GRACE CHURCH UPDATE: July 3 2008

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Janet, Elizabeth, Leona Ruffin, Karen Ural, JP Oliver, David Levine, Ruth Cochran, Daris Larison, Sally Willis, Lorna Williams Mary McCandless, Stephanie Wanamaker Ullrich, Decker Sisk, Shirley Bunton, Anita McCarthy, Brian & Becky Connolly, Lorraine Barraclough., CJ (Kennedy), Tiffany Charlton, Karen Wright Please note that the Prayer List is refreshed monthly; if you would like to add a name, please call the office.

FLOWER MEMORIALS Sylvia R. Jewett, Joseph L. Graham, Steve, Helen & Alexander Christos, John Vasers

REFLECTION

The Essence of Being Human

"Africans believe in something that is difficult to render in English. We call it ubuntu, botho. It means the essence of being human. You know when it is there and when it is absent. It speaks about humaneness, gentleness, hospitality, putting yourself out on behalf of others, being vulnerable. It embraces compassion and toughness. It recognizes that my humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together."

"If it weren't for faith, I would have given up long ago. I am certain lots of us would have been hate-filled and bitter. For me, the scriptures have become more and more thoroughly relevant to our situation. They speak of a God who, when you worship him, turns you around to be concerned for your neighbor. He does not tolerate a relationship with himself that excludes your neighbor."

— The Words of Desmond Tutu

EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT is offering emergency assistance to families impacted by the recent flooding in the midwest, as well as supporting continuing relief efforts in China and Burma. To help these efforts, please consider making a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development's "Emergency Relief Fund" online at http://www.er-d.org/ , or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development "Emergency Relief Fund" P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF NEW YORK – DIOCESE OF NEW YORK -
CLICK HERE FOR HEADLINES FROM THE EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE
MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS – CLICK HERE FOR UPDATE
NEW: : For fascinating and diverse conversations about faith and current events from all angles, CLICK HERE
The Candidates and the MDGs - OneVote'08 has assembled all the presidential candidates positions on MDG-related topic in "On the Record" -- an easy to use tool to evaluate the candidates.
FreeRice.com --. An eternally-running vocabulary quiz and for each word you get right, 20 grains of rice is donated to fight world hunger. Highly addictive.
Fixing the Planet Food for thought: pictures of /one-weeks-worth-food-around-our-planet,
TO READ OPINIONS & REFLECTIONS ON ALL THINGS EPISCOPAL, FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF VIEWPOINTS, CLICK HERE
EPISCOPAL CAFE – FOR DAILY EPISCOPAL NEWS/REFLECTIONS/COMMENTARY – CLICK HERE

THIS WEEKEND

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

EPISCOPALIANS FOR GLOBAL RECONCILIATION ASKS What Are You Doing With Your “Stimulus Check?”
American society encourages consumption far beyond our actual needs. It’s not just morally unsustainable but economically unsustainable as well. Now our government has rewarded this overconsumption that led to economic downturn by providing many tax filers with an “economic stimulus check” – encouraging us to consume even more to bolster the stagnant economy. It is nothing more than feeding an addiction. IT’S TIME FOR AN INTERVENTION – AND IT BEGINS WITH US! Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation invites you to choose compassion over consumption. Join the movement to give all or part of your stimulus check to organizations that support the Millennium Development Goals Find out how at www.giveit4good.org Take the pledge. Give 100%, 10% or 0.7%. Start the conversation in your congregation. 𠇏or where your treasure is, your heart will be also”

PEACE VIGIL IN NANUET-- EVERY SATURDAY CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
Protest the Fourth Year of the War on Iraq
1-3 pm at the NW corner of Rt. 59 & N. Middletown Rd. in Nanuet

ROCKLAND PARENT CHILD CENTER ANNOUNCES :

RPCC ROSTER OF PROGRAMS: 

Early Childhood
Parents and Toddlers Together  M-Fri 9:30a-1pm, Parents of Infants Support Group T&Th 1:30-3:30
Support Groups
Single Parents Support Group, Wed 6-8pm, Parenting Support at Nyack Head Start, Tues 6:30-8, Adoptive Families Support Group, every other Tues., 7-8:30,  Parents of Adolescents, Mon&Thurs, Biweekly, 7-8:30
Parenting Workshops
Parents Night Out - Third Monday of each month, 6-7:30, we sponsor an event for parents for socialization and topical discussions. 

How to Talk series This series is designed to give parents of children of all ages the tools and strategies they need to speak to them on a wide variety of important subjects and issues.  Finding the right words to say at the right time is never easy for someone raising children in today’s very complicated world.  Our goal is to help parents and caregivers create and maintain open communication with their children at all times and in all situations 

Expectant Parents Program A new offering includes support to expectant parents from a "Birthing from Within" 6 session, childbirth education course, as well as a "Parenting 101" series that helps parents prepare for the arrival of their baby.
Rockland Parent-Child Center - Family Connections Program This Rockland Parent-Child Center program provides support and case management services to parents incarcerated or recently released from the Rockland County Correctional Facility.  The focus of the program is to engage parents with community agencies that can provide the services they need to make a positive change in their lives as well as re-connect with their children and families in a meaningful way.  This program consists of In-Jail Parent Support groups, Case Management, Post-release mentoring, as well as a monthly, post-release support group for the mothers.

For more information on any RPCC programs, call 358-2702.

ONGOING ANNOUNCEMENTS (scroll down for Calendar & Sunday readings)

HELP WANTED!WE NEED USHERS Ushers perform an important ministry of hospitality, greeting and welcoming parishioners and visitors, distributing the bulletin and service materials, assisting in collection of the offering, and guiding communion flow. Ushers are organized into teams, serving about once every six weeks. If you’re interested in joining a team, please speak to the coordinator, Kelsey Graham (353-0816), or to Fr. Richard.

CARPENTER’S KIDS UPDATE If you’re one of the many parishioners who made a gift to the Carpenter’s Kids, a project of the Diocese of New York that supports Tanzanian HIV/Aids orphans, you’ll be interested in checking out the newsletter available at this site. Episcopal Diocese of New York: Carpenter's Kids.

DO YOU ENJOY SINGING? WHY NOT CONSIDER JOINING THE PARISH CHOIR? The Parish Choir is an intergenerational ensemble which welcomes members from the 4th grade up. The choir sings on the 1st and 3rd Sundays at the 9:30 service with a rehearsal at 9:00 am. As well as learning the music for that morning we also use it as a springboard for brief liturgical and theological discussion that is particularly geared to our young members. Contact Bobbe Wanamaker at 358-5523 or Bob Barrows at 358-1297 ext 13 - or just come up to the choir gallery on Sunday morning. .

DID YOU KNOW? The American Cancer Society sponsors monthly support group meetings at their office located at 1 Executive Blvd., Suite 206, in Suffern. These are for prostate cancer, breast cancer, ostomy, and people who have a recurrence of cancer. They also offer an array of Free Services, including transportation (for cancer patients receiving treatment in Rockland County,) counseling, patient advocacy and much more. For information call 368-1252, extension 2100.

CONSIDER E-PLEDGING Have you inadvertently forgotten a few pledge payments while traveling this summer? Through the Diocese of New York, we participate in a program that makes it possible for your pledge payments to be made to us automatically, via an electronic transfer from your bank account. You determine the payment schedule, and we both receive records of the payments. It’s a win-win situation all around. If you’d like more information, look for the brochure in the narthex, or call and we’d be happy to send it to you.

WANT TO BE MORE INVOLVED? HERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES AT GRACE: Our COFFEE HOUR HOSTS make preparations for and serve during the weekly fellowship time following the 9:30am and 10:30am service, providing an opportunity for parishioners to visit with each other and welcome visitors and new members. Hosts, who serve about once a month, are responsible for making coffee/tea, setting out supplies and simple refreshments, and cleaning up after coffee hour. It’s a great way to get to know other members of the parish. USHERS perform an important ministry of hospitality, greeting and welcoming parishioners and visitors, distributing the bulletin and service materials, assisting in collection of the offering, and guiding communion flow. Ushers are organized into teams, serving about once every six weeks.The PASTORAL CARE TEAM was created to support parishioners in times of need and joy, to enhance the existing ministry of the clergy, and to keep parishioners who are in need connected to the worshipping community. More than forty parishioners are involved in the ministry, which is organized into teams: The Food Team particularly needs additional cooks to replenish the freezer right now; Transportation (Jeanette Matthews, team leader); Lay Eucharistic Ministry (Ruth Case, team leader); Visitation (Walter Fitzsimmons, team leader); Sunday flower delivery (Sally Ann Mock, team leader); Prayer Chain,Cards (Barbara Cross, team leader). The ALTAR GUILD is the group of volunteers who are dedicated to looking after the sanctuary area of the church and chapel, preparing the altar for worship, and supervising seasonal church decorations and flower arrangements. The Guild is organized into four committees that rotate responsibility for weekly service preparation as well as weddings and funerals. ACOLYTES are volunteers of all ages who serve as crucifers (carrying the Cross in the procession and recession), torch bearers, and assist the priest in the preparation of communion. If you’d like more information on serving, please call the office (358-1297) or speak with Fr. Richard. Look for the Opportunities for Ministry information sheet in the narthex for additional opportunities.

THRIFT SHOP NEEDS VOLUNTEERS - Grace’s Thrift Shop desperately needs additional volunteers -- any day, any shift. If you can’t take on a regular shift, they’re also happy to have new volunteers willing to be called as a substitute on an occasional basis. The Thrift Shop supports Grace Church and a variety of outreach programs, as well as providing an important service to the community. Young people are welcome, and their service can be credited towards community service requirements. If you’ve got questions or would like to volunteers, please call Sally Mann at the Thrift Shop: 358-7488.

CALENDAR

READINGS -  THE EIGHTH  SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST  . CLICK HERE