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, Rosemary Owen
Readings [We are using Track 2 of the indicated readings.]
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reflection
Creating Space for God Henri Nouwen
Discipline is the other side of discipleship. Discipleship without discipline is like waiting to run in the marathon without ever practicing. Discipline without discipleship is like always practicing for the marathon but never participating. It is important, however, to realize that discipline in the spiritual life is not the same as discipline in sports. Discipline in sports is the concentrated effort to master the body so that it can obey the mind better. Discipline in the spiritual life is the concentrated effort to create the space and time where God can become our master and where we can respond freely to God's guidance. Thus, discipline is the creation of boundaries that keep time and space open for God. Solitude requires discipline, worship requires discipline, caring for others requires discipline. They all ask us to set apart a time and a place where God's gracious presence can be acknowledged and responded to.
This Week
Are you on the worship ministry schedule for this weekend? CLICK HERE to find out.
4:00pm Choral Evensong & Organ Meditation - John Bate
6:00pm "CYSM" mission trip information session - Memorial Hall
WEDNESDAY, March 4
6:00pm Healing & Wellness Service (Bradley Chapel)
6:00pm Lenten Program: The Cup of Life (Memorial Hall)
THURSDAY, March 5
12:00pm Brown Bag & A Bible (Patterson Hall)
5:30pm Graceful Yoga (Memorial Hall)
7:30pm Choir
SATURDAY, March 7
11:00am-2:00pm Private Rental (Memorial Hall)
9:00pm Helping Hands (Memorial Hall)
SUNDAY, March 8 - Clocks forward one hour!
8:00am/9:30am/11:00am Holy Eucharist
10:10 Church School Classes/Refreshments
4:00pm Evening Prayer/Organ Meditation - Jan Valentine
9:00pm Helping Hands (Memorial Hall)
This Weekend
GAME NIGHT AT GRACE Saturday, February 28
Enjoy playing board games, Scrabble, trivia or card games?
Love jigsaw puzzles?
Suffering from cabin fever?
Come to Grace's Game Night Fun(d)-Raiser on February 28 for some fun and games!
Come for games, good company, and snacks anytime from 4:00 to 9:00 pm. A light supper of soup & salad will be served at 6:00. Free-will donation, with half the proceeds going to a charitable organization.
SUNDAY, MARCH 1 - Another great CYSM Breakfast - 9-12:30 in Memorial Hall Plan to join us next Sunday for a hearty breakfast cooked up by members of the Senior Youth Group. A variety of Fair Trade items will also be available for purchase, and all proceeds go to support this summer's Church Youth Service Mission trip to West Virginia.
Want to know more about "CYSM?" (Church Youth Service Mission trip)
This year our young people will be returning to Beards Fork, West Virginia to work with the Southern Appalachian Labor School. The group will leave Nyack on Sunday, June 28 and return on July 11. While in West Virginia they will be volunteering in a literacy program and work on construction projects in the community. High school students who have finished 9th grade and seniors who have not yet started college are encouraged to apply. For more information please contact Moriah Olsen.
Ongoing Programs During Lent
SHADOWS & LIGHT - Lenten Reflections from the Community of Grace Church Now Online
See a selection from the daily lectionary and read the personal reflections on the passage written by Grace Church parishioners. Each essay is special - heartfelt, funny, sad, comforting, thought-provoking - and a way to bring our Grace community into your Lenten devotions.
CLICK HERE to read today's entry online, or go to our Facebook page to find links. Hard copies are available at church, or you can download the entire book HERE.
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 beginning at 4:00pm, followed by thirty-minute Organ Meditations by our esteemed organists.
THIS SUNDAY, Sunday, March 1: John Bate Director of Music, St. Peter's UMC, Ocean City (NJ)
Choral Evensong begins at 4:00pm, followed by the Organ Meditation.
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
Announcements & Reminders
CHURCH SCHOOL LENTEN GIVING PROJECT Throughout Lent the church school will be raising money for Episcopal Relief and Development's Gifts for Lifein various ways including hosting bake sales following the 9:30am service. Even if you do not have a child in church school, you're more than welcome to contribute to this great cause. Come buy some baked goods at one of our bake sales or make a donation. To donate, look for our donation box in the narthex or contact Lainie Murrell.
USHERS NEEDED
Ushers play an important part in making all of our worship services go smoothly, particularly at our 11:00am service where they are the first to welcome, help with seating, conduct the offering, and direct the congregation at communion. We need new recruits to help fill out the ranks of this important team - it you are interested in serving in this vital position, please let Kickie Fulmor or Fr. Owen know.
A REQUEST FROM PARISHIONER LYNN-MARIE SCHNALZER
I NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE!
A dear friend of mine has a young daughter -- Lexi -- who is going through a very difficult time medically. She loves to receive mail, and you can help by making a card. A piece of paper, a marker, and a moment of your time. Bring one to church on Sunday, or there will be a station set up in Memorial Hall where you can craft one during coffee hour. I'll send them out on Monday so she can open the box and have lots of nice letters - let's make a young girl smile. Thank you, Lynn-Marie
Love wants to reach out and manhandle us, Break all our teacup talk of God.
If you had the courage and Could give the Beloved His choice, some nights, He would just drag you around the room By your hair, Ripping from your grip all those toys in the world That bring you no joy.
Love sometimes gets tired of speaking sweetly And wants to rip to shreds All your erroneous notions of truth
That make you fight within yourself, dear one, And with others,
Causing the world to weep On too many fine days.
God wants to manhandle us, Lock us inside of a tiny room with Himself And practice His dropkick.
The Beloved sometimes wants To do us a great favor:
Hold us upside down And shake all the nonsense out.
But when we hear He is in such a "playful drunken mood" Most everyone I know Quickly packs their bags and hightails it Out of town.
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
130 First Avenue.Nyack.New York.10960.845-358-1297
