update
Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost -August 18, 2013  
Collect of the Day
 Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings

CLICK HERE to listen to sermons from previous weeks
CLICK HERE for Bible study resources.   

Prayer List  
Bob and Donna Weber, Yasso Herath, Peter Lubeck,  Catherine Lubeck,  Al and Carol Lalli,  Teri Caserto, Shirley Federico, Joseph Caserto, Janet, Thomas Humeston,  Elaine MacPhee, Tankert Mahler, Harte Mahler, Anne Huntington, Marie Haynie, Tim Brady, Marie,  Pat Mapstone, Fran F., Jack Seeman, Evelyn,  Zell Schwartzman,  Daniel Boyle, Karen Wright, Courtney Hoeneveld, Irma Carchi, Suzanne, Brody, Miranda Pinckert, Bernadette Polizzi, Adele, Anne Szwejkowski, O Mann

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. 

Reflection
CREATING SPACE

In the spiritual life, the word 'discipline' means 'the effort to create some space in which God can act'. Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you're not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied... to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn't planned or counted on.

 

Henri Nouwen (in the essay Moving from Solitude to Community to Ministry

This Week  

Are you on the worship ministry schedule this weekend? CLICK HERE 
to find out.   
 
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18  

8:00am Holy Eucharist (Memorial Garden, weather permitting)

9:15am Summer Choir rehearsal
10:00am Holy Eucharist  (Summer Choir)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25  

8:00am Holy Eucharist (Memorial Garden, weather permitting)

10:00am Holy Eucharist 

Mo. Alon will be on vacation August 16 - 31.
Announcements & Reminders 

MO. ALON will be on vacation from August 16 - 31

 

This Sunday, August 18, we welcome The Rev. Dr. Carole Johannsen, a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of New York and a board certified healthcare chaplain who works as Coordinator of Pastoral Care at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center in Sleepy Hollow, NY. She was recently granted a Doctor of Ministry from New York Theological Seminary in her area of study: Spirituality and Aging. She lives in Bedford Hills, NY.  On Sunday, August 25, we will be joined by The Rev. Suzanne Guthrie, a writer and retreat leader. She has served the church as parish priest, children's priest, and as a college (Vassar) and University (Cornell) chaplain. She is the author of Praying the Hours, and Grace's Window: Entering the Seasons of Prayer and curates the weekly website Soulwork Toward Sunday: Self-Guided Retreat based upon the coming Sunday's Gospel lesson at http://www.EdgeOfEnclosure.org.  Suzanne and her husband, Bill, live in Woodstock, New York. 

SMILE FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHER

 

As we prepare to welcome our new rector, we'd like to give him a headstart at learning names and faces.  Parishioner Sam Monroe will again be around taking informal pictures of individuals and families following the 8 & 10:00am services this Sunday.   Although Sam, who has been hiding in the choir loft, is a photographer by avocation, the pictures are just intended to help Fr. Owen with identification, so don't worry about special clothes or bad hair days.  Just turn up and smile.

SUMMER CHOIR NEXT WEEKEND  -  AUGUST 25 

 

Interested in singing with the choir but are unsure of what it's all about?  

Want a chance to keep your musical skills sharp during the Dog Days? 
Curious about the view from the Choir Loft?


This is it -- your last chance for the summer!  Don't miss this final opportunity to sing with the Summer Choir on Sunday, August 25. Rehearsal is at 9:15am in the Choir Room.  The Summer Choir sits in the pews for the service and comes up to the organ (or over to the piano) at the offering.  It's a perfect opportunity for families & young adults to make music!  For more information, please contact Brandon Beachamp, Interim Organist & Choirmaster.

LOOKING AHEAD TO SEPTEMBER

 

Sunday, September 8  - Return to 3 services; Mo. Alon's final services with us

 

8:00am                     Holy Eucharist, Rite I (returns to the church)

9:30am                     Holy Eucharist (Family Service)

                                Church School registration (Patterson Hall)

11:00am                    Choral Eucharist

                                Join us for a coffee hour farewell to Mo. Alon following the service

 

5:00pm                     Concert for Remembrance (free)

 

Sunday, September 15  -  First services with our new rector, Fr. Owen C. Thompson

 

Join us for a special coffee hour to welcome Fr. Owen following the 11:00am service.      

HELP WANTED:

With our fall schedule around the corner, we're looking for someone who can work Sunday mornings as our kitchen coordinator -  making coffee,  setting up/monitoring/cleaning up post-service coffee hours, and supporting the volunteers who bring refreshments and act as hosts.  It is a paid position with hours of roughly 9:30am - 12:30pm.  If you are interested in learning more, please contact the office:  parishoffice@gracechurchnyack.org or 845-358-1297.

SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVING IS EASY 

All too easy to miss a pledge payment ....or two

 

Why Not Consider E-pledging?

Through the Diocese of New York, we participate in a program that makes it possible for pledge payments to be made to us automatically, via an electronic transfer from your bank account.  You determine payment schedule, and we both receive records of payments.   It's a win-win situation all around.  If you'd like information, look for brochure in the narthex, or  email us and we'd be happy to send it out to you.

FREE LIVE GOSPEL MUSIC IN NYACK
The 7th Annual Gospel Music In The Park returns to Memorial Park, Nyack, between noon and 8:00pm this Saturday, August 17. You're invited to picnic and listen to a huge variety of live gospel music throughout the day.  Affinity Health Plan will be on site to give information on free or low cost health insurance and free giveaways (while supplies last). Admission is free.

Parishioner News 

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE NEEDS SCHOOL SUPPLIES
With the school year coming, People to People is making a special effort to collect school supplies: backpacks, 1-inch and 2-inch binders, highlighters, blue and black stick pens, #2 pencils and two-pocket folders.Donations of school supplies can be dropped off at PtoP's offices at 121 West Nyack Road, Nanuet, NY. Donation drop-off hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday.

Remember as well that summer travel schedules are in play, and the shelves are practically bare over at People to People's food bank.  PLEASE, remember to bring your donations to church every week.
Do you have news you'd like to share with the parish family?  This is the place for it. 

Keep in Touch 

ONLINE NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF NEW YORK CLICK HERE  
 
DIOCESE OF NEW YORK WEBSITE  CLICK HERE  
 
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL CHURCH  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
DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUR FACEBOOK GROUP
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.  

Parting Thought 

Come, my beloved,
consider the lilies.
We are of little faith.
We talk too much.
Put your mouthful of words away
and come with me to watch
the lilies open in such a field,
growing there like yachts,
slowly steering their petals
without nurses or clocks.
Let us consider the view:
a house where white clouds
decorate the muddy halls.
Oh, put away your good words
and your bad words. Spit out
your words like stones!
Come here! Come here!
Come eat my pleasant fruits.

 

"From the Garden" by Anne Sexton 

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

130 First Avenue.Nyack.New York.10960.845-358-1297

 

The Reverend Alon White, Interim Rector 

Brandon Beachamp, Interim Organist and Choirmaster 

www.gracechurchnyack.org