The Fifth Sunday After Epiphany The Annual Parish Meeting February 8, 2015
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, Miranda Pinckert, Adele, Clinton Taplin, Dominique Rhoklin, Fred Teyan, Marie Stay, Marie Young, Peggy McCann, Peggy, Madeline Schnalzer, Peter Zakrepine, Betty Mettler, Marvin Spruck, Jeannie, Lyn Casey, Kathryn Lehman, Rosemarie Buri, Louise Bohr, Carl, Meredith Gilmor, Sally Sarvent, Alexandra Mettler, Barbara DelPizzo, Sharon, Dr. Roufa, Sophie Weber, Helen Scalici, Jeff Adams
Readings [We are using Track 2 of the indicated readings.]
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reflection
Justice is Reestablishing "Right Relationships"
"The politics of community will also require a more profound understanding of the meaning of justice. Both liberal and conservative notions of justice are based on widely assumed and well-established Western doctrines of individualism. Justice is rooted in individual human rights for both the Right and the Left. But such an individualistic idea of justice is now failing us in the midst of a global crisis that cries out for a new and deeper sense of connection and community.
"Here again, religious insights can help us. In the Hebrew Scriptures, one finds the more holistic concept of shalom as the best definition of justice. It is a deeper and wider notion than the securing of individual rights. The vision of shalom requires us to reestablish 'right relationships.' It is a call to justice in the whole community and for the entire habitat. Shalom is an inclusive notion of justice extending even to the rest of God's creatures and whole of creation. Restoring right relationships takes us further than respecting individual rights. It pushes us to begin to see ourselves as part of a community, even as members of an extended but deeply interconnected global family, and ultimately as strands in the web of life that we all share and depend upon. The biblical vision of shalom could be a basis for a new politics of community and the social healing we so need."
Meeting follows the 10:00am service - CHILDCARE WILL BE AVAILABLE
During the meeting we will talk about the state of parish (i.e. vision, financial status, ministries, etc.), and call new members to serve on the Vestry. This meeting will also provide us with a wonderful opportunity to be together as a parish family and share in the process of moving Grace Church forward in faith, hope, and love. Childcare will be available, and refreshments will be served.
The Fellowship Commission coordinates a wonderful spread for the meeting - please be in touch with Kris Burns if you can help with donations of fruit, juice, cheeses, bagel fixings....
The Annual Meeting is open to all, but only pledging members are eligible to vote. A list of those eligible to vote, minutes from the 2014 Annual Parish Meeting, 2015 budget, and report of the Nominating Committee will be posted at the back of the church.
COMING ON FRIDAY GRACE MUSIC PRESENTS: (UN) LUCKY IN LOVE A Cabaret Friday, February 13 at 7:30pm
Click on the image for details!
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER GROUP CONTINUES SATURDAYS - JOIN ANY TIME
TWO SESSIONS REMAIN
As the days begin to lengthen and we look ahead to spring, you are invited to attend a six-week contemplative prayer group sponsored by the Adult Spiritual Formation Commission (ASF) and led by Jan Valentine. On six Saturdays - January 10 - February 14 from 10:00am to noon - we will explore the theme of light through Advent and Epiphany using prayer forms that are designed to deepen your prayer life and offer an opportunity to find God in the stillness of contemplation in community. Jan is a member of Grace Church and the ASF. She is a graduate of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, has a contemplative spiritual guidance practice, and is a retreat leader, musician, and artist. For more details and to register, call Jan at 914-912-4303.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES - BE THE CHURCH
Looking for a great way to give back to the community?
Sunday Supper is looking for some volunteers to join one of their existing teams to provide a sit-down, "home-cooked" meal to guests. Teams serve on a rotating basis and help to prepare and cover the cost of the meal. Meals are served at 5pm at Living Christ Church on Broadway in South Nyack. Anyone interested in getting more information should contact Tom Burns at
Grace will be hosting Helping Hands/Safe Haven next weekend. We still need one or two more people to help Cathy and Norman Sheldon and Hilda DeLoatch with dinner on Saturday, February 14, and Myria Jean-Gilles and Stephanie Campbell with dinner of Sunday, February 15. If you can help, sign up on the bulletin board in the narthex of church or contact Charlie Cross.
Lent Begins on February 18
SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE DINNER - Tuesday, February 17
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 17.
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES 8:00am, Noon, 7:30pm
Ashes to Go - for commuters - 6:30-7:30am, downtown Nyack
THE 2015 GRACE LENTEN PROGRAM: The Cup of Life
Join us on three Wednesday evenings - February 25, March 4, March 11 from 6:00-7:45pm. Each evening Begins with a simple meal of soup and bread, followed by a program of prayer, meditation, reflection on short readings, & small group discussion led by members of the Adult Spiritual Formation Commission. Based on The Cup of Our Life by Joyce Rupp, Ave Maria Press, 1997 (purchase not required.) CLICK ON THE IMAGE AT LEFT FOR MORE.
To help us plan for meals, please register on clipboard in the foyer of the church, email us, or call 845-358-1297.
EVENING PRAYER AND ORGAN MEDITATIONS DURING LENT
Grace Episcopal Church offers a Lenten series of Evening Prayer followed by thirty-minute Organ Meditations by our esteemed organists.
Evening Prayer begins at 4pm and the Meditations begin at 4:30pm*.
Sunday, February 22: Brandon Beachamp Organist-Choirmaster, Grace Church
Sunday, March 1: John Bate Director of Music, St. Peter's UMC, Ocean City (NJ)
Sunday, March 8: Jan Valentine Organist and Choir Member, Grace Church
Sunday, March 15: Cleveland Kersh Organist-Choirmaster, Holy Trinity, NYC
Sunday, March 22: Richard Kuczkowski Assisting Organist, Grace Church
I have seen the sun break through to illuminate a small field for a while, and gone my way and forgotten it. But that was the pearl of great price, the one field that had treasure in it. I realize now that I must give all that I have to possess it. Life is not hurrying
on to a receding future, nor hankering after an imagined past. It is the turning aside like Moses to the miracle of the lit bush, to a brightness that seemed as transitory as your youth once, but is the eternity that awaits you.
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
130 First Avenue.Nyack.New York.10960.845-358-1297
