Grace Notes
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 14, 2025

O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee, mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

THIS WEEK’S READINGS

Exodus 32:7-14Psalm 51:1-111 Timothy 1:12-17Luke 15:1-10

THIS WEEK’S WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Sunday

10 AM The Holy Eucharist (bulletin)
This Sunday we welcome The Rev. Cn. Dr. John P. Mitchell as our guest celebrant.
The sanctuary lamp candle is given to the greater glory of God and in memory of Joseph Goffredo. 

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. 

OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially Immanuel Charles, Francis Royer, Loreli Rankin, Bernadette Gannon, Lainey Martin, Mariam Kamal, Kathy Nathan, Ann Hopper, The Rev. James Warnke, priest,  Gary Stubbs, Nancy Mohr, Rae Palladino, Dave, Mitch, 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 Beth Storz (9/15) and Brendan Weaver (9/19) and those celebrating anniversaries. 

For those who have died especially Heather Knutsen, Joseph Goffredo, Richard C. Jones (9/15), Janice Vogt (9/15), Florence Mann (9/16), Michael F. Rehill (9/16), Anne R. Alcorn (9/17), Elaine Martin (9/18), Caroline Bielenda (9/19), and Catherine McLaughlin (9/20).

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
 
Kate Hoffman, acolyte
Gene Muller, usher
Gene Muller, reader 
Leslie Bisdale, altar guild
Trish Landi and Ingrid Davis, coffee hour
Akin Okunlola and Trish Landi, counters

UPCOMING SUNDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE

September 21
9 AM   The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School

September 28
10 AM The Holy Eucharist - Family Service

October 4 (Saturday)
11 AM St. Francis Day - Blessing of the Animals

October 5 - FEAST OF DEDICATION
9 AM   The Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
           Blessing  and Dedication of the ADA ramp

SAVE THE DATE . . .

Saturday, October 4, 11 AM - Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 5, 10 AM The Holy Eucharist - Dedication Sunday - Grace Church's 120th anniversary
Blessing  and Dedication of the ADA ramp

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

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.

PAUL SHACKFORD . . . addresses housing and food insecurity in Bergen County. Paul is the board president of Family Promise of Bergen County, a parishioner at St Andrew's in Harrington Park, and was the CFO of the Diocese of Newark for many years. Grace Church has participated in Family Promise of Bergen County's Walk-In Dinner Program for over thirty years. For more information, click here: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/08/op-ed-lets-face-new-jerseys-affordable-housing-crisis/

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.

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 . . . The power of a spirit-to-spirit invitation. The most common reason people visit a church for the first time is someone invites them. But instead of “selling” church like a product, Bishop Hughes recommends we speak from our hearts and spirits about the peace, comfort, and joy we find in our faith.

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

Newsletter week of September 1, 2025

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”