Grace Notes
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
February 23, 2025
O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THIS WEEK'S READINGS
Genesis 45:3-11, 15, Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42, 1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50, Luke 6:27-38
THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday
10 AM Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament and Sunday School (bulletin)
The flowers on the altar this Sunday have been given to the greater glory of God
in memory of Joan Waneck.
Wednesday
9 AM The Holy Eucharist
ABOUT THE EPIPHANY SEASON. . . A season of four to nine weeks, from the Feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6) through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The length of the season varies according to the date of Easter. The gospel stories of this season describe various events that manifest the divinity of Jesus. The coming of the Magi is celebrated on the Epiphany. The Baptism of our Lord is observed on the Sunday after Epiphany. The gospels for the other Sundays of the Epiphany season describe the wedding at Cana, the calling of the disciples, and various miracles and teachings of Jesus. The Last Sunday after the Epiphany is always devoted to the Transfiguration. Jesus' identity as the Son of God is dramatically revealed in the Transfiguration gospel, as well as the gospel of the baptism of Christ. We are called to respond to Christ in faith through the showings of his divinity recorded in the gospels of the Epiphany season. - courtesy of “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians”
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially The Rev. James Warnke, priest, 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, Nancy Mohr, Charlotte Wilson, Rich Landi, John Whitlock, and Gaylord Hitchcock, priest.
For the those celebrating birthdays especially Theresa Peter (2/24), Brent Schneider (2/25), Katherine Randall (2/26), Louise Dowdie (2/27), Daniel Wietzke (2/28), Sarojini Vadakoottu (2/28), AJ Howell-Beck (2/28) and those celebrating anniversaries.
For those who have died especially Anne Tait (2/16), Eleanor Macker (2/23), Joan Waneck (2/24), Frances Duffy (2/25), Granville Johnson (2/25), Grace Rehill (2/26), John Schneider (2/26), Aileen Butz (2/27), Haakon Anderson (2/28), Marion E. Freeman (2/28), and Emile Gagne (3/1).
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
Gene Martin, usher
Erin Murphy, Sunday School
Liza Martin, Reader
Leslie Bisdale, altar guild
Theresa Okunlola and Ingrid Davis, coffee hour
March 2
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
March 5 - Ash Wednesday
9 AM The Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes
7 PM The Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes
March 9
9 AM The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
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
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”