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RECTOR’S LETTER

June 2017

Recently, we celebrated the gift

of the Holy Spirit, which as

scripture tells us, came down like

a “violent wind” filling the house

where the disciples (not the original 12) were gathered,

causing them to speak divided tongues as of fire. As

such they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to

speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

On that glorious, Pentecostal day the Church was born.

Alleluia!

And on Pentecost Sunday, we sang appropriate hymns,

each related to the coming of the Holy Spirit, and as

always they were beautiful. Admittedly, there was one

song I wish we could have sung, a song which I think

bespeaks to the movement of the Holy Spirit in the life

of the Church today and the possibilities afforded to us,

and that song is “The Times They are a Changin” by the

great Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan wrote this

song during a time of great civil unrest in the United

States (1964), as the country was being torn asunder by

racial strife vis a vis Jim Crow segregation. Bob Dylan

spoke to this time of flux and change, captured so

eloquently in his lyrical genius:

Come gather 'round people, Wherever you roam

And admit that the waters, Around you have grown

And accept it that soon, You'll be drenched to the bone.

If your time to you, Is worth savin'

Then you better start swimming

or you’ll sink link a stone

For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen, Please heed the call

Don't stand in the doorway, Don't block up the hall

For he that gets hurt, Will be he who has stalled

There's a battle outside, And it is ragin'.

It'll soon shake your windows, And rattle your walls

For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers, Throughout the land

And don't criticize, What you can't understand

Your old road is, Rapidly agin'.

Please get out of the new one,

If you can't lend your hand

For the times they are a-changin'.

Through this powerful and prophetic song, Dylan issues

a clarion call to the nation to recognize and respond

through acts of healing, reconciliation, justice, equality,

peace, and dare I say, love (my take anyway). Indeed,

during that turbulent time (as some of you may recall

vividly) there was an awakening and a rallying in this

nation to plight of the oppressed, disenfranchised, and

marginalized both here and abroad, which took shape in

the Civil Rights and later anti-war movement(s).

Similarly, we find ourselves, despite great strides since

the time of this song’s inception, confronted by the

same stubbornly divisive issues of race, class, and

creed; heightened (and exploited) by our political

polarization, and made all the more acute via social

media, where one can hide behind the shield of

anonymity and spew as much hatred and vitriol as they

want and also use it as a platform to incite others (“Alt-

rightest” Richard Spencer comes to mind). And I

strongly believe that such times provide the Church

with an opportunity, obligation, and mandate to reclaim

her prophetic role/voice and mission to be a healing,

liberating, reconciling, peacemaking presence in the

world. In other words, to truly be the body of Christ in

the world. (continues)

SUMMER SERVICE

SCHEDULE BEGINS

SUNDAY, JUNE 18

Services @ 8:00am and 10:00am

The Times They are a’ Changin’

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I truly believe that the Holy Spirit is moving among us

and calling us to be agents of change in these changing

and challenging times. Thus, I view the Day of Pentecost

as an opportunity for us to be open to the movement of

the Holy Spirit in our individual and collective lives. In

other words, Pentecost is a moment that reminds us of

God indwelling within us and God’s calling to us. The

question is, will we respond to the call with the words,

“Yes, come Holy Spirit come.” Will we have the courage

to go where the spirit is leading us (remember Jesus’

baptism, when after it was over he was “spirited” away to

the wilderness where his faith was put to the test and his

identity called into question).

Indeed, as Christians we have been led to believe that our

faith is a private matter that we keep to ourselves, and the

practice of our faith is often relegated to one day a week.

And there are those who are content with that. And there

are those who believe that the Christian faith and life must

be forced onto others in pharisaical fashion, via

judgmental degrees and puritanical litmus tests.

Yet, it was Jesus who breathed the Holy Spirit upon his

disciples and gave them that gift of new life, and it is

Jesus who sent them out into the world with the words,

“As the Father sent me, so I send you . . .” And we see

throughout his three year ministry of healing the sick,

caring for the least of these, challenging the status quo of

have and have nots, the powerful and the weak, exorcising

demons, etc., at the last supper and upon the hardwood of

the cross we see that Jesus came to love, heal, liberate,

reconcile, and serve; and as such send the disciples to do

the same. Jesus did not say, exclude people, judge

people, condemn people, but rather love and serve them.

Moreover, Jesus did not say, “sit idle and contemplate

your own lives, stay safe and comfortable.” No, he told

them to go, to move, to be, to act.

The world, this community, needs us, the Church, to act;

to be a spirit-led, spirit-filled, spirit-driven and inspired

people, who have responded to the presence and

movement of the Holy Spirit. Therefore it is my hope that

during these challenging and changing times, Grace

Church will continue to be a beacon of hope, a haven of

healing, a Church that is alive, filled, and moving with, in,

and by the Holy Spirit, whose people say in words and

deeds, “Come Holy Spirit, come!”

Fr. Owen

GRACE’S KITCHEN

Here are some shots from recent Grace’s

Kitchen mornings, when we offer free

breakfast every Thursday from 7:00 to

8:30am. All are welcome.

A huge thank you goes out to all our kitchen

teams and generous donors!

Anyone wishing to volunteer as a team

member,

call 358-1297 —

we’d love to have

you!

DO YOU PLEDGE TO GRACE?

DO YOU MAKE SPECIAL GIFTS?

We're happy to announce that we have a new credit card company in place to process online transactions and make it easier for those who use credit or debit cards to pay your pledge or make one-time gifts to Grace Church.

You can access the site by going to https://gecnyack.givingfire.com/ — or use the numerous "Donate now" buttons on pages of our website (www.gracechurchnyack.org).

If you are making a pledge payment, please click on "create an account" at the top right corner of the site to begin. By following the simple directions there, you'll be able to easily access your account in the future, modify payments, and view your pledge payment history. It is also easy to set up a schedule for recurring payments, as well as to make special one-time gifts. You will receive an email confirmation of each payment, whether single or recurring. Please do note that we will no longer be processing onsite credit card payments, and that payments via PayPal will be phased out by the end of this year.

If you have questions about your pledge or using the site, please don't hesitate to be in touch with Pledge Secretary Sally Ann Mock at samock34@aol.com

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Happy Spring to all!

We had a busy May with Confirmation being the highlight of the month (check out photos on the next page.) Congratulations to Jordan Brenner, Tyler Cardenas, Nicolas Hughes-Barrow, Gabriel-la Picott, Angelina Picott, Max Russell, Serena Warner, and adults: Joanne Cancro, Valerie Mathews, and Tracy White.

As we wind down the year, I would like to personally thank all of the amazing Church School teachers we were so fortunate to have as mentors to our kids. We are beyond blessed. Thank you to Bonnie Parsekian, Jen Marraccino, Anna Shalom, Beth Paskowski, Courtney Reilly, Sarah Nittoli, Lanie Murrell, Cathy Friesen and Natalie Tirado.

Take a bow Senior Youth Group! They raised over $1700 at their annual tag sale and all the pro-ceeds go to their Service Trip. A big shout out to Joe and Carolina for heading up the SYG this year and our prayers are with all of you as you head to West Virginia on June 25th for the service trip.

Please keep in mind that we will be going to two services each Sunday beginning on June 18th (Father’s Day!). Church school will resume September 24th. Have a great summer! Annie Hekker Weiss, Church School Coordinator

UPCOMING CHURCH SCHOOL & SYG EVENTS: 6/11 - ANNUAL FAMILY PICNIC SYG 6/11 End of the Year Barbecue (offsite); 6/25 Depart for Service Trip

SENIOR YOUTH GROUP Thank you to everyone who donated, bought and helped out at the rummage sale this year. Your contributions helped us raise over $1700! This will help us bring 19 young adults on our service trip to West Virginia. Please keep the participants and their chap-erones in your prayers: Jenna and Lea Bachert, Patrick Graham, Carlo Hausler, Jackson Henry, Charlotte Hurson, Jake Hindin, Julia Logiodice, Isaac Murrell, Abby Marraccino, Emma and Will Paskowski, Aidan Pagano, Hunter Pullen, Jess Reilly, Jack Sestak, Graham Sevastian,

Benny Schenck, Charlotte Weiss, Brian Murrell, Moriah Olsen, Joe and Beth Paskowski. We will be departing early from Grace on Sunday June 25th and will return on July 2nd.

YOU CAN STILL HELP! If you would like to make a contribution to-wards the trip, it is not too late! Please make checks our to Grace Church with "CYSM" in the memo line. As always, thank you for your ongoing support of these trips....they could not happen without you. Joe Paskowski

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CONFIRMATION 2017 - May 7, 2017 The Rt. Rev. Mary D. Glasspool

Photos: V. Becker Photos: V. Becker

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THANK YOU TO OUR CHOIRS The Grace Church Choirs take a well-deserved summer break beginning

Sunday, June 18, when we shift to our summer schedule.

Please take an opportunity to thank them all

for their skill, dedication, and musical leadership

Special appreciation to Sally Cochran for her work with the choral

library and Lynn-Marie Schnalzer for her assistance with vestments.

The choir would like to wish Jo Ann and Paul Barnard godspeed on their recent

move to South Carolina and to thank them for their many years of

service and ministry at Grace.

THANK YOU also to The Parish Choir

for their leadership at the 9:30am service.

We’re grateful to regular members John Colgan, Allison Crowther, Sondra Holt,

Orville Mann, Beth Paskowski, Roger & Sally Seiler, and Bobbe Wanamaker, as well

as those volunteers who join in on a more occasional basis!

The Grace Church Choir is seeking new members

for the 2017-2018 season. If you love to sing, enjoy a worthwhile challenge and want to be part of a fun and vi-

brant group, look no further! Even if you've never sung in a choir - or it has been

many years - we'd love to chat with you.

Prospective members should contact Brandon Beachamp, Organist/Choirmaster,

(bbeachamp@gracechurchnyack.org) to set up an informal audition.

Peter Bannon

Jo Ann Barnard

Paul Barnard

Mary Ann Bleecker

Mike Brenner

Alan Chisholm

Diane Churchill

Sally Cochran

Jim Gilbert

Suzanne Grant

Ron Hammond

Nathan Heinrich

Amy Lehman

Mia Leo

Sally Mann

Steven Marsh

Sam Monroe

Jacob Nevill

Mary O'Donoghue

Robert Parsekian

Doug Reisinger

Lynn-Marie Schnalzer

Paula Spruck

Elisabeth Sydor

Jan Valentine

Margie Winslow

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SUNDAY, JUNE 11

Head on over to Main Street in Nyack and stop by the “Grace Church Welcomes You” table! Grace Church is proud to have had a presence at Rockland Pride

Weekend almost since its beginning in 1999. We staff a table, answer questions, and hand out information and treats. If you’re able to give some time we’d love to have you join us. We can always use help with setting up around 9:30-10:00am, as well as after the 11:00am service when we staff the table from 12:30 to about 3:30. Even an hour of your time — or just a quick chat — is welcome, and we always have a good time!

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THURSDAY, June 1

7:00am Grace’s Kitchen (Team 7) (Memorial Hall)

2:00pm Brown Bag & A Bible (Patterson Hall)

7:30pm Choir

SATURDAY, June 3

4:00pm Bleecker/Schrader wedding

SUNDAY, June 4—Pentecost 8:00am/9:30am /11:00am – Holy Eucharist

10:10am Church School Classes/Bible Study

4:00pm Community Chorus Concert/reception

6:30pm Senior Youth Group (Fenton Room)

Tuesday, June 6

10:30am Holy Hope Bereavement Group (Patterson)

Wednesday, June 7

6:00pm Healing & Wellness Service (Bradley Chapel)

Thursday, June 8

7:00am Grace’s Kitchen (Team 8) (Memorial Hall)

7:00am Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Patterson Hall)

7:30pm Choir

Saturday, June 10

10:00am Midnight Run (Memorial Hall)

June 11 - Rockland Pride Weekend

8/9:30 (baptism)/11:00am — Holy Eucharist

Last Day of Church School/Church School Picnic

Last Day of Choir

TUESDAY, June 13

10:00am Holy Hope Bereavement Group (Patterson Hall)

WEDNESDAY, June 14 6:00pm Contemplative Prayer (Bradley Chapel)

THURSDAY, June 15

7:00am Grace’s Kitchen (Team 9) (Memorial Hall)

12:00pm Brown Bag & A Bible (Patterson Hall)

FRIDAY, June 16

9:00am—1:00pm Nursery School of the Nyacks

Last Day Celebration (Patterson Hall)

SUNDAY, June 18

SERVICES AT 8:00am and 10:00am

8:00am & 10:00am – Morning Prayer & Holy Communion

11:00am Program Council

TUESDAY, June 20

10:00am Holy Hope Bereavement Group (Patterson Hall)

WEDNESDAY, June 21 6:00pm Healing & Wellness service (Bradley Chapel)

Last Service before summer hiatus

Services resume in September

THURSDAY, June 22

7:00am Grace’s Kitchen (Team 10) (Memorial Hall)

7:00am Men’s Prayer Breakfast (Patterson Hall)

12:00pm Brown Bag & A Bible (Patterson Hall)

SATURDAY, June 24

11:00am Memorial Service for Marie H. Braun

SUNDAY, June 25 8:00am/10:00am – Holy Eucharist

Senior Youth Group Mission Trip departure

MONDAY, June 26

Amazing Grace Circus! Camp opens (through 8/4)

TUESDAY, June 27

10:00am Holy Hope Bereavement Group (Patterson Hall)

7:00pm Vestry (Patterson Hall)

WEDNESDAY, June 28

6:00pm Contemplative Prayer Group (Bradley Chapel)

Last Service before summer hiatus

Services resume in September

THURSDAY, June 29

7:00am Grace’s Kitchen (Team 1) (Memorial Hall)

12:00pm Brown Bag & A Bible (Patterson Hall)

JUNE 2017

COMMUNITY NOTE: DID YOU KNOW? The Nyack Senior Citizens Club meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday in St. Ann’s school cafeteria, 32 Jefferson St. Enter at the rear from the school parking lot. Orangetown residents 60 and over who don’t belong to another Orangetown senior club are welcome to join.

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BISHOP BARBARA HARRIS

AT GRACE - May 14, 2017 Thank you to the Adult Spiritual Formation Commission

for bringing Bp. Harris here to share her stories of

witness and leadership during decades of service to the

church in times of tumultuous change.

THANK YOU

To Mo. Posey Krakowsky who

created the quilts that have been on display

in the church over the past month and generously

shared them with us.

Photos: V. Becker

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REALM BASICS

Have you signed up? When you do, you can look up fellow parishioners’ contact information and attach

names to faces.

NEW!!! CONNECT — OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY DOWNLOAD THE NEW REALM APP!

It’s free and available at your favorite App store for Apple and Android devices. Sign on with your REALM

login, and you’ll be able communicate within your groups, see announcements, update your information,

search the directory for contact information and much more. Don’t have a REALM log in yet? Forgot your

login? Here are the basics. Questions? Contact the office - we’ll be happy to help!

Go to our webpage

www.gracechurchnyack.org

Go to member login page

(see menu at top right of home page)

Use link to sign on to REALM site.

For Help at anytime when you are logged in to

REALM, click on the “?“ at the top right corner – it

will bring you to a helpful Congregant’s Guide.

There is a link for a password

reminder. You can also request one from

parishoffice@gracechurchnyack.org Use link at bot-

tom if you need to Register or contact the office.

Follow the links on the Member Login

Page for tutorials on uploading your photo, editing

your profile, and adjusting your privacy settings.

Remember the “Everyone” is everyone from

Grace who is registered and has a login. For

REALM to function as a pictorial directory, you

need to upload your photo and identify how you’d

like to be contacted by fellow parishioners. Perhaps

you’d just like others to be able to see a landline

number, or email; It’s your choice, just remember,

the information is ONLY available to fellow pa-

rishioners.

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Grace Episcopal Church

Vestry Minutes: April 25, 2017 Present: D. McGuinness, P. Cose, ; T. Bergen, D. Deveau, C. Lewis-Warner, J. Marraccino, B. Paskowski, J. Nevill, T. Rock, K. Sestak Absent: LM Schnalzer

The meeting was called to order at 7:05pm and prayer offered for Carter Thompson, hospitalized earlier in the day for a bron-chial infection. Sacred Space was shared.

Correspondence/Upcoming Events

Thank You for donation of $250 to Sunday Suppers was read.

May 7 is Confirmation at 4pm with brief vestry meeting fol-lowing the service; there are 3 morning services per usual

May 14, Barbara Harris – two services (8 & 10)

Plant Sale to benefit Memorial Garden on May 13

SYG Yard Sale to benefit CYSM trip on 5/21 21 – drop off 5/20

Reserve September 16 for Vestry Retreat with facilitators from the diocese – location tbd

Barbecue is still pending, location is difficult to pin down at this late date; may move to fall

June 25 is change to summer schedule (8/10) (NB this has since been revised to 6/18)

June 25 afternoon is space rental for Rockland Symphony chamber benefit. There was some discussion about charges for outside rentals; there is a request form available on the web-site; rate is dependent on a variety of variables.

There was discussion re security concerns around lax closing up by groups using the church, with doors routinely being left unlocked or propped open. The situation will continue to be under discussion, as well as further consideration given to pos-sible need for routine evening security presence.

SCOF Report was presented by D. McGuinness; February finan-cials (attached) were distributed.

SCOF did not meet in April; March financials were distributed.

Pledge so far ‘under’ budget is an issue of concern. It is hoped that as the new Giving Fire system for credit card payment comes online the situation will be somewhat alleviated. Giving Fire has also been set up with the option for donations to a variety of different funds (Grace’s Kitchen, Social Ministries, etc.) Specifics of Giving Fire were discussed, with thanks to P. Cose for her leadership in this area. As soon as details are in place a separate announcement with details will go out via the constant contact email system, and targeted letters/calls will go to pledgers who previously paid via credit card.

There was general support for the recurring publication of a financial “snapshot” in the weekly emails/bulletins/messenger. Some suggestions were made for clarification of items (emojis where under budget expectation for income etc.)

Forms have been created to formalize the process of reim-bursements and payments (attached). There is a separate form for reimbursement with receipt and without. Procedures for signatures has been codified. The process and forms were circulated and will be available electronically on REALM. It is hoped that this will significantly reduce the “To be deter-mined” category of monthly financial statements. Thanks to P. Cose for leadership in this area. MOTION: Payment Authorization Procedure & Credit Card Use & Authorization Procedure will be implemented effective immediately. ALL AYES

Pat Cose reported for SCOP – report was reviewed.

Accessible doors – quote is still pending for electrical/door openers installation for two doors (Shakespeare/interior glass doors; original estimates were based on the Franklin Street door).

Outlet needed in sanctuary near door to sacristy; will eliminate need for extension cords, as required by fire inspection. Ex-isting nearby wiring makes it relatively simple job.

Consideration being given for replacement of bulbs in church to reduce cost/heat/frequency of required changing. Two O&R lighting audits have been frustrating, the latest report from last fall’s visit i still pending. Two vendors are being asked for con-sultation/estimates.

Squirrel mitigation has been contracted to Wildlife Busters.

Phone system updates being considered; there is further re-search to be done regarding merits of staying with current technologies v. investigating other possibilities.

There was no Rector’s Report (O. Thompson excused for family health emergency)

Other Reports

J. Marraccino talked about Stewardship; will attempt to attend May 20 diocesan stewardship meeting.

Ministry/Commission updates were given by liaisons

There was considerable discussion concerning music at the 9:30 service, as numerous comments have come to the vestry regarding need for more upbeat/accessible music. Increased use of volunteer musicians on occasional Sundays was encour-aged, with the agreement about importance of support and nurturing of this group. Ongoing discussion will continue with music liaison J. Nevill who will report further at next meeting.

T. Bergen had attended the Diocesan-sponsored Environment Workshop ~ Power: Making the Transition to Renewable Ener-gy and reported that the new solar tile technology was dis-cussed and deemed too new to recommend for consideration (e.g. for Bradley Chapel roof).

No old business

New Business T. Bergen reported on possible spring 2018 Amazing Grace Circus

fundraiser to jointly benefit Grace and AGC (50/50 split). Dates will be cleared prior to scheduling to avoid conflicts.

Family Connections agenda item was tabled for next month. Meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm.

MAY FINANCE SNAPSHOT

To Date

(5/31/17)

Budget To

Date

Variance

Pledge Income

Total Income

$ 119,583

$ 184,889

$ 135,336

$ 204,742

($ 15,753) under ($ 19,853) under

Expenses $ 210,299 $ 206,064 $ 4,235 over

Net ($ 25,410) $ 1,322

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GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH NYACK 130 First Avenue, Nyack, NY 10960

The Rev. Owen C. Thompson, Rector (9/15/13)

Assisting Clergy:

The Rev. Alan Chisholm, The Rev. Suzanne Hope Graham

The Rev. A. Meigs Ross

Office Hours Mon-Th 9:00 – 4:00pm

WORSHIP SCHEDULE Sundays (through 6/11) 8:00am (Rite I)

9:30am (Family Service, followed by church school)

11:00am (Rite II, senior choir)

4:00pm Choral Evensong (1st Sundays Oct-May))

Wednesday (through 6/28)

6:00pm Healing & W ellness service/

Contemplative Prayer (Alternating/Bradley Chapel)

Beginning 6/18 Sundays at

8:00am (Rite I, Memorial Garden, weather permitting)

10:00am (Rite II, with music)

JUNE 2017

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Parish Office: (845) 358-1297

The Rev. Owen C. Thompson, Rector - ext. 11

Brandon Beachamp, Organist/Choirmaster – ext. 13

Annie Hekker Weiss, Church School Coordinator – 917-331-7166

Thayer Woodcock, Parish Administrator – ext. 10

Virginia Kosloff, Facilities Administrator- ext. 14

GraceMusic – ext. 16

Grace’s Thrift Shop: (845) 358-7488

Grace Church Website: www.gracechurchnyack.org

Grace Church E-mail: par ishoffice@gracechurchnyack.org

Newsletter Submissions: twoodcock@gracechurchnyack.org

Wardens

Debbie McGuinness

Pat Cose

Treasurer

John Quigley

Assistant Treasurer

Sally Ann Mock

VESTRY

Retiring Class of 2018

Diane Deveau

Candice Lewis-Warner

Terence Rock

Retiring Class of 2019

Theresa Bergen

Joe Marraccino

Kathy Sestak

Retiring Class of 2020

Jacob Nevill

Beth Paskowski

Lynn-Marie Schanlzer