Grace Notes
The Presentation of Our Lord
February 2, 2025
Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THIS WEEK'S READINGS
Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 84, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40
THIS WEEK'S WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School (bulletin)
DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER FORECAST, THIS SUNDAY'S SERVICE WILL BE ONLINE
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8451295802
Meeting ID: 845 129 5802
Wednesday
9 AM The Holy Eucharist
THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD . . . (known as The Meeting in the Eastern Church) is observed on February 2. This feast, related to the Incarnation cycle (the Annunciation, Christmas and the Epiphany) celebrates the day when the Blessed Virgin Mary presented her infant son to the Temple forty days after his birth and her ritual purification as Jewish law demanded (Luke 2:22-40). On that day the candles that will be used throughout the Church year (traditionally beeswax candles), as well as personal candles for use at home, are blessed.There is evidence of this feast’s celebration from at least the fourth century.
OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR . . . . the sick and those in need, especially The Rev. James Warnke, priest, Ade Abiodun Jennifer, Haiyan, Dave, Thomas Petrullo, Daniela Parisi, Michael Shumway, Greg Hutchinson, Catherine Gooch, Larry Toppin, Diane Tekirian, Howard Goldin, Chris Spilker, Lexi Manning, Gina DeMarsico, Christian Davis, Shawn Davis, Suzanne Morris, Lauren Rosenthal, Nancy Mohr, Charlotte Wilson, Rich Landi, John Whitlock, and Gaylord Hitchcock, priest.
For the those celebrating birthdays especially Lynn Gibson Glynn (2/2), Randy Scott (2/2), Benjamin Martin (2/3), Paul Sobeck (2/4), Paige Gardner (2/5), Laurie Wietzke (2/5), and Harper Perricelli (2/7) and those celebrating anniversaries.
For those who have died especially Cecelia Casey (2/4), Walter Johnson (2/4), Charles Jung (2/7), and Bette A. Michener (2/7).
PRAYER LIST REQUESTS . . . To add any names to the parish prayer list, please send an email to kmaccourt@gmail.com 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.
Thank you to our volunteers for this Sunday
Evans Roache, acolyte
Larry and Daisy Toppin, ushers
John Beck, Sunday School
Antonio Brugnoli, Reader
Leslie Bisdale, altar guild
Theresa Okunlola and Trish Landi, coffee hour
February 9
10 AM The Holy Eucharist
February 16
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
February 23
10 AM The Holy Eucharist and Sunday School
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
Akinola Okunlola - aokunlola@gmail.com, 201-926-3677
Larry Sunden - larry@sunden.com, 201-960-1433
PLEDGING . . . We have the capability of making a donation online thanks to a deal negotiated by the diocese with 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
Deacon Leonard Roberts - 973-901-8822
Larry Sunden, warden - 201-960-1433
Akin Okunlola, warden - 201-926-3677
FROM THE BISHOP . . . What is Christian and what is political? Bishop Hughes reminds us that while aligning oneself with the marginalized can feel political, taking care of God's beloved people - all of them, however they are found, and wherever they are found - that is Christian.
PASTORAL LETTER FROM BISHOP HUGHES - CARING FOR EACH OTHER IN THIS TIME. . .
https://dioceseofnewark.org/bishops-vlog/pastoral-letter-caring-for-each-other-in-this-time/
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.
Seating of Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe to be livestreamed Feb. 2 - Washington National Cathedral will host the ceremonial seating of the Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe, the 28th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, during its Feb. 2 Eucharist service. The 11:15 a.m. ET service will be livestreamed on the cathedral’s channels.
Bishop Rowe will deliver the sermon, and Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington will preside. During the seating—a liturgy in the Book of Occasional Services—Bishop Rowe will knock on the doors with his staff and formally enter the cathedral, taking his seat in the choir area.
Since the 1940s, the cathedral has been the formal seat of the presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church and the bishop of the Washington diocese. Bishop Rowe was elected presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church in June 2024 and took office Nov. 1 for a nine-year term.
Episcopal Church Leaders on immigration executive orders - https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/letter-from-episcopal-church-leaders-on-trump-administration-immigration-executive-orders/
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/
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”