alleluia moment made for eternity but welded and rewelded by time...

INTERFAITH SYMPOSIUM WEATHER ALERT:  

The pending storm may throw us a curve ball and interrupt plans for the third Interfaith Symposium to be hosted by the clergy and congregations of Temple Beth Torah and Congregation Sons of Israel.  As of now, the instructed Shabbat worship service which is scheduled to take place at Temple Beth Torah on Friday, February 8, at 7:30 pm is still on.  However, information regarding cancellation will be available by 3:00pm today at www.cancellations.com, here on the Temple Beth Torah website and by calling the Temple Beth Torah weather extension at 358-2248 and pressing option #8.

Interfaith Symposium

The Abrahamic Faiths: Judaism, Christianity, Islam- Session 3  

Friday, February 8, 2013 at 7:30pm,  

Temple Beth Torah, 330 N. Highland Ave. (Rte. 9W), Upper Nyack, NY

Join Rabbi Brian Beal and Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham as they lead a Learning Service, a combination of prayer and commentary, to help bring alive the meaning of each prayer and explain how the structure of a service takes us on a spiritual journey. Refreshments will be served. 

Organized by: Congregation Sons of Israel, First Immanuel Missionary Baptist Church, First Reform Church of Nyack, Grace Episcopal Church, Islamic Center of Rockland, St. Ann's Catholic Church, Temple Beth Torah    

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE DINNER

Indulge with us! The Grace Church Confirmation Class invites you to come celebrate with our parish family before the long season of Lent. Pancakes and syrup, bacon and coffee, orange juice and milk will be served up in Memorial Hall from 5:30-7:00pm on Tuesday, February 12.

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES: February 13 at 8:00am/noon/8:00pm

2013 LENTEN DEVOTIONAL

Parish Forum/Fellowship Time 10:10 - 10:55am

The time between the 9:30 and 11:00am worship services provides an opportunity for those attending either of the services to gather for programs and conversation.  Scheduling these events to meet the needs of those who want to socialize and those who want a planned forum is a challenge, given the shortage of available spaces to meet on Sunday mornings.

In an attempt to serve both needs, the Adult Education and Spiritual Formation Commission works to provide a balance by scheduling two forums a month and providing opportunities to socialize and have an extended coffee hour on the other Sundays.  We hope you will join us for one or both of these events in the time to come.  Here's the schedule:

For February please join us for:

Feb. 3       Hospitality

Feb. 10     Annual Parish Meeting (10:45-1:00)

Feb. 17     Forum - small table discussion of Luke 4:9-12

Feb. 24     Church Youth Service Mission Fund (CYSM)

                        fundraising breakfast and Hospitality

Looking ahead to March:

Mar. 3     Forum - small table discussion of Exodus 3:7-11

Mar. 10   Forum - small table discussion of Luke 15:11b-32

Mar. 17   Easter Fair/hospitality

Mar. 24   Palm Sunday No Forum or Hospitality

Mar. 30   Easter Sunday No Forum or Hospitality

WEDNESDAY MORNING EUCHARIST RESUMES ON ASH WEDNESDAY

Our regular weekly Wednesday morning service will resume on Ash Wednesday at 8:00am. Following Ash Wednesday, services will take place in Bradley Chapel.

Amazing Grace CIRCUS! presents their 3rd Annual  

WHEN: Thurs, February 14, 6 - 9:00pm (on Valentine's Day, of course)
WHERE:  Memorial Hall
WHAT WILL YOUR KIDS DO? They will join the circus for a fun-filled evening of juggling, clowning, tumbling and movies

And the deal gets sweeter!

HELPING HANDS - February 2013

Grace is hosting Helping Hands/Safe Haven again on Saturday, February 16, Sunday, February 17 and Monday, February 18. We have two volunteers to cook and serve dinner to our guests on Monday but could use at least two more. We also need overnight supervision all three nights. If you can help contact Charlie Cross at  cjcross3ny@yahoo.com, or sign-up on the bulletin board in the narthex.  

Keep in Touch 

Parting Thought