Grace La Gracia
33 Church Street White Plains, NY 10601
 If you are visiting with us for the first time, we welcome you to Grace Church!
Our liturgy is found in the Book of Common Prayer.
Our communion is open to all baptized Christians.
Please take the time to fill out one of our visitor cards which the ushers have available.
Your presence is a blessing to us may our worship together be a blessing to you.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
John 4:7–15
G race Church Family,
A quick note about how to access our online weekly Sunday worship services. If not already, please follow the steps below:

  • Go to the Grace/La Gracia Episcopal Church Face Book page
  • Scroll down the different postings until you come to the most current worship video
  • Touch the video and it will begin to play

* In addition, you can touch the 'Like' button below the video and you will begin to be notified of new postings from this Face Book page.
Grace Church Worship
  • We have begun our new 9 PM Tuesday and Thursday Evening Compline Worship on Face Book live and will email link immediately following
  • At 9 AM this Wednesday, Lisa and I will begin our new weekly Prayer Service on Face Book live and will email link immediately following.
Thoughts from the Senior Warden (May 3, 2020)

I was on the phone with Father Adolfo, when the phone flashed that another person was calling.  E. Adams. Could only be one. I tried to put Father Adolfo on hold and pick up, but I was too slow. Time doesn’t wait for “Miss Elsie”. I quickly ended my call and then dialed  E. Adams back. She said that she had attempted to call – and was only trying to personally extend her prayers as I begin my journey towards ordination. She expressed to me that it might not be easy, but she felt that I had talents suitable to meet the challenge. I cannot tell you what that means to me. That a woman of a certain age (100 on April 16) would take the time to personally call to show her support is a gift that I will keep and treasure. That she was not the only one to express this sentiment (my deepest appreciation to you all for reaching out) tells me that I am going down the right path. We will take this journey together.

Lots going on at Grace/La Gracia
 
We had our first official virtual Vestry meeting on Zoom (to this point we’ve only been on conference calls) and each Vestry member has committed to working with the respective Grace Church guilds, committees and groups in creating their own virtual meetings. I commend them for boldly taking on this initiative. You will be hearing from them soon. 
The food distribution “alliance” has added a new team member, who will help us source supplies and funding – and get the word out. We thank you, Linda Gallo, for stepping up. 
The Diocese has shared details on more grants that we will try to tap into. We heard encouraging news from Sterling National Bank about our Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program loan application. I am not one to put the cart before the horse, so I will refrain from any celebration until the money “hits the account”. I remain hopeful.
The Sunday School teachers are working with the students (with a Zoom call today) and the Diocese on the creation of student-led service projects. I am certain that we will be well represented.
Peter Roberts continues to turn out insightful comments on music that he selects for our Sunday worship. These are available to parishioners through email and on Facebook.
We lost a dear friend with the passing of another of our 100-somethings.  Rise in glory, Cecil Henry.

We heard the news from the Bishop that it will be some time before we can gather together in church – and even longer before things get anywhere close to where they were before March. I ask you all to extend your prayers to Father Chip and Father Adolfo as they navigate through this period of uncertainty. I am proud of how we’ve all responded. It’s a process. This pandemic has forced us to expand our footprint, renew relations with our public leaders, work with other civic organizations, broaden our technological capabilities and deepen our faith in God. The unforeseen consequence of this crisis is that Grace/La Gracia may actually emerge stronger.

In Hope and Expectation

Michael Heffner    
Grace Church/La Gracia 
Senior Warden

How to Pledge to Grace/La Gracia 2020

The church will remain flexible in ways to receive your generosity during this difficult period. Blessings.

Option 1 : The standard way of staying current with your pledge still works. 
Feel free to put your pledge envelope in the mail (check only) and send it to the Grace Church office (to the attention of the Office Administrator). Bundling for a few weeks is fine.
Grace Episcopal Church/La Gracia
33 Church Street - 2nd Floor
White Plains, New York 
10601

Option 2 : Please note that we will be constructing a secure drop box on the red front door of the church. The box will be checked regularly for pledge envelopes (which will be recorded) and gifts of cash .

Option 3:  The electronic way to pledge or donate to the church is honestly not very complicated and completely secure. 
www.gracewhiteplains.org  is the link to the Grace/La Gracia website. You’ll see a tab across the top for pledging. Click to bring you to the Pledging/Giving page. The “donate” button will take you to the location for electronic giving. The church uses PayPal, the 2019 Fortune 500 payment company (#204 in last year’s survey). This service can be used for one time or scheduled payments. One is able to use credit cards or send funds from a PayPal account ( www.paypal.com  ). Michael Heffner is available to help explain or set up your account –  michaelheffner08@gmail.com . Please note that a fee is charged to the church for these transactions (which is why a check in the drop box or sent by mail is always preferred) .
DONATE LINK TO GRACE CHURCH
Click the line above to the donation page on the Grace La Gracia website. Please note that the donate button can be used for weekly pledging.
“SHOPPING SISTERS
In this very challenging times, we are asked to practice our faith by taking care of our brothers and sisters in Christ. To that end, Grace Church parishioners who are able as well as those in need, have the opportunity by helping those of us who are in need of assistance. For those of you who are willing and able to be a “Shopping Sister” please contact LINDA GALLO who will coordinate this joint effort. We will need volunteers who will shop for those who cannot. Please call her at: 914-582-2596 or email her at: ldg052@aol.com.

Need Groceries? Supplies? If you are in need of these, know you will have someone to help. A coordinated network will be set up as follows:
  • 1) Send Linda an email or phone her to let her know your needs. In turn, she will contact a volunteer to assist you who will then contact you (be sure to give Linda your contact information). The volunteer will then speak with you directly.
  • 2) The Shopping Sister will then shop your list and deliver to you to an agreed upon location (your home, apartment, etc.) and time.
  • 3) Upon completion of your shopping, the Shopping Sister will let you know the bill. You will then leave a check/cash for her in a mailbox or agreed upon location.
  • 4) Please note: Since the supply chain of goods has been less than normal, the Shopping Sister may not be able to get all items on your list.

We all need to be mindful that this is a challenging time for all. Since we will all be unable to be community in person, this provides the opportunity to continue putting our faith into action. For those of you able and willing to participate, please contact Linda with your email and/or phone information at your earliest convenience.
The Spring United Thank Offering (UTO) collection at the church was originally scheduled for Sunday, May 31. However, since we will not be able to convene at that date we ask that those who are able to contribute do so by check. You may count the coins in your box and write check for that amount. Please mail the check to the church, made out to Grace Church and be sure to put UTO in the memo section of your check. If you are unable to contribute now, or prefer to turn in your UTO box of coins, please make you contribution at the Fall UTO collection on November 1st. Please do not send UTO boxes of coins to the church.

Whether you give now or in the fall, please continue your ministry of daily thankfulness for Gods's blessings and continue to place coins your box. We still have so much to be thankful for every day, even in this challenging time. What better time than now to thank God for the blessing we receive everyday! Perhaps you were blessed with the ability to take a walk today, give thanks and put a coin in your box.

The UTO is a ministry which promotes individual, daily recognition of our blessings from God - small and large. In recognition of these blessings, we put coins into our UTO boxes. These coins are then used to fund grants for projects that enrich the lives of people in the United States and abroad. Many of these people are our most vulnerable brothers and sisters, whose needs do not take a pause because of the Corona virus pandemic. In fact needs among this population will most certainly increase when this is over. Let us keep them in our prayers and do what we can. Thank you, Melanie Jackson
La Bocca Ristorante 
8 Church Street
White Plains
914-948-3281
Grace/La Gracia Parishioners-Order a meal to enjoy at home!
Please give a thought to our local businesses. Tony Spiritoso has been an angel to Grace since he opened his restaurant in 1997. La Bocca is open for take-out. Enjoy a great meal at home. Thank you, Michael Heffner
GENERAL INFORMATION
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
Join a Committee or become Greeter or Office Voluntee r
Grace La Gracia is always looking for more volunteers to serve on our various committees. We rely on our parishioners to help keep our parish going. For more information or to join, contact the parish office or just stop by one of our meetings! 
If any of these roles interest you, please contact the parish office.
Acolytes

The Grace La Gracia Acolyte Ministry is always in search of new members to aid and assist the Clergy and Congregation in prayer, praise and worship. We welcome adults and youth aged 7 and up. Please contact Lauren Reid at Lrrmink@gmail.com if you would like to join this vital ministry.
Pastoral Care

We are inviting members who have a passion for serving others to join our Pastoral Care team. This ministry means so much to our members and it just might change your life. Please contact Sandy Gadsden at  sunaganatag@aol.com for more information.
Interested in volunteering with our Sunday School?
We have a vacant Assistant Teacher position in the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. If you are interested in committing a few Sundays a month to our youth, pray about it & feel free to talk to one of our Grades K-6 Sunday School volunteers (Linda Gallo, Michael Heffner, Cynthia S. Brown & Lyndsey Wall). Thank you.

Altar Flowers  Signup sheet is on the bulletin board near the library. Remember those you love by signing up for flowers to adore the altar. Contribution: $100.00

Lectors Are Needed
Volunteers are needed for all services including the Family service, every third Sunday of the month. If you are available for one or both of these services, please provide your contact information to Michael Heffner

Volunteer to be an Usher
Ushers are needed for all services. Please contact Andrea Spencer E: dreaspencer@aol.com if you would like to join.

Names on Prayer List
If you have a family member or loved one on our prayer list, please provide our office with emergency contact information.

Mother Teresa once said to “Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.”
 Any person or group of parishioners interested in underwriting a worship service at Grace Church, please contact Fr. Chip for more information.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic Downtown Music is canceling all concerts until September. While we believe the decision to cancel is the correct one to safeguard our community and everyone involved in the performance from any potential exposure, we understand that it is also disappointing. We thank all our supporters for their patience and understanding as we look forward to performing for you soon.
Please  click here to consult our website for future announcements and updates.
The Episcopal Diocese of New York
In order to access  Presiding Bishop Curry's latest thoughts, please click the link below:
E:Sortega@gracechurchwhiteplains.org T: 914 949 2874 x1