Grace Notes
All Saints’ Sunday
and the Sacrament of Baptism
November 1, 2026
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
THIS WEEK'S READINGS
Revelation 7:9-17, Psalm 34:1-10, 22, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12
Sunday
9 AM Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist with baptism and reading of the necrology (bulletin)
Wednesday
9 AM The Holy Eucharist
The Rev. Joyce McGirr, celebrant
2026 STEWARDSHIP BIBLE STUDY: PLENTY GOOD ROOM . . .
How do we live out a theology of abundance in a world driven by scarcity? Inspired by the 2026 TENS Stewardship theme, Plenty Good Room, we will explore how the love of God in Christ transforms our view of generosity. Join us for this four-week series as we study scripture and share insights. No preparation is needed—all are welcome!
We will meet after Mass in the large classroom on October 11, 18, 25, and November 8.
Father Anthony
ABOUT ALL SAINTS' DAY . . . Many scholars believe that the Feast of All Saints on November 1st originated in Ireland, spread from there to England, and then to Europe; documentary evidence attests to its celebration as early as the ninth century. However, the desire of Christian people to express the inter-communion of the living and the dead in the Body of Christ, and to commemorate especially the heroic martyrs of the faith, stretches back to the earliest days of the Church.
All Saints’ Day is classed, in the Prayer Book of 1979, as a Principal Feast, taking precedence of any other day or observance. It is one of the four days recommended in the Prayer Book for the administration of Holy Baptism. All Saints' Day may always be observed on the Sunday following November 1, in addition to its observance on the fixed date.
Thank you to our volunteers for this Sunday
Warren Hirstius, acolyte
Akin Okunlola, ushers
Tom Bisdale, reader
Lesly Gannelli and Theresa Okunlola, altar guild
Barbara Tait, coffee hour
Akin Okunlola and Trish Landi, counters
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . the sick and those in need, especially Vivienne Dobney, Dan, Haiyan Wang, Paul Sobeck, Anna Maida, Amy Bryant, Audrey Pfranger, Wesley Endo, Theresa Peter, Carol Reynolds, Chris Nordone, Adam Strauss, Jennifer Wright, Francis Royer, Mariam Kamal, Ann Hopper, Mitch Mann, Thomas Petrullo, Daniela Parisi, Chris Spilker, Suzanne Morris, Lauren and Callie Manlapig, Charlotte Wilson, John Whitlock, and Gaylord Hitchcock, sometime rector of Grace Church.
For those celebrating birthdays especially John Paul Spiro-Colwell (11/6) and those celebrating anniversaries especially Matt Birmingham & Erin Murphy (11/2), James & Nicole Gibson (11/5), and Thomas & Lynn Glynn (11/6).
For Maya Madeleine Cooper and Jack Henry Cooper who will be baptized on November 1.
For those who have died especially Hazel Wallace (11/1), Richard Ebel (11/2), Virginia Knutsen (11/2), Emily E. McCloy (11/3), Walter Johnson, Sr. (11/5), Italo Gemmato (Chick) (11/6), John Thomas (11/6) and Emily Muller (11/6).
PRAYER LIST REQUESTS . . . To add any names to the parish prayer list, please send an email to this address 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.
November 8
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
The Rev. Joyce McGirr, celebrant
Stewardship Bible Study after Mass led by Mother Joyce
November 15 - Stewardship Ingathering
10 AM Family Eucharist
November 22
9 AM Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
November 25 (Wednesday) - Thanksgiving Eve
7 PM 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
Larry Sunden - larry@sunden.com, 201-960-1433
Cindy Waneck - cindylw137@gmail.com, 201-819-3095
On Being Invited
Growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas I spent more time fishing in the surf of Padre Island than in going to church. Our Latino family roots were in Roman Catholicism but our church was the Gulf of Mexico shoreline.
How, then, did I grow up to become an Episcopal priest?
Thinking back I will say that my life today is the result of someone taking the time to invite me to Christ’s table. First invitation was to the local Canterbury group (college ministry). Next came an invitation to attend worship at Church of the Good Shepherd followed by an invitation to serve at the Diocesan camp, Camp Capers.
One after another, the invitations kept coming. Each one led me to a community which always made room for me. I found belonging in a spiritual family. They made plenty good room for me and for my family and friends. Over and over again, the graciousness of Christ was extended to me. I found fellow travelers on the spiritual journey. More importantly, I found the gifts of God within me.
I suppose that I am an Episcopal priest because of all the people along the spiritual way who invited me into communities in which there was plenty good room. Plenty good room to discover myself. Plenty good room to discover God. Plenty good room to discover and discern how God was calling me to serve and lead.
I cannot imagine any other life than the one I have now - serving as an Episcopal parish priest! I am ever grateful for all the wonderful, lifelong friendships I have made. I cannot imagine any other job that would be so wonderful, so exciting and energizing as the ministry I have today.
I am so grateful for all the invitations and all those who made plenty good room for me!
Questions for Reflection:
Take a moment to thank God for all those who made plenty good room for you in the Church.
How has that shaped who you are today?
The Rev. Ramiro (Ram) Lopez serves as rector of St. George’s
Church in San Antonio and serves on the board of TENS.
WESTWOOD CARES FOOD PANTRY . . . Currently the Pantry has ample supply of canned vegetables, beans of any kind, and pasta but would welcome receiving the following items: cold cereal, stew in a can, Spam, canned chicken, jello, pudding, cake mix, icing, brownie mix, flour, sugar, oil, coffee, potatoes, rice, Parmalat milk, detergent, soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper, paper towels, snacks, cookies, juice, and canned fruit.
If you have any questions, please contact Deacon Len.
TAKE A TURKEY TO HELP THE WESTWOOD FOOD PANTRY! . . . Grace Church is trying to increase our weekly contributions to the Westwood Cares Food Pantry. In the back of the Sanctuary is a collection basket for food, hygiene products, etc. Sitting above the basket is a poster on a tripod that has “Little Cardboard Turkeys” with a food item, hygiene product, and other related items printed on the Little Turkey. Parishioners are encouraged to “take a turkey” as a reminder to bring that item to Grace Church the following week. You can either keep the turkey as a future reminder or post the turkey back on the poster and take another turkey if desired. Thank you all for making the contributions to the Westwood Food Pantry a success!
PLEDGING . . . We have the capability of making a donation online through 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
In the event of a pastoral emergency, please contact Fr. Anthony Puca at 267-980-3480.
FROM THE BISHOP . . . Preparing for what lies ahead. What does meal prepping have to do with our spiritual lives? Bishop Hughes draws a connection between preparing lunch for a busy day and preparing our hearts through scripture and prayer, reminding us that the words of faith we carry with us can sustain us in anxious and uncertain times.
YouTube video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2jNq6Q6G98&t=4s
MONTHLY PRAYER VIGIL AT DELANEY HALL . . . On the fourth Sunday of each month at 3 PM, our diocese will hold a brief prayer vigil outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility.
If you are not able to join us in person, we will do our best to live stream the vigil to the diocesan Facebook page. You can also pray at the same time from wherever you are, in solidarity with us.
Guidelines for attendees: https://dioceseofnewark.org/monthly-prayer-vigil-at-delaney-hall/
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.
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 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/
Episcopal Migration Ministries - https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/episcopal-migration-ministries/
Episcopal Relief and Development - https://www.episcopalrelief.org/
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”