Grace Notes

Fifth Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2026

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

THIS WEEK'S READINGS

Acts 7:55-60,Psalm 31:1-5, 15-161 Peter 2:2-10John 14:1-14

Sunday

9 AM Children’s Service
10 AM The Holy Eucharist (bulletin)

Wednesday
Service cancelled

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).

Thank you to our volunteers for this Sunday

Antonio Brugnoli, acolyte
Larry and Daisy Toppin, usher
Barbara Tait, Sunday School
Mary Sunden, reader
Leslie Bisdale, altar guild
Trish Landi and Paula Ricca, coffee hour
Akin Okunlola and Aelicia Yeates, counters

OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . the sick and those in need, especially Anna Maida, Amy Bryant, Audrey Pfranger, Wesley Endo, Theresa Peter, Kristi-Ann McGrath, Lewis Aldridge, 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 Geoffrey Mueller (5/5), Stephen Schneider (5/6), Nellie G. Kleppe (5/7), Stephanie Valentine (5/7), and Leann Lydon (5/8) and those celebrating anniversaries.

For those who have died especially William Dolan (5/4), Howard  C. Spilker (5/6), Sandra Caraffielo (5/7), Alice DuFresne (5/7), Alexander Jeffrey, III (5/7), Florence Schorr (5/7), Agnes Bianchi (5/8), Leonard P. Botting (5/8), and Ena Hollands (5/9).

Flowers on the altar this Sunday are given to the glory of God and in honor of the birthdays of Geoffrey D. Mueller and Nellie G. Kleppe.

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.

May 10
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School

May 14 (Thursday) - Ascension
6 PM Evening Prayer (online)

May 17
10 AM Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament and Sunday School

May 24 - Pentecost 
10 AM The Holy Eucharist with Baptism and Sunday School

May 31 - Trinity Sunday
10 AM Family 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

MOTHERS' DAY BRUNCH AT HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, HILLSDALE. . . Holy Trinity Church would like to extend an invitation to the parishioners at Grace to join them. A headcount and volunteers would be appreciated--those interested can reach out to Dave at 201-281-0660 or Russ at 201-286-7527.

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 . . . Practicing the life of faith. Many long for a deeper faith – but like any discipline, it takes practice. This Confirmation season, as people proclaim their faith, Bishop Hughes reflects on faith as a skill shaped over time and invites us into action: praying, learning, and sharing our faith with others.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRijAjlmKjc

https://dioceseofnewark.org/bishops-vlog/this-lent-remember-who-you-are/

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

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 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”