Grace Notes
First Sunday in Lent
March 9, 2025
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted of Satan: Make speed to help thy servants who are assaulted by manifold temptations; and, as thou knowest their several infirmities, let each one find thee mighty to save; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THIS WEEK'S READINGS
Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16, Romans 10:8b-13, Luke 4:1-13
THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday, March 7
6 PM Stations of the Cross
Saturday, March 8
10 AM Pandemic Memorial & Gratitude Service
Trinity & St. Philip's Cathedral
608 Broad Street, Newark
Sunday
9 AM The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
11 AM End-of-Life Planning session (bulletin)
Wednesday
9 AM The Holy Eucharist
Friday, March 14
6 PM Stations of the Cross
THE SEASON OF LENT. . . Lent (from an Old English word meaning "spring," the time of lengthening days) is a season of self-reflection and penitence in preparation for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery in the Triduum Sacrum (The Three Sacred Days): Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Great Vigil of Easter, culminating in the Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Day. Although Sundays are not themselves a part of Lent (“Sundays in Lent,” not “of Lent”), the Church’s liturgy in this season becomes more austere and “Alleluias” are suppressed.
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially The Rev. James Warnke, priest, Rae Palladino, Robert Young,Sr., Jennifer, Haiyan, Dave, Thomas Petrullo, Daniela Parisi, Michael Shumway, Greg Hutchinson, Catherine Gooch, Larry Toppin, Howard Goldin, Chris Spilker, Lexi Manning, Gina DeMarsico, Christian Davis, Shawn Davis, Suzanne Morris, Lauren Rosenthal, Charlotte Wilson, Rich Landi, John Whitlock, and Gaylord Hitchcock, priest.
For those celebrating birthdays especially Thomas Bisdale (3/9), Jerilyn Swan (3/10), and Pamela Sobeck Feuerstein (3/14) and those celebrating anniversaries.
For those who have died especially Andrew Bielenda (3/9), James Cloke (3/9), Yvonne E. Schmid (3/9), Cecile E. Wilson (3/12), Warren Schulhafer (3/15), Edward A. Miller (3/15), and Frances Keil (3/15).
PRAYER LIST REQUESTS . . . To add any names to the parish prayer list, please send an email to kmaccourt@gmail.com with the name of the person to be prayed for, your name and a brief description of the person’s health or other situation (note if long-term or chronic). Names are listed for four weeks and then rotate off, but they can be added again as needed. If you have questions, please speak with the wardens or Father Anthony.
Thank you to our volunteers for this Sunday
Ben Martin, acolyte
Liza Martin, usher
Paula Ricca, Sunday School
Anne Palmer, Reader
Trish Landi and Ingrid Davis, altar guild
John Beck and Jordan Howell, coffee hour
Akin Okunlola and Tom Bisdale, counters
March 16
10 AM The Holy Eucharist
March 23
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
March 30
9 AM The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
CONTACT INFORMATION . . .
The Rev. Father Anthony Puca, Jr.
Rector
gecrector@gmail.com
201-664-0407
Kathryn MacCourt
Parish administrator, Organist and Choirmaster
kmaccourt@gmail.com
201-417-1653
The Reverend Deacon Len Roberts
leonard_roberts@rocketmail.com
973-901-8822
Grace Church Wardens
Akinola Okunlola - aokunlola@gmail.com, 201-926-3677
Larry Sunden - larry@sunden.com, 201-960-1433
END-OF-LIFE PLANNING . . . The Episcopal Church requires that all clergy instruct parishioners on the importance of end-of-life planning. This Lent we will offer two information sessions to provide resources and assist parishioners in creating or updating these important end-of-life documents. The primary purpose of these sessions is to encourage every person in the congregation to plan their funeral service and to keep a file in the parish office, but we will also offer information on medical directives, wills, and planned giving. In the first session Deacon Len and Fr. Anthony will present the material and provide guidance. The second session will be for parishioners to return the documents and answer any questions. Fr. Anthony will have one-on-one meetings following the sessions to finalize funeral service details.
Sundays March 9 and 23 after church in the Small Parish Hall
STATIONS OF THE CROSS . . . Our devotional practice for Lent this year will be the Way of The Stations of the Cross (Way of the Cross). We will meet at 6 PM on the following Fridays during the season of Lent.
March 7, 14, 21 and 28
April 4 and 11
The Stations of the Cross imitates the practice of visiting the places of Jesus' Passion in the Holy Land by early Christian pilgrims. The first stations outside Palestine were built in Bologna in the fifth century. This devotion was encouraged by the Franciscans, and it became common in the fifteenth century. The number of stations for prayer and meditation in the Way of the Cross has varied, but it typically includes fourteen stations. We will process and pray at the following stations depicted in the church: 1) Jesus is condemned to death; 2) Jesus takes up his cross; 3) Jesus falls the first time; 4) Jesus meets his afflicted mother; 5) the cross is laid on Simon of Cyrene; 6) a woman wipes the face of Jesus; 7) Jesus falls a second time; 8) Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem; 9) Jesus falls a third time; 10) Jesus is stripped of his garments; 11) Jesus is nailed to the cross; 12) Jesus dies on the cross; 13) the body of Jesus is placed in the arms of his mother; 14) Jesus is laid in the tomb. (Adapted from The Book of Occasional Services)
BOOK CLUB . . . Each Lent, UTO offers a variety of resources for congregations, families, children, and individuals. This year, UTO is proud to partner with Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) to present: 40 Days of Welcome and Gratitude: a call to giving thanks for the ways we are welcomed in the world and the ways that people offer welcome to us and to our communities. UTO and EMM are excited to partner together this Lent to provide a multifaceted program to help people of all ages consider ways we experience and provide welcome that we are grateful for.
https://unitedthankoffering.com/Lent/
ADDITIONAL LENTEN RESOURCES . . . Please click on the links below for Lenten resources from the Episcopal Church. Some of the resources are for communities and others for individuals. You may already have a Lenten practice of giving something up or doing something new, but these resources may provide some fresh ideas and provide added guidance as you observe Lent this year.
https://www.episcopalrelief.org/church-in-action/lent/
https://d365.org/
FASTING DURING LENT . . . There are no set rules that govern how Episcopalians are expected to fast and different groups and communities have followed different practices. Fasting consists of abstaining from certain types of food (in the Christian tradition that has most commonly been meat) and reducing the amount of food one typically eats. Reducing water intake on a day of fasting is discouraged, and there aren't any hard rules on other liquids like coffee and tea. Saint Augustine’s Prayer Book, a devotional manual held in high regard among Anglo-Catholics in the Episcopal Church, suggests fasting as “not more than a light breakfast, one full meal, and one-half meal...” The Book of Common Prayer also designates other “Days of Special Devotion” and “Days of Optional Observance” as found on pages 17-18 if one chooses to take on a greater practice of fasting. Fasting serves a number of different functions, but the primary goals are to cultivate self-discipline and self-mastery, and ultimately, to ever deepen our relationship and devotion to God. It is always a good idea to talk to your doctor before fasting if you are over the age of 65 or have certain health conditions. A good Lenten practice for children is to abstain from meat or another type of food on Fridays.
RECONCILIATION OF A PENITENT . . . The Episcopal Church offers a sacramental rite in which those who repent may confess their sins to God in the presence of a priest and receive the assurance of pardon and the grace of absolution (BCP, p. 861). It is also called penance and confession. Please contact Father Anthony if you would like to receive this sacrament of the Church, or if you have any questions.
PLEDGING . . . We have the capability of making a donation online thanks to a deal negotiated by the diocese with Vanco! Click on the link: WebPay Link.
Westwood Cares Food Pantry - Grace Church is trying to increase our donations to the Westwood Cares Food Pantry. Please try to bring 1 item per week and we will ensure that the Food Pantry receives your items. The following items are in need: Coffee, tea, juice, pancakes, pancake syrup, chicken in a can, potatoes, rice, detergent, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, paper towels, toilet paper, oil, snacks, cookies, cereal (hot and cold), mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard. The Pantry does "not " need any canned vegetables or beans since they have enough currently. If you have any questions, please contact Deacon Len.
IFTAR DINNER AT CONFREGATION B'NAI ISRAEL . . . 53 Palisade Avenue, Emerson, NJ 07630. RSVP by March 12.
form for RSVP: https://bisrael.shulcloud.com/form/iftar-dinner-march-2025.html
or email to Ellen Michelson at interfaith.coordinator@bisrael.com
Please be sure to visit and like our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/gracewestwood.org/
You can help Grace attract new members by simply sharing our posts on your own page. Please help us grow and share a post.
Pastoral Emergencies
Deacon Leonard Roberts - 973-901-8822
Larry Sunden, warden - 201-960-1433
Akin Okunlola, warden - 201-926-3677
FROM THE BISHOP . . . Remembrance and Gratitude. This March we mark five years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and on March 8 our Cathedral will host a Pandemic Memorial & Gratitude Service to honor the memories of those we lost and express our gratitude for those who persevered and contributed during those challenging years. Bishop Hughes invites everyone to join the service, saying that even as we move into the future, it is important to remember the lessons learned and the people who helped the church and community endure.
PASTORAL LETTER FROM BISHOP HUGHES: Christian responses to immigration enforcement. To be read in all congregations of the diocese, or otherwise made available to all members by email or other distribution.
INFORMATION FROM THE DIOCESE OF NEWARK . . . To subscribe and receive The VOICE Online by email please go to https://dioceseofnewark.org/subscribe
At the very top of the page, you’ll see a box to type in your email address. Click on the “Sign me up” button and you will be taken to a page where you can subscribe to receive The VOICE Online as well as other e-newsletters.
RESOURCES FROM THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH . . . For news and official statements from the national church, a few key websites are listed below.
Episcopal Church Leaders on immigration executive orders - https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/letter-from-episcopal-church-leaders-on-trump-administration-immigration-executive-orders/
Episcopal News Network. The most up-to-date news in the Episcopal Church - https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/
Office of Government Relations and Episcopal Public Policy Network. News and official statements from the Episcopal Church concerning political and public policy issues - https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/office-government-relations/
Official website of the Episcopal Church - https://www.episcopalchurch.org
Grace Episcopal Church
9 Harrington Avenue, Five Corners
Westwood, NJ 07675
201 664-0407
www.gracewestwood.org
“Called to re-member and share God’s love and grace”