Grace Notes
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
June 28, 2026
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
THIS WEEK'S READINGS
Jeremiah 28:5-9, Psalm 89:1-4,15-18, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42
Sunday
10 AM Family Eucharist (bulletin)
Parish-Wide Meeting (immediately following the service)
The Good Book Club study group discussion
follows today's service
Wednesday
no Wednesday Eucharist this week
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.
Thank you to our volunteers for this Sunday
Ben Martin, acolyte
Akin Okunlola, usher
Liza Martin, reader
Leslie Bisdale, altar guild
John and Lorie Mennitti, coffee hour
Akin Okunlola and Trish Landi, counters
PARISH-WIDE MEETING: SUNDAY, JUNE 28 (Immediately following the service) . . .
All parishioners are warmly invited to join us for a special one-hour meeting as we reflect on the first half of the year and discern opportunities for the months ahead. We held a similar gathering last June, and your input truly shaped the life of our parish. Thanks to your ideas, we hosted a joyful weekend of community events last October—welcoming our neighbors for the St. Francis Day Animal Blessing and coming together to celebrate the dedication of our new accessibility ramp.
Please join us once again to pray, look ahead, and share your thoughts and ideas for our congregation.
ADULT EDUCATION AT GRACE FOR THIS SUMMER . . .
This summer, we'll be reading through three of Paul's letters together:
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Philippians
The Good Book Club - an offering of Forward Movement - is simple. You can follow the reading list online or follow along with your own Bible at home. There is an online component and we will meet in person on select Sundays. Please let Fr. Anthony know if you are interested and for more information.
Online Bible Study - Thursdays at 3pm ET. Mark your calendars for our summer Bible study, where we'll wrestle with Paul's words and look for the blessing in them. Hosted by Miriam McKenney (Missioner for Beloved Community, Diocese of Southern Ohio) and theRev. Kelli Joyce (PhD candidate in Theology at Vanderbilt University).
Our first Bible Study will be on Thursday, June 11.
Click here to access the Microsoft Teams meeting.
If you click on the link below for the online reading list, you can also subscribe to the list and receive weekly reminders of the reading with an accompanying video. These weekly emails will come out on Wednesday and preview the readings for the following week.
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . the sick and those in need, especially Haiyan Wang, Paul Sobeck,, Julia and Matt, Anna Maida, Amy Bryant, Audrey Pfranger, Wesley Endo, Theresa Peter, Kristi-Ann McGrath, Carol Reynolds, Chris Nordone, Adam Strauss, Jennifer Wright, Francis Royer, Mariam Kamal, Ann Hopper, Dave D'Orazio, 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 Ryan Weaver (6/30) and Colette S. Mueller (7/4)and those celebrating anniversaries especially Natalia Jarden & Geoffrey D. Mueller (6/30).
For those who have died especially Harold G. Neuwalker (6/29), Emmeline Watts (6/29), Peter W. Snyder (6/30), James R. Banks (7/2), William H. V. McLeester (7/3), and Audrey Sanzari (7/4).
Flowers on the altar this Sunday are given to the glory of God and in honor of the birthday of Colette S. Mueller and the anniversary of Natalia Jarden & Geoffrey D. Mueller.
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.
July 5
10 AM Liturgy of the Word, Ben Martin, officiant
July 12
10 AM The Holy Eucharist, The Rev. Joyce McGirr, celebrant
July 19
9 AM Children's Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist
July 26
9 AM Children's Service
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
Larry Sunden - larry@sunden.com, 201-960-1433
Cindy Waneck - cindylw137@gmail.com, 201-819-3095
WESTWOOD CARES FOOD PANTRY . . . The Westwood Cares Food Pantry is requesting the following items: Canned chicken, Canned tuna, Stews and soups, Beans and chili, Peanut butter, Sauces Cereal, Rice and pasta, Noodles, Granola bars, Dessert mixes, Juice, Shelf-stable milk, Cleaning products, Laundry detergent, Paper products, Personal care items, and Pet food. If you have any questions, please contact Deacon Len.
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
please contact Fr. Anthony Puca at 267-980-3480
FROM THE BISHOP . . . What does your soul need this summer? With summer's slower pace comes an opportunity to reconnect with God. Bishop Hughes encourages us to approach the season as a Sabbath time, marked by study, prayer, reflection, and renewal.
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”