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The Weekly Epistle
The First Sunday in Lent
February 22, 2026
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The headlines today are as follows: 1. A Shrove Sunday feast, 2. A guest preacher on Sunday, and 3. A new Associate Rector for Grace Church.
First things first: Shrove Sunday. Actually, the correct liturgical name for the day, in addition to the First Sunday in Lent, might be The Sunday after Shrove Sunday. That’s right, Shrovetide (the three days leading up to Ash Wednesday) was last week. But many people were traveling, so we moved our traditional pancake, waffle, and bacon feast to this week, when more people can enjoy it. Fear not about breaking your Lenten fast. Every Sunday, even in Lent, is a feast of the Resurrection. You’ll have time enough to repent on Monday through Saturday. So come to Tuttle Hall after the 11 am service and partake of the bounty.
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Secondly, the Very Rev. Dr. Patrick Malloy will be out guest preacher at the 9 and 11 am services. Pat is the Dean Emeritus of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine here in New York City, where he had a remarkable ministry until retiring last June. He is a liturgical scholar who was the Professor of Liturgics and Academic Dean at General Seminary. He also served a stint as Interim Dean of the Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness in Denver. Recently, Pat has been hanging out with us, teaching the Epiphany Wednesday class, and presiding at some Wednesday evening Eucharists. It will be a joy to welcome him to the pulpit this Sunday.
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Finally, we have concluded our search for a new Associate Rector of Grace Church. I have called the Rev. Eva N. Suarez to join our clergy team, and the great news is that Eva has accepted! Eva comes to us most recently from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, where she served as the Canon for Community Engagement and Interim Chaplain of the Cathedral School. Prior to her time at the cathedral, Eva was the Curate at St. James, Madison Avenue, where she served alongside a priest familiar to us, the Rev. James Morton. The advisory committee and I noted how the room lit up when Eva walked in for her interview. We believe that she is exactly the right person to oversee and grow our ministries for children, youth, and families. She is a gifted preacher and teacher, and will exercise a full range of priestly ministry at Grace Church. Her starting date is yet to be determined, but we look forward to welcoming Eva soon.
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Many thanks to the advisory committee that helped in the search: our two wardens, Doug Evans and Sally Hines, Rebecca Dixon, Doug Ellis, Dana Foote, Kristin Niven, and the Rev. James Morton. Speaking of James, I have been impressed by the creative and energetic ways he has filled in the ministry gaps since Julia moved on back in December. Thus, I have elevated James from Assistant to Associate Rector. Going forward in this new season of our parish life, we will have two Associates who will surely keep me on my toes. Fun times ahead.
See you in church.
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9:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II
Preaching:
The Very Rev. Dr. Patrick Malloy
Dean Emeritus of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Music:
Patrick Allen, organ
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11:00 am Morning Prayer and Sermon
Preaching:
The Very Rev. Dr. Patrick Malloy
Dean Emeritus of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Music:
The Choir of Adults and Girls with High School Singers
Patrick Allen, organ
| | This service is video-streamed every week and can also be accessed via our YouTube, Vimeo, and Facebook channels. | | |
6:00 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II
Preaching:
The Rev. James H.B. Morton III
Music:
Hymns with Instrumentalists
| | Coffee and Fellowship take place today in Tuttle Hall following the 9 am service. Come enjoy coffee, conversation, and a variety of treats that have been provided. | Guest Preacher – The Very Rev. Dr. Patrick Malloy, Dean Emeritus of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, will be our guest preacher at the 9 am and 11 am services. Dean Malloy has served the Episcopal Church in many capacities, including Interim Dean of the Cathedral of St. John in the Wilderness in Denver, and Professor of Liturgics at General Seminary. Welcome, Dean Malloy! | The Sunday Forum – Wilderness Emotions – The season of Lent recalls the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness, contending with Satan’s manifold temptations. All of us experience wilderness times that result in troubling emotions that threaten to consume faith, hope, and love. What resources does the Christian faith give us to contend with anger, anxiety, grief, doubt, and fear? The Sunday Forum in Lent will examine these wilderness emotions and others. We begin today with the wilderness emotion of anger, led by the Rector. 10 am in the reception room. Breakfast treats served. | Shrove Sunday – Everyone is invited to enjoy brunch in Tuttle Hall following the 11 am service. Yes, Lent will have begun! But Sundays are in Lent, not of Lent, so come out and enjoy a delicious meal hosted by the GCW. Please bring a can or cans of soup to support our February soup month drive for The Red Door Place. We will have a collection basket handy. | Lenten Calendars will be available for purchase during coffee hour. The $5 purchase fee goes to support the good work of the GCW. | Lenten Sock Drive – This Lent, Grace is collecting new (unused and unopened) socks to be distributed by The Red Door Place to those in need. At a previous parish day of service at The Red Door Place, one parishioner asked what besides food is most needed and the answer was socks. The Red Door Place is a food ministry, but it tries to meet other client needs as well. On raw, cold days, warm, dry socks are a godsend. The sock drive will culminate at the Maundy Thursday service on April 2. | Today, Mar 1 & 8 – Cities in the Bible | Sunday Evening Adult Formation – At the outset, the Bible does not have great things to say about cities. They are often corrupt and unwelcoming to outsiders. Hence, it would seem God’s grand design is to restore all of us to a garden, yet all is not as it seems at first! The Bible can be surprising, and it may include some good news for New Yorkers who call this city home. Meeting a total of six times, this course will employ resources from The Bible Project and be led by the Rev. James Morton. We will meet on Sunday evenings in the Chantry immediately following the 6 pm service. No advance reading is necessary to participate. Refreshments served. | 300 Giving Households! – We have exceeded our goal of 300 pledging households in 2026, the highest number of pledging households in the 218-year history of Grace Church. Thank you to everyone who has pledged! We are grateful to have you in our midst, shaping this parish community. Now we are forging ahead to 350, with more fanfare to come if we reach it. If you have not yet made a pledge, there is still time! Make your pledge online or place your completed pledge envelope in the offering plate any Sunday. | Nursery Care – The nursery is open from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm (during and between both morning services). The room is located in the Sunday School wing just off Tuttle Hall and is professionally staffed according to Safe Church guidelines. Parents are welcome to bring their children up to age 4. Please be sure to collect your children by 12:30 pm. Please contact our seminarian, Molly Gouran, for more information. | Children’s Chapel – During the 11 am service, children ages 5-12 are invited to start church with their parents in the pews and then join a member of the clergy and a musician in the chantry for a time of singing, stories, and prayer. Younger children are welcome to attend with an adult. Children return during the announcements. | 2026 pledge envelopes are available for those who use them! If you received 2025 pledge envelopes, your 2026 envelopes are available after service at the coffee hour. Please make sure to take the box with your name on it, as the number on the envelope identifies the person who made the donation! If you did not receive pledge envelopes last year but would like to receive them this year, please contact Travis Kennedy. | | Scaffolding – The interior scaffolding is finally down, allowing passage through the south aisle and access to all pews. Unfortunately, the stained-glass windows will remain dark until the exterior south aisle work can be completed and the protection removed. Also, walkway exterior scaffolding will remain in place as workers continue the “make safe” inspection of the spire and tower. | Join the Choir! – Do you have a child in grades two through twelve? The Choirs are always recruiting and, with creative scheduling, all young people are eligible to participate, not just those who attend Grace Church School. It’s fun, y’all come! Contact Patrick Allen to work out the details. Please visit the Choirs page of our website for more information. | 6 pm Sunday and Wednesday Worship in the Chantry – If you cannot be here on Sunday mornings, note that every week we offer two evening opportunities for worship. The Sunday and Wednesday 6 pm services in the chantry include Holy Eucharist, sermon, and lively hymn singing accompanied by our Steinway grand piano. The first Wednesday of every month includes prayers for healing and anointing with oil. | Canterbury Downtown Campus Ministry for College Students – Canterbury Downtown is an open and inclusive Episcopal campus ministry for students of Manhattan colleges. Students of all religious and cultural backgrounds are invited to share in a faith-based community, connect with one another, and grow together in Christ. During the academic year, students gather for worship, conversation, and a complimentary meal with Canterbury Downtown Chaplain, the Rev. Megan E. Sanders, following the Sunday 6 pm service at Grace Church. All college students are welcome. |
| Feb 25, March 4, 11, 18 & 25 – Favorite Psalms – A new Wednesday evening study will begin and continue through Lent. We will look at favorite Psalms, including an understanding of the text, and how they have been put to use in Anglican worship. 6:45 pm in the reception room. A Lenten supper of soup, bread, and beverages will be served. | Feb 26 – 20s & 30s Pub Theology – The next 20s & 30s Pub Theology will take place on Thursday, February 26 at 6:45 pm in the reception room of the parish house. We’ll explore intersections of the divine and our everyday lives. No advance reading is necessary! Pizza, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Contact the Rev. James Morton to RSVP. | Mar 1 – Newcomers’ Lunch – New to Grace Church? Interested in learning more about this community and how to get involved? On March 1 at 12:30 pm, come for lunch in the reception room, meet a few new friends, and learn about the many offerings at Grace Church. RSVP to the Rev. James Morton. | Mar 7 – Volunteer Day with The GO Project – The GO Project is an after-school program and longtime ministry partner of Grace Church. Join us on Sat., Mar. 7 from 9:30 am to 12 pm for a volunteer day where we’ll support students as they learn. Contact the Rev. James Morton if you’d like to attend. | | |
9 am, 11 am Worship Services in the church and 6 pm in the chantry. The 11 am service is video streamed every week. | | The Sunday Forum – Between the services in the reception room and on Zoom starting around 10 am, we delve into theological and contemporary topics in depth. | | Nursery Care – The nursery (next to the Sunday School classroom, across Tuttle Hall) is open from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Adults can sign children ages 0-4 in and out at their convenience. The nursery is professionally staffed according to Safe Church guidelines. Please be sure to collect your children by 12:30 pm. | | Children’s Chapel – During the 11 am service, children ages 5-12 are invited to start church with their parents in the pews and then join a member of the clergy and a musician in the chantry for a time of learning and prayer. Younger children are welcome to attend with an adult. Children return during the announcements. | | Coffee Hour – Coffee hour and fellowship take place in Tuttle Hall following the 9 and 11 am services. | | Activity Corner for Children – In the north aisle of the church, you will find activity bags, coloring supplies, and books for children to use during the service. Please return all materials before you leave and help us keep the area clean for future families. | Sunday Evening Adult Formation Classes – Join us on Sunday evenings following 6 pm worship in the chantry where we’ll gather to study, learn, and deepen our faith in a small group setting. | | Hymns from Grace – Held in the church during open hours and on the Grace Church NYC Vimeo channel at 4 pm – 45 minutes of favorite hymns, anthems and voluntaries played on the Bicentennial Organ. | | Monday – Centering Prayer – 12:15-12:45 pm – In person and on Zoom. Christian silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of God’s presence. Led by Currie Estreich, MA, Spiritual Direction, the General Theological Seminary. To practice in person, please come to the southeast corner of the church, just to the right of the organ and behind the pulpit. If you come down the center or north aisle and turn right, you'll see the spot set up. | | Tuesday-Friday – Bach at Noon – Held in the church during open hours and on the Grace Church NYC Vimeo channel at 12:20 pm through May 15, 2026. 30 minutes of music by J.S. Bach, played on the Bicentennial Organ. Everyone is invited! | | Wednesday – Women’s Bible Study – 10:30 am on Zoom. Please contact our seminarian, Molly Gouran, for more information. | | Wednesday – 6 pm Eucharist in the Chantry | | Saturday – Weekend Organ Meditation – Held in the church during open hours and on the Grace Church NYC Vimeo channel at 4 pm through May 31, 2026. 45 minutes of diverse music played on the Bicentennial Organ. | | Enter, Rest, Pray (CHURCH IS OPEN) Monday through Saturday from noon - 5 pm. Sundays 8:30 am - 5 pm (Sunday 6 pm service is in the chantry). | | February is Soup Month! – Canned soup is a staple that food pantries always need. Help us make a special push to ensure The Red Door Place is well stocked this February. More information about this ministry can be found below. | | Food Donations for The Red Door Place – Our food ministry partner, The Red Door Place at The Church of the Village, is a vital pantry/soup kitchen serving those in need, supporting the social safety net in our neighborhood. Donations are desperately needed. Non-perishable food item(s) may be dropped off in the collection baskets in the narthex when you visit Grace Church during open hours. Clothing donations are not needed for this ministry. | | Fresh Direct Bags Needed – The Red Door Place is also seeking donations of Fresh Direct bags to support its ministries. Please note that they only accept Fresh Direct bags. Other reusable bags are not needed. If you would like to donate bags, please place them in the collection baskets in the narthex with the food items. | | Knitters and non-knitters unite! Love to knit, curious how to start, or just want to dust off those old needles and plunge into purling again? We want you! We are looking for all levels of knitters to help grow our partnership with the Seamen’s Church Institute and the Christmas at Sea program by knitting heart-made hats, scarves, and mittens. If you are interested, please contact Ashleigh Madureira. Just include your name, the number of adults/children in your household that may be interested, and the level(s) of experience. No experience is OK! | | Help Ukrainian Families – Episcopal Relief & Development is working to provide humanitarian assistance to the more than 2 million people who have had to leave Ukraine. Specifically, their partner ACT Alliance is helping families on the Hungarian border, and their Anglican partners are mobilizing both an immediate and long-term response in Poland, Romania and Hungary. Your emergency gift will provide cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needs as this crisis unfolds. Visit the Episcopal Relief & Development website to make a donation today. | | Altar Flowers – Every Sunday, the flowers on the altar assist our prayers by reminding us of the beauty of God’s creation. The gift of flowers is a wonderful way to remember a departed loved one or give thanks for a happy occasion such as a birthday or an anniversary. The flowers not only brighten our Sundays, but remain on the altar most of the week for school chapels and open door hours. The cost for sponsoring the arrangements on both sides of the cross is $350, but donors can also go in together and jointly sponsor a Sunday. Either way, we will list the givers and the occasions in the Sunday bulletin. Please note that during Advent and Lent we observe those seasons with simpler arrangements that do not include flowers. That said, many other Sundays are available for flower donors to claim. If you are interested, please contact Mickey Hawley in the parish office. | | Become a Worship Leader – Readers, ushers, and altar guild members play vital roles in all our services here at Grace Church. If you feel called to help us lead worship and are interested in learning more about any of these opportunities, contact the Rev. James Morton and he can help you connect to a ministry that suits you. | Is hospitality your forte? Would you like to help put on parish events? If so, the Hospitality Guild wants your help! Throughout the year, Grace Church puts on many special events and opportunities for table fellowship. At parish dinners, summer cookouts, and other festive receptions, the Hospitality Guild helps set the table, lay the buffet, and extend the church’s hospitality to members and newcomers alike. If you would like to be on the list of people we reach out to when we need hospitality volunteers, please contact Travis Kennedy. | | Nametags can be found on the boards in Tuttle Hall. Newcomers are encouraged to visit our welcome table during coffee hour to create their own nametags. If you are a pledging member and do not see your nametag on the boards in Tuttle Hall, please contact Travis Kennedy so he can make you one. | | 20s & 30s at Grace Church – We have a very active group of parishioners in their twenties and thirties here at Grace who meet regularly for Pub Theology and other seasonal events. If you are interested in connecting with us, please contact the Rev. James Morton and he will add you to our email list. You can also sign up for the WhatsApp group using the QR code. | | | Baptism at Grace Church – The sacrament of baptism takes place during a weekly, public worship service about once a month. The upcoming dates are Saturday, April 4 at the 7 pm Easter Vigil, and Sunday May 24 at the 11 am service. Please try to arrange your family plans around these dates if you are interested in baptism for yourself or a child at Grace Church. Contact the Rector to discuss next steps. Attendance at one class prior to your chosen baptism date is required. | | Grace Cares – Would you like a visit at home or at the hospital? Do you need assistance in getting to church or an appointment? Are you struggling and in need of a friendly phone call? Would you like the Sunday lessons read to you or the service bulletin brought to you? Would you like to receive communion in your home? Grace has a pastoral care team that provides these services and more. Contact the Rev. James Morton. | | Restrooms are available on the 1st floor of the parish house, through the north aisle door near the baptismal font. | Please refrain from eating and drinking in the church to help keep the church a clean and peaceful space for all. | | Nut-Free Fare – To ensure the safety of all our parishioners, every precaution is taken to provide food that is nut-free at coffee hours and other receptions. If you are bringing treats for others to enjoy, please make sure they are nut-free. | | Safe Church – Grace Church is committed to providing its members, staff, and visitors with a place that is free of abuse and harassment. If you have observed, or personally experienced sexual or other forms of harassment, or other concerning behavior while attending activities, classes, or events held at Grace Church, or on our shared campus with Grace Church School, we encourage you to notify us. Please visit the Safeguarding Our Community page of our website to find a direct means of providing feedback. | | Assistive Listening System – During Sunday morning worship services, Grace Church provides an assistive listening system (ALS) for visitors with hearing loss. Please bring a small, handheld FM radio to the church to access this system. Once at the church, tune in to frequency 87.6 mHZ on your FM dial to listen. Please visit the Assistive Listening System page of our website for more information. | | Give Via Venmo – If you don’t have cash on you, but still want to give to Grace Church, you can Venmo your donation to @GraceChurchNYC. Use the “What’s it for?” line to tell us the specific project or program you want to support. | Do you have an announcement for the bulletin? If you are a parishioner with an upcoming Grace Church event, please contact Michelle Henderson by 12 pm on Wednesday to request to add an announcement to the Sunday bulletin. | Photos and videos taken at services display the vibrancy and joy of Grace Church in print and online materials. As a participant in Grace Church events, you have a right to opt out of photos and videos. To do so, please contact Michelle Henderson. | | | | |
In Our Immediate Prayers:
Willie Corcoran
Emily Snyder
Savannah Guthrie and Family
Lita Anderson
David Harris
Eric Overmyer
Griffin Myers
J.J. Okash
In Our Continuing Prayers:
Ruth Poon
Ben Bennett
Vivienne Hosbein
Teresa Sowinski
Erin Thanik
Phillip Saylor
Claire Wesselman
Ronnye Brickous
The Episcopal Church in Haiti
William Dobi
For Those Who Have Died:
Rodrigo Rodriguez
To add a name to the prayer list,
please contact the Rector.
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