Grace Notes
Seventh Sunday of Easter
June 1, 2025
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School (bulletin)
Wednesday
9 AM The Holy Eucharist
Thursday
7 PM Praying the Scriptures (online)
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.
ABOUT EASTERTIDE . . . The season of Easter is the celebration of the central truth of the Christian faith, that Christ is risen from the dead. It is an historical fact that Jesus was crucified. It is the core of the Christian faith that he rose from the dead. But in the liturgical tradition of the Church, these are not things of the past or abstract theories. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is remembered and made present in our worship, and manifested in our common life today and always.
Grace Church follows the tradition of the Church in celebrating Easter for fifty days: from the Great Vigil of Easter through the Day of Pentecost. During this season Alleluias are multiplied, fasting and abstinence is suspended, and the general confession is omitted from the liturgy.
“Jesus Christ, yesterday and today, the Beginning and the End, Alpha and Omega.
His are all times and all ages. To him be glory and dominion through all eternity."
During Eastertide we will sing the Sequence, Victimae Paschale laudes, which dates from the 11th century and is one of only four medieval sequences to survive the liturgical revisions of the Council of Trent (a fifth was added in the 18th century).
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially Ann Hopper, The Rev. James Warnke, priest, Gary Stubbs, Nancy Mohr, Rae Palladino, Dave, Thomas Petrullo, Daniela Parisi, Michael Shumway, Chris Spilker, Gina DeMarsico, Suzanne Morris, Lauren Rosenthal, Charlotte Wilson, John Whitlock, and Gaylord Hitchcock, priest.
For those celebrating birthdays especially Michael Wietzke (6/4) and Lawrence Sunden (6/4)) and those celebrating anniversaries especially Keith & Jerene Lambregtze (6/1), Pam & Tom Feuerstein (6/5), John & Karen Picard (6/6), and Beth & Shawn Storz (6/7).
For those receiving the sacrament of Baptism on June 22: Emma May Flynn and Charlotte Brendel Cox.
For those who have died especially Joana Kent (6/1), Frances Elizabeth Gregory (6/2), Edgar F. Law (6/2), Kirk Mackes (6/3), Harold C. Furman (6/3), Harold L. Archibald (6/4), Mitchell Johnson (6/4), Eva D. Paxton (6/4), Abigail Oloruntele Okunlola (6/4), Edward B. Commerford (6/5), John Eric Evangelisti (6/5), John Sydney Simpson (6/5), E. Hilton Clinch, Sr. (6/7), Frank de Haven (6/7), Mary Elizabeth Hunter (6/7), Lillian Knight (6/7), Edmund J. Mueller (6/7), Mary Scaffa (6/7), Peter C. Tinning (6/7), and Marian Tremble (6/7).
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
Larry Toppin, acolyte
Antonio Brugnoli, usher
Paula Ricca, Sunday School
Tom Bisdale, reader
Ingrid Davis and Trish Landi, altar guild
Ingrid Davis and Trish Landi, coffee hour
Akin Okunlola and Tom Bisdale, counters
June 8 - Pentecost
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
June 15 - Trinity Sunday
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
June 22
10 AM Family Service with Baptism
June 29
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
PRAYING WITH THE SCRIPTURES . . . Beginning Thursday, June 5 at 7 PM, we will pray the scriptures together online using the contemplative practice Composition of Place. This method of prayer, associated most commonly within Ignatian spirituality, emphasizes the use of imagination and engaging the senses to place oneself into a scriptural passage. This practice helps deepen one’s experience of scripture and draws one closer to God in prayer. The meetings will last for about an hour.
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
Where: Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8451295802 Meeting ID: 845 129 5802
When: First and third Thursday of the month
MICHAEL REHILL TO RECEIVE THE DAVID P. HEGG II LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD . . . On Sunday, June 1, 2025, you are invited to join Bishop Hughes and the Commission on Aging of the Diocese of Newark for the 27th annual David P. Hegg II Lifetime Achievement Awards.
The Hegg Awards are given annually to members of our diocese who are:
Age 60+.
A long-standing, active member of your congregation.
Made or makes contributions to the congregation and/or the diocese.
This year's award will be given posthumously to Michael Rehill, who was a long-time member of Grace Church.
GRACE CHURCH'S SUMMER EVENTS sponsored Parish Life . . . Don't miss out, use that saved PTO day and mark your calendar!
June 25th, departing the church at 10:30am for an afternoon at the Cloisters. This excursion will include a boxed lunch and an inside tour. Kids are free.
July: Akin and Theresa Okunlola will host a BBQ at their place on a Sunday after Mass.
August: Kids Day in Pascack Brook County Park. Food, games with prizes, and a bouncy castle! The committee would like parents' input!
Please text or call Chris Scott @ 201.286.0014 if you would like to join in planning.
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.
CROSS ROADS DAY CAMP AT CHRIST CHURCH RIDGEWOOD . . . Click here for more information.
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 . . . How to fortify ourselves against the emotional toll of today's world. Bishop Hughes addresses the emotional toll of hate and injustice in today's world, acknowledging the pain many feel while emphasizing that responding to hate with hate leads to spiritual emptiness. Instead, she recommends three simple daily practices which will fortify us for the demanding ministry needed today.
YouTube video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adH_lJ2pSmg
Video transcript - https://dioceseofnewark.org/bishops-vlog/how-to-fortify-ourselves-against-the-emotional-toll-of-todays-world/
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”