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The Second Sunday of Advent - December 7, 2014
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PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Bob & Donna Weber, Mickey Federico, Yasso Herath, Peter Lubeck, Catherine Lubeck, Shirley Federico, Courtney Hoenveld, Janet, Thomas Humeston, Elaine MacPhee, Tankert Mahler, Marie Haynie, Jack Seeman, Evelyn, Adele, Clinton Taplin, Dominique Rhoklin, Fred Teyan, Marie Stay, Marie Young, Peggy McCann, Robert A., Miriam, Peggy, Madeline Schnalzer, Peter Zakerpine, Betty Mettler, Marvin Spruck, Jeannie, Lyn Casey, Kathryn Lehman, Lorraine, Rosemarie Buri, Louise Bohr, Carl, Meredith Gilmor, Sally Sarvent, Alexandra Mettler
REST IN PEACE: Tracey Lewis
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Readings [We are using Track 2 of the indicated readings.]
CLICK HERE to listen to sermons from previous weeks
CLICK HERE for Bible study resources.
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COLLECT OF DAY
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
DAY OF PRAYER FOR LIBERIA Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has urged Episcopalians to observe the Second Sunday in Advent as a day of prayer for those in the Diocese of Liberia and the entire Anglican Church of the Province of West Africa, areas heavily affected by the current Ebola pandemic. "The Diocese of Liberia was founded by Episcopalians in 1836, and was a diocese of The Episcopal Church until the early 1980s, when it joined the Province of West Africa," noted Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori. "Today we continue in a covenant relationship of mutual support and fellowship." She continued, "Liberia is at the epicenter of the recent Ebola outbreak, and Episcopalians have turned Cuttington University (Suakoku) into a center for response in rural northern Liberia. The Anglican Province of West Africa includes all three nations (Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone) where the pandemic continues to develop. The suffering and death is enormous, the economy is devastated, schools are closed, yet the caring and compassionate response continues." AN APPEAL FROM PARISHIONER LINDA CHISHOLM Cuttington University, our Episcopal University in Liberia, has become the center for training of Ebola health care workers and distribution of supplies. The University had to close in the fall because of the disease, and now the dormitories and classrooms are used to coordinate the effort. Relief agencies, such as Doctors without Borders, are using the facilities without charge, but the University is in desperate need of funds. Without tuition, there is no money to provide essential food, cleaning, and electricity. Parishioner Linda Chisholm has worked with Cuttington for more than thirty years, making several trips there, and can attest to the honesty of the president and staff. Every penny of your contribution will go to support Ebola eradication. Checks may be made out to Friends of Cuttington, a US tax-exempt organization located at the Episcopal Church Center in New York. Your gift is tax deductible. You may put your contribution in the plate on Sundays, or send to the Grace Church office, 130 First Avenue, Nyack, NY 10960.
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| An excerpt from "This Advent, Will Faith Stay Safe or Stand Tall?"
by Tom Ehrich
Writing on SOJO.net, 12.3.2014
.....Every community in America has its own issues. Some are common, like racism, class divisions, gun violence and economic dislocations. Some are specific to a location, like unemployment due to factory closings or the influx of new immigrants.
In each community, congregations need to discern God's call. I doubt that having another perfect Christmas Eve service is that call. The prophet Amos said long ago that God "takes no delight in your solemn assemblies."
God wants action, born in the transformation of our own lives and carried out in the transformation of our society. God's desire, Amos said, is this: "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." As it says in Revelation, "the home of God is among mortals." Not inside the safe place, but outside, teaching nations to walk by the light of God.
We aren't to be custodians of nostalgia or sacred custom. We are to respond boldly when God says, "See, I am making all things new."
Read the full essay HERE
Tom Ehrich is a writer, church consultant and Episcopal priest based in New York.
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Are you on the worship ministry schedule this weekend? CLICK HERE
to find out. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5
9:00pm Helping Hands (Memorial Hall)
9:30am First Saturday- Church Cleaning Team
12:00pm Private rental (Memorial Hall)
9:00pm Helping Hands (Memorial Hall)
8:30am - 12:30pm CYSM fundraising breakfast (Memorial Hall)
8:00/9:30 /11:00am Holy Eucharist
10:10am Church School Classes
4:00pm GraceMusic presents: Messiah Sing
5:30-7:30pm Advent Party (Memorial Hall)
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SATURDAY ---- PREPPING THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS....AND BEYOND
Starting on Saturday, December 6, we're gathering a team of "First Saturday" cleaning angels to give special loving attention to the church by taking on tasks that are beyond the scope of our routine cleaning, like dusting the woodwork or polishing the pews, as well as special seasonal preparations. Everyone is welcome to be a part of the team, which will meet the first Saturday of each month from 9:30 to noon. Come for all or part of the time - we'll finish up with light refreshments.
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FUNDRAISING BREAKFAST ON SUNDAY The senior youth group will be in Memorial Hall throughout the morning (8:45am-12:30pm) serving up a great breakfast for a suggested donation of $5/person. Proceeds all go to benefit this year's Church Youth Service Mission Trip. |
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GraceMusic presents:
ANNUAL MESSIAH SING 4:00pm ($10, children under 12 free)
PARISH ADVENT PARTY - 5:30-7:30pm
Filled with holiday, spirit, join us in Memorial Hall immediately following the Messiah Sing! Plan to bring a tasty appetizer or dessert to share if you can, and come celebrate the beginning of this joyful season with friends and family. All ages are welcome so bring the family. Didn't get a chance to sign up? Not a problem - just come!
CELEBRATE WITH US!
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 10:30am Thrift Shop Meeting (Patterson Hall) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 7:00pm Standing Committee on Finance WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10 7:00 Advent Home Gathering (The Rectory) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11 7:00am Men's Prayer Breakfast (Patterson Hall) 12:00pm Brown Bag & A Bible (Patterson Hall) 5:30pm Graceful Yoga (Memorial Hall) 7:00pm Adult Spiritual Formation Commission 7:30pm Choir rehearsal (Choir room) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 10:00am Midnight Run (Memorial Hall) 10:30am Liturgy Meeting (Church) 11:30am S. Ural immurement (Garden) 9:00pm Helping Hands (Memorial Hall) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 8:00/9:30 /11:00am Holy Eucharist 10:10am Church School Classes /Alternative Gift Fair 6:30pm Senior Youth Group 9:00pm Helping Hands (Memorial Hall) |
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Our series of Advent Home Gatherings continue on Wednesday -
Join us!
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ALTERNATIVE GIFTS FAIR- Sunday, December 14 following the 9:30/11:00am services Sponsored by Adult Spiritual Formation Commission
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 for sale; 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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CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
Each year as we gather to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, our worship is enhanced by poinsettias, trees and greens. Your generosity makes this possible. Please join in the time-honored tradition of making a donation for our Christmas Flowers in memory of loved ones and/or in thanksgiving for God's blessings. Envelopes are available at the entry to the church on Sundays and in the office. Envelopes must be received by Wednesday, December 17 for inclusion in the Christmas bulletins.
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Praise What Comes
surprising as unplanned kisses, all you haven't deserved
of days and solitude, your body's immoderate good health
that lets you work in many kinds of weather. Praise
talk with just about anyone. And quiet intervals, books
that are your food and your hunger; nightfall and walks
before sleep. Praising these for practice, perhaps
you will come at last to praise grief and the wrongs
you never intended. At the end there may be no answers
and only a few very simple questions: did I love,
finish my task in the world? Learn at least one
of the many names of God? At the intersections,
the boundaries where one life began and another
ended, the jumping-off places between fear and
possibility, at the ragged edges of pain,
did I catch the smallest glimpse of the holy?
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GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
130 First Avenue.Nyack.New York.10960.845-358-1297
The Reverend Owen C. Thompson, Rector
Brandon N. Beachamp, Organist and Choirmaster
www.gracechurchnyack.org |
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