Grace Notes
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
August 31, 2025
Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
THIS WEEK’S READINGS
Sirach 10:12-18, Psalm 112, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16, Luke 14:1, 7-14
THIS WEEK’S WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday
10 AM The Holy Eucharist (bulletin)
Wednesday
9 AM The Holy Eucharist
ABOUT THE SEASON AFTER PENTECOST . . . The Season after Pentecost is the “ordinary time” of the Church, the time of the Church’s pilgrimage on her way to the Kingdom of God. During these weeks between Pentecost and Advent the Church explores her life, role and place in the narrative that began with Creation (and the fall) and leads to the Redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ and the empowerment of the Church by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to be Christ’s Body, carrying out Christ’s mission, until his coming again.
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially Immanuel Charles, Loreli Rankin, Bernadette Gannon, Lainey Martin, Mariam Kamal, Kathy Nathan, Ann Hopper, The Rev. James Warnke, priest, Gary Stubbs, Nancy Mohr, Rae Palladino, Dave, Mitch, Thomas Petrullo, Daniela Parisi, Michael Shumway, Chris Spilker, Gina DeMarsico, Suzanne Morris, Lauren Rosenthal, Charlotte Wilson, John Whitlock, and Gaylord Hitchcock, priest.
For those celebrating birthdays especially Thomas Schneider (9/1) and those celebrating anniversaries especially Lesly and Tony Gannelli (9/1), Joseph and Kathleen Whall (9/4), Jordan Howell & John Beck (9/5), and Kevin & Gina Cameron (9/6).
For those who have died especially Shirley Rice Rehill (8/31), Carl H. Rennard (9/1), Arthur Madin (9/3), Olene Anderson (9/4), Doris A. McKeon (9/5), Arthur Hoffman (9/6), and Melvin C. Rehill (9/6).
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
Lesley Bisdale, acolyte
Akin Okunlola, usher
Barbara Tait, reader
Lesley Bisdale, altar guild
Barbara Tait, coffee hour
Akin Okunlola and Tom Bisdale, counters
UPCOMING SUNDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE
September 7
10 AM Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament
September 14
10 AM The Holy Eucharist
September 21
9 AM The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
September 28
10 AM The Holy Eucharist - Family Service
WESTWOOD COMMUNITY BAND THIS SUNDAY AUGUST 31 AT 5 PM . . . The Concert Band, including Grace Church's Tom Bisdale, will play in Veteran's Park for their annual Labor Day concert. Bring chairs/blankets to enjoy a fun wrap-up to summer, with marches, Broadway, movies and more.
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
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.
PAUL SHACKFORD . . . addresses housing and food insecurity in Bergen County. Paul is the board president of Family Promise of Bergen County, a parishioner at St Andrew's in Harrington Park, and was the CFO of the Diocese of Newark for many years. Grace Church has participated in Family Promise of Bergen County's Walk-In Dinner Program for over thirty years. For more information, click here: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/08/op-ed-lets-face-new-jerseys-affordable-housing-crisis/
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.
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
please contact Fr. Anthony Puca at 267-980-3480
FROM THE BISHOP . . . Experiencing God's peace. As the busy season of fall approaches, Bishop Hughes calls us to pause, to listen, and to rest in the words: “Be still and know that I am God.”
WEEKLY JUSTICE ACTION NEWSLETTER . . . The Justice, Peace and Racial Reconciliation Commission weekly action newsletter summarizes upcoming events and activities for involvement. There are actions every day to support a moral budget, immigration rights, voter registration, economic and environmental justice and more.
Newsletter week of August 18, 2025
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”