Grace Notes
Third Sunday of Advent
December 15, 2024
Stir up thy power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end.
Amen.
THIS WEEK’S READINGS
Zephaniah 3:14-20, Canticle 9, Philippians 4:4-7, Luke 3:7-18
THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday
9 AM The Children’s Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School (bulletin)
The flowers on the altar this Sunday have been given to the greater glory of God
and in memory of James Davidson and Daryl L. Toppin.
Wednesday
9 AM The Holy Eucharist
SUNDAY SCHOOL will be 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.
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.”
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially The Rev. James Warnke, priest, Michael Shumway, Greg Hutchinson, Catherine Gooch, Larry Toppin, Diane Tekirian, Howard Goldin, Chris Spilker, Lexi Manning, Gina DeMarsico, Christian Davis, Shawn Davis, Suzanne Morris, Lauren Rosenthal, Nancy Mohr, Charlotte Wilson, Rich Landi, John Whitlock, and Gaylord Hitchcock, priest.
For the those celebrating birthdays especially Susan Schneider (12/15) and those celebrating anniversaries especially Lawrence & Mary Sunden (12/18).
For those who have died especially Eleanor Thomas (11/21), James Davidson (12/12), Daryl L. Toppin (12/16), John L. Martin (12/17), Veronica Heisse (12/19), Adele Damerell (12/19), and Frank J. Swan (12/19).
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.
ADVENT DEVOTIONAL PRACTICE . . . This Advent season we will explore two different contemplative approaches to reading and praying the scriptures.
The first contemplative practice we will explore is Composition of Place. This is an Ignatian practice that emphasizes the use of one’s imagination and engaging the senses to place oneself into a scriptural passage. This practice follows a series of steps that help deepen one’s experience of scripture and draw closer to God in prayer. Click on the link for more information on this practice:
https://cruxnow.com/commentary/2023/07/in-composition-of-place-we-engage-in-conversation-with-the-living-god
Lectio Divina (divine reading) is a practice of four movements that guide the reader in a slow deliberate reading of scripture utilizing periods of silence, meditation, prayer, and group conversation. You can find more about this practice by clicking on this link:
https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/lectio-divina-contemplation/
We will meet for two online sessions during this Advent Season:
Thursday, December 5 at 7 PM. Composition of Place
Thursday, December 19 at 7 PM. Lectio Divina
Please join us and take advantage of this opportunity to spend more time praying, studying scripture, and learning from one another during this Advent season.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8451295802
Meeting ID: 845 129 5802
GRACE CHURCH CHRISTMAS FLOWERS . . . It is that time of year again! The Altar Guild is preparing the church with all the flowers and greenery used to decorate our church for this special season. We ask that you help in the preparation by donating toward the purchase bringing light and color to our Christmas celebrations. Please pick up a Christmas Flower donation envelope found in the Narthex this week. The envelopes can be placed in the collection plate or returned to the church office. Checks should be made payable to Grace Episcopal Church with Christmas Flowers in the memo. Thank you, Altar Guild
THE RETURN OF THE WASSAIL!!! . . . After a five year break, we are excited to announce the return of the Wassail Party at the church rectory on Saturday, December 21 from 5-8 PM. All are welcome! We will provide a sign up sheet in the upcoming days for food and beverages. We look forward to celebrating with all of you!
Thank you! Paula and Anthony
December 22 - Advent 4
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
December 24 - Christmas Eve
5 PM The Holy Eucharist
December 29 - Christmas 1
10 AM The Holy Eucharist, Lessons & Carols with Children's Pageant
January 1 - Holy Name
11 AM The Holy Eucharist
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
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
Deacon Leonard Roberts - 973-901-8822
Larry Sunden, warden - 201-960-1433
Akin Okunlola, warden - 201-926-3677
FROM THE BISHOP . . . Remember the spirit of generosity that comes to us in Advent. Speaking about the spirit of generosity that comes with Advent as we prepare Christmas gifts for those to whom we want to show our love and appreciation, Bishop Hughes observes, "Our heart opens up, and our goal is to take care of somebody else, and something in that gives us something that we weren't expecting – an incredible sense of love and peace and abundance and a knowledge that we are in the midst of God's world doing what God wants us to do, that we are giving what God has to give, that we are giving God's love, not just our own love, that it's fueled by God in the first place."
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)