Grace Notes
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
July 21, 2024
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, who knowest our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion, we beseech thee, upon our infirmities, and those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask, mercifully give us for the worthiness of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THIS WEEK’S READINGS
Jeremiah 23:1-6, Psalm 23, Ephesians 2:11-22, Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday
10 AM The Holy Eucharist (bulletin)
This Sunday we welcome The Rev. Pamela Bakal as our visiting priest.
THE WEDNESDAY HOLY EUCHARIST WITH HEALING . . . will meet again on August 7.
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. The next meeting of Sunday School will be on August 7.
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.
FATHER ANTHONY WILL BE ON MILITARY LEAVE . . . from May 10 to August 16 as he attends the Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC. Father Anthony will learn skills expected of every officer in the US Army in addition to training specific to chaplains. He will return to Grace Church right after Labor Day. Please hold Father Anthony, Paula and Anthony III in your prayers.
Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping Father Anthony Puca, our priest, rector and friend. Bless him every day with your heavenly grace; strengthen him in all the trials he may face, fill him with the joy of new learnings and new friendships and grant him the sense of your abiding presence in all of his endeavors. Then at the end of his service, bring him safely home, so that, surrounded by the love of this community, he may with renewed vigor continue the work of your kingdom at Grace Church. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially The Most Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop, The Rev. James Warnke, priest, Lesly Gannelli, Diane Tekirian, Howard Goldin, Chris Spilker, Lexi Manning, Gina DeMarsico, Stephanie Luciani, Christian Davis, Shawn Davis, Felix Wroten, Suzanne Morris, Lauren Rosenthal, Nancy Mohr, Roseanne Levine, Jenafer Medina, Charlotte Wilson, Rich Landi, Lorie and John Menitti, John Whitlock and Gaylord Hitchcock, priest.
For those celebrating birthdays and those celebrating anniversaries this week.
For those who have died especially especially John Finnegan (7/21), Rosa Frazier (7/24), Cynthia Hafemann Johnson (7/25), Frederick Arnold (7/25) and Bertha Gagne (7/27).
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.
July 21
10 AM The Holy Eucharist
July 28
10 AM Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament
August 4
10 AM The Holy Eucharist
August 7 (Wednesday)
9 AM The Holy Eucharist
August 11
9 AM The Chldren's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
August 18
10 AM Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament
August 25
10 AM The Holy Eucharist
September 1
10 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
ANNOUNCEMENTS . . .
ADULT CONFIRMATION, RECEPTION AND REAFFIRMATION . . . In the spring of 2025, adult parishioners who have not yet been confirmed will have the opportunity to receive the Sacramental Rite of Confirmation. Confirmation is for those who feel called to "express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop" (BCP, p. 860). Adult parishioners will also have the opportunity to be formally received into the Episcopal Church or to reaffirm one's baptismal vows. Reception is for those who have already been confirmed in another church, but are now active in the Episcopal Church and would like to officially become an Episcopalian. Reaffirmation is for those who have already been confirmed and received into the Episcopal Church and now feel called to publicly reaffirm their baptismal vows and to be presented to a bishop for a blessing.
Classes will be offered in the fall of 2024 and winter 2025 to learn about Confirmation/Reception/Reaffirmation and the history, spirituality and structure of the Episcopal Church. Please contact Fr. Anthony if you are interested in exploring Confirmation or Reception.
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.
Pastoral Emergencies
Deacon Leonard Roberts - 973-901-8822
Larry Sunden, warden - 201-960-1433
Akin Okunlola, warden - 201-926-3677
FROM THE BISHOP . . . What does summer Sabbath look like for you?
It’s been a busy program year, says Bishop Hughes, and as she did last year, she reminds us to take some Sabbath time this summer to rest, nourish ourselves, and allow God to restore us.
THE GENERAL CONVENTION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH ELECTS SEAN W. ROWE AS 28th PRESIDING BISHOP . . . The new Presiding Bishop’s nine-year term begins on November 1. For more information, click https://livingchurch.org/news/news-episcopal-church/sean-w-rowe-elected-as-28th-presiding-bishop/
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)