Grace Notes
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 15, 2024

O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THIS WEEK’S READINGS
Isaiah 50:4-9aPsalm 116:1-8James 3:1-12Mark 8:27-38

THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Sunday
9 AM The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School (bulletin)

Wednesday
9 AM The Holy Eucharist

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.

THE CHILDREN'S SERVICE AND SUNDAY SCHOOL WILL RETURN THIS SUNDAY,  SEPTEMBER 15 . . . Sunday School will be 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.

OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially The Most Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop, The Rev. James Warnke, priest, Catherine Gooch, Larry Toppin, 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 especially Beth Storz (9/15) and Brendan Weaver (9/19) and those celebrating anniversaries.

For those who have died especially especially Richard C. Jones (9/15), Janice Vogt (9/15), Florence Mann (9/16), Anne R. Alcorn (9/17), Elaine Martin (9/18), Catherine McLaughlin (9/20) and Florence M. Butz (9/21).

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.

POTLUCK FALL FESTIVAL . . . Save the date for a potluck lunch at Holy Trinity Church, Hillsdale, on September 29, 11AM-1PM. The lunch will be held on the front lawn; if there's rain it will be held in Behringer Hall. There will be activities for the kids. Suggestions for food items will be included here next week.
If you can kindly bring a canned/non perishable item which will be donated to the Hillsdale Helping Hand Food Pantry it will be greatly appreciated.

The Rev. Anthony Puca, Jr., rector of Grace Episcopal Church, with his wife, Paula, and son, Anthony III, at Fort Jackson, SC, after his graduation ceremony August 16. Click here to read the article in this week's Pascack Press.

https://issuu.com/thepressgroup/docs/pascack_press_9.9.24

VOTE FAITHFULLY ELECTION ENGAGEMENT . . . The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations has provided resources which can be found by clicking here:

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/office-government-relations/election-engagement/#h-vote-faithfully-election-engagement
 

“It is a Christian obligation to vote, and more than that,
it is the church’s responsibility to help get souls to the polls.”
 -Presiding Bishop Michael Curry 

Tuesday, September 17th , is National Voter Registration Day, a chance to celebrate our democracy by encouraging voter registration!
 

In 2020, U.S. Census data revealed that 1 in 4 eligible Americans are not registered to vote. National Voter Registration Day aims to spread awareness and help thousands register who might not otherwise. We must get folks registered to vote on time to participate in the fall election. Use National Voter Registration Day's resources to register yourself and promote registration in your community.
 

Are you registered to vote?
Have you checked your voter registration status? For a myriad of reasons, it is important to confirm your voter registration status.
www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org

September 22
10 AM Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament and Sunday School

September 25 (Wednesday)
9 AM The Holy Eucharist

September 29
9 AM   The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School

October 2 (Wednesday)
9 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

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 . . .  That September feeling. 

Bishop Hughes reflects on the back-to-school season as a time for a fresh start, drawing parallels to the desire for renewal in life and in church communities.

YouTube video

Video transcript

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)