Grace Notes
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
October 19, 2025

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

THIS WEEK’S READINGS

Genesis 32:22-31Psalm 1212 Timothy 3:14-4:5Luke 18:1-8


THIS WEEK’S WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Sunday
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School (bulletin)


          Wednesday Eucharists will resume on November 12.

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 Adam Strauss, Jennifer Wright, Francis Royer, Mariam Kamal, Kathy Nathan, Ann Hopper, The Rev. James Warnke, priest, Dave D'Orazio, Mitch Mann, Thomas Petrullo, Daniela Parisi, Michael Shumway, Chris Spilker, Suzanne Morris, Lauren Rosenthal, Charlotte Wilson, John Whitlock, and Gaylord Hitchcock, priest.

For those celebrating birthdays especially Alfonso Dowdie (10/19), Nicole Gibson (10/21), Elaine Gardner (10/23), and Jaclyn Sobeck Bertolino (10/25) and those celebrating anniversaries especially Lawrence and Daisy Toppin (10/24).

For those who have died especially Joan Colby Hall (10/19), Warren Mackes (10/19), Pauline Pavell (10/19), June Hall (10/20), Emilia Gemmato (10/21), Eleanor Brooks (10/21), John Finnegan (10/23), and William P. Whall (10/25).


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
 
Evans Roache, acolyte
Gene Muller, usher
Barbara Tait, Sunday School
Gene Muller, reader
Trish Landi and Ingrid Davis, altar guild
Barbara Tait, coffee hour
Larry Sunden and Trish Landi, counters

UPCOMING SUNDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE

October 26
10 AM The Holy Eucharist with Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament and Sunday School

November 2
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School - All Saints' Day

November 9
9 AM   The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School

November 16
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School

November 23
10 AM The Holy Eucharist - Family Service - Christ the King

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

THE NECROLOGY . . .  will be read during the All Saints' Day service on Sunday, November 3. Please submit names for the list no later than Tuesday, October 28. You can either email this list to kmaccourt@gmail.com or leave a written list in the church office.

The Language of Song Is Universal

"Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy Name - the Lord, the Mighty One."
- Hymn “Tell out, my soul”

I’m classically trained in opera and in church music, so when I think of “tell out my soul” I am reminded that music is a universal language. I only speak English fluently, but I sing in other languages. I can do this because I’ve learned to interpret the universal feelings in the music—love or loss or longing—that the composer intended. When I sing, I’m telling out on their behalf. 

Last Saturday I was singing Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Pie Jesu.” One way to translate these words, in the context of a requiem, is “Lord give them rest.” It left me thinking of trans people and immigrants and others whose identity is currently under attack, and I find myself praying for their rest in Jesus.

I was not raised in The Episcopal Church, so I’m relatively new to the hymnody. But I convened our cathedral’s young adult ministry and now I am on the vestry. I seem to get called to leadership roles even when I’m not looking for them. Maybe because I stand up for others? I was raised as a girl and taught to be more quiet and passive, but as a non-binary adult I lead out loud and assertively. It’s a common understanding in music circles that the skill of your choir is only as good as the worst voice. Everyone is diminished if we don’t support each other’s voices.

I am especially thankful for the voices and the teachers that have supported me along the way. My first church music director
believed in and encouraged me when I was only nine or ten. I had great college music professors and church music directors at St.
Bartholomew’s in Poway and at Trinity Cathedral in San Jose. These people told me that I have a gift to share, and I believed them.

An Interview by the Very Rev. Julia McCray Goldsmith . . .
Trinity “Trin” Hall (they/ them) is a 24 year old freelance soprano and pastry artist,
president of the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral San Jose Young Adult Ministry.

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.

Mark your calendar . . . Stewardship Ingathering November 9, 2025

If you would like to submit your pledge card digitally please fill out the form by clicking here. 

Online pledge card

If you prefer, you can find printed pledge cards in the narthex.

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.

A one-time donation can also be made using a link on Grace Church's website or scanning the following code:

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 . . . Learn how to share your faith story. Bishop Hughes invites us to practice talking about our faith - not as a program to grow the church, but as a way to share God’s love with people who long to know that God cares for them.

YouTube video

Video transcript

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. 

Commission’s Webpage

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 ordershttps://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 Churchhttps://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”