THE MESSENGER OF GRACE

RECTOR’S LETTER

EASTER TIDE 2008

Good People:

Some years ago, when our church school was smaller- about sixty enrolled- we decided to try to explain the Feast of the Pentecost at the 9:30 liturgy with string. Yes, string. We got a large ball of thin string and attached one end to a processional cross. Then we asked each young person to tell something that related them to someone else. As they each talked, the string was handed to them and they held on to it. Soon the nave was criss crossed with string. People related to each other by the same school or the same favorite sports team (yes, some were not Yankee supporters but were, in the tradition of the Church, forgiven immediately). Soon the string got taken by the adults and they too found ways in which their lives touched other lives. It was a beautiful tracing of community and spirit all in one.

Then we tried to explain the image. I said, “See, it's like a giant spider web and we're all related.”

“EEEEEE,” responded one child,” I hate spiders!”

“ I don't, I think they're cool,” said another.

“Do you mean, God is a huge spider?,” said a third.

“I thought webs were sticky,” chimed in another.

Another said, “I hope God isn't a spider, because if that's who God is, I'm scared!”

“When can I put down this silly string,?” was the parting shot.

On the 11th of May we will celebrate the Feast of the Pentecost. God is not a spider, but the relationships we share in the Christian community are sticky, in case one might be wondering. What God, manifest in the Holy Spirit, is about is that which binds us together. This is easily celebrated and hard to live. Superficially we can all embrace the idea, but even within the community called Church it isn't easy to stay related. One might see the piece of the Church which embraces Christ and hates homosexuals or welcomes wars against 'infidels' or which, in the name of God, passes by the destruction of peoples with nonchalance as “not-us.” And I am sure that those churches look upon us as heretics and perverters of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, on lonely and discouraging days one might suppose that if the messiah came in human form again, the messiah would weep at what we have done to each other and to the world in the name of God. We are all 'us.' When life is lived in fear it is hard to remember the “us-ness” of human existence.

The Gospel for Pentecost Sunday portrays Jesus coming to the disciples who have locked the doors from fear. For every good reason they are afraid of the Empire and afraid of their own community members. They have witnessed awful things and know how bad it can get. Jesus says, “peace be with you.” He shows them brutalized hands and wounded side. The again he says, “Shalom.” Finally Christ says that if we forgive, then the separation that would destroy us is set aside. What is striking is the 'Shalom' which means the right relationship with God, the source. Here in the midst of fear, Christ bids us get back to the source, be radical in the best sense, look to the roots of life, and then- and then- forgive. This is not abandoning what we see as the Truth but refusing to use it for terror. Here then is the Jesus-Pentecostal formula for living the Resurrection: look at the roots and source of life and see the small ball of thin twine which relates us to each other and the world, and rejoice by forgiving.

Rejoice Always, Richard+

CHURCH SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

Memorial Day Weekend, 5/25 Church school and Joyful Noise Gospel choir are on hiatus
There will be a regular 9:30 Eucharist.

Joyful Noise Gospel Choir In May will only be singing on May 11, meeting at 9:00am in Fenton.

Rafting Both the Junior Youth Group and Senior Youth Group have white-water rafting trips planned for this spring. Please let me know if your child is in one of these groups and you have not received any information.

E-mail List – We are trying to use e-mail as much as possible to keep church school families informed of important happenings. If you are not on our e-mail list, please send your e-mail to jenmarraccino@hotmail.com and twoodcock@gracechurch.org – thank you!

Parish Choir – Parents and children in 4th grade or older are invited to sing with the Parish Choir at the 9:30 am service. Just show up at 9:00 on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month and head up to the choir loft for a quick rehearsal. There is no formal commitment – come when your schedule permits and you feel like singing!

CYSM RUMMAGE SALE A HUGE SUCCESS -- WE CAN STILL USE YOUR HELP!
Thanks to everyone who supported our second annual CYSM Rummage Sale last weekend. Despite the “iffy” weather, we raised close to $2,000, AND we all had a great opportunity to clean out our closets and recycle. Our shoppers --parishioners and guests alike -- were thrilled with the array of fabulous treasures and bargains to be found. Funds raised will go to support our third church youth service mission trip, a program that began in 2006 with a group traveling to Louisiana for post-Katrina cleanup, and continued last year with a trip to work on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. This year’s trip is our most ambitious yet, with 15 young people and 5 adults committed to helping build two houses in Nicaragua. From our Movie Night and Easter Fair to last weeks Rummage Sale, the participants have all been working hard to raise funds to make this trip possible. If you would like to make a donation to support the effort, please make your check out to Grace Church, with Nicaragua on the memo line, or, f you prefer, use one of the green credit card forms found in the narthex. Either can be dropped in the offering plate, or sent to the Grace Church office. Look for an opportunity to talk about the project with any of the participating young people ~ they’ll be wearing nametags at church functions to identify themselves.

UNDERSTANDING EUCHARIST Children from the Felix, Haera, Marsland, Paskowski, and Patterson families are participating in the Understanding Eucharist program, designed to help younger members of our congregation better understand the meaning of their participation in the Holy Eucharist. After the opening session, families are following a six-week at home curriculum; the program concludes with a group bread-baking session and participation in the 10:30 am service on Sunday, May 18.

EPISCOPAL VISIT & CONFIRMATION June 1, 2008 at 10:30am. Congratulations to those will confirmed by Bishop Sisk: Caitlin Cummings, Tom Cummings, Nico Falcicchio, Dana Farris, Jillian Fletcher, Claire Greenwood, Jonathan McNeill, Brianna Nelson, Conor Prouty, Matthew Sheinman, Dylan Sydor

CARPENTER KIDS During the weeks leading up to Easter, the church school engaged in a fundraising drive for Carpenter Kids. An additional 11 families enrolled in the program for 3 - 5 years and the children also raised $502 which the Youth Commission matched for a total of $1,004 for the program. Our parish has now exceeded the 50 family minimum needed to link directly with a parish in Tanzania. This will be an exciting cross-cultural opportunity for our children which we will explore putting into place for the Fall. Thank you to everyone who was involved! Remember this is an ongoing fundraising effort by the Commission on Social Ministries so it's never too late to make a donation!

AMAZING GRACE CIRCUS RECEIVES DIOCESAN GRANT The Amazing Grace Circus has received a grant for its youth development program in the amount of $ 9000.00. This money supports the efforts to have young people participate in the Summer Circus Camp who might not be able to afford the opportunity. Grace Church has supported and hosted this program for many years. The grant came from Episcopal Charities which supports many programs throughout the Diocese of New York. Congratulations! For information on AGC! and its summer camp program: 845-348-8740 www.amazinggracecircus.org

RPCC TO RECEIVE AWARD Rockland Parent-Child Center will receive the Father F. Peter Malet Service to Youth Award at the 28th Annual Youth Forum & Awards Night sponsored by the Rockland County Youth Bureau, on Thursday, May 8th from 6:30 - 9pm, at Terrace on the Hudson, 9W in Haverstraw. This award is being given for the Family Connections Program with young mothers who are or have been incarcerated at the Rockland County Correctional Facility. Please contact the Rockland County Youth Bureau at 638-5166 if you are interested in attending the award program.

SPRING BLOOD DRIVE THANK YOU! The Blood Drive on April 6 was a big success and we netted very close to our goal of 50 donations. Thanks to our volunteers who helped out on Sunday: Shirley Chalke, Charlie Cross, Jack Cullen, Diane Deveau, Joe Marraccino, Noah Sexton, and Terence Rock. Didn’t get a chance to donate? Ready to give again? St. Ann’s church (across the street from Grace) has their next Blood Drive on June 8. Ian Graham

GOSPEL GAB Sundays following the 9:30am service
Grace Church’s 9:30am Sunday Eucharist is designed to capture the attention and the imagination of the whole family (especially families with young children). But the worship experience doesn’t end there. Once you send your kids off to Church school, refill your coffee cup and join the adults and the very little ones for Gospel Gab.
This informal gathering of parishioners and clergy takes place in Memorial Hall (or wherever refreshments are offered). The clergy member or guest leader will begin by offering some background material on the scripture passage we just heard in Church. Then the time is yours. Gospel Gab is a chance to bring up your own questions about the weekly Gospel reading or to put those questions your kids have stumped you with out on the table for all to consider. We look forward to having you there

COMING IN JUNE ANNUAL YOUTH RECOGNITION POTLUCK The InterParish Council will be holding its Youth Recognition Awards Pot Luck Dinner on Tuesday June 3at 6:00PM at St. Stephen's Church in Pearl River. Sebastian Baere, from Grace, will be one of this year's seniors who will be honored. If you are planning to attend please contact IPC reps Barbara Fleischer (bjfleisch@aol.com or 735-7410) or Nadine Revheim (nrevheim@aol.com).

ADULT INQUIRERS CLASSES
Interested in knowing more about the Episcopal Church or becoming a member? Got a “church” question Google can’t answer? Join Father Gressle for one of the following seminars about this Church:
Wednesday, May 28 (7:00-10:00pm). Although designed specifically for those who wish to be received or confirmed in the Episcopal Church when the bishop is here on June 1, the class in also a good refresher for those who would just like would like “brush up.” Everyone is welcome. The class is a one time review of what it means to be part of the Episcopal Church, what this Church believes and how Episcopalians understand the exercise and discipline of Faith as seen through the Bible, tradition, worship and modernity. Child care will be provided upon advance request. Please let the office know if you are coming so materials can be ordered. 358-1297/parishoffice@gracechurchnyack.org

ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP OUTING HUDSON VALLEY SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL AT BOSCOBEL
Join us to celebrate 10 years
This summer will mark the tenth year the Fellowship Commission has organized a summer gathering at The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival at historic Boscobel. As usual, we are reserving 50 seats for our parish family and friends for Sunday, July 13.    When we will enjoy Shakespeare’s exquisite fairytale, Cymbeline. We can meet on the lawn at 4 PM to picnic or arrive just before the 6 PM performance. It is your choice, but no matter what you decide, be sure to mark your calendars for this delightful evening. Reservations will be taken during May and June with more details to follow.
Barbara Cross, Fellowship Commission

STEWARDHIP COMMISSION NOTES
The 2008 Stewardship Committee extends our thanks to all parish members who thoughtfully pledged for this year. Your generosity has made it possible for our Vestry have regular income they can count on — to balance the budget, pay our outstanding clergy and staff, continue our parish programs, maintain our buildings and do God’s work in our community. If you haven’t pledged for 2008 and would like to – pledge cards are always available in the narthex. And don’t forget, for your convenience, now you can charge your pledge payments on VISA/MASTERCARD/AMERICAN EXPRESS. Thank you! The Stewardship Committee

PROPERTY UPDATES

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUNDS AT WORK
We’ve embarked on our fight against the water infiltration! West New York Construction in conjunction with Kaitsen Woo Architects were here recently to kick-off work on the Northern Face of the Church. We are re-pointing masonry, working on the coping stones, adding flashing to certain areas and even adding a new Kemper roof over the hallway between the Church and Memorial Hall. You’ll notice the bridges over the Shakespeare and Franklin Street entrances and there will be scaffolding on the flat roof. It will be approximately 2 weeks before the scaffolding is completely in place -- so please watch for detours when visiting the Church especially during the work week!

NURSERY SCHOOL OF THE NYACKS
We look forward to welcoming the Nursery School of the Nyacks into our space beginning in the fall of 2008. For five days a week, the children and their teachers will use the church school space for their programs. They are willing to undertake improvements to the upstairs as well as create a playground. On the weekends our church school will use five of the classrooms. The sixth will be used for storage. Maximizing the use of our space is a benefit to us and to them and we look forward to this new relationship.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO PLEDGE FOR 2008
You must be a pledging member to vote at the Annual Parish Meeting Sunday, February 10.
If you requested envelopes when you pledged , they are now available in the narthex of the church. Please pick yours up when you’re here on Sunday, or stop by the office during the week. If you would like envelopes, please call Sally Ann Mock at 358-8014.

THRIFT SHOP NEEDS SUBSTITUTES
Grace’s Thrift Shop would love to add your name to their list of volunteers available to substitute now and again. It’s a great way to check out this valuable and fun ministry. Like to know more? Contact Sally Mann or Fran Sennas at the Thrift Shop: 358-7488.

OTHER NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

SWEET UNITY COFFEE SUPPORTS CARPENTER’S KIDS
Bishop Roskam of the Diocese of New York met recently with David Robinson at the Jackie Robinson Foundation in New York City. Robinson, son of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, has been farming coffee in Northern Tanzania for the past 18 years, and his coffee cooperative now consists of 2nd and 3rd generation farmers. The coffee cooperative is located in the southern highlands of Tanzania, East Africa, in the region called Mbeya. The 100% Tanzanian coffee is what the New York Times calls the "Cabernet of Coffee".Why not drink a coffee with a conscience? You will be supporting David’s coffee cooperative and Carpenter’s Kids with every cup!
To order, go to www.sweetunityfarmscoffee.com and use: COUPON CODE: CKNY01 on the check-out page $2.50 of each pound of coffee will go directly to the Carpenter’s Kids.

KEEP US POSTED PLEASE
With three active worship communities, it can be difficult for us all to keep up with important events and passages in the lives of our parish family. If you have information that you would like to share — births, deaths, weddings, graduations, accomplishments, retirements, vacations-of-a-lifetime, new homes, etc — please let us know and we’ll include it in The Messenger. If you’re not receiving The Messenger and would like to, of if you’d like to sign up to receive our Weekly Update of parish events via email, call or email: twoodcock@gracechurchnyack.org; 358-1297

The Messenger is published monthly. We welcome your submission of news, articles, photographs, and ideas of interest to the Grace Church community. Our deadline is the 15th of each month. Please send your material to: twoodcock@gracechurchnyack.org, or drop it off at the Grace Church Office.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Parish Office: (845) 358-1297 Fax: (845) 358-1443
Rev. Richard Gressle, Rector – ext. 11
Robert Barrows, Organist/Choirmaster – ext. 13
Jennifer Marraccino, Church School Director – ext. 14
Bonnie Parsekian, Assisting Musician, ext. 15
Kim Adele Rosner, Property Administrator, ext. 17

Thayer Woodcock, Parish Administrator, ext. 10