Sunday, January 22, 2023

The Third Sunday after Epiphany

Holy Eucharist 

in person at

 8:00, 9:15, and 11:00 am

and online

  Vimeo link for 11:00 am

Service Bulletin Here

Online services can be viewed on our live Vimeo feed.

Please Stop Reading This–

and Make Your Pledge Today! 

Grace is making very good progress toward reaching our Annual Giving goal! It’s time to close the gap and hit our 2023 target.

To the more than 120 individuals and families who have already stepped up to Celebrate Grace’s day-to-day operations and essential elements of our 2023 budget – THANK YOU! We know many of you give generously of your time and talent to the church – we appreciate that you also gave of your treasure!

If you haven’t yet made your commitment, please stop reading this, put down your coffee cup or your mobile device, and pledge right now. Go to https://onrealm.org/gracebrooklyn/AddPledge/2023pledge.

If you’d prefer to pledge at Sunday services, pick up a Pledge Card at the back of the church. Just fill out your Pledge Card and place it in the envelope provided. You can drop it in the offering plate, give it directly to one of the ushers, or return it to the Parish Office. 

Thank you in advance for your generous support! Every gift makes a difference. But please make your gift now!

Let’s Celebrate Grace together with a strong and enthusiastic start to 2023.



Are you making your pledge online on REALM? We've created an online pledging and automated giving instruction guide to help you successfully set up your online pledge!

Grace Church Compline and Soul Songs

Reminder:

Song Night this Friday, 7-9 pm in the Guild Hall.

Singers will include:

David Thomas, Jess Smith,

and Andy Stuckey, Katherine Slingluff & Family.



Come and share a song or just listen.

We will close with Compline.

Winterfair 2023 -- 

Donations Welcome!

We are collecting donations for the WinterFair now through 5 pm on February 2nd.

If you have donations to drop off, please follow these instructions:

You can come by the church Monday through Thursday from 3-5pm (Fridays 1-5 pm) and ring the bell at the Grace Court entrance. On Saturday from 9am-3pm or Sunday 1pm-3pm, use the main doors on Hicks St. and ring the bell on the right hand side, and Felipe will let you in.

Please leave donations in the pews on the left (pulpit) side of the church. Signs are posted for where things should be placed more specifically, including in the gym. Sporting equipment should be left in the narthex. 

We ask that you not come on Saturday, January 21st between 10 am and 12:30 pm as a memorial service will be held in the sanctuary at that time.

The WinterFair will be held on Saturday, February 4th. If you have questions or would like to help — it takes many volunteers! — please reach out to Marilyn Grant at [email protected] or Barbara Becker at [email protected]. We look forward to all your contributions!

Get Rikers Closed Rally

Freedom Agenda invites Grace Church to a rally on Thursday, January 26th from 11-12 pm ahead of Mayor Adams’ State of the City Address outside the Queens Theater in Flushing Meadows Park. Organizers are calling on the Mayor to adhere to the current plan to close Rikers Island by 2027, rather than developing a Plan B which might keep current jails on the Island open or even build new ones. Transportation from Brooklyn is available. For more information, please contact our Associate Rector for Social Justice & Reconciliation, the Rev. Leandra Lisa Lambert at [email protected].

The most recent issue of the Justice Journal, a newsletter of our Social Justice and Reconciliation Ministry is now available. Click here for an e-copy. Hard copies will be available for pick up at the church.

Assistance for Asylum Seekers

**The most urgent needs are for men’s winter coats, socks and shoes**

With the massive influx of our migrant brothers and sisters arriving in NYC from the southern border, Grace Church has an opportunity to provide care by donating new packaged items to meet their immediate needs. You may also donate through Realm, selecting Migrant Assistance Relief. Once items are ready, please contact our Associate Rector for Social Justice & Reconciliation, the Rev. Leandra Lambert at [email protected] for drop-off instructions.

Painting by: Jesus Mafa, Cameroon, 1973

Lenten Reflections 2023

People of Grace,

One of our annual Lenten spiritual practices is to share daily reflections from parishioners on their experience of the journey through Lent.

This year we are inviting volunteers to contribute the following:

• a brief reflection on a theme, phrase, or even a word -- temptation, ashes, journey, passion, struggle, cross, that you find meaningful this Lent. (100 words or less).
• your reflection will be shared via Constant Contact with the congregation during one of the 40 days of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday.

Please email Rev. Erika to let her know if you will make this commitment.

2022 Annual Report

The Annual Parish Meeting was held on Sunday, January 8, 2023. Members of the parish who were unable to attend can contact Parish Administrator, Melissa Kelly for a copy of the Annual Report.

Diocesan Lenten Program for 2023

SACRED GROUND

The Episcopal Church's Series on Race, Grounded in Faith 

This Lent, join the hundreds of people in our diocese who have participated in Sacred Ground. A new online and in-person series begins Monday, February 27th, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm, over Zoom.

Over eleven sessions, small groups representing parishes across our diocese walk through chapters of America's history of race and racism. The online curriculum includes documentary films and readings focusing on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. 

The series begins immediately after the first Sunday of Lent, on Monday, February 27, 7:30-9:00 pm with a gathering of all participants over Zoom. 

After this initial meeting, small groups continue independently, with a reunion of all former Sacred Ground participants held at the Cathedral in the fall. 

When you register, please indicate your parish, and your preference for:

Format: Zoom or Hybrid (small groups will not meet on Memorial Day or July 4)

Frequency:

• Every week, beginning February 27 (ends by Memorial Day)
• Every other week, beginning February 27

Register here.

Sunday School 

Children in grades K-5 are invited to participate in Sunday School. Classes meet immediately following the 9:15 am service in the Poplar Room (classroom 2 downstairs at the bottom of the stairs). Trained volunteers lead children in 45 minute sessions focusing on the week’s Bible readings, using the Storymakers curriculum. Please email Jess Smith, Intern for Youth Education, with any questions.

Rector's Bible Study

The Rector’s Bible Study group meets in person on Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 am in the McKittrick Choir Room. All are welcome to join Bible Study. We are reading and discussing Thirst, a book of poetry by Mary Oliver. If you would like to attend via Zoom, please use the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7186241850.

The Rector's Discretionary Fund

As the Grace Church community continues to deal with the after-effects and continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to ask parish members to consider making an offering to the Rector's Discretionary Fund.

With this fund, the Rector is able to help those in our community when they need it most.

If you would like to contribute to this important fund, you can do so by check or via our online payment system, Realm. If you prefer to make a donation by check, it should be made out to Grace Church with "Rector's Discretionary Fund" in the memo.

Evening Prayer

Grace Church offers Evening Worship every Tuesday - Friday at 5pm online.*

To attend Evening Prayer online, please use the following Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7186241850 .

Parish Prayer Concerns & Thanksgivings

That in all things we may follow Jesus’ call to service. That the people of Grace may be joined in love, and united in the same mindset and the same purpose with Christ. That we, who are called to be fishers of people, may use our diverse gifts to manifest to others the power of God’s love. That all who find themselves walking in darkness may find a spirit of hope, and be renewed in mind and spirit with a vision and promise of life and wholeness. That all who help others find Christ may share the good news of Jesus in life-giving and healing ways. That God’s Spirit will grant Joe, our president; Kathy, our governor; Eric, our mayor; and all elected officials, especially members of Congress, the wisdom, insight, and courage to lead us in ways that are just and righteous, and bring about the healing of divisions within our nation. That God will sustain and strengthen all who seek solutions to gun violence in our nation, all who work to end wars, all who offer refuge to strangers, and all who extend opportunity to the poor, the oppressed, and the forgotten. That God will set all who are buffeted by extreme weather high upon a rock and keep them safe in his shelter. That God will restore all who are beginning to see an end to relentless rain, wind, and flooding, and bring them help from others. That God will inspire many to work for equitable and sustainable solutions to the drought that affects many areas in our nation. For all who work to conserve, nurture, and protect God’s creation; and for all individuals and institutions that teach people about earth’s proper needs. For the poor, the hungry, and the homeless, especially during this wintertime. For all whose employment is insecure. For all who work in the service sector, and especially delivery drivers. And for those who have been commended to our prayers, especially Emily; Claude; Patricia; Isabel; the Manning and Dash families; Ginny; Vivian H.; Marilyn; Lenore; Lauren; Manjit; Ladson & Xandria; Christine; Vivian & Michael L.; Heidi; Linda; Judith; Sarah Jane; Patti & Steve; Tom C.; Irma; and Amanda. For those who endure chronic or incurable illnesses; and those who care for sick or aging loved ones. For those whose names and needs are known only to God. For all who have died, and for all who mourn.

Sunday Services

Grace Church holds in-person services at 8 am, 9:15 am, and 11 am each Sunday unless otherwise noted. All are welcome. Masks are no longer required to attend Sunday services. We have child care available for those who need it during the 9:15 am and 11 am services. 

Join us for coffee hour! Please join us for coffee and snacks after each service. 

The 11 am service will be live-streamed for anyone unable to attend in person.

If you have any questions about our worship schedule, please contact Melissa Kelly, Parish Administrator, at [email protected] or (718) 624-1850 x 10.

Giving to Grace

We are happy to let you know that you can make a pledge or general offering donations by text! 

Please send a text to 73256 with the message "GraceBrooklyn". The first time, you will be prompted to provide your name and address, including your card number. If you save that information for future use, the second offering by text will be immediate. You can also make one-time pledge payments and general offering donations online here.

If you would like to set up a recurring pledge payment on Realm, please contact Melissa Kelly, parish administrator, for an invitation to join. 

In Remembrance or Gratitude...

Altar flowers are a wonderful way to express gratitude for life's blessings or to memorialize a loved one.

If you would like to contribute Altar flowers, please contact Marilyn Grant. An acknowledgment will be included in the service bulletin.

Weekday Visits to Grace

When you visit, please use the Clergy Door, which is the first door on your right in the Hicks Street courtyard. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.