GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH________________________________________________________________________________________

SOME COMING EVENTS

WEEKLY UPDATE OF PARISH ACTIVITIES
If you would like to be added to the list for a weekly email publication of parish events, just email :twoodcock@gracechurchnyack.org

SATURDAY NITE LITE – New Service begins July 19
You asked for it – now you’ve got it! The next big thing is happening at Grace. SATURDAY NITE LITE – an easy going, friendly service of Holy Eucharist every Saturday evening at 5:00pm at Grace Church beginning on Saturday, July 19. Invite your friends and partners, your co-workers and students, your neighbors and yes, your children too. We look forward to welcoming you!

AMAZING GRACE CIRCUS CAMP BEGINS JUNE 30
AGC!'s Big Top Summer Camp is in Full Swing with Trapeze - Tightwire - Aerial Silks - Juggling - Clowning - Rolling Globeand much, much more for your child's entertainment, education and pleasure!
Sessions are filling up quickly. Big Top Camp starts June 30 and runs til August 15th this year. That's 7 weeks of fun and circus...3, 2-week sessions and 1, 1-week session at the end..for ages 7 - 13 (we have a MiniCamp for ages 5 - 7). Each 2-week session ends with a Showcase of Talents of your children demonstrating what they have learned in that session.(multi-session and sibling discounts available)
Go to our new website, www.amazinggracecircus.org to print out a registration form. And while you're there, look around our new site: we have many, many new offerings for AfterSchool Circus Classes, In-School Programs and our new Circus Classroom Curriculum.(Click on Programs for our new CircusPlay for K, Balance and Motion for 2nd graders and Family Fun Nights.) And great news: after a year at Cirque du Soleil's National Circus School of Montreal, Kenny Lindemann is back with us at camp FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER! Your children will love training with him.And, of course, Mary and Karen will be there with the AGC! Youth Troupe as Camp Counselors CIRCUS CAMP is in town and growing... Make sure to register as soon as you can!

THE BARD MEETS THE BROTHERS GRIMM - ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP OUTING TO HUDSON VALLEY SHAKESPEARD FESTIVAL ON JULY 13

TICKET PURCHASE IS NOW CLOSED -- IF YOU RESERVED--- YOUR PAYMENT IS DUE!!! CLICK HERE FOR PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS

ONGOING PARISH EVENTS

MIDNIGHT RUN If you would like to be a part of making meals for the homeless, please join us at Midnight Run in Patterson Hall at 10 am on the second Saturday of each month – next date is December 8.

MEN’S PRAYER BREAKFAST
Men's Prayer Breakfast is an informal gathering of men from Grace and non members of the Grace community who gather to share prayer and reflections. Generally the group meets the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month in Patterson Hall at 7ish. Coffee and light breakfast is served and generally the program begins by 7:15 am and concludes by 8:30 am. The group has read poetry, books, shared art work, listened to music and discussed topics related to individual and collective spiritual concerns. All men are invited to join us. .

SENIOR YOUTH GROUP – MEETS SUNDAY EVENING FROM 7-9PM The Senior Youth Group, designed for teens in 9th – 12th grades, meets on Sunday evenings at 7:00pm at facilitator Deb Adamy’s house (202 Glenbrook Rd. inUpper Nyack.) All teens are invited to attend and bring a friend if they like. The first meeting is this Sunday from 7– 9pm.We look forward to your participation. For more information, please contact Deb Adamy directly at 353- 8922.

(scroll downs for a information on Opportunities for Ministry at Grace Church)

GRACE EPISCOPAL
CHURCH______________________________________
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY

Parish Mission Statement

We believe that Grace Episcopal Church is called by God to live the way of Jesus through a ministry of reconciliation, seeking to restore all people to unity with God and each other, through prayer, worship, spiritual growth, witness, and action.

God calls and empowers all of us for ministry through our baptismal covenant. At Grace Church we are all invited to share our many gifts, working together in a spirit of mutuality, to extend God’s kingdom of love and justice. You’ll find here a listing of opportunities for action and spiritual formation within our parish. For more information, please be in touch with those leaders listed, or feel free to discuss these or other opportunities with the Rector.

SERVICE MINISTERS

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.

CHALICE BEARERS AND SUBDEACONS are parishioners who assist in the distribution of the cup during communion and lead the congregation in intercessory prayers during services.

LECTORS are parishioners who lead us in the reading of appointed lectionary lessons during services. Readings and a reminder are sent in the week prior to service so that the lectors are able to prepare their reading in advance.

Acolytes, Subdeacons/Chalice Bearers, and Lectors may choose to serve at any of the three Sunday services, and are scheduled on a quarterly basis after training. Children and young people are welcome to participate at the 9:30am services. If you’re interested in learning more, please talk with Fr. Richard (358-1297)

THE CHOIRS AT GRACE

THE GRACE CHURCH CHOIR
Founded in 1886 as a vested choir of men and boys, the choir quickly rose to a high standard of musical excellence. The present Grace Church Choir consists of 30 dedicated men and women with wide ranging choral experience whose repertoire runs the gamut from the early renaissance to commissioned works of contemporary composers. Although the Grace Church Choir exists primarily to provide music for the liturgy, it also performs under the auspices of GraceMusic. The Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings at 8:00pm

THE PARISH CHOIR
The Parish Choir sings at the 9:30 Service on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, and is open to all teen and adult members of the parish. Rehearsals are at 9:00 a.m. on the Sundays the choir sings. Previous choral experience is not necessary; age limits are quite flexible, and your children are welcome to sit in the gallery with you.

THE GRACE CHURCH CHORISTERS
The Choristers are a highly trained group of singers, ages 8 to 17, who rehearse weekly and perform twice a month, often in conjunction with the Grace Church Choir. The Choristers are affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music. The Choristers rehearse regularly on Wednesday afternoons at 4:30pm. The Choristers would like to invite any boy or girl entering the 4th grade or higher to become a member. Here’s a chance to get some solid musical and liturgical training and have fun at the same time!

THE JOYFUL NOISE GOSPEL CHOIR
The Joyful Noise Gospel Choir is our youngest singers, a group open to those under eight. They perform during occasional 9:30am services and special events like the Christmas Pageant, rehearsing on a schedule to be determined.

To learn more about any of the Grace Church Choirs, contact Robert Barrows (358-1297, bbarrows@gracechurchnyack.org)

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. If you would like more information about joining the Altar Guild, please speak to Sally Ann Mock (358-8014), or call the office.

Our GREETERS welcome newcomers and visitors as they exit the church, answering questions about the parish, inviting them to coffee hour, and gathering information so they will receive our newsletter. Their cordial hospitality helps to make visitors feel welcome and encourages a return visit. Greeters serve about once a month, and can choose to greet at either the 9:30 or 10:30 service. If you’d like more information on becoming a greeter, please talk to Barbara Cross chair of the New Member Ministry Commission (358-4599), or call the office.

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. If you’d like more information on serving as a host, please call the office (358-1297).

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.

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 actively involved in the ministry, which is organized into teams: Food ; 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). If you’d like to join them, call Pastoral Care Associate Suzanne Mascioli (358-1297, ext. 17).

GRACE’S THRIFT SHOP is an active and very successful consignment shop that provides a valuable service to the community and generates significant income that is used to directly support community outreach programs, our diocesan assessment, and special church projects. The Thrift Shop is fueled by the energy and commitment of more than sixty volunteers, drawn from both the Grace Church and the community, who serve as desk and sales people, markers, and window dressers. Volunteers are always welcome. If you’d like to learn more, speak with Sally Mann or Fran Sennas, Thrift Shop Co-Managers, at 358-7488.

ADULT SPIRITUAL FORMATION COMMISSION The Adult Spiritual Formation Commission develops programs that provide a setting in which our faith community can deepen our awareness of God’s presence and strengthen our commitment to following the path of Christ. Courses in Basic Christianity, offered in fall and spring, are designed to help us explore the tradition of our faith as we question, affirm and learn together. In addition, an informal Roundtable Discussion is provided every Sunday after the 10:30 service to discuss the day’s readings. Beginning in October, we are also introducing a weekday Bible Study series that will take place at noon on alternate Wednesdays, following an 11:30am Holy Eucharist in Bradley Chapel. An Enquirer’s Class, designed to answer questions about the Episcopal Church, its organization and its faith traditions is available several times per year. Other opportunities for spiritual renewal include the work and fellowship of Cursillo, as well as regular gatherings of the Men’s Prayer Breakfast. The Commission also supports opportunities for individual spiritual direction with Brother Jon Bankert, an Anglican Franciscan friar. The Commission is also planning a spring weekend workshop Jon Dominic Cross in June of 2005.
New members are encouraged to participate in the work of Adult Spiritual Formation by attending courses and workshops, submitting program ideas, or by attending ASF meetings on the fourth Monday of the month. Help is always appreciated during the planning of the annual agape meals for Lent. Please contact Christine Howe (cmhowe@optonline.net, 365-2541) or Verne Becker (verne.becker@att.net, 727-6925), co-chairs, to discuss opportunities to be involved in the work of spiritual formation at Grace.

FELLOWSHIP COMMISSION The Fellowship Commission fosters and nurtures fellowship in the church and community by providing opportunities for social interchange. From the all-church picnic, parish Advent party, and annual outing to the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, to receptions following GraceMusic performances and other church events, fun social gatherings at Grace are the hallmark of this commission, which works to bring us all closer together. If you would like to be involved with this ministry but don’t have a lot of free time, please know that this commission is one with little time commitment. You are welcome to work with us for one event or for many. If you’d like to learn more about the Fellowship commission and its activities, contact Jeanette Matthews, co-chairs, or call the church office (358-1297).

NEW MEMBER MINISTRY COMMISSION The New Member Ministry Commission works to identify and welcome visitors to our church, and to help them become active members of the congregation. Our activities are centered in two major areas:
Greeters: Did you feel our welcoming hand when you first visited Grace? We hope so and are looking for more people to extend that hand as Greeters after the 9:30am and 10:30am services. There are no monthly meetings, just a willingness to stand next to clergy, shake hands, direct visitors to coffee/punch hour, and take their information to receive our newsletter if they express an interest. This cordial hospitality makes an initial impression on visitors and hopefully encourages them to return. Commission members: We are the second phase of welcoming and make follow-up phone calls to visitors answering any questions they may have, help with the newcomers’ brunches, and work to connect new members to interest groups and ministry opportunities. Familiarity with Grace Church is necessary, thus our members have been attending for at least a year. We meet on the second Monday of the month. If you would like to serve Grace in either or both of our missions, please call Barbara Cross at 358-4599 or send e-mail to babcross@aol.com.

COMMISSION ON SOCIAL MINISTRIES The Commission on Social Ministries is the tangible presence of Grace Church in the community. The commission works to act on the charge to “go out into the world…feed the hungry, work for justice.” When money is available in the Social Ministry Fund we make donations to local non-profit agencies such as Habitat for Humanity, United Hospice of Rockland, Rockland Family Shelter, People to People, Rockland Parent-Child Center, and others. We sponsor and support grant requests to Episcopal Charities by the Parent-Child Center, and the Nyack Center, and to Episcopal Housing by Habitat for Humanity. Social Ministry coordinates the weekly food collection for People to People, and the monthly Midnight Run that makes lunches for the homeless in New York City.Last December we organized the drive to collect funds to rebuild homes in Afghanistan. This summer we sponsored the Interfaith Friendship Work Camp in Bosnia.
The Commission is grateful for all the support our efforts receive from the congregation. We would like to do even more and we are always open to new ideas. Please join us. Social Ministry meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:30pm in Patterson Hall. If you’d like to learn more, please contact Charlie Cross (358-4599, CORjjc@aol.com)

YOUTH COMMISSION The Youth Commission assists the Rector and staff in planning, coordinating, and implementing all youth programs in the parish. Its purpose it to provide programs so that children and youth may come to know Christ within our supportive community of faith and may claim a personal role in our worship, spiritual life, witness, mutual service, and social outreach. The Church School and Youth Groups are designed to involve parents and other interested adults who give of their time, talent and knowledge to help our children grow socially, emotionally, and spiritually at Grace.

The Church School, which starts with pre-kindergarten and runs through 5th grade, offers a unique experiential approach to religious education and instruction. Classes meet immediately following the 9:30am family service, and focus on introducing children to our spiritual community through interactive programs of Bible stories and activities. Parents volunteer in a variety of ways, serving as teachers, assistants, and helpers for special events. There are also two Youth Groups, designed for older children, that are active and growing at Grace. The Junior Youth Group (6th—8th grade) meets on Sundays at the same time as Church School. The Senior Youth Group (9th—12th grade) meets one evening per week and also includes involvement in church activities. One of the goals of the program is to enable the youth of our community to create their own vision of what the Youth Group should be, how it should operate, make decisions, and achieve their goals. A multi-fold focus comprised of Theology and Spirituality, Service to the Church and Community, and Fellowship is realized through a series of modules facilitated by Youth Commission Members and parish volunteers. The Youth Groups plan many different community-building activities including outings, movies, ski and canoe/camping trips.

Youth Commission members are involved in the planning and implementation of a variety of events, including the Christmas Pageant, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner, and Way of the Savior. There are many different ways to be involved. For more information on the Youth Commission or volunteering in the Church School, please contact Commission Chair Sally Seiler (845-358-8791) or Church School Coordinator Claudia Uccellani (845-358-4228, uccell@yahoo.com)