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Reflection

What is serious to men and women is often very trivial in the sight of God. What in God might appear to us as "play" is perhaps what He Himself takes most seriously. At any rate the Lord plays and diverts Himself in the garden of His creation, and if we could let go of our own obsession with what we think is the meaning of it all, we might be able to hear HIs call and follow Him in His mysterious, cosmic dance.

We do not have to go very far to catch the echoes of that game, and of that dancing. When we are along on a starlit night; when by chance we see the migrating birds in autumn descending on a grove of junipers to rest and eat; when we see children in a moment when they are really children; when we know love in our own hearts; or when, like the Japanese poet Basho we hear an old frog land in a quiet pond with a solitary splash - at such times the awakening, the turning inside out of all values, the "newness," the emptiness and the purity of vision that make themselves evident, provide a glimpse of the cosmic dance.

For the world and time are the dance of the Lord in emptiness. The silence of the spheres is the music of a the wedding feast. The more we persist in misunderstanding the phenomena of life, the more we analyze them out into strange finalities and complex purposes of our own, the more we involve ourselves in sadness, absurdity, and despair.

But it does not matter much, because no despair of ours can alter the reality of things, or stain the joy of the cosmic dance which is always there. Indeed, we are in the midst of it, and it is in the midst of us, for it beats in our good, whether we want it to or not.

Yet the fact remains that we are invited to forget ourselves on purpose, cast our awful solemnity to the winds and join in the general dance.

Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation 

Saturday, October 4

5:30pm Fun(d)Raiser: The Way (Memorial Hall)

Sunday, October 5 - Feast of St. Francis - Pet Blessing at all morning services

8:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite I)

9:30am Holy Eucharist (Family Service)

10:10am Church School Community Activity & refreshments

Confirmation Class Gathering  (Patterson Hall) 

Stewardship Committee meting (Rector's Office) 

11:00am Holy Eucharist (Rite II w/choir)

Followed by refreshments in Memorial Hall

12:30-1:45pm - Pet Blessing (Memorial Garden)

4:00pm First at 4: Choral Evensong

6:30pm Senior Youth Group (Fenton Room)  

Thursday, October 9 

7:00am Men's Prayer Breakfast (Patterson Hall)

12:00pm Brown Bag and a Bible (Patterson Hall)

7:30pm Choir rehearsal (Choir room)

Saturday, October 11 

10:00am Midnight Run (Memorial Hall)

Sunday, October 12 

8:00am-2:00pm Nursery School of the Nyacks Tag Sale (Playground)

8:00/9:30/11:00am Holy Eucharist

10:10am Church School is on hiatus

THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4    

Another memorable FUN(d) RAISER!

El Camino De Santiago - The Way -  And Tapas!

Doors open at 5:30pm

Get the details HERE 

Tickets are $12.00

If you plan to come but haven't yet purchased a ticket,  

please let us know  -- it will help with planning and preparation of the tapas.

jffmcdwll@hotmail.com

or give us a call at 845 371 3205. 

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 - FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS 

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS  

In observance of the feast day of St Francis, on Sunday, October 5 you are welcome to bring your pet to be blessed at any of the three morning services. Stuffed beasts or photographs are also welcome. In place of regular church school classes, there will be a Pet Parade and special "pet-centric" activities organized by the junior youth group outside following the 9:30am family service.  

Our Junior Youth Group will also collect donations for Hi Tor Animal Shelter, Rockland's only animal shelter.  Here are their top needs:

• Canned Cat Food (Cat & Kitten)
• Cat Litter (Non-clumping)
• Newspapers
• Blankets, Sheets, Towels
• Clorox Wipes
• Garbage Cans (30-40 gal), heavy duty w/ wheels
• Trash bags (13 & 30 gal)

If you can't come on St. Francis Day, then check the Hi Tor website where you can donate money or find a link to their Amazon wishlist.

Is your pet a late sleeper?  Does your pet have a short attention span? For the first time, this year you may also bring your pet to be blessed outside in Memorial Garden, any time between 12:30 and 1:45pm. All creatures great and small are welcome, just make sure they are on a leash or secured safely.

FIRST AT FOUR: CHORAL EVENSONG - This Sunday at 4:00pm 

On the first Sunday of the month at 4:00pm, the Grace Choir leads the traditional Anglican service of sung evening prayer with hymns, canticles, and anthems.  After a busy weekend, come be refreshed by the service's simplicity, beauty, and stillness at the close of day. 

CONFIRMATION CLASS BEGINS SUNDAY 

The Grace Church Confirmation program is offered to all youth aged 8th grade or older. Confirmation classes will be held every other week on Sunday mornings during church school at 10:00am, starting this morning. Confirmation is a big commitment requiring substantial time commitments from both the child and parent. If you have questions about the program or think that your child might be interested in participating, please contact Erik Johnke, Lainie Murrell,  or stop by the class on Sunday morning.

NEXT WEEK: NURSERY SCHOOL OF THE NYACKS TAG SALE

Next Sunday, October 12, our friends from the Nursery School of the Nyacks - who run a great program in our church school area during the week - are having a giant tag sale from 8:00am to 2:00pm in the playground area. It will include household,, furniture, and lots of baby and toddler items. All proceeds go to fund the Nursery School of the Nyacks. Visit www.nurseryschoolofthenyacks.org for more information

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19: ANNUAL PARISH HIKE

Bring the whole family - even sociable canines - for our 48th annual parish hike, led by Win & Tom Perry. We'll meet at 2:00pm at St. John's-in-the-Wilderness, enjoy an easy walk through the woods of Harriman Park, and return to the cozy barn for a potluck supper in front of the big stone fireplace. Plan to bring something to share for supper. If you have questions, call Win at 845-358-0552. 

LOOKING FOR GRACEFUL YOGA?

Watch for classes to start up again Thursdays at 5:30pm beginning October 15. For details, please contact Doug at  reisingerd@hotmail.com

If you haven't yet turned in your pledge card, please do so -   we need your support. 

CORNERSTONE CAMPAIGN

Our life together at Grace is a life of seeking, witness, reconciliation and community. Keeping our spiritual home in good working order is imperative and part of being good stewards of our beautiful space. We are grateful to you all for your support of our beloved community at Grace Church.  

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