Grace Notes
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 24, 2023

We beseech thee, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation, that when thy Son our Lord cometh he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.    Amen.

THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Sunday, Advent 4 at Holy Trinity Church
10 AM The Holy Eucharist, bulletin
Sunday, Christmas Eve at Holy Trinity Church
5 PM The Holy Eucharist, bulletin
Sunday, Christmas Eve at Grace Church
7 PM The Holy Eucharist, bulletin

Monday, Christmas Day at Grace Church
10 AM The Holy Eucharist, bulletin

Wednesday at Grace Church
9  AM The Holy Eucharist with Healing

ABOUT THE SEASON OF ADVENT . . . The name of Advent comes from the Latin word, adventus, which means “coming.”  Advent is a season of joyful expectation with a two-fold orientation: looking forward to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time and also to the commemoration of his Incarnation, which the Church celebrates during the Christmas season—the twelve days from Christmas Day through the Epiphany (January 6).
 
In a time when the world calls us to be especially busy, God calls us to greater simplify our lives in order to make space for the Holy Spirit to breathe in us and to make way for Christ’s coming in and through us.  To this end, the liturgy in this season embraces silence, simplicity and contemplation. The icon on the cover is “Our Lady of the New Advent.”

ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS SEASON . . . The Christmas story is one filled with wonders—angels, a virgin giving birth, shepherds, kings, and God himself coming among us in the form of a helpless baby.  As amazing as this wonderful story is, what the Church celebrates this day and this season is God the Son becoming incarnate—sharing our human flesh, our human nature—in order that we might come to share in his divine life.  The Christmas Season begins with evening prayer of Christmas (or sundown), which is December 24 and lasts twelve days—until evening prayer (or sundown) of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ (January 6).  The usual Friday abstinence is suspended during the season and Christians are expected to make these twelve days a time of celebration and joy.

SUNDAY SCHOOL . . . is held at 10 AM each Sunday for grade school age children (kindergarten to 5th grade). After their lesson and activity, the children will join the congregation for communion.

OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially The Most Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop, The Rev. James Warnke, priest, Stephanie Luciani, Jean Lampert, John Kenney, Kevin, Tryg, Colin, Maureen, Jason, Kim, Carol, Peyton Jett Sambo and his parents Tamara Sambo and CJ Stewart, Felix Wroten, Christian Davis, Shawn Davis, Julie Pryor, Suzanne Morris, Nancy Mohr, Fr. Charles Arlin, George Daily, Joe, Lauren Rosenthal, Roseanne Levine, Jenafer Medina, Charlotte Wilson, Alisa Roman, Rich Landi, John Whitlock, Gaylord Hitchcock.

For the those celebrating birthdays especially Susan Ferara (12/26), Steven Arlin (12/27), Alan Kellett (12/28), Thomas Farrington (12/30), Anthony Gannelli (12/30), Paula Ricca (12/30), Nicholas Meyer (12/30) and Remy Meyer (12/30) and for those celebrating anniversaries especially Richard & Patricia Landi (12/30)

For those who have died especially Daryl Toppin (12/16), Howard Wilson (12/20), Ernest Wigfield (12/24), Florence Stewart (12/25), Richard C. Jones (12/25), Florence Mann (12/29), Mary E. Pfranger (12/29) and Anne R. Alcorn (12/29).

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.

UPCOMING CALENDAR EVENTS . . .

December 31 at Grace Church - Christmas 1
10 AM Lessons and Carols with children’s pageant and The Holy Eucharist 

January 1 at Grace Church - The Holy Name
10 AM Liturgy of the Word (online)

CONTACT INFORMATION . . .

The Rev. Father Anthony Puca, Jr.
Rector
gecrector@gmail.com
201-664-0407

Kathryn MacCourt
Grace and Holy Trinity 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

ANNOUNCEMENTS . . .

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED . . . We are in need of volunteers for the Helping Hand Food Pantry on Monday nights and Saturday mornings. Responsibilities include filling grocery bags from pre-printed lists for pantry clients. Students age twelve and up may volunteer and receive community service credit for the time they work. There are stairs involved, but accommodation can be made for those who can't manage them.

Can you spare a few hours a month (or a quarter) to help feed our neighbors? Please contact Patty Bradley at 201-315-5401 or at arlin.bradley@me.com.

While there are always needs for a variety of food items, the following are always needed:

  • Cake and Brownie Mix

  • Boxed Potatoes

  • Canned Fruit

  • Apple Sauce

  • Ketchup, Mustard, & Mayonnaise

  • Bagged White Rice

  • Pancake Mix, Syrup

  • Flour, Sugar, & Oil

  • Coffee

  • Shelf Stable Milk

  • Canned Meats

  • Pasta

  • Meat Sauce

  • Chunky Soup

  • Peanut Butter & Jelly

  • Cookies & Crackers

  • Shampoo, Conditioner & Toothpaste

  • Pump or Bar Hand Soap

  • Paper Towels, Facial Tissues, Toilet Paper

  • Diapers size 5, 6 & 7

  • Cleaning Products & Laundry Detergent

  • Supermarket Gift Cards

Please ensure all food donations are within their expiration dates.

COFFEE HOUR . . . will follow the service. If you are able to help with this ministry please contact
Grace Church: Ingrid Davis - ingren58@gmail.com or 973-809-8272

PLEDGING . . . We also now have the capability of making a donation online thanks to a newly negotiated deal by the diocese with Vanco! Grace Church Click on the link: WebPay Link or use the Give button on our Home Page.

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.

FROM THE BISHOP . . . How can we be a witness to Christ's light? Bishop Hughes says, "I want to invite you this Advent to think about where you need light, and also to think about where you are asked to witness to the light.... How can we share the light that we know? How do we share the hope that is within us, the hope of God's love and mercy and compassion that we know exist even in a world that is deeply, deeply fractured and troubled?"

YouTube Video

Video transcript

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.

The most up-to-date news in the Episcopal Church http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/

News and official statements from the Episcopal Church concerning political and public policy issues   http://advocacy.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”

Contacts
The Rev. Father Anthony Puca, Jr., Rector 201-664-0407 (gecrector@gmail.com)
Mrs. Kathryn MacCourt, Parish Administrator, Organist & Choirmaster 201-417-1653 (kmaccourt@gmail.com)
Mr. Akinola Okunlola, Warden 201-926-3577 (aokunlola@gmail.com)
Mr. Larry Sunden, Warden 201-960-1433 (larry@sunden.com)